PVCT PROXY 0406
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
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PROVECTUS
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
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|
7327
Oak Ridge Highway, Suite A
Knoxville,
TN 37931
phone
865/769-4011
fax
865/769-4013
|
Notice
of 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To
Be Held on June 22, 2006
To
Our
Stockholders:
We
will
hold the 2006 annual meeting of the stockholders of Provectus Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. on Thursday, June 22, 2006, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, at the
offices of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz located at
Riverview Tower, Suite 2200, 900 South Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.
The annual meeting is being held for the following purposes:
1. |
To
elect four directors to serve on our Board of Directors for a one-year
term;
|
2. |
To
approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Plan
to
increase the number of shares reserved for issuance from 5,000,000
to
10,000,000; and
|
3. |
To
transact any other business that properly comes before the annual
meeting.
|
Only
stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 24, 2006 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting.
You
are
cordially invited to attend the annual meeting. Regardless of whether you plan
to attend the annual meeting in person, please complete, sign and date the
enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the accompanying postage-paid
envelope.
By
order
of the Board of Directors,
/s/
Peter R. Culpepper
Peter
R.
Culpepper
Secretary
April
28,
2006
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT
TO
ENSURE THAT YOU ARE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN,
DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON. NO
ADDITIONAL POSTAGE IS NECESSARY IF THE PROXY IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
YOU
MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED AT THE
MEETING.
|
7327
Oak Ridge Highway, Suite A
Knoxville,
TN 37931
phone
865/769-4011
fax
865/769-4013
|
PROXY
STATEMENT FOR
2006
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON JUNE 22, 2006
We
are
delivering these proxy materials to solicit proxies on behalf of the Board
of
Directors of Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for the annual meeting of
stockholders to be held on Thursday, June 22, 2006, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Eastern time, at Riverview Tower, Suite 2200, 900 South Gay Street, Knoxville,
Tennessee.
We
are
mailing this proxy statement, together with a form of proxy and our annual
report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005, beginning on May
1,
2006.
About
the Annual Meeting
What
is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At
the
annual meeting, stockholders will act upon the following matters:
· |
The
election of four directors to serve on our Board of Directors for
a
one-year term.
|
· |
The
approval of an increase in the number of shares reserved for issuance
under our 2002 Stock Plan from 5,000,000 to
10,000,000.
|
Who
is entitled to vote?
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on April 24, 2006, the record
date for the annual meeting, are entitled to receive notice of the annual
meeting and to vote the shares of common stock that they held on that date
at
the annual meeting. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles its holder
to cast one vote on each matter to be voted on at the annual
meeting.
What
constitutes a quorum?
The
presence at the annual meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a
majority of the shares of the common stock outstanding on the record date will
constitute a quorum. As of the record date, there were 36,772,838 outstanding
shares of common stock. Shares held by stockholders present at the annual
meeting who elect to abstain from voting nonetheless will be included in the
calculation of the number of shares considered present at the annual
meeting.
How
do I vote?
If
you
complete and properly sign the accompanying proxy card and return it to us,
the
proxy holders named on the proxy card will vote your shares as you direct.
If
you are a registered stockholder and attend the annual meeting, you may deliver
your completed proxy card or vote in person at the meeting. If you hold your
shares in a brokerage account or in “street name” and you wish to vote at the
annual meeting, you will need to obtain a proxy from the broker or other nominee
who holds your shares.
Can
I change my vote after I return my proxy card?
Yes.
Even
after you have submitted your proxy card, you may change your vote at any time
before the proxy is exercised by filing with the Secretary either a notice
of
revocation or a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date. If you are a
“street name” stockholder, you must contact your broker or other nominee and
follow its instructions if you wish to change your vote. The powers of the
proxy
holders will be suspended if you attend the annual meeting in person and so
request, although your attendance at the annual meeting will not by itself
revoke a previously granted proxy.
What
are the Board’s recommendations?
Unless
you give other instructions on your proxy card, the persons named as proxies
on
the proxy card will vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations
of
the Board of Directors. The Board recommends a vote FOR
election
of each of the four candidates nominated to serve on our Board of Directors
for
a one-year term and FOR
approval
of the proposed amendment to our Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Plan to
increase the number of shares reserved for issuance from 5,000,000 to
10,000,000.
If
any
other business is properly brought before the annual meeting, the proxies will
vote your shares as the Board of Directors recommends. If the Board does not
give a recommendation, the proxies will vote your shares as they may determine
in their own discretion.
What
vote is required to approve each item?
Election
of Directors
The
affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting is
required for the election of directors. If you are present at the meeting and
you abstain from voting for one or more directors, your shares will not be
counted in the vote for any nominee, although they will be counted for the
purpose of determining whether there is a quorum present. A properly executed
proxy card marked “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” with respect to the election of one or
more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors
indicated and will be treated as an abstention with respect to voting on the
director or directors.
