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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐Preliminary Proxy Statement
☐Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
☒Definitive Proxy Statement
☐Definitive Additional Materials
☐Soliciting Material Under §240.14a-12
Nutex Health Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒ | No fee required |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JULY 14, 2025
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, exclusively online via the Internet as a virtual web conference at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025 to consider and act upon the following matters:
| (1) | To re-elect the following members of our Board of Directors: |
Thomas T. Vo, Warren Hosseinion, Cheryl Grenas, Michael L. Reed, Scott J. Saunders and Kelvin Spears;
and to elect Frank E. Jaumot as a new member of our Board of Directors;
each to serve as directors and to hold office for a one-year term to expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders or in the case of their resignation or removal, until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
| (2) | To vote in an advisory capacity concerning the Company’s executive compensation; |
| (3) | To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Nutex Health Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan by 1,100,000 and to allow the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan to automatically increase on January 1 of each year, in an amount equal to 5% of the number of shares outstanding at December 31 of the previous fiscal year, provided that the Board may decide that there shall be no or a lesser increase; |
| (4) | To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025; and |
| (5) | To consider and vote upon such other business as may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Our Annual Meeting will be a “virtual meeting” of stockholders, which will be conducted exclusively online via the Internet as a virtual web conference. There will not be a physical meeting location, and stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. This means that you can attend the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares during the online meeting and submit questions during the online meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will enable greater stockholder attendance and participation from any location around the world. We will continue to evaluate the format of our stockholder meetings on an annual basis.
Instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to all of our stockholders, we are providing access to these materials via the Internet. This reduces the amount of paper necessary to produce these materials as well as the costs associated with mailing these materials to all stockholders. Accordingly, on or about June 2, 2025, we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”) to stockholders and will post our proxy materials on the website referenced in the Notice. As more fully described in the Notice, stockholders may choose to access our proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or may request to receive a printed set of our proxy materials. In addition, the Notice and website provide information regarding how you may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail, or electronically by email, on an ongoing basis.
If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote in one of the following ways:
| (1) | Vote over the Internet prior to the virtual Annual Meeting, by visiting www.proxyvote.com (have your Notice or proxy card in hand to access the website); |
| (2) | Vote by Telephone, by calling the toll-free number 1-800-690-6903 (have your Notice or proxy card in hand when you call) |
| (3) | Vote by Mail, if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials, by returning the enclosed proxy card (signed and dated) in the envelope provided; or |
| (4) | Vote online at the virtual Annual Meeting, by using the Notice or proxy card to access the Annual Meeting website, www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025. |
If your shares are held in “street name,” meaning that they are held for your account by a broker or other nominee, you will receive instructions from the holder of record that you must follow to vote your shares.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 22, 2025, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to notice of, and will be entitled to vote at, the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting online, we urge you to take the time to vote your shares. Further information about how to attend the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares online during the Annual Meeting and submit your questions online during the Annual Meeting is included in the accompanying proxy statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Thomas T. Vo, M.D., MBA
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Houston, Texas
June 2, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JULY 14, 2025
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Nutex Health Inc. (“Nutex,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is soliciting proxies for use at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), to be held online via the Internet as a virtual web conference at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025 on Monday, July 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. We have determined that the Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format, via the Internet. At our virtual Annual Meeting, stockholders will be able to attend, vote and submit questions by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025. Further information about how to attend the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares online during the Annual Meeting and submit questions during the Annual Meeting is included in this proxy statement.
At the Annual Meeting, our stockholders will be asked to consider and act upon the following matters:
| 1. | To re-elect the following members of our Board of Directors: |
Thomas T. Vo, Warren Hosseinion, Cheryl Grenas, Michael L. Reed, Scott J. Saunders and Kelvin Spears;
and to elect Frank E. Jaumot as a new member of our Board of Directors;
each to serve as directors and to hold office for a one-year term to expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders or in the case of their resignation or removal, until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
| 2. | To vote in an advisory capacity concerning the Company’s executive compensation; |
| 3. | To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Nutex Health Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan by 1,100,000 and to allow the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan to automatically increase on January 1 of each year, in an amount equal to 5% of the number of shares outstanding at December 31 of the previous fiscal year, provided that the Board may decide that there shall be no or a lesser increase; |
| 4. | To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025; and |
| 5. | To consider and vote upon such other business as may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on July 14, 2025:
This proxy statement and our annual report are available electronically at www.proxyvote.com.
On or about June 2, 2025, we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of proxy materials (“Notice”) to our stockholders (other than those who previously requested electronic or paper delivery of proxy materials), directing stockholders to a website where they can access our proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2025 (the “2024 Annual Report”) and view
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instructions on how to vote in person, online or by telephone. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice. If you have previously elected to receive our proxy materials electronically, you will continue to receive access to those materials via e-mail unless you elect otherwise.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT, THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
How do I attend the virtual Annual Meeting?
This year’s Annual Meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting of stockholders. We will host the Annual Meeting in person and online via the Internet as a virtual web conference. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares online during the Annual Meeting and submit your questions online during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025. The webcast will start at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Monday, July 14, 2025. You will need the control number included on your proxy card or in the instructions from your broker in order to be able to enter the Annual Meeting online. Information contained on this website is not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement or any other report we file with the SEC.
Online check-in will begin at 9:45 a.m. Central Time on July 14, 2025, and you should allow ample time for the online check-in proceedings. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual Annual Meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual Annual Meeting log-in page. Technical support will be available starting at 9:45 a.m. on the day of the meeting.
Why is the Annual Meeting conducted as a virtual, online meeting?
We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will facilitate stockholder attendance and participation at the Annual Meeting by enabling stockholders to participate remotely from any location around the world. Our virtual meeting will be governed by our Rules of Conduct and Procedures, which will be posted on the virtual meeting platform on the date of the Annual Meeting. We have designed the virtual Annual Meeting to provide the same rights and opportunities to participate as stockholders have at an in-person meeting, including the right to vote and ask questions through the virtual meeting platform. We will continue to evaluate the format of our stockholder meetings on an annual basis.
Why did you send me these proxy materials?
We are providing these proxy materials because our Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement summarizes information related to your vote at the Annual Meeting. All stockholders who find it convenient to do so are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person or online. However, you do not need to attend the meeting in person or virtually to vote your shares. Instead, you may vote your shares as described in further detail in the answer to the question “How do I vote?” below.
The Notice of Annual Meeting, proxy statement, and voting instructions, together with our 2024 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K, will be made available to each stockholder entitled to vote starting on or about June 2, 2025. These materials are available for viewing, printing and downloading on the Internet at www.proxyvote.com or on our website at www.nutexhealth.com.
Who can vote at the Annual Meeting and what are the voting rights of such stockholders?
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 22, 2025 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 5,555,116 shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“common stock”) outstanding and entitled to vote (each share entitles its holder to one vote). Common stock is our only class of stock outstanding.
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May I see a list of stockholders entitled to vote as of the Record Date?
A list of registered stockholders as of the close of business on the Record Date will be available for examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting for a period of at least ten days prior to the Annual Meeting. If you wish to view this list, please contact our Corporate Secretary at Nutex Health Inc., 6030 S. Rice Ave, Suite C, Houston, Texas 77081, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (713) 660-0557.
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will consider and vote on the following matters:
| 1. | To re-elect the following members of our Board of Directors: |
Thomas T. Vo, Warren Hosseinion, Cheryl Grenas, Michael L. Reed, Scott J. Saunders and Kelvin Spears;
and to elect Frank E. Jaumot as a new member of our Board of Directors;
each to serve as directors and to hold office for a one-year term to expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders or in the case of their resignation or removal, until their successors are duly elected and qualified:
| 2. | To vote in an advisory capacity concerning Nutex Health Inc.’s executive compensation; |
| 3. | To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Nutex Health Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan by 1,100,000 and to allow the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan to automatically increase on January 1 of each year, in an amount equal to 5% of the number of shares outstanding at December 31 of the previous fiscal year, provided that the Board may decide that there shall be no or a lesser increase; |
| 4. | To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025; and |
| 5. | To consider and vote upon such other business as may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
None of the proposals listed above are conditioned upon the approval of any other proposal.
