Christoph Bausch
About Christoph Bausch
Christoph Bausch, PhD, MBA, age 54, is Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SAB Biotherapeutics, responsible for Research & Manufacturing operations; he joined SAB in April 2017 as Chief Science Officer and has served as COO since May 2022 . His background spans research science, biotech entrepreneurship, and business development at POET, LLC and Sigma-Aldrich/MilliporeSigma, and he founded Nanopore Diagnostics while also leading Keion Group, LLC; he holds a PhD in Microbiology (Ohio State), completed post-doctoral training at Stowers Institute, and earned an MBA (St. Louis University) and BA in Biology (University of Nebraska–Lincoln) . The company’s proxy disclosures do not provide executive-specific TSR, revenue growth, or EBITDA growth metrics tied to Bausch’s compensation; non-equity incentive payouts are disclosed without underlying performance targets or weightings .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAB Biotherapeutics | Chief Science Officer | Apr 2017–May 2022 | Led discovery, development, biomanufacturing, and drug development leadership for a Stage 3 clinically advanced product |
| SAB Biotherapeutics | Chief Operating Officer | May 2022–Present | Oversees all Research & Manufacturing operations; leadership across R&D and platform commercialization |
| POET, LLC | Business Development | Pre-2017 | Structured strategic partnerships, vetted new technologies, streamlined R&D activities |
| Sigma-Aldrich (MilliporeSigma) | Research/Commercialization | Pre-2017 | Roles across research and commercialization in life sciences and high technology |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanopore Diagnostics | Founder & Director | Since Sept 2011 | Commercializing platform sensor technology for rapid microbial diagnostics |
| Keion Group, LLC | President | Since Oct 2011 | Life science consulting; business development and strategic advisory |
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary (Employment Agreement) | — | $425,000 (annual) |
| Actual Salary Paid ($) | $325,000 | $412,200 |
| All Other Compensation ($) | $13,200 (401(k) match only) | $12,385 (401(k) match only) |
Performance Compensation
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | $105,000 | $150,000 | Performance criteria/targets not disclosed |
Equity Awards – Options (Grant/Structure)
| Grant Date | Shares | Exercise Price | Vesting Schedule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2022 | 27,487 | $7.11 | 25% at 1-year; remainder in 36 equal monthly installments | Standard options; Black-Scholes valuation in SCT |
| Mar 14, 2023 | 27,500 | $5.35 | 25% at 1-year; remainder in 36 equal monthly installments | |
| Feb 20, 2024 | 140,000 | $5.17 | 25% at 1-year; remainder in 36 equal monthly installments | |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 29,249 | $2.90 | 25% at 1-year; remainder in 36 equal monthly installments |
Outstanding Equity Awards (as of Dec 31, 2023)
| Option Lot | Exercisable (#) | Unexercisable (#) | Exercise Price | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 grant(s) | 10,468 | — | $10.70 | 3/12/2027 |
| 2017 grant(s) | 8,142 | — | $10.70 | 3/12/2027 |
| 2018 grant(s) | 6,979 | — | $10.70 | 3/12/2028 |
| 2020 grant | 1,163 | — | $26.90 | 4/26/2030 |
| 2022 grant | 2,497 | — | $17.80 | 3/15/2032 |
| 2022 grant | 8,589 | 18,898 | $7.11 | 9/12/2032 |
| 2023 grant | — | 27,500 | $5.35 | 3/13/2033 |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Value | As-of |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial Ownership (Common Shares) | 49,867 (<1%) | May 13, 2024 |
| Options Exercisable within 60 days | 103,301 | Mar 21, 2025 |
| Stock Ownership Guidelines | Not disclosed | — |
- “All Other Compensation” consists solely of employer matching contributions under the 401(k) plan for NEOs (applies to Bausch) .
Employment Terms
- Executive Employment Agreement dated March 5, 2024: annual base salary $425,000; subject to standard nondisclosure, invention assignment, and arbitration provisions .
- Severance if terminated without Cause or non-renewal: one year of then base salary (lump sum 5 business days after release final), accrued but unpaid annual bonus for the fiscal year prior to termination (paid concurrent with other executives), 100% acceleration of outstanding unvested equity awards (fully vested and exercisable), and COBRA premium reimbursement for 12 months for employee and dependents .
- “Cause” definitions include bad faith acts, material policy violations, willful failure to perform, unfitness/dishonesty/neglect, criminal conviction/plea, material breach of nondisclosure/invention assignment/non-solicitation provisions, or refusal to follow lawful directives; employment agreements govern if an alternative definition exists .
- Potential payment summary tables (assuming events as of Dec 31, 2023 and Dec 31, 2024) show severance salary amounts for NEOs; for Bausch: $325,000 (2023) and $425,000 (2024) .
Investment Implications
- Alignment and retention: Bausch’s compensation features meaningful equity via options (not RSUs/PSUs), including large 2024 grants with multi-year vesting and monthly ratable vest schedules that promote retention; however, single-trigger acceleration on termination without cause or non-renewal reduces forfeiture risk, dampening the retention “stickiness” of unvested equity .
- Cash pay trend: Actual salary rose from $325,000 (2023) to $412,200 (2024) alongside higher bonus payouts ($105,000 to $150,000), signaling increased cash compensation and potentially improved operational contribution expectations; base under the agreement set at $425,000 as of March 2024 .
- Option exposure and selling pressure: Options exercisable within 60 days totaled 103,301 (as of March 21, 2025), with exercise prices spanning $2.90–$26.90; if shares trade above lower strikes, potential exercises/sales could create insider selling pressure, though prevailing market prices are not disclosed here .
- Governance and risk: No pledging or hedging disclosures were identified for Bausch; perquisites are minimal (401(k) match), and severance economics are contained to one year of salary plus bonus accruals, with equity acceleration and 12 months COBRA, reflecting moderate shareholder-friendly terms for an emerging growth biotech .