2022-11-15T11:00:15-06:00 2021-12-31 946214841 ARMANINO LLP 12657 ALCOSTA BLVD STE 500 SAN RAMON CA 945834600 990 2021-01-01 680492065 PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SCIENCE PUBL 4156241200 1265 BATTERY STREET STE 200 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 KATHRYN MOTONAGA CFO 4156241200 2022-11-11 1 KATHRYN MOTONAGA 999009999 KATY BROWN P00650274 9257902600 2022-11-11 3 AAL1 IAL1 2021 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z KATHYRN MOTONAGA 1265 BATTERY STREET STE 200 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 42646152 0 X WWW.PLOS.ORG X 2001 CA PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O FOR COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. 8 7 156 11000 277534 74271 60366 2574373 32747234 34399920 428897 1165406 1318 0 33237815 38139699 0 0 0 0 18774597 19868916 0 0 0 12320632 12645627 31095229 32514543 2142586 5625156 22062668 24530446 7229308 4498245 14833360 20032201 X PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O FOR COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. 0 0 27640485 34122386 SCIENCE AND MEDICAL PUBLISHING ARE THE CORE OF PLOS PROGRAM EXPENSE AT OVER $28 MILLION. THE ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN OUR PUBLISHING OPERATION INCLUDE: EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION WORK - RECEIPT AND TRIAGE OF SUBMISSIONS; PERFORMING/COORDINATING THEIR PEER REVIEW; AND PRODUCTION AND ONLINE PUBLICATION OF ACCEPTED ARTICLES. MARKETING AND OUTREACH - PROMOTING ARTICLES AND INVITING SUBMISSIONS, INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF OPEN SCIENCE BENEFITS AND PRACTICES, PROMOTING INITIATIVES SUCH AS CALLS FOR PAPERS, AND CREATING RESOURCES FOR AUTHORS AND REVIEWERS. PUBLISHING ETHICS - HANDLING ETHICAL AND SCIENTIFIC CONCERNS INVOLVING SUBMISSIONS AND PUBLISHED ARTICLES. ENGAGEMENT WITH RESEARCH COMMUNITIES (E.G. BY ATTENDING/ORGANIZING CONFERENCES/EVENTS/WORKSHOPS) - TO ENSURE THE JOURNALS AND THEIR POLICIES REFLECT THE RESEARCH INTERESTS AND VALUES OF THESE FIELDS AND COMMUNITIES. MEDIA - COLLABORATING WITH AUTHORS, INSTITUTIONS, SCIENCE MEDIA CENTERS AND JOURNALISTS TO COMMUNICATE RESEARCH TO BOTH SCIENTISTS AND SOCIETY. THE SCOPE OF PLOS JOURNALS PUBLISHING IN 2021 INCLUDES: PLOS ONE, THE FIRST MULTIDISCIPLINARY OA JOURNAL PUBLISHING ALL TECHNICALLY VALID AND ETHICAL RESEARCH, REGARDLESS OF ANTICIPATED IMPACT. PLOS BIOLOGY, PUBLISHING ARTICLES OF EXCEPTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, ORIGINALITY AND RELEVANCE IN ALL AREAS OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, FROM MOLECULES TO ECOSYSTEMS TO DATA-DRIVEN META-RESEARCH. PLOS MEDICINE, WITH ARTICLES IN ALL AREAS OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, CLINICAL PRACTICE AND HEALTH POLICY INCLUDING A VARIETY OF STUDY DESIGNS. PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY, PUBLISHING WORK THAT FURTHERS THE UNDERSTANDING OF LIVING SYSTEMS AT ALL SCALES THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF COMPUTATIONAL METHODS. PLOS GENETICS, FOCUSED ON ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN GENETICS AND GENOMICS THAT REFLECT THE FULL BREADTH, INTERDISCIPLINARY NATURE AND IMPACT OF THESE FIELDS ON SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, THE FIRST JOURNAL SOLELY DEVOTED TO CHRONIC AND POVERTY-PROMOTING INFECTIOUS DISEASES, PUBLISHES RESEARCH ON ALL ASPECTS OF NTDS. PLOS PATHOGENS, FIRST OA JOURNAL FOR BREAKTHROUGHS IN UNDERSTANDING PATHOGENS AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH HOST ORGANISMS. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH, A NEW HOME FOR DIVERSE RESEARCH ADDRESSING GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES AND INEQUITIES (LAUNCHED IN 2021) JOURNALS OPEN FOR SUBMISSION IN 2021: PLOS CLIMATE, PUBLISHING RESEARCH THAT ADDRESSES THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND DYNAMICS. PLOS DIGITAL HEALTH, PUBLISHING RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES HEALTHCARE THROUGH DIGITAL TOOLS, TECHNOLOGIES, AND DATA SCIENCE. PLOS SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSFORMATION, PUBLISHING LEADING RESEARCH THAT DRIVES PROGRESS TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR RENEWABLE RESOURCES, ECONOMY, AND SOCIETY. PLOS WATER, A NEW HOME FOR ALL RESEARCH RELATED TO WATER AS A VITAL RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.IN ADDITION TO MANAGING THE ABOVE PORTFOLIO OF JOURNALS, IN 2021 PLOS CONTINUED ITS FOCUS ON TWO BROAD AREAS: (1) OPEN SCIENCE PRACTICES AND INITIATIVES AROUND TRANSPARENCY, RECOGNITION, EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER REVIEW, FIGHTING PUBLICATION BIAS, AND REPRODUCIBILITY; AND (2) DEVELOPING MORE EQUITABLE BUSINESS MODELS TO ENABLE A DIVERSE AND SUSTAINABLE PUBLISHING ECOSYSTEM. WE ALSO BEGAN EXPANDING OUR CAPACITY TO LEARN FROM DIVERSE RESEARCH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE TO CO-CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR A MORE OPEN, EFFECTIVE, AND FAIR RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM. THE FOLLOWING ARE KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WORK IN 2021: PLOS ESTABLISHED OUR SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL COMPRISED OF ACTIVE RESEARCHERS WITH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES TO HELP US SHAPE OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE OPEN SCIENCE, GLOBALLY. PLOS LAUNCHED FIVE NEW JOURNALS SHAPED BY OPEN SCIENCE AND ADDRESSING CRITICAL GLOBAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FROM MULTI-DISCIPLINARY, GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES. WE CONTINUED TO GROW OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH INSTITUTIONS UNDER OUR COMMUNITY ACTION PUBLISHING AND FLAT FEE MODELS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE AUTHOR PUBLICATION FEES. OUR COMMUNITY ACTION PUBLISHING MODEL, SUPPORTING PLOS BIOLOGY, PLOS MEDICINE, AND PLOS SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSFORMATION IN EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTING THE COST OF SELECTIVE OPEN ACCESS PUBLISHING, RECEIVED THE APLSP INNOVATION IN PUBLISHING AWARD. IN SUPPORT OF OUR NEW JOURNALS, WE ALSO DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED A NEW MODEL, GLOBAL EQUITY, WHICH PROVIDES REGIONALLY EQUITABLE PRICING FOR INSTITUTIONS TO SUPPORT OPEN ACCESS PUBLISHING BASED ON THEIR COUNTRY'S ECONOMY AS DEFINED BY WORLD BANK TIERS. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK TO ADVANCE ADOPTION OF OPEN SCIENCE PRACTICES AS WELL AS REFINE AND DEVELOP NEW SERVICES FOR AUTHORS. WE INTRODUCED TWO NEW OPTIONS FOR PUBLISHED PROTOCOLS AT PLOS ONE THAT ENHANCE REPRODUCIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OF RESEARCH METHODS, AND AN ENHANCED CODE POLICY AT PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY REQUIRING CODE UNDERLYING A STUDY'S FINDINGS TO BE MADE OPENLY ACCESSIBLE. WE DEVELOPED A NEW POLICY, INCLUSION IN GLOBAL RESEARCH, ADOPTED ACROSS ALL PLOS JOURNALS TO COMBAT PARACHUTE SCIENCE BY IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY IN THE REPORTING OF RESEARCH THAT IS CONDUCTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES OR COMMUNITIES. WE PARTNERED WITH TRAINING CENTER IN COMMUNICATION (TCC AFRICA) TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERESTS AND VALUES OF AFRICAN RESEARCH COMMUNITIES ARE REPRESENTED IN PLOS PUBLICATIONS, POLICIES, AND SERVICES AND TO ENSURE THAT OPEN SCIENCE PRACTICES ARE CO-CREATED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES AT A GLOBAL SCALE, HELPING US ALL TO REBUILD THE SYSTEM BETTER. PLOS UNDERTOOK SEVERAL RESEARCH PROJECTS TO FACILITATE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING SYSTEM, INCLUDING INVESTIGATIONS INTO HOW RESEARCHERS ASSESS CREDIBILITY AND IMPACT, THEIR MOTIVATIONS FOR SHARING OPEN DATA, AND CHALLENGES FUNDERS AND INSTITUTIONS FACE UNDERSTANDING THEIR RESEARCHERS' OPEN SCIENCE PRACTICES. ALL OUR FINDINGS ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. PLOS CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN S PRICE & SERVICE TRANSPARENCY FRAMEWORK, PUBLICLY REPORTING OUR PRICING BREAKDOWN ON OUR BLOG. PLOS CONTINUED OUR PUBLICATION FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, DESIGNED TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY, ACCESS AND USE OF RESEARCH. IN 2021 PLOS PROVIDED $3.3 MILLION IN PARTIAL OR FULL ARTICLE PROCESSING CHARGE (APC) WAIVERS TO AUTHORS. THIS MAJOR PROGRAM EXPENSE, WHICH APPEARS AS A CONTRA-REVENUE FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING PURPOSES, DEMONSTRATES OUR SUPPORT TO SCIENCE AND THE GLOBAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY. 27640485 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 79 0 1 156 1 1 1 1 UK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 8 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 CA X X KATHRYN MOTONAGA CFO 4156241200 1265 BATTERY STREET STE 200 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94111 MEREDITH T NILES BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 JENNY MACHIDA BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 ALASTAIR ADAM BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 SURESH BHAT BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 SIMINE VAZIRE BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 KEITH YAMAMOTO BOARD MEMBER 5.00 X 0 0 0 FERNAN FEDERICI BOARD MEMBER (START 09/21) 5.00 X 0 0 0 ALISON MUDDITT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40.00 X X 433152 0 38803 TODOR I GRIGOROV CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40.00 X 161237 0 4683 KATHRYN MOTONAGA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (START 07/21) 40.00 X 124733 0 6743 VERONIQUE KIERMER PUBLISHER & EXEC EDITOR 40.00 X 299881 0 34366 REBEKAH DARKSMITH CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 40.00 X 264884 0 31264 KRISTINA MARTIN CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE 40.00 X 254896 0 27954 NIAMH O'CONNOR CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER 40.00 X 198295 0 32866 CLARE E DEAN DIR, JOURNAL MKT & OUTREACH 40.00 X 191601 0 38801 AARON DODDS DIRECTOR PRODUCT MGMT 40.00 X 218904 0 19121 MIDORI BAER DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING SERVICES 40.00 X 119855 0 23399 CHRISTIAN A HAUMESSER DIR, PLATFORM & ENGINEERING (LEFT 08/21) 40.00 X 153671 0 12612 VIKAS THAKKER CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER (LEFT 11/21) 40.00 X 298833 0 28828 2719942 0 299440 32 0 1 0 APEX COVANTAGE LLC 4045 SHERIDAN AVENUE SUITE 266 MIAMI FL 33140 COMPOSITION 1778900 EDITORIAL OFFICE LTD AVEBURY HOUSE 6 ST PETER ST WINCHESTER UK SO23 8BN EDITORIAL SERVICES 1060077 CLARIVATE ANALYTICS (US) LLC 1500 SPRING GARDEN STREET PHILADELPHIA PA 19130 AUTHOR CONNECT SERVICES 890374 ARIES SYSTEMS CORPORATION 50 HIGH STREET SUITE 21 NORTH ANDOVER MA 01845 MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION AND TRACKING SYSTE 776090 SPI TECHNOLOGIES INC SPI GLOBAL BUILDING PASCOR DRIVE PARANAQUE MANILA RP 1704 TECHNOLOGY SERVICES 632844 15 2573660 713 2574373 PUBLICATION FEES, NET 519130 32402344 32402344 SUBSCRIPTIONS 519130 1717083 1717083 ADVERTISING 519130 277534 277534 REPRINTS 519130 2959 2959 34399920 612076 612076 5059583 200 4504729 1724 554854 -1524 553330 553330 38139699 34122386 277534 1165406 1966264 1759188 207076 14627706 12340525 2287181 340000 304193 35807 1597015 1428827 168188 1337931 1197028 140903 119825 67478 52347 86170 48526 37644 20921 20921 884269 497967 386302 1163013 1163013 1278537 460736 817801 1576272 1408991 167281 1167385 1086000 81385 127763 87068 40695 150524 140030 10494 102084 94967 7117 PRODUCTION COSTS 5525683 5525683 TRAINING & RECRUITMENT 441805 30265 411540 MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSE 1376 1376 32514543 27640485 4874058 0 2724775 1818982 175976 175976 4153521 5894599 64140 1138285 852456 4033290 3476625 93302 556665 13704267 15223366 8402 8402 22062668 24530446 4110669 3773160 340956 535944 2777683 189141 7229308 4498245 X 14833360 20032201 14833360 20032201 22062668 24530446 5625156 -426315 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 4732 3606 158006 60366 2574373 2801083 35082866 31689229 29850566 32485530 34122386 163230577 35087598 31692835 30008572 32545896 36696759 166031660 0 0 