DEF 14A 1 ny20001597x1_def14a.htm DEF 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

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 pursuant to Section 240.14a-12

VERU INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Registrant

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒	No fee required.
☐	Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
	(1)	Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

	(2)	Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

	(3)	Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

	(4)	Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

	(5)	Total fee paid:

☐	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
☐	Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
	(1)	Amount previously paid:

	(2)	Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

	(3)	Filing Party:

	(4)	Date Filed:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Veru is an oncology biopharmaceutical company with a focus on developing novel medicines for the management of prostate cancer and breast cancer.

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS,

Fiscal year 2021 was an exciting and very productive year for Veru. We have successfully transformed our Company into a late-stage oncology biopharmaceutical company. We are developing novel medicines for the management of two of the most prevalent cancers, breast cancer and prostate cancer. One of our anticancer drugs, sabizabulin, has dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects and is also being developed for the potential treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk for acute respiratory distress syn- drome (ARDS), which remains a global unmet medical need. With our recent FDA approval in December 2021, our commercial Sexual Health Division now has two products—the newly approved drug ENTADFI™ (finasteride and tadalafil) capsules for oral use, a new treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the FC2 Female Condom® (Internal Condom), an FDA-approved product for the dual protection against unplanned pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Revenue from the Sexual Health Division is being used to largely fund the clinical development of our late-stage drug candidate assets which aim to address multi-billion dollar, premium market opportunities.

This was the year we initiated our metastatic breast cancer program with two of our drug candidates, enobosarm and sabizabulin. We are developing treatments against both hormone receptor positive and triple negative metastatic breast cancers. Enobosarm is an oral selective androgen receptor (AR) targeted agonist, which has shown efficacy in a heavily pretreated hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer patient population and demonstrated an excellent safety profile without causing unwanted masculinizing adverse side effects. We have identified that patients who have greater than 40% androgen receptor expression in their breast cancer tissue are most likely to respond to enobosarm. Based on this observation, the FDA has recommended that we develop a companion diagnostic test to determine the patient’s AR expression status. Consequently, we are partnering with Roche/Ventana Diagnostics, a world leader in oncology companion diagnostic tests, who will develop and, if approved, will be responsible for commercializing the companion diagnostic AR test. Enobosarm represents the first new and novel hormone therapeutic approach to breast cancer in decades. Our second drug candidate, sabizabulin, is an oral cytoskeleton disruptor that targets unique binding sites and crosslinks microtubules, a well-validated cancer target, resulting in promising efficacy and potentially a better safety profile without clinically relevant

neurotoxicity, neutropenia, or alopecia. We also have learned that chronic oral daily administration of sabizabulin is feasible.

Our clinical development strategy allows us to potentially become an important treatment option for large market opportunities in both hormone receptor positive and triple negative metastatic breast cancer. In the 3rd line treatment setting for hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer, we have 2 clinical studies based on the patient’s AR expression level in their breast cancer tissue. In patients with ≥ 40% AR expression, we are actively enrolling a global Phase 3 ARTEST registration study to evaluate enobosarm monotherapy. In patients with < 40% AR expression, we have a planned Phase 2b study which will start soon to evaluate sabizabulin monotherapy. We are also moving enobosarm earlier in the treatment sequence to the 2nd line treatment of AR+ER+HER2- metastatic breast cancer by targeting patients with AR breast cancer expression ≥ 40% in the Phase 3 ENABLAR-2 clinical study which will also start soon to evaluate an enobosarm + abemaciclib combination agent. Therefore, in FY 2022, we plan to conduct 3 late-stage clinical studies for the treatment of different large and important populations of metastatic breast cancer.

Our prostate cancer program has also made great progress this year. The Phase 3 VERACITY registration trial evaluating sabizabulin in men who have metastatic castration and androgen receptor targeting agent resistant prostate cancer, but prior to IV chemo- therapy, is enrolling in over 45 clinical sites. VERU-100, a GnRH antagonist 3-month depot formulation, is completing a Phase 2 dose-finding clinical study for the treatment of hormone sensitive advanced prostate cancer. Once completed, and if positive, we will start the Phase 3 registration study. Therefore, in FY 2022, we plan to conduct 2 late-stage clinical studies for the management of metastatic prostate cancer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

We discovered that sabizabulin, which is being developed for cancer indications, also has both broad anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. We hypothesized that based on this mechanism of drug action, sabizabulin may serve as a two-pronged approach to the treatment of COVID-19 viral infection, and the subsequent debilitating inflammatory effects that can lead to ARDS and death. In February 2021, we reported positive Phase 2 clinical study results where sabizabulin treatment demonstrated an 82% relative reduction of mortality in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms who were at high risk for developing ARDS. Currently, we are enrolling a global Phase 3 COVID-19 clinical registration trial evaluating sabizabulin 9mg versus placebo in moderate to severe COVID-19 hospitalized subjects who are at high risk for developing ARDS, which remains a significant unmet medical need. The Company anticipates having results for the Phase 3 clinical trial in 1H calendar year 2022.

Veru has a base commercial Sexual Health Division which now includes two commercial products: FC2, an FDA-approved product for the dual protection against unplanned pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, and the drug, ENTADFI™, a new treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia that was approved by the FDA in December 2021.

For FC2, we have built the infrastructure to allow for broad access to the product across the US. As a result, FC2 is now available through multiple sales channels. In particular, we have partnered with fast-growing, highly reputable telemedicine platform companies to bring our FC2 product to patients in a cost-effective and highly convenient manner. Our strategy to continue to drive robust FC2 sales is to seek additional telemedicine and pharmacy service partners as well as creating our own dedicated “direct to patient” telemedicine and telepharmacy services platform to drive further growth in sales.

ENTADFI™ has been developed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate gland. The co-administration of tadalafil and finasteride has been shown to be more effective for the treatment of

benign prostatic hyperplasia than finasteride alone without causing sexual adverse effects. We plan to market and distribute ENTADFI™ by our own “direct to patient” telemedicine and telepharmacy platform. We have also partnered with GoodRx, a digital resource for healthcare, to reach their almost 20 million monthly visitors, which include both consumers and healthcare providers, and offer a unique cash price to ensure our treatment is more affordable and accessible. We will augment our marketing and sales efforts by seeking partners in the US and ex-US. Commercialization activities are already underway and we expect to achieve first commercial sale in the first half of 2022.

In summary, we have evolved into an oncology biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for breast cancer and prostate cancer. Also, with ENTADFI, we have now achieved our first NDA drug approval, a key milestone for any biopharmaceutical company. Our strategy to advance the clinical development of our drug candidates by investing revenues generated by our Sexual Health Division is working. Our base Sexual Health Division, as a stand-alone business, is valuable, profitable, and growing, which provides optionality for Veru’s shareholders. I am proud of the hardworking, dedicated, and talented team we have assembled to execute on our clinical and commercial strategy. We are committed to driving shareholder value by developing and commercializing novel medicines addressing significant unmet medical needs for the management of breast cancer and prostate cancer and being opportunistic by developing sabizabulin for hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome and death.

Sincerely,

Mitchell Steiner, MD FACS

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VERU INC.

48 NW 25^th Street

Suite 102

Miami, Florida 33127

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD MARCH 29, 2022

To the Shareholders of Veru Inc.:

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Veru Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at 2916 N. Miami Avenue, Suite 1000, Miami, Florida 33127, on March 29, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

1.	To elect six members to the Board of Directors, the names of whom are set forth in the accompanying proxy statement, to serve until the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

2.	To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as the Company's auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.

3.	To consider and act upon a proposal to amend the Company's 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

4.	To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

We are pleased to take advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet. As a result, we are mailing to many of our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Internet Availability Notice”) instead of a paper copy of this Proxy Statement and our 2021 Annual Report to Shareholders. The Internet Availability Notice contains instructions on how to access those documents over the Internet. All shareholders who do not receive an Internet Availability Notice will receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

The Internet Availability Notice also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement, our 2021Annual Report to Shareholders and a form of proxy or voting instruction card. The proxy materials sent to you will include a proxy card that will provide you with instructions to cast your vote on the Internet and a telephone number you may call to cast your vote, or you may complete, sign and return the proxy card by mail.

			By Order of the Board of Directors,


			Michael J. Purvis
			Secretary

Miami, Florida

January 28, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Shareholders of record at the close of business on January 18, 2022 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Your vote is important to ensure that a majority of the stock is represented. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, please vote your shares by phone, via the Internet or, if you received paper copies of these proxy materials, by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience. Your vote is being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. If you later find that you may be present at the meeting or for any other reason desire to revoke your proxy, you may do so at any time before it is voted. Shareholders holding shares in brokerage accounts (“street name” holders) who wish to vote at the meeting will need to obtain a proxy form and voting instructions from the institution that holds their shares.

Shareholders of record may also vote by the Internet or telephone. Voting by the Internet or telephone is fast, convenient, and your vote is immediately confirmed and tabulated. Most important, by using the Internet or telephone, you help us reduce postage and proxy tabulation costs. The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 28, 2022.

Or, if you received a paper copy of the proxy materials, you can return the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided.

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE PROXY CARD IF YOU ARE VOTING OVER THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section			Page No.
Performance Highlights			2
General Information			4
Proxies and Voting Procedures			4
Shareholders Entitled to Vote			4
Quorum; Required Vote			4
Proposal 1: Election of Directors			6
Nominees for Election as Directors			6
Directors Meetings and Committees			9
Directors and Director Attendance			9
Audit Committee			9
Compensation Committee			9
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee			10
Charters of Committees			10
Corporate Governance Matters			11
Director Independence			11
Board Leadership Structure			11
The Board's Role in Risk Oversight			11
Director Nominations			11
Board Diversity Matrix			13
Communications between Shareholders and the Board of Directors			13
Code of Business Ethics			13
Hedging Policy			13
Audit Committee Matters			14
Report of the Audit Committee			14
Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			14
Audit Committee Financial Expert			15
Executive Officers			16
Security Ownership			17
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports			18
Executive Compensation			19
Summary Compensation Table			19
Equity Awards			19
Employment Agreements			20
Director Compensation and Benefits			22
Overview			22
Director Summary Compensation Table			22
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions			24
Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			25
Proposal 3: Approval of Amendment to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan			26
Summary of the Proposal			30
Available Shares			30
Eligible Participants			31
Description of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan			31
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences			34
Required Vote and Board Recommendation			36
Equity Compensation Plan Information			37
Proposals for 2023 Annual Meeting			37
Annual Report			38
Expenses of Solicitation			38
Appendix A – Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements			A-1
Appendix B – 2018 Incentive Plan, as proposed to be amended			B-1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VERU INC.

48 NW 25th Street

Suite 102

Miami, Florida 33127

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on March 29, 2022:

This Proxy Statement and the Accompanying Annual Report

are Available at: www.proxyvote.com

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Veru Inc. (the “Company”) to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at 2916 N. Miami Avenue, Suite 1000, Miami, Florida 33127, 10:00 a.m., local time, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, and at any adjournments thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. A copy of our 2021 Annual Report to Shareholders, this Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy card are being distributed, furnished or otherwise made available beginning on or about January 28, 2022. Additionally, we are mailing the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Internet Availability Notice”) on or about January 28, 2022.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

2021 was a year of very strong execution by our drug development and commercial teams. We have successfully transformed Veru into a late-stage oncology biopharmaceutical company, and we are developing novel medicines for the management of two of the most prevalent cancers, breast cancer and prostate cancer, which are multibillion dollar, premium market opportunities. We are also developing one of our anticancer drugs, sabizabulin, for the potential treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). With our recent FDA approval in December 2021, our commercial Sexual Health Division now has two products – the newly approved drug ENTADFI™ (finasteride and tadalafil) capsules for oral use, a new treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the FC2 Female Condom® (Internal Condom), an FDA-approved product for the dual protection against unplanned pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

We use the record revenue from our Sexual Health Division to largely fund the clinical development of our late-stage drug candidate assets. We believe our ability to largely self-fund our drug development sets us apart from many biopharmaceutical companies of our size and stage and, critically, this allows us to pursue our aggressive growth strategies with minimal dilution to our shareholders.

2021

$61.3 Million In Net Revenue – 44% Growth Over 2020¹

3 Phase 3 Trials Ongoing

1 New Medicine Approved By FDA² 2 Commercial Products

232% Share Price Appreciation³ $122.4 Million In Cash⁴

(1)	Fiscal Year 2021 as compared to Fiscal Year 2020

(2)	FDA approval was received in December 2021.

(3)	As measured from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021

(4)	Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The following graphs illustrate the tremendous growth that we have achieved over the last four years as we have pursued our strategy of developing oncology drug candidates in premium markets and being opportunistic in our development activities, while also growing our Sexual Health Division to help fund our research and development efforts. In particular, these charts show the substantial growth that we have achieved over the last year when our December 2020 in-licensing of enobosarm jump-started our breast cancer franchise and our related research and development efforts.

Fiscal 2021 saw us launch three pivotal Phase 3 studies, and we have an additional Phase 3 planned to initiate in 2022. Our Sexual Health Division revenue achieved record levels once again in Fiscal 2021 and this allowed us to continue growing our research and development headcount - which increased 200% this past year – so we can seek to maximize the opportunities that we believe exist in our drug development pipeline. We believe that the substantial growth in our market capitalization in Fiscal 2021 is a good sign that you, our shareholders, believe in our strategy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Proxies and Voting Procedures

In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to furnish our proxy materials to our shareholders by providing access to such documents on the Internet. Accordingly, an Internet Availability Notice has been mailed to many of our shareholders, while other shareholders have instead received paper copies of the documents accessible on the Internet. Shareholders that received the Internet Availability Notice have the ability to access the proxy materials on a website referred to in the Internet Availability Notice or request that a printed set of proxy materials be sent to them by following the instructions in the Internet Availability Notice.

Most shareholders have a choice of voting over the Internet, by telephone, by using a traditional proxy card or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person by ballot. Shareholders who have received paper copies of these proxy materials (including the form of proxy), may complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying self-addressed postage pre-paid envelope or may vote over the Internet or by telephone. If your shares are held of record in “street name” by a broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian, please follow the voting instructions given by the broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian. If Internet and telephone voting are available to you, you can find voting instructions in the materials accompanying this Proxy Statement. The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on March 28, 2022. Please be aware that if you vote over the Internet or by telephone, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible.

