UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
April 15, 2024
Commission File Number 001-35203
THERATECHNOLOGIES INC.
(Translation of registrants name into English)
2015 Peel Street, Suite 1100
Montréal, Québec, Canada
H3A 1T8
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes ☐ No ☒
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes ☐ No ☒
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrants home country), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrants securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrants security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-______________.
THERATECHNOLOGIES INC.
Exhibit |
Description | |
99.1 | Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders Dated April 8, 2024 | |
99.2 | Management Proxy Circular Dated April 8, 2024 | |
99.3 | Form of Proxy |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jocelyn Lafond | |
Name: | Jocelyn Lafond | |
Title: | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Date: April 15, 2024
Exhibit 99.1
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the shareholders of Theratechnologies Inc. (the Corporation):
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an annual meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) of the Corporation will be conducted online only through a live audio webcast at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) for the following purposes:
(1) | to receive the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, as well as the auditors report thereon; |
(2) | to elect directors for the ensuing year; |
(3) | to appoint auditors for the ensuing year and authorize the directors to set their compensation; and |
(4) | to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. |
The Corporation is holding the Meeting as a completely virtual meeting, which will be conducted via live audio webcast at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y. Shareholders will not be able to attend the meeting in person. All persons registered as shareholders on the records of the Corporation on April 4, 2024 (the Record Date) and duly appointed proxyholders are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and attend, participate and vote at the Meeting online.
Persons who are shareholders of the Corporation but who are NOT registered on the records of the Corporation (being shareholders who hold their common shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, custodian, nominee or other intermediary) who have NOT duly appointed themselves as proxyholder are able to attend the Meeting online as guests only but are NOT able to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
All persons registered as shareholders on the records of the Corporation on the Record Date as well as duly appointed proxyholders and all persons attending the meeting as guests will be able to ask questions at the Meeting using the Q&A tab provided for that purpose on the platform available at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y.
No person who becomes a shareholder of record after the Record Date will be entitled to receive notice of, and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
A shareholder who desires to appoint a person other than those identified on the form of proxy or voting instruction form to represent him, her or it at the online Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, may do so by inserting such persons name in the blank space provided in the form of proxy or voting instruction form and following the instructions for submitting such form of proxy or voting instruction form. This must be completed prior to registering such proxyholder, which is an additional step to be completed once you have submitted your form of proxy or voting instruction form. If you wish that a person other than the nominees identified on the form of proxy or voting instruction form attend and participate at the Meeting as your proxy and vote your common shares, including if you are a shareholder who is not registered on the records of the Corporation and wish to appoint yourself as a proxyholder to attend, participate and vote at the Meeting, you MUST register such proxyholder after having submitted your form of proxy or voting instruction form identifying such proxyholder.
Failure to register the proxyholder will result in the proxyholder not receiving a Username to vote at the Meeting. Without a Username, proxyholder will not be able to vote at the Meeting. To register a proxyholder, shareholders MUST visit https://www.computershare.com/Theratech and provide Computershare Investor Services Inc. (Computershare) with their proxyholders contact information, so that Computershare may provide the proxyholder with a Username via email.
All proxy forms must be returned to the attention of the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation, c/o Computershare Trust Company of Canada, 1500 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, 7th Floor, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 3S8, prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 7, 2024.
As a shareholder of the Corporation, it is very important that you read the accompanying Management Proxy Circular dated April 8, 2024. The Management Proxy Circular contain important information with respect to voting your common shares and attending and participating at the online Meeting.
DATED at Montreal, Québec, Canada, April 8, 2024.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(signed) Jocelyn Lafond
Jocelyn Lafond
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Theratechnologies Inc.
2015 Peel Street, 11th Floor
Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1T8
Exhibit 99.2
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
AND
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR
April 8, 2024
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the shareholders of Theratechnologies Inc. (the Corporation):
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an annual meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) of the Corporation will be conducted online only through a live audio webcast at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) for the following purposes:
(1) | to receive the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, as well as the auditors report thereon; |
(2) | to elect directors for the ensuing year; |
(3) | to appoint auditors for the ensuing year and authorize the directors to set their compensation; and |
(4) | to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. |
The Corporation is holding the Meeting as a completely virtual meeting, which will be conducted via live audio webcast at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y. Shareholders will not be able to attend the meeting in person. All persons registered as shareholders on the records of the Corporation on April 4, 2024 (the Record Date) and duly appointed proxyholders are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and attend, participate and vote at the Meeting online.
Persons who are shareholders of the Corporation but who are NOT registered on the records of the Corporation (being shareholders who hold their common shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, custodian, nominee or other intermediary) who have NOT duly appointed themselves as proxyholder are able to attend the Meeting online as guests only but are NOT able to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
All persons registered as shareholders on the records of the Corporation on the Record Date as well as duly appointed proxyholders and all persons attending the meeting as guests will be able to ask questions at the Meeting using the Q&A tab provided for that purpose on the platform available at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y.
No person who becomes a shareholder of record after the Record Date will be entitled to receive notice of, and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
A shareholder who desires to appoint a person other than those identified on the form of proxy or voting instruction form to represent him, her or it at the online Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, may do so by inserting such persons name in the blank space provided in the form of proxy or voting instruction form and following the instructions for submitting such form of proxy or voting instruction form. This must be completed prior to registering such proxyholder, which is an additional step to be completed once you have submitted your form of proxy or voting instruction form. If you wish that a person other than the nominees identified on the form of proxy or voting instruction form attend and participate at the Meeting as your proxy and vote your common shares, including if you are a shareholder who is not registered on the records of the Corporation and wish to appoint yourself as a proxyholder to attend, participate and vote at the Meeting, you MUST register such proxyholder after having submitted your form of proxy or voting instruction form identifying such proxyholder.
Failure to register the proxyholder will result in the proxyholder not receiving a Username to vote at the Meeting. Without a Username, proxyholder will not be able to vote at the Meeting. To register a proxyholder, shareholders MUST visit https://www.computershare.com/Theratech and provide Computershare Investor Services Inc. (Computershare) with their proxyholders contact information, so that Computershare may provide the proxyholder with a Username via email.
All proxy forms must be returned to the attention of the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation, c/o Computershare Trust Company of Canada, 1500 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, 7th Floor, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 3S8, prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 7, 2024.
As a shareholder of the Corporation, it is very important that you read the accompanying Management Proxy Circular dated April 8, 2024. The Management Proxy Circular contain important information with respect to voting your common shares and attending and participating at the online Meeting.
DATED at Montreal, Québec, Canada, April 8, 2024.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(signed) Jocelyn Lafond
Jocelyn Lafond
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Theratechnologies Inc.
2015 Peel Street, 11th Floor
Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1T8
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR
The information contained in this management proxy circular (the Circular) is given as at April 8, 2024, except as otherwise noted. In this Circular, the symbol $ refers to the American dollar and the symbol CAN $ or CAD refers to the Canadian dollar.
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How will the matters to be discussed at the Meeting be voted on? |
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Am I a registered shareholder or a non-registered shareholder and what is the difference? |
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4. Summary of Employment Agreements Termination and Change of Control Provisions |
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APPENDIX B DIRECTOR ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION POLICY |
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APPENDIX C NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER |
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ITEM I. | INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING |
The following question and answer sections of the Circular provide guidance on how to (i) attend the annual meeting of shareholders of Theratechnologies Inc. (the Corporation or Theratechnologies) to be conducted online only through a live audio webcast at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (the Meeting), (ii) vote your common shares (the Common Shares) at the Meeting, and (iii) ask questions at the Meeting.
Management of the Corporation is soliciting your proxy. It is expected that the solicitation of proxies will be made primarily by mail. However, officers and employees of the Corporation may also solicit proxies by telephone, telecopy, e-mail or in person. Our officers and employees will receive no compensation for these services. The entire cost of solicitation will be borne by the Corporation. Pursuant to National Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer, arrangements have been made with clearing agencies, brokerage houses and other financial intermediaries to forward proxy-related material to beneficial owners of Common Shares.
Holders of record of Common Shares as of the close of business on April 4, 2024 (the Record Date) are entitled to receive notice of, attend, participate and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Non-Registered Shareholders (as defined below) as of the Record Date who have appointed themselves as proxyholders are entitled to attend, participate and vote at, the Meeting. Persons attending the Meeting as guests will NOT be entitled to vote at the Meeting.
No person becoming a shareholder of the Corporation after the Record Date will be entitled to receive notice of, and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The purpose for which the Meeting has been convened is set forth in the notice of meeting dated April 8, 2024 (the Notice of Meeting).
How will the matters to be discussed at the Meeting be voted on?
We refer you to each section of the matters to be presented at the Meeting for a description of the votes necessary to adopt or pass a resolution in order to decide each such matters.
Am I a registered shareholder or a non-registered shareholder and what is the difference?
Registered shareholders of Common Shares (the Registered Shareholders) hold Common Shares of the Corporation registered in their names with the Corporations transfer agent, Computershare, and such Common Shares are generally evidenced by a share certificate or direct registration statement.
INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING | PAGE 1 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Non-registered shareholders of Common Shares (the Non-Registered Shareholders) beneficially own their Common Shares through a depositary or nominee such as a trustee, financial institution or securities broker (the Intermediaries). If your Common Shares appear on an account statement provided by your bank, broker or financial advisor, you are, in all likelihood, a Non-Registered Shareholder. The Corporation and its transfer agent do not have a record of the Non-Registered Shareholders and, as a result, will have no knowledge of your shareholdings and entitlement to vote. Therefore, Non-Registered Shareholders should carefully follow the instructions of their Intermediaries to ensure that their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting in accordance with such Non-Registered Shareholders instructions.
INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING | PAGE 2 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
1. Voting by proxy before the Meeting
You may vote before the Meeting by completing your form of proxy or voting instruction form in accordance with the instructions provided therein. Non-Registered Shareholders should also carefully follow all instructions provided by their Intermediaries to ensure their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting.
The persons named in the form of proxy and voting instruction form are directors of the Corporation. However, as further described herein, you may choose another person to act as your proxyholder, including someone who is not a shareholder of the Corporation, by inserting another persons name in the blank space provided in the form of proxy or voting instruction form. See Appointment of a Third Party as Proxy below.
The persons named or appointed in the form of proxy will vote (or withhold from voting, where applicable) your Common Shares in respect of which they are appointed as proxies in accordance with the instructions given in the form of proxy. In the absence of instructions, the voting rights attached to the Common Shares referred to in your form of proxy will be exercised FOR the matters mentioned in the attached Notice of Meeting.
Furthermore, the enclosed form of proxy confers upon the proxyholder a discretionary power with respect to amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and with respect to all other matters which may properly come before the Meeting, or any continuation after adjournment thereof. As at the date of this Circular, management of the Corporation knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to be brought before the Meeting.
2. Voting at the Meeting
Registered Shareholders may vote at the Meeting by completing a ballot online during the Meeting, as further described below. See How do I attend, participate and vote at the Meeting below.
Non-Registered Shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder will NOT be able to vote at the Meeting. This is because the Corporation and its transfer agent do not have a record of the Non-Registered Shareholders of the Corporation and, as a result, will have no knowledge of your shareholdings or entitlement to vote, unless you appoint yourself as a proxyholder. If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder and wish to vote at the Meeting, you MUST appoint yourself as proxyholder, by inserting your own name in the space provided on the voting instruction form sent to you and must follow all of the applicable instructions provided by your Intermediary. See Appointment of a Third Party as Proxy and How do I attend, participate and vote at the Meeting below.
Appointment of a Third Party as Proxy
The following applies to shareholders who wish to appoint a person (a Third Party Proxyholder) other than the nominees set forth in the form of proxy or voting instruction form as proxyholder, including Non-Registered Shareholders who wish to appoint themselves as proxyholder to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting.
Shareholders who wish to appoint a Third Party Proxyholder to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting as their proxy and vote their Common Shares MUST submit their form of proxy or voting instruction form (as applicable) appointing such Third Party Proxyholder AND register the Third Party Proxyholder, as described below. Registering the Third Party Proxyholder is an ADDITIONAL step to be completed AFTER you have submitted your form of proxy or voting instruction form.
INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING | PAGE 3 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Failure to register the Third Party Proxyholder will result in the proxyholder not receiving a Username to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting.
Below are the steps to appoint a Third Party Proxyholder:
| Step 1: Submit your form of proxy or voting instruction form: To appoint a Third Party Proxyholder, insert such persons name in the blank space provided in the form of proxy or voting instruction form (if permitted) and follow the instructions for submitting such form of proxy or voting instruction form. This must be completed prior to registering such Third Party Proxyholder, which is an additional step to be completed once you have submitted your form of proxy or voting instruction form. |
If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder located in the United States, you must also provide Computershare Investor Services Inc. (Computershare) with a duly completed legal proxy if you wish to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting or, if permitted, appoint a third party as your proxyholder. See below for additional details.
| Step 2: Register your proxyholder: To register a Third Party Proxyholder, shareholders MUST visit http://www.computershare.com/Theratech prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 7, 2024, and provide Computershare with the required proxyholder contact information, so that Computershare may provide the Third Party Proxyholder with a Username via email. Without a Username, a Third Party Proxyholder will not be able to vote at the Meeting. |
If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder and wish to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting, you have to insert your own name in the space provided on the voting instruction form sent to you by your Intermediary, follow all of the applicable instructions provided by your Intermediary AND register yourself as a Third Party Proxyholder, as described above. By doing so, you are instructing your Intermediary to appoint you as proxyholder. It is important that you comply with the signature and return instructions provided by your Intermediary. Please also see further instructions below under the heading How do I attend, participate and vote at the Meeting.
If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder located in the United States and wish to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting or, if permitted, appoint a third party as your proxyholder, in addition to the steps described above and below under How do I attend, participate and vote at the Meeting?, you must obtain a valid legal proxy from your Intermediary. Follow the instructions from your Intermediary included with the legal proxy form and the voting information form sent to you, or contact your Intermediary to request a legal proxy form or a legal proxy if you have not received one. After obtaining a valid legal proxy from your Intermediary, you must then submit such legal proxy to Computershare. Requests for registration from Non-Registered Shareholders located in the United States that wish to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting or, if permitted, appoint a third party as their proxyholder must be sent by email or by courier to service@computershare.com (if by email), or Computershare Investor Services Inc., 1500 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, Montreal, Québec H3A 3S8 (if by courier), and in both cases, must be labeled as legal proxy and received prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 7, 2024.
How do I attend, participate and vote at the Meeting?
The Corporation is holding the Meeting as a completely virtual meeting, which will be conducted via a live audio webcast. Shareholders will not be able to attend the Meeting in person. In order to vote at the Meeting, shareholders must have a valid Username.
INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING | PAGE 4 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Registered Shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will be able to attend, participate and vote at the Meeting online at https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y. Such persons may then enter the Meeting by clicking I have a login and by entering a Username before the start of the Meeting:
| Registered Shareholders: The control number located on the form of proxy or in the email notification you received is the Username. |
If as a Registered Shareholder you are using your control number to login to the Meeting and you accept the terms and conditions, you will be revoking any and all previously submitted proxies for the Meeting and will be provided the opportunity to vote by online ballot on the matters put forth at the Meeting. If you do not wish to revoke a previously submitted proxy, do not accept the terms and conditions, in which case you can only enter the Meeting as a guest and you will not be able to vote at the Meeting.
| Third Party Proxyholders: Computershare will provide registered Third Party Proxyholder with a Username by email after the voting deadline has passed. |
Only Registered Shareholders and duly registered Third Party Proxyholder will be entitled to attend, participate and vote at the Meeting. Non-Registered Shareholders who have not duly appointed themselves as proxyholder will be able to attend as a guest only and will NOT be able to vote at the Meeting.
Shareholders who wish to appoint a Third Party Proxyholder to represent them at the Meeting (including Non-Registered Shareholders who wish to appoint themselves as proxyholder to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting) MUST submit their duly completed proxy or voting instruction form AND register the proxyholder. See Appointment of a Third Party as Proxy above.
If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder located in the United States and wish to attend, participate or vote at the Meeting or, if permitted, appoint a third party as your proxyholder, you MUST also submit your legal proxy to Computershare. See Appointment of a Third Party as Proxy above.
If you attend the Meeting and are entitled to vote thereat, it will be important that you remain connected to the internet at all times during the Meeting in order to vote when balloting commences. It is your responsibility to ensure connectivity for the duration of the Meeting. You should allow enough time to check into the Meeting online and complete the related procedure.
Your proxy can be submitted to Computershare either in person, or by mail or courier, to 1500 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H3A 3S8, or via the internet at www.investorvote.com. The proxy must be deposited with Computershare prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 7, 2024, or if the Meeting is adjourned, not less than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, before the commencement of such adjourned Meeting.
If you have received a voting instruction form, you should carefully follow the instructions set out therein to ensure that your Common Shares are voted at the Meeting in accordance with your instructions. If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder, you should also carefully follow the instructions provided by your Intermediary to ensure that your Common Shares are voted at the Meeting in accordance with your instructions.
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MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
If you are a Registered Shareholder, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is acted upon in any manner permitted by law, including by stating clearly, in writing, that you wish to revoke your proxy and by delivering this written statement to Computershare, no later than the last business day before the day of the Meeting. If as a Registered Shareholder you are using your control number to login to the Meeting and you accept the terms and conditions, you will be revoking any and all previously submitted proxies and will be provided the opportunity to vote by online ballot on the matters put forth at the Meeting. If you do not wish to revoke a previously submitted proxy, do not accept the terms and conditions, in which case you can only enter the Meeting as a guest and you will not be able to vote at the Meeting.
If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder and wish to revoke previously provided voting instructions, you should follow carefully the instructions provided by your Intermediary.
Can I ask questions at the Meeting?
Registered Shareholders and Non-Registered Shareholders who log into the Meeting will be entitled to ask questions in writing during the Meeting by using the Q&A tab of the platform that will be available for that purpose. Questions will be reviewed by the Corporation during the Meeting, but not all questions will be answered by directors or members of management attending the Meeting. Questions for which answers will be provided during the Meeting will be read and answered verbally by directors and/or members of management attending the Meeting. The Corporation does not undertake to answer all of the questions asked nor to communicate with each individual who asked questions during the Meeting to provide them with the answers thereof.
Who can I call with questions?
If you require assistance in completing your form of proxy, please contact Computershare, toll-free at 1-800-564-6253, or by email at service@computershare.com, or by mail at:
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
1500 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard
Montreal, Québec H3A 3S8
Voting Securities and Principal Holders
As at April 4, 2024, there were 45,980,019 Common Shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding. The Common Shares are the only securities with respect to which a voting right may be exercised at the Meeting. Each Common Share entitles its holder to one vote with respect to the matters voted on at the Meeting.
Holders of Common Shares whose names are registered on the list of shareholders of the Corporation as at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on April 4, 2024, being the date fixed by the Board of Directors for determination of the registered holders of Common Shares who are entitled to receive Notice of the Meeting and to vote at the Meeting, will be entitled to exercise their voting rights attached to the Common Shares in respect of which they are so registered at the Meeting, or any continuation after adjournment thereof.
INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING | PAGE 6 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
To our knowledge, based on information publicly available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov), the table below details the names of shareholders of the Corporation that beneficially own, or have control over, ten percent (10%) or more of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and the number of Common Shares held by each of them as at the date of the public filings each of them has made.
Names of shareholders |
Number of Common Shares |
Percentage of Common Shares |
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Investissement Québec |
9,118,184 | 19.8 | % | |||||
Soleus Capital Master Fund, L.P. |
4,801,376 | 10.4 | % |
INFORMATION RELATING TO VOTING | PAGE 7 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
ITEM II. | SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING |
1. | Receipt of Financial Statements |
The consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, together with the auditors report thereon will be presented at the Meeting. The financial statements have already been mailed to you if you requested them, prior to the mailing of this Circular. The financial statements are also available as part of the Corporations filings on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca and on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov as part of our Form 20-F dated February 21, 2024. No vote is required on this matter.
2. | Election of Directors |
Composition of the Board of Directors
The articles of the Corporation provide that the board of directors of the Corporation (the Board) must consist of a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of twenty (20) directors. The Board is currently comprised of nine (9) directors.
Advance Notice By-Law
On June 12, 2020, the Board adopted By-Law No. 4 (the Advance Notice By-Law). The Advance Notice By-Law was approved by the shareholders on July 16, 2020.
The purpose of the Advance Notice By-Law is to provide shareholders, directors and management of the Corporation with guidance on the nomination of directors. In particular, the Advance Notice By-Law sets a period of at least (30) days prior to the date of an annual meeting of shareholders, or of any postponement or adjournment thereof, at which directors are to be elected for the submission to the Corporation by shareholders of a notice of director nominations. It also sets forth the information that a shareholder must include in the notice for it to be valid.
The Advance Notice By-Law will allow the Corporation to receive adequate prior written notice of director nominations, as well as sufficient information on the nominees. The Corporation will thus be able to evaluate the proposed nominees qualifications and suitability to act as directors. It will also facilitate an orderly and efficient meeting process.
Majority Voting Policy
The Board adopted a majority voting policy (the Majority Voting Policy) regarding the election of directors pursuant to which a nominee for election as a director of the Corporation who receives a greater number of votes withheld than votes for will have to tender his/her resignation to the Board immediately following the meeting of shareholders at which the director was a nominee for election. The Board will determine whether to accept such resignation or not. The Board will make its decision and announce it in a press release within ninety (90) days following the meeting of shareholders. The director who tendered his/her resignation will not be part of any committee or Board deliberations pertaining to his/her resignation. The Majority Voting Policy only applies in circumstances involving an uncontested election of directors.
An uncontested election of directors means an election of directors in respect of which (i) the number of director nominees is the same as the number of directors proposed by management to be elected to the Board; (ii) no person other than those nominees who are part of the candidates proposed by
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 8 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
management listed in a management circular is proposed at a meeting as a candidate for directorship; or (iii) no proxy materials are circulated in support of one or more nominees who are not part of the candidates proposed by management.
