UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 27, 2017

 

Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-35268

 

33-0505269

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

IRS Employer

of incorporation or organization)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2012

New York, NY 10170

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 297-0020

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).  Emerging growth company  o

 

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

 

 

 



 

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

 

The 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”) was held on June 27, 2017.  At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders voted on the following four (4) proposals and cast their votes as described below.

 

Proposal 1 — Election of Directors

 

The following seven (7) individuals were elected as directors, to serve until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or their successors are elected and qualified with the following votes:

 

Name of Director

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker Non-
Votes

 

Gary S. Jacob

 

93,399,758

 

0

 

10,460,805

 

67,090,113

 

Melvin K. Spigelman

 

84,090,306

 

0

 

19,770,257

 

67,090,113

 

John P. Brancaccio

 

84,089,105

 

0

 

19,771,458

 

67,090,113

 

Thomas H. Adams

 

84,065,285

 

0

 

19,795,278

 

67,090,113

 

Alan F. Joslyn

 

94,366,249

 

0

 

9,494,314

 

67,090,113

 

Richard Daly

 

75,416,953

 

0

 

28,443,610

 

67,090,113

 

Timothy S. Callahan

 

94,380,984

 

0

 

9,479,579

 

67,090,113

 

 

Proposal 2 — Approval of Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

The shareholders approved the amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, increasing the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance from 350,000,000 to 400,000,000 based on the votes listed below:

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

142,820,579

 

26,192,962

 

734,688

 

1,202,447

 

 

Proposal 3 — Approval of 2017 Equity Incentive Plan

 

The shareholders approved the Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan based on the votes listed below:

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker Non-
Votes

 

78,346,471

 

24,699,678

 

814,412

 

67,090,115

 

 

Proposal 4 — Ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP

 

The shareholders ratified and approved the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 based on the votes listed below:

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

 

Abstentions

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

164,926,548

 

3,918,275

 

2,105,850

 

3

 

 

Each of the items considered at the Annual Meeting is described in further detail in the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2017.  No item other than the four items addressed above and described in the Definitive Proxy Statement was submitted at the Annual Meeting for shareholder action.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated:

June 28, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SYNERGY PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gary S. Jacob

 

 

 

 

Gary S. Jacob, Ph.D.

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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