The Board of Directors knows of no business which will be presented at the Annual Meeting other than the matters referred to in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote on such matters in accordance with their judgment. Shares represented by properly executed proxies received on behalf of the Company will be voted at the Annual Meeting (unless revoked prior to their vote) in the manner specified therein. A shareholder will be able to revoke his or her proxy until it is voted. If no instructions are specified in a signed proxy returned to the Company, the shares represented thereby will be voted FOR: (1) the election of the directors listed in the enclosed proxy; (2) the proposal to ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022 (the “Auditor Ratification Proposal”) and (3) the proposal to amend the Company's 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Proposal”).

Shareholders may revoke proxies (including an Internet or telephone vote) at any time to the extent they have not been exercised by giving written notice to the Company or by a later executed proxy via the Internet, by telephone or by mail. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke a proxy, but a shareholder attending the Annual Meeting may request a ballot and vote in person, thereby revoking a prior granted proxy. Only the most recent proxy will be exercised and all others will be disregarded regardless of the method by which the proxies were authorized. If shares of Common Stock are held on your behalf by a broker, bank or other nominee, you must contact it to receive instructions as to how you may revoke your proxy instructions for those shares.

Shareholders Entitled to Vote

Only holders of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), whose names appear of record on the books of the Company at the close of business on January 18, 2022 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 80,049,082 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Each share of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date is entitled to one vote on each matter to be presented at the Annual Meeting.

Quorum; Required Vote

A majority of the votes entitled to be cast with respect to each matter submitted to the shareholders, represented either in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum with respect to such matter. Under Wisconsin law, directors are elected by plurality, meaning that the six individuals receiving the largest number of votes are elected as directors. Approval of the Auditor Ratification Proposal requires the number of votes cast in favor of the proposal to exceed the number of votes cast against the proposal and approval of the Equity Incentive Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Amendment Proposal requires that a majority of the votes cast vote in favor of the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by brokers in street name, voting on certain matters due to discretionary authority or instruction from the beneficial owners but not voting on other matters due to lack of authority to vote on such matters without instructions from the beneficial owners) will count toward the quorum requirement but will not count toward the determination of whether directors are elected or whether the Auditor Ratification Proposal is approved. For purposes of the vote on Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Proposal, abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal and broker non-votes will not have any effect on the result of the vote.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors has established the number of directors at six. The Board of Directors has nominated Mitchell S. Steiner, M.D., F.A.C.S., Mario Eisenberger, M.D., Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S., Michael L. Rankowitz, Grace Hyun, M.D., and Lucy Lu, M.D., for election as directors, all to serve until the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

All of the nominees are incumbent directors. We anticipate that the nominees for election as directors will be candidates when the election is held. However, if any of the nominees should be unable or unwilling to serve, the proxies, pursuant to the authority granted to them by the Board of Directors, will have discretionary authority to select and vote for substituted nominees (except where the proxy withholds authority with respect to the election of directors).

Below is information as of the date of this Proxy Statement about each nominee for election to our Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. The information presented includes information each nominee has given us about his or her age, his or her principal occupation and business experience for the past five years, and the names of other publicly-held companies of which he or she currently serves as a director or has served as a director during the past five years. The information presented also includes, under the heading “Director Qualifications,” a description for each nominee of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board of Directors to conclude that he or she should serve as a director. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regularly evaluates the mix of experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of our directors using a matrix of areas that the Committee considers important for our business. In addition to the information presented below regarding the nominee's specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors to conclude that the nominee should serve as a director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors also considered the qualifications and criteria described below under “Corporate Governance Matters – Director Nominations” with the objective of creating a complementary mix of directors.

Nominees for Election as Directors

MITCHELL S. STEINER, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Age: 61; Elected Director: 2016; Present Term Ends: 2022 Annual Meeting

Mitchell S. Steiner, M.D., F.A.C.S. has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as a director of the Company since October 2016 and as Chairman of the Board since March 2018. Dr. Steiner was the co-founder of Aspen Park Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Aspen Park”), and served as Aspen Park's Chief Executive Officer, President and Vice Chairman of the Board from July 2014 to October 2016. From 2014 to 2016, Dr. Steiner was a consultant and then the President, Urology and member of senior management of OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPK) and had responsibilities for the launch, marketing, sales and reimbursement of 4Kscore prostate cancer test to urologists and primary care physicians. Dr. Steiner was also the co-founder of GTx, Inc., a men’s health and oncology public company, where he served as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Board of Directors from 1997 to 2014. Dr. Steiner is a Board Certified Urologist and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and has held numerous academic appointments, including Assistant Professor of Urology, Cell Biology, and Pathology at Vanderbilt School of Medicine from 1993 to 1995 and Chairman and Professor of Urology, Director of Urologic Oncology and Research and the Chair of Excellence in Urologic Oncology at the University of Tennessee from 1995 to 2004. Dr. Steiner holds a B.A. in Molecular Biology and Chemistry from Vanderbilt University and an M.D. from the University of Tennessee. He performed his surgical and urologic training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and postdoctoral research fellow in cell biology at Vanderbilt School of Medicine.

Director Qualifications

Dr. Steiner's medical background and extensive leadership and management experience, including strategic planning, marketing, new product development, market research, operations, corporate communication, corporate transactions, as well as a deep knowledge of the Company's industry, business and strategic evolution and his experience as the President, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Aspen Park, all led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MARIO EISENBERGER, M.D.

Age: 72; Elected Director: 2016; Present Term Ends: 2022 Annual Meeting

Mario Eisenberger, M.D. has served as a director of the Company since October 2016. Dr. Eisenberger currently is the Dale Hughes Professor of Oncology at The Johns Hopkins University and has been in the full-time faculty since 1993. From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Eisenberger founded Oncology Trials Insights, Inc., a privately held clinical trials management company. Since 2010, Dr. Eisenberger has also served as an ad-hoc member of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA. Since 1988, he has served in advisory, strategic and data safety monitoring boards, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Astellas, Schering Plough, Auguron, AKZO, Dupont, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Aventis, Jansen, Ipsen, Active Biotech, Medivation, Tokai, Xanthus, Cytogen, Ortho Biotech, Merck-Sharp and Dohme, Tyme, Inc., Ferring and Bayer. From 1984 to 1998, Dr. Eisenberger held the position of head of the advanced prostate cancer committee and vice chair of the genitourinary cancer of the Southwest Oncology Group. From 1984 to 1993, he served as Professor of Oncology at The University of Maryland. From 1984 to 1989, he was the Chief of Oncology at the Baltimore VAH. From 1982 to 1984, he was a Senior Investigator at the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program of the National Institute in charge of coordinating extramural clinical research in urological cancers. From 1976 to 1982, he served in the faculty of the University of Miami. Dr. Eisenberger obtained his M.D. at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 1972 and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.

Director Qualifications

Dr. Eisenberger’s medical background and broad business experience in the pharmaceutical industry led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director of the Company.

HARRY FISCH, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Age: 63; Elected Director: 2016; Present Term Ends: 2022 Annual Meeting

Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S. has served as a director of the Company since October 2016, as Vice Chairman of the Board since March 2018 and as Chief Corporate Officer of the Company since January 2018. Dr. Fisch was the co-founder of Aspen Park and served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Scientific Officer of Aspen Park from July 2014 to October 2016. Since 1994, Dr. Fisch has served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Millennium Sciences, Inc. Dr. Fisch has also had numerous academic and clinical appointments including Clinical Professor of Urology and Reproductive Medicine at Weill College of Medicine, Cornell University since 2009, Director of the Male Reproductive Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center from 1998 to 1999 and Professor of Clinical Urology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons from 1999 to 2009. Dr. Fisch is a Board Certified Urologist and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Fisch holds a B.A. in Chemistry from the State University of New York at Binghamton, an M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, and performed his surgical and urologic training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center.

Director Qualifications

Dr. Fisch’s medical background, experience in the pharmaceutical industry and deep understanding of the Company's industry, business and strategic evolution, as well as his experience as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Scientific Officer and a co-founder of Aspen Park, all led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director of the Company.

MICHAEL L. RANKOWITZ

Age: 64; Elected Director: 2018; Present Term Ends: 2022 Annual Meeting

Michael L. Rankowitz has served as a director of the Company since March 2018. Mr. Rankowitz has served as a Senior Advisor at Morgan Stanley since 2001. From 1980 to 2001, Mr. Rankowitz was a managing director at Morgan Stanley, where he also served as a co-head of Global High Yield and was responsible for risk management, research and sales for high yield, emerging markets, bank debt and distressed securities. Mr. Rankowitz has held directorships with NF Investment Corp., Carlyle Funds, 1st Tee of Metropolitan New York, Discover Card, Clarent Hospital Corp., New York Racing Authority, International Dyslexia Association - New York Branch, Trinity School (New York) and Browning School (New York). He has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Vermont.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Director Qualifications

Mr. Rankowitz’s extensive experience in investment banking, particularly in corporate finance transactions and risk management, led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director of the Company.

GRACE HYUN, M.D.

Age: 50; Elected Director: 2020; Present Term Ends: 2022 Annual Meeting

Grace Hyun, M.D., has served as a director of the Company since August 2020. Ms. Hyun has served as a Director of Pediatric Urology at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn and a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Langone School of Medicine since 2017. From 2011 to 2017, Ms. Hyun served as an Associate Director of Pediatric Urology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center and as an Assistant Professor at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She has served as a board member to the New York Section of the American Urological Association, the New York Academy of Medicine and the Societies of Pediatric Urology. She received her MD from Cornell University Medical School and has a B.A. in History from Columbia University.

Director Qualifications

Ms. Hyun's medical background and deep understanding of the Company's industry led to the conclusion that she should serve as a director of the Company.

LUCY LU, M.D.

Age: 46; Appointed Director: 2021; Present Term Ends: 2022 Annual Meeting

Lucy Lu, M.D. has served as a director of the Company since May 2021 and previously from October 2016 to March 2019. Since February 2015, Dr. Lu has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Avenue Therapeutics, Inc., a company focused on pharmaceutical therapies used in the acute care setting. From February 2012 to June 2017, Dr. Lu was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortress Biotech, Inc. Prior to working in the biotech industry, Dr. Lu had 10 years of experience in healthcare-related equity research and investment banking. From February 2007 to January 2012, Dr. Lu was a senior biotechnology equity analyst with Citigroup Investment Research. From 2004 until joining Citigroup, she was with First Albany Capital, serving as Vice President from April 2004 until becoming a Principal of First Albany Capital in February 2006. Dr. Lu obtained her M.D. from the New York University School of Medicine and her M.B.A. from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. Dr. Lu obtained a B.A. from the University of Tennessee’s College of Arts and Science.

Director Qualifications

Dr. Lu’s extensive experience in leadership positions in the pharmaceutical and medical products industries and her knowledge of the Company from her previous service as a director led to the conclusion that she should serve as a director of the Company.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR all nominees.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

Directors and Director Attendance

The Board of Directors currently consists of six members: Mitchell S. Steiner, M.D., F.A.C.S., Mario Eisenberger, M.D., Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S., Michael L. Rankowitz, Grace Hyun, M.D., and Lucy Lu, M.D. At each annual meeting of shareholders, directors are elected for a term of one year to succeed those directors whose terms are expiring.

Our Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Board of Directors held nine meetings during the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Each of the incumbent directors attended 100% of all meetings of the Board of Directors and 100% of all meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she served, if any.

The chart below identifies the current members of each of these committees, along with the number of meetings held by each committee during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021:

	Audit	Compensation	Nominating and Corporate Governance
Number of Meetings:	6	6	4
Name of Member:
Mario Eisenberger, M.D.	X	X	X*
Michael L. Rankowitz	X	X*	X
Grace Hyun	—	—	X
Lucy Lu	X*	X	—

X = committee member; * = current committee chairperson

Audit Committee

The responsibilities of the Audit Committee, in addition to such other duties as may be specified by our Board of Directors, include the following: (1) responsibility for selecting, evaluating and, where appropriate, replacing the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company; (2) review of the timing, scope and results of the independent registered public accounting firm's audit examination; (3) review of periodic comments and recommendations by the independent registered public accounting firm and of our response thereto; (4) review of our financial statements; and (5) review of the scope and adequacy of our internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee is an audit committee for purposes of Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee's report required by the rules of the SEC appears on page 9.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee (1) reviews and approves the goals and objectives relating to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, and determines the compensation of those executive officers, including salary rates, participation in incentive compensation and benefit plans, fringe benefits, non-cash perquisites and other forms of compensation; (2) reviews and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors with respect to incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans; (3) administers our stock incentive, equity-based and other employee benefit plans in accordance with the responsibilities assigned to the Committee under any and all such plans; and (4) reviews and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors with respect to the compensation of our outside directors. The Compensation Committee's charter requires that the Company provide the Compensation Committee with adequate funding to engage any compensation consultants or other advisers the Compensation Committee deems it appropriate to engage. During fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022 to date, the Compensation Committee did not engage any consultants to assist it in reviewing the Company's compensation practices and levels.

Management plays a significant role in assisting the Compensation Committee in its oversight of compensation. Management's role includes assisting the Compensation Committee with evaluating employee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

performance, establishing individual performance targets and objectives, recommending salary levels and equity incentive grants, and providing financial data on company performance, calculations and reports on achievement of performance objectives, and other information requested by the Compensation Committee. The Chief Executive Officer works with the Compensation Committee in making recommendations regarding overall compensation policies and plans as well as specific compensation levels for the named executive officers and other key employees, other than the Chief Executive Officer. Members of management who were present during a part of the Compensation Committee meetings in fiscal 2021 and the first part of fiscal 2022 included the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. The Compensation Committee makes all decisions regarding the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer without the Chief Executive Officer or any other member of management present.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in addition to such other duties as may be specified by our Board of Directors, identifies and recommends to our Board of Directors nominees for election to the Board of Directors, reviews and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the size and composition of the Board of Directors and the committees of our Board of Directors and reviews and recommends to our Board of Directors corporate governance policies and practices for the Company.