Chair of the Board
The Board has agreed that Mr. Frank Holler, a current director and the current Chair of the Audit Committee, would be appointed as Chair of the Board in replacement of Ms. Dawn Svoronos after the Meeting if he is elected as a director of the Corporation.
Nominees
All of the nominees mentioned below for the director positions of the Corporation are elected for a one-year term ending at the next annual meeting of shareholders or when his/her successor is elected, unless he/she resigns or the position becomes vacant as a result of death, dismissal or otherwise, prior to said meeting.
Management proposes that eight (8) directors be elected at the Meeting. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees listed in the table below will be unable to fulfill his/her mandate as a director.
The following table sets forth, for each nominee, the following information:
| his/her name; |
| his/her age; |
| his/her municipality/city/province/state of residence; |
| his/her independence from the Corporation; |
| the date he/she became a director; |
| his/her principal occupation; |
| his/her biography; |
| his/her areas of expertise; |
| his/her memberships on the committees of the Board of the Corporation; |
| the number of Board and committee meetings attended in the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, while acting as a director and committee member; |
| the number of Common Shares, deferred share units (DSUs) and stock options held or controlled as at the date of this Circular; |
| his/her compliance with the Shareholding Policy as at November 30, 2023; and |
| whether he/she acts as a director of other public companies. |
Some of the information set out in the table below with respect to the nominees is not within the knowledge of the Corporation and was provided by each nominee. The information relating to the number of Common Shares, DSU and stock options held by the nominees in the table below is at the date of this Circular and is based exclusively on reports filed on SEDAR+ by insiders as at that date.
Unless instructions are given to withhold from voting with regard to the election of one or more nominees to act as directors, the persons whose names appear on the enclosed form of proxy will vote FOR the election of each of the nominees whose names are set out in the table below.
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 9 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Joseph P. Arena Age: 69 Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
Independent
Director since:
May 13, 2021
Areas of Expertise:
Regulatory Affairs
Drug Development
Medical Education
Management
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
Yes
Other Public Company Directorship:
None |
Principal Occupation Corporate Director
Joseph Arena was elected to the Board of Directors of Theratechnologies in May 2021.
Joseph Arena was Vice President, Oncology Products, Global Regulatory Affairs at Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer) between 2018 and 2021. In such a role, he managed a team that provided strategic global leadership to Medicine Teams for Pfizers portfolio in oncology. The group was responsible for regulatory strategy and registration of products globally. His tasks included providing guidance on the worldwide regulatory requirements for registration of new chemical entities and new claims, identification of pharmaceutical, toxicological and clinical developmental issues and problem resolution, overseeing the preparation of high quality, effective regulatory submissions, providing oversight and input for all communications agencies and leading scientific teams in direct negotiations with agencies on all issues of product development, product registration and labeling (including post-marketing surveillance).
Prior to acting as Vice President, Oncology Products, Global Regulatory Affairs, he acted as Vice President, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Products, between 2016 and 2018 when he joined the Pfizer Worldwide Safety and Regulatory organization. In such a role, he managed a team that provided strategic global leadership to Medicine Teams for Pfizers portfolio in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases. The group was responsible for regulatory strategy and registration of products globally.
Prior to joining Pfizer, he was at Merck and Co. Inc. (Merck) where he held the role of Vice President, Therapeutic Area Lead Oncology, Immunology and in vitro Diagnostics from 2015 to 2016. His team provided global leadership to development teams for oncology and immunology products and in vitro diagnostics across the portfolio. The group was responsible for regulatory strategy and registration of Mercks products globally with a focus on the United States, European Union, China and Japan.
Mr. Arena began his career as a research scientist in 1989 at Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, New Jersey. In 1996, he moved to a position in Regulatory Affairs International focusing primarily on Mercks cardiovascular products. He eventually assumed management and leadership roles with Regulatory Affairs International, including management of therapeutic areas in Diabetes, Neuroscience, Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular.
Mr. Arena received his B.S. in Pharmacy from St. Johns University in Queens, New York. After four (4) years in community and hospital settings, he attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in the Physiology Department at the University of Rochester in New York.
|
| ||||||||||
Committee Membership and Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# |
% | ||||||||||
Board of Directors | 22 | 92 | ||||||||||
Compensation Committee | 5 | 100 | ||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
||||||||||||
Common Shares (#) |
DSU (#) |
Options (#) |
||||||||||
13,750 | Nil | 8,977 | ||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors
|
||||||||||||
Member of the Compensation Committee |
|
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 10 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Frank A. Holler Age: 67 Summerland, B.C., Canada
Independent Director since:
June 23, 2021
Areas of Expertise:
Corporate Finance
Life Sciences
Management
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
Yes
Other Public Company Directorship:
Delivra Health Brands Inc. |
Principal Occupation President and CEO, Ponderosa Capital Inc.
Frank A. Holler was appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2021.
He is currently the President & CEO of Ponderosa Capital Inc. He previously served as Chairman & CEO of BC Advantage Funds (VCC) Ltd., a venture capital firm investing in emerging technology companies in British Columbia.
He also served as President and CEO of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. from 1999 to 2003 after having been President and CEO of ID Biomedical Corporation from 1991 to 1998. In addition, he was a founding director of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals.
Prior to working in biotechnology and healthcare, Mr. Holler was a Vice-President of Investment Banking with Merrill Lynch Canada and Wood Gundy Inc. (now CIBC World Markets).
Mr. Holler is a member of the board of directors of one additional public company: Delivra Health Brands Inc. in British Columbia, Canada.
Mr. Holler holds an MBA and BA (Economics) from the University of British Columbia and has obtained his certification as a certified director after successfully completing the National Association of Corporate Directors program.
|
| ||||||||||||||
Committee Membership and Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# |
% | ||||||||||||||
Board of Directors(1) |
|
21 | 88 | |||||||||||||
Audit Committee |
|
6 | 100 | |||||||||||||
Financing Committee |
|
6 | 100 | |||||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
||||||||||||||||
Common Shares (#) |
DSU (#) |
Options (#) |
||||||||||||||
59,750 | 1,325 | 8,977 | ||||||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors
|
| |||||||||||||||
Member of Audit Committee(2) |
| |||||||||||||||
Chair of Financing Committee(3) |
| |||||||||||||||
(1) | Mr. Holler will be appointed Chair of the Board following the Meeting if he is elected as a director of the Corporation at the Meeting. |
(2) | Mr. Holler was appointed Chair of the Audit Committee on February 29, 2024. |
(3) | The Financing Committee was created on August 15, 2023, and dissolved on December 15, 2023. |
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 11 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Paul Lévesque Age: 60 Westmount, Québec, Canada
Non-independent Director since:
April 6, 2020
Areas of Expertise:
Pharmaceutical Industry
Sales and Marketing
Management
Human Resources
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
N.A.
Other Public Company Directorship:
None |
Principal Occupation President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation
Paul Lévesque has built an enviable reputation in the pharmaceutical industry both here and abroad. He is recognized for his track record at delivering growth.
Paul has worked in the research-based pharmaceutical industry since 1985. He started with Upjohn Canada and then joined Pfizer Canada in 1992. He went on to occupy increasingly senior positions within the organization including as Vice President of Marketing in Canada and in France, Country Manager for Canada, Chief Marketing Officer for the U.S. in Primary Care and as Regional President in Asia-Pacific for the innovative division of Pfizer.
He also assumed the role of Global President and General Manager for the Rare Disease Unit until he joined Theratechnologies on April 6, 2020.
Paul carries a passion for bringing to patients therapies in areas of unmet medical needs and will put to contribution his learnings from his 35 years in the pharmaceutical industry.
Paul holds a BSc in biochemistry from Laval University and a Diploma in Management from McGill University.
|
| ||||||||||||
Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# | % | ||||||||||||
Board of Directors | 23 | 96 | ||||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
||||||||||||||
(#) |
DSU (#) |
Options (#) |
||||||||||||
72,800 | Nil | 533,682 | ||||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors
|
| |||||||||||||
N.A. |
| |||||||||||||
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 12 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Andrew Molson Age: 56 Westmount, Québec, Canada
Independent Director since: October 15, 2020
Areas of Expertise:
Communications
Governance
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
Yes
Other Public Company Directorship:
Molson Coors Beverage Company; and
Dundee Corporation |
Principal Occupation Corporate Director
Andrew Molson serves as chairman of AVENIR GLOBAL, an organization uniting seven strategic communications firms across Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. He is also chairman of Molson Coors Beverage Company and a member of the board of directors of Groupe Deschênes Inc., Dundee Corporation and the CH Group Limited Partnership, owner of Evenko and the Montreal Canadiens.
He previously served as a director of The Group Jean Coutu PJC Inc. from 2014 to 2018, as Chair of Molson Coors from May 2011 to May 2013 and as its Vice Chair from May 2009 to May 2011. Mr. Molson serves on several non-profit boards, including the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations, Concordia University Foundation, the Québec Blue Cross, the Evenko foundation for emerging talent, the Montreal General Hospital Foundation and the Molson Foundation, a family foundation dedicated to the betterment of Canadian society.
Mr. Molson holds a Bachelor of Laws from Laval University (Quebec City). He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and a Master of Science in corporate governance and ethics from University of London (Birkbeck College).
| |||||||||||||
Committee Membership and Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# |
% | ||||||||||||
Board of Directors |
|
23 | 96 | |||||||||||
Compensation Committee |
|
5 | 100 | |||||||||||
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
|
7 | 100 | |||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
||||||||||||||
Common Shares (#) |
DSU (#) |
Options (#) |
|
| ||||||||||
137,500 | 2,531 | 12,292 | ||||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors
| ||||||||||||||
Member of Compensation Committee | ||||||||||||||
Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | ||||||||||||||
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 13 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Dawn Svoronos Age: 70 Hudson, Québec Canada
Independent Director since:
April 8, 2013
Areas of Expertise:
Pharmaceutical Industry
Commercialization of Drug Products
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
Yes
Other Public Company Directorship:
Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.;
Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc; and
Acelyrin, Inc. |
Principal Occupation Corporate Director Chair of the Board of the Corporation(1)
Ms. Dawn Svoronos worked in the commercial side of the business for the multinational pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. Inc., for 23 years, retiring in 2011. From 2009 to 2011, Ms. Svoronos was President of the Europe/Canada region for Merck and from 2006 to 2009 was President of Merck in Canada. Previously held positions with Merck include Vice-President of Asia Pacific and Vice-President of Global Marketing for the Arthritis, Analgesics and Osteoporosis franchise. Ms. Svoronos is a member of the board of directors of three other public companies: Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in British Columbia, Canada; Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. in Redwood City, California; and Acelyrin, Inc. in Agoura Hills, California.
|
| ||||||||||||
Committee Membership and Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# |
% | ||||||||||||
Board of Directors | 24 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | 7 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Financing Committee | 6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
| |||||||||||||
Common Shares (#) |
DSU |
Options (#) |
||||||||||||
110,900 | 214 | 26,478 | ||||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors |
||||||||||||||
Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
| |||||||||||||
Member of Financing Committee(2) | ||||||||||||||
(1) | Ms. Svoronos will step down as Chair of the Board immediately after the Meeting if Mr. Holler is elected as a director of the Corporation at the Meeting. |
(2) | The Financing Committee was created on August 15, 2023, and dissolved on December 15, 2023. |
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 14 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Elina Tea Age: 47 Montreal, Québec Canada
Independent Director since:
April 5, 2024
Areas of Expertise:
Finance
Merger & Acquisitions
Human Resources
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
N.A.
Other Public Company Directorship:
None |
Principal Occupation Chief Financial Officer, GLS North America
Ms. Tea is the Chief Financial Officer of GLS North America. In her current role, she oversees all operational and strategic matters with the finance, M&A, legal, and human resources departments of the GLS Canada and GLS US businesses. She previously served as Chief Financial Officer at Vosker Corp and Vice-President, Corporate Development at Cogeco Communications, and has amassed considerable financial and business development experience at a range of companies including SNC-Lavalin (Office of the President), Desjardins Group, RBC Capital Market, and Ernst & Young Corporate Finance.
Ms. Tea holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a double concentration in Accounting and Finance from McGill University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
|
| ||||||||||||||
Committee Membership and Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# |
% | ||||||||||||||
Board of Directors |
|
N.A. | N.A. | |||||||||||||
Audit Committee |
|
N.A. | N.A. | |||||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
| |||||||||||||||
Common Shares |
DSU (#) |
Options (#) |
||||||||||||||
Nil | Nil | Nil | ||||||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors
|
| |||||||||||||||
Member of Audit Committee |
| |||||||||||||||
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 12 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Dale Weil Age: 68 Baie dUrfé, Québec Canada
Independent Director since:
May 16, 2017
Areas of Expertise:
Healthcare Industry
Commercialization of products
Management
Strategic Planning
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
Yes
Other Public Company Directorship:
None |
Principal Occupation Corporate Director
Ms. Dale Weil has more than 35 years of experience in the commercialization, marketing, sale of consumer products and B2B services. From May 2018 to January 2020, Ms. Weil has been Managing Director of the Montreal Institute for Palliative Care (a branch of the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence) and, in January 2020, she became Executive Director of the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence and of the Montreal Institute for Palliative Care. She spent the prior 18 years of her career in management positions related to health care services such as distribution, pharmaceutical and retail pharmacy services. She worked with McKesson Canada Corporation, or McKesson, since August 1999 where she occupied the position of Vice President and Senior Vice President for various divisions of McKesson. She acted in an advisory role to the President from May 2015 to February 2018. Prior to May 2015, she acted as Senior Vice President Retail Management Services with McKesson from July 2014 to May 2015 and, from November 2011 to June 2014, she acted as Senior Vice President, Integrated Health Care Solutions, Strategy and Business Development with McKesson.
Ms. Weil holds a Masters in business administration from McGill University and has obtained her certification as a certified director after successfully completing the Institute of Corporate Directors program.
|
| ||||||||||||||
Committee Membership and Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# |
% | ||||||||||||||
Board of Directors |
|
23 | 96 | |||||||||||||
Compensation Committee |
|
5 | 100 | |||||||||||||
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
|
7 | 100 | |||||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
| |||||||||||||||
Common Shares (#) |
DSU (#) |
Options (#) |
||||||||||||||
44,160 | 1,383 | 22,728 | ||||||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors
|
| |||||||||||||||
Chair of Compensation Committee |
| |||||||||||||||
Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
| |||||||||||||||
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 16 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Jordan Zwick Age: 37 Raleigh, North Carolina
Independent Director since:
March 22, 2024
Areas of Expertise:
Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industries
Finance
Mergers & Acquisitions
Compliance with Shareholding Policy:
N.A.
Other Public Company Directorship:
None |
Principal Occupation Chief Business Officer, Mirador Therapeutics, Inc.
Mr. Jordan Zwick is the Chief Business Officer and one of the founding team members at Mirador Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held company. Mr. Zwick is an experienced leader in corporate strategy and business development in the biopharmaceutical sector. Mr. Zwick served as strategic advisor to Prometheus Biosciences prior to its sale to Merck in June 2023. Previously, Mr. Zwick served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Business Development and Investor Relations at Amarin Corp, closing multiple transactions for global partnering of the lead asset. Mr. Zwick served as Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer at InflaRx N.V. , where he was responsible for leading corporate strategy, business & corporate development, investor relations and was instrumental in the public financings of the company. Mr. Zwick has vast industry operational experience at companies such as Medtronic, Salix Pharmaceuticals and Bausch Health. As part of the team that sold Salix to Valeant Pharmaceuticals (now Bausch Health Companies) for $14.5 billion in 2015, Mr. Zwick eventually became head of strategy at the Salix business unit, responsible for leading all business development transactions, alliance management, strategic planning and portfolio management, playing a key role in the turnaround story of Bausch Health.
He holds a B.A., M.S. degrees from Florida Atlantic University and a M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco.
|
| ||||||||||||||
Committee Membership and Meetings Attended in Fiscal Year 2023 |
# |
% | ||||||||||||||
Board of Directors |
|
N.A. | N.A. | |||||||||||||
Audit Committee |
|
N.A. | N.A. | |||||||||||||
Securities Held or Controlled |
| |||||||||||||||
Common Shares (#) |
DSU (#) |
Options (#) |
||||||||||||||
Nil | Nil | Nil | ||||||||||||||
Committees of the Board of Directors
|
| |||||||||||||||
Member of Audit Committee |
| |||||||||||||||
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 17 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Directors Compensation
The Corporation has a compensation policy for its directors who are not employed on a full-time basis by the Corporation. The goal of the compensation policy is to attract and retain qualified directors.
Under the policy, directors are paid an annual retainer fee only. Annual retainer fees are paid quarterly on the first day of each calendar quarter. In addition, the Corporations compensation policy provides for the reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred by each director who are not employed on a full-time basis by the Corporation to attend meetings of the Board and meetings of committees of the Board. Directors who are not employed on a full-time basis by the Corporation are also entitled to be granted stock options under the Option Plan (as defined below) as part of their annual compensation. The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation of the Board and its committees annually at the same time that it reviews the compensation of the executive officers of the Corporation.
At its meeting of the Board of Directors in November 2022, the Board of Directors determined that the compensation to be paid to directors who are not employed on a full-time basis by the Corporation for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, was as set forth in the table below.
Position at Board Level or Committee Level |
Compensation for Fiscal Year 2023 | |||||||
Annual Retainer(1) |
Value in Stock Options(1) |
|||||||
Annual Retainer to Chair of the Board |
$ | 122,166 | $ | 25,914 | ||||
Annual Retainer to Board Members |
$ | 44,179 | $ | 25,914 | ||||
Annual Retainer to Chair of the Audit Committee |
$ | 11,846 | N.A. | |||||
Annual Retainer to Chair of the Compensation Committee |
$ | 8,884 | N.A. | |||||
Annual Retainer to Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
$ | 7,722 | N.A. | |||||
Annual Retainer to Audit Committee Members |
$ | 7,404 | N.A. | |||||
Annual Retainer to Compensation Committee Members |
$ | 2,962 | N.A. | |||||
Annual Retainer to Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Members |
$ | 2,962 | N.A. |
(1) | These amounts were paid in CAD and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404. |
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 18 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
The table below details all components of the compensation provided to the directors of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, and the value thereof. These amounts were paid in CAD and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD 1.00 = $0.7404.
Name |
Fees earned |
Share-based awards(1) |
Option- based awards(2) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation |
Pension value |
All other compensation |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
($) | (#) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Arena(3) |
46,522 | | | 14,783 | | | | 61,305 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frank Holler |
50,347 | | | 15,131 | | | | 65,478 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gérald A. Lacoste |
57,751 | | | 15,131 | | | | 72,882 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Lévesque(4) |
| | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gary Littlejohn(5) |
42,203 | | | 15,131 | | | | 57,334 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew Molson |
48,866 | | | 15,131 | | | | 63,997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dawn Svoronos |
126,608 | | | 15,131 | | | | 141,739 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alain Trudeau |
57,751 | | | 15,131 | | | | 72,882 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dale Weil |
51,828 | | | 15,131 | | | | 66,959 |
(1) | Share-based awards are composed of DSUs. DSUs are issued under the deferred share unit plan (the DSU Plan). No DSU was issued in the last fiscal year. See Deferred Share Unit Plan below. |
(2) | Options are issued under the share option plan (Option Plan). See Option Plan below for a description of the Option Plan. Each director who was not employed on a full-time basis by the Corporation was reserved 5,435 options in November 2022 for future grant. The number of stock options to be issued was determined using the Black-Scholes models as at November 21, 2022, which was CAD 6.44. This column indicates the value as at the date of grant of these options on February 28, 2023. See Item III Compensation Summary Compensation Table below for an explanation about the changes in reporting the value of option-based awards. The value is based on the Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions, except with respect to Mr. Arena who is a U.S. resident and whose options are assessed using the U.S. currency: |
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
3.92 | % | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
62.0 | % | ||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
9.5 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
CAD 5.16 | |||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
CAD 5.16 | |||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
CAD 3.76 |
The 5,435 options granted to Mr. Arena on February 28, 2023, were issued with an exercise price determined in U.S. dollars and the value of those options as at that date was determined using the Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions:
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
3.92 | % | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
62.0 | % | ||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
9.5 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
$ | 3.80 | ||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
$ | 3.80 | ||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
$ | 2.72 |
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 19 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Each option will expire on February 28, 2033, and entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Corporation at an exercise price CAD$5.16 . The exercise price of the option was based on the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on February 28, 2023. Per the terms of the Option Plan, the exercise price of Joe Arenas options was based on the closing price of the Common Shares on the NASDAQ since Mr. Arena is a U.S. resident and such exercise price was set at $3.80. Each option vested on the date of grant.
(3) | All cash-based compensation related to Mr. Arenas directorship is paid to JP Arena Regulatory Consulting, LLC (Consulting), a company controlled by Mr. Arena, under the terms of a consulting agreement entered into between the Corporation and Consulting with an effective date of May 13, 2021. |
(4) | No compensation was paid to Mr. Lévesque for acting as a director of the Corporation given his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. |
(5) | Mr. Littlejohn resigned from the Board and all committees of the Board in July 2023. |
Outstanding Option-Based Awards and Share-Based Awards
The table below details all outstanding option-based awards and outstanding share-based awards as at November 30, 2023 for each of the directors who was not an employee of the Corporation as at that date.
