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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

Rockwell Medical Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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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.

 

 

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ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.
30142 Wixom Road
Wixom, Michigan 48393

Dear Shareholder:

        You are cordially invited to attend the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders of Rockwell Medical, Inc. (the "Company"), on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. at the Wixom Community Center, 49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, Michigan. We look forward to greeting personally those shareholders who are able to attend.

        The attached notice and proxy statement describe the items of business to be transacted at the meeting and should be reviewed carefully by shareholders. A copy of the Company's 2012 Annual Report is also enclosed.

        Your vote is important, regardless of the number of shares you own. I urge you to vote now, even if you plan to attend the annual meeting. Please sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience. If you receive more than one proxy card, please vote each card. Remember, you can always vote in person at the annual meeting even if you vote by proxy, provided you are a shareholder of record or have a legal proxy from a shareholder of record.

        Your continued interest and participation in the affairs of the Company are greatly appreciated.

    Sincerely,

 

 

Robert L. Chioini
President and CEO

Wixom, Michigan
March 29, 2013


ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held April 30, 2013

To the Shareholders of Rockwell Medical, Inc.:

        Notice is hereby given that the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders of Rockwell Medical, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the Wixom Community Center, 49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, Michigan, on April 30, 2013, at 4:30 p.m., to consider and take action upon the following matters:

        Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 6, 2013 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

        All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Whether or not you intend to be present, please complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in the stamped and addressed envelope enclosed for your convenience. Shareholders can help the Company avoid unnecessary expense and delay by promptly returning the enclosed proxy card. The business of the meeting to be acted upon by the shareholders cannot be transacted unless a majority of the outstanding common shares of the Company is represented at the meeting.

    By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

THOMAS E. KLEMA
Secretary

Wixom, Michigan
March 29, 2013


ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.
30142 Wixom Road
Wixom, Michigan 48393

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 30, 2013

INTRODUCTION

General

        The annual meeting of shareholders of Rockwell Medical, Inc. will be held at the Wixom Community Center, 49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, Michigan on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of annual meeting of shareholders. We expect that this proxy statement and accompanying proxy will be first sent or given to shareholders on or about March 29, 2013. References in this proxy statement to "we," "our" and "us" are references to Rockwell Medical, which we also refer to as the Company.

        It is important that your shares are represented at the annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please sign and date the enclosed proxy and return it to us. The proxy is solicited by our Board of Directors. The expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies will be borne by us and may include requests by mail and personal contact by our directors, officers, employees and investor relations consultants without additional compensation. This proxy statement, the form of proxy and the 2012 Annual Report are being furnished to banks, brokers and other nominees who hold our common stock on behalf of beneficial owners and if asked, we will reimburse banks, brokers and other nominees for their out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.

        Only shareholders of record of shares of our common stock, no par value, which we refer to as our common shares, at the close of business on March 6, 2013, the record date for the annual meeting, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. As of the close of business on the record date, we had 21,559,138 outstanding common shares, the only class of stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each common share is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted for a vote at the annual meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding common shares entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Broker non-votes, abstentions and votes withheld from the election of the director nominee will be treated as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will have no effect on the vote for the election of directors.

        You are considered a shareholder of record if your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent. You may vote your shares by signing and dating each proxy card and returning it in the envelope provided, or by attending the annual meeting and voting in person. Valid proxies in the enclosed form which are returned in time for the annual meeting and executed and dated in accordance with the instructions on the proxy will be voted as specified in the proxy. If no specification is made, the proxies will be voted FOR the election of the director-nominee listed below, FOR the approval of the Board proposals listed in this proxy statement and AGAINST the shareholder proposal (if properly presented at the meeting).

        If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, then you are not a holder of record but, rather, are considered a beneficial owner holding shares in "street name."

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You are also invited to attend the annual meeting. If you hold your shares in street name, the proxy statement, annual report and a vote instruction card have been forwarded to you by your broker, bank or nominee who is considered, with respect to your shares, the shareholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or nominee how to vote your shares by using the vote instruction card included in the mailing. In accordance with applicable regulations, unless you provide the record holder with instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares may not be voted by the record holder on the election of directors, the amendment to the Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan or the shareholder proposal. If you are a "street name" holder, you may provide instructions on how to vote your shares in any of the following ways:

        The vote required to approve each of the matters listed in this proxy statement and the Board's recommendations as to how to vote are as follows:

Proposal
  Board
Recommendation
  Vote Required   Effect of Abstentions and
Broker Non-Votes

Election of director

  For   Plurality of votes on
election
  No effect

Amend restated articles of incorporation

 

For

 

Majority of outstanding
shares

 

Same effect as a vote
against

Amend Long Term Incentive Plan

 

For

 

Majority of shares voted on
proposal

 

No effect

Ratify appointment of independent auditors

 

For

 

Majority of shares voted on
proposal

 

No effect

Shareholder proposal

 

Against

 

Majority of shares voted on
proposal

 

No effect

        A shareholder giving a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting by giving written notice of such revocation to our Secretary or by executing and delivering to the Secretary a later dated proxy. Attendance at the annual meeting by a shareholder who has given a proxy will not have the effect of revoking it unless such shareholder votes at the meeting or gives written notice of revocation to the Company's Secretary before the proxy is voted. Any written notice revoking a proxy, and any later dated proxy, must be received by the Company prior to the date of the annual meeting (unless delivered directly to the Company's Secretary at the annual meeting) and should be sent to Rockwell Medical, Inc., 30142 Wixom Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393, Attention: Thomas E. Klema, Secretary.

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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on April 30, 2013

        This proxy statement and the Company's 2012 Annual Report to Shareholders, which includes the Annual Report on Form 10-K, are available on the internet at http://www.rockwellmed.com. Directions to attend the meeting in person may be obtained by contacting Thomas E. Klema, Secretary, at (248)960-9009. Shareholders may request a copy of the proxy statement, proxy card and annual report to shareholders by sending an e-mail to invest@rockwellmed.com, calling 800-449-3353 or by internet at http://www.rockwellmed.com.


VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

        The following table sets forth information regarding the ownership of the common shares as of March 6, 2013 (unless otherwise indicated) with respect to

        The number of shares beneficially owned is determined under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares which the individual has the right to acquire on March 6, 2013 or within 60 days thereafter through the exercise of any stock option or other right. The persons named in the table have sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to the common shares beneficially owned, except as otherwise noted below.

Name of Beneficial Owner
  Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership(a)
  Percent of
Class
 

Patrick J. Bagley

    386,284     1.8  

Ronald D. Boyd

    293,334     1.3  

Robert L. Chioini(b)

    3,379,666     14.2  

Kenneth L. Holt

    229,843     1.1  

Thomas E. Klema(b)

    1,579,304     7.0  

Raymond D. Pratt

    50,000     0.2  

Ajay Gupta

    606,882     2.8  

All directors and current executive officers as a group (7 persons)

    6,525,313     24.9  

David A. Hagelstein and related entities(c)

    2,673,754     12.0  

Richmond Brothers, Inc.(d)

    2,903,381     13.5  

(a)
Includes restricted shares subject to forfeiture to us under certain circumstances and shares that may be acquired upon exercise of stock options as set forth in the table below. Also includes 856,333 shares owned by Mr. Chioini, 323,138 shares owned by

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  Restricted Shares   Option Shares  

Patrick J. Bagley

    0     208,334  

Ronald D. Boyd

    0     293,334  

Robert L. Chioini

    200,000     2,323,333  

Kenneth L. Holt

    0     208,334  

Thomas E. Klema

    120,000     1,134,166  

Raymond D. Pratt

    0     50,000  

Ajay Gupta

    150,000     451,667  

All directors and current executive officers as a group

    470,000     4,669,168  
(b)
The address for Mr. Chioini and Mr. Klema is 30142 Wixom Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393.

(c)
Based on a Form 4 filed January 28, 2013, by David A. Hagelstein and the David Hagelstein Charitable Remainder Unitrust, (the "Charitable Trust"), on showing ownership as of January 28, 2013. As of that date, Mr. Hagelstein beneficially owned 2,673,754 common shares, 2,247,363 of which are owned by the David A. Hagelstein Revocable Living Trust, dated October 27, 1993 (the "Revocable Trust"), and 426,391 of which are owned by the Charitable Trust. Of the common shares beneficially owned by the Revocable Trust, 862,502 are common shares underlying currently exercisable warrants. Mr. Hagelstein is the sole trustee and beneficiary of the Revocable Trust and is the sole trustee of the Charitable Trust. Mr. Hagelstein has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to all such shares. The address for Mr. Hagelstein and the Charitable Trust is 36801 Woodward Avenue, Suite 313, Birmingham, Michigan 48009.

(d)
Based on a Schedule 13G filed March 11, 2013 by Richmond Brothers, Inc., reporting ownership as of that date. Richmond Brothers, Inc. has sole dispositive power over the reported common shares but has no voting power with respect to such shares. The address for Richmond Brothers, Inc. is 7415 Foxworth Court, Jackson, Michigan 49201.


ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Background

        The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation divide the directors into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each year, on a rotating basis, the terms of office of the directors in one of the three classes expire. Successors to the class of directors whose terms have expired will be elected for a three-year term. The term for the Class I director who is being elected this year will expire at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders and upon the election and qualification of their successors. If for any reason the nominee becomes unavailable for election, the proxies solicited will be voted for a replacement nominee selected by management. Management has no reason to believe that the nominee named below are not available or will not serve if elected.

Class I Nominee For Term Expiring In 2016

        Ronald D. Boyd, age 50, has been a director since March 2000. Mr. Boyd has over 26 years of experience in the dialysis industry, including the ownership and operation of dialysis clinics as well as experience in dialysis product design, product development, regulatory approval and marketing. He has also been a private investor for many years. He currently is an owner and managing partner of Southeast Acute Services, LLC and Southern Renal Administrations, LLC, which is primarily in the

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business of acute dialysis services, since 2001. He was a founder and Managing Partner of East Georgia Regional Dialysis Center, an outpatient, freestanding dialysis center located in southern Georgia from 2001 until 2005. He was a founder of Diatek, Inc. in 2001 where he developed, designed and holds the patent to the Cannon Cath., the first "retrograde" dual lumen dialysis catheter in the market. The company has since been sold. He was a founder and co-owner of Classic Medical, Inc., a dialysis and medical products company, and served as the Executive Vice President of Classic Medical, Inc. from its inception in November 1993 until April 2007 when he sold his interest in that company. From May 1993 to November 1993, Mr. Boyd served as a consultant for Dial Medical of Florida, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of dialysis products. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Boyd served as a Regional Sales Manager for Future Tech, Inc., a dialysis products distributor. With his extensive experience in the dialysis industry, Mr. Boyd brings to the Board entrepreneurial experience and expertise in marketing, product development and strategy.

Other Information Relating to Directors

        Kenneth L. Holt, age 60, has been a director since March 2000. Mr. Holt has over 25 years of experience in the dialysis industry, including the management and operation of dialysis clinics, and has also been a private investor for many years. He is currently an owner and a managing partner of two firms that provide contractual dialysis services; Southeast Acute Services, LLC and Southern Renal Administrators, since 2001. He was a founder and co-owner of Charleston Renal Care, LLC, a kidney disease management company specializing in the treatment of end-stage renal disease, until its sale in 2005. He was a founder and co-owner of Savannah Dialysis Specialists, LLC, a disease management company specializing in the treatment of end-stage renal disease, and served as the Managing Partner from October 1999 until its sale in 2004. From 1996 to October 1999, Mr. Holt served as Vice President for Gambro Healthcare, Inc., in its Carolinas Region, and held the same position at Vivra Renal Care, Inc., its predecessor company, which was acquired in 1997 by Gambro Healthcare, Inc. From 1986 to 1996, Mr. Holt was also the co-owner and Managing Partner of five other dialysis clinics that he founded. With his extensive experience in the dialysis industry, Mr. Holt brings to the Board entrepreneurial experience and expertise in operations and strategy, as well as financial expertise. Mr. Holt also brings strong accounting and financial skills to our audit committee and Board, having supervised the accounting and finance function for several businesses, and is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules. Mr. Holt's term as a director will expire at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders and upon the election and qualification of his successor.

        Robert L. Chioini, age 48, is a founder of the Company, has served as our Chairman of the Board since March 2000, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since February 1997, has been one of our directors since our formation in October 1996 and served as President of the Company's predecessor which he founded in January 1995. Including his time with the Company, Mr. Chioini has nearly 20 years of operational and sales experience in the dialysis industry. Mr. Chioini, as our current President and Chief Executive Officer, brings to the Board extensive knowledge regarding the Company, the dialysis industry and the current environment in which we operate, allowing him to provide critical insight into operational requirements and strategic planning. In that position, he is also able to promote the flow of information between the Board and management and provide management's perspective on issues facing the Board. Mr. Chioini's term as a director will expire at the 2015 annual meeting of shareholders and upon the election and qualification of his successor.

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        Patrick J. Bagley, age 48, has been a director since July 2005. Mr. Bagley is Senior Partner of the law firm Bagley and Langan, P.L.L.C. and has been a practicing attorney since 1995, with a focus on general legal matters and litigation. Since 1987, Mr. Bagley has also been a licensed insurance agent licensed and certified in property and casualty insurance as well as life, accident and health insurance. Mr. Bagley has started and managed numerous businesses, including three different national franchises of retail service businesses. In addition, since 1988, Mr. Bagley has been a licensed real estate agent, real estate developer and real estate investor. Mr. Bagley brings strong risk management skills, substantial entrepreneurial experience and keen analytical abilities to the Board. His background as a lawyer provides a valuable perspective to the Board on legal, litigation and risk management matters. Mr. Bagley's term as a director will expire at the 2015 annual meeting of shareholders and upon the election and qualification of his successor.