Approval
of the Amendment to the Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Plan and Other
Items
For
approval of the amendment to the Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Plan and any
other item of business that properly comes before the annual meeting, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting, in
person or by proxy, and entitled to vote will be required for approval. The
shares of any stockholder present at the meeting who abstains from voting on
the
proposal or on any other item will not be counted in the vote, although they
will be counted for the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum at
the
annual meeting. An abstention, therefore, will have the effect of a negative
vote. A properly executed proxy card marked “ABSTAIN” with respect to any such
matter will not be voted and will be treated as an abstention with respect
to
that matter.
In
general, if you hold shares of common stock in “street name” through a broker or
other nominee, and if your broker or other nominee is not instructed or
otherwise empowered to vote your shares at a meeting with respect to a
particular matter, then your shares will constitute “broker non-votes” as to the
matter. In the election of directors, brokers generally have discretion to
vote
your shares even in the absence of express instructions from you. As to all
matters, a broker non-vote will have the same effect as an
abstention.
Stock Ownership
Directors,
Executive Officers and Other Stockholders
The
table
below shows the amount of our common stock beneficially owned as of April 24,
2006 by each of our directors and officers, all executive officers and directors
as a group, and each person whom we believe beneficially owns more than 5%
of
our outstanding voting stock.
Name
and Address (1)
|
Amount
and Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership (2)
|
Percentage
of
Class (3)
|
|
|
|
Directors
and Executive Officers:
|
|
|
H.
Craig Dees
|
1,947,859
|
(4)
|
5.2%
|
Timothy
C. Scott
|
1,905,966
|
(5)
|
5.1%
|
Eric
A. Wachter
|
2,555,685
|
(6)
|
6.8%
|
Peter
R. Culpepper
|
375,000
|
(7)
|
1.0%
|
Stuart
Fuchs
|
876,418
|
(8)
|
2.4%
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group
(5
persons)
|
7,660,928
|
(9)
|
19.6%
|
Other
Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
Dr.
Donald E. Adams
370
Crestmont Drive
San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401
|
6,616,250
|
(10)
|
17.0%
|
Gryffindor
Capital Partners I, L.L.C.
150
North Wacker Drive, Suite 800
Chicago,
IL 60606
|
5,552,918
|
(11)
|
13.7%
|
(1)
|
If
no address is given, the named individual is an executive officer
or
director of Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., whose business address
is
7327 Oak Ridge Highway, Suite A, Knoxville, TN
37931.
|
(2) |
Shares
of common stock that a person has the right to acquire within 60
days of
April 24, 2006 are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage
ownership of the person having the right to acquire such shares,
but are
not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of
any other
person. Except as indicated by a note, each stockholder listed in
the
table has sole voting and investment power as to the shares owned
by that
person.
|
(3) |
As
of April 24, 2006, there were 36,772,838 shares of common stock issued
and
outstanding.
|
(4) |
Dr.
Dees’ beneficial ownership includes 536 shares held by Dees Family
Foundation, an entity established for the benefit of Dr. Dees’ family, and
550,000 shares subject to options which are exercisable within 60
days.
|
(5) |
Dr.
Scott’s beneficial ownership includes 55,996 shares held by Scott Family
Investment Limited Partnership, a limited partnership established
for the
benefit of Dr. Scott’s family, and 550,000 shares subject to options which
are exercisable within 60 days.
|
(6) |
Dr.
Wachter’s beneficial ownership includes 4,867 shares held by the Eric A.
Wachter 1998 Charitable Remainder Unitrust and 445,920 shares subject
to
options which are exercisable within 60 days. Dr. Wachter’s beneficial
ownership also includes 330,881 shares of Common Stock underlying
Warrants.
|
(7) |
Mr.
Culpepper’s beneficial ownership includes 337,585 shares subject to
options which are exercisable within 60
days.
|
(8)
|
Mr.
Fuchs’ beneficial ownership includes 226,459 shares held by SFF Limited
Partnership, a limited partnership of which Mr. Fuchs is the general
partner; 348,499 shares in an IRA of Mr. Fuchs; 75,000 shares subject
to
options which are exercisable within 60 days and 226,460 shares held
by
Gryffindor Capital Partners I, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company of which Mr. Fuchs is the managing principal (“Gryffindor”).
|
(9)
|
Includes 1,958,505 shares subject to options which are exercisable
within
60 days.
|
(10) |
Dr.
Adams’ beneficial ownership includes 4,447,593 shares directly held. Dr.