Option-Based Awards | Share-Based Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) |
Option exercise price (CAD) |
Option expiration date |
Value
of unexercised in- the-money options(1) ($) |
Number of shares or units of shares that have not vested (#) |
Market or payout value of share-based awards that have not vested ($) |
Market or payout value of vested share- based awards not paid out or distributed(2) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Arena |
3,543 | 13.20 | (3) | 2031.12.01 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
5,434 | 3.80 | (3) | 2033.02.28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frank Holler |
3,543 | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | | | 3,877 | |||||||||||||||||||||
5,434 | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gérald A. Lacoste |
3,750 | 9.80 | 2026.07.12 | | | | 8,730 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3,749 | 26.92 | 2027.05.16 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1,812 | 38.24 | 2028.04.06 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,225 | 35.04 | 2029.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,650 | 12.88 | 2030.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,315 | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,543 | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,434 | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew Molson |
3,315 | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | | | 4,029 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3,543 | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,434 | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dawn Svoronos |
3,750 | 9.80 | 2026.07.12 | | 341 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
3,749 | 26.92 | 2027.05.16 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1,812 | 38.24 | 2028.04.06 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,225 | 35.04 | 2029.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,650 | 12.88 | 2030.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,315 | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,543 | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,434 | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 |
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 20 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Option-Based Awards | Share-Based Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) |
Option exercise price (CAD) |
Option expiration date |
Value
of unexercised in- the-money options(1) ($) |
Number of shares or units of shares that have not vested (#) |
Market or payout value of share-based awards that have not vested ($) |
Market or payout value of vested share- based awards not paid out or distributed(2) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Alain Trudeau |
3,315 | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | | | 13,426 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3,543 | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,434 | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dale Weil |
3,749 | 26.92 | 2027.05.16 | | | | 2,202 | |||||||||||||||||||||
1,812 | 38.24 | 2028.04.06 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,225 | 35.04 | 2029.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,650 | 12.88 | 2030.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,315 | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,543 | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
5,434 | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 |
(1) | The value of unexercised in-the-money options at fiscal year-end is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15), and the respective exercise price of the options. These amounts were calculated in CAD and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404. |
(2) | Share-based awards are comprised of DSUs issued under the DSU Plan. The market or payout value of share-based awards that have vested as at November 30, 2023, is determined by multiplying the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX as at November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) by the number of share-based awards held as at November 30, 2023. The actual payout value will vary based on the date on which the DSUs will be redeemed. The market value was calculated in CAD and was converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404. |
(3) | The exercise price of Joseph Arenas stock options is denominated in U.S. dollars as Mr. Arena is a U.S. resident and the exercise price of his stock options is based on the closing price of the Corporations Common Shares on the NASDAQ. |
Incentive Plan Awards Value Vested or Earned During the Year
The table below details the value vested or earned during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023 under each incentive plan for each of the directors who was not an employee of the Corporation as at that date.
Name |
Option-based awards Value vested during the year(1) ($) |
Share-based awards Value vested during the year(2) ($) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation Value earned during the year ($) |
|||||||||
Joseph Arena |
Nil | Nil | | |||||||||
Frank Holler |
Nil | Nil | | |||||||||
Gérald A. Lacoste |
Nil | Nil | | |||||||||
Andrew Molson |
Nil | Nil | | |||||||||
Dawn Svoronos |
Nil | Nil | | |||||||||
Alain Trudeau |
Nil | Nil | | |||||||||
Dale Weil |
Nil | Nil | |
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 21 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
(1) | All options granted to directors vest as at the date of grant and the exercise price of these options was the closing price of the Common Shares on February 28, 2023, on the TSX (CAD 5.16), and on NASDAQ ($3.80). |
(2) | Share-based awards are comprised of DSUs issued under the DSU Plan. No DSU was issued in the last fiscal year. The value of share-based awards is determined by multiplying the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the date(s) of grant by the number of share-based awards held as at such date since DSUs vest as at the date of grant. |
Directors and Executive Officers Shareholding Policy
In December 2010, the Board adopted a shareholding policy for its directors and executive officers (the Shareholding Policy) and the DSU Plan. The Shareholding Policy was suspended in April 2013.
In the 2017 fiscal year, the Board reinstated a revised DSU Plan for its directors and executive officers and a revised Shareholding Policy for its directors who are not employees of the Corporation. The revised Shareholding Policy requires that each newly appointed or elected director who is not an employee of the Corporation owns a number of Common Shares or DSUs having a value representing at least twice the value of his/her annual retainer to act as a Board member (three times for the Chair of the Board). Each director has four years to comply with the Shareholding Policy. Each director must acquire at least 25% of that value over each of those four years. The four year-period begins running from the fiscal year following the fiscal year during which an individual is newly appointed or elected as a director. The value is determined as at November 30 of each calendar year and is equal to the higher of the acquisition cost of a Common Share or DSUs and the fair market value of those Common Shares and DSUs as at November 30 of each year of such four-year period. Common Share value fluctuations do not require directors to purchase additional Common Shares or DSUs.
Directors Mandatory Retirement Policy
The Board has adopted a formal retirement policy in the context of its succession planning process. Under this policy, directors who are not employees of the Corporation who reach the age of 75 or who have been acting as directors for fifteen (15) consecutive years may not be nominees for re-election at the subsequent annual meeting of shareholders.
Restrictions on Trading of Securities
The Corporations insider trading policy (the Insider Policy) prohibits anyone in possession of material undisclosed information from trading in the securities of the Corporation as well as from disclosing to a third party such material undisclosed information (tipping). The Insider Policy also contains restrictions on all directors and executive officers from trading in the Corporations securities during certain periods of the year (Black-Out Periods). Regularly-scheduled Black-Out Periods usually begins on the day immediately following the end of a fiscal quarter and ends on and including the first trading day following the date of disclosure of the financial results for that quarter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Black-Out Periods should not prevent the Corporation from (i) granting stock options and other equity awards to the Corporations personnel as part of the yearly operational and planning and budget approval processes, as approved by the Board in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; (ii) automatic purchases or dispositions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations pursuant to any written automatic plan established by the Corporation prior to the relevant periods; and (iii) issuing DSUs to the Corporations non-employee directors in accordance with the DSU Plan, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time, and the compensation policies of the Board which may then be in effect.
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 22 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
The Insider Policy contains anti-hedging measures that prohibit directors, executive officers and certain other members of the Corporations personnel designated from time to time by the Corporation from engaging in (i) short-sales in the Corporations securities; (ii) derivative transactions in respect of the Corporations securities, including put and call options; or (iii) any other hedging or equity monetization transaction in which an individuals economic interest and risk exposure in the Corporations securities is changed, including collars and forward sales contracts.
Finally, the Insider Policy prohibits directors, executive officers and certain other members of the Corporations personnel designated from time to time by the Corporation from engaging in speculative trading in short-term price fluctuations in the value of the Corporations securities.
Board Gender Diversity
In February 2017, the Board approved an amendment to the Charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to embed in such Charter an obligation by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to take into consideration gender diversity when the Committee recruits candidates for directorship. Gender diversity is now one of the criteria that the Committee will consider in recruiting a candidate to act as a director of the Corporation. The Board did not implement a policy setting forth a target for gender diversity.
As at November 30, 2023, two (2) women, one of whom acting as Chair, comprised the Board of Directors. As at that date, women represented 29% of all independent Board members and 25% of all Board members. See Item IV Corporate Governance Disclosure below.
As at the date of this Circular, if all of the proposed nominees are elected as directors of the Corporation at the Meeting, the Board of Directors will be comprised of three (3) women representing 43% of all independent Board members and 38% of all Board members.
Indebtedness of Directors
As at the date hereof, none of the directors of the Corporation and proposed nominee for election as director of the Corporation is indebted to the Corporation. During the last fiscal year of the Corporation, none of the directors of the Corporation was indebted to the Corporation.
Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions
To the knowledge of the Corporation, except with respect to Mr. Frank Holler and Ms. Dale Weil, none of our directors and executive officers (a) is, as at the date of this Circular, or has been within the ten (10) years before the date of this Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Corporation) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, (i) was the subject of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than thirty consecutive days; (ii) was subject to an event that resulted, after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director or executive officer, in the company being the subject of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than thirty consecutive days; or (iii) within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (b) has, within the ten (10) years before the date of this Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold his assets.
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 23 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Mr. Frank Holler was a director of Contech Enterprises Inc. (Contech), one of the privately-held emerging technology companies forming part of the BC Advantage Funds (BCAF) portfolio. Mr. Holler acted as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of BCAF. On December 23, 2013, Contech made a proposal to its creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and a reorganization of its share structure was approved by the Supreme Court of British Columbia on January 26, 2015. The proposal was intended to facilitate a financing by a new lender and a debt restructuring that, taken together, would enable Contech to carry on its business for the foreseeable future. On March 6, 2015, the Court of Appeal of British Columbia overturned the approval of the proposal by the Supreme Court and placed Contech into bankruptcy. Mr. Holler ceased acting as a director of Contech effective March 6, 2015.
Ms. Dale Weil was a director of Tetra-Bio Pharma Inc. (Tetra), a cannabinoid-derived drug and development company. On August 1, 2023, Tetra announced that it made a voluntary assignment into bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and a trustee was then appointed. On September 8, 2023, Tetra was delisted from the TSX. Ms. Weil ceased acting as a director of Tetra on July 28, 2023.
3. | Appointment of Auditors |
The Corporations auditors for the current fiscal year must be elected at the Meeting. The Corporation proposes the appointment of KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants from Montreal, who have been the Corporations auditors since 1993. They will hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders, or until their successors are appointed. The table below sets forth the fees paid to the auditors of the Corporation for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2023, and 2022, respectively:
Fees |
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2023 (CAD) |
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2022 (CAD) |
||||||
Audit Fees(1) |
599,200 | 750,615 | ||||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) |
51,251 | 53,865 | ||||||
Tax Fees(3) |
173,564 | 115,293 | ||||||
All Other Fees |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total: |
824,015 | 919,773 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Refers to the aggregate fees billed by our external auditors for audit services, including interim reviews and work performed in connection with securities filings. |
(2) | Refers to the aggregate fees billed for professional services provided by our external auditors for translation. |
(3) | Refers to the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by our external auditors for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including transfer pricing. |
Unless instructions are given to withhold from voting with regard to the appointment of the auditors, the persons whose names appear on the enclosed form of proxy will vote FOR the appointment of KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditors of the Corporation, and to authorize that compensation for their services be determined by the Board.
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 24 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
4. | Other Matters to be Acted Upon |
The Corporation will consider and transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Management of the Corporation knows of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. Should any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the Common Shares represented by the proxy solicited hereby will be voted on such matter in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting the proxy.
The Corporation did not receive any proposals from shareholders within the time limits prescribed by the Business Corporations Act (Québec) (the Act) and, accordingly, none will be accepted at the Meeting, except as required under the Act.
SUBJECTS TO BE TREATED AT THE MEETING | PAGE 25 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
ITEM III. | COMPENSATION |
The compensation of the directors and the executive officers of the Corporation is reviewed by the compensation committee (the Compensation Committee). For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Compensation Committee was comprised of three (3) independent directors, namely Dale Weil, who has been acting as chair since March 1st, 2023, Andrew Molson and Joseph Arena. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Compensation Committee held five (5) meetings. The mandate, obligations and duties of the Compensation Committee are described in Appendix D to this Circular.
1. | Compensation Discussion & Analysis |
Objectives of the Compensation Program
Directors
The objectives of the compensation program of the Corporation (the Compensation Program) for directors of the Corporation aim at attracting and retaining directors. For a description of the Compensation Program of the Corporations directors, see Item II Subjects to be Treated at the Meeting Election of Directors Directors Compensation above.
Executive Officers
The objectives of the Compensation Program for the executive officers (the Executive Officers) of the Corporation aim at attracting, retaining, engaging and rewarding executive officers. The Corporation is committed to an overall compensation policy that is competitive and drives business performance while taking into consideration shareholders interests.
What the Compensation Program is Designed to Reward
The Compensation Program is designed to reward Executive Officers for (i) implementing strategies, both in the short and the long term, to realize the business plan of the Corporation, (ii) meeting the annual objectives of the Corporation and those of each Executive Officer, and (iii) enhancing shareholder value.
The Compensation Program provides reasonable and competitive total executive compensation. Remuneration and incentive components are established to compete with remuneration practices of similar companies that are involved in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as certain other companies involved in other industries where the skills and knowledge of an Executive Officer may be used. The Corporation tries to provide its Executive Officers with total compensation at the median level of these other companies. To that end, from time to time, the Compensation Committee retains independent compensation consultants to benchmark the Compensation Program made available to its directors and Executive Officers. See Item III Compensation Compensation Discussions and Analysis of Executive Officers Compensation Consultant below.
In designing the Compensation Program of Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee assesses the short-term and long-term risks associated with such program. The Compensation Program tries to strike a balance between the attainment of short-term and long- term goals by providing Executive Officers with short-term incentive awards and long-term incentive awards. Recommendations made by the Compensation Committee with respect to the Compensation Program are reviewed by the Board to ensure a fair balance between the short-term and long-term compensation components. For the fiscal
COMPENSATION | PAGE 26 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
year ended November 30, 2023, the Board did not identify any risk arising from the Corporations Compensation Program, its policies and practices in determining compensation that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation.
When and How Is Compensation Determined?
Compensation is determined at the end or at the beginning of each fiscal year, usually in November or December. The Compensation Committee meets to determine the base salary of Executive Officers for such fiscal year. During this meeting, the Compensation Committee also reviews the performance of the Corporation and the performance of each of its Executive Officers for the last completed fiscal year to determine whether an Executive Officer is entitled to the payment of a bonus. At such meeting, the Compensation Committee also assesses whether stock options should be granted to each Executive Officer and the number, if any. The determination by the Compensation Committee of (i) the annual base salary for the ensuing fiscal year; (ii) the payment of a bonus for the last completed fiscal year; and (iii) the grant (and number) of stock options for each Executive Officer is reviewed by the Board that has discretion to approve, disapprove or change the determination made by the Compensation Committee for each Executive Officer.
Elements of Compensation Program
The major elements of the Compensation Program are base salary, short-term performance reward program that takes the form of cash bonuses, and long-term incentive awards that take the form of stock option grants pursuant to the Option Plan.
Annual Base Salary
Base salaries for each of the Executive Officers are based on the experience, expertise and competencies of each Executive Officer, as well as on a review from time to time of annual salaries paid to persons holding the position and/or playing roles in other organizations similar to those played by the Executive Officers of the Corporation. Base salaries may also be based on reports from compensation consultants retained by the Corporation from time to time.
Performance Reward Program
The short-term performance reward program is designed to recognize the contribution of each Executive Officer in helping the Corporation achieve its corporate objectives and to increase its value. Usually, bonuses are paid based on the achievement of the Corporations annual corporate objectives and the achievement of an Executive Officers personal objectives. The Compensation Committee has discretion in recommending the payment of bonuses to an Executive Officer based on his/her overall performance. Corporate objectives are usually set by the Board early in the fiscal year. Although corporate objectives are determined early in the fiscal year, the Board has discretion to take into consideration certain events that can occur during such year leading to a change in priorities.
Long-Term Incentive Programs
The long-term incentive program of the Corporation for its Executive Officers is comprised of the Option Plan and the DSU Plan.
Option Plan
The Option Plan was originally adopted in December 1993, and was subsequently amended from time to time to attract, retain and engage employees in key positions and align their interests with those of
COMPENSATION | PAGE 27 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
the Corporations shareholders by allowing optionees to participate in the increased value of the Common Shares. See Item III Compensation Description of the Option Plan below for a description of the Option Plan.
The number of options granted under the Option Plan is determined by various factors, including: (i) the position held by each Executive Officer; (ii) the potential contribution of an Executive Officer in achieving the Corporations objectives; (iii) the financial value of the options at the time of assessing a grant of options as part of the total compensation paid to an Executive Officer; (iv) the available pool of options remaining available for grants; and (v) comparator benchmarking.
Compensation Consultant
In the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Compensation Committee retained the services of Gallagher (Gallagher) (formerly, PCI Compensation Consulting), an independent third-party consulting firm, to update the executive compensation market positioning analysis conducted in the Fall of 2022 (the 2022 Gallagher Report), to review the market long-term incentive plan practices and to benchmark the Executive Officers Compensation Program with reference market practices. The objective of the analysis was to determine if the base salary adjustments and the increased number of options granted in February 2023 bridged the gap to market.
Peer Groups
Gallagher collected market data on the total compensation paid to executive officers of both publicly-traded Canadian and U.S. companies, with a strong focus on those with a Canadian domicile. All the publicly-traded companies used as a reference point were selected after taking into consideration the following criteria:
| biotechnology activities, some oncology-related while others in different activities; |
| market capitalization between $100 million to $3 billion; |
| revenue, pipeline status, research and development expenses, number of employees, cash and cash equivalent. |
The following Canadian companies were used as the main reference market (the Reference Market):
|
Knight Therapeutics Inc.;
HLS Therapeutics;
Zymeworks Inc.;
Bellus Health Inc.;
Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.;
Oncolytics Biotech.
|
Repare Therapeutics Inc.;
Essa Pharma;
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.;
Aptose BioScience;
Milestone Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
The following U.S. companies, not part of the Reference Market, were used for complementary information only:
Urogen Pharma Ltd.; |
ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; | |||
Olema Pharmaceuticals Inc.; |
Pyxis Oncology, Inc.; | |||
Verastem Inc.; |
Cardiff Oncology, Inc.; | |||
BioAtla, Inc.; |
Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc; |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 28 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
|
G1 Therapeutics;
Silverback Therapeutics, Inc;
Kura Oncology Inc;
|
Rubius Therapeutics, Inc;
Athenex Inc. |
The review conducted by Gallagher in the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, and their report (the 2023 Gallagher Report) provided to the Compensation Committee led the Compensation Committee to recommend to the Board to substantially increase the long-term incentive compensation paid to Executive Officers. The report concluded that the number and value of stock options granted to Executive Officers of the Corporation was still substantially below the number and value of stock options granted to executive officers of companies forming part of the Reference Market.
Except for compensation services provided to the Corporation, Gallagher has not provided other services to the Corporation and, to the knowledge of the Corporation, to any of its directors and Executive Officers.
All services provided to the Corporation by compensation consultants must be approved by the Compensation Committee or the Board.
The table below details the aggregate fees billed to the Corporation for the two most recently completed fiscal years by the compensation consultant retained during these periods to assist in the determination of the compensation paid to any of the Corporations directors and/or Executive Officers:
Name |
Fees | Fiscal year ended November 30, 2023(1) |
Fiscal year ended November 30, 2022(2) |
|||||||
Gallagher |
Executive Compensation Related Fees |
$ | 17,311 | $ | 75,228 | |||||
All Other Fees | $ | 2,369 | $ | 10,280 |
(1) | The fees were paid in CAD and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404. |
(2) | The fees were paid in CAD and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the year ended November 30, 2022, where CAD1.00 = $0.7722. |
Determination of Total Compensation Paid to Executive Officers in the Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2023
Annual Base Salary
The annual base salary of each Executive Officer for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, was determined at the November 2022 Compensation Committee and Board meetings.
The adjustments to the Executive Officers annual base salaries were based on the executive market positioning analysis contained in the 2022 Gallagher Report.
Performance Reward Program
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board, which agreed with the recommendation, that the payment to Executive Officers of bonuses based on financial metrics be paid after approval by the Board of Directors of the annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 29 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, except for the President and Chief Executive Officer, the payment of bonuses to Executive Officers was based as to 30% on the achievement of corporate objectives and as to 40% on the achievement of individual objectives. The achievement of financial targets and corporate milestones each accounted for 30% of the total bonus.
Financial targets were based as to 15% on the attainment of pre-determined consolidated revenues and as to 15% on the attainment of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (the Adjusted EBITDA) targets. The Adjusted EBITDA targets are not disclosed since the Corporation did not provide any specific Adjusted EBITDA targets as part of its financial guidance in the last fiscal year.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non- IFRS measure that the Corporation has been using to assess its operating performance and is obtained by adding to net profit or loss, finance income and costs, depreciation and amortization, income taxes, share-based compensation from stock options, certain restructuring costs and certain write-downs (or related reversals) of inventories. Adjusted EBITDA excludes the effects of items that primarily reflect the impact of long-term investment and financing decisions rather than the results of day-to-day operations. The Corporation believes that this measure can be a useful indicator of its operational performance from one period to another. The Corporation uses this non-IFRS measure to make financial, strategic and operating decisions. Adjusted EBITDA is not a standardized financial measure under the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements of the Corporation to which the measure relates and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other publicly-traded companies.
The table below details the bonus payout percentage based on the attainment of the consolidated revenue targets and the Adjusted EBITDA targets for all Executive Officers:
Bonus Payment | ||||||
Pre-determined Consolidated Revenue Target |
Pre-determined Adjusted EBITDA Target | |||||
Achievement ($ in Million) |
Payment (%) |
Achievement (%) |
Payment (%) | |||
Above 96.0 | 110 | >100 | 110 | |||
91.0-96.0 | 100 | 50-100 | 100 | |||
86.5-91.0 | 95 | (100)-50 | 95 | |||
81.5-86.5 | 90 | (150)-(100) | 90 | |||
76.5-81.5 | 85 | (200)-(150) | 85 | |||
71.5-76.5 | 80 | (233)-(200) | 80 | |||
66.5-71.5 | 75 | (267)-(233) | 75 | |||
Below 66.5 | 0 | (300)-(267) | 70 |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 30 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Below is a description of the 2023 corporate milestones for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, for all Executive Officers:
2023 Corporate Milestones | ||
Strategic Imperatives |
Area of Focus | |
Commercial Excellence |
Leverage the Corporations commercial infrastructure to grow the top line and ensure profitability of the in-line business. | |
Pipeline Development |
Continue to successfully deliver life-cycle initiatives while advancing pipeline activities for future growth. | |
Financing and Business Development |
Secure capital to ensure continued solvency and to allow pursuing key company objectives related to growth and pipeline. | |
Human Capital Strategy |
Drive an effective and committed organization through company culture and continuous improvement. |
The achievement of the individual objectives of each Executive Officer was left at the discretion of the Compensation Committee based on an initial assessment made by the President and Chief Executive Officer.
For the President and Chief Executive Officer, the objectives were weighed differently than for the other Executive Officers, namely: (i) 20% was related to the delivery of pre-determined consolidated revenue targets; (ii) 30% was related to the delivery of Adjusted EBITDA targets; (iii) 20% was related to capital market activities, including equity financing; (iv) 10% was related to business development activities; (v) 10% was related to pipeline development activities; and (vi) 10% was related to human resources activities, including talent retention. The Compensation Committee determines the President and Chief Executive Officers achievement of the non-financial objectives.
Both the Board and Compensation Committee believe that discretion is a valid component in their assessment of the achievement of the Corporations corporate objectives and in the achievement of an individuals objectives, especially when unplanned events occur during a fiscal year.