        Based on the absence of any material relationship between them and us, other than in their capacities as directors and shareholders, the Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Boyd, Bagley and Holt are independent as independence is defined in the applicable NASDAQ Stock Market and SEC rules.

Executive Officers

        The executive officers of the Company are elected or appointed annually and serve as executive officers of the Company at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Company's current executive officers are described below.

        Robert L. Chioini's business experience is described above under "Class III Directors."

        Thomas E. Klema, CPA/MBA, age 59, has served as the Company's Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary since January 1999. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Klema was employed as Vice President of Finance and Administration at a specialty products division of Whistler Corporation from 1997 to 1998 and, from 1980 to 1996, held several management positions in the areas of finance, accounting, human resources, business planning, customer service and operations, including from 1993 to 1996 as a vice president, at Diversey Corporation, a subsidiary of the Molson Cos., until it was acquired by Unilever. Prior to 1980, Mr. Klema was employed as a certified public accountant. Mr. Klema holds both an MBA in finance and a BA in accounting from Michigan State University.

        Ajay Gupta M.D., age 54, joined the Company as Chief Scientific Officer in June 2009. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Gupta spent the prior seven years as an Associate Professor of Medicine at UCLA and Charles Drew University Schools of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, where he had an active nephrology practice. Prior to that, Dr. Gupta served on the faculties of Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, University of Alabama, Birmingham, State University of New York, Syracuse and Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Gupta also completed a clinical fellowship in Nephrology from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan and a research fellowship in Nephrology from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Gupta, who is the Founder and Chairman of the Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research, earned his MBBS degree and completed his residency in Internal Medicine from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Dr. Gupta is the inventor of dialysate iron therapy using Soluble Ferric Pyrophosphate (SFP) and is also the inventor of intravenous iron therapy using slow continuous infusion of SFP, including as an adjunct to parenteral nutritional admixtures. He has filed a number of patents in the areas of drugs, medical devices and diagnostic tests.

        Raymond D. Pratt M.D., age 62, joined the company in April 2012 as its Chief Medical Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Pratt worked at Shire PLLC from 2003 to 2010 as Vice President Research and Development and as the scientific leader in its Emerging Business Unit and Renal Business Unit. Previous roles at Shire included Vice President Global Clinical Medicine and Global

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Clinical Affairs and head of US Clinical Development. Dr. Pratt served in a consulting role at Quintiles, a global biopharmaceutical services company, as a vice president of strategic drug development innovation since August 2011 and as an industry consultant during 2011 after leaving Shire. Prior to working at Shire, he was Senior Director, Clinical Research and Development at Eisai Medical Research from 1994 to 2003, where he was head of Central Nervous System and Internal Medicine clinical development.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

        During 2012, the Board of Directors held 8 meetings. Each director attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings of the Board and committees of which he was a member in 2012. We encourage all of our directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders, if possible, but have no formal policy on such attendance. One director attended the 2012 annual meeting.

        We have an Audit Committee comprised of Messrs. Holt, Bagley and Boyd. The Board has determined that Kenneth L. Holt, who is the Chairman of the Audit Committee, is an "audit committee financial expert," as defined by applicable SEC rules. In addition, the Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent as independence for audit committee members is defined in applicable NASDAQ Stock Market and SEC rules. During 2012, the Audit Committee held 4 meetings. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which is posted on our website at www.rockwellmed.com. Pursuant to its charter, the purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the Company. The functions of the Audit Committee include, among other things, (1) monitoring the adequacy of the Company's internal controls; (2) engaging and overseeing the work of the registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for us, including the conduct of the annual audit and overseeing the independence of such firm; (3) overseeing our independent accountants' relationship with the Company; (4) reviewing the audited financial statements and the matters required to be discussed by SAS 114 with management and the independent accountants, including their judgments about the quality of our accounting principles, applications and practices; (5) recommending to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K; (6) reviewing with management and the independent accountants the quarterly financial information before we file our Forms 10-Q; (7) reviewing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; (8) reviewing related party transactions required to be disclosed in our proxy statement for potential conflict of interest situations and, where appropriate, approving such transactions; and (9) monitoring with management the status of pending litigation.

        Our Audit Committee has:

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        Based on the review and discussions described above, 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 year ended December 31, 2012 as filed with the SEC.

        Management is responsible for our financial reporting process, including its system of internal control, and for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our independent accountants are responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Audit Committee's responsibility is to monitor and review these processes. The Audit Committee has relied, without independent verification, on management's representation that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and on the representations of the independent accountants included in their report on our financial statements.


 

 

By the Audit Committee:
Ronald D. Boyd
Kenneth L. Holt
Patrick J. Bagley

        We have a Compensation Committee composed of Messrs. Boyd, Holt and Bagley. The Compensation Committee has a written charter setting forth the responsibilities of the Committee, a copy of which is posted on our website at www.rockwellmed.com. The charter provides that the Compensation Committee will oversee, review, assess and approve (as to the chief executive officer) or recommend (as to all other executive officers) to the Board all compensation and benefits for executive officers and make recommendations to the Board for director compensation. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for administering the stock compensation program, reporting to the Board on compensation policies, programs and plans, and approving other employee compensation and benefit programs where Board action is necessary or appropriate. The Compensation Committee held 8 meetings in 2012. Except to the extent prohibited by NASDAQ Stock Market rules and state law, the Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to subcommittees when it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.

        Our Board of Directors does not have a standing nominating committee or a nominating committee charter. Instead, the full Board of Directors, a majority of the members of which are independent (as defined under applicable NASDAQ Stock Market rules), performs the function of a nominating committee. The Board of Directors believes it is appropriate not to have a standing nominating committee because we are a small company with little turnover in our Board of Directors. Moreover, we believe the current structure provides better oversight and is more efficient. The entire Board of Directors identifies the individuals to become Board members, but the approval of a majority of our independent directors is necessary to nominate directors to be presented for shareholder approval at the annual meeting of shareholders or to fill any vacancies.

        The Board of Directors' policy is to consider any director candidates proposed by shareholders and evaluate them using the same criteria used to evaluate candidates submitted by the Board of Directors

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for nomination. Proposals of director candidates must be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to our Secretary, at Rockwell Medical, Inc., 30142 Wixom Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393, as provided in our bylaws. The requirements for proposing director candidates, set forth in Section 2.5 of our bylaws, are described below.

        Shareholders proposing director nominees for election at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders must provide written notice of such intention, along with the other information required by Section 2.5 of our bylaws, to our Secretary at our principal executive offices no earlier than the close of business on December 31, 2013 and no later than the close of business on January 30, 2014. If the 2014 annual meeting date has been significantly advanced or delayed from the first anniversary of the date of the 2013 annual meeting, then the notice and information must be given not later than the 90th day before the meeting or, if later, the 10th day after the first public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting. With respect to an election to be held at a special meeting of shareholders, such notice must be given in accordance with the procedures set forth in our bylaws no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before and not later than the close of business on the 90th day before the date of such special meeting or, if later, the 10th day after the first public disclosure of the date of such special meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the number of directors to be elected is increased and there is no public disclosure regarding such increase or naming all of the nominees for director at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year's annual meeting, then shareholder notice with regard to nomination of directors shall be considered timely if received by our Corporate Secretary no later than the tenth day following public disclosure of the increase in the number of directors to be elected. A proponent must also update the information provided in or with the notice at the times specified by our bylaws. Nominees for director pursuant to a notice which does not contain the information required by our bylaws or which is not delivered in compliance with the procedure set forth in our bylaws will not be considered at the shareholders meeting.

        Only persons who are shareholders both as of the giving of notice and the date of the shareholders meeting and who are eligible to vote at the shareholders meeting are eligible to nominate directors. The nominating shareholder (or his qualified representative) must attend the shareholders meeting in person and present the proposed nominee in order for the proposed nominee to be considered.

        The Board of Directors has not established specific, minimum qualifications for recommended nominees or specific qualities or skills for one or more of our directors to possess. The Board of Directors uses a subjective process for identifying and evaluating nominees for director, based on the information available to, and the subjective judgments of, the members of the Board of Directors and our then current needs, although the Board does not believe there would be any difference in the manner in which it evaluates nominees based on whether the nominee is recommended by a shareholder. Historically, nominees have been existing directors or business associates of our directors or officers. While the Board has no written policy with respect to the selection criteria for directors, the Board considers the diversity and complementary skills of the Board as a whole and the breadth and depth of experience of each director nominee in relation to the firm's current and prospective business in determining nominees for the Board.

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

        The Board believes that Mr. Chioini, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, is best situated to serve as Chairman of the Board because he is ultimately responsible for overseeing the business operation of the Company, identifying Company priorities and opportunities, and executing the Company's strategic plan. The Board also believes having Mr. Chioini as Chairman better promotes the flow of information between management and the Board than would a chairman who was an outside director, while the small size of the Board promotes a close and less formal working relationship among all of the directors and requires all of the independent directors to be more closely involved in oversight in much the same manner as a lead director, and therefore has no lead director

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designated as such. Although the Board further believes that independent oversight of management is an important component of an effective board of directors and is essential to effective governance, the Board believes that the current governance structure is the most effective corporate governance structure for the development of the Company's strategic opportunities given its target market, scale of operation and available resources and the current size of the Board, and is currently the most effective structure to facilitate organizational matters and communication among the directors.

        The Board has an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing management of the Company's risks. While the Board oversees the Company's risk management and establishes policies, Company management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes. The Board and its committees administer their risk oversight function through regular, periodic reporting from and discussions with management appropriate to the nature and magnitude of the particular risk. The Audit Committee oversees management of financial risks and risks associated with conflicts of interest. The Compensation Committee oversees management of risks relating to executive compensation plans and arrangements. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing management of those risks, the entire Board is regularly informed about those risks. In addition, management's role is to evaluate and assess business risks and to inform the Board of its evaluation of such business risks periodically.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

        Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics contains written standards that we believe are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

        Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website at www.rockwellmed.com and is an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any amendments to, or a waiver from, a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in the applicable SEC rule by posting such information on our website at www.rockwellmed.com within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.

Shareholder Communications with the Board

        The Board of Directors has a process for shareholders to send communications to our Board of Directors or Audit Committee, including complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters. Communications may be sent to our Board of Directors, our Audit Committee or specific directors by regular mail to the attention of our Board of Directors, our Audit Committee or

10


specific directors, at our principal executive offices at 30142 Wixom Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393. All of these communications will be initially reviewed by our Secretary (1) to filter out communications that the Secretary deems are not appropriate for the directors, such as communications offering to buy or sell products or services, and (2) to sort and relay the remainder (unedited) to the appropriate directors.

Related Party Transactions

        Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee is charged with monitoring and reviewing transactions and relationships involving independence and potential conflicts of interest with respect to our directors and executive officers. To the extent any such transactions are proposed, they would be subject to approval by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law and the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, which require that any such transactions required to be disclosed in our proxy statement be approved by a committee of independent directors of our Board of Directors. In addition, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics generally requires directors and employees to avoid conflicts of interest. There were no transactions since January 1, 2012, and there is no currently proposed transaction, in which the Company was or is to be a participant, the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000, and in which any director, executive officer, 5% shareholder of the Company or any immediate family member of any of such persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, except as described below.

        We are party to a license agreement, dated January 7, 2002, with Charak LLC and its owner, Dr. Ajay Gupta, for our SFP product that covers issued patents in the United States, the European Union and Japan, as well as patent and pending patent applications in other foreign jurisdictions. Dr. Gupta is our Chief Scientific Officer. The license agreement continues for the duration of the underlying patents in each country, or until August 14, 2016 in the United States and 2017 in Europe and Japan, and may be extended thereafter. If we are successful in obtaining FDA approval we may apply for an extension of our patent exclusivity for up to five years. The license agreement requires us to obtain and pay the cost of obtaining FDA approval of the SFP product in order to realize any benefit from commercialization of the product. In addition to funding safety pharmacology testing, clinical trials and patent maintenance expenses, we are obligated to make certain milestone payments and to pay ongoing royalties upon successful introduction of the product. In addition to payments made prior to Dr. Gupta joining us as an executive officer, the milestone payments include a payment of $50,000 which will become due upon completion of Phase III clinical trials, a payment of $100,000 which will become due upon FDA approval of the product and a payment of $175,000 which will become due upon issuance of a reimbursement code covering the product. This agreement was negotiated on an arm's length basis before Dr. Gupta had any material relationship with us.

        In November 2012, the Company agreed with all of the holders of the warrants it issued on November 28, 2007 to purchase its common shares at $7.18 per share to extend the expiration date from November 28, 2012 to January 28, 2013. In January 2013, the Company agreed to further extend the expiration date of such warrants to July 31, 2013. Both extensions were unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. There was no consideration given or received by the Company in connection with either extension and no other terms of the warrants were modified. David Hagelstein, who is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's outstanding common shares but not otherwise affiliated with the Company, owns 862,502 of these warrants.