Adams’ beneficial ownership also includes 518,657 shares of Common Stock
underlying a ConvertibleDebenture, and 1,650,000 shares of Common
Stock underlying Warrants.
|
(11) |
Gryffindor's
beneficial ownership includes 1,559,793 share directly held and
226,569shares held by SFF Limited Partnership, a limited partnership of
which Stuart Fuchs, one of our directors, is
the general partner. Gryffindor disclaims beneficial ownership of
the shares held by SFF Limited Partnership. Gryffindor's beneficial
ownership also includes 3,766,666 shares of Common Stock underlying
Warrants.
|
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
The
federal securities laws require our directors and executive officers and persons
who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity
securities to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of
changes in ownership of our securities. Based solely on our review of the copies
of these forms received by us or representations from certain reporting persons,
we believe that SEC beneficial ownership reporting requirements for 2005 were
met.
Proposal
1:
Election
of Directors
The
persons listed below have been nominated by the Board of Directors to serve
as
directors for a one-year term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders
occurring in 2007. Each nominee has consented to serve on the Board of
Directors. If any nominee were to become unavailable to serve as a director,
the
Board of Directors may designate a substitute nominee. In that case, the persons
named as proxies on the accompanying proxy card will vote for the substitute
nominee designated by the Board of Directors.
H.
Craig Dees, Ph.D., 54,
has
served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors
since we acquired Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held Tennessee
Corporation, on April 23, 2002. Before joining us, from 1997 to 2002 he served
as senior member of the management team of Photogen Technologies, Inc.,
including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Photogen from 1997
to
2000. Prior to joining Photogen, Dr. Dees served as a Group Leader at the Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, and as a senior member of the management teams of
LipoGen Inc., a medical diagnostic company which used genetic engineering
technologies to manufacture and distribute diagnostic assay kits for auto-immune
diseases, and TechAmerica Group Inc., now a part of Boehringer Ingelheim
Vetmedica, Inc., the U.S. animal health subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelhem GmbH,
an international chemical and pharmaceutical company headquartered in Germany.
He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Virology from the University of Wisconsin -
Madison in 1984.
Timothy
C. Scott, Ph.D., 48,
has
served as our President and as a member of our Board of Directors since we
acquired PPI on April 23, 2002. Prior to joining us, Dr. Scott was as a senior
member of the Photogen management team from 1997 to 2002, including serving
as
Photogen’s Chief Operating Officer from 1999 to 2002, as a director of Photogen
from 1997 to 2000, and as interim CEO for a period in 2000. Before joining
Photogen, he served as senior management of Genase LLC, a developer of enzymes
for fabric treatment, and held senior research and management positions at
Oak
Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Scott earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering
from
the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1985.
Eric
A. Wachter, Ph.D., 43,
has
served as our Vice President - Pharmaceuticals and as a member of our Board
of
Directors since we acquired PPI on April 23, 2002. Prior to joining us, from
1997 to 2002 he was a senior member of the management team of Photogen,
including serving as Secretary and a director of Photogen since 1997 and as
Vice
President and Secretary and a director of Photogen since 1999. Prior to joining
Photogen, Dr. Wachter served as a senior research staff member with Oak Ridge
National Laboratory. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of
Wisconsin - Madison in 1988.
Stuart
Fuchs, 59, has
served as a member of our Board of Directors since January 23, 2003. He is
the
co-founder and managing principal of Gryffindor since January 2000, a
Chicago-based venture capital firm. Before joining Gryffindor, he was a founding
stockholder of several biotech companies, including Angiogen LLC (since 1998),
which develops combinations of drugs to stimulate in
vivo
production of factors that inhibit the growth of blood vessels in tumors, and
Nace Pharma LLC (since 1996), which develops drugs that employ novel drug
delivery technologies. Through Nace Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation
providing strategic and financial advice to companies in the technology sector,
Mr. Fuchs has formed or participated in groups of investors on behalf of several
companies, including Miicro Inc., Celsion Corp. and Photogen. Before founding
Nace Resources Inc., he served for 19 years as an investment banker with
Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he co-managed the firm’s public finance
activities for the Midwest region. Before joining Goldman, Sachs & Co., Mr.
Fuchs was a lawyer in private practice with Barrett Smith Schapiro & Simon
in New York. Mr. Fuchs holds an A.B. degree from Harvard College and a J.D.
from
Harvard Law School and is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City
of
New York.
The
Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR each of the
nominees for election to the Board of Directors named
above.