How many votes do I have?
Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of our common stock held by such stockholder on the Record Date.
How do I vote?
If you are the “record holder” of your shares, meaning that you own your shares in your own name and not through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee (each a “Nominee”), you may vote:
| (1) | Over the Internet prior to the Annual Meeting: Go to the website of our tabulator at www.proxyvote.com. Use the vote control number printed on the Notice (or your proxy card) to access your account and vote your shares. You must specify how you want your shares voted or your Internet vote cannot be completed and you will receive an error message. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions. You must submit your Internet proxy before 11:59 p.m. Central Time |
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| on July 13, 2025, the day before the Annual Meeting, for your proxy to be validly submitted over the Internet and for your vote to count. |
| (2) | By Telephone: Call 1-800-690-6903, toll free from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and follow the recorded instructions. You will need to have the Notice (or your proxy card) in hand when you call. You must specify how you want your shares voted and confirm your vote at the end of the call or your telephone vote cannot be completed. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions. You must submit your telephonic proxy before 11:59 p.m. Central Time on July 13, 2025, the day before the Annual Meeting, for your telephonic proxy to be valid and for your vote to count. |
| (3) | By Mail: If you received a printed copy of the proxy materials, complete and sign the enclosed proxy card and mail it in the enclosed envelope, postage prepaid, to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, where the proxy card must be received no later than July 13, 2025, the day before the Annual Meeting, for it to be valid and for your vote to count. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions. If you return your proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted on any particular matter, they will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board. |
| (4) | In person or online while virtually attending the Annual Meeting: In addition to voting in person, you may vote your shares online while virtually attending the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025. You will need your control number included on your notice or proxy card in order to be able to vote during the Annual Meeting. |
If your shares are held in “street name,” meaning they are held for your account by a Nominee, you may vote:
| (1) | Over the Internet prior to the Annual Meeting or by Telephone: You will receive instructions from your Nominee if they permit Internet or telephone voting. You should follow those instructions. |
| (2) | By Mail: You will receive instructions from your Nominee explaining how you can vote your shares by mail. You should follow those instructions. |
| (3) | In person or online while virtually attending the Annual Meeting: You will receive instructions from your Nominee explaining how you can vote your shares in person or online during the Annual Meeting. You will need your control number included on the Notice or voting instruction form in order to demonstrate proof of beneficial ownership and to be able to vote during the Annual Meeting. |
If you hold your shares of our common stock in multiple accounts, you should vote your shares as described above for each account.
Can I revoke or change my vote?
If your shares are registered directly in your name, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the Annual Meeting. To do so, you must do one of the following:
| (1) | Vote over the Internet or by telephone prior to the Annual Meeting as instructed above. Only your latest Internet or telephone vote submitted prior to the Annual Meeting is counted. You may not revoke or change your vote over the Internet or by telephone after 11:59 p.m. Central Time on July 13, 2025. |
| (2) | Sign a new proxy card and submit it by mail to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, where the proxy card must be received no later than 11:59, Central Time on July 13, 2025, the day before the Annual Meeting. Only your latest dated proxy will be counted. |
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| (3) | Attend in person or attend the virtual Annual Meeting and vote online as instructed above. Attending the Annual Meeting in person or virtually alone will not revoke your Internet vote, telephone vote, or proxy submitted by mail, as the case may be. |
| (4) | Provide our Corporate Secretary written notice before or at the Annual Meeting that you want to revoke your proxy. |
If your shares are held in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions with a later date by contacting your Nominee. You may also vote your shares online while virtually attending the Annual Meeting, which will have the effect of revoking any previously submitted voting instructions.
Are there Dissenter’s Rights?
No. Stockholders have no right under the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws to exercise dissenters’ rights of appraisal with respect to the director election.
Will my shares be voted if I do not return my proxy or do not provide specific voting instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction form that I submit?
If your shares are registered directly in your name, your shares will not be voted if you do not vote over the Internet or by telephone prior to the Annual Meeting, by returning your proxy by mail, or online at the virtual Annual Meeting. If you submit a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions on one or more matters listed in the Notice, your shares will be voted as recommended by our Board on such matters, and as the proxyholders may determine in their discretion how to vote with respect to any other matters properly presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting.
If your shares are held in “street name,” your brokerage firm may, under certain circumstances, vote your shares if you do not timely return your voting instructions. Stock exchange rules permit a broker to vote shares held in a brokerage account on certain proposals if the broker does not receive voting instructions from you. Stock exchange rules, however, prohibit brokers from voting uninstructed shares in the case of election of directors, executive compensation matters and certain other matters. Of the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, we expect the only proposal on which brokers will have discretionary voting authority is the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 4).
A “broker non-vote” results on a matter when your broker returns a proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because it does not have discretionary authority to vote on that proposal and has not received voting instructions from you.
We encourage you to timely provide voting instructions to your Nominee. This ensures that your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting according to your instructions. You should receive directions from your Nominee about how to submit your voting instructions to them.
What constitutes a quorum at the Annual Meeting?
A quorum is needed to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if the holders of at least a majority of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the Record Date are present at the virtual Annual Meeting either “in person” virtually or as represented by proxy. For purposes of establishing a quorum, abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present or represented. If a quorum is not present, we expect to adjourn the Annual Meeting until we obtain a quorum. The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of holders representing a majority of our outstanding common stock as of the Record Date, or 2,777,559 shares, constitutes a quorum at the Annual Meeting, permitting us to conduct the business of the Annual Meeting. Shares present virtually during the Annual Meeting will be considered shares of common stock represented in person at the meeting.
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What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate individuals to serve as directors?
Stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement and for consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders by submitting their proposals in writing to our Secretary in a timely manner. For a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, our Secretary must receive the written proposal at our principal executive offices not later than May 29, 2026. In addition, stockholder proposals must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Stockholder proposals should be addressed to:
Nutex Health Inc.
Attention: Secretary
6030 S. Rice Ave, Suite C, Houston, Texas 77081
We also encourage you to submit any such proposals via email to investors@nutexhealth.com.
Our bylaws also establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders who wish to present a proposal before an annual meeting of stockholders but do not intend for the proposal to be included in our proxy statement. Our bylaws provide that the only business that may be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders is business that is (i) specified in our proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting, (ii) otherwise properly brought before such annual meeting by or at the direction of our Board or (iii) properly brought before such meeting by a stockholder of record entitled to vote at such annual meeting, who is present (in person or by proxy) at such annual meeting and who has delivered timely written notice to our Secretary, which notice must contain the information specified in our bylaws. To be timely for the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, our Secretary must receive the written notice at our principal executive offices:
| ● | not earlier than the close of business on April 30, 2026; and |
| ● | not later than the close of business on May 29, 2026. |
In the event we hold the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the one-year anniversary of the Annual Meeting, then, for notice by the stockholder to be timely, it must be received by the Secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made.
If a stockholder who has notified us of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting of stockholders does not appear to present his, her, or its proposal at such annual meeting, we are not required to present the proposal for a vote at such annual meeting.
What vote is required to approve each matter and how are votes counted?
Proposal 1:
Election of Directors
The seven nominees for director to receive the highest number of votes FOR election will be elected as directors. This is called a plurality. Shares held in street name by Nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have authority to vote the shares on Proposal 1 will not be counted as votes FOR or WITHHELD from any director nominee and will be treated as broker non-votes. “Broker non-votes” will have no effect on the voting on Proposal 1.