11



COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

        Our Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing and administering the policies governing compensation for our executive officers. The key objectives established by our compensation committee for our compensation program are to:

        In order to position the Company for its development as a specialty bio-pharmaceutical company and to meet the foregoing objectives, the Compensation Committee provides the executive officers with competitive short term cash compensation in the form of salary and bonus to attract and retain key personnel and provides appropriate long term compensation through equity-based compensation awards that align shareholder and management interests to motivate management to optimize shareholder value. References in this discussion to the named executive officers, or NEOs, are to the individuals listed in the Summary Compensation Table.

        Our Board of Directors believes that the Company has a unique opportunity to create substantial shareholder value as an evolving specialty bio-pharmaceutical company. The Company's strategy to reposition itself as a specialty bio-pharmaceutical company developing high potential pharmaceuticals is a longer term, multi-year strategy. In order to execute on this strategy, we recognized the need to build our organizational structure and particularly the need for a broader management team with more diverse skills who could lead and direct our development efforts. An important element of this strategy was to develop a comprehensive and longer term compensation strategy for the executive team that would help us attract and retain quality leaders.

        In early 2008, the Compensation Committee commissioned a study in anticipation of the future recruitment of key officers to lead and direct the Company's drug development efforts. Based on this study, prepared by management from publicly available data from over 230 biotech, specialty pharmaceutical and other medical device companies, the Compensation Committee determined appropriate compensation ranges for current and future executives in their respective positions relative to this peer review at that time. The companies included in the study represented a cross section of those companies in our industry that management believed were the most similarly situated to our current size and business or the size and business we expect to attain in the next few years based on the strategy described above. Due to the Company's unique position across these multiple segments and sectors, the Committee believes that this analysis provided a comprehensive and balanced perspective. The Company completed an updated compensation analysis in 2010 of approximately 50 life science companies and used this analysis as an additional background reference. This analysis included life science companies with market capitalization in the $175 - $350 million range. The Compensation Committee believes this range is appropriate for compensation planning purposes and is consistent with its expectations for the Company's valuation potential in the current compensation planning cycle. While the data from these studies were reviewed and considered by the Compensation Committee as general reference points in making informed judgments on executive compensation and competitive pay plans, and to provide perspective for developing competitive compensation opportunities, the Compensation Committee did not formally benchmark the compensation of

12


individual executives to any particular amount or range based upon such data. In making its evaluation, analysis and assessment of executive compensation, the Compensation Committee assesses other factors, including the executive's role or roles with the Company, the breadth of knowledge and skill the executive possesses, the executive's ability to influence the development of the business, demonstrated leadership in the executive's area of expertise, leadership continuity and executive retention and motivation as well as other factors that the Compensation Committee determines are important and relevant to the executive's compensation.

        We also have in place the Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, which permits the Compensation Committee to award a wide variety of incentive awards, including equity-based awards in various forms such as stock options and restricted stock. The Committee uses equity-based awards under this plan to provide the NEOs with long term incentives intended to align their interests with shareholder value creation. The long term incentive compensation strategy has been to issue equity-related compensation primarily in the form of nonqualified stock options with vesting in installments over a three year period and an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common shares on the grant date. Structured in this way, the options have value only to the extent our stock price increases during the ten year term of the options. The structure also encourages retention, as unvested portions of the options are forfeited upon termination of employment other than in connection with death, disability or change in control and vested portions must be exercised within an abbreviated time frame following termination. The phased three year vesting period retains the long term element of equity-based incentives while enabling earlier rewards if achievements result in a higher stock value. We have tended to grant proportionately more equity-based compensation than cash compensation in part because of its long term motivational aspects and also as a means of conserving our cash resources during this period of development and operational losses. The Compensation Committee makes situational assessments of both the timing and frequency of equity compensation awards based upon the developmental status and progress of the business in achieving its goals and objectives and input from management and typically makes the assessments and grants on an annual basis, but occasionally makes them more or less frequently based on specific development milestones and events.

        The other aspects of our compensation program also reflect our preference to keep operating expenses to a minimum to conserve cash resources. The Company offers a 401(k) plan for individual retirement savings opportunities for executives, but the plan is non-contributory by the Company and we have no other pension or retirement plan or deferred compensation arrangement for our named executive officers. Personal savings and assets realized from long term equity incentives are expected to be the primary sources of assets to fund post retirement income for the management team.

        The perquisites we offer our named executive officers are modest, as we believe our NEOs are fairly compensated through the other parts of the compensation package. The Company provides long term disability insurance for the NEOs at a nominal cost per covered executive. In addition, Mr. Chioini receives a vehicle allowance consistent with our historical practice since the Company's inception. The Compensation Committee believes this element helps to make his compensation package overall more competitive.

        We have no employment, termination, severance or change in control agreements or arrangements with our NEOs at this time. We believe the equity-based awards held by the NEOs, which will vest upon a change in control, provide sufficient incentive for them to remain engaged should the Company be sold. The Compensation Committee may determine in the future that it is appropriate to enter into such agreements with the NEOs to accomplish the objectives set forth above.

        In view of the substantial beneficial ownership of our common shares by our NEOs, we currently do not have any established stock ownership guidelines.

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        In establishing cash and equity-based compensation, the Compensation Committee took into account a number of factors, including the compensation study data, the Company's business results and accomplishments, the unique skills and attributes of the executive in his leadership role, the respective importance of the executive's position and the executive's performance, contributions and leadership demonstrated. In this regard, the Compensation Committee relies on input from the chief executive officer regarding the performance of the other NEOs and its own assessment of the chief executive officer's performance. In light of the overwhelming shareholder support for our executive compensation practices expressed at last year's annual meeting through the advisory vote on compensation, the Compensation Committee maintained our existing compensation program and philosophy in 2012 but continues to review and evaluate executive compensation trends and practices and may modify the program or philosophy from time to time as it deems necessary or appropriate.

        Salaries.    In March 2012, based on the chief executive officer's recommendation, the Compensation Committee approved salary increases of approximately 8% for Mr. Chioini, 8% for Mr. Klema and 8% for Dr. Gupta in light of 2011 business results and accomplishments. Based on our 2010 compensation study, executive officers' salaries are estimated to be within a range of 10% of the median salaries for similar positions. While the Committee has not targeted a specific level for compensation in comparison to these studies, it believes current compensation levels are necessary in order to meet the key objectives of our compensation program. The Compensation Committee considered factors including experience, skills, knowledge, breadth of responsibility and effectiveness in executing the executive's functional role in determining salary levels. The chief executive officer was not present for the deliberations or voting by the Compensation Committee on the determination of the chief executive officer's compensation but did provide recommendations to the Committee with respect to compensation matters for the other executive officers.

        Bonuses.    Bonus potential for executive positions was set at 50% of base salary by the Compensation Committee for 2012. The Compensation Committee increased the bonus potential range from 25% of base salary in 2011 based on recognition of the high potential to develop and contribute to building shareholder value over the next several years and with the objective of making bonus compensation more competitive. The Compensation Committee believes it is important to recognize the opportunity for the executive team to create value for the shareholders and for the Compensation Committee to have the latitude to recognize achievement of business development goals and objectives. The Compensation Committee's objective is to align shareholder and management interests in longer term value creation, while, to a lesser degree, reward achievement of short term goals and objectives. The Compensation Committee also retained the flexibility of recognizing exceptional outcomes in development, job performance and value creation through supplemental discretionary bonuses separate from the targeted bonus levels. The proportion of the bonus potential to be awarded and whether to award any bonuses at all was based on the subjective judgment of the Compensation Committee based on its evaluation of the executive team's contributions during 2012 to the development of the Company and its progress toward meeting key objectives for the Company's growth and development and on informal input from the chief executive officer. The Compensation Committee has not yet determined whether to pay bonus awards for 2012 performance.

        Equity Compensation.    The Compensation Committee granted options to our current NEOs in January 2012 and June 2012. All grants were made on the terms included in our standard executive option grant form agreement. All awards have an exercise price equal to fair market value on the date of the award. The options become exercisable in equal installments over three years beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date and have a term of ten years. The amounts were recommended by the chief executive officer based on each NEO's level of responsibility, success at achieving strategic and business objectives and influence the NEO has had and is expected to have on creating or

14


increasing the value of our business. In determining whether to award option grants and the size of the equity awards to NEOs, the Compensation Committee also considered factors such as overall performance of the Company and the executive, progress toward stated objectives, contributions to overall corporate development as well as anticipated future contributions to corporate development, non-cash financial expense, tax implications of the equity awards and their potential to increase shareholder value. Dr. Pratt, who was hired in April 2012, received a grant of options shortly after his hiring based upon similar considerations and with his input as part of the negotiation of his initial compensation package but did not receive other grants during the year.

        In order to facilitate our strategy of broadening our management team and recruiting life science executives to our Company, we determined last year to increase the number of shares subject to the Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan. As discussed in this proxy statement under "Proposal to Approve Amendment to Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan," the Board of Directors has determined to further increase the number of shares subject to that plan so that an adequate number of shares will continue to be available for grants to both current and newly hired executives in accordance with the program described above. The Compensation Committee approved grants in January 2013 to certain NEOs on the same terms as the 2012 grants.

        The Compensation Committee made restricted stock grants in 2012 based on the overall progress in corporate development to Mr. Chioini, Dr. Gupta and Mr. Klema who were granted 100,000, 75,000 and 60,000 shares, respectively. The Compensation Committee selected a two year cliff vesting for these grants. The Compensation Committee believes that there is high potential to develop and increase shareholder value over this period. The Compensation Committee wants to provide incentive and to motivate senior management to optimize shareholder value during this critical development period and believes these incentives will provide alignment between shareholder and management objectives.

        On May 14, 2012, with the approval of the Compensation Committee and the award holders, we further amended the terms of restricted stock awards issued in November 2008 to Mr. Chioini and Mr. Klema to postpone the vesting of the remainder of the awards (50,000 shares for Mr. Chioini and 25,000 shares for Mr. Klema) from May 15, 2012 to March 1, 2013. Similarly, in March 7, 2012, we amended the terms of restricted stock awards issued in August 2010 to Mr. Chioini, Mr. Klema, and Dr. Gupta so that the vesting of the portion of each award that was scheduled to vest on March 10, 2012 (50,000 shares for Mr. Chioini, 30,000 shares for Mr. Klema and 37,500 shares for Dr. Gupta) was postponed to August 6, 2012 and on July 31, 2012 we amended the terms of these same restricted stock awards to vest on March 8, 2013. The deferral of the vesting of these awards was determined to be in the best interests of the Company as the likely sale of shares by the award holders in order to fund tax liabilities resulting from the vesting of these awards may have resulted in an adverse impact on the market price of our common shares during time periods immediately preceding or following an equity offering of our common shares.

        Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, restricts the deductibility of executive compensation paid to our chief executive officer and any of our four other most highly compensated executive officers at the end of any fiscal year to not more than $1 million in annual compensation (including gains from the exercise of certain stock option grants). Qualifying performance-based compensation, including gains from option exercises, is exempt from this limitation if it complies with the various conditions described in Section 162(m) and the accompanying regulations. The Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan contains provisions intended to cause compensation realized in connection with the exercise of options granted thereunder to be exempt from the Section 162(m) restrictions.

15


        Our compensation program may result in payments from time to time that are subject to these restrictions on deductibility, but we do not believe the effect of these restrictions on us is currently material. It may be appropriate to exceed the limitation on deductibility to ensure that executive officers are compensated in a manner that is consistent with our best interests, the best interests of our shareholders and our executive compensation philosophy and objectives, and we reserve the authority to approve non-deductible compensation in appropriate circumstances.

Compensation Committee Report

        The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement with management. Based on the Committee's review of, and the discussions with management with respect to, the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE:   Patrick J. Bagley
Ronald D. Boyd
Kenneth L. Holt

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Summary Compensation Table

        The following table summarizes compensation paid to or earned by the Company's executive officers who were serving as such at December 31, 2012, whom we refer to collectively as our NEOs, during the last three years.


Summary Compensation Table

Name and Principal Position
  Year   Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)(a)
  Stock
Awards
($)(b)
  Option
Awards
($)(c)
  All Other
Compensation
($)(d)
  Total
($)
 

Robert L. Chioini

    2012   $ 545,000   $ 136,250   $ 945,000   $ 1,448,585   $ 20,256     3,095,091  

Chairman, President and

    2011   $ 505,000     126,250         1,260,850     20,675     1,912,775  

Chief Executive Officer

    2010     495,000     198,750   $ 586,180     1,011,955     20,231     2,312,116  

Thomas E. Klema

   
2012
   
325,000
   
81,250
   
567,000
   
566,735
   
   
1,539,985
 

Chief Financial Officer,

    2011     301,000     75,250         504,340         880,590  

Secretary and Treasurer

    2010     295,000     73,750     351,708     475,644         1,196,102  

Dr. Ajay Gupta(e)

   
2012
   
383,000
   
95,750
   
708,750
   
860,685
   
   
2,048,185
 

Chief Scientific Officer

    2011     355,000     88,750         756,510         1,200,260  

    2010     348,000     87,000     439,635     528,791         1,403,426  

Dr. Raymond D. Pratt(f)

   
2012
   
212,308
   
49,750
   
   
775,800
   
   
1,037,858
 

Chief Medical Officer

                                           

(a)
These bonus amounts were approved by the Compensation Committee following the year end, but constitute compensation earned for services rendered in the year shown.

(b)
The amounts reported in this column represent grant date fair values of restricted stock awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. These restricted stock awards were valued at the closing market price on the date of grant, or $5.8618 per share for 2010 and $8.73 per share for the 2012 grant.