Proposal
2:
Amendment
to the Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Plan
The
Board
of Directors has approved an amendment to our Amended and Restated 2002 Stock
Plan, subject to stockholder approval to increase the number of shares reserved
for issuance under the Plan from 5,000,000 shares to 10,000,000. The Plan was
approved by the stockholders at the annual meeting in 2003 and was amended
at
the annual meetings in both 2004 and 2005. The Plan provides for the grant
of
stock options, stock appreciation rights, rights to purchase restricted stock
and long-term performance awards. Our employees, consultants and directors
who
are not employees whose present and potential contributions are important to
our
continued success are eligible to receive awards. The Plan is administered
by
the Board of Directors which has the power to authorize awards and determine
their terms and conditions. The Plan will remain in effect until all awards
under the Plan have been issued, expired or otherwise terminated or the Plan
is
terminated by the Board of Directors. However, no award may be granted more
than
ten years after the date of the Plan’s approval (2013). Generally, a
participant’s awards issued under the Plan are not transferable except by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Our
Board
has determined that an increase in the reserve of shares is necessary,
especially in light of the fact that as of April 24, 2006, no shares remain
in
the reserve. The Board believes that we must offer a competitive equity
compensation program if we are to continue to successfully attract and retain
the most qualified candidates as employees, directors and consultants. The
Board
expects that the Plan, as amended, will be an important factor in attracting
and
retaining the personnel essential to our success and in motivating these
individuals to strive to enhance our growth and profitability. The opportunity
to acquire an equity interest will align the economic interest of these
individuals with those of other stockholders, thereby benefiting all of our
stockholders. The Plan remains unchanged in all other respects.
The
Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the adoption of
this proposal.
Information
about the Board of Directors
How
often did the Board of
Directors meet in 2005?
The
Board
of Directors met once and took action by unanimous written consent 19 times
during 2005. Each Board member attended more than 75% of the total number of
meetings of the Board and its committees on which he served. Members of the
Board of Directors are encouraged to attend the annual meeting. All members
of
our Board attended the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders either in person
or
via telephone conference.
How
does the Board of
Directors operate?
Because
the Board of Directors consists of only four members and our operations remain
amenable to oversight by a limited number of directors, the Board has not
delegated any of its functions to committees. None of the members of our Board
of Directors is considered independent. The Board has not adopted either a
nominating or audit committee charter.
The
entire Board of Directors acts as our audit committee as permitted under Section
3(a)(58)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as our nominating
committee. The Board views its duties as an audit committee as
follows:
· |
Review
recommendations of independent registered public accountants concerning
our accounting principles, internal controls and accounting procedures
and
practices;
|
· |
Review
the scope of the annual audit;
|
· |
Approve
or disapprove each professional service or type of service other
than
standard auditing services to be provided by the registered public
accountants; and
|
· |
Review
and discuss with the independent registered public accountants the
audited
financial statements.
|
The
entire Board of Directors acts as our nominating committee. The Board has no
set
procedures or policy on the selection of nominees or evaluation of stockholder
recommendations and will consider these issues on a case-by-case basis. The
Board will consider stockholder recommendations for director nominees that
are
properly received in accordance with our bylaws and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board screens all
potential candidates in the same manner. The Board's review will typically
be
based on all information provided with respect to the potential candidate.
The
Board has not established specific minimum qualifications that must be met
by a
nominee for a position on the Board or specific qualities and skills for a
director. For more information, please see the section entitled “Stockholder
Proposals for 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders” below. Stockholders who wish
to contact the members of the Board of Directors may do so by sending an e-mail
addressed to them at info@pvct.com.
How
are directors
compensated?
Three
of
our four directors, Drs. Dees, Scott and Wachter, are also full-time employees.
As discussed below under the heading “EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION,” they are
compensated for their service in those roles. Other than the options described
below, they are not separately compensated for their service as
directors.
Mr.
Fuchs
does not receive cash compensation for his service as a member of the Board
of
Directors, although he is reimbursed for expenses incurred in fulfilling his
duties as a director, including attending meetings.
On
the
date of each annual meeting of stockholders, each member of the Board receives
options exercisable for shares of our common stock. This was 25,000 options
in
2003, 2004 and 2005, and is 50,000 options in 2006.
Executive
Officer Compensation
The
table
below shows the compensation for services in all capacities we paid during
the
year ended December 31, 2005 to our Chief Executive Officer and the other
executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2005 who received more
than $100,000:
Summary
Compensation Table
|
|
Annual
Compensation
|
Long
Term
Compensation
|
All
Other Compensation(1)
|
Name
and Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus($) )
|
Securities
Underlying Options/SARs(#)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.
Craig Dees.
