UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


 Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  May 1, 2024

Vericel Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Michigan
001-35280
94-3096597
(State or other jurisdiction of
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation)
   

64 Sidney Street
   
Cambridge, MA

02139
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (617) 588-5555

Not Applicable
 Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Trading Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value
 
VCEL
 
NASDAQ
 
Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging Growth Company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 


Item 5.07
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 1, 2024 (the “Annual Meeting”), the shareholders of the Company voted on the following matters, which are described in detail in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 21, 2024: (i) the election of each of Robert Zerbe, Alan Rubino, Heidi Hagen, Steven Gilman, Kevin McLaughlin, Paul Wotton, Lisa Wright and Dominick Colangelo as a director of the Company to serve for a one-year term expiring at the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified (“Proposal 1”), (ii) the approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of the named executive officers of the Company (“Proposal 2”), (iii) the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the compensation of our named executive officers (“Proposal 3”) and (iv) the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 (“Proposal 4”).

The Company’s shareholders approved the nominees recommended for election in Proposal 1 at the Annual Meeting.

Shareholders voted for directors as follows:

Nominee
 
For
 
Abstain/Withheld
 
Broker Non-Votes
 
Robert Zerbe
 
41,278,370
 
2,004,339
 
2,202,810
 
Alan Rubino
 
41,205,989
 
2,076,720
 
2,202,810
 
Heidi Hagen
 
35,218,337
 
8,064,372
 
2,202,810
 
Steven Gilman
 
42,205,350
 
1,077,359
 
2,202,810
 
Kevin McLaughlin
 
42,263,852
 
1,018,857
 
2,202,810
 
Paul Wotton
 
40,144,951
 
3,137,758
 
2,202,810
 
Lisa Wright
 
40,724,522
 
2,558,187
 
2,202,810
 
Dominick Colangelo
 
42,041,793
 
1,240,916
 
2,202,810
 

The Company’s shareholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, Proposal 2 concerning the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. The votes cast at the Annual Meeting were as follows:

Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker Non-Votes
 
41,241,020
 
2,005,128
 
36,561
 
2,202,810
 

The Company’s shareholders voted, on an advisory basis, that future advisory votes on executive compensation should be submitted to the stockholders every year. The votes cast at the Annual Meeting for Proposal 3 were as follows:

1 Year
2 Years
 
3 Years
 
Abstentions
 
Broker Non-Votes
 
42,535,836
25,539
 
695,196
 
26,138
 
2,202,810
 

The Board of Directors considered the voting results with respect to Proposal 3 and has determined that the Company will hold future non-binding advisory votes of the shareholders on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as set forth in the Company’s proxy statement every year until the next required advisory vote of the Company’s shareholders on the frequency of shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation.

The Company’s shareholders approved Proposal 4 to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The votes cast at the Annual Meeting were as follows:

Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
43,592,984
 
1,867,944
 
24,591

Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
(d)
Exhibits.
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL)


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
 
Description
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL)


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
Vericel Corporation
     
Date:  May 3, 2024
By:
/s/ Sean C. Flynn
   
Name: Sean C. Flynn
   
Title:  Chief Legal Officer