0 166031660 564541 414755 421974 415255 612076 2428601 564541 414755 421974 415255 612076 2428601 35652139 32107590 30430546 32961151 37308835 168460261 0.98560 0.98370 0.01440 0.01630 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 615885 357269 258616 2469587 2171538 298049 947818 947818 0 556665 DEFERRED RENT 189141 189141 X 37691087 -426315 -1376 -427691 38118778 20921 20921 38139699 32492246 0 32492246 20921 1376 22297 32514543 PART X, LINE 2: PLOS HAS RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT IT QUALIFIES FOR TAX-EXEMPT STATUS UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND SECTION 27301D OF THE CALIFORNIA REVENUE AND TAXATION CODE. THE EXEMPTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEW BY THE FEDERAL AND STATE TAXING AUTHORITIES, AND MANAGEMENT IS CONFIDENT THAT PLOS CONTINUES TO SATISFY ALL FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR CONTINUED TAX EXEMPTION STATUS. PLOS MAY PERIODICALLY RECEIVE UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME (SUCH AS ADVERTISING INCOME, ETC.) REQUIRING PLOS TO FILE SEPARATE TAX RETURNS UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES. PLOS ALSO HAS CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS REQUIRING THE PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL EMPLOYER TAXES TO HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS IN THE U.K. UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS, PLOS CALCULATES AND ACCRUES THE APPLICABLE TAXES. PLOS IS NOT SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY TAXING AUTHORITIES, NOR WAS FOR ANY PRIOR YEARS. PLOS ASSESSES TAX POSITIONS TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN AGAINST MORE-LIKELY-THAN-NOT RECOGNITION THRESHOLD AND MEASUREMENT ATTRIBUTES FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT RECOGNITION. BASED ON AN ANALYSIS PREPARED BY PLOS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT PLOS BELIEVES THAT IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITIONS TAKEN, AND AS SUCH, DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: MOVING NEGATIVE ROYALTY INCOME -1,376. PART XII, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: MOVING NEGATIVE ROYALTY INCOME TO MISC EXPENSE 1,376. EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) - ALBANIA, ANDORRA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM 2 69 PROGRAM SERVICES EDITORIAL SUPPORT TO SERVE U.S. OPERATIONS. 4492646 2 69 0 0 2 69 4492646 0 4492646 0 0 0 0 0 0 PART III ACCOUNTING METHOD: X X X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 ALISON MUDDITT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 397652 0 35500 0 0 0 16189 0 22614 0 471955 0 0 0 VERONIQUE KIERMER PUBLISHER & EXEC EDITOR 295490 0 3538 0 853 0 11752 0 22614 0 334247 0 0 0 VIKAS THAKKER CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER (LEFT 11/21) 202583 0 25000 0 71250 0 7439 0 21389 0 327661 0 0 0 REBEKAH DARKSMITH CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 261346 0 3538 0 0 0 8650 0 22614 0 296148 0 0 0 KRISTINA MARTIN CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE 251358 0 3538 0 0 0 9552 0 18402 0 282850 0 0 0 AARON DODDS DIRECTOR PRODUCT MGMT 216366 0 1538 0 1000 0 8839 0 10282 0 238025 0 0 0 NIAMH O'CONNOR CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER 194800 0 3495 0 0 0 8946 0 23920 0 231161 0 0 0 CLARE E DEAN DIR, JOURNAL MKT & OUTREACH 189063 0 1538 0 1000 0 7265 0 31536 0 230402 0 0 0 CHRISTIAN A HAUMESSER DIR, PLATFORM & ENGINEERING (LEFT 08 152133 0 1538 0 0 0 6186 0 6426 0 166283 0 0 0 TODOR I GRIGOROV CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 157699 0 3538 0 0 0 3709 0 974 0 165920 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 4A IN 2021, VIKAS THAKKER, CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER RECEIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT OF $71,250. PART I, LINE 7 THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICERS RECEIVE NON-FIXED BONUS PAYMENTS. THESE AMOUNTS ARE BASED ON BOARD APPROVAL. PART I, LINE 1 PLOS (PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SCIENCE) IS A