Discretion allows the Board and the Compensation Committee to review the achievement of all objectives set forth at the beginning of a fiscal year and to assess such objectives against all other activities carried out during the year to meet such objectives. In addition, discretion is afforded to the President and Chief Executive Officer to assess the capacity of each Executive Officer to adapt, react, respond and act in the best interests of the Corporation when unplanned events occur. However, to avoid too large a discretion to the President and Chief Executive Officer and limit potential bias in the determination of the performance of an Executive Officers overall performance, all recommendations made by the President and Chief Executive Officer are reviewed by the Compensation Committee and may be modified before any recommendation is made to the Board of Directors.
In December 2023 and in February 2024, both the Compensation Committee and the Board reviewed the achievement of the Corporation objectives and determined that the overall corporate result score was set at 63.8% of target. For Executive Officers (excluding the President and Chief Executive Officer), combined with the achievements of each individual objectives, the percentage of bonus paid varied from 67% to 75%. Based on the abovementioned objectives for the President and Chief Executive Officer and due to a higher importance attributed to financial performance and capital market activities,
COMPENSATION | PAGE 31 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
the Board determined that his overall result score was set at 82% of target. Consistent with its decision to wait for the approval by the Board of Directors of the annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation before making any payment, none of the proposed bonuses to Executive Officers, including the President and Chief Executive Officer, were then paid. The annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation were approved by the Board of Directors on February 20, 2024, and the bonuses have now all been paid.
The table below details for each of the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the three most highly compensated Executive Officers of the Corporation (the Named Executive Officers), the percentage of their annual base salary which may be paid as bonus, the targeted bonus that each of them may receive, the actual bonus earned during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023 and paid in 2024 and the percentage of the target bonus paid in 2024.
Percentage of Annual Base Salary Payable Bonus |
Target Bonus |
Bonus Paid(1) |
Percentage of Target Bonus Paid |
|||||||||||||
Name | (%) | ($) | ($) | (%) | ||||||||||||
Paul Lévesque, |
75 | 494,576 | 405,553 | 82 | ||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
||||||||||||||||
Philippe Dubuc, |
40 | 133,289 | 100,067 | 75 | ||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
||||||||||||||||
Christian Marsolais, |
40 | 135,937 | 95,537 | 70 | ||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer |
||||||||||||||||
John Leasure, |
40 | 133,647 | 89,651 | 67 | ||||||||||||
Global Commercial Officer |
||||||||||||||||
Jocelyn Lafond |
33 | 84,049 | 62,376 | 74 | ||||||||||||
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
(1) | These amounts were paid in CAD in February 2024 and have been converted into U.S. dollars for illustrative purposes only using the average exchange rate for the year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404. |
Description of the Option Plan
The Option Plan is designed to attract, retain, motivate and reward the services of key personnel. The persons eligible to receive options under the Option Plan are the directors, senior executives and key employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, as well as consultants who work on behalf of the Corporation.
The Board administers the Option Plan, provided that the Board may, from time to time, solicit and/or accept recommendations regarding the Option Plan made by the Compensation Committee. The Board has discretion to designate the optionees and determine the number of Common Shares underlying these options, the vesting period, the exercise price and the expiry date of each option, as well as all other related matters, the whole in compliance with the terms of the Option Plan and applicable legislative provisions established by securities regulatory authorities. The Board is not bound by the recommendations made by the Compensation Committee with respect to the abovementioned matters.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 32 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
The Option Plan currently provides that the number of Common Shares authorized to be issued thereunder, together with all other security-based compensation arrangements of the Corporation, may not exceed 17% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, on a non-diluted basis, as calculated on the date of grant. Because options exercised or cancelled become available again for future grant, the Option Plan is considered an evergreen plan and, under the TSX requirements, the TSX requires that the Option Plan be submitted to shareholders of the Corporation for ratification every three (3) years.
The Option Plan provides that the number of Common Shares set aside for the exercise of options by one individual may not represent more than 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Further, the number of Common Shares issuable to Insiders (as defined in the Option Plan), at any time, under all security-based compensation arrangements of the Corporation, cannot exceed 17% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, and the number of Common Shares issued to Insiders, within any one-year period, under all security-based compensation arrangements, cannot exceed 17% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Option Plan also provides that the total number of Common Shares set aside for the exercise of options to each non-employee director within any one-year period cannot exceed a value of CAD 100,000, calculated on the date of grant, and an aggregate value of CAD 150,000 under all security-based compensation arrangements, including the Option Plan.
The Option Plan provides that the exercise price at which the Common Shares may be purchased is determined by the Board on the date of grant, but such exercise price cannot be less than the market price of the Common Shares. Generally, under the Option Plan, the term market price means for options granted to (i) Canadian and non-US resident optionees, the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the last trading day immediately preceding the date of grant; and (ii) US-resident optionees, the closing price of the Common Shares on the NASDAQ stock market on the last trading day immediately preceding the date of grant.
The Corporation does not provide any financial assistance to optionees. However, optionees may elect to undertake a cashless exercise of their options with the assistance of a broker, whereby the broker may sell on the open market a number of Common Shares issued as a result of an optionees exercise of its options, as is necessary to fund and pay the Corporation an amount equal to the aggregate subscription price of the underlying Common Shares.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, options vest as to 33 1/3% on each of the first, second and third anniversary date of the date of grant, starting twelve (12) months after the date of grant.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the options granted pursuant to the Option Plan may be exercised within a maximum period of ten (10) years following the date of grant, subject to applicable optionee termination provisions. The Option Plan provides that if the expiry date of an option falls during, or within ten (10) business days after the end of, a period imposed by the Corporation prohibiting the trading of securities of the Corporation, the term of the option is automatically extended to the end of the day on the tenth (10th) consecutive business day after the end of such restriction period.
The Option Plan provides that options can be exercised, with the Corporations prior approval, by an optionees retirement savings trust, registered retirement savings plans or registered retirement income fund, if the optionee is and remains the annuitant.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 33 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
The Option Plan provides that, with respect to options granted before May 10, 2022:
(a) | if an optionees employment is terminated, other than for death, prior to the expiry date of his or her options, the optionee may exercise any or all unexercised vested options at any time until the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months following the date of termination of employment of the optionee, and (ii) the expiry date of such options; and |
(b) | if an optionee that is a non-employee director ceases to act as a director of the Corporation, other than for death, the optionee may exercise any or all unexercised vested options at any time until the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months following the public disclosure of the quarterly financial statements of the Corporation made after the date such director ceased to act as such, and (ii) the expiry date of such options. |
The Option Plan further provides that, with respect to options granted on or after May 10, 2022:
(a) | if, prior to the expiry date of his or her options, an optionee other than a non-employee director ceases to be an employee or consultant other than for Cause (as defined in the Option Plan) or death, such optionees unexercised vested options as at the Date of Termination of Employment (as defined in the Option Plan) be exercisable at any time until the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination of Employment, and (ii) the expiry date of such options; |
(b) | if, prior to the expiry date of his or her options, an optionee that is a non-employee director ceases to be a director of the Corporation, other than for Cause (as defined in the Option Plan) or death, such optionees unexercised vested options as at the date on which such optionee ceased to act as director be exercisable at any time until the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months following the date such director ceased to hold office, and (ii) the expiry date of such options; |
(c) | if, prior to the expiry date of his or her options, an optionee ceases to be a director, employee or consultant for Cause (as defined in the Option Plan), (i) all unexercised options of such optionee, whether vested or unvested, be forfeited, cancelled and terminated as at the Date of Termination of Employment (as defined in the Option Plan), or, in the case of a director, the date on which he or she ceased to hold office, unless otherwise determined by the Board, and (ii) such optionee forfeit and repay the Corporation any compensation, gain or other value realized on the vesting, exercise or settlement of options or the sale of Common Shares acquired in respect of such options, since the date of first occurrence of the events, actions or facts that gave rise to the termination for Cause. |
Whether options are granted before, on, or after May 10, 2022, if, prior to the expiry date of his or her options, an optionee ceases to act as an employee, director or consultant to the Corporation as a result of his or her death, such optionees legal personal representative(s) may exercise any or all vested unexercised options on the date of death of the optionee at any time until the earlier of (i) twelve (12) months following the death of an optionee and (ii) the expiry date of such options.
The options granted in accordance with the Option Plan cannot be transferred, assigned or subject to any form of alienation, sale, pledge, hypothec or other encumbrance, except by will or other means in the event of the death of an optionee.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 34 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
The Option Plan contains clawback provisions for options granted on or after May 10, 2022. The Option Plan provides that the Board may:
(a) | cancel options granted to an optionee if such optionee, without the consent of the Corporation, (i) has engaged in or engages in activity that is in conflict with or adverse to the interests of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, including fraud or conduct having contributed to financial restatements or irregularities, or (ii) violates a non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disparagement or non-disclosure covenant with the Corporation or its subsidiaries, or if an optionee is terminated for Cause (as defined in the Option Plan); and |
(b) | determine that such optionee must forfeit any compensation, gain or other value realized on the vesting, exercise or settlement or transfer of options or Common Shares acquired in respect of such options, and repay such amounts to the Corporation. |
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Option Plan and in compliance with the rules set forth by regulatory authorities, the Board can amend, suspend or terminate the Option Plan, or any outstanding option or portion of the Option Plan or of an option, without shareholder approval. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may make the following types of amendments without seeking shareholder approval:
(a) | amendments of a housekeeping or ministerial nature including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any amendment for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, error or omission in the Plan or to correct or supplement any provision of the Option Plan that is inconsistent with any other provision of the Option Plan; |
(b) | amendments necessary to comply with the provisions of applicable law (including, without limitation, the rules, regulations and policies of the TSX and/or NASDAQ); |
(c) | amendments necessary in order for options to qualify for favorable treatment under applicable taxation laws; |
(d) | amendments respecting administration of the Option Plan; |
(e) | any amendment to the vesting provisions of the Option Plan or any option, it being understood that in the event of the amendment to the vesting provisions of an option, the Board shall not be under any obligation to amend the vesting provisions of any other option; |
(f) | any amendment which reduces the exercise price or purchase price of an option held by an optionee who is not an Insider of the Corporation; |
(g) | any amendment to the early termination provisions of the Option Plan or any option, whether or not such option is held by an Insider, provided such amendment does not entail an extension beyond the original expiry date; |
(h) | the addition or modification of a cashless exercise feature, payable in cash or Common Shares; |
(i) | amendments necessary to suspend or terminate the Option Plan; and |
(j) | any other amendment, whether fundamental or otherwise, not requiring shareholder approval under applicable law or the Option Plan. |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 35 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
The following amendments require the approval of a majority of the voting shareholders of the Corporation present at a duly called shareholder meeting:
(a) | any increase to the maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Option Plan, including an increase to a fixed maximum percentage of Common Shares or a change from a fixed maximum percentage of Common Shares to a fixed maximum number; |
(b) | the reduction of the exercise price of options held by Insiders; |
(c) | the cancellation and reissue of options to the same individual; |
(d) | the extension of the period of time pursuant to which options may be exercised; |
(e) | any transfer and assignment of options other than in accordance with the Option Plan; |
(f) | the removal or increase of limits to the number of options that may be granted to Insiders; and |
(g) | the removal or increase of limits to the number of options that may be granted to non-employee directors; and |
(h) | any amendment to the amending provisions of the Option Plan. |
The Option Plan contains language which aligns with best governance and market practices with respect to circumstances in which the vote of Insiders shall not be included when amendments to the Option Plan require shareholder approval.
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, 996,128 options were granted under the Option Plan and, as at November 30, 2023, 2,053,928 options were issued and outstanding. As at the date of this Circular, there were 2,051,970 issued and outstanding options under the Option Plan which, if all exercised, would result in the issuance of 2,051,970 Common Shares, or 4.46% of all the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at that date.
The following table sets forth the information regarding the equity compensation plan of the Corporation as at November 30, 2023. As at November 30, 2023, the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding amounted to 45,980,019.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 36 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Plan Category |
Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options (% of Issued and Outstanding Share Capital) |
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options |
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plan (% of Issued & Outstanding Share Capital) |
|||||||||
Equity Compensation Plan Approved by Shareholders |
2,053,928 | $ | 8.14 | 5,762,675 | ||||||||
(4.46 | %) | (12.54 | %) | |||||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders |
||||||||||||
| | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
2,053,928 | $ | 8.14 | 5,762,675 | ||||||||
(4.46 | %) | (12.54 | %) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table sets forth the information regarding the burn rate of the Option Plan for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The burn rate reflects the potential dilutive effect of equity grants on the Corporations outstanding equity over a certain period of time. The calculation below was made pursuant to Section 613(p) of the TSX Company Manual.
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
Burn Rate(1) |
3.78 | % | 2.71 | % | 1.26 | % |
(1) | Total options granted under the Option Plan during the applicable fiscal year / weighted average number of Common Shares during this applicable fiscal year. |
Description of the Deferred Share Unit Plan
On December 10, 2010, the Board adopted the DSU Plan for the benefit of its directors and Executive Officers (Beneficiaries).
The goal of the DSU Plan is to increase the Corporations ability to attract and retain high-quality individuals to act as directors or Executive Officers and better align the interests of the directors and Executive Officers with those of the shareholders of the Corporation in the creation of long-term value. The DSU Plan was also adopted to promote equity-based ownership in the Corporation.
Under the terms of the DSU Plan, Beneficiaries who are directors (including the Chair) are entitled to elect to receive all or part of their annual retainer as Board member in DSUs. The election is done on a quarterly basis. Beneficiaries who act as Executive Officers are entitled to elect to receive all or part of their annual cash bonus, if any, in DSUs.
The value of a DSU (DSU Value) is equal to the average closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the date on which a Beneficiary determines that he desires to purchase or redeem DSUs and during the four previous trading days. Beneficiaries who act as directors have to elect to receive DSUs as complete or partial consideration of their annual retainer to act as Board members prior to each calendar quarter. Beneficiaries who act as Executive Officers are required to elect to purchase DSUs within 48 hours after having been notified of their annual cash bonus, if any.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 37 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
DSUs may only be redeemed when a Beneficiary ceases to act as a director or an Executive Officer of the Corporation. On the date a Beneficiary ceases to act as a director or Executive Officer (the Redemption Date), the Beneficiary is entitled to send a notice to the Corporation (the Redemption Notice) specifying the date on which the DSUs will be redeemed (the Payment Date). The Payment Date must be no earlier than five (5) business days after the date on which the Corporation receives the Redemption Notice and no later than November 30 of the year following the Redemption Date. If a Beneficiary does not send a Redemption Notice prior to November 15 in the year following the Redemption Date, the DSU Plan provides that a Beneficiary will be deemed to have sent, and the Corporation received, a Redemption Notice on November 15 of that year. On the Payment Date, the Corporation must provide a Beneficiary with an amount in cash equal to the DSU Value as at the Payment Date. No Common Share is issued under the DSU Plan.
Beneficiaries may not sell, transfer or otherwise assign their DSUs or any rights associated therewith other than by will or in accordance with legislation regarding the vesting and partition of successions.
The Board administers the DSU Plan and the DSU Plan provides that the Board may delegate all or part of its obligations to the Compensation Committee or to any other committee of the Board.
To protect against fluctuations in DSU Value, the Corporation enters into cash settled forward contracts with an independent third party such that, upon a Payment Date, the Corporation is not exposed to the appreciation of the price of its Common Shares. The execution of such contracts requires the signature of two of the following Executive Officers: the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President, Finance, and the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
No DSU was issued during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, and, as at that date, there were 24,877 DSUs issued and outstanding. As at the date of this Circular, 16,443 DSUs were issued and outstanding.
Description of the Stock Appreciation Rights Plan
On October 4, 2018, the Board adopted a stock appreciation rights plan (the SAR Plan) for the benefit of its consultants (the Eligible Participants) and those of its subsidiaries.
The goal of the SAR Plan is to increase the interest in the Corporations welfare of those consultants who share a responsibility for the growth of the business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, to incentivize such consultants to continue their services with the Corporation, to reward those consultants for the performance of their services and to attract and retain highly qualified persons to provide services to the Corporation as consultants.
The Board administers the SAR Plan and has the authority to delegate the administration of the SAR Plan to a committee or a plan administrator. On October 4, 2018, the Board delegated the administration of the SAR Plan to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. As a delegate, the President and Chief Executive Officer has the discretion to designate the Eligible Participants and to determine the number of SARs to be granted (after consulting the Chair of the Board), the vesting period and the expiry date of each SAR. The President and Chief Executive Officer also has the authority to interpret and take such other actions as he deems advisable in order to administer the terms of the SAR Plan.
Under the terms of the SAR Plan, Eligible Participants are being granted stock appreciation rights (SAR) entitling them to receive cash equal to the difference between the SAR price and the market value of the Corporations Common Shares when the SARs are redeemed. The SAR Plan is non-
COMPENSATION | PAGE 38 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
dilutive. The SAR price is equal to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the last trading day preceding the date of grant. SARs may not be granted for a period longer than ten (10) years and SARs are not assignable or transferable, except by will or by the laws of succession.
Termination of the services of an Eligible Participant for cause voids all SARs granted to an Eligible Participant. If an Eligible Participant ceases to provide services to the Corporation or its subsidiaries for reasons other than for death or for cause, all unvested SARs, if any, shall become void and all vested SARs may be exercised within a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of termination, unless they expire prior to such 180-day period. In the case of death of an Eligible Participant, all vested SARs may be exercised by the liquidator, executor or administrator of the estate of the Eligible Participant within twelve (12) months from the death of the Eligible Participant, unless they expire prior to such 12-month period. All unvested SARs on the date of an Eligible Participants death become void.
The SAR Plan contains other usual provisions regarding its amendments and compliance with foreign regulations when Eligible Participants are non-Canadian.
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, no SAR was granted to Eligible Participants. As at November 30, 2023, there were 24,375 SARs issued and outstanding and, as of the date of this Circular, 20,625 SARs were issued and outstanding.
Inducement Options
In addition to the long-term incentive program described above, the Board may, from time to time, in compliance with the rules of the TSX and the NASDAQ stock market, grant options to induce an individual to enter into an employment agreement with the Corporation.
2. | Summary Compensation Table |
The table below details all components of the compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2023, November 30, 2022, and November 30, 2021. Except as described in the notes below, these amounts were paid in Canadian dollars and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023 (CAD1.00 = $0.7404), November 30, 2022 (CAD1.00 = $0.7722), and November 30, 2021 (CAD1.00 = $0.7979).
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Corporation changed the method to report the value of option-based awards indicated under the column Option-based awards in the table below to align with market practices. In the past, the Corporation reported the value of option-based awards on the date those were reserved for future issuances if the Corporation was unable to grant those option-based awards because of black-out periods. The fair value of the option-based awards on the date of grant was reported in a footnote to the table. Typically, option-based awards were reserved in the fiscal year for which the report on compensation was included, while the grant date occurred in the subsequent fiscal year. To align with market practices, the Corporation has decided to report the value of option-based awards when grants actually occur and to use the same hypotheses as those contained in the annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation. As a result, option-based awards reported in this document for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, are those granted on February 28, 2023 (rather than those reserved in November 2023 for grant in the fiscal year 2024), and option-based awards reserved in November of 2023 will only be reported with respect to the fiscal year ending November 30, 2024, if granted during such fiscal year. Moreover, corresponding adjustments to use the value on the date of grant have been made in the table below with respect to option-base awards for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2022, and November 30, 2021, respectively.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 39 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and principal position |
Year | Salary ($) |
Share- based awards ($) |
Option-based awards(1)(2)(3) ($) |
Annual Incentive plans |
Long-term Incentive plans |
Pension value(4) ($) |
All other compensation(5) ($) |
Total compensation ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Lévesque |
2023 | 658,524 | | 695,976 | (6) | 405,553 | 117,572 | (7) | 22,790 | | 1,900,415 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
President and Chief |
2022 | 656,885 | | 917,188 | (8) | 535,526 | 117,572 | 22,556 | | 2,249,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer |
2021 | 638,778 | | 543,579 | (9) | 480,059 | 117,572 | 22,337 | | 1,802,325 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippe Dubuc |
2023 | 332,246 | | 208,793 | (10) | 100,067 | | 13,394 | | 654,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and |
2022 | 311,016 | | 358,466 | (11) | 138,743 | | 11,301 | | 819,526 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
2021 | 279,003 | | 163,609 | (12) | 112,946 | | 11,169 | | 566,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christian Marsolais |
2023 | 339,068 | | 208,793 | (13) | 95,537 | | 13,394 | | 656,792 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and |
2022 | 328,185 | | 358,466 | (14) | 138,625 | | 11,301 | | 836,577 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Medical Officer |
2021 | 271,995 | | 212,670 | (15) | 110,110 | | 11,169 | | 605,944 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Leasure(17) |
2023 | 331,258 | | 170,000 | (17) | 89,651 | | 13,394 | | 604,303 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Global Commercial Officer |
2022 | 313,911 | (18) | | 310,664 | (19) | 148,574 | | 7,808 | 51,463 | (20) | 832,420 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 207,635 | (21) | | 52,069 | (22) | 85,545 | | | | 345,249 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jocelyn Lafond |
2023 | 253,918 | | 139,195 | (23) | 62,376 | | 13,394 | | 468,883 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Counsel and |
2022 | 239,307 | | 252,917 | (24) | 86,554 | | 11,301 | | 590,079 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate Secretary |
2021 | 241,005 | | 141,330 | (25) | 79,693 | | 11,169 | | 473,197 |
(1) | Fiscal Year 2023: A total of 512,500 options were granted to the Named Executive Officers on February 28, 2023 as part of the long-term incentive compensation program of the Corporation. The value of the options set forth in this column represents the value of the options on the date of grant based on the Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions, except with respect to the 62,500 options granted to Mr. Leasure: |
|
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
3.33% | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
64.3% | |||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
9.5 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
CAD 5.16 | |||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
CAD 5.16 | |||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
CAD 3.76 |
The 62,500 options granted to Mr. Leasure on February 28, 2023, were issued with an exercise price denominated in U.S. dollars and the value of those options as at that date was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions:
|
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
3.92% | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
62.0% | |||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
9.5 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
$3.80 | |||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
$3.80 | |||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
$2.72 |
(2) | Fiscal Year 2022: A total of 241,132 options were granted to the Named Executive Officers on December 1, 2021 as part of the long-term incentive compensation program of the Corporation. The value of the options set forth in this column represents the value of the options on the date of grant based on the Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions, except with respect to the 33,333 options granted to Mr. Leasure: |
|
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
1.57% | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
65.87% | |||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
9 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
CAD 16.84 | |||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
CAD 16.84 | |||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
CAD 11.76 |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 40 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
The 33,333 options granted to Mr. Leasure on December 1, 2021, were issued with an exercise price denominated in U.S. dollars and the value of those options as at that date was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions:
|
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
1.44% | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
67.23% | |||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
9 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
$13.20 | |||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
$13.20 | |||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
$9.32 |
(3) | Fiscal Year 2021: A total of 118,748 options were granted to the Named Executive Officers on February 26, 2021, as part of the long-term incentive compensation program of the Corporation. No option was granted to Mr. Leasure on that date since he was not an employee of the Corporation. The value of the options set forth in this column represents the value of the options on the date of grant based on the Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions: |
|
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
1.36% | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
70.51% | |||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
8.5 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
CAD 15.72 | |||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
CAD 15.72 | |||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
CAD 11.20 |
A total of 5,379 options were granted to Mr. John Leasure on July 27, 2021. These options were issued with an exercise price denominated in U.S. dollars and the value of those options as at that date was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions:
|
(i) Risk-free interest rate: |
1.24% | ||
(ii) Expected volatility: |
67.95% | |||
(iii) Average option life in years: |
8.5 years | |||
(iv) Expected dividends: |
| |||
(v) Grant date share price: |
$13.92 | |||
(vi) Option exercise price: |
$13.92 | |||
(vii) Grant date fair value: |
$9.68 |
(4) | Pension value consists of the amount of the contribution made by the Corporation to a Named Executive Officers registered retirement savings plan. The Corporation has a group-RRSP for all of its employees under which the Corporation matches every dollar invested by an employee in such group-RRSP but up to three percent (3%) of the annual base salary of each employee, except with respect to (i) Executive Officers where the Corporations contribution is not subject to such three percent (3%) limit and (ii) Mr. Paul Lévesque. Under the terms of Mr. Lévesques employment agreement, the Corporation agreed to contribute on an annual basis to Mr. Lévesques RRSP to the fullest amount permissible under Canadian laws. |
(5) | All other compensation includes perquisites and other form of compensation (such as retention or signing bonuses) not described in the other columns. Except with respect to Mr. Leasure (see note 20 below), perquisites for each Named Executive Officer have not been included since they do not meet the prescribed threshold of the lesser of CAD 50,000 and 10% of each of the respective Named Executive Officers salary in the last fiscal year. |
(6) | Represents the value of 250,000 options granted on February 28, 2023. |
(7) | On December 21, 2020, the Corporation and Paul Lévesque entered into a retention bonus agreement (Retention Agreement) pursuant to which the Corporation agreed to pay Mr. Paul Lévesque the amount of $352,716 in three (3) equal installments of $117,572 over a three (3) year period on each anniversary date of his employment date (April 6, 2020) with the Corporation. The entire payment of $117,572 was made as at the date of this Circular. The Retention Agreement was entered into, among other things, as a result of the role Mr. Lévesque was asked to take on with the departure of the chief commercial officer of the Corporation when Mr. Lévesque joined the Corporation. |
(8) | Represents the value of 101,000 options granted on December 1, 2021. |
(9) | Represents the value of the 60,827 options granted on February 26, 2021. |
(10) | Represents the value of 75,000 options granted on February 28, 2023. |
(11) | Represents the value of 39,474 options on December 1, 2021. |
(12) | Represents the value of 18,308 options granted on February 26, 2021. |
(13) | Represents the value of 75,000 options granted on February 28, 2023. |
(14) | Represents the value of 39,474 options granted on December 1, 2021. |
(15) | Represents the value of 23,798 options granted on February 26, 2021. |
(16) | Mr. Leasure joined the Corporations wholly-owned subsidiary, Theratechnologies U.S., Inc., as Global Commercial Officer, on March 29, 2021. Effective April 11, 2022, Mr. Leasure ceased being employed by this wholly-owned subsidiary and he became an employee of the Corporation as Global Commercial Officer. |
(17) | Represents the value of 62,500 options granted on February 28, 2023. |
(18) | Mr. Leasures annual base salary was set at CAD 402,062. This salary was paid by Theratechnologies U.S., Inc. from December 1, 2021, until April 11, 2022 ($98,969) and by the Corporation ($214,942) beginning on April 11, 2022. |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 41 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
(19) | Represents the value of 33,333 options granted on December 1, 2021. |
(20) | As a U.S. resident, Mr. Leasures employment agreement with the Corporation provides for tax equalization payments with respect to his annual base salary and bonus to the extent the tax rate in his home State is lower than the combined federal and provincial tax rate in Canada. |
(21) | Mr. Leasures annual base salary was set at $305,000. The amount was prorated and represents his annual base salary earned between March 29, 2021, and November 30, 2021. |
(22) | Represents the value of 5,379 options granted on July 27, 2021, as inducement to enter into his employment agreement. |
(23) | Represents the value of 50,000 options granted on February 28, 2023. |
(24) | Represents the value of 27,851 options granted on December 1, 2021. |
(25) | Represents the value of 15,815 options granted on February 26, 2021. |
3. | Incentive Plan Awards |
Outstanding Option-Based Awards and Share-Based Awards
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, no DSUs were issued to the Named Executive Officers and 512,500 options to purchase Common Shares were granted to the Named Executive Officers. The table below details the outstanding option-based awards held by each of the Named Executive Officers as at November 30, 2023 and the value thereof as at that date, if any. Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts expressing a value in the table below were calculated in CAD and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the fiscal year ended on November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404.
Option-Based Awards | Share-Based Awards(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) |
Option exercise price (CAD)(2) |
Option expiration date |
Value
of unexercised in-the- money options(3) ($) |
Number of shares or units of shares that have not vested (#) |
Market or payout value of share- based awards that have not vested ($) |
Market or payout value of vested share-based awards not paid out or distributed(4) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Lévesque |
121,855 | 11.48 | 2030.04.15 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
60,827 | (5) | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
101,000 | (6) | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
250,000 | (7) | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippe Dubuc |
43,750 | 8.04 | 2026.04.04 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and Chief |
10,000 | 23.84 | 2027.04.07 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Officer |
7,247 | 38.24 | 2028.04.06 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
8,325 | 35.04 | 2029.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
12,500 | 12.88 | 2030.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
18,308 | (8) | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
39,474 | (9) | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
75,000 | (10) | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christian Marsolais |
31,249 | 1.52 | 2022.12.20 | (11) | 14,577 | | | 2,512 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President and |
12,500 | 8.04 | 2026.04.04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Medical Officer |
10,000 | 23.84 | 2027.04.07 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,247 | 38.24 | 2028.04.06 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
8,325 | 35.04 | 2029.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
12,500 | 12.88 | 2030.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
25,000 | 12.88 | 2030.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
23,798 | (13) | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
39,474 | (14) | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
75,000 | (15) | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 42 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Option-Based Awards | Share-Based Awards(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) |
Option exercise price (CAD)(2) |
Option expiration date |
Value
of unexercised in-the- money options(3) ($) |
Number of shares or units of shares that have not vested (#) |
Market or payout value of share- based awards that have not vested ($) |
Market or payout value of vested share-based awards not paid out or distributed(4) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
John Leasure |
5,379 | (16) | 13.92 | 2031.07.27 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Global Commercial Officer |
33,333 | (17) | 9.32 | 2031.12.01 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
62,500 | (18) | 3.80 | 2033.02.28 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jocelyn Lafond |
26,250 | 1.52 | 2022.12.20 | (19) | 12,244 | | | 1,990 | (20) | |||||||||||||||||||
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
7,500 | 8.04 | 2026.04.04 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,750 | 23.84 | 2027.04.07 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
3,623 | 38.24 | 2028.04.06 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,450 | 35.04 | 2029.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
6,975 | 12.88 | 2030.02.26 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
15,815 | (21) | 15.72 | 2031.02.26 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
27,851 | (22) | 16.84 | 2031.12.01 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
50,000 | (23) | 5.16 | 2033.02.28 | |
(1) | Share-based awards are comprised of DSUs issued under the DSU Plan. |
(2) | The exercise price of the options granted to John Leasure is expressed in U.S. dollars. |
(3) | The value of unexercised in-the-money options is determined by multiplying the difference between the exercise price of the options and the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD2.15), and, in the case of Mr. Leasure, the NASDAQ ($1.58), by the number of options held and vested as at November 30, 2023. |
(4) | The market or payout value of share-based awards that have vested as at November 30, 2023 is determined by multiplying the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD2.15) by the number of share-based awards held as at November 30, 2023. DSUs may only be redeemed when a Beneficiary leaves his/her position with the Corporation. |
(5) | 20,275 options vested on February 26, 2022, and 20,276 options vested on February 26, 2023. 20,276 options will vest on February 26, 2024. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 20,276 options could not be exercised. |
(6) | 33,666 options vested on December 1, 2022. 33,667 options will vest on December 1, 2023, and on December 1, 2024, respectively. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 67,334 options could not be exercised. |
(7) | 83,333 options will vest on February 28, 2024, and on February 28, 2025, respectively, and 83,334 options will vest on February 28, 2026. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, none of these options could be exercised. |
(8) | 6,102 options vested on February 26, 2022, and 6,103 options vested on February 26, 2023. 6,103 options will vest on February 26, 2024. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 6,103 options could not be exercised. |
(9) | 13,158 options vested on December 1, 2022, and an equal number of options will vest on December 1, 2023, and on December 1, 2024, respectively. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 26,316 options could not be exercised. |
(10) | 25,000 options will vest on each of February 28, 2024, February 28, 2025, and February 28, 2026. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, none of these options could be exercised. |
(11) | Pursuant to the Option Plan, since these options were scheduled to expire during a black-out period, the term of these options was extended to end on the tenth (10th) consecutive business day following the expiry of a black-out period. Since December 20, 2022, no ten (10) consecutive business day period elapsed during which the Corporation was not in a black-out period. |
(12) | Represents 1,578 DSUs granted on December 15, 2010. |
(13) | 7,932 options vested on February 26, 2022, and 7,933 options vested on February 26, 2023. 7,933 options will vest on February 26, 2024. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 7,933 options could not be exercised. |
(14) | 13,158 options vested on December 1, 2022. 13,158 options will vest on December 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024, respectively. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 26,316 options could not be exercised as at November 30, 2023. |
(15) | 25,000 options will vest on each of February 28, 2024, February 28, 2025, and February 28, 2026. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, none of these options could be exercised. |
(16) | 1,793 options vested on each of July 27, 2022, and July 27, 2023. 1,793 options will vest on July 27, 2024. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 1,793 options could not be exercised. |
(17) | 11,111 options vested on December 1, 2022, and 11,111 options will vest on each of December 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 22,222 options could not be exercised. |
(18) | 20,833 options will vest on each of February 28, 2024, and February 28, 2025. 20,834 options will vest on February 28, 2026. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, none of these options could be exercised. |
(19) | See note 11 above. |
(20) | Represents 1,250 DSUs granted on December 15, 2010. |
(21) | 5,271 options vested on February 26, 2022, and 5,272 options vested on February 26, 2023. 5,272 options will vest on February 26, 2024. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 5,272 options could not be exercised. |
(22) | 9,283 options vested on December 1, 2022. 9,284 options will vest on each of December 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024, respectively. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, 18,568 options could not be exercised. |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 43 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
(23) | 16,666 options will vest on February 28, 2024, and 16,667 options will vest on each of February 28, 2025, and February 28, 2026, respectively. Therefore, as at November 30, 2023, none of these options could be exercised. |
Incentive Plan Awards Value vested or earned during the year
The table below shows the value vested or earned during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023 under each incentive plan for each of the Named Executive Officers.
Name |
Option-based awards- Value vested during the year(1) ($) |
Share-based awards- Value vested during the year ($) |
Non-equity incentive plan compensation- Value earned during the year(2) ($) |
|||||||||
Paul Lévesque |
Nil | Nil | 405,553 | |||||||||
President and Chief Executive |
||||||||||||
Officer |
||||||||||||
Philippe Dubuc |
Nil | Nil | 100,067 | |||||||||
Senior Vice President and |
||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
||||||||||||
Christian Marsolais |
Nil | Nil | 95,537 | |||||||||
Senior Vice President and Chief |
||||||||||||
Medical Officer |
||||||||||||
John Leasure |
Nil | Nil | 89,651 | |||||||||
Global Commercial Officer |
||||||||||||
Jocelyn Lafond |
Nil | Nil | 62,376 | |||||||||
General Counsel and Corporate |
||||||||||||
Secretary |
(1) | The value is determined by assuming that the options that vested during the financial year ended November 30, 2023, would have been exercised on their vesting date if they were in-the-money on that date. The value corresponds to the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX, or the NASDAQ, as the case may be, on the vesting date and the exercise price of the options that vested on that date. The closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX and NASDAQ was lower than the exercise price of the options that vested during the financial year ended November 30, 2023, and, accordingly, no value was recorded. |
(2) | The value was calculated in Canadian dollars and converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404. |
4. | Summary of Employment Agreements Termination and Change of Control Provisions |
Below is a summary of the employment agreements of each of the Named Executive Officers together with a table detailing the value of the severance payment that would be payable by the Corporation to each of them pursuant to his employment agreement if one of the events described in the table had occurred on November 30, 2023. Except with respect to Mr. John Leasure and except as disclosed in the notes to the tables below, the amounts set forth in the tables below under Severance and under Value of Stock Options and Value of Share-Based Awards were calculated in CAD and were converted into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rate for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, where CAD1.00 = $0.7404.
Paul Lévesque
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Corporation entered into an employment agreement for an indeterminate term with Mr. Paul Lévesque on March 1, 2020. Mr. Lévesques employment agreement provides for the payment of an
COMPENSATION | PAGE 44 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
annual base salary subject to review on an annual basis by the Board, and the payment of an annual bonus of 75% of his annual base salary conditional upon his attainment of annual objectives set by the Board. In addition, Mr. Lévesques employment agreement provides that he is entitled to participate in incentive programs developed by the Board or any committee thereof and, as such, is entitled to receive up to 100% of the value of his annual base salary in the form of options granted under the Option Plan. The terms of Mr. Lévesques employment agreement contain non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and assignment of intellectual property provisions in favour of the Corporation. The Corporation agreed to provide a limited annual stipend to Mr. Lévesque with respect to tax advice, medical expenses which would not be covered under the Corporations group benefit plan, or any other ancillary matter. The Corporation also agreed to fund Mr. Lévesques Canadian registered retirement savings plan up to the full amount prescribed under applicable laws. Mr. Lévesque can terminate his employment agreement at any time upon four (4) weeks prior written notice to the Corporation. The Corporation can terminate Mr. Lévesques employment agreement with cause at any time. The termination of Mr. Lévesques employment agreement by the Corporation without just and sufficient cause will entitle Mr. Lévesque to receive an amount equal to eighteen (18) months of his then annual base salary plus an amount equal to 150% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 75% on his then annual base salary.
In the event of a Change of Control of the Corporation resulting in the termination of Mr. Lévesques employment without just and sufficient cause occurring within twenty-four (24) months of such Change of Control, Mr. Lévesque will be entitled to receive (i) 200% of his then annual base salary, (ii) 200% of his annual bonus target calculated at a rate of 75% on his then annual base salary, and (iii) the cash value of his benefits calculated over a twenty-four-month period preceding the date of his termination. All of his unvested options will also become vested. Mr. Lévesque is entitled to terminate his employment agreement at his sole discretion within twelve (12) months following the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Corporation. In such circumstance, Mr. Lévesque will be entitled to receive (i) 100% of his then annual base salary, (ii) 100% of his annual bonus target calculated on his then annual base salary, and (iii) the cash value of his benefits calculated over a twelve-month period preceding the date of his termination. All of his unvested options will also become vested. In Mr. Lévesques employment agreement, a Change of Control is defined as the acquisition by a third party, acting alone or in concert with one or more persons, by way of takeover, merger, amalgamation, arrangement or other similar transactions, of (i) more than forty percent (40%) of the Common Shares of the Corporation or (ii) more than forty percent (40%) of the economic value of the Corporation. A Change of Control is also defined as a change in the majority of the individuals composing the Board of Directors at the date of execution of Mr. Lévesques employment agreement (Incumbent Board); provided, however, that any individual becoming a member of the Board of Directors subsequent to the date of execution of Mr. Lévesques employment agreement whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Board of Directors will be considered as though such member were part of the Incumbent Board and will not constitute a Change of Control.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 45 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Events |
Severance ($) |
Value of Stock Options(1) ($) |
Value of share- based awards(2) ($) |
|||||||||
Retirement(3) |
Nil | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause(3) |
1,728,626 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
2,377,709 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
1,188,855 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation(3) |
Nil | Nil | Nil |
(1) | The value assumes that upon the occurrence of any event set forth in this table, all in-the-money vested options (except in the case of a termination resulting from a Change of Control where all of his options become vested) would be exercised. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each vested option as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options that were vested had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX. |
(2) | Mr. Lévesque does not hold any share-based awards. |
(3) | Under the Option Plan, the termination of a persons employment with the Corporation entitles him to exercise his vested options over a one-year period after the termination date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options that were vested had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX. |
(4) | In the event of a Change of Control, all of Mr. Lévesques options become vested. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each option he holds as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options held by Mr. Lévesque had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX. |
Philippe Dubuc
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
The Corporation entered into an employment agreement for an indeterminate term with Mr. Philippe Dubuc on February 24, 2016. Mr. Dubucs employment agreement provides for the payment of an annual base salary subject to review on an annual basis by the Board, and the payment of an annual bonus of up to 40% of his annual base salary conditional upon his attainment of annual objectives set by the President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Mr. Dubuc is entitled to participate in incentive programs developed by the Board or any committee thereof. The terms of Mr. Dubucs employment agreement contain non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and assignment of intellectual property provisions in favour of the Corporation.
On July 27, 2023, Mr. Dubucs employment agreement was amended to provide new termination terms. Under the new terms, if the Corporation terminates Mr. Dubucs employment without just and sufficient cause or further to an internal reorganization (but excluding after a Change of Control), Mr. Dubuc will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 18 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for an 18-month period if Mr. Dubuc has less than 10 years of service upon termination of his employment agreement; or 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period if Mr. Dubuc has 10 years or more of service upon termination of his employment agreement. Mr. Dubuc will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation.
In the event of a Change of Control of the Corporation resulting in the termination of Mr. Dubucs employment without just and sufficient cause occurring within twenty-four (24) months of such Change of Control, or if Mr. Dubuc decides to terminate his employment agreement at his sole discretion 24 four months following the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Corporation, Mr.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 46 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Dubuc will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 18 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for an 18-month period if Mr. Dubuc has less than 10 years of service upon termination of his employment agreement; or (ii) 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period if Mr. Dubuc has 10 years or more of service upon termination of his employment agreement. All of his unvested options will also become vested. Mr. Dubuc will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation. In Mr. Dubucs agreement, a Change of Control is defined as (i) the acquisition by a third party, acting alone or in concert with one or more persons, regardless of its structure, of 40% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, or (ii) a transaction resulting in (x) the shareholders of the Corporation no longer holding more than 60% of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation post-transaction, or (y) post-transaction, the board of directors of the company resulting from this transaction no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors who were then acting as directors prior to the transaction; or (iii) a change in the composition of the board of directors of the Corporation occurring, without the approval by a majority vote of the directors comprising the board of directors of the Corporation prior to such change, during a shareholders meeting or pursuant to a resolution passed by the shareholders of the Corporation, and which results in the board of directors of the Corporation no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors of the Corporation who sat as directors immediately prior to such meeting or resolution; or (iv) a sale or the grant of an exclusive license related to all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation which represents more than 75% of the assets disposed of calculated as at the date of the last financial year preceding such sale or out-licensing or more than 75% of the revenues generated by the Corporation during the last financial year preceding such sale or out-licensing.
Events |
Severance ($) |
Value of Stock Options(1) ($) |
Value of share- based awards(2) ($) |
|||||||||
Retirement(3) |
Nil | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause(3) |
697,717 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
697,717 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
697,717 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation(3) |
Nil | Nil | Nil |
(1) | The value assumes that upon the occurrence of an event set forth in this table, all in-the-money vested options would be exercised. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each vested option as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options that were vested had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX. |
(2) | Mr. Dubuc does not hold any share-based awards. |
(3) | Under the Option Plan, the termination of a persons employment with the Corporation entitles him to exercise his vested options over a one-year period after the termination date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options that were vested had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX. |
(4) | In the event of a Change of Control, all of Mr. Dubucs options become vested. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each option he holds as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options held by Mr. Dubuc had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX. |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 47 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Christian Marsolais
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
The Corporation entered into an employment agreement for an indeterminate term with Mr. Christian Marsolais on April 13, 2007. His agreement was subsequently amended on May 23, 2012, and on July 17, 2012. An amended and restated employment agreement was entered into on December 21, 2012, between Mr. Marsolais and the Corporation. The amended and restated employment agreement was entered into to reflect Mr. Marsolais new position as Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, to set its targeted bonus rate at 40%, to revise and add new restrictive covenants in favour of the Corporation and to amend his severance payment conditions in the event the Corporation terminates his employment without just and sufficient cause. Mr. Marsolais employment agreement provides for the payment of an annual base salary subject to review on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee, and the payment of an annual bonus of up to 40% of his annual base salary conditional upon his attainment of annual objectives set by the President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Mr. Marsolais is entitled to participate in incentive programs developed by the Board or any committee thereof. The terms of Mr. Marsolais employment agreement contain non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and assignment of intellectual property provisions in favour of the Corporation.
On July 28, 2023, Mr. Marsolais employment agreement was further amended to provide new termination terms. Under the new terms, if the Corporation terminates Mr. Marsolais employment without just and sufficient cause or further to an internal reorganization (but excluding after a Change of Control), Mr. Marsolais will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period. Mr. Marsolais will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation.
In the event of a Change of Control of the Corporation resulting in the termination of Mr. Marsolais employment without just and sufficient cause occurring within 24 months of such Change of Control, or if Mr. Marsolais decides to terminate his employment agreement at his sole discretion 24 four months following the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Corporation, Mr. Marsolais will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period. All of his unvested options will also become vested. Mr. Marsolais will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation. In Mr. Marsolais agreement, a Change of Control is defined as (i) the acquisition by a third party, acting alone or in concert with one or more persons, regardless of its structure, of 40% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, or (ii) a transaction resulting in (x) the shareholders of the Corporation no longer holding more than 60% of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation post-transaction, or (y) post-transaction, the board of directors of the company resulting from this transaction no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors who were then acting as directors prior to the transaction; or (iii) a change in the composition of the board of directors of the Corporation occurring, without the approval by a majority vote of the directors comprising the board of directors of the Corporation prior to such change, during a shareholders meeting or pursuant to a resolution passed by the shareholders of the Corporation, and which results in the board of directors of the Corporation no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors of the Corporation who sat as directors immediately prior to such meeting or resolution; or (iv) a sale or the grant of an exclusive license related to all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation which represents more than 75% of the assets disposed of calculated as at the date of the last financial year
COMPENSATION | PAGE 48 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
preceding such sale or out-licensing or more than 75% of the revenues generated by the Corporation during the last financial year preceding such sale or out-licensing.
Events |
Severance ($) |
Value of Stock Options(1) ($) |
Value of share- based awards(2) ($) |
|||||||||
Retirement(3) |
Nil | 14,577 | 2,512 | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause(3) |
949,390 | 14,577 | 2,512 | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
949,390 | 14,577 | 2,512 | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
949,390 | 14,577 | 2,512 | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation(3) |
Nil | 14,577 | 2,512 |
(1) | The value assumes that upon the occurrence of an event set forth in this table, all in-the-money vested options would be exercised. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each vested option as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, 31,250 options with an exercise price of CAD 1.52 were vested. |
(2) | The value of the share-based awards assumes that upon the occurrence of an event, all DSUs are redeemed. The value of share-based awards is determined by multiplying the number of DSUs held as at November 30, 2023 (1,578) by the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15). |
(3) | Under the Option Plan, the termination of a persons employment with the Corporation entitles him to exercise his vested options over a one-year period after the termination date. As at November 30, 2023, 31,250 options with an exercise price of CAD 1.52 were vested. |
(4) | In the event of a Change of Control, all of Mr. Marsolais options become vested. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each option he holds as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, 31,250 options with an exercise price of CAD 1.52 were vested. |
John Leasure
Global Commercial Officer
The Corporation, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Theratechnologies U.S., Inc. (Thera US), entered into an employment agreement with Mr. John Leasure on March 23, 2021, for an indeterminate term. Effective April 11, 2022, the Corporation entered into a new employment agreement (the 2022 Agreement) with Mr. Leasure for an indeterminate term. Under the terms of the 2022 Agreement, Mr. Leasure acts as Global Commercial Officer of the Corporation and of all of the Corporations subsidiaries. Mr. Leasure is entitled to receive an annual base salary subject to review on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee, and the payment of an annual bonus set at 40% of his annual base salary conditional upon his attainment of annual objectives set by the President and Chief Executive Officer. The payment of an annual bonus is subject to clawback provisions requiring Mr. Leasure to repay to the Corporation the last bonus received in the event of violations of certain U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules or other laws applicable to the commercialization of pharmaceutical products in the United States. Under the terms of the 2022 Agreement, Mr. Leasure is also entitled to participate in equity-based incentive plans that the Corporation may implement from time to time. The 2022 Agreement provides that he is entitled to receive a number of stock options of the Corporation, if and when granted by the Board of the Corporation under the Option Plan, representing a target value between 20% to 45% of his annual base salary. The Corporation agreed to match on a dollar-for-dollar basis the funding by Mr. Leasures Canadian registered retirement savings plan up to an amount equal to 50% of the maximum annual contribution allowed under Canadian applicable laws. Mr. Leasure is entitled to participate in Thera US social benefits comprised of disability and death-in-service benefits and health insurance. The 2022 Agreement contains non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and assignment of intellectual property provisions in
favour of the Corporation. Mr. Leasure is entitled to terminate the 2022 Agreement at will upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Corporation.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 49 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
On July 31, 2023, the 2022 Agreement was amended to provide new termination terms. Under the new terms, if the Corporation terminates Mr. Leasures employment without just and sufficient cause or further to an internal reorganization (but excluding after a Change of Control), Mr. Leasure will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 12 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 12-month period if Mr. Leasure has less than 5 years of service upon termination of his employment agreement (ii) 18 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for an 18-month period if Mr. Leasure has less more than 5 years but less than 10 years of service upon termination of his employment agreement; or (ii) 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period if Mr. Leasure has 10 years or more of service upon termination of his employment agreement. Mr. Leasure will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation.
In the event of a Change of Control of the Corporation resulting in the termination of Mr. Leasures employment without just and sufficient cause occurring within twenty-four (24) months of such Change of Control, or if Mr. Leasure decides to terminate his employment agreement at his sole discretion 24 four months following the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Corporation, Mr. Leasure will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 12 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 12-month period if Mr. Leasure has less than 5 years of service upon termination of his employment agreement, (ii) 18 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for an 18-month period if Mr. Leasure has more than 5 years but less than 10 years of service upon termination of his employment agreement; or (iii) 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period if Mr. Leasure has 10 years or more of service upon termination of his employment agreement. All of his unvested options will also become vested. Mr. Leasure will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation.
In Mr. Leasures agreement, a Change of Control is defined as (i) the acquisition by a third party, acting alone or in concert with one or more persons, regardless of its structure, of 40% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, or (ii) a transaction resulting in (x) the shareholders of the Corporation no longer holding more than 60% of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation post-transaction, or (y) post-transaction, the board of directors of the company resulting from this transaction no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors who were then acting as directors prior to the transaction; or (iii) a change in the composition of the board of directors of the Corporation occurring, without the approval by a majority vote of the directors comprising the board of directors of the Corporation prior to such change, during a shareholders meeting or pursuant to a resolution passed by the shareholders of the Corporation, and which results in the board of directors of the Corporation no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors of the Corporation who sat as directors immediately prior to such meeting or resolution; or (iv) a sale or the grant of an exclusive license related to all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation which represents more than 75% of the assets disposed of calculated as at the date of the last financial year preceding such sale or out-licensing or more than 75% of the revenues generated by the Corporation during the last financial year preceding such sale or out-licensing.
COMPENSATION | PAGE 50 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Events |
Severance ($) |
Value of Stock Options(1) ($) |
Value of share- based awards(2) ($) |
|||||||||
Retirement(3) |
Nil | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause(3) |
463,761 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause in the event of a |
||||||||||||
Change of Control(4) |
463,761 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
463,761 | Nil | Nil | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation(3) |
Nil | Nil | Nil |
(1) | The value assumes that upon the occurrence of an event, all in-the-money vested options would be exercised. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on November 30, 2023, on the NASDAQ ($1.58) and the exercise price of each vested option as at November 30, 2023. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options that were vested had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the NASDAQ. |
(2) | Mr. Leasure does not hold any share-based awards. |
(3) | Under the Option Plan, the termination of a persons employment with the Corporation entitles him to exercise his vested options over a one-year period after the termination date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options that were vested had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the NASDAQ. |
(4) | In the event of a Change of Control, all of Mr. Leasures options become vested. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023, on the NASDAQ ($1.58) and the exercise price of each option he holds as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, none of the options held by Mr. Leasure had an exercise price inferior to the closing price of the Common Shares on the NASDAQ. |
Jocelyn Lafond
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
The Corporation entered into an employment agreement for an indeterminate term with Mr. Lafond on March 29, 2007, and an amendment was subsequently entered into on July 5, 2012, to change some of the termination terms. Additional amendments were then entered into on July 2027, 2023, and December 15, 2023, to further amend the termination terms of Mr. Lafonds employment and to increase his annual bonus target rate to 40% from 33.33% beginning in the 2024 fiscal year of the Corporation. Mr. Lafonds employment agreement provides for the payment of an annual base salary subject to review on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee, and the payment of an annual bonus of up to 40% (33.33% in the 2023 fiscal) of his annual base salary conditional upon his attainment of annual objectives set by the President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Mr. Lafond is entitled to participate in incentive programs developed by the Board or any committee thereof. The terms of Mr. Lafonds employment agreement contain non-solicitation, non-disclosure and assignment of intellectual property provisions in favour of the Corporation.
On July 27, 2023, an amendment to the termination terms of Mr. Lafonds employment agreement was entered into. Under the new terms, if the Corporation terminates Mr. Lafond employment without just and sufficient cause or further to an internal reorganization (but excluding after a Change of Control), Mr. Lafond will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period. Mr. Lafond will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation.
In the event of a Change of Control of the Corporation resulting in the termination of Mr. Lafonds employment without just and sufficient cause occurring within 24 months of such Change of Control, or if Mr. Lafond decides to terminate his employment agreement at his sole discretion 24 four months following the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Corporation, Mr. Lafond will be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) 24 months of his annual base salary plus an amount equal to 100% of his
COMPENSATION | PAGE 51 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
annual bonus target, calculated at a rate of 40% on his then annual base salary for a 24-month period. All of his unvested options will also become vested. Mr. Lafond will not be entitled to receive any payment related to the value of any security-based compensation and social benefits received while employed with the Corporation. In Mr. Lafonds agreement, a Change of Control is defined as (i) the acquisition by a third party, acting alone or in concert with one or more persons, regardless of its structure, of 40% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, or (ii) a transaction resulting in (x) the shareholders of the Corporation no longer holding more than 60% of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation post-transaction, or (y) post-transaction, the board of directors of the company resulting from this transaction no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors who were then acting as directors prior to the transaction; or (iii) a change in the composition of the board of directors of the Corporation occurring, without the approval by a majority vote of the directors comprising the board of directors of the Corporation prior to such change, during a shareholders meeting or pursuant to a resolution passed by the shareholders of the Corporation, and which results in the board of directors of the Corporation no longer being comprised of a majority of the directors of the Corporation who sat as directors immediately prior to such meeting or resolution; or (iv) a sale or the grant of an exclusive license related to all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation which represents more than 75% of the assets disposed of calculated as at the date of the last financial year preceding such sale or out-licensing or more than 75% of the revenues generated by the Corporation during the last financial year preceding such sale or out-licensing.
Events |
Severance ($) |
Value of Stock Options(1) ($) |
Value of share- based awards(2) ($) |
|||||||||
Retirement(3) |
Nil | 12,244 | 1,990 | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause(3) |
677,098 | 12,244 | 1,990 | |||||||||
Termination of Employment without Just Cause in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
677,098 | 12,244 | 1,990 | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation in the event of a Change of Control(4) |
677,098 | 12,244 | 1,990 | |||||||||
Voluntary Resignation(3) |
Nil | 12,244 | 1,990 |
(1) | The value assumes that upon the occurrence of an event, all in-the-money vested options would be exercised. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on November 30, 2023 on the TSX (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each vested option as at November 30, 2023. As at November 30, 2023, 26,250 options with an exercise price of CAD 1.52 were vested. |
(2) | The value of the share-based awards assumes that upon the occurrence of an event, all DSUs are redeemed. The value of share-based awards is determined by multiplying the number of DSUs held as at November 30, 2023 (1,250) by the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15). |
(3) | Under the Option Plan, the termination of a persons employment with the Corporation entitles him to exercise his vested options over a one-year period after the termination date. As at November 30, 2023, 26,250 options with an exercise price of CAD 1.52 were vested. |
(4) | In the event of a Change of Control, all of Mr. Lafonds options become vested. The value is the difference between the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2023 (CAD 2.15) and the exercise price of each option he holds as at that date. As at November 30, 2023, 26,250 options with an exercise price of CAD 1.52 were vested. |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 52 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
5. | Performance Graph |
The following graph compares a cumulative annual total shareholder return (TSR) on a CAD 100 investment in the Common Shares between December 1, 2018, and November 30, 2023, against a cumulative total shareholder return on the S&P/TSX Composite Index assuming that all dividends are reinvested (S&P/TSX), the ARCA Biotechnology Index (BTK), and the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NBI). This graph also shows the trend on the aggregate compensation paid to named executive officers (as they then were for each of those years) over the same period.
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
Theratechnologies |
100,0 | 54,2 | 40,1 | 56,6 | 36,5 | 6,8 | ||||||||||||||||||
S&P / TSX Composite Index |
100,0 | 112,1 | 113,1 | 135,9 | 134,6 | 133,2 | ||||||||||||||||||
ARCA Biotechnology Index (BTK) |
100,0 | 105,1 | 115,8 | 112,3 | 111,8 | 102,0 | ||||||||||||||||||
NASDAQ Biotechnology (NBI) |
100,0 | 109,5 | 132,8 | 139,7 | 126,7 | 113,0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Agregate Compensation |
100,0 | 87,5 | 162,9 | 147,9 | 170,4 | 137,0 |
The trend shown in the above performance graph indicates that, since December 1, 2018, the TSR on a CAD 100 investment in the Common Shares underperformed the S&P/TSX Composite Index, the BTK and the NBI.
The value of the total compensation received by the Named Executive Officers over the past five years, as they then were, compared to the TSR fluctuated as follows:
COMPENSATION | PAGE 53 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
| between December 1, 2018 and November 30, 2019, the TSR decreased by 46% while the total compensation decreased by 13%; |
| between December 1, 2019 and November 30, 2020, the TSR decreased by 26% while the total compensation grew by 86%; |
| between December 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021, the TSR grew by 41% while the total compensation decreased by 9%; |
| between December 1, 2021 and November 30, 2022, the TSR decreased by 36% while the total compensation grew by 21%; and |
| between December 1, 2022 and November 30, 2023, the TSR decreased by 81% while the total compensation decreased by 23%. |
COMPENSATION | PAGE 54 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
ITEM IV. | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE |
The Board considers corporate governance to be important to the effective operations of the Corporation and to ensure that the Corporation is managed so as to optimize shareholder value. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for examining the Corporations needs in this regard and addressing all issues that may arise from its practices. This Committee ensures that the Corporations corporate governance practices comply with Regulation 58-101 respecting Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (Québec) and oversees their disclosure according to the guidelines described in Policy Statement 58-201 to Corporate Governance Guidelines (Québec) (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Regulation).
The table below details the corporate governance requirements under the Regulation and the position of the Corporation vis-à-vis each of them.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT |
COMMENTS | |||
1. |
(a) Disclose the identity of directors who are independent. |
Independence is defined in Section 1.4 of Regulation 52-110 respecting Audit Committees. After review of the definition of independence, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determined that the following directors were independent within the meaning of the Regulation in the last fiscal year:
Joseph Arena;
Frank Holler;
Gérald A. Lacoste;
Gary Littlejohn
Andrew Molson;
Dawn Svoronos;
Alain Trudeau; and
Dale Weil.
In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determined that the following nominees proposed for election at the Meeting are independent within the meaning of the Regulation:
Joseph Arena;
Frank Holler;
Andrew Molson;
Dawn Svoronos;
Elina Tea;
Dale Weil; and
Jordan Zwick. | ||
(b) Disclose the identity of directors who are not independent, and describe the basis for that determination. |
In reviewing the definition of independence under Section 1.4 of Regulation 52-110 respecting Audit Committees the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determined that Mr. Paul Lévesque, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, was not independent in the last fiscal year given his position with the Corporation. Mr. Paul Lévesque is a nominee proposed for election at the Meeting. If elected as a director at the Meeting, Mr. Lévesque will not be independent within the meaning of the Regulation as a result of his position with the Corporation. | |||
(c) Disclose whether or not a majority of the directors are independent. If a majority of directors are not independent, describe what the board of directors (the Board) does to facilitate its exercise of independent judgment in carrying out its responsibilities. |
Eight (8) of the nine (9) directors were independent from the Corporation in the last fiscal year.
Seven (7) of the eight (8) nominees proposed for election at the Meeting are independent. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE | PAGE 55 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT |
COMMENTS | |||
(d) If a director is presently a director of any other issuer that is a reporting issuer (or the equivalent) in a jurisdiction or a foreign jurisdiction, identify both the director and the other issuer. |
Frank Holler is a director Delivra Health Brands Inc.
Andrew Molson is a director of Molson Coors Beverage Company and Dundee Corporation.
Dawn Svoronos, the Chair of the Board, is a director of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. and Acelyrin, Inc. | |||
(e) Disclose whether or not the independent directors hold regularly scheduled meetings at which members of management are not in attendance. If the independent directors hold such meetings, disclose the number of meetings held during the last fiscal year ended November 30, 2023. If the independent directors do not hold such meetings, describe what the Board does to facilitate open and candid discussion among its independent directors. |
As a matter of routine, the Chair of the Board assesses with the other independent directors after each meeting of the Board whether a meeting without the non-independent director is required.
There were seventeen (17) meetings of the independent directors in the financial year ended November 30, 2023.
The committees of the Board are composed of independent directors and, whenever non-independent directors attend the committee meetings, the chair of the committee assesses with the independent directors after each meeting of the committee whether a meeting without the non-independent director is required. | |||
(f) Disclose whether or not the chair of the Board is an independent director. If the Board has a chair or lead director who is an independent director, disclose the identity of the independent chair or lead director, and describe his or her role and responsibilities. If the board has neither a chair that is independent nor a lead director this independent, describe what the Board does to provide leadership for its independent directors. |
The Chair of the Board, Dawn Svoronos, is independent.
The Chair of the Boards role and responsibilities consist in:
Representing the Corporation vis-à-vis shareholders and members of the public;
Preparing the agendas for all Board meetings;
Presiding over each Board meeting and shareholders meeting;
Coordinating with the chairs of the Board committees on topics to be discussed at committee meetings;
Following-up with the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation on material matters occurring in the normal course of business of the Corporation;
Assessing the circumstances requiring the holding of special meetings of the Board; and
Following-up with committee chairs on topics discussed at Board meetings. | |||
(g) Disclose the attendance record of each director for all Board meetings held since the beginning of the issuers most recently completed financial year. |
See the information in the tables provided for each nominee under Item II Subjects to be treated at the meeting - Election of Directors Composition of the Board of Directors - Nominees above. | |||
2. |
Disclose the text of the Boards written mandate. If the Board does not have a written mandate, describe how the Board delineates its role and responsibilities. |
See Appendix A attached to this Circular. | ||
3. |
(a) Disclose whether or not the Board has developed written position descriptions for the chair and the chair of each Board committee. If the Board has not developed written position descriptions for the chair and/or the chair of each Board committee, briefly describe how the Board delineates the role and responsibilities of each such position. |
The Board has not developed written position descriptions for the Chair of the Board and the chair of each Board committee. The persons acting as Chair of the Board and chairs of Board committees have the experience and expertise necessary to assess the role they must play in the context of a public company. See Section 1 (f) above for a description of the role and responsibilities of the Chair of the Board.
The role and responsibilities of the chair of each Board committee consist in:
Preparing the agendas for each committee meeting;
Presiding over each committee meeting;
Following-up on matters discussed at committee meetings, if and when necessary; and
Reporting to the Chair of the Board and the Board. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE | PAGE 56 | |||
MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT |
COMMENTS | |||
(b) Disclose whether or not the Board and CEO have developed a written position description for the CEO. If the Board and CEO have not developed such a position description, briefly describe how the Board delineates the role and responsibilities of the CEO. |
The Board and the CEO have not developed a written position description for the CEO. However, the Board set the following expectations with respect to the role and responsibilities of the individual currently holding the position of President and Chief Executive Officer:
Representing the Corporation vis-à-vis shareholders and members of the public;
Implementing and driving the Corporations strategy;
Understanding of the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industry on a global basis (sales, marketing and market access);
Supervising the activities related to the commercialization of the Corporations products in the United States;
Supervising the activities related to research and development activities;
Canvassing the potential acquisition or in-licensing of new products and supervising the negotiation of agreements related to such transactions;
Overseeing the control of expenses;
Having leadership skills;
Understanding of finance;
Ensuring compliance with an ethical conduct;
Reporting to the Board; and
Maintaining good relationships with shareholders, employees and members of the public.
All activities conducted by the Corporation that are not conducted in the normal course of business of the Corporation are discussed with the Board. The Chair of the Board has frequent communications with the President and Chief Executive Officer and is aware of situations that do not qualify as normal course of business. | |||
4. |
(a) Briefly describe what measures the Board takes to orient new members regarding:
(i) the role of the Board, its committees and its Directors, and
(ii) the nature and operation of the issuers business. |
The Board has a Director Orientation and Continuing Education Policy in place for new directors. For a description of this policy, see Appendix B to this Circular. | ||
(b) Briefly describe what measures, if any, the Board takes to provide continuing education for its directors. If the Board does not provide continuing education, describe how the Board ensures that its directors maintain the skill and knowledge necessary to meet their obligations as directors. |
The Board oversees continuing education that is provided to the directors. Continuing education is provided in the following form:
Articles and books on topics relating to the Corporations business, competitors, corporate governance and regulatory matters are provided to directors;
At Board meetings, members of management are invited to present on business activities;
Consultants are invited from time to time at Board and/or committee meetings to update Board and committee members on various topics relating to the business of the Corporation;
Directors attending conferences or seminar addressing relevant topics to the Corporation;
Providing directors with published research reports written by healthcare analysts. | |||
5. |
(a) Disclose whether or not the Board has adopted a written code for the directors, officers and employees. If the Board has adopted a written code:
(i) disclose how a person may obtain the code; |
The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics (the Code) and a policy against corruption of civil servants pursuant to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (United States) (the Policy). On March 3, 2022, the Board amended and restated the Code.