Chief
Executive Officer
|
2005
2004
2003
|
229,166
175,000
131,250
|
113,462
--
--
|
825,000
325,000
100,000
|
$21,634
$91,666
--
|
Timothy
C. Scott
President
|
2005
2004
2003
|
208,333
175,000
131,250
|
113,462
--
--
|
825,000
325,000
100,000
|
$36,217
$77,083
--
|
Eric
A. Wachter
Vice
President—Pharmaceuticals
|
2005
2004
2003
|
183,333
175,000
131,250
|
68,462
--
--
|
825,000
325,000
100,000
|
$21,634
$70,833
--
|
Peter
R. Culpepper
Chief
Financial Officer
|
2005
2004
2003
|
208,333
118,750
--
|
83,462
--
--
|
775,000
400,000
--
|
$44,552
--
--
|
(1) Drs.
Dees, Scott and Wachter served without salary from April 23, 2002 until November
16, 2002. During 2004 we paid them a portion of their accrued compensation
relating to the period April 23, 2002 until November 16, 2002. During 2005
we
paid Dr. Scott the remaining portion of his accrued compensation. During 2005
we
paid Mr. Culpepper his accrued compensation from 2004. And during 2005, we
paid
Drs. Dees, Scott, Wachter and Mr. Culpepper accrued compensation for unused
vacation time.
Other
Executive Officer
Peter
R.
Culpepper, 46, was appointed to serve as our Chief Financial Officer in February
2004. Previously, Mr. Culpepper served as Chief Financial Officer for Felix
Culpepper International, Inc. from 2001 to 2004; was a Registered Representative
with AXA Advisors, LLC from 2002 to 2003; has served as Chief Accounting Officer
and Corporate Controller for Neptec, Inc. from 2000 to 2001; has served in
various Senior Director positions with Metromedia Affiliated Companies from
1998
to 2000; has served in various Senior Director and other financial positions
with Paging Network, Inc. from 1993 to 1998; and has served in a variety of
financial roles in public accounting and industry from 1982 to 1993. He earned
a
Masters in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Maryland
-
College Park in 1992 and an undergraduate degree from the College of William
and
Mary - Williamsburg, Virginia in 1982. He is a licensed Certified Public
Accountant in both Tennessee and Maryland.
Option
Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Name
|
Number
of shares
underlying
options
|
%
of total options granted to employees in
fiscal year
|
Exercise
price
($/sh)
|
Expiration
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.
Craig Dees
|
300,000
300,000
25,000
200,000
|
9.2
9.2
0.8
6.2
|
0.64
0.75
0.62
0.94
|
2015
2015
2015
2015
|
Timothy
C. Scott
|
300,000
300,000
25,000
200,000
|
9.2
9.2
0.8
6.2
|
0.64
0.75
0.62
0.94
|
2015
2015
2015
2015
|
Eric
A. Wachter
|
300,000
300,000
25,000
200,000
|
9.2
9.2
0.8
6.2
|
0.64
0.75
0.62
0.94
|
2015
2015
2015
2015
|
Peter
R. Culpepper
|
300,000
300,000
175,000
|
9.2
9.2
5.4
|
0.64
0.75
0.94
|
2015
2015
2015
|
Aggregated
Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year And Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR
Values
The
following table discloses information regarding stock options held at the end
of
or exercised in the year 2005 for each of the executive officers listed in
the
Summary Compensation Table above.
Name
|
Shares
acquired
on
exercise
(1)
|
Value
realized
(1)
|
Securities
underlying
Unexercised
options
at
December 31, 2005
|
Value
of unexercised
in-the-money
options
at
December 31, 2005 (2)
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
H.
Craig Dees.
|
--
|
--
|
281,250
|
968,750
|
$150,875
|
$560,875
|
Timothy
C. Scott
|
--
|
--
|
281,250
|
968,750
|
$150,875
|
$560,875
|
Eric
A. Wachter
|
--
|
--
|
281,250
|
968,750
|
$150,875
|
$560,875
|
Peter
R. Culpepper
|
26,516
|
--
|
98,484
|
1,050,000
|
$
20,076
|
$557,500
|
_________________
(1)
|
As
of December 31, 2005, 26,516 options had been exercised by one executive
officer under the Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Option Plan. The
options
were exercised at a price higher than the market price on the date
of
exercise. Therefore, no value was
realized.
|
(2)
|
Based
on the closing price of the OTC Bulletin Board of $1.38 per share
as of
April 24, 2006.
|
Employment
Agreements
On
January 4, 2005, we entered into executive employment agreements with each
of H.
Craig Dees. Ph.D., Timothy C. Scott, Ph.D., Eric A. Wachter, Ph.D., and Peter
R.
Culpepper, CPA, to serve as our Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. Each agreement
provides that such executive will be employed for a one-year term with automatic
one-year renewals unless previously terminated pursuant to the terms of the
agreement or either party gives notice that the term will not be extended.