NONPROFIT LEADING A TRANSFORMATION IN RESEARCH COMMUNICATION. WE PUBLISH A SUITE OF OPEN ACCESS JOURNALS, AND WORK ALONGSIDE RESEARCH COMMUNITIES TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS IN MAKING RESEARCH COMMUNICATION MORE OPEN, EFFECTIVE, AND FAIR. WE HAVE BEEN BREAKING BOUNDARIES SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 2001. PLOS JOURNALS PROPELLED THE MOVEMENT FOR OA ALTERNATIVES TO SUBSCRIPTION JOURNALS. WE ESTABLISHED THE FIRST MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PUBLICATION INCLUSIVE OF ALL EXCELLENT RESEARCH REGARDLESS OF NOVELTY OR IMPACT AND DEMONSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN DATA AVAILABILITY. WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF OPEN SCIENCE IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE FROM WHICH WE ALL ADVANCE. PLOS' OPEN ACCESS JOURNALS COVER ALL AREAS OF SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND RELATED SOCIAL SCIENCES. RIGOROUSLY REPORTED, PEER REVIEWED, AND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS, THE JOURNALS PROMOTE THE WIDEST READERSHIP AND IMPACT POSSIBLE. WE STRIVE TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND INNOVATIONS THAT PROMOTE REPRODUCIBILITY, CREDIT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF OPEN SCIENCE. OUR WORK IN THESE AREAS IS SUPPORTED BY THE EFFORTS OF A DIVERSE, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHERS FROM HUNDREDS OF RESEARCH AREAS WHO PUBLISH AND REVIEW RIGOROUS RESEARCH OF ALL TYPES. SINCE 2003, PLOS HAS PUBLISHED MORE THAN 300,000 RESEARCH ARTICLES. IN 2021 ALONE PLOS PUBLISHED MORE THAN 20,000 RESEARCH ARTICLES DOCUMENTING THE OBSERVATIONS AND DISCOVERIES OF A DIVERSE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. THOUSANDS OF RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE GLOBE DEDICATED THEIR TIME AS ACADEMIC EDITORS AND REVIEWERS TO BRINGING THIS WORK TO THE PUBLIC. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE TAX PROFESSIONAL WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE ORGANIZATION. THE FORM IS THEN REVIEWED BY THE CFO AND MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. AFTER REVIEW AND MODIFICATIONS WHERE NECESSARY, THE FINAL VERSION OF THE TAX RETURN IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE CFO SIGNS AND FILES ALL REQUIRED TAX FILINGS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY OVERSEES THE ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE PROCESS. A COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS ALL POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AT LEAST ANNUALLY. THE CEO AND ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE (IN WRITING) POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND ANY RELATED PARTY AFFILIATIONS. LOANS BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT AND THE BOARD ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS FULL TRANSPARENCY ON ALL RELATIONSHIPS. ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS (IN FACT OR APPEARANCE) ARE DISCUSSED OPENLY AND RESOLVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS THE COMPENSATION OF ALL HIGH-LEVEL PERSONNEL ANNUALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH IRS RULES AND REGULATIONS. EFFORTS ARE MADE TO SECURE COMPENSATION DATA FROM INDUSTRY SOURCES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE COMPETITIVENESS AND APPROPRIATENESS OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS. EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE PROCESS IS THOROUGH AND TRANSPARENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPROPRIATE GOVERNANCE AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. THIS IS PERFORMED ANNUALLY AND THE PROCESS IS MANAGED BY THE HR DIRECTOR. REVIEW ENCOMPASSES CEO, CFO, EXECUTIVES AND KEY EMPLOYEES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 PLOS MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE ALSO POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. PLOS GMBH EDISONSTRABE 63 HAUS A 1 ETAGE BERLIN GM 12459 RESEARCH GM -73169 33593 PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SCIENCE