CRISPR Therapeutics AG filed SEC Form 8-K: Leadership Update, Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year, Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders, Financial Statements and Exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
Approval of CRISPR Therapeutics AG 2026 Stock Option and Incentive Plan
On June 4, 2026, at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), the shareholders of CRISPR Therapeutics AG (the “Company”) approved the CRISPR Therapeutics AG 2026 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2026 Plan”).
The 2026 Plan will reserve the remaining number of shares reserved for issuance under the CRISPR Therapeutics AG 2018 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) on the effective date of the 2026 Plan, plus any common shares underlying any awards that are forfeited, canceled or are otherwise terminated, other than by exercise, under the 2026 Plan, the 2018 Plan, and the CRISPR Therapeutics AG Amended and Restated 2016 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. If the Company’s capital structure changes because of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split or similar event, the number of shares that can be issued under the 2026 Plan will be appropriately adjusted. The 2026 Plan permits the award of stock options (both incentive and non-qualified options), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, cash-based performance awards, performance shares and dividend equivalent rights.
A detailed summary of the material features of the 2026 Plan is set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 2026 (the “Proxy Statement”). That summary and the foregoing description are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the 2026 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
On June 4, 2026, at the Annual Meeting, the shareholders of the Company approved amendments to the articles of association of the Company (the “Articles of Association”) as described in the Company’s Proxy Statement. The Company’s amended and restated Articles of Association become effective upon registration in the Commercial Register in the canton of Zug, Switzerland on or about June 5, 2026, subject to the approval by the Swiss Federal Commercial Authority. A copy of the amended and restated Articles of Association is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
The Annual Meeting was held on June 4, 2026. Proxies were solicited pursuant to the Proxy Statement.
At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders were asked (i) to approve the Swiss management report, the consolidated financial statements and the statutory financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2025, (ii) to approve the appropriation of financial results, (iii) to discharge the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, (iv) to re-elect eleven members, including the chairman to the Company’s Board of Directors, (v) to re-elect four members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, (vi) to approve the compensation for the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and, on a non-binding basis, the Swiss statutory compensation report of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the “2025 Compensation Report”), (vii) to approve, on a non-binding basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers under U.S. securities law requirements, (viii) to approve an increase to the Company’s capital band (ix) to approve an increase to the conditional share capital for the conversion of bonds and similar debt instruments, (x) to approve the 2026 Plan, (xi) to re-elect the independent voting rights representative, (xii) to re-elect Ernst & Young AG as the Company’s statutory auditor and to re-elect Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, and (xiii) to approve the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
The voting results reported below are final.
Proposal 1 – Approval of the Swiss Management Report, the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Statutory Financial Statements of the Company for the Year Ended December 31, 2025
The Swiss management report, the consolidated financial statements and the statutory financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2025 were approved. The results of the vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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70,716,663 |
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288,652 |
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248,393 |
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0 |
Proposal 2 – Approval of the Appropriation of Financial Results
The proposal to carry forward the net loss resulting from the appropriation of financial results was approved. The results of the vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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70,554,606 |
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415,599 |
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283,503 |
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0 |
Proposal 3 – Discharge of the Members of the Company’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee
The discharge of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and the Executive Committee from personal liability for their activities during the year ended December 31, 2025 was approved. The results of the vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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48,379,678 |
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262,761 |
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112,414 |
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22,498,855 |
Proposal 4 – Re-election of the Members to the Board of Directors and the Chairman
Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D., Ali Behbahani, M.D., Maria Fardis, Ph.D., H. Edward Fleming Jr., M.D., Simeon J. George, M.D., John T. Greene, Katherine A. High, M.D., Sandesh Mahatme, LL.M., Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Christian Rommel, Ph.D. and Douglas A. Treco, Ph.D. were each duly re-elected as members of the Company’s Board of Directors and Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D. was duly re-elected as the chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. The results of the election were as follows:
NOMINEE |
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D. |
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47,043,987 |
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1,628,226 |
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82,640 |
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22,498,855 |
Ali Behbahani, M.D. |
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35,498,392 |
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13,174,523 |
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81,938 |
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22,498,855 |
Maria Fardis, Ph.D. |
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47,804,457 |
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874,207 |
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76,189 |
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22,498,855 |
H. Edward Fleming Jr., M.D. |
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46,977,636 |
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1,686,127 |
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91,090 |
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22,498,855 |
Simeon J. George, M.D. |
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47,435,748 |
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1,225,519 |
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93,586 |
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22,498,855 |
John T. Greene |
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46,876,367 |
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1,793,109 |
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85,377 |
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22,498,855 |
Katherine A. High, M.D. |
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47,779,619 |
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899,787 |
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75,447 |
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22,498,855 |
Sandesh Mahatme, LL.M. |
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46,268,964 |
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2,405,580 |
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80,309 |
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22,498,855 |
Briggs W. Morrison, M.D. |
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46,013,911 |
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2,659,681 |
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81,261 |
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22,498,855 |
Christian Rommel, Ph.D. |
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47,802,202 |
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872,050 |
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80,601 |
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22,498,855 |
Douglas A. Treco, Ph.D. |
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44,359,453 |
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4,317,384 |
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78,016 |
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22,498,855 |
Proposal 5 – Re-election of the Members of the Compensation Committee
Ali Behbahani, M.D., H. Edward Fleming, Jr., M.D., John T. Greene and Briggs W. Morrison, M.D. were each duly re-elected as members of the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The results of the election were as follows:
NOMINEE |
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
Ali Behbahani, M.D. |
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35,458,908 |
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13,198,641 |
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97,304 |
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22,498,855 |
H. Edward Fleming Jr., M.D. |
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46,322,476 |
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2,341,513 |
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90,864 |
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22,498,855 |
John T. Greene |
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46,319,646 |
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2,326,146 |
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109,061 |
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22,498,855 |
Briggs W. Morrison, M.D. |
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45,317,635 |
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3,329,265 |
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107,953 |
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22,498,855 |
Proposal 6 – Approval of the Compensation for the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and Non-Binding Advisory Vote on the 2025 Compensation Report
The total non-performance-related compensation for members of the Board of Directors from the Annual Meeting to the 2027 annual general meeting of shareholders was approved on a binding basis. The results of the binding vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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48,085,285 |
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516,488 |
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153,080 |
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22,498,855 |
The grant of equity for members of the Board of Directors from the Annual Meeting to the 2027 annual general meeting of shareholders was approved on a binding basis. The results of the binding vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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39,099,507 |
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9,503,941 |
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151,405 |
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22,498,855 |
The total non-performance related compensation for members of the Executive Committee from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 was approved on a binding basis. The results of the binding vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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41,987,938 |
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6,608,726 |
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158,189 |
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22,498,855 |
The total variable compensation for members of the Executive Committee for the current year ending December 31, 2026 was approved on a binding basis. The results of the binding vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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41,997,078 |
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6,612,356 |
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145,419 |
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22,498,855 |
The grant of equity for members of the Executive Committee from the Annual Meeting to the 2027 annual general meeting of shareholders was approved on a binding basis. The results of the binding vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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33,726,778 |
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14,883,412 |
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144,663 |
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22,498,855 |
The endorsement of the 2025 Compensation Report was approved on a non-binding basis. The results of the non-binding vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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39,906,651 |
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8,704,469 |
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143,733 |
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22,498,855 |
Proposal 7 – Non-Binding Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers Under U.S. Securities Law Requirements
The compensation paid to the named executive officers was approved on a non-binding basis. The results of the non-binding vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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33,742,001 |
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14,867,591 |
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145,261 |
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22,498,855 |
Proposal 8 – Approval of an Increase to the Company’s Capital Band
An increase to the Company’s capital band was approved with at least two thirds of the votes represented and the absolute majority of the par value of the represented shares. The results of the vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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69,408,999 |
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1,361,697 |
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483,012 |
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0 |
Proposal 9 – Approval of an Increase to the Conditional Share Capital for the Conversion of Bonds and Similar Debt Instruments
An increase to the conditional share capital for the conversion of bonds and similar debt instruments was approved with at least two thirds of the votes represented and the absolute majority of the par value of the represented shares. The results of the vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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47,341,035 |
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1,298,782 |
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115,036 |
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22,498,855 |
Proposal 10 – Approval of the 2026 Plan
The 2026 Plan was approved. The results of the vote were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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42,839,199 |
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5,763,564 |
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152,090 |
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22,498,855 |
Proposal 11 – Re-election of the Independent Voting Rights Representative
Marius Meier, Attorney at Law, was duly re-elected as the independent voting rights representative. The results of the election were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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70,290,203 |
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640,943 |
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322,562 |
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0 |
Proposal 12 –Re-election of the Auditors
Ernst & Young AG was duly elected as the Company’s statutory auditor for the term of office of one year, and Ernst & Young LLP was duly elected as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. The results of the election were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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69,875,653 |
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462,910 |
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915,145 |
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0 |
Proposal 13 – Transact Any Other Business that may Properly Come Before the 2026 Annual General Meeting or any Adjournment or Postponement thereof
The proposal for the transaction of any other business that properly came before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, to follow the respective proposal of the Board of Directors as proposed at the Annual Meeting, was approved. The results of the election were as follows:
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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BROKER NON-VOTES |
NUMBER |
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29,000,337 |
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19,464,339 |
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290,177 |
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22,498,855 |
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit |
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Description |
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3.1* |
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Amended and Restated Articles of Association of CRISPR Therapeutics AG |
10.1* |
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10.2* |
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10.3* |
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10.4* |
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10.5* |
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10.6* |
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10.7* |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
* Filed herewith.
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.
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CRISPR THERAPEUTICS AG |
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Date: June 4, 2026 |
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By: |
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/s/ Samarth Kulkarni |
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Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D. |
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Chief Executive Officer |