Charters of Committees

The Board of Directors has adopted, and may amend from time to time, a written charter for each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. We make available on our website for investors at www.verupharma.com/investors, free of charge, copies of each of these charters. We are not including the information contained on or available through our website as a part of, or incorporating such information by reference into, this Proxy Statement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

We are committed to establishing and maintaining high standards of corporate governance, which are intended to serve the long-term interests of the Company and our shareholders. Our Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines which can be found on our website for investors at www.verupharma.com/investors.

Director Independence

Our Board of Directors has reviewed the independence of the nominees for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting under the applicable standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Based on this review, our Board of Directors determined that each of the following directors is independent under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market:

(1)	Mario Eisenberger, M.D.

(2)	Michael L. Rankowitz

(3)	Grace Hyun, M.D.

(4)	Lucy Lu, M.D.

Based upon such standards, Mitchell S. Steiner, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S. are the only directors who are not independent because Dr. Steiner is our President and Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Fisch is an employee and a significant shareholder of the Company.

Board Leadership Structure

Historically, we have generally had the same person serving as the Chief Executive Officer and as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mitchell S. Steiner, M.D., F.A.C.S., our President and Chief Executive Officer, has also served as Chairman of the Board since March 2018. Although we believe that the combination of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles is appropriate under current circumstances, we will continue to review this issue periodically to determine the most appropriate Board leadership structure based on the relevant facts and circumstances. We do not have a director who serves as lead independent director or a similar position.

The Board's Role in Risk Oversight

The role of our Board of Directors in our risk oversight process includes receiving reports from members of our senior management on areas of material risk to the Company, including operational, financial, legal and regulatory, cybersecurity, and strategic and reputational risks. The Board has authorized the Audit Committee to oversee and periodically review our enterprise risk assessment and enterprise risk management policies.

Board Self-Assessments

We have implemented a process for the Board of Directors and each of the committees to conduct an annual written self-assessment which is then reviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors. Most recently, the Board of Directors conducted this self-assessment in December 2021. Among other things, this process helps inform the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors in determining whether the size of the Board is appropriate, whether the mix of skills on the Board of Directors is appropriate, whether additional skills are needed, whether the composition of the committees is appropriate, whether communication between the Board and management is appropriate, whether materials prepared for the Board of Directors and committees are timely and well-prepared, and whether the Board of Directors and the committees are functioning at a high level and in the best interests of the shareholders.

Director Nominations

We have a standing Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Based on the review described under “Corporate Governance Matters — Director Independence,” our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent under the applicable standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director nominees recommended by our shareholders. A shareholder who wishes to recommend a person or persons for consideration as a nominee for election to the Board of Directors must send a written notice by mail, c/o Secretary, Veru Inc., 2916 North Miami Avenue, Suite 1000, Miami, Florida 33127, that sets forth: (1) the name, address (business and residence), date of birth and principal occupation or employment (present and for the past five years) of each person whom the shareholder proposes to be considered as a nominee; (2) the number of shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned (as defined by Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) by each such proposed nominee; (3) any other information regarding such proposed nominee that would be required to be disclosed in a definitive proxy statement to shareholders prepared in connection with an election of directors pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (4) the name and address (business and residential) of the shareholder making the recommendation and the number of shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned (as defined by Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) by the shareholder making the recommendation. We may require any proposed nominee to furnish additional information as may be reasonably required to determine the qualifications of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Company. Shareholder recommendations will be considered only if received no less than 120 days nor more than 150 days before the date of the proxy statement sent to shareholders in connection with the previous year's annual meeting of shareholders.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider any nominee recommended by a shareholder in accordance with the preceding paragraph under the same criteria as any other potential nominee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that a nominee recommended for a position on our Board of Directors must have an appropriate mix of director characteristics, experience, diverse perspectives and skills. For new potential board members, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will in the first instance consider the independence of the potential member and the appropriate size of the board and then the qualifications of the proposed member. Qualifications of a prospective nominee that may be considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include:

•	personal integrity and high ethical character;

•	professional excellence;

•	accountability and responsiveness;

•	absence of conflicts of interest;

•	fresh intellectual perspectives and ideas; and

•	relevant expertise and experience and the ability to offer advice and guidance to management based on that expertise and experience.

Lucy Lu, M.D. was recommended for appointment to the Company's Board of Directors by Dr. Steiner, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors and appointed to the Board of Directors effective May 14, 2021 after consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

We do not have a formal policy for the consideration of diversity by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in identifying nominees for director. Diversity is one of the factors the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider and in this respect diversity may include race, gender, national origin or other characteristics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Board Diversity Matrix

Our Board is one-third female and also one-third non-white. Also, we have a female chairperson of our Audit Committee as well as female and non-white representation on each of the standing committees of our Board of Directors. The table below provides certain highlights of the composition of our Board members and nominees as of January 18, 2022. Each of the categories listed in the below table has the meaning as it is used in Nasdaq Rule 5605(f).

Board Diversity Matrix (As of January 18, 2022)

Total Number of Directors

Female

Male

Non-Binary

Gender

Undisclosed

Gender:

Number of directors based on gender identity

Demographic Background

Number of directors who identify in any of the categories below:

African American or Black

Alaskan Native or Native American

Asian

Hispanic or Latinx

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

White

Two or More Races or Ethnicities

LGBTQ+

Did Not Disclose Demographic Background

Communications between Shareholders and the Board of Directors

We have placed on our website for investors located at www.verupharma.com/investors a description of the procedures for shareholders to communicate with our Board of Directors, a description of our policy for our directors and nominee directors to attend the Annual Meeting and the number of directors who attended last year's annual meeting of shareholders.

Code of Business Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. A copy of the Code of Business Ethics is available on our website for investors which is located at www.verupharma.com/investors. We also intend to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Business Ethics on our website.

Hedging Policy

Our insider trading policy prohibits our directors and employees, including our executive officers, from purchasing any financial instrument, or otherwise engaging in any transaction, that is designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of our Common Stock, including prepaid forward contracts, equity swaps, zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts. All transactions in our securities by directors and executive officers must be pre-cleared with our Executive Vice President – General Counsel under our insider trading policy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS

Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is currently comprised of three members of our Board of Directors. Based upon the review described above under “Corporate Governance Matters — Director Independence,” our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent as defined in the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market and the rules of the SEC. The duties and responsibilities of our Audit Committee are set forth in the Audit Committee Charter.

The Audit Committee has:

•	reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, with our management and with our independent registered public accounting firm;

•	discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC;

•

received and discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the written disclosures and the letter from our independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm's communications with the audit committee concerning independence.

Based on such review and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 for filing with the SEC.

AUDIT COMMITTEE:

Lucy Lu. M.D. (Chairperson)

Mario Eisenberger, M.D.

Michael L. Rankowitz

Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The following table summarizes the fees we paid for audit and non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm, RSM US LLP, during fiscal 2021 and 2020 :

Service Type	Fiscal 2021	Fiscal 2020
Audit Fees⁽¹⁾	$479,300	$507,000
Audit-Related Fees	—	—
Tax Fees⁽²⁾	128,000	61,400
All Other Fees	—	—
Total Fees	$607,300	$568,400

(1)

Consists of fees for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, review of financial information included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, fees for the statutory audits of the foreign entities and consents and assistance with documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

(2)	Consists of fees relating to the preparation of the Company's corporate income tax returns and related informational filings, review of foreign tax structuring and preparation of foreign income tax returns.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company considered that the provision of the services and the payment of the fees described above are compatible with maintaining the independence of RSM US LLP.

The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and pre-approving any non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has delegated its pre-approval authority to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee to act between meetings of the Audit Committee. Any pre-approval given by the Chairperson of the Audit Committee pursuant to this delegation is presented to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee or Chairperson of the Audit

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Committee reviews and, if appropriate, approves non-audit service engagements, taking into account the proposed scope of the non-audit services, the proposed fees for the non-audit services, whether the non-audit services are permissible under applicable law or regulation and the likely impact of the non-audit services on the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

Each new engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm to perform non-audit services set forth in the table above has been approved in advance by the Audit Committee or the Chairperson of the Audit Committee pursuant to the foregoing procedures.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

Our Board of Directors has determined that one of the members of the Audit Committee, Lucy Lu, M.D. qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the SEC based on her work experience and education.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The names of, and certain information regarding, executive officers of the Company who are not directors or director nominees as of the date of this Proxy Statement, are set forth below.

Name	Age	Position
Michele Greco	63	Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of the Company
K. Gary Barnette	54	Chief Scientific Officer of the Company

MICHELE GRECO

Age: 63; Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer

Ms. Greco has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company since March 2018 and as Chief Administrative Officer of the Company since December 2017. Ms. Greco served as Executive Vice President of Finance of the Company from October 2016 to March 2018, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company from December 2014 to October 2016 and as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company from January 2013 to December 2014. Ms. Greco is a CPA with nearly 30 years of experience in public accounting with Ernst & Young LLP. From January 2011 to February 2012, Ms. Greco provided consulting services to Systems Research Incorporated as a recruiter of finance professionals. From March 2009 to January 2011, Ms. Greco was involved in a series of personal business ventures. From 1994 to March 2009, Ms. Greco served as an audit partner with Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. Greco joined Ernst & Young LLP in 1981.

K. GARY BARNETTE

Age: 54; Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Barnette has served as Chief Scientific Officer of the Company since September 2018. Dr. Barnette served as Senior Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs of Camargo Pharmaceutical Services (“Camargo”), a provider of drug development services specializing in the 505(b)(2) approval pathway, from October 2016 to September 2018, as Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs of Camargo from January 2016 to October 2016, and as Vice President of Drug Development of Camargo from May 2012 to January 2016. Dr. Barnette was also the co-founder of GTx, Inc., a men's health and oncology public company, where he served in various roles from 2001 to 2012. From 1998 to 2001, Dr. Barnette worked for Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., eventually serving as Director of Regulatory Affairs. From 1995 until 1998, Dr. Barnette served as Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmaceutics Reviewer for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Barnette earned his Doctor of Philosophy, Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences from West Virginia University in 1995 and his Bachelor of Science from Salem College in 1989.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECURITY OWNERSHIP

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of January 18, 2022 with respect to (1) each person known to the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of our Common Stock, (2) each named executive officer (as defined below under the heading “Executive Compensation”) and each director and director nominee, and (3) all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons and entities included in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, except to the extent authority is shared by spouses under applicable law. Shares of our Common Stock subject to options that are either currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of January 18, 2022 are treated as outstanding and beneficially owned by the holder for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the holder. However, these shares are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. This table lists applicable percentage ownership based on 80,049,082 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of January 18, 2022.

	Common Stock
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner⁽¹⁾	Number of Shares	Percent of Class
Mitchell S. Steiner, M.D., F.A.C.S.⁽²⁾	8,786,854	10.8%
Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S.⁽³⁾	8,567,185	10.6%
Mario Eisenberger, M.D.⁽⁴⁾	194,999	*
Michael L. Rankowitz⁽⁵⁾	251,666	*
Lucy Lu, M.D.⁽⁶⁾	9,800	*
Grace Hyun, M.D.⁽⁷⁾	31,457	*
Michele Greco⁽⁸⁾	905,073	1.1%
K. Gary Barnette⁽⁹⁾	611,308	*
All directors and executive officers, as a group (8 persons)⁽¹⁰⁾	19,358,342	23.1%

*	Less than 1 percent.

(1)	Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is 48 NW 25th Street, Suite 102, Miami, Florida 33127.

(2)	Consists of (a) 7,184,767 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Dr. Steiner, (b) 190,000 shares of Common Stock held in trusts for the benefit of Dr. Steiner's adult children of which Dr. Steiner's brother is the trustee, and (c) 1,412,087 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

(3)

Consists of (a) 222,881 shares of Common Stock held directly by Dr. Fisch, (b) 541,144 shares of Common Stock held jointly by Dr. Fisch and his spouse, (c) 7,239,096 shares of Common Stock held by K&H Fisch Family Partners, LLC, of which Dr. Fisch is the sole manager, and (d) 564,064 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

(4)	Consists of 194,999 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

(5)	Consists of (a) 100,000 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Mr. Rankowitz and (b) 151,666 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

(6)	Consists of 9,800 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Dr. Lu.

(7)	Consists of (a) 14,790 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Dr. Hyun and (b) 16,667 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

(8)	Consists of (a) 96,178 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Ms. Greco and (b) 808,895 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

(9)	Consists of 611,308 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

(10)

Includes (a) 190,000 shares of Common Stock held in trusts for the benefit of Dr. Steiner's adult children of which Dr. Steiner's brother is the trustee, (b) 541,144 shares of Common Stock held jointly by Dr. Fisch and his spouse, (c) 7,239,096 shares of Common Stock held by K&H Fisch Family Partners, LLC, of which Dr. Fisch is the sole manager, and (d) 3,759,686 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options.

The above beneficial ownership information is based on information furnished by the specified persons and is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as required for purposes of this Proxy Statement. This information should not be construed as an admission of beneficial ownership for other purposes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC on Forms 3, 4 and 5. Officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.

Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company, or written representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 all reports required by Section 16(a) to be filed by the Company's officers, directors and more than 10% shareholders were filed on a timely basis.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The table shown below provides information for the Company's last two fiscal years regarding compensation paid by the Company to the person who served as Chief Executive Officer during fiscal 2021 and the other two persons who served as executive officers of the Company as of September 30, 2021. The individuals listed in this table are referred to elsewhere in this proxy statement as the “named executive officers.”

Name and Principal Position	Year	Salary	Option Awards⁽¹⁾	Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation⁽²⁾	All Other Compensation⁽³⁾	Total
Mitchell S. Steiner, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer	2021	$618,000	$578,772	$790,298	$17,997	$2,005,067
	2020	$501,913	$388,707	$367,680	$5,003	$1,263,303

Michele Greco, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer	2021	$382,500	$176,043	$263,790	$13,335	$835,668
	2020	$316,107	$105,284	$116,359	$11,252	$549,002

K. Gary Barnette, Chief Scientific Officer	2021	$397,500	$180,866	$226,706	$12,496	$817,568
K. Gary Barnette, Chief Scientific Officer	2020	$350,000	$116,612	$145,215	$11,800	$623,627

(1)

The amount in this column equals the grant date fair value of the award, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of the grant date fair value are included in Note 11 to our audited consolidated financial statements, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 2, 2021.

(2)

The Company has an annual incentive bonus program which provides participating named executive officers with the opportunity to receive annual payouts in cash and/or options to purchase shares of Common Stock. Participants are eligible to receive payouts upon achievement of corporate goals and individual goals. Corporate goals for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 included specific objectives relating to general corporate matters, product development for our drug candidates and our FC2 and PREBOOST businesses. Payouts are equal to each participant's target amount multiplied by the weighted percentage achievement of the corporate goals and the participant's individual goals. All of the payout to Ms. Greco and $40,000 of the payout to Dr. Steiner for fiscal 2020 performance under the annual incentive bonus program were made in the form of stock option grants on November 13, 2020 at a value of $1.00 for each option share, while the balance of the payout to Dr. Steiner and all of the payout to Dr. Barnette were made in cash. Each of these options vest in full on November 13, 2021, have a ten-year term and have an exercise price of $2.75 per share, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on November 13, 2020. All of the options vest upon the occurrence of a “change of control” (as defined in the applicable Equity Incentive Plan). All of the payout in fiscal 2021 to all executive officers was made in cash.

(3)	The amount of “All Other Compensation” consists of matching contributions by the Company under the Company's retirement plan for its employees.

Equity Awards

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, the Company granted stock options to the named executive officers as set forth in the table below. No stock options were exercised by the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. All options vest upon the occurrence of a “change of control” (as defined in the applicable Equity Incentive Plan).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The following table provides information regarding stock options held by the named executive officers at September 30, 2021.

	Option Awards
	Number of Shares Underlying Unexercised Options		Option Exercise Price	Option Expiration Date
Name	Exercisable	Unexercisable	Option Exercise Price	Option Expiration Date
Mitchell S. Steiner	350,000	—	$1.20	8/2/2027
	188,419	—	$1.22	12/14/2027
	210,800	—	$1.89	5/2/2028
	125,802	—	$1.38	12/11/2028
	143,733	71,867⁽¹⁾	$1.60	5/13/2029
	116,666	233,334⁽²⁾	$1.92	11/14/2029
	—	40,000⁽³⁾	$2.75	11/13/2030
	—	360,000⁽⁴⁾	$2.75	11/13/2030

Michele Greco	15,000	—	$1.82	4/4/2026
	44,792	—	$1.20	8/2/2027
	105,208	—	$1.05	12/4/2027
	78,508	—	$1.22	12/14/2027
	90,000	—	$1.89	5/2/2028
	83,025	—	$1.38	12/11/2028
	61,400	30,700⁽¹⁾	$1.60	5/13/2029
	31,600	63,200⁽²⁾	$1.92	11/14/2029
	114,903	—	$1.92	11/14/2029
	—	116,359⁽³⁾	$2.75	11/13/2030
	—	109,500⁽⁴⁾	$2.75	11/13/2030

K. Gary Barnette	300,000	—	$1.87	9/4/2028
	66,000	33,000⁽¹⁾	$1.60	5/13/2029
	35,000	70,000⁽²⁾	$1.92	11/14/2029
	137,808	—	$1.92	11/14/2029
	—	112,500⁽⁴⁾	$2.75	11/13/2030

(1)

Options for shares vest on May 13, 2022.

(2)	Options for one-half of the shares vest on each of November 14, 2021 and November 14, 2022.

(3)	Options for the shares vest on November 13, 2021.

(4)	Options for one-third of the shares vest on each of November 13, 2021, November 13, 2022 and November 13, 2023.

Employment Agreements

The Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Dr. Steiner on April 5, 2016 that took effect on October 31, 2016 (as amended on July 18, 2016 and November 4, 2016, the “Steiner Employment Agreement”). Under the Steiner Employment Agreement, Dr. Steiner's position with the Company is President and Chief Executive Officer. The initial term of the Steiner Employment Agreement is for three years from October 31, 2016, with automatic one-year renewals thereafter. Pursuant to the Steiner Employment Agreement, Dr. Steiner receives a minimum annual base salary of $375,000, is eligible to receive an annual bonus under the Company's annual incentive bonus program and is entitled to participate in our equity incentive plans. Dr. Steiner is also entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, practices and programs on a basis no less favorable than other similarly situated employees. In the event that Dr. Steiner's employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Dr. Steiner for “good reason” (each as defined in the Steiner Employment Agreement), Dr. Steiner will be entitled to continuation of his base salary and medical and dental insurance coverage for a period of one year following termination. The Steiner Employment Agreement contains customary noncompetition, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure covenants on the part of Dr. Steiner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Company and Ms. Greco are parties to an Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2018 (the “Greco Employment Agreement”), which superseded Ms. Greco's previous Employment Agreement dated as of October 4, 2017. Under the Greco Employment Agreement, Ms. Greco's position with the Company is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. The Greco Employment Agreement does not have a definite term. Pursuant to the terms of the Greco Employment Agreement, Ms. Greco receives a minimum annual base salary of $300,000, is eligible to receive an annual bonus equal to 45% of her base salary under the Company's annual incentive bonus program and is entitled to participate in the Company's equity incentive plans. Ms. Greco is also entitled to participate in all of the Company's employee benefit plans, practices and programs on a basis no less favorable than other similarly situated employees. In the event that Ms. Greco's employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Ms. Greco for “good reason” (each as defined in the Greco Employment Agreement), Ms. Greco will be entitled to continuation of her base salary for a period of one year following termination, payment of any unpaid annual bonus for any completed fiscal year, payment of a pro-rated payment of her target bonus for the year in which the termination occurs and continuation of medical and dental insurance coverage until the earliest of (i) one year following termination, (ii) the date Ms. Greco is no longer eligible to receive COBRA or comparable state law continuation coverage or (iii) the date on which Ms. Greco becomes eligible to receive substantially similar coverage from another employer or another source. If Ms. Greco's employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Ms. Greco for “good reason” within six months following a “change in control” (as defined in the Greco Employment Agreement), then in addition to the benefits described in the preceding sentence, Ms. Greco will be entitled to the accelerated vesting of all unvested equity compensation awards. The Greco Employment Agreement contains customary noncompetition, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure covenants on the part of Ms. Greco.

The Company and Dr. Barnette are parties to an Employment Agreement dated as of September 4, 2018 (the “Barnette Employment Agreement”). Under the Barnette Employment Agreement, Dr. Barnette's position with the Company is Chief Scientific Officer. The Barnette Employment Agreement does not have a definite term. Pursuant to the terms of the Barnette Employment Agreement, Dr. Barnette receives a minimum annual base salary of $330,000, is eligible to receive an annual bonus equal to 45% of his base salary under the Company's annual incentive bonus program and is entitled to participate in our equity incentive plans. Dr. Barnette is also entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, practices and programs on a basis no less favorable than other similarly situated employees. In the event that Dr. Barnette's employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Dr. Barnette for “good reason” (each as defined in the Barnette Employment Agreement), Dr. Barnette will be entitled to continuation of his base salary for a period of six months following termination, payment of any unpaid annual bonus for any completed fiscal year, payment of a pro-rated payment of his target bonus for the year in which the termination occurs and continuation of medical and dental insurance coverage until the earliest of (i) six months following termination, (ii) the date Dr. Barnette is no longer eligible to receive COBRA or comparable state law continuation coverage or (iii) the date on which Dr. Barnette becomes eligible to receive substantially similar coverage from another employer or another source. If Dr. Barnette's employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Dr. Barnette for “good reason” within six months following a “change in control” (as defined in the Barnette Employment Agreement), then in addition to the benefits described in the preceding sentence Dr. Barnette will be entitled to the accelerated vesting of all unvested equity compensation awards. The Barnette Employment Agreement contains customary noncompetition, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure covenants on the part of Dr. Barnette.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Overview

The Company does not currently have any arrangement in place to pay a retainer or other cash compensation to non-employee directors generally for their service as Board members. Non-employee directors are eligible to participate in our equity incentive plans and each non-employee director received a stock option award in November 2020, except Dr. Lu who received a stock option award in May 2021 when she joined our Board.

As described below, Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S. received compensation as an employee during fiscal 2021.

Director Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides information concerning the compensation paid by the Company in fiscal 2021 to each person who served as a director during fiscal 2021 who was not an executive officer of the Company on September 30, 2021.

Name	Fees Earned Or Paid in Cash	Option Awards⁽¹⁾	All Other Compensation	Total
Mario Eisenberger	—	$112,539	—	$112,539
Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S.	—	$168,809	$648,118⁽²⁾	$816,927
Lucy Lu, M.D.	—	$357,126	—	$357,126
Michael L. Rankowitz	—	$112,539	—	$112,539
Grace Hyun, M.D.	—	$124,238	—	$124,238
Jesus Socorro	—	$120,578	$384,450⁽³⁾	$505,028

(1)	The amounts reflect the grant date fair value of the stock option awards during fiscal 2021, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718.

(2)

Effective December 31, 2017, Dr. Fisch became an employee of the Company and serves as Chief Corporate Officer. As Chief Corporate Officer, Dr. Fisch provides services regarding the marketing of the Company's products and also assists with investor relations, public relations, setting strategy for the Company, and medical affairs. Dr. Fisch's compensation in fiscal 2021 consisted of (a) salary paid to Dr. Fisch and (b) stock options issued to Dr. Fisch as a payout under the Company’s annual incentive bonus program for performance during fiscal 2021. See note (2) to the Summary Compensation Table for additional information regarding the Company’s annual incentive bonus program and payouts for fiscal 2021 performance.

(3)	This amount reflects the incremental value of due to the acceleration of vesting of stock option awards in connection with Mr, Socorro's departure from the Board of Directors effective May 14, 2021, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718.

The Company and Dr. Fisch are parties to an Employment Agreement dated as of December 31, 2017 (the “Fisch Employment Agreement”). Under the Fisch Employment Agreement, Dr. Fisch's position with the Company is Chief Corporate Officer. The Fisch Employment Agreement does not have a definite term. Pursuant to the terms of the Fisch Agreement, Dr. Fisch will receive a minimum annual base salary of $180,000 and is eligible to receive an annual bonus equal to 45% of his base salary under the Company's annual incentive bonus program. Dr. Fisch is also entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, practices and programs on a basis no less favorable than other similarly situated employees. In the event that Dr. Fisch's employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Dr. Fisch for “good reason” (each as defined in the Fisch Employment Agreement), Dr. Fisch is entitled to continuation of his base salary for a period of six months following termination, payment of any unpaid annual bonus for any completed fiscal year, payment of a pro-rated payment of his target bonus for the year in which the termination occurs and continuation of medical and dental insurance coverage until the earliest of (i) six months following termination, (ii) the date Dr. Fisch is no longer eligible to receive COBRA or comparable state law continuation coverage or (iii) the date on which Dr. Fisch becomes eligible to receive substantially similar coverage from another employer or another source. If Dr. Fisch's employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Dr. Fisch for “good reason” within six months following a “change in control” (as defined in the Fisch Employment Agreement), then in addition to the benefits described in the preceding sentence Dr. Fisch is entitled to the accelerated vesting of all unvested equity compensation awards. The Fisch Employment Agreement contains customary noncompetition, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure covenants on the part of Dr. Fisch.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

As of September 30, 2021, the directors listed on the Director Summary Compensation Table who are not named executive officers held the following number of stock options:

	Option Awards
Name	Vested	Unvested
Mario Eisenberger	153,332	126,668⁽¹⁾
Harry Fisch, M.D., F.A.C.S.	369,947	331,117⁽²⁾
Lucy Lu, M.D.	—	70,000⁽³⁾
Michael L. Rankowitz	109,999	125,001⁽⁴⁾
Grace Hyun, M.D.	—	55,000⁽⁵⁾
Jesus Socorro	50,000	—

(1)

Represents (a) 1,667 stock options that vest on March 26, 2022, (b) 18,334 stock options that vest on May 13, 2022, (c) 36,667 stock options that vest one-half on each of November 14, 2021 and November 14, 2022, and (d) 70,000 stock options that vest one-third on each of November 13, 2021, November 13, 2022 and November 13, 2023.

(2)

Represents (a) 33,000 stock options that vest on May 13, 2022, (b) 68,000 stock options that vest one-half on each of November 14, 2021 and November 14, 2022, (c) 125,117 stock options that vest on November 13, 2021, and (d) 105,000 stock options that vest one-third on each of November 13, 2021, November 13, 2022 and November 13, 2023.

(3)	Represents 70,000 stock options that vest one-third on each of on each of May 14, 2022, May 14, 2023 and May 14, 2024.

(4)	Represents (a) 18,334 stock options that vest on May 13, 2022, (b) 36,667 stock options that vest one-half on each of November 14, 2021 and November 14, 2022, and (c) 70,000 stock options that vest one-third on each of November 13, 2021, November 13, 2022 and November 13, 2023

(5)	Represents (a) 50,000 stock options that vest one-third on each of November 13, 2021, November 13, 2022 and November 13, 2023 and (b) 5,000 stock options that vest one-third on each of March 23, 2022, March 23, 2023, and March 23, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

In connection with the the Company's acquisition of Aspen Park, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the former Aspen Park stockholders, including Harry Fisch, M.D., K&H Fisch Family Partners, LLC and Mitchell Steiner, M.D., which granted them certain “Demand” and “Piggyback” registration rights for a period of up to 5 years. This 5-year term of the Registration Rights Agreement expired on October 31, 2021.

The daughter of Dr. Mitchell S. Steiner, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is employed by the Company in a non-executive officer position and earned total compensation of $194,251 for her services in fiscal 2021.

The son of Dr. Harry Fisch, the Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Corporate Officer of the Company, is employed by the Company in a non-executive officer position and earned total compensation of $147,377 for his services in fiscal 2021.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has appointed RSM US LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as auditors to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Our Board of Directors proposes that the shareholders ratify this appointment. RSM US LLP audited our financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. We expect that representatives of RSM US LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

In the event that ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company is not obtained at the Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors will reconsider its appointment, and may retain that firm or another firm without resubmitting the matter to our shareholders. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different firm at any time if it determines that such change would be in our best interests.

Under Wisconsin law, the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm requires the number of votes cast in favor of this proposal, whether in person or by proxy, to exceed the number of votes cast against this proposal, assuming a quorum is present.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the ratification of RSM US LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

We ask our shareholders to support this proposal given its importance to the Company’s core strategy. If shareholders do not approve this proposal, we will continue to have the authority to grant awards under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, but the proposed 7,500,000 share increase in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan share limit will not be effective and could result in a serious disruption of our compensation programs and will seriously limit our ability to pursue our aggressive drug development strategy because we will be unable to attract the highly skilled and experienced new talent that we need to complete our potential transformation to a commercial-stage oncology company and we will similarly be unable to provide retention incentives to the very valuable and highly experienced executives and other key employees who have led Veru through its current successful transformation into a global biopharmaceutical company.

Equity awards are a significant component of total compensation for our executive officers and other employees and are vital to our ability to attract and retain outstanding and highly skilled individuals in the extremely competitive labor markets in which we must compete. If shareholders do not approve the proposal, we would need to grant cash and other non-equity rewards to these individuals. We believe that such alternative forms of compensation do not align employee interests with those of shareholders as efficiently as equity-based awards, and we feel it is important to provide compensation that continues to effectively align employees with shareholders and which provides a total compensation package that is competitive with other companies.

At Veru, we have seen significant growth in our share price, market capitalization, revenue, number of clinical trials and number of employees and we have now even doubled our commercial-stage products. See Performance Highlights on page 2 above for a summary of our recent achievements. We strongly believe that the approval of this proposal is instrumental to our continued success and our ability to continue to provide increased value to you, our shareholders. We encourage our shareholders to read the succeeding sections which will provide important context to our request.

Transformational Impact from Our Equity Compensation Program

The equity incentive plan underpins our strategy and is integral to shareholder value creation. We have transformed our Company into a global oncology biopharmaceutical company with multiple late-stage development assets focused on premium, multi-billion dollar market opportunities, while also being opportunistic in pursuing a potential late-stage COVID indication for one of our oncology assets. We have been able to use the significant revenue – Veru had yet another record revenue year in Fiscal 2021 – from our Sexual Health Division to help fund our clinical development operations which, we believe, has minimized dilution and overhang for our shareholders from our 2018 Equity Inventive Plan. We believe we are in a very unique position as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that also has significant revenue and we continually strive to increase the revenue of our Sexual Health Division – including by achieving approval of a new drug, ENTADFI, in December 2021 – so that we can continue to be good stewards of the shareholders’ equity.

The primary driver of our headcount growth and, we believe, the main reasons we have seen our share price and market capitalization more than triple in Fiscal 2021 has been our research and development operations. We have aggressively pursued our goal of becoming a global biopharmaceutical company.

•	We in-licensed enobosarm in December 2020 and doubled the size of our key oncology assets, expanding our oncology focus to two potential franchises – both prostate cancer and breast cancer.

•	In the last four years, we have seen our R&D employee headcount increase by 500%. In the last year alone, since we acquired our potential breast cancer franchise, our R&D employee headcount increased by 200%.

•	During these four years, we have seen our total number of clinical trials increase from three to five and we also launched three Phase 3 clinical trials in 2021 with a total of 9 clinical trials, including a fourth Phase 3 trial, planned for 2022.

We believe we have a rare opportunity right now, and so we have aggressively hired excellent and highly skilled people to put us in a position to potentially maximize our drug development program in the extremely competitive oncology landscape. As the charts below show, we have substantially increased our R&D headcount while at the same time keeping the headcount of corporate and other employees who have been participating in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (such participating employees, “Eligible Employees”) relatively stable – which, we believe, is indicative of our commitment to sensible growth while being good stewards of shareholder capital.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Granting equity compensation under our broad-based program is necessary for us to continue retaining and attracting innovation and talent. In order to achieve the record growth that Veru has produced and to provide the increased value to our shareholders that we have so far provided, we have had to hire highly skilled and experienced people from the kind of companies that we want to become – and we will need to continue to recruit from these kinds of companies. We believe it is vital to our continued growth that we are competitive in being able to recruit new talent from companies that have successfully done what we are trying to do – namely, successfully develop premium-market oncology drugs, obtain FDA approval of those drugs and then successfully commercialize them in the U.S. and globally. This kind of talent – indeed, the kind of talent that we have hired over the last several years – is in very high demand. We believe Veru has a very bright future, but, as a primarily clinical-stage company, Veru can be a high-risk decision for the kind of highly skilled and experienced employees who we wish to recruit and retain, and so highly competitive equity awards are a critical and substantial incentive to join us. In addition, our Board strongly believes that equity grants align the long-term incentives of our executives and employees with those of our shareholders in a way that cash and other non-equity awards never could. Our Board believes equity compensation is the most critical part of our pay-for-performance philosophy.

The key shareholder-focused features of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan – which include many best practices for equity plan governance – are summarized below:

•	The 7,500,000 additional shares to be authorized for issuance under the amendment to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan represent approximately 9.4% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding as of January 18, 2022.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

•

The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the Company to grant various forms of long-term incentives, including stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance unit awards, and other stock-based awards. The Company believes that this allows it the flexibility to tailor the long-term incentives to its business conditions.

•	Any full-value awards (i.e., other than options and stock appreciation rights) count as two shares for every share issued for purposes of the Authorized Shares and the Individual Annual Limit (the “Fungible Ratio”).

•	The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan has a fixed maximum number of authorized shares that cannot be increased without shareholder approval.

•	The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan has a maximum term of 10 years. No stock option or stock appreciation right can be issued under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan with a term of more than 10 years and no award may be granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan after the plan expires on March 20, 2028.

•	Awards under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may not vest sooner than 12 months from the date of grant, subject to exceptions for:

○	a maximum of 10% of the total number of Shares authorized under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan

○	any awards made to directors or employees in lieu of any cash retainer in the case of directors or cash compensation in the case of employees

○	awards to directors which may become fully exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant or, if earlier, on the date of our next regular annual meeting of our shareholders, or

○	acceleration of vesting in accordance with the provisions of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

•	The Company may clawback any Award in the event of certain financial statement non-compliance issues, as further described in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

•	Dividends and dividend equivalents may only be paid when an underlying Award vests.

•

The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan prohibits re-pricing of stock options or stock appreciation rights and requires that all stock options and stock appreciation rights have an exercise price that will be equal to or exceed the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date the option or stock appreciation right is granted.

•	The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of independent, non-employee directors.

Even though, as the chart below shows, our headcount of Eligible Employees who have been participating in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan has risen substantially in the last four years, we have carefully managed the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan to ensure that our shareholders are subject to minimal dilution and that there is as little overhang as possible on our common stock. In fact, as the chart below shows, our headcount of participating employees increased by 39% over the last three fiscal years and 24% in just the last fiscal year, and yet we have successfully decreased the overhang percentage to below where it was prior to this headcount growth and we have maintained a low burn rate for this period as well, finishing the 2021 fiscal year with a lower burn rate than at the start of this four-year period.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Awards outstanding under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan are comprised of highly retentive options, most of which are currently in-the-money and would therefore require delivering sustained outperformance over the long-term in order for management to see increased value, thus continuing to align management and shareholder interests in seeking continued strong performance.

Historic Overhang Percentage and Comparison to Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies in the Russell 3000

The following table sets forth our overhang under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as well as all other plans under which awards are still outstanding (including our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan and 2008 Stock Incentive Plan) and also shows the 75^th percentile overhang for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the Russell 3000:

	2019	2020	2021
Overhang:
Options and awards available for grants	3,017,128	6,004,569	2,890,787
Options and awards outstanding	9,663,368	10,975,841	10,650,680
Total overhang	12,680,496	16,980,410	13,541,467
Common outstanding shares	65,038,247	69,863,681	79,969,748
Overhang percentage	19.5%	24.3%	16.9%
Pharma and biotech 75^th percentile overhang⁽¹⁾	20.0%	20.4%	19.3%

(1)	Equilar, Compensation Consultant, January 2022

The Board carefully monitors our annual burn rate, dilution and equity expense to ensure that we maximize shareholder value. We consistently manage our burn rate in a disciplined manner despite sequential revenue growth, in most cases more conservatively than industry practices throughout the years, so that we can redeploy capital to advance R&D and reinvest for the future. Our disciplined capital allocation during strong financial results have enabled us to successfully transform the business from a single product company into an oncology biopharmaceutical company which has the ability to continue to advance a deep late clinical stage drug pipeline portfolio. The ability to operate our equity incentive program has significant implications for us and our shareholders. Absent approval of the plan increase, we will be extremely restricted in using equity awards and may have to use cash that can cause volatility in quarterly results, reduce alignment between employees and shareholders and reduce our cash resources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Historic Burn Rate and Comparison to Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies in the Russell 3000

The following table sets forth our burn rate under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and 2017 Equity Incentive Plan for the past three fiscal years and also shows the 75th percentile burn rate for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the Russell 3000:

	2019	2020	2021
Equity awards granted	2,295,407	2,228,827	3,568,625
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	63,323,127	66,753,450	76,272,853
Burn rate	3.6%	3.3%	4.7%
Pharma and biotech 75^th percentile burn rate⁽¹⁾	5.1%	5.9%	5.4%

(1)	Equilar, Compensation Consultant, January 2022

We now seek shareholder approval of the amendments described below so that we will be in a position to continue our substantial growth as we seek to execute on our 2022 and longer-term strategic goals.

Summary of the Proposal

Proposed Adoption. Subject to shareholder approval, the Board has adopted and approved amendments to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan to: increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan from 11,000,000 shares to 18,500,000 shares (the “Authorized Shares”); increase the annual limit on shares awarded to any individual to 1,000,000 shares (the “Individual Annual Limit”); provide that any full-value award (i.e., awards other than options or stock appreciation rights) shall count toward the Authorized Shares and the Individual Annual Limit as two shares for every one share issued (the “Fungible Ratio”) and provide that, with certain exceptions, all awards shall have a minimum 12-month vesting requirement.

Purpose of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The purpose of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan is to assist the Company in attracting, motivating, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives and other employees, officers, directors, consultants and service providers by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company. If the Company's shareholders approve the amendment to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan at the Annual Meeting, a total of 7,500,000 additional shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events) will be authorized for issuance under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

We recognize the importance of attracting, retaining and motivating those persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing such persons with equity opportunities and performance-based incentives. The Board believes that the amendment to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan is critically important to the furtherance of these objectives. The Board also believes that, through the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, we will be able to enhance the prospects for our business activities and objectives and more closely align the interests of those persons who provide services to the Company with those of our shareholders by offering such persons the opportunity to participate in our future through proprietary interests in the Company.

The Board believes that amending the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, to increase the Annual Individual Limit, to create the Fungible Ratio and to add a minimum 12-month vesting requirement for all awards (subject to certain exceptions described below) is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Proposal.

Available Shares

The Company believes in using equity awards as a large part of its compensation both to incentivize its directors, officers, employees and other service providers and to reduce cash compensation expense. In July 2017, the Company's shareholders approved the Company’s 2017 Equity Inventive Plan under which a total of 4,700,000 shares of Common Stock were authorized for grants and in March 2018 the Company’s shareholders approved the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan under which a total of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock were authorized for grants. In March 2019, the Company's shareholders approved an increase in the number of

TABLE OF CONTENTS

shares that may be issued under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan to 6,000,000. In March 2020, the Company's shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares that may be issued under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan to 11,000,000. As of January 18, 2022, a total of 15,014,979 shares of Common Stock have been issued or are subject to outstanding awards under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, leaving a total of only 685,021 shares of Common Stock available for future grants under those plans. If the amendment to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan is approved by our shareholders at the Annual Meeting, an additional 7,500,000 shares will be available for equity awards.

The Common Stock (which is the security that underlies grants of awards under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan) is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “VERU.” On January 18, 2022, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock was $5.52 per share.

The following table presents information regarding stock options, stock appreciation rights and Common Stock outstanding as of January 18, 2022:

	Outstanding	Weighted Average Exercise Price	Weighted Average Remaining Term
Stock options	12,727,112	3.79	7.8
Stock appreciation rights	50,000	0.95	4.8
Common Stock outstanding	80,049,082

Eligible Participants

Eligible participants in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan consist of employees, officers, directors, consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any entity designated by the Board in which the Company or a subsidiary of the Company holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly.

As of January 18, 2022, we had approximately 226 employees (including officers) and four non-employee directors of the Company and its subsidiaries that would be eligible to participate in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. Our consultants are also eligible to participate in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The number of our consultants generally fluctuates, but as of January 18, 2022, there were less than 25 consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries that would be eligible to participate in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. We have made awards to only one consultant under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and we have no current plans to make any future awards to any other consultants under the 2018 Equity Inventive Plan. Determination of awards under the Plan will be made by the Compensation Committee based on factors such as the recipient’s contributions to the Company, longevity of service, and retention incentives. Information about the number and roles of employees may also be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 2, 2021, copies of which were distributed to shareholders with this Proxy Statement.

Description of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan

A brief description of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, after giving effect to the proposed amendments, appears below. The following description of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, which is attached as Appendix B to this proxy statement.

Key Provisions. Key provisions of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan include the following:

•	Plan Effective Date: March 20, 2018.

•	Plan Termination Date: 10 years (March 20, 2028).

•	Shares Authorized: 18,500,000 shares of Common Stock.

•	Award Types:

○	Stock options (including both incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options);

○	Stock appreciation rights;

○	Restricted stock;

○	Restricted stock units;

TABLE OF CONTENTS

○	Common Stock as a bonus or in lieu of obligations to pay cash;

○	Dividend equivalents;

○	Performance unit awards; and

○	Other stock-based awards on terms and conditions determined by the Compensation Committee.

•	Fungible Ratio: All awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights shall count against the Authorized Shares and the Individual Annual Limit as two shares for every share awarded.

•	Award Limits: Awards to any single participant are limited to 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock per fiscal year. In addition, an outside director may not be granted awards covering more than 100,000 shares of Common Stock in any fiscal year.

•	Minimum Vesting: Subject to certain exceptions described below, no award shall have an initial vesting period shorter than 12 months. Other than that initial vesting requirement, vesting is determined by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant.

•	Repricing Prohibited: The Company is prohibited from repricing any stock options or stock appreciation rights without obtaining shareholder approval.

•	Exercise Price: All stock options and stock appreciation rights must have an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date the option or stock appreciation right is granted.

Adjustments. In the event of an extraordinary dividend, other distribution, recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affecting the Common Stock, the Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, adjust the number and kind of shares granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, the number and kind of shares subject to awards and the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any award.

Stock Options. Options granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may be non-qualified options or incentive stock options under the Code. Grantees of stock options receive the right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock or other awards at a specified exercise price and subject to the terms and conditions as are specified in the option grant. The exercise price of stock options granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and no stock option will be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted. The Compensation Committee will determine at the time of grant when each stock option becomes exercisable. Payment of the exercise price of a stock option may be in cash, withholding shares otherwise issuable with the consent of the Compensation Committee or such other method of payment permitted by the Compensation Committee. The options will expire at such time as the Compensation Committee determines.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right is an award entitling the holder on exercise to receive Common Stock, other awards, cash or other property in an amount determined by reference to appreciation in the fair market value of a share of Common Stock from the date of grant until the date of exercise. The grant price of stock appreciation rights granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and no stock appreciation right will be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted.

Restricted Stock. Restricted stock awards provide for the grant to recipients of shares of Common Stock. In connection with the grant of restricted stock, the Compensation Committee may establish vesting criteria based on continued employment or such other factors or criteria as the Compensation Committee may determine. A grantee may not transfer any shares of restricted stock until any applicable vesting criteria have been satisfied, and restricted stock may be subject to forfeiture to the Company if a grantee’s employment or service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries terminates before the end of the restriction period or if any of the other conditions precedent to the delivery of the shares subject to the award are not satisfied.

Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units provide a recipient with the right to receive shares of Common Stock, other awards, cash or other property after the vesting or other conditions to the right to receive the shares, other awards, cash or other property are satisfied. In connection with the grant of restricted stock units, the

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Compensation Committee may establish vesting criteria based on continued employment or such other factors or criteria as the Compensation Committee may determine. Restricted stock units may be subject to forfeiture to the Company if a grantee's employment or service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries terminates before the end of the restriction period or if any of the other conditions precedent to the delivery of the shares subject to the award are not satisfied.

Other Common Stock Awards. The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to grant shares of Common Stock as a bonus, or to grant shares of Common Stock or other awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or other property to recipients, all on terms determined by the Compensation Committee.

Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents provide for the grant to recipients the right to receive cash, shares of Common Stock or other awards or property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Common Stock. Any dividends otherwise payable with respect to an award that has not vested will be withheld by the Company for the account of the participant holding such award, and such dividends will be subject to the restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as such award, will be distributed to the participant upon the vesting of such award and, if such award is forfeited prior to its vesting, the participant will have no right to such dividends or any interest thereon.

Performance Unit Awards. The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to grant performance awards in cash, Common Stock or other awards based on specific performance criteria specified by the Compensation Committee.

Other Stock-Based Awards. In addition to the other types of awards described in this proxy statement, the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to grant other stock-based awards denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in party by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock, as deemed by the Compensation Committee to be consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

Minimum Vesting. Awards under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may not vest sooner than 12 months from the date of grant, subject to exceptions for a maximum of 10% of the total number of Shares authorized under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, for any awards made to directors or employees in lieu of any cash retainer in the case of directors or cash compensation in the case of employees, for awards to directors which may become fully exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant or, if earlier, on the date of our next regular annual meeting of our shareholders, and for acceleration of vesting in accordance with the provisions of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

Transferability. Except as otherwise authorized by the Compensation Committee, no award granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

Termination of Employment. The Compensation Committee will determine the period of time for which any awards under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan will continue to be exercisable and the terms of exercise upon termination of a participant’s employment or service with the Company or its subsidiaries.

Change of Control. In the event of a “Change of Control,” the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion and without any requirement that any participants be treated consistently, may accelerate the vesting of any award or otherwise cause any restrictions on any award to lapse and consider any performance goals and conditions under any award to have been satisfied.

The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan generally defines a “Change of Control” as follows: (a) the acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of more than 50% of either the value of the outstanding equity securities of the Company or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally at the election of directors, (b) during any two consecutive years, individuals who constitute the Board on the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan effective date cease to constitute a majority of the Board, (c) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in each case, unless following such transaction: (1) beneficial owners of the outstanding equity securities of the Company and the outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally at the election of directors immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the value of the outstanding equity securities and combined voting

TABLE OF CONTENTS

power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally at the election of directors of the entity resulting from such transaction in the same proportions as their ownership of the Company prior to such transaction, (2) no person beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the value of the then outstanding equity securities of the entity resulting from such transaction or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally at the election of directors of the entity resulting from such transaction, except to the extent such level of ownership existed prior to such transaction and (3) at least a majority of the Board of the entity resulting from such transaction were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial transaction agreement or Board action in respect of such transaction, or (d) approval by the shareholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Administration. The 2018 Equity Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. As the administrator, the Compensation Committee will select the participants who shall receive awards, determine the number of shares covered thereby, and establish the terms, conditions and other provisions of the grants. The Compensation Committee may interpret the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and establish, amend and rescind any rules relating to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

Amendments. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Compensation Committee's authority to grant awards thereunder, provided that no such action may be taken by the Board without the approval of the Company's shareholders to the extent necessary to comply with applicable laws or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed. No such Board action in respect of the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of any grantee with respect to any outstanding award without the consent of that grantee.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the grant and exercise and vesting of awards under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the disposition of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such awards. This summary is intended to reflect the current provisions of the Code and the regulations thereunder. However, this summary is not intended to be a complete statement of applicable law, nor does it address foreign, state, local and payroll tax considerations. Moreover, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to any particular participant may differ from those described herein by reason of, among other things, the particular circumstances of such participant.

Stock Options. There are a number of requirements that must be met for a particular stock option to be treated as an incentive stock option under the Code. One such requirement is that Common Stock acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option cannot be disposed of before the later of (i) two years from the date of grant of the stock option, or (ii) one year from the date of its exercise. Holders of incentive stock options will generally incur no federal income tax liability at the time of grant or upon exercise of those stock options. However, the spread at exercise will be an “item of tax preference,” which may give rise to “alternative minimum tax” liability for the taxable year in which the exercise occurs. If the holder does not dispose of the shares before the later of two years following the date of grant and one year following the date of exercise, the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon disposition of the shares will constitute long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be. Assuming both holding periods are satisfied, no deduction will be allowed to the Company for federal income tax purposes in connection with the grant or exercise of the incentive stock option. If, within two years following the date of grant or within one year following the date of exercise, the holder of shares acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option disposes of those shares, the participant will generally realize taxable compensation at the time of such disposition equal to the difference between the exercise price and the lesser of the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise or the amount realized on the subsequent disposition of the shares, and that amount will generally be deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes, subject to the possible limitations on deductibility under Section 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to executives designated in those Sections. Finally, if an otherwise incentive stock option becomes first exercisable in any one year for shares having an aggregate value in excess of $100,000 (based on the date of grant value), the portion of the incentive stock option in respect of those excess shares will be treated as a non-qualified stock option for federal income tax purposes.

No income will be realized by a participant upon grant of a non-qualified stock option. Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the underlying exercised shares over the exercise price paid at the

TABLE OF CONTENTS

time of exercise. Such income will be subject to income tax withholdings, and the participant will be required to pay to the Company the amount of any required withholding taxes in respect to such income. The Company will be able to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Stock Appreciation Rights. No income will be realized by a participant upon grant of stock appreciation rights. Upon the exercise of stock appreciation rights, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the payment received in respect of the stock appreciation rights. Such income will be subject to income tax withholdings, and the participant will be required to pay to the Company the amount of any required withholding taxes in respect to such income. The Company will be able to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Restricted Stock and Performance Shares. A participant will not be subject to tax upon the grant of an award of restricted stock or performance shares unless the participant otherwise elects to be taxed at the time of grant pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. On the date an award of restricted stock or performance shares becomes transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on that date over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any. Such income will be subject to income tax withholdings, and the participant will be required to pay to the Company the amount of any required withholding taxes in respect to such income. If the participant made an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income at the time of grant equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any, and any subsequent appreciation in the value of the shares will be treated as a capital gain upon sale of the shares. Special rules apply to the receipt and disposition of shares of restricted stock received by officers and directors who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company will be able to deduct, at the same time as it is recognized by the participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Restricted Stock Units and Performance Units. A participant will not be subject to tax upon the grant of a restricted stock unit or performance unit awards. Rather, upon the delivery of shares or cash pursuant to a restricted stock unit or performance unit award, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the fair market value of the number of shares (or the amount of cash) the participant actually receives with respect to the award. Such income will be subject to income tax withholdings, and the participant will be required to pay to the Company the amount of any required withholding taxes in respect to such income. The Company will be able to deduct the amount of taxable compensation recognized by the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but the deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Dividend Equivalents. A participant will not be subject to tax upon the grant of a dividend equivalent award, and the Company will not be entitled to a tax deduction at such time. Rather, upon the delivery of shares or cash pursuant to dividend equivalent award, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the fair market value of the shares (or the amount of cash) the participant actually receives with respect to the award. Such income will be subject to income tax withholdings, and the participant may be required to pay to the Company the amount of any required withholding taxes in respect to such income (if such award is paid in shares). The Company will be able to deduct the amount of taxable compensation recognized by the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but the deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Other Common Stock Awards. A participant will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date the shares of Common Stock subject to the award are transferred to the participant over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any, and any subsequent appreciation in the value of the shares will be treated as a capital gain upon sale of the shares. The Company will be able to deduct, at the same time as it is recognized by the participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the Participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Required Vote and Board Recommendation

Approval of the amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Proposal requires that a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of the amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Proposal. If a shareholder does not submit a proxy card, provide proxy instructions by telephone or over the Internet or vote at the Annual Meeting, it will have no effect on the approval of the amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Proposal. However, if a shareholder submits a proxy card or provides proxy instructions by telephone or over the Internet and affirmatively elects to abstain from voting, it will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan Amendment Proposal.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE AMENDMENT OF THE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table summarizes share information, as of September 30, 2021, for the Company's equity compensation plans and arrangements. In March 2008, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan and authorized 2,000,000 shares (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events) for issuance under the plan, in July 2017, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan and authorized 4,700,000 shares (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events) for issuance under the plan, and in March 2018, the Company's shareholders approved the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and in March 2020 the Company shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares authorized to be issued under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan to 11,000,000 shares (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events).

Equity Plan Category			Number of Shares To Be Issued Upon Exercise Of Outstanding Options, SARs and Warrants			Weighted-Average Exercise Price Of Outstanding Options, SARs and Warrants			Shares Remaining Available For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders			10,650,680			2.83			2,890,787

PROPOSALS FOR 2023 ANNUAL MEETING

Any shareholder who desires to submit a proposal for inclusion in the proxy materials for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in accordance with Rule 14a-8 must submit the proposal in writing c/o Secretary, Veru Inc., 48 NW 25^th Street, Suite 102, Miami, Florida 33127 before March 1, 2022 and c/o Secretary, Veru Inc., 2916 N. Miami Avenue, Suite 1000, Miami, Florida 33127, on or after March 1, 2022. This address for our new corporate headquarters and is effective as of March 1, 2022. We must receive a proposal by September 30, 2022 (120 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of this Proxy Statement) in order to consider it for inclusion in the proxy materials for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Shareholder proposals that are not intended to be included in the proxy materials for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but that are to be presented by a shareholder from the floor are subject to advance notice provisions in our by-laws. According to our by-laws, in order to be properly brought before the meeting, a proposal not intended for inclusion in our proxy materials must be received at our principal offices no later than December 29, 2022, which is 90 calendar days prior to the anniversary of this year's meeting date, and no earlier than November 29, 2022, which is 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary of this year's meeting date, and the notice must set forth the following: (a) a representation that the person sending the notice is a shareholder of record on the record date for the meeting and will remain such through the meeting date, (b) the name and address of such shareholder, (c) the number of shares of our Common Stock which are beneficially owned by such shareholder and any other ownership interest of the shareholder in shares of our Common Stock, whether economic or otherwise, including derivatives and hedges, (d) a representation that such shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to make the nomination or move the consideration of other business set forth in the notice, (e) if the proposal relates to any business to be brought before the meeting other than election of directors, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of the shareholder in such business, and (f) if the proposal relates to the nomination of a candidate for election as director, the name, age, address (business and residence), principal occupation or employment of each nominee, the number of shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned by each nominee and any other ownership interest by such person in shares of our Common Stock, whether economic or otherwise, including derivatives and hedges and any other information relating to each nominee that would be required to be disclosed in a definitive proxy statement to shareholders prepared in connection with an election of directors pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If the notice does not comply with the requirements set forth in our by-laws, the chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the matter. If the chairman of the meeting decides to present a proposal despite its untimeliness, the people named in the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will have the right to exercise discretionary voting power with respect to such proposal.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ANNUAL REPORT

We are required to file an Annual Report, called a Form 10-K, with the SEC. A copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 will be provided without charge on written request of any shareholder whose proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors. The written request should be directed to: Secretary, Veru Inc., 48 NW 25^th Street, Suite 102, Miami, Florida 33127 before March 1, 2022 and Secretary, Veru Inc., 2916 N. Miami Avenue, Suite 1000, Miami, Florida 33127, on or after March 1, 2022.

EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION

The cost of this solicitation of proxies will be paid by the Company. It is anticipated that the proxies will be solicited only by mail, except that solicitation personally or by telephone may also be made by our regular employees who will receive no additional compensation for their services in connection with the solicitation. Arrangements will be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation material and annual reports to beneficial owners of stock held by such persons. We will reimburse such parties for their expenses in so doing.

