UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 23, 2009
Athersys, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-33876 | 20-4864095 | ||
| (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 3201 Carnegie Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio |
44115-2634 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (216) 431-9900
| (Former name or former address if changed since last report.) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
On December 23, 2009, the Board of Directors of Athersys, Inc. (the “Company”), upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, approved the following cash bonuses to the named executive officers of the Company, based on Company performance in 2009:
| Name | Title | Award | ||
| Dr. Gil Van Bokkelen | Chief Executive Officer | $76,615.88 | ||
| William Lehmann, Jr. | President and Chief Operating Officer | $65,670.75 | ||
| Dr. John Harrington | Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President | $65,670.75 | ||
| Dr. Robert Deans | Senior Vice President — Regenerative Medicine |
$51,442.18 | ||
| Laura Campbell | Vice President, Finance | $42,686.09 |
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 24, 2009
ATHERSYS, INC.
| By: | /s/ Laura K. Campbell | |
| Name: Laura K. Campbell Title: Vice President, Finance |