Microbix Announces Issuance of Stock Options - February 25, 2019
Using Shareholder-Approved Plan to Incentivize and Retain
TORONTO, February 25, 2019 - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, Microbix®), an innovator of biological products and technologies, announces the issuance of stock options under its shareholder-approved 2018 stock option plan (the "Stock Option Plan"), as part of its compensation programs to incentivize and retain its board of directors, executives, and managers.
Details of the Option Issuance
In consultation with the CEO and CFO, the Microbix Board of Directors has approved the issuance of 1,920,000 options in accordance with the terms of the Stock Option Plan. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.23 per share, as determined by the closing price of the TSX on 21 February, 2019. Each option will vest and be exercisable after three (3) years and have a total life of five (5) years. The stock option grants form part of the total remuneration package for the recipients and are subject to TSX approval.
Management Discussion
Management believes that stock options are an important tool to incentivize and retain senior personnel, particularly for smaller, publicly-listed companies. Historically, Microbix has not made consistent use of its Stock Option Plan, with its last comprehensive award of options having been made in October, 2014. The Stock Option Plan was approved by shareholders at the annual general meeting of March 28, 2018. Going forward, Microbix intends to consider the broad use of the Stock Option Plan on a yearly basis - following the issuance of its Q1 results and the filing of its management information circular.
The options now issued are being allocated across 21 individuals that comprise the more senior tiers of Microbix's 80 employees, inclusive of its independent directors. The mean award per individual is 91,000, with a standard deviation of 54,000. The quarterly expense incurred as a result of this option award is estimated to be $21,000, and will represent approximately 2% of total company compensation costs.
About the Microbix Stock Option Plan
Details of the Microbix Stock Option Plan are available on the corporate website (www.microbix.com), via SEDAR (www.sedar.com), and are provided as an appendix to the current management information circular. The Stock Option Plan is a "rolling" plan that permits the issuance of options representing up to 10% of Microbix's issued and outstanding common shares. Prior to the current issuance, a total of 5,590,000 options had been issued under the plan, with an average exercise price of $0.39 and remaining life of 2.8 years. Following the current issuance, a total of 7,510,000 options will be outstanding, comprising 77% of the current plan availability. The plan is administered under the supervision of the board of Microbix or the human resources, compensation and governance committee of the board.
About Microbix Biosystems
Microbix Biosystems Inc. specializes in the development of proprietary biological and technology solutions for human health and well-being. The Company manufactures a wide range of critical biological materials for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens used in immunoassays or quality assessment and proficiency testing products. Microbix's products are sold to more than 100 customers worldwide, primarily to multinational diagnostics companies and laboratory accreditation organizations.
Microbix also applies its biological expertise and technology platforms to create other innovative products and technologies. Currently it has two; (1) Kinlytic® urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug (used to dissolve blood clots) and (2) LumiSort™ cell-sorting, a technology platform for ultra-rapid and efficient sorting of particles that can be used to enrich cell populations of interest, such as in sexing semen. Established in 1988, Microbix is a publicly traded company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes "forward-looking information," as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, management's discussion of financial results or the outlook for the business, the risks associated with its financial results and stability, its QAPs or biologicals business, development projects such as those referenced herein, operations in foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction generally, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery of products), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital and raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Company's judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information.
For further information, please contact:
Please visit www.microbix.com or www.sedar.com for recent Microbix filings.
Cameron L. Groome, President & CEO
(905) 361-8910 x 350 cameron.groome@microbix.
Jim Currie, CFO
(905) 361-8910 x 255 jim.currie@microbix.com
Deborah Honig, Investor Relations
Adelaide Capital Markets
(647) 203-8793 ir@microbix.com