			By Order of the Board of Directors,


			Michael J. Purvis,
			Secretary

Miami, Florida

January 28, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIX A

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this proxy statement that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding: whether the Company will generate record revenue again in 2022 or grow revenue in 2022; whether the Company’s current and planned clinical trials in its breast cancer and prostate cancer programs or any future clinical development and their respective results will demonstrate sufficient efficacy and safety and potential benefits to secure FDA approval of the Company’s drug candidates; whether the Phase 3 study of sabizabulin for certain COVID patients will produce results similar to the results of the previous Phase 2 study, whether such data will be sufficient for approval by the FDA and whether this would satisfy any unmet need or achieve acceptance by physicians; whether the companion diagnostic for enobosarm will be developed successfully or be approved by the FDA for use; the anticipated design and scope for clinical studies and FDA acceptance of such design and scope, whether sabizabulin, enobosarm, VERU-100, zuclomiphene citrate or ENTADFI will serve any unmet need, what dosage, if any, might be approved for use in the US or elsewhere for any of the Company’s drug candidates; whether any enrollment or data timelines for any of the Company’s clinical studies will be met; the potential, timing and efficacy of the rest of the Company’s development pipeline; whether the Company will successfully launch ENTADFI or will be successful in partnering with any other company for commercialization in or outside the U.S. and whether ENTADFI will be a meaningful source of additional revenue. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: the development of the Company’s product portfolio and the results of clinical studies possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical studies and the ability to enroll subjects in accordance with planned schedules; the ability to fund planned clinical development; the timing of any submission to the FDA and any determinations made by the FDA or any other regulatory authority; the possibility that as vaccines become widely distributed the need for new COVID-19 treatment candidates may be reduced or eliminated; government entities possibly taking actions that directly or indirectly have the effect of limiting opportunities for sabizabulin as a COVID-19 treatment, including favoring other treatment alternatives or imposing price controls on COVID-19 treatments; the Company’s existing products and any future products, if approved, possibly not being commercially successful; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures to address the pandemic on the Company’s clinical studies, supply chain and other third-party providers, commercial efforts, and business development operations; the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing on acceptable terms when needed to fund development and operations; demand for, market acceptance of, and competition against any of the Company’s products or product candidates; new or existing competitors with greater resources and capabilities and new competitive product approvals and/or introductions; changes in regulatory practices or policies or government-driven healthcare reform efforts, including pricing pressures and insurance coverage and reimbursement changes; the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize any of its products, if approved; the Company’s ability to protect and enforce its intellectual property; the potential that delays in orders or shipments under government tenders or the Company’s U.S. prescription business could cause significant quarter-to-quarter variations in the Company’s operating results and adversely affect its net revenues and gross profit; the Company’s reliance on its international partners and on the level of spending by country governments, global donors and other public health organizations in the global public sector; the concentration of accounts receivable with our largest customers and the collection of those receivables; the Company’s production capacity, efficiency and supply constraints and interruptions, including potential disruption of production at the Company’s and third party manufacturing facilities and/or of the Company’s ability to timely supply product due to labor unrest or strikes, labor shortages, raw material shortages, physical damage to the Company’s and third party facilities, COVID-19 (including the impact of COVID-19 on suppliers of key raw materials), product testing, transportation delays or regulatory actions; costs and other effects of litigation, including product liability claims; the Company’s ability to identify, successfully negotiate and complete suitable acquisitions or other strategic initiatives; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, technologies or products; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s press releases, shareholder communications and Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These documents are available on the “SEC Filings” section of our website at www.verupharma.com/investors. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

A-1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIX B

VERU INC.

2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

(as amended and restated effective March 29, 2022)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VERU INC.

2018 Equity incentive plan

1. Purpose			B-1
2. Definitions			B-1
3. Administration			B-4
4. Shares Subject to Plan			B-5
5. Eligibility; Per-Participant Limitations			B-6
6. Specific Terms of Awards			B-6
7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards			B-10
8. Change of Control			B-12
9. General Provisions			B-14

B-i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VERU INC.

2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

(as amended and restated effective March 29, 2022)

1. Purpose. The purpose of this VERU INC. 2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (the “"Plan” is to assist Veru Inc. (the “Company”) and its Related Entities (as hereinafter defined) in attracting, motivating, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives and other employees, officers, directors, consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company or its Related Entities by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company in order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and the Company’s stockholders, and providing such persons with performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of stockholder value.

2. Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof and elsewhere herein.

(a) “Award"" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Share granted as a bonus or in lieu of another Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award or Performance Award, together with any other right or interest relating to Shares or other property (including cash), granted to a Participant under the Plan.

(b) “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder.

(c) “Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts that have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant's death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 9(b) hereof. If, upon a Participant's death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

(d) “Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.

(e) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(f) “Cause” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the meaning specified in the Award Agreement. In the absence of any definition in the Award Agreement, “Cause” shall have the equivalent meaning or the same meaning as “cause” or “for cause” set forth in any employment, consulting, or other agreement for the performance of services between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the failure by the Participant to perform, in a reasonable manner, his or her duties as assigned by the Company or a Related Entity, (ii) any violation or breach by the Participant of his or her employment, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company or a Related Entity, if any, (iii) any violation or breach by the Participant of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and/or other similar agreement with the Company or a Related Entity, (iv) any act by the Participant of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company or a Related Entity, (v) use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances in a manner that adversely affects the Participant's work performance, or (vi) the commission by the Participant of any act, misdemeanor or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the Participant or the Company or any Related Entity. The good faith determination by the Committee of whether the Participant’s Continuous Service was terminated by the Company for “Cause” shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.

(g) “Change of Control” means a Change of Control as defined in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

(i) “Committee” means a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that if the Board fails to designate a committee or if there are no longer any members on the committee so designated by the Board, or for any other reason determined by the Board, then the Board shall serve as the Committee. The Committee shall consist of at least two directors, each of whom shall be

B-1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act, unless administration of the Plan by "non-employee directors" is not then required in order for exemptions under Rule l6b-3 to apply to transactions under the Plan and (ii) “Independent.”

(j) “Consultant” means any consultant or advisor who is a natural person and who provides services to the Company or any Subsidiary, so long as such person (i) renders bona fide services that are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction, (ii) does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities and (iii) otherwise qualifies as a de facto employee or consultant under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares of stock on a Form S-8 registration statement.

(k) “Continuous Service” means the uninterrupted provision of services to the Company or any Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider. Continuous Service shall not be considered to be interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entities or any successor entities, in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave or any other authorized personal leave.

(l) “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.

(m) “Disability” means a permanent and total disability, (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee.

(n) “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof, to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares.

(o) “Effective Date” means the effective date of the Plan, which shall be March 20, 2018.

(p) “Eligible Person” means each officer, Director, Employee, Consultant and other person who provides services to the Company or any Related Entity. The foregoing notwithstanding, only Employees of the Company, or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company (as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively), shall be Eligible Persons for purposes of receiving any Incentive Stock Options. An Employee on leave of absence may, in the discretion of the Committee, be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.

(q) “Employee” means any person, including an officer or Director, who is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, or is a prospective employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (conditioned upon, and effective not earlier than, such person becoming an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary). The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Subsidiary shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

(r) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

(s) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows:

(i) if a Share is listed on any national securities exchange, including, without limitation, the NASDAQ Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange for the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;

(ii) if a Share is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for such Share for the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or

(iii) in the absence of an established market for a Share, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.

B-2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(t) “Incentive Stock Option” means any Option intended to be designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

(u) “Independent”, when referring to either the Board or members of the Committee, shall have the same meaning as used in the rules of the Listing Market.

(v) Incumbent Board” means the Incumbent Board as defined in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof.

(w) “Listing Market” means the national securities exchange on which any securities of the Company are listed for trading, and if not listed for trading, by the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

(x) Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Shares or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.

(y) “Optionee” means a person to whom an Option is granted under this Plan or any person who succeeds to the rights of such person under this Plan.

(z) “Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 6(i) hereof.

(aa) “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

(bb) “Performance Award” means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof.

(cc) “Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(dd) “Performance Share” means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(ee) “Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property (including cash) other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(ff) “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, and shall include a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

(gg) “Related Entity” means any Subsidiary, and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity designated by the Board, in which the Company or a Subsidiary holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly.

(hh) “Restricted Stock” means any Share issued with such risks of forfeiture and other restrictions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose (including any restriction on the right to vote such Share and the right to receive any dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

(ii) “Restricted Stock Award” means an Award granted to a Participant under Section 6(d) hereof.

(jj) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right to receive Shares, including Restricted Stock, cash measured based upon the value of Shares or a combination thereof, at the end of a specified deferral period.

(kk) “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means an Award of Restricted Stock Unit granted to a Participant under Section 6(e) hereof.

B-3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(ll) “Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee that Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose.

(mm) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(nn) “Shares” means the shares of common stock of the Company and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Shares pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.

(oo) Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.

(pp) Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or in which the company has the right to receive 50% or more of the distribution of profits or 50% or more of the assets, as that term is defined in Rule 405 of under the Securities Act of 1933, controlled by the Company directly, or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries.

(qq) “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, Awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future Awards, by a company (i) acquired by the Company or any Related Entity; (ii) which becomes a Related Entity after the date hereof or (iii) with which the Company or any Related Entity combines.

3. Administration.

(a) Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly provided in this Plan, the Board may exercise any power or authority granted to the Committee under this Plan and, in that case, references herein shall be deemed to include references to the Board. The Committee shall have full and final authority, subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select Eligible Persons to become Participants; grant Awards; determine the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards; prescribe Award Agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan; construe and interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and correct defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein; and to make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. In exercising any discretion granted to the Committee under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee shall not be required to follow past practices, act in a manner consistent with past practices, or treat any Eligible Person or Participant in a manner consistent with the treatment of any other Eligible Persons or Participants. Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons or entities, including the Company, any Subsidiary or any Participant or Beneficiary, or any transferee under Section 9(b) hereof or any other person or entity claiming rights from or through any of the foregoing persons or entities.

(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.

(i) The Committee, and not the Board, shall exercise sole and exclusive discretion on any matter relating to a Participant then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company to the extent necessary in order that transactions by such Participant shall be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

(ii) Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, its Related Entities, Eligible Persons, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees under Section (b) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and stockholders. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to members of the Board, or officers or managers of the Company or any Related Entity, or committee thereof, the authority subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions, as the Committee may determine to the

B-4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.

(c) Limitation of Liability. The Committee and the Board and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or Employee, the Company’s independent auditors, Consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and the Board, and any officer or Employee acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee or the Board, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

4. Shares Subject to Plan.

(a) Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery under the Plan. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for delivery under the Plan shall be 18,500,000. Any Shares delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares. Any Shares issued in connection with Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limitation as one Share for every one Share so issued. Any Shares granted in connection with Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limitation as one (1) Share for every one (1) Option or Stock Appreciation Right awarded. Any Shares granted in connection with Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limitation as two (2) Shares for every one (1) Share granted in connection with such Award. The number of Shares that are subject to Awards outstanding at any time under the Plan shall not exceed the number of Shares which then remain available for issuance under the Plan.

(b) Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards. No Award may be granted if the number of Shares to be delivered in connection with such an Award exceeds the number of Shares remaining available for delivery under the Plan, minus the number of Shares deliverable in settlement of or relating to then outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of Shares actually delivered differs from the number of Shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

(i) If any Shares subject to an Award, on or after the Effective Date, are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate without issuance of such Shares, or any Award, on or after the Effective Date, is settled for cash, or otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the Shares subject to such Award, the Shares to which those Awards were subject shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, termination, non-issuance or cash settlement, again be available for delivery with respect to Awards under the Plan, subject to Section 4(c)(iv) below.

(ii) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan or authorized for delivery to a Participant in any period.

(iii) Any Share that again becomes available for delivery pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall be added back as one Share.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such Shares are (A) Shares tendered in payment of an Option, (B) Shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation or (C) Shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award.

(v) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4(c) to the contrary, but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) hereof, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan as a result of the exercise of the Incentive Stock Options shall be 2,000,000 Shares. In no event shall any Incentive Stock Options be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the date on which the Board adopts the Plan.

B-5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

5. Eligibility; Per-Participant Limitations. Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) of this Plan, in any fiscal year of the Company during any part of which the Plan is in effect, no Participant may be granted Awards with respect to more than 1,000,000 Shares. Any Shares granted in connection with Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this per participant limitation as one (1) Share for every one (1) Option or Stock Appreciation Right awarded. Any Shares granted in connection with Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this per participant limitation as two (2) Shares for every one (1) Share granted in connection with such Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) of this Plan, in any fiscal year of the Company during any part of which the Plan is in effect, any Director who is not an Employee may not be granted Awards with respect to more than 100,000 Shares.

6. Specific Terms of Awards.

(a) General.

(i) Committee Authority. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award, or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 9(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of the Participant's Continuous Service and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of applicable law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (as opposed to the exercise) of any Award.

(ii) Minimum Vesting. Awards shall not vest sooner than 12 months from the date of grant, subject to exceptions for (1) a maximum of 10% of the total number of Shares authorized under the Plan, (2) any Awards made to directors or employees in lieu of any cash retainer in the case of directors or cash compensation in the case of employees, (3) Awards to directors which may become fully exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant or, if earlier, on the date of the next regular annual meeting of our shareholders, or (4) in the case of any acceleration of vesting in accordance with the Plan, which acceleration shall be separate from and not be limited to the 10% exception limit in clause (1) of this subsection.

(b) Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Exercise Price. Other than in connection with Substitute Awards, the exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option and shall not, in any event, be less than the par value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option. If an Employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Employee, the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted. The Committee shall not be permitted to (A) lower the exercise price per Share of an Option after it is granted, (B) cancel an Option when the exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for cash or another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards), (C) cancel an outstanding Option in exchange for an Option with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or (D) take any other action with respect to an Option that may be treated as a repricing pursuant to the applicable rules of the Listing Market, without approval of the Company's stockholders.

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on

B-6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the method by which notice of exercise is to be given and the form of exercise notice to be used, the time or times at which Options shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the methods by which the exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including in the discretion of the Committee a cashless exercise procedure), the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares (including without limitation the withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award), other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or a Related Entity, or other property (including notes, or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis provided that such deferred payments are not in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act, any rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law), and the methods by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.

(iii) Form of Settlement. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall be in the form of Restricted Stock, or other similar securities.

(iv) Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options (including any Stock Appreciation Right issued in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretionary authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested, or consents to, the change that will result in such disqualification. Thus, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 422 of the Code, Options granted as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following special terms and conditions:

(A) the Option shall not be exercisable for more than ten years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) for no more than five years from the date of grant;

(B) the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and all other option plans of the Company (and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) that become exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year shall not (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed $100,000; and

(C) if Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of within two years following the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted or one year following the transfer of such Shares to the Participant upon exercise, the Participant shall, promptly following such disposition, notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of such disposition and provide such other information regarding the disposition as the Committee may reasonably require.

(c) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to any Eligible Person in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option (a “Tandem Stock Appreciation Right”), or without regard to any Option (a “Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right”), in each case upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, including the following:

(i) Right to Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee. The grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair

B-7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Committee shall not be permitted to (A) lower the grant price per Share of a Stock Appreciation Right after it is granted, (B) cancel a Stock Appreciation Right when the grant price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards), (C) cancel an outstanding Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for a Stock Appreciation Right with a grant price that is less than the grant price of the original Stock Appreciation Right or (D) take any other action with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right that may be treated as a repricing pursuant to the applicable rules of the Listing Market, without stockholder approval.

(ii) Other Terms. The Committee shall determine the date of grant or thereafter the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which Stock Appreciation Rights shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right.

(iii) Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be granted at the same time as the related Option is granted or, for Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Option. Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option may be exercised only when the related Option would be exercisable and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the related Option exceeds the exercise price at which Shares can be acquired pursuant to the Option. In addition, if a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right exists with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option, then an exercise or termination of such Option shall not reduce the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies until the number of Shares then exercisable under such Option equals the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies. Any Option related to a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised, and any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the related Option has been exercised.

(d) Restricted Stock Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Awards to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Grant and Restrictions. Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, or as otherwise provided in this Plan during the Restriction Period. The terms of any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in a written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan. The restriction may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement relating to a Restricted Stock Award, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon, provided that any dividends with respect to a Restricted Stock Award shall be withheld by the Company for the account of the Participant holding such Restricted Stock Award, and interest may be credited on the amount of the dividends withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The dividends so withheld by the Company and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be subject to the restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the share of Restricted Stock, shall be distributed to the Participant upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends. During the period

B-8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

that the Restricted Stock Award is subject to a risk of forfeiture, subject to Section 9(b) below and except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant or Beneficiary.

(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service during the applicable Restriction Period, the Participant’s Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has not lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided that the Committee may provide, by resolution or other action or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock Awards shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

(iii) Certificates for Stock. Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

(e) Restricted Stock Unit Award. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Unit Awards to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:

(i) Award and Restrictions. Satisfaction of a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Unit Award by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the participant in a manner that does not violate the requirements of Section 409A of the Code). In addition, a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at other specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise as the Committee may determine. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be satisfied by delivery of Shares, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of Shares covered by the Restricted Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter. Prior to satisfaction of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award carries no voting or dividend or other rights associated with Share ownership. Prior to satisfaction of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement and as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, a Restricted Stock Unit Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant or any Beneficiary.

(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant's Continuous Service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award Agreement evidencing the Restricted Stock Unit Award), the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award that is at that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has not lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by resolution or other action or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of any Restricted Stock Unit Award.

(f) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The Committee is authorized to grant Shares to any Eligible Persons as a bonus, or to grant Shares or other Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, provided that, in the case of Eligible Persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Shares or other Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Shares or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee.

B-9

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(g) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to any Eligible Person entitling the Eligible Person to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to the dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any cash, Shares, other Awards or other property otherwise payable with respect to Dividend Equivalents as to any Award to the extent such Award has not vested shall be withheld by the Company for the account of the Participant holding such Award, and interest may be credited on the amount withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The cash, Shares, other Awards or other property so withheld by the Company and attributable to any particular Award, and any interest thereon, shall be subject to the restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as such Award, shall be distributed to the Participant upon the vesting of such Award and, if such Award is forfeited prior to its vesting, the Participant shall have no right to such cash, Shares, other Awards or other property or any interest thereon.

(h) Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Person payable in cash, Shares or other Awards, on terms and conditions established by the Committee. The performance criteria to be achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance Award; provided, however, that a Performance Period shall not be shorter than twelve (12) months nor longer than five (5) years. Except as provided in Section 9 or as may be provided in an Award Agreement, Performance Awards will be distributed only after the end of the relevant Performance Period. The performance goals to be achieved for each Performance Period shall be conclusively determined by the Committee and may be based upon any criteria that the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine should be used for that purpose. The amount of the Award to be distributed shall be conclusively determined by the Committee. Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis in a manner that does not violate the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(i) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to any Eligible Person such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan, and such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(i) shall be purchased for such consideration, (including without limitation loans from the Company or a Related Entity provided that such loans are not in violation of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law) paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, as the Committee shall determine.

7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.

(a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Related Entity or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Related Entity, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Related Entity. Subject to compliance with the Code, such additional, tandem and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Related Entity, in which the value of Shares subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units), or in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered (for

B-10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

example, Options or Stock Appreciation Right granted with an exercise price or grant price “discounted” by the amount of the cash compensation surrendered), provided that any such determination to grant an Award in lieu of cash compensation must be made in a manner intended to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code.

(b) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceed a period of ten years (or in the case of an Incentive Stock Option such shorter term as maybe required under Section 422 of the Code).

(c) Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Related Entity upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such form as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis, provided that any determination to pay in installments or on a deferred basis shall be made by the Committee at the date of grant. Any installment or deferral provided for in the preceding sentence shall, however, subject to the terms of the Plan, be subject to the Company’s compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all applicable rules of the Listing Market, and in a manner intended to be exempt from or otherwise satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Subject to Section 7(e) of this Plan, any such settlement shall be at a value determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, which, without limitation, may in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be limited to the amount if any by which the Fair Market Value of a Share on the settlement date exceeds the exercise or grant price. Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 7(e) of this Plan, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award Agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee. The acceleration of the settlement of any Award, and the payment of any Award in installments or on an deferred basis, shall be done all in a manner that is intended to be exempt from or otherwise satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may, without limitation, make provision for the payment or crediting of a reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Shares.

(d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability. It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to, or other transaction by, a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from Section 16 pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).

(e) Code Section 409A.

(i) The Award Agreement for any Award that the Committee reasonably determines to constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Code (a “Section 409A Plan”), and the provisions of the Section 409A Plan applicable to that Award, shall be construed in a manner consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and the Committee, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, may amend any Award Agreement (and the provisions of the Plan applicable thereto) if and to the extent that the Committee determines that such amendment is necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(ii) If any Award constitutes a Section 409A Plan, then the Award shall be subject to the following additional requirements if, and to the extent, required to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

(A) Payments under the Section 409A Plan may be made only upon [i] the Participant’s “separation from service", [ii] the date the Participant becomes "disabled", [iii] the Participant's

B-11

TABLE OF CONTENTS

death, [iv] a specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule) specified in the Award Agreement at the date of the deferral of such compensation, [v] a “change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company or [vi] the occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency”;

(B) The time or schedule for any payment of the deferred compensation may not be accelerated, except to the extent provided in applicable Treasury Regulations or other applicable guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service;

(C) Any elections, with respect to the deferral of such compensation or the time and form of distribution of such deferred compensation shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A(a)(4) of the Code; and

(D) In the case of any Participant who is “specified employee”, a distribution on account of a “separation from service” may not be made before the date which is six months after the date of the Participant’s “separation from service” (or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death).

For purposes of the foregoing, the terms in quotations shall have the same meanings as those terms have for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and the limitations set forth herein shall, be applied in such manner (and only to the extent) as shall be necessary to comply with any requirements of Section 409A of the Code that are applicable to the Award.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement, the Company does not make any representation to any Participant or Beneficiary that any Awards made pursuant to this Plan are exempt from, or satisfy the requirements of, Section 409A of the Code, and the Company shall have no liability or other obligation to indemnify or hold harmless the Participant or any Beneficiary for any tax, additional tax, interest or penalties that the Participant or any Beneficiary may incur in the event that any provision of this Plan, or any Award Agreement, or any amendment or modification thereof, or any other action taken with respect thereto, is deemed to violate any of the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

8. Change of Control.

(a) Effect of “Change of Control.” If, and only to the extent, determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and without any requirement that each Participant be treated consistently upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control,” as defined in Section 8(b):

(i) Any Option or Stock Appreciation Right that was not previously vested and exercisable as of the time of the Change of Control, shall become immediately vested and exercisable, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.

(ii) Any restrictions, deferral of settlement and forfeiture conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or an Other Stock-Based Award subject only to future service requirements granted under the Plan shall lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change of Control, except to the extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.

(iii) With respect to any outstanding Award subject to achievement of performance goals and conditions under the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, consider such Awards to have been earned and payable based on achievement of performance goals or based upon target performance (either in full or pro-rata based on the portion of the Performance Period completed as of the Change of Control).

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision in any Award Agreement to the contrary, and unless the Committee otherwise determines in a specific instance, or as is provided in any employment or other agreement between the Participant and the Company any Subsidiary, and unless the Committee otherwise determines, in a specific instance, each outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall not be accelerated as described in Sections 8(a)(i), (ii) and (iii), if either (A) the Company is the surviving entity in the Change of Control and the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award continues to be

B-12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

outstanding after the Change of Control on substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to the Change of Control or (B) the successor company or its parent company assumes or substitutes for the applicable Award, as determined in accordance with Section 9(c)(ii) hereof. For the purposes of this Agreement, an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if, following the Change of Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive for each Share subject to the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or Other Stock-Based Award immediately prior to the Change of Control, on substantially the same vesting and other terms and conditions as were applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change of Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the transaction constituting a Change of Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of such transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the transaction constituting a Change of Control is not solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or Other Stock-Based Award, for each Share subject thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the transaction constituting a Change of Control. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.

(b) Definition of “Change of Control.” Unless otherwise specified in any employment or other agreement for services between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary, or in an Award Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) The acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%) of either (A) the value of then outstanding equity securities of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”) (the foregoing Beneficial Ownership hereinafter being referred to as a “Controlling Interest”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8(b), the following acquisitions shall not constitute or result in a Change of Control: (v) any acquisition directly from the Company; (w) any acquisition by the Company; (x) any acquisition by any Person that as of the Effective Date owns Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest; (y) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Related Entity; or (z) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A) or (B) of subsection (iii) below; or

(ii) During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the Effective Date) individuals who constitute the Board on the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

(iii) Consummation of (A) a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving (x) the Company or (y) any of its Subsidiaries, but in the case of this clause (y) only if equity securities of the Company are issued or issuable in connection with the transaction (each of the events referred to in this clause (A) being hereinafter referred to as a “Business Reorganization”), or (B) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets

B-13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or equity of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each an “Asset Sale”), in each case, unless, following such Business Reorganization or Asset Sale, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Reorganization or Asset Sale beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the value of the then outstanding equity securities and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of members of the board of directors (or comparable governing body of an entity that does not have such a board), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Reorganization or Asset Sale (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (the “Continuing Entity”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Reorganization or Asset Sale, of the Outstanding Company Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be (excluding any outstanding equity or voting securities of the Continuing Entity that such Beneficial Owners hold immediately following the consummation of the Business Reorganization or Asset Sale as a result of their ownership, prior to such consummation, of equity or voting securities of any company or other entity involved in or forming part of such Business Reorganization or Asset Sale other than the Company); (2) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or any Continuing Entity, or any entity controlled by the Continuing Corporation or any Person that as of the Effective Date owns Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the value of the then outstanding equity securities of the Continuing Entity or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting Securities of the Continuing Entity except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Reorganization or Asset Sale and (3) at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or other governing body of the Continuing Entity were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Reorganization or Asset Sale; or

(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

9. General Provisions.

(a) Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements. The Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required action with respect to the Listing Market, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, listing requirements or other obligations.

(b) Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries. No Award or other right or interest granted under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any party, or assigned or transferred by such Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative, except that Awards and other rights (other than Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent such transfers are permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an Award Agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon), are by gift or pursuant to a domestic relations order, and are to a “Permitted Assignee” that is a permissible transferee under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares of stock on a Form S-8 registration statement. For this purpose, a Permitted Assignee shall mean (i) the Participant's spouse, children or grandchildren (including

B-14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

any adopted and step children or grandchildren), parents, grandparents or siblings, (ii) a trust for the benefit of one or more of the Participant or the persons referred to in clause (i), (iii) a partnership, limited liability company or corporation in which the Participant or the persons referred to in clause (i) are the only partners, members or stockholders or (iv) a foundation in which any person or entity designated in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above control the management of assets. A Beneficiary, transferee or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and Conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

(i) Adjustments to Awards. In the event that any extraordinary dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares and/or such other securities of the Company or any other issuer, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem appropriate and equitable (and subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code), substitute, exchange or adjust any or all of (A) the number and kind of Shares which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted thereafter, (B) the number and kind of Shares by which annual per person Award limitations are measured under Section 4 hereof, (C) the number and kind of Shares subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, (D) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award and (E) any other aspect of any Award that the Committee determines to be appropriate.

(ii) Adjustments in Case of Certain Transactions. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other reorganization which the Company does not survive, or in the event of any Change of Control (and subject to the provisions of Section 8 of this Plan relating to the vesting of Awards in the event of any Change of Control), any outstanding Awards may be dealt with in accordance with any of the following approaches, without the requirement of obtaining any consent or agreement of a Participant as such, as determined by the agreement effectuating the transaction or, if and to the extent not so determined, as determined by the Committee: (A) the continuation of the outstanding Awards by the Company, if the Company is a surviving entity, (B) the assumption or substitution for, as those terms are defined below, the outstanding Awards by the surviving entity or its parent or subsidiary, (C) full exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of the outstanding Awards or (D) settlement of the value of the outstanding Awards in cash or cash equivalents or other property followed by cancellation of such Awards (which value, in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, shall be measured by the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the exercise or grant price of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right as of the effective date of the transaction). For the purposes of this Plan, an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if, following the applicable transaction, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or Other Stock-Based Award immediately prior to the applicable transaction, or substantially the same vesting and other terms and conditions as were applicable to the Award immediately prior to the applicable transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the applicable transaction by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of such transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the applicable transaction is not solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or Other Stock-Based Award, for each Share thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the applicable transaction. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by

SEC Form DEF 14A filed by Veru Inc.