You may:
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| ● | vote FOR all nominees; |
| ● | vote WITHHOLD all nominees; or |
| ● | vote FOR ALL EXCEPT the director(s) whose name(s) you write into the proxy card. |
Votes that are withheld will not be included in the vote tally for the election of directors and will not affect the vote results.
Proposal 2:
Advisory Vote on the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers
To approve Proposal 2, stockholders holding a majority of the votes cast on the matter must vote FOR the approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as described in this proxy statement. Shares held in street name by Nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have authority to vote the shares on Proposal 2 will not be counted as votes FOR or AGAINST Proposal 2 and will be treated as broker non-votes. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the voting on Proposal 2. If you vote to ABSTAIN on Proposal 2, your shares will not be voted FOR or AGAINST the proposal and will also not be counted as votes cast or shares voting on Proposal 2. As a result, voting to ABSTAIN will have no effect on the voting on Proposal 2. As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding. The outcome of this advisory vote will not overrule any decision by us or our Board (or any committee thereof). However, our Compensation Committee and our Board value the opinions expressed by our stockholders in their vote on this proposal and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our Named Executive Officers.
Proposal 3:
Amendment to the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan to Increase the Number of Shares Available
The approval of Proposal 3 requires the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote and actually cast thereon at the Annual Meeting. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person or an abstention from voting will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Amendment Proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no impact on the vote on this proposal.
Proposal 4:
Ratification of the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To approve Proposal 4, stockholders holding a majority of the votes cast on the matter must vote FOR the proposal. If your shares are held by your Nominee in “street name” and you do not timely provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, we expect that your Nominee will have the authority to vote your shares on Proposal 4. If you vote to ABSTAIN on Proposal 4, your shares will not be voted FOR or AGAINST the proposal and will also not be counted as votes cast or shares voting on Proposal 4. As a result, voting to ABSTAIN will have no effect on the voting on Proposal 4. Although stockholder ratification of our Audit Committee’s appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 is not required, we believe that it is advisable to give stockholders an opportunity to ratify this appointment. If this proposal is not approved at the Annual Meeting, our Audit Committee and Board will reconsider the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for future service.
How does the Board recommend that I vote on the proposals?
Our Board recommends that you vote:
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FOR the election of all of our nominees to the Board of Directors to serve as directors, each to hold office for a one-year term to expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders or in the case of their resignation or removal, until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
FOR the Company’s compensation of Named Executive Officers as proposed.
FOR the approval of the Amendment to the Amended and Restated Nutex Health Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan by 1,100,000 and to allow the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan to automatically increase on January 1 of each year, in an amount equal to 5% of the number of shares outstanding at December 31 of the previous fiscal year, provided that the Board may decide that there shall be no or a lesser increase.
FOR the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025.
Are there other matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
We do not know of any matters that may come before the Annual Meeting other than Proposals 1 through 4. If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote, or otherwise act, in accordance with their judgment on the matter.
How do I submit a question at the virtual Annual Meeting?
We invite appropriate questions pertinent to the Company and the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. We will not be providing a business update at the Annual Meeting or discussing matters related to our business or operations. If there are any matters of individual concern to a stockholder or not related to the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, or if a question was not otherwise answered, such matters may be raised separately after the Annual Meeting by contacting Investor Relations at investors@nutexhealth.com.
If you wish to submit a question on the day of the Annual Meeting, beginning at 9:45 a.m. Central Time, you may log into the virtual meeting platform at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025, proceed to the “Ask A Question” area on the lower right side of the screen, select a “Question Topic” from the drop down menu, type your question where it states “Enter Question” and click the “Submit” tab. Our virtual meeting will be governed by our Rules of Conduct and Procedures, which will be posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NUTX2025 during the Annual Meeting. The Rules of Conduct and Procedures will address the ability of stockholders to ask questions during the meeting, including rules on permissible topics, and rules for how questions and comments will be recognized. We will answer appropriate questions that are pertinent to the Company and the matters to be voted on by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Because time is limited at the Annual Meeting, the Company intends to respond to all appropriate questions received during the Annual Meeting after the Annual Meeting. To promote fairness, efficiently use the Company’s resources and address all stockholder questions, we will limit each stockholder to one question, which should be succinct and should cover only one topic. Questions from multiple stockholders on the same topic or that are otherwise related may be grouped, summarized and answered together.
How are we soliciting proxies and tabulating votes?
We will pay all of the costs of soliciting proxies. In addition to these proxy materials, our directors, officers, and other employees may also solicit proxies in person or by mail, telephone, fax or email without additional compensation. We will reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. Votes will be tabulated by Broadridge. If you have any questions or need assistance with voting please contact Matthew Genera at mgenera@transferonline.com.
How do I obtain an Annual Report on Form 10-K?
If you would like a copy of our 2024 Annual Report, we will send you one without charge. Please write to:
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Nutex Health Inc.
6030 S. Rice Ave, Suite C,
Houston, Texas 77081
Attn: Investor Relations
All of our SEC filings are also available free of charge under the heading “SEC Filings” in the “Investors” section of our website at www.nutexhealth.com.
How can I find out the results of the voting at the virtual Annual Meeting?
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a current report on Form 8-K that we expect to file with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a Form 8-K within four business days after the Annual Meeting, we intend to file a Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an amended Form 8-K to publish the final results.
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Currently there are seven members on our Board. All of our directors are subject to re-election at the annual meeting of stockholders each to hold office for a one-year term to expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders or in the case of their resignation or removal, until their successors are duly elected and qualified. In accordance with our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, our Board may fill vacancies resulting from resignation or removal from the Board by appointment.
Six of the seven directors listed below and nominated for election at the Annual Meeting currently serve on the Board. The Board has nominated Frank E. Jaumot, to stand for election in place of Mitchell Creem who has served on our Board since April 1, 2022. The Company is grateful for Mr. Creem’s valuable contributions, guidance and leadership during his tenure on the Board and wishes him well in his future endeavors. Mr. Jaumot, who is currently not a member of the Board, has been nominated to be elected at the Annual Meeting as an Independent Director. Accordingly, our Board will continue to be comprised of seven members. The Company did not pay any fees to any third parties to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees. There are no arrangements between any Director Nominee and any other person pursuant to which such Director Nominee was selected as a Director Nominee. Except as otherwise described under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” and the compensation paid to directors set forth in this proxy statement, there are no other related party transactions with respect to any Director Nominee that would be disclosable pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.
We have no formal policy regarding board diversity, but our Corporate Governance Principles provide that the background and qualifications of the members of our Board considered as a group should provide a significant breadth of experience, knowledge, and ability to assist our Board in fulfilling its responsibilities. Our priority in the selection of board members is: (a) identification of members who will further the interests of our stockholders through their established record of professional accomplishment; (b) ability to contribute positively to the collaborative culture among board members; (c) knowledge of our business; (d) understanding of the competitive landscape; and (e) adherence to high ethical standards. Our Board believes that personal diversity, including gender, ethnic and racial diversity, is an added benefit to the Board and its ability to function effectively. Therefore, the Board has committed to strengthening its consideration of diversity factors when evaluating potential director nominees in both the charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Company’s Corporate Governance Principles to include diversity among the factors it considers when evaluating potential candidates to the extent consistent with applicable legal requirements and the Board’s fiduciary duties. Certain individual qualifications and skills of our directors, including director diversity, that contribute to our Board’s effectiveness as a whole are summarized and described below.
The information set forth below as to the directors and nominees for directors has been furnished to us by the directors and nominees for directors:
Nominees for Election to the Board
Name | | Age | | Present Position with Nutex Health Inc. |
Thomas T. Vo, M.D., MBA | | 51 | | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
Warren Hosseinion M.D. | | 52 | | President and Director |
Cheryl Grenas, R.N., M.S.N | | 64 | | Independent Director |
Michael L. Reed, MPH | | 66 | | Independent Director |
Kelvin Spears, M.D. | | 63 | | Director |
Scott J. Saunders, MPPM | | 62 | | Independent Director |
Frank E. Jaumot | | 68 | | Director Nominee* |
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*The Board has nominated Frank E. Jaumot for election as an Independent Director at the Annual Meeting to replace Mitch Creem, who currently serves as an Independent Director and whose term is expiring at the Annual Meeting.
Thomas T Vo, M.D., MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Chairman of the Board
Dr. Vo was appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on April 1, 2022 and elected, effective April 1, 2022, as the Chairman of the Board. Since 2010, Dr. Vo has served as the founder and executive officer of affiliates of the Company. Although no longer practicing, Dr. Vo worked as an emergency medicine physician in Houston, Texas, for over twenty years. Since 2008, Dr. Vo has been involved with the opening of over 40 freestanding emergency departments and micro hospitals. Dr. Vo holds a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from Kent State University and received his Doctor of Medicine from North East Ohio Universities College of Medicine. In 2004, Dr. Vo also received his Master of Business Administration from Rice University. The Company believes that Dr. Vo’s unique background in the emergency hospital field and proven management experience make him well qualified to serve as a director.
Warren Hosseinion, M.D., President and Director
Warren Hosseinion, M.D., is the President and a director of the Company, positions he has held since April 2022. From February 26, 2021 to April 1, 2022, Dr. Hosseinion was Chief Executive Officer of Clinigence Holdings, Inc. (n/k/a Nutex Health Inc.). From April 2019 to April 2022, Dr. Hosseinion served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Clinigence Holdings, Inc. In addition, Dr. Hosseinion has served as the Non-Executive Chairman of the board of directors of Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc. (“Cardio”) (NASDAQ: CDIO) since the consummation of its business combination with Mana Capital Acquisition Corp. in October 2022. Cardio was formed to further develop and commercialize a series of products for major types of cardiovascular disease and associated co-morbidities including coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and diabetes, by leveraging our proprietary Artificial Intelligence-driven Integrated Genetic-Epigenetic Engine™. Dr. Hosseinion is a Co-Founder of Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMEH) (“ApolloMed”) and served as a member of the board of directors of ApolloMed from July 2008 to March 2019, as the Chief Executive Officer of ApolloMed from July 2008 to December 2017, and as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of ApolloMed from December 2017 to March 2019. ApolloMed is a physician-centric, technology-powered, risk-bearing healthcare company with an integrated healthcare delivery platform that enables providers to successfully participate in value-based care arrangements. Dr. Hosseinion received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of San Francisco, his Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics from the Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, his Doctor of Medicine from the Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine from the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. Dr. Hosseinion’s qualifications to serve on our Board include his position as our current President. In addition, Dr. Hosseinion’s experience as a physician, along with his background at ApolloMed and Cardio, brings our Board and our Company a depth of understanding of physician culture and the healthcare market, as well as a strong knowledge of the public markets.
Cheryl Grenas, R.N. M.S.N., Compensation Committee Chairman
Cheryl Grenas, R.N., M.S.N. has been a director of the Company since April 1, 2022. Since March 2018, Ms. Grenas has served as the Chief Nursing Officer at Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire. From July 2017 to March 2018, she was a consultant to start-up and existing freestanding emergency departments in the Houston metropolitan area. From August 2015 to July 2017, she was the Regional Facility Director at Neighbors Emergency Center (Free Standing Emergency Departments). Ms. Grenas served in the United States Navy for 20 years, achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and is a veteran of two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2011). She was awarded two Navy Commendation Medals and four Navy Achievement Medals during her service. Ms. Grenas, holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in nursing from Prairie View AM University. The Company believes that Ms. Grenas’ background and experience in healthcare management roles make her well qualified to serve as a director.
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Michael L. Reed, MPH. Director, Governance Committee Chairman
Michael L. Reed, MPH has been a director of the Company since April 1, 2022. Mr. Reed has been an independent consultant providing advisory services in the areas of emergency medicine, hospitalist medicine, hospital operations, risk-based payor contracts, value-based care, and physician practice operations and development since January of 2018. From January 2019 to January 2020, Mr. Reed was Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships of the Oncology Institute, a value-based oncology care company. From April 2018 to December 2018, Mr. Reed served as the Chief Executive Officer of Turtle Peak Customer Service, LLC, a Las Vegas, Nevada-based privately-held customer service company. Since August 2017, Mr. Reed has served as Senior Advisor to NueHealth, LLC, based in Leawood, Kansas, a privately-held developer and investor in lower-cost healthcare centers. From July 2009 to October 2013, Mr. Reed was President and Chief Executive Officer of Team Health Hospital Medicine, a division of TeamHealth, a once publicly-traded company that was acquired by Blackstone in 2017. In addition, from December 2001 to November 2004, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Health System, a health care solutions company providing outpatient, inpatient, claims, billing, and medical management. Mr. Reed holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management from California State University and received his Master of Public Health from UCLA. The Company believes that Mr. Reed’s long-standing career as a professional healthcare executive within the emergency medicine system and value-based care make him well qualified to serve as a director.
Scott J. Saunders, MPPM, Director
Scott J. Saunders has been an independent director of the Company since April 11, 2024. Mr. Saunders is head of health care advisory services and has been Managing Director of Farlie Turner Gilbert Co., LLC, a boutique middle market investment bank in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since 2006. Since 1992, he has served as a financial and strategic advisor to middle market companies across a variety of industries, including companies primarily in the healthcare industry as well as those in financial distress. In addition, he advised companies in the media and communications, business services, industrial, and consumer products industries. The majority of transactions consummated during this period have been corporate divestitures but have also included debt and equity private placements and buy-side advisory work. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Florida and Florida International University. In addition, he co-taught a class in management consulting to undergraduates and graduate students in the Management Department at the University of Miami. He is a frequent panelist at industry conferences on topics in healthcare MA and financing. Throughout his career, he has developed relationships with key representatives of leading middle market private equity and private credit firms, as well as mezzanine capital firms, BDCs, and selected hedge funds. Mr. Saunders received his B.A. degree from Wesleyan University and his MPPM (now designated an MBA) degree from the Yale University School of Management. The Company believes that Mr. Saunders’s background and experience in healthcare advisory roles make him well qualified to serve as a director.
Kelvin Spears, M.D., Director
Dr. Kelvin Spears has been a member of the Board since April 1, 2024. Dr. Spears completed his emergency medicine residency followed by a fellowship in Critical Care at Martin Luther King Jr, Charles Richard Drew University Health Sciences, in Los Angeles California. Prior to his residency, he first earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College. Prior to this, he received a B.S. in Chemistry from Dillard University. Dr. Spears is board certified in Emergency Medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Spears has been a practicing emergency medicine physician for over 32 years. Since 2017, he has been a Physician Partner, Chief Medical Director and ED Director at Alexandria Emergency Hospital in Alexandria, LA. a hospital affiliate of the Company. Dr. Spears also serves as the EMS Medical Director for Alexandria Fire Department, Pineville Fire Department, Cotile Fire Department, Central Louisiana Bureau EMS, Kisatchie Forest/US Forest Service and Rapides Parish School Additionally, from 2014 to 2017 he served as Emergency Department Director at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, LA and at Contract Management Group SMD, Envision, Sound, servicing a 45,000 patient per year Emergency Department. Dr. Spears’ dedication to providing quality healthcare in the most efficient and effective methods, along with his extensive EMS background and wealth of experience, make him well- qualified to serve as a director.
Frank E. Jaumot, Director Nominee
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Frank E. Jaumot has been nominated by the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, to stand for election as Director Nominee at the Annual Meeting.
He has been the Director of Accounting and Auditing for the certified public accounting firm of Ahearn, Jasco Company, P.A. since 1991, and is a shareholder in that firm. From 1979 to 1991, Mr. Jaumot was associated with Deloitte Touche LLP. Mr. Jaumot is a certified public accountant in Florida and Ohio and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Since 2009, he has been a director of Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (OTC: BMNM), a publicly traded specialty finance company that invests in mortgage-backed securities and serves as the external manager of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (NYSE: ORC), a REIT which also invests in residential mortgage-backed securities. In addition, Mr. Jaumot served on the Board of Directors of MasTec, Inc. (NYSE: MTZ), a North American infrastructure construction company, from September 2004 to May 2016, including as chairman of the audit committee from 2007 to 2016. From 2014 to 2015, he served on the board of director and as the chairman of the audit committee of publicly-traded Vapor Corp. (OTC: VPCO), and from 2009 to 2010 he served on the board of directors and as audit committee chair of Protective Products of America, Inc., a Canadian publicly-traded company.
As an accountant with approximately 45 years of experience, Mr. Jaumot provides our Board with significant accounting, financial reporting and tax expertise. His experience enhances the Board’s ability to identify and evaluate accounting, external financial reporting, and tax issues. Mr. Jaumot also has corporate governance experience from serving on other boards of publicly held companies, including as Audit Committee Chairman.
Once elected by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, intends to appoint Mr. Jaumot to the Audit Committee as its Chairman and as a member of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Mr. Jaumot earned his Bachelor of Science (cum laude) in accounting from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frank is Certified Public Accountant in Ohio (1981) and in Florida (1985).
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THOMAS T. VO, WARREN HOSSEINION, CHERYL GRENAS, MICHAEL L. REED, SCOTT J. SAUNDERS, KELVIN SPEARS, AND FRANK E. JAUMOT AS A DIRECTOR.
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We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure the long-term benefit of our stockholders. This section describes key corporate governance practices that we have adopted, including our Code of Business Ethics policy, which applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, Corporate Governance Principles, and charters for our Board of Directors’ Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee. We have posted copies of our Code of Business Ethics policy as well as each of our committee charters, under the heading “Corporate Governance” in the “Investors” section of our website, www.nutexhealth.com, which you can access free of charge. Information contained on the website is not incorporated by reference in, or considered part of, this proxy statement. We intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, our Code of Business Ethics policy that are required to be disclosed by law or the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”). We will also provide copies of these documents as well as our other corporate governance documents, free of charge, to any stockholder upon written request to Nutex Health Inc., 6030 S. Rice Ave, Suite C, Houston, TX 77081, Attention: Investor Relations.
Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules requires a majority of a listed company’s board of directors to be comprised of independent directors. In addition, the Nasdaq Listing Rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominations committees be independent and that audit committee members also satisfy independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A3, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Under Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of our Board, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee, accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.
Ms. Cheryl Grenas, R.N., M.S.N. and Messrs. Mitchell Creem, MHA, Michael Reed MPH, Scott J. Saunders, MPPM and Frank E. Jaumot each qualify as “independent” in accordance with the listing requirements of NASDAQ. The NASDAQ independence definition includes a series of objective tests, including that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us.
In addition, as required by Nasdaq Listing Rules, our Board has made an affirmative determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist, which, in the opinion of our Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our Board reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each director.
Messrs. Thomas T. Vo, M.D., MBA and Warren Hosseinion, M.D. are not considered independent because they are officers of the Company. Mr. Kevin Spears, M.D. is not considered independent because since 2017, he has been a Physician Partner, Chief Medical Director and ED Director at Alexandria Emergency Hospital in Alexandria, LA., a hospital affiliate of the Company. Our Board also determined that each non-employee director who serves as a member of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating Committees satisfies the independence standards for such committee established by the SEC and NASDAQ, as applicable. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
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Our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws provide our Board with flexibility to combine or separate the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in accordance with its determination that utilizing one or the other structure would be in the best interests of our Company. Currently, Dr. Vo serves as the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The Board may, however, make changes to its leadership structure in the future as it deems appropriate.
In addition, the Board may appoint a lead independent director. The lead independent director, if appointed, will preside over periodic meetings of independent directors, serve as a liaison between the Chairman and the independent directors and perform such additional duties as the Board may otherwise determine and delegate.
Our Board has concluded that the current leadership structure described above is appropriate at this time. However, our Board will continue to periodically review our leadership structure and may make such changes in the future, as it deems appropriate.
Our Board met 24 times during the year ended December 31, 2024, including telephonic meetings. During 2024, each of our incumbent directors attended or participated telephonically in 95% or more of the aggregate of (a) the total number of meetings of the Board held during the period for which he or she served as a director and (b) the total number of meetings of all committees on which the director served during the periods that he or she served. We do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of our Board at our annual meeting of stockholders.
Our Board currently has three standing committees: the Audit Committee; the Compensation Committee; and the Nominating and Governance Committee. Each of these committees has a written charter approved by our Board. A copy of each charter can be found under the heading “Governance” in the “Investors” section of our website at www.nutexhealth.com. The following table provides membership information for the current composition of these committees:
Name | | Audit Committee | | Compensation Committee | | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas T. Vo, M.D., MBA | | | | | | |
Warren Hosseinion, M.D. | | | | | | |
Mitchell Creem, MHA | | X* | | X | | X |
Cheryl Grenas, RN., M.S.N | | | | X* | | X |
Michael L. Reed, MPH | | X | | X | | X* |
Scott J. Saunders, MPPM | | X | | X | | X |
Kelvin Spears, M.D. | | | | | | |
*Committee Chair
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring and reviewing our financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, they recommend the selection of the independent auditors and consult with both management and the independent auditors prior to the presentation of financial statements to stockholders and the filing of our forms 10-Q and 10-K. The Audit Committee has adopted a charter and it is posted on our web site at https://www.nutexhealth.com/govemance-documents/.
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The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Mitchell Creem, Michael Reed, and Scott J. Saunders, with Mitchell Creem serving as Chairman. The Board has determined that Mitchell Creem is an “audit committee financial expert” (as that term is defined under SEC rules implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) and each of the three audit committee members are “independent” directors that satisfy the heightened audit committee independence requirements under the NASDAQ Listing Rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee met 12 times during the year ended December 31, 2024, including telephonic meetings.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee consists of Ms. Cheryl Grenas, Mitchell Creem, and Michael Reed, with Cheryl Grenas serving as Chairman and is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board the compensation and over-all benefits of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee may, but is not required to, consult with outside compensation consultants. The Compensation Committee has adopted a charter and the charter is posted on our web site https://www.nutexhealth.com/governance-documents/. Our Compensation Committee is responsible for the executive compensation programs for our executive officers and reports to our Board on its discussions, decisions and other actions. Our Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations for the respective executive officers that report to him to our Compensation Committee and typically attends compensation committee meetings. Our Chief Executive Officer makes such recommendations (other than with respect to himself) regarding base salary, and short-term and long-term compensation, including equity incentives, for our executive officers based on our results, an executive officer’s individual contribution toward these results, the executive officer’s role and performance of his or her duties and his or her achievement of individual goals. Our Compensation Committee then reviews the recommendations and other data, including various compensation survey data and publicly-available data of our peers, and makes decisions as to the target total direct compensation for each executive officer, as well as each individual compensation element. While our Chief Executive Officer typically attends meetings of the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee meets outside the presence of our Chief Executive Officer when discussing and approving his compensation and when discussing certain other matters, as well.
Our Compensation Committee is authorized to retain the services of one or more executive compensation advisors, as it sees fit, in connection with the establishment of our executive compensation programs and related policies. In fiscal year 2024, the Board and the Compensation Committee retained Mercer, a national compensation consulting firm, to provide it with market information, analysis and other advice relating to executive compensation on an ongoing basis. The Board and the Compensation Committee engaged Mercer to, among other things, assist in developing an appropriate group of peer companies to help us determine the appropriate level of overall compensation for our executive officers, as well as to assess each separate element of compensation, with a goal of ensuring that the compensation we offer to our executive officers, individually as well as in the aggregate, is competitive and fair. We do not believe the retention of, and the work performed by Mercer creates any conflict of interest. The Compensation Committee met six times during the year ended December 31, 2024, including telephonic meetings.
Nominating and Governance Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities with respect to the oversight of the Company’s affairs in the areas of corporate governance matters.
Additionally, the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee considers persons identified by its members, management, shareholders, investment bankers and others.
The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in a charter adopted by us, generally provide that persons to be nominated:
| (1) | should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service; |
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| (2) | should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the Board and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and |
| (3) | should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the shareholders. |
The Nominating and Governance Committee considers a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by shareholders and other persons. The Nominating and Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Michael Reed, MPH, Mitchell Creem, Scott J. Saunders and Ms. Cheryl Grenas, R.N., M.S.N., with Michael Reed, MPH serving as chairman. The Nominating and Governance Committee has adopted a charter and the charter is posted on our web site https://www.nutexhealth.com/governance-documents/.
The Nominating and Governance Committee met three times during the year ended December 31, 2024, including telephonic meetings.
Our Board has responsibility for the oversight of the Company’s risk management processes and, either as a whole or through its committees, regularly discusses with management our major risk exposures, the potential impact of these risks on our business and the steps we take to manage them. The risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from Board committees and members of senior management to enable our Board to understand the Company’s risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation strategies with respect to areas of potential material risk, including the Company’s corporate strategy, business objectives, compliance, financial condition, legal, regulatory, commercial and reputational risk. The committees of the Board execute their risk oversight responsibility for risk management as follows:
| (1) | The Audit Committee reviews information regarding liquidity and operations and oversees our management of financial risks as well as risks associated with cybersecurity. Periodically, the Audit Committee reviews our policies with respect to risk assessment, risk management, loss prevention and financial-related regulatory compliance. Oversight by the Audit Committee includes direct communication with our internal and external auditors, and discussions with management regarding significant risk exposures and the actions management has taken to limit, monitor or control such exposures. |
| (2) | The Compensation Committee is responsible for the design and oversight of our executive compensation philosophy, policies, plans and practices, including ensuring that our overall executive compensation program appropriately links pay to performance and aligns the interests of our executives with our stockholders and that the elements of our compensation programs mitigate excessive risk-taking. |
| (3) | The Nominating and Governance Committee manages risks associated with the independence of members of our Board, corporate disclosure practices, potential conflicts of interest, and corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts, including the impact of ESG issues. The Nominating and Governance Committee also provides oversight of our non-financial compliance program by monitoring our compliance policies, standards, procedures, systems and initiatives as well as oversight of our quality, regulatory and commercial compliance programs. |
While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire Board is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks. Matters of significant risk are considered by our Board as a whole.
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Our Board has adopted a Code of Business Ethics Policy to assist the Board in the exercise of its responsibilities and to serve as a framework for the effective governance of the Company. You can access our current committee charters, our Code of Business Ethics Policy in the “Governance” section of the “Investors” page of our web site located at https://www.nutexhealth.com/governance-documents/.
Insider Trading and Anti-Hedging Policy
Our Board has adopted an Insider Trading Policy, which applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, that we believe is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules, and regulations and Nasdaq listing standards. A copy of our Insider Trading Policy was filed as Exhibit 19.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Our policy against insider trading prohibits directors, officers, employees, the Company and other covered persons from engaging in transactions while aware of material nonpublic information about the Company. Directors, officers and certain other employees are subject to pre-clearance requirements for all transactions in the Company’s securities and are generally prohibited from transacting in the Company’s securities during designated blackout periods. Our policy against insider trading prohibits employees, officers and directors from engaging in any speculative or hedging transactions in our securities. We prohibit transactions such as puts, calls, swaps, forward sale contracts, and other derivatives or similar arrangements or instruments designed to hedge or offset decreases in the market value of our securities. No employee, officer or director may engage in short sales of our securities, hold our securities in a margin account, purchase shares of our stock on margin or pledge our securities as collateral for a loan.
Director Qualifications
In evaluating director nominees, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers, among other things, the following factors:
| (1) | reputation for personal and professional integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards; |
| (2) | demonstrated business acumen, experience and ability to exercise sound judgments in matters that relate to the current and long-term objectives of the Company; |
| (3) | commitment to understand the Company and its industry and to regularly attend and participate in meetings of the Board and its committees; |
| (4) | interest and ability to understand the sometimes-conflicting interests of the various constituencies of the Company, which include stockholders, employees, customers, governmental units, creditors and the general public, and to act in the interests of all stockholders; |
| (5) | diversity of expertise and experience in substantive matters pertaining to our business relative to other Board members; |
| (6) | diversity of background and perspective, including with respect to age, gender, race, place of residence and specialized experience; and |
| (7) | practical and mature business judgment, including the ability to make independent analytical inquiries. |
The Nominating and Governance Committee’s goal is to assemble a Board that brings to the Company a variety of perspectives and skills derived from high quality business and professional experience. Moreover, the Nominating and Governance Committee believes that the background and qualifications of the members of our Board, considered as a group, should provide a significant breadth of experience, knowledge and abilities to assist
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the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities. Nominees are not discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or any other basis proscribed by law.
The Nominating and Governance Committee has not adopted a formal policy with respect to a fixed set of specific minimum qualifications for its candidates for membership on the Board. The committee considers such factors, including those set forth above, as it may deem are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The committee further believes it is appropriate for at least one member of our Board to meet the criteria for an “audit committee financial expert” as that phrase is defined under the regulations promulgated by the SEC, and that a majority of the members of our Board be independent as required under the Nasdaq qualification standards. The Nominating and Governance Committee believes it is appropriate for our Chief Executive Officer to serve as a member of our Board. Our directors’ performance and qualification criteria are reviewed periodically by the Nominating and Governance Committee.
Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors
The Nominating and Governance Committee identifies nominees for director by first evaluating the current members of our Board willing to continue in service. Current members with qualifications and skills that are consistent with the Nominating and Governance Committee’s criteria for service on the Board and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of our Board with that of obtaining a new perspective or expertise. The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews the overall service provided by these directors to the Company during their terms, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance and any other relationships and transactions that might impair the directors’ independence, as well as the results of the Board’s self-evaluation, which is generally conducted annually, to determine whether to recommend them to the Board for nomination for a new term.
If any member of our Board does not wish to continue to serve on the Board or if our Board decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, and our Board seeks to fill such vacancy, the Nominating and Governance Committee identifies a new nominee that meets the criteria above. The Nominating and Governance Committee generally inquires of our Board and members of management for their recommendations and may also review the composition and qualification of the boards of directors of our competitors or seek input from industry experts or analysts. The Nominating and Governance Committee then reviews the qualifications, experience, and background of suggested candidates. Final candidates, if other than our current directors, are interviewed by the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee and by certain of our other independent directors and executive management. In making its determinations, the Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates each individual in the context of our Board as a whole, with the objective of assembling a group that can best contribute to the success of the Company and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment. After review and deliberation of all feedback and data, the Nominating and Governance Committee makes its recommendation to our Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee has previously engaged a search firm to conduct a search for additional directors with extensive development, regulatory or commercialization expertise to join our Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee may in the future engage third-party search firms in those situations where particular qualifications are required or where existing contacts are not sufficient to identify an appropriate candidate.
We have not received director candidate recommendations from our stockholders and do not have a formal policy regarding consideration of such recommendations. However, any recommendations received from stockholders will be evaluated in the same manner that potential nominees suggested by board members, management, or other parties are evaluated. Stockholders wishing to recommend a director candidate for consideration by our Nominating and Governance Committee must submit such recommendation in writing to our principal executive offices at Nutex Health Inc., 6030 S. Rice Ave, Suite C, Houston, TX 77081, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Such recommendation must be received by us no later than April 1, 2026. Such submissions must state the nominee’s name, together with appropriate biographical information and background materials, and information with respect to the stockholder or group of stockholders making the recommendation, including the number of shares of common stock owned by such stockholder or group of stockholders. We may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as we may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of the
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proposed nominee to serve as an independent director or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
Stockholders also have the right under our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws to directly nominate director candidates, without any action or recommendation on the part of our Nominating and Governance Committee or the Board, by following the procedures set forth below under “Stockholder Proposals” below. If our Board determines to nominate a stockholder-recommended candidate and recommends his or her election, then his or her name will be included in our proxy statement and proxy card for the next annual meeting of stockholders. Otherwise, candidates nominated by stockholders in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws will not be included in our proxy statement for the next annual meeting.
We have a highly effective and engaged Board, and we believe that our directors’ service on other companies’ boards enable them to contribute valuable knowledge and perspective to our Board activities. Nonetheless, the Board is sensitive to the external obligations of its directors and the potential for over boarding to compromise their ability to effectively serve the Company and works to evaluate and ensure that the external obligations of members of the Board do not negatively impact current Board obligations.
Stockholders seeking to communicate with our Board must submit their written comments to Nutex Health Inc., 6030 S. Rice Ave, Suite C, Houston, Texas 77081, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Corporate Secretary will forward such communications to each member of our Board; provided that, if in the opinion of our Corporate Secretary it would be inappropriate to send a particular stockholder communication to a specific director, such communication will only be sent to the remaining directors (subject to the remaining directors concurring with such opinion).
The non-executive members of the Board are eligible to receive both cash and equity compensation for their service as board members. Members of management who are on the Board are not eligible for additional compensation for service as board members.
The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the Nutex compensation program and may, from time-to-time, recommend to the Board changes to the program. The Compensation Committee may seek the advice of an independent compensation consultant to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate in the discharge of its duties.
Equity Awards.
We may grant an annual equity award to each non-executive director as determined in the judgment of the Compensation Committee, and are paid in RSUs or common stock that fully vest one year following the grant date, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting date.
Cash Retainers.
We provide our non-executive directors with cash retainers, paid monthly. The annual cash retainer for each non-executive director is $150,000. Additionally, we provided the following annual cash retainers in fiscal year 2024, which are prorated for partial years of service:
Additional Annual Retainer for Committee Membership: |
| |
|
Audit Committee Chairman | | $ | 20,000 |
Compensation Committee Chairman | | $ | 15,000 |
Nominating and Governance Committee Chairman | | $ | 15,000 |
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In 2024, we provided the following cash retainers to our non-executive directors:
Mitchell Creem, Audit Committee Chair |
| $ | 169,160 |
Cheryl Grenas, Compensation Committee Chair | | $ | 162,500 |
Michael Reed, Nominating and Governance Audit Committee Chair | | $ | 165,000 |
Scott J. Saunders, Director | | $ | 107,955 |
The following table presents compensation received by our non-executive directors during fiscal year 2024. Messrs. Vo and Hosseinion did not receive compensation for their service on the Board and the compensation paid to Messrs. Vo and Hosseinion as employees of Nutex is set forth under the 2024 Summary Compensation Table:
|
| Fees Earned or |
| |
| |
| | Paid | | Stock | | |
Name | | in Cash ($) | | Awards ($) | | Total ($) |
Mitchell Creem |
| 169,160 |
| — |
| 169,160 |
Cheryl Grenas |
| 162,500 |
| — |
| 162,500 |
Michael Reed |
| 165,000 |
| — |
| 165,000 |
Scott J. Saunders |
| 107,955 |
| — |
| 107,955 |
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits the personal liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and provides that no director will have personal liability to us or to our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, these provisions do not eliminate or limit the liability of any of our directors:
| (1) | for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders; |
| (2) | for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
| (3) | for voting or assenting to unlawful payments of dividends, stock repurchases, or other distributions; or |
| (4) | for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any amendment to or repeal of these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to such amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the DGCL. |
We maintain an insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors. These indemnification agreements require us, among other things, to indemnify each such director for some expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and settlement amounts incurred by him in any action or proceeding arising out of his service as one of our directors.
Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers, be insured and/or indemnified against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as members of our Board.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) may be permitted to directors, executive officers or persons controlling us, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. We have reviewed the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 and discussed them with Company management and CBIZ CPAs P.C. (formerly Marcum LLP), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2024.
We have received from, and discussed with, CBIZ CPAs P.C., who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and the SEC. In addition, we have discussed with CBIZ CPAs P.C. its independence from management and the Company, have received from CBIZ CPAs P.C. the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding its communications with us concerning independence, and have considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
This report of the Audit Committee is not “soliciting material,” shall not be deemed “filed” with the SEC, and shall not be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.
The foregoing report has been furnished by the Audit Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
Michell Creem, Chair
Michael Reed
Scott J. Saunders
Required Vote
If a quorum is present, the nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of directors.
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ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
We are providing our stockholders the opportunity to vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers (“NEOs”) as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules. This proposal, which is commonly referred to as “say-on-pay,” is required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which added Section 14A to the Exchange Act.
We encourage our stockholders to closely read the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement, which describes in detail our executive compensation programs and the decisions made by our Compensation Committee and our Board with respect to the year ended December 31, 2024.
We maintain straightforward executive compensation programs that consist almost entirely of base salary, an annual cash incentive bonus and annual equity awards. These elements of compensation have been selected by our Compensation Committee because the committee believes that they effectively achieve the fundamental goals of our compensation program, which are to attract, motivate and retain qualified and talented executives who are critical to our success, motivating them to achieve our business goals and rewarding them for superior short- and long-term performance. One of the goals of our Compensation Committee is to ensure that our compensation programs are aligned with the interests of our stockholders and our business goals in order to attain our ultimate objective of increasing stockholder value. We believe that consistent with these goals, the total compensation paid to each of our NEOs is fair, reasonable and competitive. Further, we believe our programs do not encourage excessive risk-taking by management.
Our Board is asking stockholders to approve, on an advisory basis, the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to Nutex Health Inc.’s NEOs, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the compensation tables and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement, is hereby approved.
As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding. The outcome of this advisory vote does not overrule any decision by the Company or the Board (or any committee thereof), create or imply any change to the fiduciary duties of the Company or the Board (or any committee thereof), or create or imply any additional fiduciary duties for the Company or the Board (or any committee thereof). However, our Compensation Committee and Board value the opinions expressed by our stockholders in their vote on this proposal and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for NEOs.