The Code and the Policy are available on the website of the Corporation at www.theratech.com under the section Compliance, Ethics & Privacy and under Investors Corporate Governance Corporate Documents, respectively. |
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(ii) describe how the Board monitors compliance with its code, or if the Board does not monitor compliance, explain whether and how the Board satisfies itself regarding compliance with its code; and |
The Board monitors compliance with the Code by requiring that all directors, employees and executive officers certify on a yearly basis that they have read, understood and agreed to be bound by the Code. The Board will also require that the certification encompasses the Policy. The Board also relies on management to report any conduct that is contrary to the Code to the Chair of the Board or the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. | |||
(iii) provide a cross-reference to any material change report filed since the beginning of the issuers most recently completed financial year ended that pertains to any conduct of a director or executive officer that constitutes a departure from the code. |
The Corporation has not filed any material change report pertaining to any conduct of a director or executive officer that departs from the Code in the last fiscal year. | |||
(b) Describe any steps the Board takes to ensure directors exercise independent judgment in considering transactions and agreements in respect of which a director or executive officer has a material interest. |
The Board does not take any particular steps to ensure directors exercise independent judgment in considering transactions and agreements in respect of which a director or executive officer has a material interest. The Board relies on the loyalty, integrity and honesty of its directors to for the disclosure of any interest a director has or may have in a transaction or agreement. Corporate laws, the general by-laws of the Corporation and the Code require that a director discloses any interest he/she may have or has in any transaction or agreement. In the event a director has any such interest, the director will be asked to leave the Board or committee meeting during which discussions regarding the transaction or agreement will take place. The director will not be entitled to vote on any resolution regarding such transaction or agreement. | |||
(c) Describe any other steps the Board takes to encourage and promote a culture of ethical business conduct. |
The Board has adopted the Code and is trained once a year on it by the compliance officer of the Corporation. The Board also emphasizes to management during Board meetings the importance of managing the Corporation with the highest ethical standards with a zero tolerance policy on deviations. The Board also relies on the honesty and loyalty of each individual and the consequences an individual would suffer if his/her ethical business conduct was inadequate. | |||
6. |
(a) Describe the process by which the Board identifies new candidates for Board nomination. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is responsible to identify new candidates for Board nomination.
The identification of new candidates is undertaken after the Board has assessed the needs of the Corporation and the expertise at the Board level to meet those needs. The identification of new candidates may be done in different ways:
Knowledge by a Board member of one or more persons having the skills, experience, time and commitment required to act as directors of the Corporation; or
Retaining the services of a third party specialized in the recruitment of directors.
Prior to retaining any individual to act as director of the Corporation, the individual is met by the Chair of the Board and other Board members. In addition, the individuals background is reviewed. | ||
(b) Disclose whether or not the Board has a nominating committee composed entirely of independent Directors. If the Board does not have a nominating committee composed entirely of independent directors, describe what steps the Board takes to encourage an objective nomination process. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was comprised of four (4) independent directors in the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, namely:
Gérald A. Lacoste (chair);
Andrew Molson
Dale Weil; and
Dawn Svoronos. |
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(c) If the Board has a nominating committee, describe the responsibilities, powers and operations of the nominating committee. |
The responsibilities, powers and operation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are described in Appendix C to this Circular. | |||
7. |
(a) Describe the process by which the Board determines the compensation for the issuers directors and officers. |
The Board has delegated to the Compensation Committee the evaluation and assessment of the compensation of the Corporations directors and executive officers.
The Compensation Committee reviews, among other things, the compensation of the Corporations executive officers for the ensuing fiscal year and assesses the performance of each executive officer on a yearly basis against the Corporations annual objectives and each executive officers personal objectives to determine whether an executive officer is entitled to a bonus in the form of cash for his/her services and/or the grant of stock options. The Compensation Committee has the power to retain the services of third parties to help in the determination of the annual compensation of an executive officer. Where the Compensation Committee does not retain the services of a third party, the Compensation Committee may review publicly available information regarding the compensation of executive officers holding a position similar to the position under review or purchase such information from third parties. The Compensation Committee will also take into consideration publicly available information relating to the average percentage increase in a particular year of the compensation generally paid to executive officers.
The Compensation Committee reviews, from time to time, the compensation of the directors and members of the Board committees. The Compensation Committee has the power to retain the services of third parties to assist its members determining the compensation of directors and committee members.
The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board on the compensation to be paid to executive officers and directors and the Board has complete discretion to accept, reject or amend any recommendation made by the Compensation Committee. | ||
(b) Disclose whether or not the Board has a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. If the Board does not have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors, describe what steps the Board takes to ensure an objective process for determining such compensation. |
The Corporation has a Compensation Committee comprised of independent directors only. In the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Compensation Committee was comprised of the following three (3) independent directors:
Dale Weil (Chair);
Andrew Molson; and
Joseph Arena. | |||
(c) If the Board has a compensation committee, describe the responsibilities, powers and operation of the compensation committee. |
The responsibilities, powers and operation of the Compensation Committee are described in Appendix D to this Circular. | |||
8. |
If the Board has standing committees other than the audit, compensation, nominating committees, identify the committees and describe their function. | None | ||
9. |
Disclose whether or not the Board, its committees and individual directors are regularly assessed with respect to their effectiveness and contribution. If assessments are regularly conducted, describe the process used for the assessments. If assessments are not regularly conducted, describe how the Board satisfies itself that the Board, its committee, and its individual directors are performing effectively. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible to ensure that a process is in place for the review of the performance of individual directors, the Board as a whole, the Board committees, as well as the Board and Committee Chairs.
Assessments are done on an ongoing basis and this has resulted in the recent appointment of Jordan Zwick and Elina Tea as new independent directors.
For the last fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Board conducted a formal assessment of each individual director. The assessment was done after reviewing the skills and expertise required to act as a director |
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of the Corporation after taking into account, among other things, the current status of the industry, current market trends, current skillset and the Corporations long term objectives and strategies. | ||||
10. |
Disclose whether or not the issuer has adopted term limits for the directors on its board or other mechanisms of board renewal and if so, include a description of those director term limits or other mechanisms of board renewal. | Theratechnologies has adopted a policy regarding term limits, a summary of which is provided under Item II - Subjects to be treated at the meeting Election of Directors Directors Mandatory Retirement Policy. | ||
11. |
(a) Disclose whether the issuer has adopted a written policy relating to the identification and nomination of women directors. If the issuer has not adopted such a policy, disclose why it has not done so. |
The Charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee embeds the obligation by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to take into consideration gender diversity when the Committee needs to recruit candidates for directorship. Therefore, gender diversity is now one of the four criteria that the Committee will consider in recruiting a candidate to act as a director of the Corporation.
Theratechnologies has not adopted a written policy relating specifically to the identification and nomination of women directors. The Board desires to have discretion in selecting candidates since it has determined that it would be inappropriate for Theratechnologies to require that a minimum percentage of candidates at the Board or executive levels be comprised of women. As described under Item II Subject to be treated at the meeting Board Gender Diversity, assuming all nominees are elected as directors at the Meeting, three (3) women out of eight (8) directors will comprise the Board of Directors, or 38% of all directors. | ||
(b) If an issuer has adopted a policy referred to in 11(a), disclose the following in respect of the policy:
(i) a short summary of its objectives and key provisions;
(ii) the measures taken to ensure that the policy has been effectively implemented;
(iii) annual and cumulative progress by the issuer in achieving the objectives of the policy; and
(iv) whether and if so, how the board and its nominating committee measures the effectiveness of the policy. |
As stated above, no written policy has been adopted by the Board of Theratechnologies. | |||
12. | Disclose whether and, if so, how the Board or the nominating committee considers the level of representation of women on the Board in identifying and nominating candidates for election or re-election to the Board. If the issuer does not consider a level of representation of women on the Board in identifying and nominating candidates for election or re-election to the Board, disclose the issuer reason for not doing so. | Both the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consider the level of representation of women on the Board in identifying and nominating candidates for election or re-election.
Whenever the issues of succession or addition of new board members are discussed, the members of the Board seek to obtain the candidacy of women who must fulfill the expertise sought by the Board. See Section 11(a) above. | ||
13. | Disclose whether and, if so, how the issuer considers the level of representation of women in executive officer positions when making executive officer appointments. If the issuer does not consider the level of representation of women in executive officer positions when making executive officer appointments, disclose the issuers reasons for not doing so. | Theratechnologies is sensitive to the representation of women holding executive officer positions. However, as for Board candidacy, management will seek to retain the services of the most available skilled person(s) to fulfill available position(s). |
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14. |
(a) Disclose whether the issuer has adopted a target regarding women on the issuers board. If the issuer has not adopted a target, disclose why it has not done so. |
As previously mentioned, Theratechnologies has no target with respect to women acting as Board members. The Board wishes to retain its discretion in order to appoint successors or add additional members in order to be in a position to select the best available candidates while keeping in mind gender diversity. | ||
(b) Disclose whether the issuer has adopted a target regarding women in executive officer positions of the issuer. If the issuer had not adopted a target, disclose why it has not done so. |
As previously mentioned, Theratechnologies has no target with respect to women in executive officer positions. The Corporation wishes to retain discretion in order to appoint successors or add additional members in order to be in a position to select the best available candidates. | |||
(c) If the issuer had adopted a target referred to in either paragraph 14(a) or 14(b), disclose:
(i) the target; and
(ii) the annual and cumulative progress of the issuer in achieving the target. |
N.A. | |||
15. |
(a) Disclose the number and proportion (in percentage terms) of directors on issuers board who are women. |
Ms. Dawn Svoronos is the Chair of the Board and Ms. Dale Weil acted as a director of the Corporation in the last fiscal year. As at November 30, 2023, they represented 25% of all Board members. If Ms. Svoronos, Ms. Weil and Ms. Tea are elected at the Meeting, the representation of women on the Board will account for 43% of independent directors and 38% of all Board members. | ||
(b) Disclose the number and proportion (in percentage terms) of executive officers of the issuer, including all measure subsidiaries of the issuer, who are women. |
The number of executive officers at Theratechnologies amounts to seven (7), one of whom is a woman, namely Ms. Marie-Noël Colussi. Ms. Colussi acts as Vice President, Finance. The proportion of women holding executive positions at Theratechnologies amounts to 14%. |
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ITEM V. | OTHER INFORMATION |
1. | Audit Committee Information |
General
As at November 30, 2023, the audit committee (the Audit Committee) was comprised of three (3) independent directors, namely, Mr. Alain Trudeau, who has been acting as Chair since May 13, 2021, Gérald A. Lacoste, and Frank Holler. Following the resignation of Mr. Alain Trudeau as a director and as Chair of the Audit Committee and further to the appointment of Ms. Elina Tea and Mr. Jordan Zwick as directors of the Corporation, the Audit Committee is currently comprised of Frank Holler, acting as Chair, Gérald A. Lacoste, Jordan Zwick and Elina Tea. All of the Audit Committee members are financially literate within the meaning of National Instrument 52-110Audit Committees and Mr. Alain Trudeau was designated as a financial expert under U.S. securities regulation during the last fiscal year. Mr. Frank Holler has now been designated a financial expert under U.S. securities regulation. The Audit Committee members meet without executive officers at each meeting of the Audit Committee. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, the Audit Committee met a total of six (6) times.
Biography of Audit Committee Members Seeking Reelection
The biography of each Audit Committee member is found under Item II Subjects to be treated at the meeting Election of Directors Composition of the Board of Directors - Nominees above.
Role and Responsibilities
The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board to oversee the followings:
| the integrity of the Corporations financial statements and information related thereto; |
| the Corporations internal control system; |
| the appointment and performance assessment of the external auditors; and |
| the Corporations risk management matters. |
A copy of the Charter of the Audit Committee describing in greater details the role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee is attached as Appendix E to this Circular.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of the independent external auditors work. The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided by the external auditors and the fees related thereto. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. The external auditors and the Corporations management report to the Audit Committee on all services performed by the external auditors and on the fees for those services. The Audit Committee approved all of the fees listed in the table above under Item II Subjects to be treated at the meeting Appointment of Auditors.
Auditors Fees
The fees paid to the Auditors of the Corporation for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2023 and November 30, 2022, respectively, are shown in the table above under Item II. Subjects to be treated at the meeting Appointment of Auditors.
OTHER INFORMATION | PAGE 62 | |||
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2. | Shareholder Proposals |
The deadline by which the Corporation must receive proposals from shareholders under the Act for presentation at the next annual meeting of shareholders is January 8, 2025.
3. | Additional Documentation |
The Corporation is a reporting issuer in all Canadian provinces and is required to file its financial statements, annual information form or a Form 20-F and this Circular with each Canadian Securities Commission. The Corporation is also a reporting issuer in the United States and qualifies as a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities laws.
The financial information of the Corporation is provided in the Corporations comparative financial statements and Managements Discussion & Analysis for its fiscal year ended November 30, 2023. Copies of the Corporations financial statements, management proxy circular and Form 20-F may be obtained on request to the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation at the following address: 2015 Peel Street, 11th Floor, Montreal, Québec, Canada, H3A 1T8 or by consulting the SEDAR+ Website at www.sedarplus.ca and the EDGAR Website at www.sec.gov. The Corporation may require the payment of a reasonable fee if the request is made by someone other than a security holder of the Corporation, unless the Corporation is in the course of a distribution of its securities pursuant to a short-form prospectus, in which case these documents will be provided free of charge.
OTHER INFORMATION | PAGE 63 | |||
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4. | Approval by the Board |
The content and the sending of this Circular have been approved by the Board of the Corporation.
Montreal, Québec, Canada, April 8, 2024.
(signed) Jocelyn Lafond
Jocelyn Lafond
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
OTHER INFORMATION | PAGE 64 | |||
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MANDATE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
I. | Role |
The Corporations Board of Directors (the Board) is ultimately responsible for the stewardship of the Corporation and executes its mandate directly or after considering recommendations from its related committees and Management.
Management is responsible for the Corporations day-to-day activities and is charged with realizing strategic activities approved by the Board within the scope of its authorized business activities, capitalization plan and Corporation directives. Management must report regularly to the Board on matters relating to short-term results and long-term development activities.
II. | Obligations and Responsibilities |
The Board carries out the functions, performs duties and assumes the responsibilities entrusted by the laws and regulations. The Board may delegate some of its responsibilities to Board committees and Management within the scope of the Corporations General By-laws, the laws and the regulations. Therefore, day-to-day management of the Corporations activities is entrusted to Senior Management, which reports directly to the Board. One of the key functions of the Board is to appoint the senior management team.
The functions and duties of Board members include, without limitation, the following functions and duties:
A. | Appointment, assessment, succession planning of Senior Management |
1. | Select and appoint the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. |
2. | Oversee the appointment of other members of Senior Management. |
3. | Ensure that the Corporation has a succession plan for the President and Chief Executive Officer. |
4. | Monitor the performance of the President and Chief Executive Officer and other Executive Officers, with respect to pre-established objectives. |
B. | Compensation of Directors |
1. | Establish the compensation of Directors. |
C. | Strategic Direction and Planning |
1. | Adopt the Corporations strategic planning process. |
2. | Approve the Corporations strategic plan and review Senior Managements performance in implementing the plan. |
3. | Review the strategic plan annually, taking into account opportunities and risks, and monitoring the Corporations performance against the plan. |
4. | Review and approve the Corporations annual plans towards financing the strategic plan. |
5. | Review and approve the Corporations annual operating budget. |
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6. | Identify key business risks facing the Corporation and the implementation of appropriate systems to manage these risks. |
7. | Discuss with Management how the strategic environment is changing and the key strategic issues. |
D. | Corporate Behaviour and Governance |
1. | Develop an approach to corporate governance, including the determination of principles and guidelines for the Corporation. |
2. | Obtain reasonable assurance of the integrity of the President and Chief Executive Officer and other senior members of Management, and that they uphold principles of integrity within the ranks of the Corporation. |
3. | Oversee the implementation of a Corporation disclosure policies and procedures. |
4. | Monitor the integrity of the Corporations internal controls and disclosure systems. |
5. | Be available to receive feedback from stakeholders, which must be provided in writing, at the Corporations head office, bearing the mention Confidential. |
E. | Personal Behaviours |
1. | Keep up to date with the regular programs and employees of the Corporation. |
2. | Upon request, join a committee and actively participate at its meetings. |
3. | Be accessible, at least by telephone, to personnel and other Corporation Directors, as required. |
4. | Keep confidential information discussed during meetings. |
5. | Attend regular and special Board meetings. |
6. | Get to know other members of the Board and promote collegial decision-making. |
III. | External Advisors |
In discharging its duties and responsibilities, the Board is empowered to retain external legal counsel or other external advisors, as appropriate. The Corporation shall provide the necessary funds to secure the services of such advisors.
IV. | Composition of the Board |
The Board consists of such number of Directors as the Board may determine from time to time by resolution. The Board must assure itself that it is composed of Directors that are sufficiently familiar with the business of the Corporation, and the risks it faces, to ensure active and effective participation in the deliberations of the Board. Directors should have diverse backgrounds and personal characteristics and traits as well as competencies and expertise that add value to the Corporation. Finally, a majority of the Directors must be independent for the purposes of National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines.
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V. | Board Meeting Procedures |
The Board follows the procedure established in the Corporations General By-Laws.
VI. | Records |
The Corporations Secretary keeps the records required by law and any other relevant document.
VII. | Effective Date |
This written mandate was adopted by the Directors at its February 8, 2006, Board meeting.
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DIRECTOR ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION POLICY
The Board must first ensure that every new nominee as Director possesses the necessary skill, expertise, availability and knowledge to properly fulfil its mandate. Once a Director is effectively elected, the Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer and Secretary provide him with the specific information required for a well-informed contribution.
I. | Purpose |
The purpose of this Director Orientation and Continuing Education Policy (the Policy) is to set forth the Corporations process of orientation for newly appointed Corporation Directors to familiarize them with the role of the Corporations Board of Directors, its committees, its directors, and the nature and operation of the Corporations business activities. The Policy also indicates the elements of continuing education of the Board of Directors to ensure the Corporation Directors maintain the skill and knowledge necessary to fulfill their obligations as directors.
II. | Orientation of New Directors |
Newly appointed Directors first meet with the Chairman of the Board to discuss the functioning of the Board of Directors. Then, they meet with the President and Chief Executive Officer to discuss the nature and operation of the Corporations business activities. As required, meetings may be set up with other Senior Managers to further clarify some of the Corporations business activities. Finally, the Secretary provides new directors with the following documents:
A. | Copies of Board meeting minutes and written resolutions since the beginning of the fiscal year (which may include those of the preceding fiscal year, depending of the date of appointment), including a copy of the minutes of the last annual meeting; |
B. | A schedule of Board Meetings for the year; |
C. | The disclosure policies and procedures and the Undertaking form (for signature); |
D. | The policy on insider trading in force at Theratechnologies (with mention to register as an insider with the Canadian securities agency through SEDI.ca and to prepare an initial insider report within ten (10) days following appointment); |
E. | Theratechnologies Share Option Plan; |
F. | The latest circular and accompanying information on Theratechnologies (fact sheet, latest press releases, latest annual information form and corporate presentation); |
G. | The Director Disclosure Form (to complete and return within afforded time); |
H. | The General By-Laws, the Boards written mandate, the Audit Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, Nominating and Corporate Governance Charter; and |
I. | The Directors and Senior Management coverage and compensation. |
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III. | Continuing Education |
The following actions are taken to ensure the continuing education of Directors:
A. | Management provides Directors, from time to time, with pertinent articles and books relating to the Corporations business, its competitors, corporate governance and regulatory issues; |
B. | Key Corporation executives make regular presentations to the Board on business activities; |
C. | Certain consultants present to the Board on matters relevant to their role and duties. Consultants such as insurance brokers presenting on risks faced by the Corporation or consultants presenting a long-term strategy for the Corporation; |
D. | The Secretary offers Directors continuing education in the form of presentations on new legal and regulatory requirements that impact the Board. |
IV. | Review |
This Policy is reviewed and modified when the Board of Directors considers it necessary and desirable.
APPENDIX B DIRECTOR ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION POLICY | PAGE 69 | |||
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NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. | Mandate |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the Committee) is responsible for assisting the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) in overseeing the following:
A. | Recruit candidates for the Board; |
B. | Review the size of the Board; |
C. | Composition of the Board; |
D. | Function of the Board; |
E. | Orientation and education of Board members; |
F. | Succession planning; and |
G. | Governance. |
II. | Obligations and Duties |
The Committee carries out the duties usually entrusted to a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and any other duty assigned from time to time by the Board. Specifically, the Committee is charged with the following obligations and duties:
A. | Recruit Candidates for the Board |
1. | Identify potential candidates as members of the Companys Board of Directors. In so doing, the Committee will consider: |
a. | independence of candidates under the terms of National Policy 58-201 on corporate governance; |
b. | gender diversity; |
c. | the competencies, skills and personal characteristics sought in candidates. The Committee will determine what it considers necessary by assessing competencies, skills and personal characteristics of the candidates in relation to: (1) those generally required by the Board; (2) those already present in other Board members; and (3) those which are a welcome addition; and |
d. | the availability of candidates. |
2. | All Board members may submit to the Committee potential candidates for membership, and the Committee shall review such candidates in light of above described competencies and skills desirable for the Board. |
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3. | The Committee shall proceed as follows for the recruitment of candidates: |
a. | when determined by the Committee and the Board of Directors that Board vacancies must be filled or new members are desirable, the Chair of the Board of Directors shall make contact with candidates that have been identified by the Committee per the above described criteria; |
b. | upon a positive evaluation by the Chair of the Board of Directors and positive reaction from the candidate, at least two (2) members of the Board shall meet with the candidate; and |
c. | upon a positive evaluation by the two (2) Board members and the continuing interest of the candidate, the Committee shall make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, providing all pertinent background information for analysis and discussion by the Directors. |
B. | Board Size |
The Board must be composed of 3 to 20 directors, as per the Companys Articles of Incorporation and the Law. As provided under the terms of the Company General By-Laws, the Board shall exercise its power to establish by resolution the exact number of directors. In this regard, the duties of the Committee are as follows:
1. | Examine the size of the Board annually in view of assessing its effectiveness. |
2. | Consider modifications to the number of constituting members and issue its recommendations to the Board. |
C. | Composition of the Board |
1. | Ensure that the Board is composed of Directors that are sufficiently familiar with the business of the Company, and the risks it faces, to ensure active and effective participation in the deliberations of the Board. |
2. | Ensure that Directors have diverse backgrounds and personal characteristics and traits as well as competencies and expertise that add value to the Company. |
3. | Ensure that a majority of the directors are independent directors for the purposes of National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines. |
D. | Board Functioning |
1. | Examine the Boards functions and issue recommendations as to its obligations and role. Among others, the Committee must regularly review the Boards written mandate. |
2. | Determine and review, as needed, the roles and mandates of Board committees and issue recommendations. |
E. | Orientation and Continuing Education of Board Members |
1. | Develop an orientation and continuing education policy for Directors. |
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F. | Succession Planning |
1. | Develop and monitor succession plans for the Board. |
G. | Governance |
1. | Follow corporate governance developments and, as required, advise the Board of appropriate actions. |
2. | Examine appropriate actions to promote ethical business conduct, issue relevant recommendations to the Board and oversee their implementation. |
3. | Examine conflict of interest issues that may be brought to the attention of the Board and offer solutions. |
III. | External Advisors |
In discharging its duties and responsibilities, the Committee is empowered to retain external legal counsel or other external advisors, as appropriate. The Company shall provide the necessary funds to secure the services of such advisors.