(c)
The amounts reported in this column represent grant date fair values of stock option grants made during such year determined using the Black Scholes option pricing model, excluding any forfeiture reserves. The assumptions used to determine fair value are set forth in the table below:

Year
  Dividend
Yield
  Risk
Free Rate
  Volatility   Expected
Life
 

2012

    0.0 %   0.8 - 1.2 %   64 - 65 %   6 years  

2011

    0.0 %   1.1 - 2.3 %   63 - 64 %   6 years  

2010

    0.0 %   1.8 - 2.8 %   66 %   6 years  
(d)
For Mr. Chioini, the amounts reported reflect payments made by the Company under its lease car program of $17,092, $16,935 and $16,779, and premiums for long-term disability insurance of $3,165, $3,740 and $3,452 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The incremental cost to the Company of perquisites provided to the other NEOs did not exceed $10,000 and, therefore, has been excluded pursuant to applicable SEC rules.

(e)
Dr. Gupta joined the Company in June 2009.

(f)
Dr. Pratt joined the Company in May 2012 at an annual base salary of $345,000.

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

        The NEOs received the equity-based awards set forth in the table below under the Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP, during 2012.


Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table for 2012

Name
  Grant Date   All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
  Exercise
Price of
Option
Awards
($/sh)
  Grant Date
Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($)
 

Robert Chioini

    1/5/2012           225,000   $ 10.04     1,322,775  

    6/4/2012           25,000   $ 8.73     125,810  

    6/11/2012     100,000                 945,000  

Ajay Gupta

   
1/5/2012
         
125,000
 
$

10.04
   
734,875
 

    6/4/2012           25,000   $ 8.73     125,810  

    6/11/2012     75,000                 708,750  

Thomas Klema

   
1/5/2012
         
75,000
 
$

10.04
   
440,925
 

    6/4/2012           25,000   $ 8.73     125,810  

    6/11/2012     60,000                 567,000  

Raymond Pratt

   
5/1/2012
         
150,000
 
$

8.93
   
775,800
 

        The option grants were made pursuant to terms stated in an option agreement adopted under the LTIP by the Compensation Committee. The option agreements provide that the options become exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning on the one year anniversary of the grant date as long as the grantee remains employed by us. The options become fully exercisable immediately upon (i) the grantee's death or permanent disability or (ii) upon a "change in control" (as defined in the LTIP). The Compensation Committee has the right to accelerate vesting or extend the time for exercise. The exercise price of the options is the fair market value per share of our common shares on the grant date as determined under the LTIP. The grantee may pay the exercise price in cash, with previously acquired shares that have been held at least six months or pursuant to a broker-assisted cashless exercise method. The stock options will expire 10 years after the grant date and will immediately terminate to the extent not yet exercisable if the grantee's employment with us is terminated for any reason other than death or disability. If the grantee's employment is terminated other than due to death or disability on or after the date the options first become exercisable, then the grantee has the right to exercise the option for three months after termination of employment to the extent exercisable on the date of termination. If the grantee's employment terminates due to death or disability, the grantee or the grantee's estate has the right to exercise the option at any time during the remaining term to the extent it was not previously exercised. The option agreement also provides that options issued to the grantee may not be transferred by the grantee except pursuant to a will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution or transfers to which the Compensation Committee has given prior written consent. Until the issuance of common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options, holders of stock options granted under the option agreement have no rights of holders of our common shares.

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        The restricted stock grants were made under the LTIP pursuant to terms stated in a restricted stock award agreement adopted under the LTIP by the Compensation Committee. The restricted stock award agreements provide that, so long as the grantee remains employed by us, the restricted stock fully vests upon the earlier of (i) on the second anniversary of the grant date (ii) subject to the right of the Compensation Committee to declare otherwise, a "change in control" (as defined in the LTIP). If the grantee's employment is terminated for any reason prior to the restricted stock becoming fully vested, the grantee forfeits the restricted stock, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee. The restricted stock agreement also provides that restricted stock issued to the grantee may not be transferred by the grantee in any manner prior to vesting. Grantees otherwise have all rights of holders of our common shares, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends. Restricted stock grants made prior to 2012 vested in two installments, one-half on the 18 month anniversary of the grant date and the remainder on the three year anniversary of the grant date, but otherwise have the same terms.

        On May 14, 2012, with the approval of the Compensation Committee and the award holders, we further amended the terms of restricted stock awards issued in November 2008 to Mr. Chioini and Mr. Klema to postpone the vesting of the remainder of the awards (50,000 shares for Mr. Chioini and 25,000 shares for Mr. Klema) from May 15, 2012 to March 1, 2013. Similarly, in March 7, 2012, we amended the terms of restricted stock awards issued in August 2010 to Mr. Chioini, Mr. Klema, and Dr. Gupta so that the vesting of the portion of each award that was scheduled to vest on March 10, 2012 (50,000 shares for Mr. Chioini, 30,000 shares for Mr. Klema and 37,500 shares for Dr. Gupta) was postponed to August 6, 2012 and on July 31, 2012, we further amended the terms of these same restricted stock awards to vest on March 8, 2013.

        A "change in control" is generally defined in the LTIP as any of the following events:

        The table below shows the value of the unvested options and restricted stock that would have become vested at December 31, 2012 if a change in control had occurred on such date or, in the case of options, if the named executive officers' employment had terminated on such date due to death or

19


disability. The value is based upon the closing price on December 31, 2012 and, in the case of options, the spread between such price and the exercise price of the options that would have become exercisable.

Name
  Change in
Control
  Death or
Disability
 

Robert Chioini

  $ 2,131,439   $ 118,939  

Ajay Gupta

    1,225,900     18,400  

Thomas Klema

    1,229,414     62,164  

Raymond Pratt

         

Employment Agreements

        Each of our executive officers is employed at will, and we have no employment, termination or change in control agreements with our executive officers. We do not pay any benefits to our executive officers under any plan that provides for retirement benefits or payments in connection with resignation, retirement or other termination, except as described above with respect to restricted shares and stock options or as the Board or the Compensation Committee may determine at the time of any such termination.

Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End

        The following table shows certain information regarding outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2012 for the NEOs.

20



Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 
  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price ($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of
Shares That
Have Not
Vested (#)
  Market Value of
Shares That Have
Not Vested ($)(j)
 

Robert Chioini(k)

    300,000           1.81     6/18/2013              

    25,000           3.06     9/17/2013              

    105,000           4.05     1/13/2014              

    335,000           2.79     12/22/2014              

    375,000           4.55     12/15/2015              

    250,000           6.50     12/17/2017              

    75,000           6.50     04/03/2018              

    175,000           3.09     11/19/2018              

    225,000           6.74     6/18/2019              

    100,000     50,000 (a)   7.13     1/15/2020              

    66,667     33,333 (b)   5.8618     8/13/2020              

    83,333     166,667 (c)   8.47     1/11/2021              

          225,000 (d)   10.04     1/5/2022              

          25,000 (e)   8.73     6/4/2022              

                            250,000 (g) $ 2,012,500  

Thomas Klema

   
150,000
         
1.81
   
6/18/2013
             

    25,000           3.06     9/17/2013              

    85,000           4.05     1/13/2014              

    115,000           2.79     12/22/2014              

    187,500           4.55     12/15/2015              

    175,000           6.50     12/17/2017              

    80,000           3.09     11/19/2018              

    125,000           6.74     6/18/2019              

    40,000     20,000 (a)   7.13     1/15/2020              

    40,000     20,000 (b)   5.8618     8/13/2020              

    33,333     66,667 (c)   8.47     1/11/2021              

          75,000 (d)   10.04     1/5/2022              

          25,000 (e)   8.73     6/4/2022              

                            145,000 (h) $ 1,167,250  

Ajay Gupta

   
200,000
       
$

6.74
   
6/18/2019
             

    40,000     20,000 (a)   7.13     1/15/2020              

    50,000     25,000 (b)   5.8618     8/13/2020              

    50,000     100,000 (c)   8.47     1/11/2021              

          125,000 (d)   10.04     1/5/2022              

          25,000 (e)   8.73     6/4/2022              

                            150,000 (i) $ 1,207,500  

Raymond Pratt

         
150,000

(f)
 
8.93
   
5/1/2022
             

(a)
These options vest in three equal annual installments beginning January 15, 2011. The options would become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or a change in control.

(b)
These options vest in three equal annual installments beginning August 13, 2011. The options would become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or a change in control.

(c)
These options vest in three equal annual installments beginning January 11, 2012. The options would become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or a change in control.

21


(d)
These options vest in three equal annual installments beginning January 5, 2013. The options would become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or a change in control.

(e)
These options vest in three equal annual installments beginning June 4, 2013. The options would become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or a change in control.

(f)
These options vest in three equal annual installments beginning May 1, 2013. The options would become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or a change in control.

(g)
50,000 of these shares vest on each of March 1, 2013, March 8, 2013 and August 13, 2013 and 100,000 vests on June 4, 2014 or immediately upon a change in control.

(h)
25,000 of these shares vest on March 1, 2013, 30,000 vest on each of March 8, 2013 and August 13, 2013 and 60,000 on June 4, 2014, and all vest immediately upon a change in control.

(i)
37,500 of these shares vest on each of March 8, 2013 and August 13, 2013 and 75,000 vests on June 4, 2014, or immediately upon a change in control.

(j)
Value was determined by multiplying the number of shares that have not vested by the closing price of our common shares as of December 31, 2012 ($8.05).

(k)
143,000 of the options subject to a grant with a $0.55 per share exercise price expiring in December 2012 were transferred during 2012 pursuant to a 2007 domestic relations order.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

        The following table provides information with respect to options exercised by the NEOs during 2012. No shares of restricted stock held by the NEOs vested during 2012.


Option Exercises and Stock Vested for 2012

 
  Option Awards  
Name
  Number of
Shares Acquired
On Exercise(#)
  Value Realized
on Exercise ($)
 

Robert Chioini

         

Thomas Klema

    68,000   $ 319,600  

Ajay Gupta

         

Raymond Pratt

         

Director Compensation

        In 2012, non-employee directors of the Company did not receive any cash compensation. No fees were paid for attendance at any Board or committee meetings, but the non-employee directors were reimbursed for their expenses incurred in attending Board and committee meetings in accordance with Company policy.

        The non-employee directors are eligible to receive grants under the LTIP. The making of any such grants and the terms of such grants are determined by the Compensation Committee. On January 5, 2012, each non-employee director was granted options to purchase 25,000 common shares at an exercise price equal to the closing market price on the grant date ($10.04). The options vest in three equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant and expire ten years after the date of grant. The amount in the table below represents the grant date fair value of such grants determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 using the Black Scholes option pricing model, excluding any forfeiture reserves. We assumed a dividend yield of 0.0%, risk free interest rate of 1.2%, volatility of 65% and expected lives of 6 years.

22



2012 Director Compensation

Name
  Option
Awards
($)(a)
  Total ($)  

Patrick J. Bagley

    146,975     146,975  

Kenneth L. Holt

    146,975     146,975  

Ronald D. Boyd

    146,975     146,975  

(a)
The following table shows certain information regarding outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2012 for the non-employee directors.


Name
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price ($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
 

Ronald D. Boyd

    25,000         $ 1.81     6/18/2013  

    25,000           3.06     9/17/2013  

    10,000           4.05     1/13/2014  

    25,000           2.79     12/22/2014  

    25,000           4.55     12/15/2015  

    50,000           6.50     12/17/2017  

    25,000           3.09     11/19/2018  

    25,000           6.74     6/18/2019  

    16,667     8,333     7.13     1/15/2020  

    16,667     8,333     5.8618     8/13/2020  

    16,667     33,333     8.47     1/11/2021  

          25,000     10.04     1/5/2022  

Kenneth L. Holt

   
25,000
       
$

3.06
   
9/17/2013
 

    10,000           4.05     1/13/2014  

    25,000           4.55     12/15/2015  

    50,000           6.50     12/17/2017  

    25,000           3.09     11/19/2018  

    25,000           6.74     6/18/2019  

    16,667     8,333     7.13     1/15/2020  

    16,667     8,333     5.8618     8/13/2020  

    16,667     33,333     8.47     1/11/2021  

          25,000     10.04     1/5/2022  

Patrick J. Bagley

   
25,000
       
$

4.55
   
12/15/2015
 

    50,000           6.50     12/17/2017  

    25,000           3.09     11/19/2018  

    25,000           6.74     6/18/2019  

    16,667     8,333     7.13     1/15/2020  

    16,667     8,333     5.8618     8/13/2020  

    16,667     33,333     8.47     1/11/2021  

          25,000     10.04     1/5/2022  

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PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO
INCREASE AUTHORIZED COMMON SHARES AND MAKE RELATED CHANGES

        The Board of Directors is seeking approval of an amendment to Article III of our Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares from 40,000,000 to 120,000,000 shares. Our Board approved the amendment on February 13, 2013, subject to shareholder approval.

        Article III of our Restated Articles of Incorporation presently authorizes the issuance of 40,000,000 common shares. As of March 6, 2013, 21,559,138 common shares were issued and outstanding; outstanding options warrants to acquire 8,187,440 common shares and 559,665 common shares were available for future grants pursuant to our 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP.

        The Board of Directors believes that it is advisable to have additional authorized common shares available to give us the ability to react quickly to opportunities to raise capital inexpensively and to quickly address liquidity needs that may arise. The Company is actively seeking additional financing and will likely need to raise additional capital this year. See the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for a description of our capital position at December 31, 2012. Portions of the Form 10-K are incorporated herein by reference.