Each
executive’s initial base salary is $200,000 per year and is subject to
adjustment by our Board of Directors. Executives are also entitled to
participate in any incentive compensation plan or bonus plan adopted by us
without diminution of any compensation or payment under the agreement.
Executives are further entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred during his performance of services under the
agreement.
Each
agreement generally provides that if the executive’s employment is terminated
prior to a change in control (as defined in the agreement) (1) due to expiration
or non-extension of the term by us; or (2) by us for any reason other than
for
cause (as defined in the agreement), then such executive shall be entitled
to
receive payments under the agreement as if the agreement was still in effect
through the end of the period in effect as of the date of such termination.
If
the executive’s employment (1) is terminated by the company at any time for
cause, (2) is terminated by executive prior to, and not coincident with, a
change in control or (3) is terminated by executive’s death, disability or
retirement prior to a change in control, the executive (or his estate, as the
case may be) shall be entitled to receive payments under the agreement through
the last date of the month of such termination, a pro rata portion of any
incentive or bonus payment earned prior to such termination, any benefits to
which he is entitled under the terms and conditions of the pertinent plans
in
effect at termination and any reasonable expenses incurred during the
performance of services under the agreement.
In
the
event that coincident with or following a change in control, the executive’s
employment is terminated or the agreement is not extended (1) by action of
the
executive including his death, disability or retirement or (2) by action of
the
company not for cause, the executive (or his estate, as the case may be) shall
be entitled to receive payments under the agreement through the last date of
the
month of such termination, a pro rata portion of any incentive or bonus payment
earned prior to such termination, any benefits to which he is entitled under
the
terms and conditions of the pertinent plans in effect at termination and any
reasonable expenses incurred during the performance of services under the
agreement. In addition, the company shall pay to the executive (or his estate,
as the case may be), within 30 days following the date of termination or on
the
effective date of the change in control (whichever occurs later), a lump sum
payment in cash in an amount equal to 2.90 times the base salary paid in the
preceding calendar year, or scheduled to be paid to such executive during the
year of such termination, whichever is greater, plus an additional amount
sufficient to pay United States income tax on the lump sum amount
paid.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
table
below sets forth certain information regarding shares available as of December
31, 2005 for issuance under our equity compensation plans:
Category
|
(a)
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
|
(b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants
and rights
|
(c)
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under
equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
5,000,000
|
|
$
|
0.82
|
|
0
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by stockholders
|
0
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
0
|
|
Total
|
5,000,000
|
|
$
|
0.82
|
|
0
|
|
Report
of
the Board of Directors Acting as the audit committee
The
Board
of Directors serves as our audit committee. None of the members of the Board
are
independent. The Board acting as audit committee reviews our financial reporting
process. In this context, the Board:
· |
has
reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements
for the year ended December 31,
2005.
|
· |
has
discussed with BDO Seidman, LLP, our independent registered public
accountants, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on
Auditing
Standards No. 61, as modified or
supplemented.
|
· |
has
received the written disclosures and the letter from BDO Seidman,
LLP,
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (“Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees”), as modified or supplemented, and has
discussed with BDO Seidman, LLP, the independent accountant’s
independence.
|
Based
on
this review and the discussions referred to above, the Board determined that
the
audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for
the year ended December 31, 2005, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Board also appointed BDO Seidman, LLP, as our independent
registered public accountants for 2006.
This
report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Board of Directors acting
as
the Audit Committee:
H. Craig Dees |
Timothy
C. Scott
|
Eric A. Wachter |
Stuart
Fuchs
|
The
Report of the Board acting as the Audit Committee set out above shall not be
deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, nor shall it be incorporated 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, except
to
the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference and
shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these Acts.
We
do not
currently have an "audit committee financial expert," as defined under the
rules
of the SEC. Because the Board consists of only four members and operations
remain amenable to oversight by a limited number of directors, the Board has
not
delegated any of its functions to committees. The entire Board acts as our
audit
committee as permitted under Section 3(a)(58)(B) of the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934. We believe that all members of our Board are qualified to serve as
the
committee and have the experience and knowledge to perform the duties required
of the committee. We do not have any independent directors who would qualify
as
an audit committee financial expert, as defined. We believe that it has been,
and may continue to be, impractical to recruit such a director unless and until
we are significantly larger.
