Compass Therapeutics, Inc. 10-K

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.   Management ’ s Evaluation of our Disclosure Controls and Procedures   Under the supervision of and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2022, the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as set forth in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms promulgated by the SEC. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.   In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.   Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2022.   Management ’ s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting   Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes maintaining records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions; providing reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary for preparation of our consolidated financial statements; providing reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of company assets are made in accordance with management authorization; and providing reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our consolidated financial statements would be prevented or detected.   We are required, under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting beginning with this Form 10-K. This assessment includes disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting. The SEC defines a material weakness as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be detected or prevented on a timely basis. Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness, as of December 31, 2022, of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022.   147     As an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we are exempt from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm has not audited or issued an attestation report with respect to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022.   Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting   During the quarter ended December 31, 2022, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.   Item 9B. Other Information.   None   Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.   Not applicable   148     PART III   Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.   Except to the extent provided below, the information required by this Item 10 will be included in our Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), with respect to our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.   Item 11. Executive Compensation.   The information required by this Item 11 will be included in our Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.   Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.   The information required by this Item 12 will be included in our Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.   Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.   The information required by this Item 13 will be included in our Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.   Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.   The information required by this Item 14 will be included in our Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.   149     PART IV   Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.   (1) See Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.   (2) All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are either not required or not applicable or the information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the accompanying notes.   (3) Exhibits   2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 17, 2020, by and among the Olivia Ventures, Inc., Compass Acquisition LLC, Compass Therapeutics LLC, BBV International Compass Inc., Biomatics—Compass, Inc., CHI II Blocker LLC, OrbiMed Private Investments V—KA (Blocker), Inc., Eight Roads Investments, Biomatics Capital Partners, L.P., Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP, CHI EF II LP, and OrbiMed Private Investments V—KA (Feeder), LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   3.1   Certificate of Merger relating to the merger of Compass Acquisition LLC with and into Compass Therapeutics LLC, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on 17, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   3.2   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   3.3   Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   3.4   Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization by and among Compass Therapeutics, Inc. Compass Intermediate Acquisition Company, Inc., Compass Acquisition Company, LLC, Trigr Therapeutics, Inc. and Peng Ventures, LLC, as Stockholder Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 13, 2021)       4.1   Specimen Certificate for Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on October 19, 2020)   4.2   Description of Registered Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2021)   10.1*   2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   10.2*   2020 Senior Executive Cash Incentive Bonus Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   10.3*   Form of Indemnification Agreement (directors) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   10.4*   Form of Indemnification Agreement (executive officers) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)     150     10.5*   Form of Pre-Merger Indemnification Agreement (directors and executive officers) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   10.6   Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 19, 2020, by and among Compass Therapeutics, Inc. and the parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   10.7   Subscription Agreement, dated June 19, 2020, by and between Compass Therapeutics, Inc. and the investors party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   10.8†   Amended and Restated Collaboration Agreement, dated February 11, 2015, by and between Adimab LLC and Kairos Biologics Foundation LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   10.13   Sublease Agreement, effective as of December 1, 2020, by and between Roche Diagnostic Operations, Inc. and Compass Therapeutics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2021)       10.14*   Employment Agreement between Compass Therapeutics, Inc. and Thomas J. Schuetz, M.D., Ph.D., dated April 14, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 19, 2021)       10.15*   Employment Agreement between Compass Therapeutics, Inc. and Vered Bisker-Leib, Ph.D., dated April 14, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 19, 2021)       10.16   Research and Development Collaboration and License Agreement, dated November 30, 2018, between Trigr Therapeutics, Inc. and ABL Bio Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 16, 2021)       21.1   Subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 23, 2020)   23.1**   Consent of CohnReznick LLP, independent registered public accounting firm   31.1**   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   31.2**   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   32.1**   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   32.2**   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.     151     101.INS   Inline XBRL Instance Document   101.SCH   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document   101.CAL   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document   101.DEF   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition   101.LAB   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document   101.PRE   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document       104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)     * Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement. ** Filed herewith. † Portions of this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the SEC.     Item 16. Form 10-K Summary   None.   152     SIGNATURES   Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized .     Compass Therapeutics, Inc.       Date: March 15, 2023 By: /s/ Thomas J. Schuetz     Thomas J. Schuetz     Chief Executive Officer     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.   Name   Title   Date           /s/ Thomas J. Schuetz   Chief Executive Officer and Director   March 15, 2023 Thomas J. Schuetz   (Principal Executive Officer)               /s/ Vered Bisker-Leib   President and Chief Operating Officer   March 15, 2023 Vered Bisker-Leib   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)               /s/ Carl L. Gordon   Chair of the Board   March 15, 2023 Carl L. Gordon                   /s/ Phil Ferneau   Director   March 15, 2023 Phil Ferneau                   /s/ Mary Ann Gray   Director   March 15, 2023 Mary Ann Gray                   /s/ Ellen Chiniara   Director   March 15, 2023 Ellen Chiniara                   /s/ James Boylan   Director   March 15, 2023 James Boylan           152