        Having available common shares for sale or to support issuances of equity and equity-based securities is critical to the Company's ability to fill its needs for additional capital. The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of the shareholders to have additional authorized but unissued common shares available to provide flexibility to use our common shares for business and financial purposes in the future. The additional authorized common shares may be used for various purposes including raising capital, making equity grants to directors, officers and employees, pursuing business development opportunities, making acquisitions or expanding our business and products. Although we are currently seeking additional capital, we do not currently have any specific commitments for issuing the newly authorized shares in a capital raising transaction or otherwise. If the Proposal is approved, the newly authorized shares would be available for issuance without further shareholder approval, except where required by applicable law or Nasdaq Stock Market rules. We do not anticipate seeking shareholder approval for future issuances except as required by applicable law or Nasdaq Stock Market rules.

        In connection with the Company's capital raising efforts, in order to accommodate the Company's urgent need to issue more shares than were unissued and unreserved for issuance, the directors and executive officers have waived their rights to exercise up to 4,997,500 stock options that expire in 2015 and thereafter until such time as the Restated Articles of Incorporation are amended to increase the authorized common shares by at least 5,000,000 shares. The directors and executive officers received no other consideration for these waivers. The affected options are set forth in the table below.

Name
  Options  

Robert L. Chioini

    2,100,000  

Thomas E. Klema

    987,500  

Dr. Ajay Gupta

    785,000  

Raymond D. Pratt

    300,000  
       

Officer Total

    4,172,500  
       

Ronald D. Boyd

    275,000  

Kenneth L. Holt

    275,000  

Patrick J. Bagley

    275,000  
       

Director Total

    825,000  
       

Total Options

    4,997,500  
       

24


        The Company and the option holders may reduce the number of options subject to the waivers or terminate the waivers entirely if the number of shares issued or to be issued in connection with the Company's capital raising activities does not exceed the number of authorized but unissued common shares less the common shares that may be issued pursuant to outstanding options and warrants and the common shares available for future grants under the LTIP. In addition, the Board of Directors determined not to make further grants under the LTIP until such time as the Restated Articles of Incorporation are amended to increase the authorized common shares by at least 6,000,000 shares, subject to change to the extent the Board determines the common shares available for future grants under the LTIP are not needed for the Company's capital raising activities. As a result, if the proposed amendment is not approved by shareholders, directors and executive officers may be unable to exercise these options and the Compensation Committee may be unable to make further grants under the LTIP unless the Board approves another proposed amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares and the Company's shareholders subsequently approve the amendment.

        All of the additional authorized common shares resulting from approval of the proposed amendment would be of the same class with the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as the common shares presently outstanding. Article III would also be modified to make clear that each common share is entitled to one vote, as provided by Michigan law. Shareholders have no preemptive rights if we issue additional shares of any class and shareholders would not acquire preemptive rights with respect to the additional authorized common shares if the amendment is approved. The issuance of additional common shares could dilute the voting rights, equity and earnings per share of existing shareholders.

        Our authorized capital stock also includes 3,416,664 shares of preferred stock, none of which are currently outstanding and 2,000,000 shares of which are available for issuance. The proposed amendment would eliminate the obsolete description of the previously issued class of preferred stock and eliminate the 1,416,664 shares previously subject to that series from Article III, so that the authorized shares amount in the articles accurately reflects the number of shares available for issuance.

        The proposed amendment is not intended as an anti-takeover provision and we are not aware of any attempt to take control of the Company. However, an increase in the authorized number of common shares and subsequent issuance of common shares could have the effect of delaying, preventing or discouraging a change in control of the Company without further action by shareholders. Common shares could (within the limits imposed by applicable law) be issued in one or more transactions which would make a change in control of the Company more difficult, and therefore less likely. The issuance of additional common shares could also dilute the ownership interest and voting power of any shareholder who might seek control of the Company.

        If the proposed amendment is approved, Article III of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as previously amended, would be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

        ARTICLE III

        The total authorized shares:

25



PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AMENDMENT OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

        The Board of Directors is seeking approval of an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan that will increase the total number of common shares subject to the LTIP from 6,250,000 to 7,750,000 shares. Our Board of Directors and our shareholders have approved the LTIP as amended to date. Our Board approved the proposed amendment on February 13, 2013, but the proposed amendment will not be implemented unless approved by shareholders. A copy of the LTIP as amended has been filed with the SEC as an appendix to this proxy statement and is available for review through our investor relations website at www.rockwellmed.com/invest.htm, and from the SEC at www.sec.gov. We suggest that you read the amended and restated LTIP in its entirety. The purpose of the LTIP is to encourage our employees, directors and consultants to own common shares and align their interests with those of shareholders. We believe that the LTIP enhances our ability to attract, motivate and retain qualified employees, directors and consultants, and encourages strong performance. Also, as part of our strategic plan to expand our product offerings and to bring our SFP product to market, we intend to continue recruiting life science executives to our Company. As a result, we believe that adding additional shares to the LTIP to facilitate future grants in furtherance of these goals is in our and our shareholders' best interests. Other than the increase in the number of shares subject to the LTIP, the LTIP is not otherwise being modified. There were 559,665 shares remaining available for future grants under the LTIP as of March 6, 2013.

        In order to make more shares available for issuance in connection with the Company's capital raising activities, the Board of Directors has determined not to make further grants under the LTIP until such time as the Restated Articles of Incorporation are amended to increase the authorized common shares by at least 6,000,000 shares, subject to change to the extent the Board determines the common shares available for future grants under the LTIP are not needed for the Company's capital raising activities. As a result, if the proposed amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation is not approved by shareholders, it is possible that further grants may not be made under the LTIP, even if the proposed amendment to the LTIP is approved, until a subsequent proposal to increase the authorized common shares by at least 6,000,000 shares is approved by the Board and by Company shareholders.

Shares Available For Grant and Options/Warrants Outstanding

        The following information is provided as of December 31, 2012 with respect to our existing compensation plans, including individual compensation arrangements, under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:

Plan
Category
  Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
(a)
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
  Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in
column (a))
(c)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

    5,989,200   $ 5.95     1,284,665  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

    291,000   $ 9.28        
               

Total

    6,280,200   $ 6.10     1,284,665  

        In 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, we issued warrants to purchase common shares pursuant to compensation arrangements with various non-employee consultants who provide (or provided) services

26


to us, including providing investor relations consulting services and introducing the Company to potential licensing partners and acquisition candidates and acting as a liaison to the equity investment community. These were not issued under a preexisting plan and shareholder approval for these transactions was not required or sought. The exercise price and the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants are subject to adjustment in certain events including: (a) a stock dividend payable in common stock, stock split, or subdivision of our common stock; and (b) reclassification of our common stock or any reorganization, consolidation, merger, or sale, lease, license, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

        On November 28, 2007, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which we issued warrants to acquire 80,000 common shares at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, exercisable for cash at any time during the period from November 28, 2008 to November 28, 2013 (as amended). The common shares underlying these warrants have been registered for resale by the holder under the Securities Act of 1933.

        On May 28, 2008, we entered into an advisory agreement pursuant to which we issued warrants to acquire 100,000 common shares. The warrants were immediately earned and became exercisable on May 28, 2009. The warrants would have expired on May 28, 2012. The warrants had an exercise price of $9.00 per share and may be exercised on a cashless basis or for cash. The common shares underlying these warrants have been registered for resale by the holder under the Securities Act of 1933. During 2010, we agreed to extend the term and revise the exercise price of these warrants in consideration for additional services. The exercise price of these warrants was reduced to $8.00 from $9.00 and their term extended by one year to May 28, 2013.

        On March 8, 2010, we entered into an advisory agreement pursuant to which we issued warrants to acquire 20,000 common shares. The warrants were issued as compensation for investor relations consulting services. The advisory agreement was scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2010 but could be terminated by either party upon 30 days prior written notice. The warrants were to be earned in 5,000 share increments on March 8, 2010, April 1, 2010, July 1, 2010, and October 1, 2010. The warrants became exercisable on March 8, 2011 and expired on March 8, 2013. Upon a termination of the advisory agreement (A) by us due to a material breach of the agreement by RJ Aubrey or (B) by RJ Aubrey, any unearned warrants at the time of such termination would expire. The warrants have an exercise price of $6.14 per share. Once exercisable, the warrants may be exercised in whole or in part at any time until their expiration by the submission of an exercise notice accompanied by payment of the exercise price in cash or certified check or by cashless exercise. The agreement was terminated prior to the final installment being earned, such that only 15,000 of the warrants became earned.

        On September 1, 2010, we issued 5,000 warrants with an exercise price of $8.00 as consideration for services. The warrants became exercisable on September 1, 2011 and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time until their expiration by the submission of an exercise notice accompanied by payment of the exercise price in cash or certified check or by cashless exercise. The warrants will expire on May 28, 2013.

Grants Previously Made Under the LTIP

        The following table sets forth, as of the record date, the number of shares subject to options granted under the LTIP to each of our executive officers, all current executive officers as a group, all non-employee directors (two of whom are also director-nominees) as a group and all employees (other than executive officers) as a group, including the contingent grants set forth above. No options have been granted under the LTIP to associates of our directors or executive officers and no one other than

27


the executive officers listed in the table below have individually received more than 5% of the options granted under the LTIP.

Option Recipient
  Number of
Options Granted
Under LTIP
 

Robert Chioini

    1,475,000  

Thomas Klema

    700,000  

Ajay Gupta

    635,000  

Raymond Pratt

    150,000  

All current executive officers as a group

    2,960,000  

All current directors who are not executive officers as a group

    675,000  

All other employees as a group(a)

    1,023,000  

(a)
439,332 of these options have been forfeited and were made available for future grants.

        There have also been grants of restricted stock totaling 300,000 shares to Mr. Chioini, 170,000 shares to Mr. Klema and 150,000 shares to Dr. Gupta under the LTIP since its inception.

        Any future benefits or amounts that would be received under the LTIP by directors, executive officers and other employees are discretionary and are therefore not determinable at this time. While additional awards may be made during 2013, no specific awards are planned or contemplated under the LTIP at this time.

Description of LTIP

        Our LTIP currently provides for the issuance of up to an aggregate of 6,250,000 common shares. If the amendment of the LTIP is approved by shareholders, that amount would increase to 7,750,000. If an award is exercised or withheld to satisfy tax liabilities through tendering of shares or withholding of shares by the Company, we will count only the number of shares issued net of the shares tendered or withheld against the LTIP issuance limit. If any shares awarded under the LTIP are forfeited, cancelled, expire or otherwise terminate, the underlying common shares become available again under the LTIP. To prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of participants under the LTIP, appropriate adjustments will be made by the Compensation Committee if any change is made to our outstanding common shares by reason of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, dividend or distribution, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off or similar transaction or other change in corporate structure affecting our common shares or its value.

        All employees, directors and certain consultants who are selected by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion from time to time are eligible to participate in the LTIP. Approximately 280 employees and 3 non-employee directors are currently eligible to participate in the LTIP. The Compensation Committee may condition the grant of an award to an individual under the LTIP by requiring that the individual become an employee, director or consultant; provided, however, that the award is deemed granted as of the date that the individual becomes an employee, director or consultant.

        The LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee, or any other committee or sub-committee of the Board designated by the Board from time to time. We refer to the committee

28


administering the LTIP as the Committee in this proxy statement. The Committee has the power to select participants who will receive awards, to make awards under the LTIP and to determine the terms and conditions of awards (subject to the terms and conditions of the LTIP). The Compensation Committee also has broad power to, among other things, interpret the terms of the LTIP and establish rules and regulations for the administration of the LTIP. In the case of awards designated as awards under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee's power to take certain actions will be limited by Section 162(m).

        Except in connection with certain corporation transactions or distributions, the Committee and the Board are not permitted to cancel outstanding options or stock appreciation rights and grant new awards as substitutes under the LTIP or amend outstanding options or stock appreciation rights to reduce the exercise price below the fair market value of the common shares on the original grant date without shareholder approval.

        The Committee may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance-based cash or stock awards under the LTIP. The terms of each award will be set forth in a written agreement with the recipient.

        Stock Options.    The Committee may grant incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options. No option may be exercised after the tenth anniversary of the date the option was granted. The exercise price of any option granted under the LTIP may not be less than the fair market value of our common shares on the grant date. As of the record date, the closing sale price per share of our common shares was $4.39. Payment upon exercise may be made (1) by cash or check, (2) by delivery of our common shares that have been held at least six months, (3) pursuant to a broker assisted cashless exercise, (4) by delivery of other consideration approved by the Committee with a fair market value equal to the exercise price or (5) by other means determined by the Committee. A payment method involving delivery or withholding of common shares may not be used if it would violate applicable law or would result in adverse accounting consequences for us.

        Options constituting incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company. The aggregate market value of the shares underlying the portion of incentive stock options held by the recipient that become exercisable, based on the value of the shares on the grant date, may not exceed $100,000 during a calendar year. In addition, in the event that the recipient is a more than 10% shareholder of the Company, the exercise price of incentive stock options may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the common shares on the grant date, and the options may not be exercised more than five years after the grant date. Incentive stock options may be granted for up to the total number of common shares available for grants under the LTIP.