Audit
Fees
The
firm
of BDO Seidman, LLP, served as our independent registered public accountants
and
audited our financial statements for 2005. We expect that representatives of
BDO
Seidman, LLP, will be present at the annual meeting. They will be given an
opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to
respond to appropriate questions. The table below sets out the fees we paid
to
BDO Seidman, LLP, our independent registered public accountants for 2004 and
2005.
|
2004
|
2005
|
Audit
fees
|
$98,300
|
$104,900
|
Audit-related
fees
|
--
|
--
|
Tax
fees
|
--
|
--
|
All
other fees
|
--
|
--
|
Total
|
$98,300
|
$104,900
|
It
is the
policy of the Board of Directors to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services
provided by the Company's independent registered public accountants. The Board
of Directors has considered whether the provision by BDO Seidman, LLP, of
services of the varieties described above is compatible with maintaining the
independence of BDO Seidman, LLP. In view of the fact that BDO Seidman, LLP,
provides no services to us other than audit services, the Board of Directors
believes that such services do not jeopardize the independence of BDO Seidman,
LLP.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Investment
by Gryffindor
On
November 26, 2002, Gryffindor purchased our $1 million Convertible Secured
Promissory Note dated November 26, 2002. This Note bears interest at 8% per
annum, payable quarterly in arrears, and is due and payable in full on November
26, 2004. Subject to certain exceptions, the Note is convertible into shares
of
our common stock on or after November 26, 2003, at which time the principal
amount of the Note is convertible into common stock at the rate of one share
for
each $0.737 of principal so converted and any accrued but unpaid interest on
the
Note is convertible at the rate of one share for each $0.55 of accrued but
unpaid interest so converted. Our obligations under the Note are secured by
a
first priority security interest in all of our assets, including the capital
stock of our wholly owned subsidiary Xantech. In addition, our obligations
to
Gryffindor are guaranteed by Xantech, and Xantech’s guarantee is secured by a
first priority security interest in all of Xantech’s assets. Pursuant to our
agreement with Gryffindor, we also issued to Gryffindor and to Stuart Fuchs,
the
managing principal of Gryffindor, Common Stock Purchase Warrants dated November
26, 2002, entitling Gryffindor and Mr. Fuchs to purchase, in the aggregate,
up
to 452,919 shares of common stock at a price of $0.001 per share. Simultaneously
with the completion of the these transactions, Gryffindor and Mr. Fuchs
exercised the warrants in their entirety, and we issued 226,460 shares of our
common stock to Gryffindor and 226,459 shares to Mr. Fuchs. On January 23,
2003,
as required by our agreement with Gryffindor, Mr. Fuchs became one of our
directors. We believe that the terms of these transactions were obtained by
arms-length bargaining prior to the time Mr. Fuchs became one of our
directors.
Pursuant
to an agreement dated November 26, 2004 between us and Gryffindor, we issued
Gryffindor a Second Amended and Restated Senior Secured Convertible Note dated
November 26, 2004 in the amended principal amount of $1,185,959 which included
the original note principal plus accrued interest. The second amended note
bears
interest at 8% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, is due and payable
in
full on November 26, 2005, and amends and restates the amended note in its
entirety. Subject to certain exceptions, the Note is convertible into shares
of
our common stock on or after November 26, 2004, at which time the principal
amount of the Note is convertible into common stock at the rate of one share
for
each $0.737 of principal so converted and any accrued but unpaid interest on
the
Note is convertible at the rate of one share for each $0.55 of accrued but
unpaid interest so converted. We issued warrants to Gryffindor to purchase
up to
525,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share
in
satisfaction of issuing Gryffindor the Second Amended and Restated Senior
Secured Convertible Note dated November 26, 2004. We issued 175,000 warrants
each month from March 2005 to November 2005 resulting in total warrants of
1,575,000 to Gryffindor pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated
Note dated November 26, 2004. On November 26, 2005 We entered into a redemption
agreement with Gryffindor to pay $1,185,959 of the Gryffindor convertible debt
and accrued interest of $94,877.
Loan
from Stockholder
During
2002, Eric A. Wachter, Ph.D., who is also an employee and member of our board
of
directors loaned us $109,000. During 2003, Dr. Wachter loaned us an additional
$40,000. During 2005, Dr. Wachter loaned us an additional $25,000. Interest
on
the loan is 5%, compounded monthly. Principal is due on December 31, 2009 and
interest is payable quarterly in arrears beginning on June 30, 2003. Accrued
interest was $-0- and $15,434 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Interest expense was $16,525 and $8,003 at December 31, 2005 and 2004,
respectively. In December 2005, we approved a request from Dr. Wachter to
exchange the total loan amount of $174,000 plus accrued interest of $24,529
for
264,705 shares of common stock at $0.75 per share which are committed to be
issued at December 31, 2005 and were issued on January 3, 2006. In connection
with this transaction, which was based on the same terms as the private
placement conducted at the same time, we also issued warrants to Dr. Wachter
to
purchase up to 330,881 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.935
per
share.