IV. | Composition of the Committee |
The Committee is composed of any number of Directors, but no less than three, as may be determined by the Board from time to time by resolution. Each member of the Committee shall be independent from the Company, as determined by the Board in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
V. | Term of the Mandate |
Committee members are appointed by Board resolution to carry out their mandate extending from the date of the appointment to the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, or until successors are so appointed.
VI. | Vacancy |
The Board may fill vacancies at any time by resolution. Subject to the constitution of the quorum, the Committees members can continue to act even if there is one or many vacancies on the Committee.
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VII. | Chair |
The Board appoints the Committee Chair who will call and chair the meetings. The Chair reports to the Board the deliberations of the Committee and its recommendations.
VIII. | Secretary |
Unless decided otherwise by resolution of the Board, the Secretary of the Company shall act as Committee Secretary. The Secretary must attend Committee meetings and prepare the minutes. He/she must provide notification of meetings as directed by the Committee Chair. The Secretary is the guardian of the Committees records, books and archives.
IX. | Meeting Proceedings |
The Committee establishes its own procedures as to how meetings are called and conducted. Unless it is otherwise decided, the Committee shall meet privately and independently from Management at each regularly scheduled meeting. In the absence of the regularly appointed Chair, the meeting shall be chaired by another Committee member selected among attending participants and appointed accordingly. In the absence of the regularly appointed Secretary, Committee members shall designate someone else to carry out this duty.
X. | Quorum and Vote |
Unless the Board otherwise specifies by resolution, two Committee members shall constitute an appropriate quorum for deliberation of items on the agenda. During meetings, decisions are reached by a majority of votes from Committee members, unless the quorum is of two members, in which case decisions are made by consensus of opinion.
XI. | Records |
The Committee keeps records that are deemed necessary of its deliberations and reports regularly to the Board on its activities and recommendations.
XII. | Annual Review |
The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
XIII. | Effective Date |
This charter was adopted by the Directors during the February 8, 2006, Board meeting and amended during the February 7, 2017, August 7, 2019, and December 10, 2019, Board meetings.
APPENDIX C NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR |
Page 73 THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. | Mandate |
The Compensation Committee (the Committee) is responsible for assisting the Corporations Board of Directors (the Board) in overseeing the following:
A. | Compensation of Senior Management; |
B. | Assessment of Senior Management, including an overview and monitoring of the yearly objectives of the Chief Executive Officer (the CEO) and other members of Senior Management; |
C. | Compensation of Directors; |
D. | Stock option grants; |
E. | Overall increase in total compensation; and |
F. | Review of the succession plan covering the CEO and other members of senior management, including the assessment of the risks related thereto. |
II. | Obligations and Duties |
The Committee carries out the duties usually entrusted to a compensation committee and any other duty assigned from time to time by the Board. Specifically, the Committee is charged with the following obligations and duties:
A. | Compensation of Senior Management |
1. | Develop a compensation policy for the Corporations senior management, notably the Senior Management compensation structure, annual salary adjustments as well as the creation and administration of short and long-term incentive plans, stock options, indirect advantages and benefits proposed by the CEO. The CEO cannot be present during any voting or deliberations by the Committee on his or her compensation. |
2. | Review and establish all forms of compensation to senior management. |
3. | Oversee, as required, employment contracts and terminations of senior management, notably severance pay. |
4. | Oversee the Corporations circular on senior management compensation part of the Corporations continuous disclosure requirements under applicable laws and regulations. |
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B. | Assessment of Senior Management |
1. | Develop a written position description for the CEO. |
2. | Establish general objectives annually for the CEO of the Corporation and for other members of senior management. |
3. | Examine and annually assess the objectives of the CEO set by this Committee as well as those of each member of Senior Management set by the CEO, including a mid-year monitoring exercise of these objectives. |
4. | Examine, in collaboration with the CEO, the annual performance assessment of other senior managers. |
C. | Compensation of Directors |
1. | Recommend to the Board approval of the Directors Compensation Policy. |
2. | Examine the compensation of Directors in relation to the risks and duties of their position. |
D. | Stock Option Grants |
1. | Oversee, review as needed and recommend Board approval of the Corporation Share Option Plan. |
2. | The Committee may delegate, at its discretion, the plans administration to members of the Corporations senior management and employees. |
3. | Examine, oversee and recommend Board approval of stock option grants, specifically: |
a. | the people to whom options are granted; |
b. | the number of options granted; |
c. | the exercise price of the options; |
d. | the exercise period of the options; and |
e. | all other conditions relating to options granted. |
E. | Overall Increase in Total Compensation |
1. | Approve annually the Corporations increase in overall compensation. |
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F. | Succession Plan |
1. | Develop and monitor succession plan for the CEO and other members of senior management. |
2. | Evaluate and recommend to the Board succession plans for the CEO and other members of senior management and oversee the implementation of such succession plans. |
3. | Assess the risks related to the CEOs and other members of senior managements departure, resignation, retirement, long-term disability or sudden death. |
III. | External Advisors |
In discharging its duties and responsibilities, the Committee is empowered to retain external legal counsel or other external advisors, as appropriate. Before retaining or seeking advice from external legal counsel or other external advisors (other than the Corporations in-house counsel), the Committee must take into consideration the six factors specified in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(d)(3)(D) or any successor provision thereto. The Committee shall set the compensation, and oversee the work, of the external legal counsel or other external advisor. The Corporation shall provide the necessary funds to secure the services of such advisors.
IV. | Composition of Committee |
The Committee is composed of any number of Directors, but no less than three, as may be determined by the Board from time to time by resolution. Each member of the Committee shall be independent from the Corporation, as determined by the Board, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
V. | Minimum Meeting Requirements |
The Committee shall meet at least twice per year to discharge its duties, including a mid-year review to monitor and assess the yearly objectives of the CEO and that of the other members of Senior Management.
VI. | Term of the Mandate |
Committee members are appointed by Board resolution to carry out their mandate extending from the date of the appointment to the next annual general meeting of shareholders, or until successors are so appointed.
VII. | Vacancy |
The Board may fill vacancies at any time by resolution. Subject to the constitution of the quorum, the Committees members can continue to act even if there is one or many vacancies on the Committee.
VIII. | Chairman |
The Board appoints the Committee Chairman who will call and chair the meetings.
IX. | Secretary |
Unless decided otherwise by resolution of the Board, the Secretary of the Corporation shall act as Committee Secretary. The Secretary must attend Committee meetings and prepare the minutes. He/she must provide notification of meetings as directed by the Committee Chairman. The Secretary is the guardian of the Committees records, books and archives.
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X. | Meeting Proceedings |
The Committee establishes its own procedures as to how meetings are called and conducted. Unless it is otherwise decided, the Committee shall meet privately and independently from Management at each regularly scheduled meeting. In the absence of the regularly appointed Chairman, the meeting shall be chaired by another Committee member selected among attending participants and appointed accordingly. In the absence of the regularly appointed Secretary, Committee members shall designate someone to carry out this duty.
XI. | Quorum and Vote |
Unless the Board otherwise specifies by resolution, two Committee members shall constitute an appropriate quorum for deliberation of items on the agenda. During meetings, decisions are reached by a majority of votes from Committee members, unless the quorum is of two members, in which case decisions are made by consensus of opinion.
XII. | Records |
The Committee keeps records that are deemed necessary for its deliberations and reports to the Board on its activities and recommendations on a regular basis.
XIII. | Annual Review |
The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
XIV. | Effective Date |
This charter was adopted by the Directors at its May 3, 2004, Board meeting. It was amended by the Directors during the February 8, 2006, August 7, 2019, and December 10, 2019, Board meetings.
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MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. | Mandate |
The Audit Committee (the Committee) is responsible for assisting the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) in overseeing the following:
A. | the integrity of the Companys financial statements and related information; |
B. | the internal control systems of the Company; |
C. | the appointment and performance of the external auditor; |
D. | the supervision of the Companys Risk Management; and |
E. | the review and approval of related party transactions. |
II. | Obligations and Duties |
The Committee carries out the duties usually entrusted to an audit committee and any other duty assigned from time to time by the Board. Management has the responsibility to ensure the integrity of the financial information and the effectiveness of the Companys internal controls. The external auditor has the responsibility to verify the fair presentation of the Companys financial statements; at the same time evaluating the internal control process to determine the nature, extent and timing of the auditing procedures used for the financial statement audit. The Committee has the responsibility to supervise the participants involved in the preparation process of the financial information and to report on this to the Board.
Specifically, the Committee is charged with the following obligations and duties:
A. | Integrity of the Companys Financial Statements and Related Information |
1. | Review annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements and all financial information legally required to be disclosed by the Company, i.e. financial information contained in the Management Discussion and Analysis report, the Annual Information Form and the press releases, as the case may be, discuss such with management and the external auditor, as applicable, and suggest recommendations to the Board, as the case may be. |
2. | Approve the interim Financial Statements, the interim Management Discussion and Analysis reports and all supplements to these Management Discussion and Analysis reports which have to be filed with regulatory authorities. |
3. | On a periodic basis, review and discuss with management and the external auditor, as applicable, the following: |
a. | major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Companys selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Companys internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of significant or material control deficiencies; |
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b. | the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company; and |
c. | the type and presentation of information to be included in press releases dealing with financial results (paying particular attention to any use of forward-looking information and use of non-GAAP financial measures). |
4. | Review and discuss reports from the external auditor on: |
a. | all critical accounting policies and practices used by the Company; |
b. | all material alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, including the ramifications of the use of such alternate treatments and disclosures and the treatment preferred by the external auditor; |
c. | the external auditors report to the Committee on the planning of external auditing; and |
d. | the external auditors report to the Committee on the auditing results. |
B. | Supervision of the Companys Internal Control Systems |
1. | Review and discuss with management and, when appropriate, provide recommendations to the Board on the following: |
a. | actual financial data compared with budgeted data; |
b. | the Companys internal control system; |
c. | the relationship of the Committee with the management and audit committees of the Companys consolidated subsidiaries. With respect to the subsidiaries, the Committee must: |
| obtain precisions as to the mandate of the audit committees; |
| enquire about internal controls and study related risks; |
| obtain copy of the minutes of the audit committees meetings; and |
| ensure that the critical accounting policies and practices are identical to the Companys. |
2. | Study the feasibility of implementing an internal auditing system and when implemented, establish its responsibilities and supervise its work. |
3. | Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
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4. | Review and discuss with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company the process for the certifications to be provided in the Companys public disclosure documents. |
C. | Appointment and Performance Supervision of the External Auditor |
1. | Provide recommendations to the Board on the selection of the external auditor to be appointed by the shareholders. |
2. | Approve in advance and recommend to the Board the external auditors remuneration and more specifically fees and terms of all audit, review or certification services to be provided by the external auditor to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary. |
3. | Supervise the performance of the external auditor in charge of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit services or certification services for the Company or any consolidated subsidiary of the Company, where required, and review all related questions as to the terms of its mission and the revision of its mission. |
4. | Pre-approve all engagements for permitted non-audit services provided by the external auditor to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary, and to this effect and at its convenience, establish policies and procedures for the engagement of the external auditor to provide to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary permitted non-audit services, which shall include approval in advance by the Committee of all audit/review services and permitted non-audit services to be provided to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary by the external auditor. |
5. | Authorize the Chair of the Committee to pre-approve all engagements for permitted non-audit services provided by the external auditor to the Company and any consolidated subsidiary where such engagements have not been pre-approved by the Committee as set forth above under paragraph 4; provided, however, that the upper limit of the amount of such approval shall be determined annually by the Committee; and provided, further, that the Chair reports any approval to the Committee at the next meeting of the Committee following the date on which the approval was given by the Chair. |
6. | At least annually, consider, assess and report to the Board on: |
a. | the independence of the external auditor, including whether the external auditors performance of permitted non-audit services is compatible with the external auditors independence; |
b. | the obtaining from the external auditor of a written or verbal statement i) describing all relationships between the external auditor and the Company that may reasonably be thought to bear on their independence; ii) assuring that lead audit partner rotation is carried out, as required by law; and iii) describing any other relationship that may reasonably be thought to affect the independence of the external auditor; and |
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c. | the evaluation of the lead audit partner, taking into account the opinions of management and the internal auditor. |
7. | At least annually, obtain and review a report by the external auditor describing: |
a. | the external auditors internal quality-control procedures; and |
b. | any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review (or peer review) of the external auditors firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, with respect to one or more independent audits carried out by the external auditors firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues. |
8. | Resolve any disagreement between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting. |
9. | Review the audit process with the external auditor. |
10. | Meet periodically with the external auditor in the absence of management. |
11. | Establish procedures with respect to hiring the external auditors employees and former employees. |
D. | Supervision of the Companys Risk Management |
Review, report and, where appropriate, provide recommendations to the Board on the following:
1. | the Companys processes for identifying, assessing and managing risk; |
2. | the Companys major financial risk exposures and the steps the Company has taken to monitor and control such exposures; |
3. | the Companys insurance portfolio and the adequacy of the coverage; and |
4. | the Companys investment policy. |
E. | Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions |
Review, approve and oversee any transaction between the Company and any related person (as defined in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5630) for potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis.
III. | External Advisors |
In discharging its duties and responsibilities, the Committee is empowered to retain external legal counsel or other external advisors, as appropriate. The Company shall provide the necessary funds to secure the services of such advisors.
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IV. | Composition of the Committee |
The Committee is composed of any number of Directors, but no less than three, as may be determined by the Board from time to time by resolution. Each member of the Committee shall be independent from the Company and is financially literate, as determined by the Board and in conformity with applicable laws, rules and regulations. At least one member of the Committee shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting or other comparable experience that leads to financial sophistication, as determined by the Board. No member of the Committee shall have participated in the preparation of the Companys or any of its subsidiaries financial statements at any time during the past three years.
V. | Term of the Mandate |
Committee members are appointed by Board resolution to carry out their mandate extending from the date of the appointment to the next annual general meeting of the shareholders or until their successors are so appointed.
VI. | Vacancy |
The Board may fill vacancies at any time by resolution. Subject to the constitution of the quorum, the Committees members can continue to act even if there is one or many vacancies on the Committee.
VII. | Chair |
The Board appoints the Committee Chair who will call and chair the meetings. The Chair reports to the Board the deliberations of the Committee and its recommendations.
VIII. | Secretary |
Unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board, the Secretary of the Company shall act as Committee Secretary. The Secretary must attend Committee meetings and prepare the minutes. He/she must provide notification of meetings as directed by the Committee Chair. The Secretary is the guardian of the Committees records, books and archives.
IX. | Meeting Proceedings |
The Committee establishes its own procedures as to how meetings are called and conducted. Unless it is otherwise decided, the Committee shall meet privately and independently from Management at each regularly scheduled meeting. In the absence of the regularly appointed Chair, the meeting shall be chaired by another Committee member selected among attending participants and appointed accordingly. In the absence of the regularly appointed Secretary, Committee members shall designate someone to carry out this duty.
The Committee shall meet at least four times a year with management and the external auditor, and at least once a year, separately in executive session in the absence of management and the external auditor. At least once a year, as and when applicable, the Committee invites the Chief Financial Officer of each subsidiary to present the financial information and internal control systems related to such subsidiary.
X. | Quorum and Voting |
Unless the Board otherwise specifies by resolution, two Committee members shall constitute an appropriate quorum for deliberation of items on the agenda. During meetings, decisions are reached by a majority of votes from Committee members, unless the quorum is of two members, in which case decisions are made by consensus of opinion.
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XI. | Records |
The Committee keeps records that are deemed necessary of its deliberations and reports regularly to the Board on its activities and recommendations.
XII. | Annual Review |
The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
XIII. | Effective Date |
This charter was adopted by the Directors at its May 3, 2004, Board meeting. It was amended by the Directors during the April 13, 2005, February 8, 2006, February 25, 2015, August 7, 2019, and May 13, 2021, Board meetings.
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MANAGEMENT PROXY CIRCULAR | THERATECHNOLOGIES INC. |
Exhibit 99.3
Exhibit 99.3 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1 www.computershare.com 000001 Mr A Sample Designation (if any) Security Class Add1 123 Add2 Holder Account Number add3 add4 add5 C1234567890 XXX add6 Fold Form of ProxyAnnual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 9, 2024 This Form of Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Management. Notes to proxy 1. shareholders Every holder has or any the adjournment right to appoint or postponement some other person thereof or. company If you wish of to their appoint choice, a person who need or company not be a holder, other than to attend the Management and act on their Nominees behalf whose at the names annual are meeting printed of herein, please insert the name of your chosen proxyholder in the space provided (see reverse). 2. If the securities are registered in the name of more than one owner (for example, joint ownership, trustees, executors, etc.), then all those registered should sign this proxy. If you are voting on behalf of a corporation or another individual you may be required to provide documentation evidencing your power to sign this proxy with signing capacity stated. 3. This proxy should be signed in the exact manner as the name(s) appear(s) on the proxy. 4. If a date is not inserted in the space provided on the reverse of this proxy, it will be deemed to bear the date on which it was mailed to the holder by Management. 5. the The Management securities represented Nominees by listed this on proxy the reverse, will be voted this proxy as directed will be by voted the holder, as recommended however, if by such Management a direction . is not made in respect of any matter, and the proxy appoints 6. The securities represented by this proxy will be voted in favour, or withheld from voting on each of the matters described herein, as applicable, in accordance with the instructions of the holder, on any ballot that may be called for. If you have specified a choice with respect to any matter to be acted on, the securities will be voted accordingly. 7. This proxy confers discretionary authority in respect of amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and Management Proxy Circular or other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, unless prohibited by law. Fold 8. This proxy should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Notice of Meeting and the Management Proxy Circular provided by Management. Proxies submitted must be received by 5:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time, on May 7, 2024. VOTE USING THE TELEPHONE OR INTERNET 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK! To Vote Using the Telephone To Vote Using the Internet To Electronically Receive Documents To the Virtually Meeting Attend Call the number listed BELOW from a touch Go to the following web site: You can enroll to receive future securityholder You can attend the meeting virtually by typing tone telephone. www.investorvote.com communications electronically by visiting the following URL link in your browser: 1-866-732-VOTE (8683) Toll Free Smartphone? www.investorcentre.com. https://meetnow.global/M7MFS6Y Scan the QR code to vote now. If you vote by telephone or the Internet, DO NOT mail back this proxy. Voting by mail may be the only method for securities held in the name of a corporation or securities being voted on behalf of another individual. Voting by mail or by Internet are the only methods by which a holder may appoint a person as proxyholder other than the Management Nominees named on the reverse of this proxy. Instead of mailing this proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined above to vote this proxy. To vote by telephone or the Internet, you will need to provide your CONTROL NUMBER listed below. CONTROL NUMBER 123456789012345 CPUQC01.E.INT/000001/i1234 01ZSRB
MR SAM SAMPLE C1234567890 XXX 123 Appointment of Proxyholder The undersigned shareholder of Theratechnologies Inc. (the OR Print the name of the person you are Corporation) hereby appoints: Dawn Svoronos, Chair of the Board appointing if this person is someone or, failing this person, Paul Lévesque, President and Chief Executive other than the Management Nominees Officer (the Management Nominees) listed herein. Note: If completing the appointment box above YOU MUST go to https:// www.computershare.com/Theratech and provide Computershare with the name and email address of the person you are appointing. Computershare will use this information ONLY to provide the appointee with an invite code to gain entry to the online meeting. as my/our proxyholder with full power of substitution and to attend, act and to vote for and on behalf of the holder in accordance with the following direction (or if no directions have been given, as the proxyholder sees fit) and on all other matters that may properly come before the annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation to be held online at https://meetnow.global/ M7MFS6Y, on May 9, 2024 at 10:00 am (EDT), and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. VOTING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDICATED BY HIGHLIGHTED TEXT OVER THE BOXES. 1. Election of Directors For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold Fold 01. Joseph Arena 02. Frank Holler 03. Paul Lévesque 04. Andrew Molson 05. Dawn Svoronos 06. Elina Tea 07. Dale Weil 08. Jordan Zwick For Withhold 2. Appointment of AuditorsAppointment of KPMG, LLP as Auditors of the Corporation and authorizing the Directors to fix their remuneration Fold Signature of Proxyholder Signature(s) Date I/We authorize you to act in accordance with my/our instructions set out above. I/We hereby revoke any proxy previously given with respect to the Meeting. If no voting instructions are MM / DD / YY indicated above, and the proxy appoints the Management Nominees, this Proxy will be voted as recommended by Management. Interim Financial Statements Mark this box if you Annual Financial Statements Mark this box if you would like to receive Interim Financial Statements and would like to receive the Annual Financial Statements and accompanying Managements Discussion and Analysis accompanying Managements Discussion and Analysis by mail. by mail. If you are not mailing back your proxy, you may register online to receive the above financial report(s) by mail at www.computershare.com/mailinglist. THTQ 364445 XXXX AR1 999999999999 01ZSSA