        Stock Appreciation Rights.    The Committee may grant stock appreciation rights pursuant to such terms and conditions as the Committee determines. No stock appreciation right may be granted with a term of more than ten years from the grant date. The exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of the common shares on the grant date. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the participant will have the right to receive the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the underlying shares on the exercise date over the aggregate exercise price for the portion of the right being exercised. Payments may be made to the holder in cash or common shares as specified in the grant agreement.

        Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.    The Committee may grant shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units pursuant to such terms and conditions as the Committee determines. The restricted stock and restricted stock units will be subject to restrictions on transferability and alienation and other restrictions as the Committee may impose. The Committee may require payment of

29


consideration for restricted stock granted under the LTIP, which may be payable in cash, stock or other property. Recipients of issued and outstanding restricted stock otherwise have the same rights as other shareholders, including all voting and dividend rights. Recipients of restricted stock units may receive dividend equivalent rights at the Committee's discretion. Restricted stock units are payable in common shares or cash as of the vesting date.

        Performance Awards.    The Committee may grant performance awards on terms and conditions that the Committee determines. Performance awards consist of the right to receive cash, common shares or other property. The written agreement for each grant will specify the performance goals, the period over which the goals are to be attained, the payment schedule if the goals are attained and other terms as the Committee determines. In the case of performance shares, the participant will have the right to receive legended stock certificates subject to restrictions on transferability. To the extent these shares are issued and outstanding, a participant will be entitled to vote those shares prior to satisfaction of the performance goals, and any dividends received will be reinvested in additional performance shares. In the case of performance units, the participant will receive an agreement that specifies the performance goals that must be satisfied prior to the Company issuing payment, which may be cash, common shares or other property.

        Annual Incentive Awards.    The Committee may grant annual incentive awards on terms and conditions that the Committee determines. The determination for granting annual incentive awards may be based on the attainment of performance levels of the Company as established by the Committee. Annual incentive awards will be paid in cash, common shares or other property and will equal a percentage of the participant's base salary for the fiscal year, a fixed dollar amount or some other formula determined by the Committee. Payments will be made within two and a half months after the end of the fiscal year in which the award is earned, but only after the Committee determines that the performance goals were attained.

        Code Section 162(m) Performance Measure Awards.    The Committee may designate that any award in the form of restricted stock, restricted units, performance shares, performance units or annual incentive awards be granted as a Code Section 162(m) award. As a result, such grants will be subject to certain additional requirements intended to satisfy the exemption for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m). The performance criteria will be one or more of the following objective performance goals, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a subsidiary, either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, and measured over a designated performance period, in each case as specified by the Committee in the award: earnings (as measured by net income, gross profit, operating income, operating income before interest, EBIT, EBITA, EBITDA, pretax income, or cash earnings, or earnings as adjusted by excluding one or more components of earnings, including each of the above on a per share and/or segment basis); sales/net sales; return on net sales (as measured by net income, gross profit, operating income, operating income before interest, EBIT, EBITA, EBITDA, pre-tax income, operating cash flow or cash earnings as a percentage of net sales); sales growth; gross profit margins; cash flow; operating cash flow; free cash flow; discounted cash flow; working capital; market capitalization; cash return on investment; return on capital; return on cost of capital; shareholder value; return on equity; total shareholder return; return on investment; economic value added; return on assets; net assets; stock trading multiples (as measured against investment, net income, gross profit, operating income, operating income before interest, EBIT, EBITA, EBITDA, pre-tax income, cash earnings or operating cash flow); stock price; total stock market capitalization; attainment of strategic or operational initiatives; and achievement of operational goals, including but not limited to obtaining FDA approval to market new products, development of new markets or market segments, implementation of infrastructure improvements and increasing the Company's portfolio of intellectual property.

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        Subject to the adjustment provisions described above, the LTIP limits grants to any one participant in any one fiscal year to 250,000 options or stock appreciation rights, 100,000 restricted stock or restricted stock units, 100,000 performance awards and 100,000 annual incentive awards. The LTIP further limits the dollar value payable to any one participant in any one fiscal year on restricted stock units, performance awards or annual incentive awards valued in property other than common shares to the lesser of $2 million or four times the participant's base salary (or if the participant is a director or consultant, the participant's total cash compensation) in the fiscal year. These limitations are intended to comply with requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

        Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.    Unless otherwise provided in the related grant agreement, if a participant's employment or services are terminated for any reason prior to the date that an option or stock appreciation right becomes vested, the right to exercise the option or stock appreciation right terminates and all rights cease unless otherwise provided in the grant agreement. If an option or stock appreciation right becomes vested prior to termination of employment or services for any reason other than death or disability, then the participant has the right to exercise the option or stock appreciation right to the extent it was exercisable upon termination before the earlier of three months after termination or the expiration of the option or stock appreciation right unless otherwise provided in the related grant agreement. If termination is due to the participant's death or disability, then the participant or his or her estate may exercise the option or stock appreciation right to the extent it was exercisable upon termination until its expiration date, subject to any limitations in the grant agreement. The Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the participant's right to exercise an option or extend the option term, subject to any other limitations.

        Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.    If a participant's employment or services are terminated for any reason, the restricted shares are generally forfeited to the Company (subject to a refund by the Company of any purchase price paid by the participant). The Committee, however, may provide, in its sole discretion, in the participant's agreement that restricted stock or restricted stock units will continue after termination of employment or services. The Committee may also waive any restrictions in its sole discretion except for restrictions on a Code Section 162(m) award. However, the Committee may, for Code Section 162(m) awards, deem restrictions and performance goals satisfied if a participant's employment or services terminate due to death or disability.

        Performance Awards.    Performance awards expire and are forfeited upon termination of a participant's employment or services for any reason. The Committee, however, in its sole discretion, may provide in the grant agreement or otherwise for a continuation of the award after termination or waive any conditions or restrictions for such awards. The Committee may not waive any restrictions or conditions on Code Section 162(m) awards, but it may deem restrictions and conditions satisfied in the event a participant's employment or services terminate due to death or disability.

        Annual Incentive Awards.    If a participant's employment or services are terminated due to disability or death prior to the end of the Company's fiscal year, the participant, or his or her estate, is entitled to a pro-rata payment of the annual incentive award, which will be paid at the same time as regular annual incentive awards are paid. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if a participant's employment or services are terminated for any reason other than death or disability, he or she forfeits the right to the annual incentive award for that fiscal year.

        No award under the LTIP may be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Stock options and stock appreciation rights may only be exercised by the participant during his or her lifetime. However, a participant may assign or transfer an award, other than an incentive

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stock option, with the consent of the Committee. All common shares subject to an award will contain a legend restricting the transferability of the shares pursuant to the terms of the LTIP, which can be removed once the restrictions have terminated, lapsed or been satisfied.

        No new awards may be granted under the LTIP on or after April 11, 2017. The Board may terminate or amend the LTIP or the granting of any awards under the LTIP at any time and the Committee may amend the terms of outstanding awards, but shareholder approval will be required for any amendment that materially increases benefits under the LTIP, increases the common shares available under the LTIP (except pursuant to the adjustment provisions of the LTIP), changes the eligibility provisions or modifies the LTIP in a manner requiring shareholder approval under any applicable stock exchange rule. An amendment to the LTIP will not, without the consent of the participant, adversely affect the participant's outstanding awards except to qualify the awards for exemption under Section 409A of the Code, bring the LTIP into compliance with Section 409A of the Code, or as provided in the grant agreement.

        Awards under the LTIP are generally subject to special provisions upon the occurrence of a change in control transaction of the kind described in the LTIP. Under the LTIP, the Committee may provide in a grant agreement or otherwise that upon a change in control transaction (i) all outstanding options or stock appreciation rights immediately become fully vested and exercisable; (ii) any restriction period on any common shares immediately lapse and the shares become freely transferable; (iii) all performance goals are deemed to have been satisfied and any restrictions on any performance award immediately lapse and the awards become immediately payable; (iv) all performance measures are deemed to have been satisfied for any outstanding annual incentive award, which immediately become payable; or (v) awards may be treated in any other way as determined by the Committee. The Committee may also determine that upon a change in control, any outstanding option or stock appreciation right be cancelled in exchange for payment in cash, stock or other property for each vested share in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the consideration to be paid in the change in control transaction over the exercise price. If we merge with another entity and the successor company assumes an award payable in common shares, such awards will not be accelerated as described above as long as the consideration is substantially equal in fair market value to that of the common shares subject to the awards. The definition of change in control is described under "Compensation Of Executive Officers And Directors—Grants of Plan Based Awards."

United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

        The following discussion is a summary of the federal income tax consequences relating to the grant and exercise of awards under the LTIP and the subsequent sale of common shares that will be acquired under the LTIP. Federal income tax laws and regulations are technical in nature and their application may vary in individual circumstances.

        There will be no federal income tax consequences to a participant or to the Company upon the grant of a nonqualified stock option. When the participant exercises a nonqualified option, he or she will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the option shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price, and we will be allowed a corresponding tax deduction subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code. Any gain that a participant realizes when the participant later sells or disposes of the option shares will be short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on how long the participant held the shares.

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        There will be no federal income tax consequences to a participant or to the Company upon the grant of an incentive stock option. If the participant holds the option shares for the required holding period of at least two years after the date the option was granted and one year after exercise of the option, the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon sale or disposition of the option shares will be long-term capital gain or loss, and we will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction. If the participant disposes of the option shares in a sale, exchange, or other disqualifying disposition before the required holding period ends, the participant will recognize taxable ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and the lesser of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise or the disposition price, and we will be allowed a federal income tax deduction equal to such amount, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code. Any amount received by the participant in excess of the fair market value on the exercise date will be taxed to the participant as capital gain, and we will receive no corresponding deduction. While the exercise of an incentive stock option does not result in current taxable income, the excess of the fair market value of the option shares at the time of exercise over the exercise price will be a tax preference item that could subject a participant to alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.

        The participant will not recognize income, and we will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a stock appreciation right is granted. When the participant exercises the stock appreciation right, the cash or fair market value of any common shares received will be taxable to the participant as ordinary income, and we will be allowed a federal income tax deduction equal to such amount, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

        Unless a participant makes an election to accelerate recognition of income to the grant date as described below, the participant will not recognize income, and we will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a restricted stock award is granted. When the restrictions lapse, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the common shares as of that date, less any amount paid for the stock, and we will be allowed a corresponding tax deduction, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code. If the participant files an election under Section 83(b) of the Code within 30 days after the grant date, the participant will recognize ordinary income as of the grant date equal to the fair market value of the stock as of that date, less any amount paid for the stock, and we will be allowed a corresponding tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code. Any future appreciation in the stock will be taxable to the participant at capital gains rates. However, if the stock is later forfeited, such participant will not be able to recover the tax previously paid pursuant to the Section 83(b) election.

        A participant will not recognize income, and we will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time a restricted stock unit award, performance award or annual incentive award is granted. When a participant receives payment under any such award, the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any shares of stock received will be ordinary income to the participant, and we will be allowed a corresponding tax deduction at that time, subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

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        Section 409A of the Code has implications that affect traditional deferred compensation plans, as well as certain equity-based awards. Section 409A requires compliance with specific rules regarding the timing of exercise or settlement of equity-based awards. Individuals who hold awards are subject to the following penalties if the terms of such awards are not exempted from or do not comply with the requirements of Section 409A: (i) appreciation is includible in the participant's gross income for tax purposes once the awards are no longer subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture" (e.g., upon vesting), (ii) the participant is required to pay interest at the IRS underpayment rate plus one percentage point commencing on the date an award subject to Section 409A is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and (iii) the participant incurs a 20% penalty tax on the amount required to be included in income. The LTIP and the awards granted thereunder are intended to be exempt from or conform to the requirements of Section 409A.


PROPOSAL TO RATIFY SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2013

Proposal to Ratify Selection of Auditors for 2013

        The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has engaged Plante & Moran, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, and is seeking ratification of such selection by our shareholders at the annual meeting. Plante & Moran, PLLC has audited our financial statements since 1998. Representatives of Plante & Moran, PLLC are expected to be present at the annual meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

        Neither our Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee is submitting its selection of Plante & Moran, PLLC to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice and to help ensure that we will have the necessary quorum at our annual meeting. If our shareholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain Plante & Moran, PLLC. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.

Independent Accountants

        The following table presents aggregate fees billed for each of the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 for professional services rendered by Plante & Moran, PLLC in the following categories:

 
  Fiscal Year Ended
December 31
 
 
  2012   2011  

Audit Fees(a)

  $ 212,148   $ 178,785  

Audit-Related Fees(b)

  $ 9,280   $ 12,255  

Tax Fees(c)

  $ 51,940   $ 23,580  

All Other Fees

  $ 0   $ 0  

(a)
Consists of fees for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of our Form 10-K, review of our quarterly financial statements included in our Forms 10-Q, services provided in connection with our proxy statement and services in connection with other regulatory filings, including our registration statements filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and our recent equity financing. Fees also include work in

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(b)
Represents consultation on financial accounting and reporting matters.

(c)
Consists of tax return preparation fees.

        The Audit Committee of the Board does not consider the provision of the services described above by Plante & Moran, PLLC to be incompatible with the maintenance of Plante & Moran, PLLC's independence.

        Before Plante & Moran, PLLC is engaged by us to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement is approved by our Audit Committee. All of the services performed by Plante & Moran, PLLC for the Company during 2012 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.


SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL
RECOMMENDING ACTION TO ADOPT A MAJORITY VOTE STANDARD
FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        On December 4, 2012, the Company received a proposal from the California State Teachers' Retirement System, located at 100 Waterfront Place, MS-04, West Sacramento, California 95605, a beneficial owner of 44,643 shares of the Company's common stock. The proposal relates to the vote standard for director elections and was submitted under Rule 14a-8 of the SEC's proxy regulations. The shareholder's proposal is presented in its entirety below.

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        The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST the shareholder proposal for the following reasons:

        The plurality voting standard in director elections is the standard provided under Michigan law (absent an articles of incorporation provision to the contrary) and continues to be the standard used by thousands of publicly traded companies across the United States. Consequently, the rules governing plurality voting are well established over many decades of experience and precedent.

        We believe that a change in the vote standard is unnecessary because our current board nominee evaluation and election process has produced a highly qualified independent Board of Directors. Our Board, which is comprised primarily of independent directors, evaluates and recommends director nominees for election based on a number of factors such as relevant management and/or industry experience and commitment to representing the long-term interests of our shareholders as a whole. This process has resulted in a Board that is comprised of directors with specialized knowledge of our business and the industry in which we operate, including our operations, long-term strategies and initiatives, competitive position, special needs and management team. The depth of our directors' experience and knowledge of the Company is key to the Board's efficient operation and its ability to deliver value to our shareholders. A majority voting standard could result in the loss of one or more of these well-qualified directors, which could have a negative effect on the Board's ability to operate efficiently at this pivotal time in our operating history. Shareholders who wish to express their dissent regarding a particular director's election are always free to do so by voting "withhold" or by directly communicating their concerns to the Company without the need to impose a majority voting standard.

        Under a majority voting standard, a nominee for director who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast would not be elected. However, under Michigan law, a director's term expires at the annual meeting and when his or her successor is elected and qualified. Therefore, if a nominee who is an incumbent director fails to receive the necessary vote, then he or she would "holdover" as a director until his or her successor is elected at the next annual meeting unless the incumbent nominee has submitted a resignation and such resignation is accepted. If a nominee who is not an incumbent fails to receive the necessary vote, then the Board has the authority to fill the vacancy with any candidate chosen by the Board without further shareholder action. In either case, a majority vote standard would not afford our shareholders a greater voice in director elections or increase accountability, as the Board would continue to have the right, in the exercise of its business judgment, to determine whom to appoint to fill any vacancies, whether to accept a resignation from a director who has not received a majority of the vote, and therefore who sits on the Board absent an election contest.

        In addition, a high percentage of the outstanding shares voting on the election of directors each year are voted in favor of the Board's nominees. Therefore, the theoretical possibility raised in the proposal of a director nominee being elected by a single vote in favor of the nominee is unrealistic. In fact, no Board nominee has failed to receive at least 91.9% of the votes cast in an election at any annual meeting during the past decade. Changing the vote requirement to a majority standard is, therefore, unlikely to change the outcome of an election.

        Nevertheless, a majority vote standard would introduce unwanted uncertainty into the election process. If there are vacancies that result from a majority voting standard, it may be difficult for the

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Board to staff key committees with independent directors and financial experts as required by the SEC and the NASDAQ. This uncertainty could require the Company to retain outside consultants to search for additional potential candidates in the event some nominees do not receive a majority vote and leave the Board, resulting in unnecessary cost and distraction for the Board and management. Implementation of a majority voting standard may also provide special interest groups or short term investors the power to promote "vote no" campaigns that are not in the best interests of our shareholders overall. Such campaigns would force the Company to spend time and money obtaining the votes needed to elect the Board's nominees, which we believe is not a prudent or efficient use of Company resources.

        The Board is mindful of the ongoing corporate governance discussion regarding majority voting in the election of directors and is committed to acting in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders generally. However, the effects of majority voting are currently unknown and continue to evolve, particularly for companies such as the Company whose market caps are not large enough to place them in the S&P 500. By deferring action on majority voting, we can continue to observe and learn whether a majority vote standard increases the difficulty of recruiting qualified director nominees, causes unnecessary shareholder confusion, increases costs or has other negative effects or, conversely, whether a majority vote standard leads to improved performance by directors and accountability to shareholders. Indeed, Congress has struggled with the appropriate approach on this issue as evidenced by the early inclusion and later deletion of a majority voting standard from the legislation that eventually became the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Thus, we believe that it would be premature to adopt a majority voting standard until there is greater clarity regarding the results of this debate.

        In summary, the Board believes our shareholders are best served by maintaining the current plurality vote standard. The current process has yielded a highly qualified Board, which in turn has promoted continuity and efficiency in the Board's operation. Moreover, the majority standard, while unlikely to affect the outcome of the election or increase the shareholders' voice, would introduce unnecessary uncertainty into the election process that could result in higher costs, management distraction, and have negative effects on the Board's ability to function. Finally, the Board believes any move to a majority vote standard would be premature until more is known about the effects of the higher standard.


SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

        Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by regulation of the SEC to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

        Based solely on our review of the copies of the Forms 3, 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto received by us, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, we believe that, since January 1, 2012, our officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities have timely complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act except that Mr. Holt, a director, filed two late Form 4s disclosing a total of five transactions.


OTHER MATTERS

Annual Report

        A copy of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 accompanies this proxy statement. We have filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC. We

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will provide, without charge, to each person being solicited by this proxy statement, upon the written request of any such person, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. All such requests should be directed to Investor Relations, Rockwell Medical, Inc., 30142 Wixom Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393.

Shareholder Proposals

        Any proposal by a shareholder of the Company to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2014 annual meeting must be received by Thomas A. Klema, our Secretary, by the close of business on November 29, 2013. Such proposals should be addressed to him at our principal executive offices and should satisfy the informational requirements applicable to shareholder proposals contained in the relevant SEC rules. If the date for the 2014 annual meeting is significantly different than the first anniversary of the 2013 annual meeting, Rule 14a-8 of the SEC provides for an adjustment to the notice period described above.

        For shareholder proposals not sought to be included in our proxy statement, Section 2.5 of our bylaws provides that, in order to be properly brought before the 2014 annual meeting, written notice of such proposal, along with the information required by Section 2.5, must be received by our Secretary at our principal executive offices no earlier than the close of business on December 31, 2013 and no later than January 30, 2014. If the 2014 annual meeting date has been significantly advanced or delayed from the first anniversary of the date of the 2013 annual meeting, then notice of such proposal must be given not later than the 90th day before the meeting or, if later, the 10th day after the first public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting. A proponent must also update the information provided in or with the notice at the times specified in our bylaws.

        Only persons who are shareholders both as of the giving of notice and the date of the shareholders meeting and who are eligible to vote at the shareholders meeting are eligible to propose business to be brought before a shareholders meeting. The proposing shareholder (or his qualified representative) must attend the shareholders meeting in person and present the proposed business in order for the proposed business to be considered.

Householding

        We have adopted a procedure approved by the SEC called "householding." Under this procedure, certain shareholders of record who have the same address and last name will receive only one copy of our notice of annual meeting of shareholders, proxy statement, and accompanying documents, unless one or more of these shareholders notifies us that they wish to continue receiving individual copies. This procedure will reduce our printing costs and postage fees.

        Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards. Also, householding will not in any way affect other mailings.

        If you are eligible for householding, but you and other shareholders of record with whom you share an address currently receive multiple copies of the notice of annual meeting of shareholders, proxy statement and accompanying documents, or if you hold common shares in more than one account, and in either case you wish to receive only a single copy of each of these documents for your household, please contact the Company's Secretary at 30142 Wixom Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393, or by telephone at (248) 960-9009.

        If you participate in householding and wish to receive a separate copy of the notice of annual meeting of shareholders, proxy statement and the accompanying documents, or if you do not wish to participate in householding and prefer to receive separate copies of these documents in the future, please contact the Company's Secretary as indicated above.

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        Beneficial owners can request information about householding from their banks, brokers or other holders of record.

Other Business

        Neither we nor the members of our Board of Directors intend to bring before the annual meeting any matters other than those set forth in the notice of annual meeting of shareholders, and we and they have no present knowledge that any other matters will be presented for action at the meeting by others. If any other matters properly come before such meeting, however, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote in accordance with their best judgment.

Incorporation By Reference

        We incorporate by reference in this proxy statement the information contained under Part II, Items 7, 7A and 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed with the SEC. We also incorporate by reference in this proxy statement the information contained in any reports (and amendments thereto) filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date hereof and prior to the date of the special meeting.

        You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. In addition, our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Additionally, you may request a copy of any of these filings at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address: Rockwell Medical, Inc., 30142 Wixom Road, Wixom, Michigan 48393, attention: Secretary, or by telephone at (248) 960-9009. We undertake to provide by first class mail, within one business day of receipt of such a request, a copy of any and all information that has been incorporated by reference in this proxy statement.

    By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

THOMAS E. KLEMA
Secretary

Wixom, Michigan
March 29, 2013

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ROCKWELL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS  

        1.1    Establishment.    On April 11, 2007, the Board of Directors ("Board") of Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. ("Corporation") adopted the Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan ("Plan"), subject to the approval of shareholders at the Corporation's annual meeting of shareholders on May 24, 2007.

        1.2    Purpose.    The purpose of the Plan is to (a) promote the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders by encouraging Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries to acquire an ownership interest in the Corporation by granting stock-based Awards, thus aligning their interests with those of shareholders, and (b) enhance the ability of the Corporation to attract, motivate and retain qualified Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants. It is the further purpose of the Plan to authorize certain Awards that will constitute performance based compensation, as described in Code Section 162(m) and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.

        1.3    Plan Duration.    Subject to shareholder approval, the Plan shall become effective on May 24, 2007 and shall continue in effect until its termination by the Board; provided, however, that no new Awards may be granted on or after April 11, 2017.

        1.4    Definitions.    As used in this Plan, the following terms have the meaning described below:





        1.5    Administration.    

        1.6    Participants.    Participants in the Plan shall be such Employees (including Employees who are Directors), Directors and Consultants of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries as the Committee in its sole discretion may select from time to time. The Committee may grant Awards to an individual upon the condition that the individual become an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Corporation or of a Subsidiary, provided that the Award shall be deemed to be granted only on the date that the individual becomes an Employee, Director or Consultant, as applicable.

        1.7    Stock.    


        1.8    Repricing.    Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares is present or represented by proxy, neither the Board nor the Committee shall approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights and the grant in substitution therefore of any new Awards under the Plan having a lower exercise price than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the original Grant Date, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights to reduce the exercise price thereof below the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the original Grant Date. This Section shall not be construed to apply to "issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which section 424(a) applies," within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code.

II.    STOCK OPTIONS

        2.1    Grant of Options.    The Committee, at any time and from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, may grant Options to such Participants and for such number of shares of Common Stock as it shall designate. Any Participant may hold more than one Option under the Plan and any other plan of the Corporation or Subsidiary. The Committee shall determine the general terms and conditions of exercise, which shall be set forth in a Participant's Agreement. No Option granted hereunder may be exercised after the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date. The Committee may designate any Option granted as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, or the Committee may designate a portion of an Option as an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. Unless otherwise provided in a Participant's Agreement, Options are intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable.

        2.2    Incentive Stock Options.    Any Option intended to constitute an Incentive Stock Option shall comply with the requirements of this Section 2.2. An Incentive Stock Option only may be granted to an Employee. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted with an exercise price below the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the Grant Date nor with an exercise term that extends beyond ten (10) years from the Grant Date. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any Participant who owns (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or a Subsidiary unless, at the Grant Date, the exercise price for the Option is at least 110% of the Fair


Market Value of the shares subject to the Option and the Option, by its terms, is not exercisable more than five (5) years after the Grant Date. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock (determined at the Grant Date) as to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan (including a plan of a Subsidiary) may first be exercised by a Participant in any one calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that an Option intended to constitute an Incentive Stock Option shall violate the foregoing $100,000 limitation (or any other limitation set forth in Code Section 422), the portion of the Option that exceeds the $100,000 limitation (or violates any other Code Section 422 limitation) shall be deemed to constitute a Nonqualified Stock Option.

        2.3    Option Price.    The Committee shall determine the per share exercise price for each Option granted under the Plan. No Option may be granted with an exercise price below 100% of the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the Grant Date.

        2.4    Payment for Option Shares.    

III.  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

        3.1    Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.    Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted, held and exercised in such form and upon such general terms and conditions as determined by the Committee on an individual basis. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to a Participant with respect to such number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation as the Committee may determine. Unless otherwise provided in a Participant's Agreement, Stock Appreciation Rights are intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable. No Stock Appreciation Right shall be granted with an exercise term that extends beyond ten (10) years from the Grant Date.

        3.2    Exercise Price.    The Committee shall determine the per share exercise price for each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan; provided, however, that the exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Stock Appreciation Right on the Grant Date.


        3.3    Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights.    A Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon receipt by the Corporation of written notice of exercise from the Participant. The Committee shall specify in a Participant's Agreement whether payment shall be made in cash or shares of Common Stock, or any combination thereof.

        3.4    Stock Appreciation Right Payment.    Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to payment from the Corporation, in cash, shares, or partly in each (as determined by the Committee in accordance with any applicable terms of the Agreement), of an amount equal to the difference between (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value on the exercise date for the specified number of shares being exercised, and (ii) the aggregate exercise price for the specified number of shares being exercised.

        3.5    Maximum Stock Appreciation Right Amount Per Share.    The Committee may, at its sole discretion, establish (at the time of grant) a maximum amount per share which shall be payable upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, expressed as a dollar amount.