Other
Matters
As
of the
date of this proxy statement, we know of no other business that will be
presented for consideration at the annual meeting other than the items referred
to above. If any other matter properly is brought before the annual meeting
for
action by the stockholders, the persons named in the proxies will vote the
shares of common stock represented by proxies as recommended by the Board of
Directors or, if the Board gives no recommendation, as they may determine in
their own discretion.
Additional
Information
Solicitation
of Proxies and Cost
We
will
bear the cost of soliciting proxies for the annual meeting. In addition to
solicitation of proxies by use of the mails, our employees, without extra
remuneration, may solicit proxies personally or by telecommunications. We will
reimburse brokerage firms, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries for their
out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners
and
seeking instruction with respect thereto.
Stockholder
Proposals for 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Stockholders
interested in presenting a proposal for consideration at our annual meeting
of
stockholders in 2007 may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Rule
14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and our bylaws. To be eligible
for inclusion, stockholder proposals must be received by our Secretary no later
than December 31, 2006.
By
Order of the Board of Directors
/s/
Peter R. Culpepper
Peter
R. Culpepper
Secretary
Knoxville,
Tennessee
April
28,
2006
2006
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON JUNE 22, 2006
This
Proxy Is Solicited On Behalf Of The Board Of Directors
The
2006
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the “Company”), will be held at the offices of Baker, Donelson,
Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, the Company’s counsel, located at Riverview
Tower, Suite 2200, 900 South Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902, on
Thursday, June 22, 2006, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time. The undersigned
hereby acknowledges receipt of the combined Notice of 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Proxy Statement dated April 28, 2006, accompanying this proxy,
to which reference is hereby made for further information regarding the meeting
and the matters to be considered and voted on by the stockholders at the
meeting.
The
undersigned hereby appoints Peter R. Culpepper and Linda M. Crouch-McCreadie,
and each of them, attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution, to
vote
as proxy all shares of common stock of the Company owned of record by the
undersigned as of the record date and otherwise to act on behalf of the
undersigned at the meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof, in
accordance with the instructions set forth herein and with discretionary
authority with respect to any other business, not known or determined at the
time of the solicitation of this proxy, that properly comes before such meeting
or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
The
undersigned hereby revokes any proxy heretofore given and directs said attorneys
and agents to vote or act as indicated on the reverse side hereof. If no
instruction is given, this proxy will be voted FOR
proposals 1 and 2.
(continued
on reverse side)
-
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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▲
FOLD
AND DETACH HERE ▲
|
7327
Oak Ridge Highway, Suite A
Knoxville,
TN 37931
phone
865/769-4011
fax
865/769-4013
|
April
28, 2006
Dear
Stockholder:
It
is a
great pleasure to have this opportunity to provide you with our 2005 Annual
Report and the Proxy Statement for our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The
Annual Report discusses our performance in fiscal 2005 as well as our business
strategy for the future. The Proxy Statement provides you with information
relating to the business to be conducted at our annual meeting on June 22,
2006.
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
You
can
vote by completing, signing, dating, and returning your proxy card in the
accompanying envelope.
Thank
you
for your continued interest in, and ownership of, Provectus Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.
Sincerely,
/s/
H.Craig Dees, Ph.D.
H.
Craig
Dees, Ph.D.
Chief
Executive Officer
This
proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company and will
be voted in accordance with the undersigned’s instructions set forth herein. If
no instructions are provided, this proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals
described below. THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSALS.
As
to the election to the Board of Directors of the nominees named in the proxy
statement delivered in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
each
for a one-year term expiring at the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders:
p FOR
all nominees listed below:
H.
Craig
Dees, Ph.D. Timothy
C. Scott, Ph.D.
Stuart
Fuchs Eric
A.
Wachter, Ph.D.
p WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
for all
nominees
Instruction:
To
withhold authority to vote for any director nominee, mark this box and draw
a
line through the name of the nominee in the list above.
As
to the approval of the amendment to the Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Plan
to
increase the number of shares reserved under the Plan from 5,000,000 to
10,000,000:
p FOR p AGAINST p ABSTAIN
With
respect to any other item of business that properly comes before the meeting,
the proxy holders are authorized to vote the undersigned’s shares in accordance
with their best judgment.
x Please
mark your votes as indicated in this example.
|
Date:
,
2006
|
Signature
of stockholder
|
Signature
of stockholder, if held jointly
Please
sign your name as it appears on this proxy. Joint owners each should
sign.
When signing as trustee, administrator, executor, attorney, etc.,
please
indicate your full title as such. Corporations should sign in full
corporate name by President or other authorized officer. Partnerships
should sign in full partnership name by authorized
partner.
|
▲
FOLD
AND DETACH HERE ▲
Vote
by Mail
Mark,
sign, and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope.
THANK
YOU FOR VOTING.