This vote is required by law but is advisory and is not binding upon the Company with regard to the compensation of our NEOs. This vote is intended to serve as an indication of support of the proposed compensation package of our Company’s NEOs. The results of the vote on this matter shall be disclosed in a filing made with the SEC that will be available for review through the Company’s website at www.nutexhealth.com. Any change resulting from this vote shall be disclosed after the Board has had an opportunity to review and evaluate the vote. Such action shall be announced in a filing made with the SEC that will be available for review through the Company’s website. This filing will be made at least 60 days prior to the deadline for the submission of shareholder proposals for next year’s meeting.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE
APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
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Overview
On May 16, 2025, the Board adopted an amendment (the “Amendment”) to our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”), subject to the approval of our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The Amendment adopted by the Board would increase the number of shares of our Common Stock (the “Shares”) reserved for issuance under the 2023 Plan by 1,100,000 (to 1,106,620 shares of Common Stock from 6,620 shares of Common Stock) and to allow the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2023 Plan to automatically increase on January 1 of each year, in an amount equal to 5% of the number of shares outstanding at December 31 of the previous fiscal year, provided that the Board may decide that there shall be no increase or a lesser increase. Currently, the 2023 Plan is subject to annual increases on January 1st of each calendar year through January 1, 2033 of up to 1% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock on the final day of the preceding calendar year, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.
We are not seeking stockholder approval of any other changes to the 2023 Plan. The full text of the proposed Amendment is attached hereto as Annex A. Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq and we are subject to Nasdaq rules and regulations. Nasdaq rules require stockholder approval for any material revision to an equity compensation plan. We are seeking stockholder approval of the Amendment because it is deemed a material revision to the 2023 Plan. The Board has approved the increase of the available Shares under the 2023 Plan, subject to stockholder approval. The Board has also determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to approve this proposal, and recommends that stockholders vote in favor of this proposal at the Annual Meeting.
If stockholders approve this proposal, the proposed Amendment will become effective as of the date of stockholder approval. If this proposal is approved by our stockholders, we intend to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 covering the additional 1,100,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable under the 2023 Plan. If stockholders do not approve this proposal, the proposed Amendment to the 2023 Plan described in this proposal will not take effect and our current 2023 Plan will continue to be administered in its current form, subject to any amendment for which stockholder approval is not required to the extent permitted by the 2023 Plan. However, as a result of the limited number of Shares remaining available for issuance under the 2023 Plan, our projections show that the current share reserve will not likely be sufficient to cover anticipated new equity grants needed beyond the Annual Meeting.
Our executive officers and directors have an interest in this proposal because they are eligible to receive equity awards under the 2023 Plan.
Shares Available for Future Awards
As of May 16, 2025, approximately 6,620 Shares remained available for grant under the 2023 Plan. The Board believes that the Shares reserved for issuance under the 2023 Plan following stockholder approval of the proposed Amendment (along with Shares becoming available for future grant due to forfeitures and cancellations) would be sufficient to enable us to continue to grant equity awards under the 2023 Plan for approximately three years. This estimate is based on a forecast that takes into account our anticipated rate of growth in hiring, an estimated range of our stock price over time and our historical forfeiture rates, as well as the number of Shares we have available for grant under the 2023 Plan. However, future circumstances may require a change to expected equity grant practices. Awards granted and the shares issuable pursuant to such awards may vary from our historical practice depending on a number of factors, including the number of our employees, which may continue to grow due to the development of additional hospital locations, our hiring needs, our incentive and retention objectives, award levels and amounts provided by the Company’s competitors and our stock price.
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Reasons for Voting for the Proposal
Equity Awards Are an Important Part of Our Compensation Philosophy
Attracting, developing, and retaining talented people who embrace our culture, execute our strategy, and enable us to compete effectively in our industry is critical to our success. Our mission is to make concierge-level health care more accessible to all communities, with a practice centered on patients’ experience and satisfaction. Our vision is to be leaders in individualized patient care and innovators in the future of health care. Patient care is our number one priority and every single decision that we make as a company revolves around creating the best possible patient care. We understand that our success is directly correlated to ensuring that we have the right team members and that each of our team members is passionate about the important role that they play in executing our mission and improving the health outcomes for all of our patients. As such, we aim to attract and retain qualified and passionate partner doctors, hospitalists and support staff who represent a diverse array of perspectives and skills who work together as a cohesive team that embodies our values and support our mission.
Our ability to recruit and retain partner doctors, hospitalists and support staff depends on a number of factors, including providing ownership opportunities, competitive compensation and benefits, development and career advancement opportunities, and a collegial work environment. We invest in those areas in an effort to ensure that we continue to be the employer of choice for our team members.
Our overall compensation objective is to compensate our personnel in a manner that attracts and retains the highly talented employees necessary to achieve these objectives and are a key element of our compensation program. Equity awards also incentivize our employees to manage our business as owners, aligning their interests with those of our stockholders. Our Board believes that our broad-based equity compensation program is essential to attract, retain and motivate people with the necessary talent and experience and to provide additional incentive to achieve our short- and long-term business objectives, and ultimately increase stockholder value.
We currently employ approximately 800 full time employees. As of May 16, 2025, approximately 110 of our current and former employees held outstanding equity awards.
Our board of directors believes we must continue to offer competitive equity compensation packages in order to attract and motivate the talent necessary for our continued growth and success.
The 2023 Plan Requires Additional Shares to Meet Our Forecasted Needs
We currently forecast granting equity awards representing approximately 30,000 Shares (over a three-year period), or approximately 0.54% of our Shares outstanding as of May 16, 2025. We also anticipate Share forfeitures and cancellations of approximately 6,000 Shares over this period, based on our historic rates.
If our expectation for grants and forfeitures is accurate, our net grants (grants less forfeitures and cancellations) over the next year would be approximately 24,000 Shares, or approximately 0.43% of our Shares outstanding as of May 16, 2025.
As described above, the 2023 Plan had 6,620 Shares available for grant as of May 16, 2025. We believe additional Shares should be reserved for issuance under our 2023 Plan to meet our estimated near-term equity compensation needs. The proposed Amendment will allow us to continue to utilize equity awards as long-term incentives to secure and retain the services of our employees and directors as well as certain consultants, consistent with our compensation philosophy and common compensation practices for our industry.
One alternative to using equity awards would be to significantly increase cash compensation. We do not believe this would be practical or advisable. We believe that a combination of equity and cash compensation is better for attracting, retaining, and motivating employees, consultants and directors, particularly in light of the highly innovative and competitive industry in which we operate. Any significant increase in cash compensation in lieu of equity awards would
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reduce the cash otherwise available for operations and investment in our business. Furthermore, we do not believe a more cash-oriented program would have the same long-term retention value or serve to align employees’, consultants’ and directors’ interests to those of our stockholders as effectively as a program that includes equity.
The Size of Our Share Reserve Request is Reasonable and We Manage Our Equity Use Responsibly
Our compensation philosophy reflects broad-based eligibility for equity awards, and we grant awards to all of our employees. However, we recognize that equity awards dilute existing stockholders, and, therefore, we are mindful to responsibly manage the growth of our equity compensation program. We are committed to effectively monitoring our equity compensation share reserve, including the amount of expected future award issuances, to ensure that we maximize stockholders’ value by granting the appropriate number of equity awards necessary to attract, reward, and retain employees, directors and consultants.
Therefore, our Board believes that the Amendment is in the best interests of our business and our stockholders and unanimously recommends a vote in favor of this Proposal 3.
Number of Awards Granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants in 2024
On April 9, 2024, the Company effected a 1-15 reverse stock split and on July 2, 2024, the Company effected an additional 1-10 reverse stock split (referred to in the aggregate as the “2024 Reverse Stock Splits”). Unless otherwise indicated, all authorized, issued, and outstanding stock and per share amounts referred to herein have been adjusted to reflect the 2024 Reverse Stock Splits.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 119,039 RSUs (1,189,960 RSUs before the June 2024 Reverse Stock Split) equity awards were made pursuant to the 2023 Plan. The Board increased the aggregate number of shares available under the 2023 Plan in accordance with the 2023 Plan’s “evergreen” provision in 2024 by 4,513. A total of 6,235 shares were available for issuance under the 2023 Plan at December 31, 2024.