IV.    RESTRICTED STOCK AND UNITS

        4.1    Grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.    Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units under the Plan to such Participants and in such amounts as it shall determine.

        4.2    Restricted Stock Agreement.    Each grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Agreement that shall specify the terms of the restrictions, including the Restriction Period, or periods, the number of Common Stock shares subject to the grant, or units, the purchase price for the shares of Restricted Stock, if any, the form of consideration that may be used to pay the purchase price of the Restricted Stock, including those specified in Section 2.4, and such other general terms and conditions, including performance goals, as the Committee shall determine.

        4.3    Transferability.    Except as provided in this Article IV and Section 10.3 of the Plan, the shares of Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder may not be transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the termination of the applicable Restriction Period or for such period of time as shall be established by the Committee and specified in the applicable Agreement, or upon the earlier satisfaction of other conditions as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and as set forth in the applicable Agreement.

        4.4    Other Restrictions.    The Committee shall impose such other restrictions on any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable Federal or State securities laws, and the issuance of a legended certificate of Common Stock representing such shares to give appropriate notice of such restrictions. The Committee shall have the discretion to waive the applicable Restriction Period with respect to all or any part of the Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that has not been granted under Code Section 162(m).

        4.5    Voting Rights.    During the Restriction Period, Participants holding shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award may exercise full voting rights with respect to the Restricted Stock.

        4.6    Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.    


        4.7    Settlement of Restricted Stock Units.    If a Restricted Stock Unit is payable in Common Stock, the Corporation shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant's Restricted Stock Unit Vest or on such other date determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Agreement, one (1) share of Common Stock and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.1 for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming Vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes.

V.     PERFORMANCE AWARDS

        5.1    Grant of Performance Awards.    The Committee, at its discretion, may grant Performance Awards to Participants and may determine, on an individual or group basis, the performance goals to be attained pursuant to each Performance Award.

        5.2    Terms of Performance Awards.    


VI.   ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS

        6.1    Grant of Annual Incentive Awards.    

        6.2    Payment of Annual Incentive Awards.    

VII. CODE SECTION 162(M) PERFORMANCE MEASURE AWARDS

        7.1    Awards Granted Under Code Section 162(m).    The Committee, at its discretion, may designate that a Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit or Annual Incentive Award shall be granted pursuant to Code Section 162(m). Such an Award must comply with the following additional requirements, which shall control over any other provision that pertains to such Award under Articles IV, V and VI.


        7.2    Attainment of Code Section 162(m) Goals.    

        7.3    Individual Participant Limitations.    Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.1, no Participant in any one fiscal year of the Corporation may be granted (a) Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) shares of Common Stock; (b) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that are denominated in shares of Common Stock with respect to more than one hundred thousand (100,000) shares; (c) Performance Awards that are denominated in shares of Common Stock with respect to more than one hundred thousand (100,000) shares; and (d) an Annual Incentive Award denominated in shares of Common Stock with respect to more than one hundred thousand (100,000) shares. The maximum dollar value payable to any Participant in any one fiscal year of the Corporation with respect to Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are valued in property other than Common Stock is the lesser of two million dollars ($2,000,000) or four (4) times the Participant's base salary (or if the Participant is a Director or Consultant, the Participant's total cash compensation) for the fiscal year. If an Award is cancelled, the cancelled Award shall continue to be counted towards the applicable limitations.

VIII.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES

        8.1    Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.    


        8.2    Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.    If a Participant's employment or services are terminated for any reason, the Participant's right to shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award that are still subject to a Restriction Period automatically shall terminate and be forfeited by the Participant (or, if the Participant was required to pay a purchase price for the Restricted Stock, other than for the performance of services, the Corporation shall have the option to repurchase any shares acquired by the Participant which are still subject to the Restriction Period for the purchase price paid by the Participant) and, subject to Section 1.6, said shares shall be available for new Awards under the Plan as of such termination date. Provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in a Participant's Agreement for the continuation of a Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit after a Participant's employment or services are terminated or may waive or, subject to Code Section 409A, change the remaining restrictions or add additional restrictions, as it deems appropriate. The Committee shall not waive any restrictions on a Code Section 162(m) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award, but the Committee may provide in a Participant's Code Section 162(m) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement or otherwise that upon the Employee's termination of employment due to (a) death or (b) Disability prior to the termination of the Restriction Period, that the performance goals and restrictions shall be deemed to have been satisfied on terms determined by the Committee.

        8.3    Performance Awards.    Performance Awards shall expire and be forfeited by a Participant upon the Participant's termination of employment or services for any reason, and, subject to Section 1.7, shall be available for new Awards under the Plan as of such termination date. Provided, however, that the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in a Participant's Agreement or, subject to Code Section 409A, may provide otherwise for the continuation of a Performance Award after a Participant's employment or services are terminated or may waive or change all or part of the conditions, goals and restrictions applicable to such Performance Award.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not waive any restrictions on a Code Section 162(m) Performance Award, but the Committee may provide in a Participant's Code


Section 162(m) Performance Share Agreement or otherwise that upon the Participant's termination of employment or services due to (a) death or (b) Disability prior to the attainment of the associated performance goals and restrictions, that the performance goals and restrictions shall be deemed to have been satisfied on terms determined by the Committee.

        8.4    Annual Incentive Awards.    

        8.5    Other Provisions.    The transfer of an Employee from one corporation to another among the Corporation and any of its Subsidiaries, or a leave of absence under the leave policy of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be a termination of employment for purposes of the Plan, unless a provision to the contrary is expressly stated by the Committee in a Participant's Agreement issued under the Plan.

IX.   ADJUSTMENTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL

        9.1    Adjustments.    In the event of a merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, dividend or distribution (whether in cash, shares or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off or similar transaction or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Stock or the value thereof, such adjustments and other substitutions shall be made to the Plan and Awards as the Committee deems equitable or appropriate, including adjustments in the aggregate number, class and kind of securities that may be delivered under the Plan and, in the aggregate or to any one Participant, in the number, class, kind and option or exercise price of securities subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan (including, if the Committee deems appropriate, the substitution of similar options to purchase the shares of, or other awards denominated in the shares of, another company, as the Committee may determine to be appropriate in its sole discretion).

        9.2    Change in Control.    


X.    MISCELLANEOUS

        10.1    Partial Exercise/Fractional Shares.    The Committee may permit, and shall establish procedures for, the partial exercise of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan. No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right or payment of a Performance Award, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, or Annual Incentive Award; instead, the Fair Market Value of the fractional shares shall be paid in cash, or at the discretion of the Committee, the number of shares shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares and any fractional shares shall be disregarded.

        10.2    Rights Prior to Issuance of Shares.    No Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to shares covered by an Award until the issuance of a stock certificate for such shares (or book entry representing such shares has been made and such shares have been deposited with the appropriate registered book-entry custodian). No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other


rights with respect to such shares for which the record date is prior to the date the certificate is issued except as otherwise provided in the Plan or a Participant's Agreement or by the Committee.

        10.3    Non Assignability; Certificate Legend; Removal.    

        10.4    Securities Laws.    


        10.5    Withholding Taxes.    

        10.6    Termination and Amendment.    

        10.7    Code Section 409A.    It is intended that Awards granted under the Plan shall be exempt from or in compliance with Code Section 409A. The Board reserves the right to amend the terms of the Plan and the Committee reserves the right to amend any outstanding Agreement if necessary either to exempt such Award from Code Section 409A or comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A, as applicable. Further, Plan Participants who are "Specified Employees" (as defined under Code Section 409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder), shall be required to delay payment of an Award for six (6) months after separation from service to the extent such Award is governed by Code Section 409A, and the delay is required thereunder.

        10.8    Effect on Employment or Services.    Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the granting of any Award pursuant to the Plan shall be deemed to create any right in any individual to be retained or continued in the employment or services of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.


        10.9    Use of Proceeds.    The proceeds received from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes of the Corporation.

        10.10    Severability.    If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan or of any Agreement issued hereunder, shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan or of any Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Board may, without the consent of any Participant, and in a manner determined necessary solely in the discretion of the Board, amend the Plan and any outstanding Agreement as the Corporation deems necessary to ensure the Plan and all Awards remain valid, legal or enforceable in all respects.

        10.11    Beneficiary Designation.    Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file a written beneficiary designation with the Corporation stating who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant's death before receipt of any or all of a Plan benefit. Each designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, be in a form prescribed by the Corporation, and become effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Corporation during the Participant's lifetime. If a Participant dies without an effective beneficiary designation for a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant's death, the Corporation shall pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant's legal representative.

        10.12    Unfunded Obligation.    A Participant shall have the status of a general unsecured creditor of the Corporation. Any amounts payable to a Participant pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes. The Corporation shall not be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Corporation shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Corporation may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or the Corporation and a Participant, or otherwise create any Vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant's creditors in any assets of the Corporation. A Participant shall have no claim against the Corporation for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Corporation with respect to the Plan.

        10.13    Approval of Plan.    The Plan shall be subject to the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the votes cast on a proposal to approve the Plan at a duly held meeting of shareholders of the Corporation held within twelve (12) months after adoption of the Plan by the Board. No Award granted under the Plan may be exercised or paid in whole or in part unless the Plan has been approved by the shareholders as provided herein. If not approved by shareholders within twelve (12) months after approval by the Board, the Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan shall be null and void, with no further force or effect.

        10.14    Governing Law.    Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and Agreements under the Plan, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its conflict of law rules.


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan has been executed on behalf of the Corporation on this 11th day of April, 2007.

  ROCKWELL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT L. CHIOINI


      Its:   Chief Executive Officer

BOARD APPROVAL: 4/11/07
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL:  5/24/07
                                                         5/23/08
                                                         5/21/09
                                                         5/27/10
                                                         5/26/11
                                                         5/24/12



AMENDMENT TO
ROCKWELL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

        This Amendment to the Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is made this 24th day of May, 2012 pursuant to Section 10.6 of the Plan following approval by the Board of Directors and shareholders of Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc.

        Section 1.7(a) is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

        Except as specifically modified herein, the remaining provisions of the Plan remain in full force and effect.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. has caused this Amendment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

ROCKWELL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.    

/s/ ROBERT L. CHIOINI

Robert L. Chioini
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 


AMENDMENT TO
ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

        This Amendment to the Rockwell Medical, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is made this 30th day of April, 2013 pursuant to Section 10.6 of the Plan following approval by the Board of Directors and shareholders of Rockwell Medical, Inc.

        Section 1.7(a) is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

        Except as specifically modified herein, the remaining provisions of the Plan remain in full force and effect.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Rockwell Medical, Inc. has caused this Amendment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.    

  

Robert L. Chioini
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.
April 30, 2013
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL:

The Notice of Meeting, proxy statement, proxy card
and 2012 annual report to shareholders
are available at www.rockwellmed.com/invest.htm

 

Please sign, date and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.

 

Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.

 

 

This Proxy is solicited on behalf of our Board of Directors.
The Board recommends a vote “FOR” the nominee in Proposal 1, “FOR” each of the board proposals and “AGAINST” the shareholder proposal below.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
x

 

1.

Election of Class I Director.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOMINEE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

o

FOR ALL NOMINEES

o

Ronald D. Boyd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

o

WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY FOR
ALL NOMINEES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

o

FOR ALL EXCEPT

(See instructions below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here:=  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

To approve a proposal to amend the restated articles of incorporation.

 

o

o

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan to increase the shares subject to the Plan.

 

o

o

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

To approve a proposal to ratify the selection of Plante & Moran, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2013.

 

o

o

o

 



 

 

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

To approve a shareholder proposal.

 

o

o

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In their discretion with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This proxy will be voted, when properly executed, in accordance with the specifications made herein. If no instructions are indicated, the shares represented by this Proxy will be voted FOR the nominee in Proposal 1, FOR the Board proposals and AGAINST the shareholder proposal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please date, sign and return this Proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.

 

o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature of Shareholder

Date:

Signature of Shareholder

Date:

 

Note:                  Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

 



 

REVOCABLE PROXY
ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 30, 2013
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC.

 

The undersigned, as a shareholder of record on March 6, 2013, hereby appoints Robert L. Chioini and Thomas E. Klema, and each of them, attorneys and proxies with full power of substitution in each of them, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned and hereby authorizes them to vote as proxy all of the common shares, no par value per share, of the undersigned in Rockwell Medical, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on April 30, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof, upon all matters properly coming before the Annual Meeting including, without limitation, those matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 29, 2013 (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged). In their discretion, to the extent permitted by law, the proxies are also authorized to vote upon such matters as may properly come before the meeting, including the election of any person to the Board of Directors where a nominee named in the Proxy Statement dated March 29, 2013, is unable to serve or, for good cause, will not serve. The undersigned ratifies all that the proxies or either of them or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof and revokes all former proxies.

 

(Continued and to be Signed on Reverse Side)

 




QuickLinks

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS To Be Held April 30, 2013
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS April 30, 2013
INTRODUCTION
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Summary Compensation Table
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table for 2012
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
Option Exercises and Stock Vested for 2012
2012 Director Compensation
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED COMMON SHARES AND MAKE RELATED CHANGES
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2013
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL RECOMMENDING ACTION TO ADOPT A MAJORITY VOTE STANDARD FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
OTHER MATTERS
ROCKWELL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT TO ROCKWELL MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT TO ROCKWELL MEDICAL, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2007 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN