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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Neose Technologies, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Neose Technologies, Inc.
102 Rock Road
Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044
, 2007
Dear Stockholder:
You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Neose Technologies, Inc. on
May 4, 2007 at our offices at 102 Rock Road, Horsham, Pennsylvania. You will have the opportunity
to ask questions and make comments. Enclosed with this letter are your Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, Proxy Statement, proxy voting card, and 2006 Annual Report to Stockholders.
At this years meeting, you will be asked to elect seven directors to serve a term of one year
each, to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm
for fiscal 2007, to increase the number of shares issuable under our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan,
and to increase the number of shares of Common Stock and Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Shares authorized for issuance by us.
I hope that you attend the meeting. Whether or not you plan to be with us, please sign, date,
and return your proxy card promptly in the enclosed envelope or use the instructions included in
the Proxy Statement to vote using the Internet.
Sincerely,
George J. Vergis
President and Chief Executive Officer
Neose Technologies, Inc.
102 Rock Road
Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held May 4, 2007
To the Stockholders of Neose Technologies, Inc.:
The 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at our offices at 102 Rock Road, Horsham,
Pennsylvania on May 4, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. During the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to:
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Elect seven directors to serve for a term of one year or until the election and qualification
of their successors; |
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Ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2007; |
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Approve an amendment to our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares
issuable under the plan by 1,000,000 (which represents 1.8% of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of March 16, 2007); |
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Approve an amendment of our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares of
Common Stock authorized for issuance by us from 75,000,000 shares to 150,000,000 shares and to
increase the number of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares authorized for
issuance by us from 300,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares; and |
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Transact any other business properly brought before the Annual Meeting. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on Friday, March 16, 2007 as the record
date for the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record on that date are entitled to notice of,
and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The
enclosed proxy is solicited by our Board of Directors. We urge you to
date, sign and return the enclosed proxy promptly in the reply envelope, or vote through the
Internet using the instructions on your proxy card. You are cordially invited to attend the
meeting in person. The return of the enclosed proxy will not affect your right to vote if you
attend the meeting in person.
By order of our Board of Directors
Debra J. Poul
Secretary
Proxy Statement
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed, beginning on or about
, 2007, to owners of shares of Common Stock of Neose Technologies, Inc. (which
may be referred to herein as we, us or the Company) in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by our Board of Directors for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders (referred to herein as the Annual
Meeting). This proxy procedure is necessary to permit all stockholders, many of whom are unable to
attend the Annual Meeting, to vote. Our Board of Directors encourages you to read this document
thoroughly and to take this opportunity to vote on the matters to be decided at the Annual Meeting.
Table of Contents
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Exhibit A First Amendment of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation |
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About the Meeting: Questions and Answers
What am I voting on?
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The election of seven directors for a one-year term or until the election and qualification
of their successors. |
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The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm for fiscal 2007. |
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An amendment to our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares issuable
under the plan by 1,000,000 shares (which represents 1.8% of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of March 16, 2007). |
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An amendment of our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common
Stock authorized for issuance by us from 75,000,000 to 150,000,000 and to increase the number
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares authorized for issuance by us
from 300,000 to 1,500,000. |
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Any other business that properly comes before the meeting for a vote. |
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and how many votes do they have?
Common stockholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2007 (the record date) may vote
at the Annual Meeting. Each share has one vote. There were 54,387,843 shares of Common Stock
outstanding on March 16, 2007. During the 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting, you may inspect a
list of stockholders eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting. If you would like to inspect the
list, please call Debra J. Poul, our Corporate Secretary, at (215) 315-9000 to arrange a visit to
our offices.
How do I vote?
We encourage you to use the electronic means available to you to vote your shares. How you vote
will depend on how you hold your shares of our Common Stock.
Stockholders of Record
If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered a stockholder of record with respect to those
shares, and these proxy materials are being sent directly to you. As a stockholder of record,
you have the right to vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. There are two ways you
can vote by proxy:
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Vote by Internet www.proxyvote.com |
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of
information. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website. You will be prompted
to enter your 12-digit Control Number, which is located below the voting instructions on
your proxy card, to obtain your records and create an electronic proxy card for your voting
instructions.
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have
provided, or return it to Neose Technologies, Inc., c/o ADP, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY
11717.
By either of the methods above, you will be designating George J. Vergis, our President and
Chief Executive Officer, A. Brian Davis, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
and Debra J. Poul, our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, as your proxies.
They may act
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together or individually on your behalf, and will have the authority to appoint a
substitute to act as proxy.
Using either of the methods for submitting a proxy above will not affect your right to attend
the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
Beneficial Owners
Most of our stockholders hold their shares in street name through a stockbroker, bank or
other nominee, rather than directly in their own names. If you hold your shares in one of these
ways, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and these proxy
materials are being forwarded to you by your stockbroker, bank or other nominee who is
considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner,
you have the right to direct your stockbroker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your
shares. If you hold your shares in street name, your stockbroker, bank or other nominee has
enclosed a voting instruction form for you to use in directing the stockbroker, bank or other
nominee in how to vote your shares.
Stockbrokers, banks or other nominees that are member firms of the New York Stock Exchange and
who hold shares in street name for customers have the discretion to vote those shares with
respect to certain matters if they have not received instructions from the beneficial owners.
Stockbrokers, banks or other nominees will have this discretionary authority with respect to
the election of directors and the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered
public accounting firm; however, they will not have this discretionary authority with respect
to the amendments of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan or our certificate of incorporation. As a
result, with respect to matters where stockbrokers, banks or other nominees do not have this
discretionary authority, as is the case with the amendments of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan
and our certificate of incorporation, if the beneficial owners have not provided instructions
with respect to such matters (commonly referred to as broker non-votes), those shares will be
included in determining whether a quorum is present but will have the effect of a vote against
matters such as the amendment of our certificate of incorporation, for which a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote is required for approval. In contrast, those shares, which
again will be included in determining whether a quorum is present, will have no effect on a
vote for matters such as the amendment of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, for which a majority
of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote is
required for approval.
What is a proxy?
A proxy is a person you appoint to vote on your behalf. By using any of the methods discussed
above, you will be appointing George J. Vergis, our President and Chief Executive Officer, A. Brian
Davis, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Debra J. Poul, our Senior Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary, as your proxies. They may act together or individually on
your behalf, and will have the authority to appoint a substitute to act as proxy. If you are unable
to attend the Annual Meeting, please use the means available to you to vote by proxy so that your
shares of Common Stock may be voted.
How will my proxy vote my shares?
Your proxy will vote according to your instructions. If you choose to vote by mail and complete and
return the enclosed proxy card but do not indicate your vote, your proxy will vote FOR the
election of the nominated slate of directors (see Proposal 1) and FOR Proposals 2, 3 and 4. We do
not presently intend to bring any other matter for a vote at the Annual Meeting, and we do not know
of anyone else who intends to do so. Your proxies are authorized to vote on your behalf, however,
using their best judgment, on any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.
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How do I change my vote?
You may revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting by:
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Notifying our Corporate Secretary, Debra J. Poul, in writing at 102 Rock Road, Horsham, PA 19044, that you are
revoking your proxy; |
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Submitting new voting instructions using any of the methods described above; or |
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Attending and voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting. |
If your shares are held in street name by your stockbroker, bank or other nominee, you must
submit new voting instructions to your stockbroker, bank or other nominee.
Who will count the votes?
An officer of Neose Technologies, Inc. will act as the inspector of election and count the votes.
What constitutes a quorum?
The holders of a majority of the 54,387,843 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the
record date (or 27,193,922 shares), either present or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum. A
quorum is necessary in order to conduct the Annual Meeting. If you choose to have your shares
represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, you will be considered part of the quorum. If a quorum
is not present at the Annual Meeting, the stockholders present in person or by proxy may adjourn
the meeting to a date when a quorum is present. If an adjournment is for more than 30 days or a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, we will provide notice of the adjourned meeting to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
What vote is required to approve each proposal?
Election of Directors. For Proposal 1, the election of directors, the nominees will be elected
by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. This means that the seven nominees with the most votes
for election will be elected. You may choose to vote, or withhold your vote, separately for each
nominee. A properly executed proxy marked WITHHOLD AUTHORITY with respect to the election of
one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated,
although it will be counted for the purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.
Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. For Proposal
2, ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm, the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person
or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal will be required for approval. A
properly executed proxy marked ABSTAIN with respect to this proposal will not be voted,
although it will be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares of Common Stock
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote. Accordingly, an abstention will
have the effect of a negative vote.
Amendment to our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. For Proposal 3, an amendment to our 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock
represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal will be required for
approval. A properly executed proxy marked ABSTAIN with respect to this proposal will not be
voted, although it will be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares of Common
Stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote. Accordingly, an abstention will
have the effect of a negative vote. Broker non-votes will be included in determining whether a
quorum is present for this proposal.
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However, broker non-votes will not be considered entitled
to vote for this proposal. Accordingly, broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote.
Amendment of our Certificate of Incorporation. For Proposal 4, an amendment of our certificate
of incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance by us
from 75,000,000 shares to 150,000,000, and to increase the number of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Shares authorized for issuance by us from 300,000 shares to 1,500,000
shares, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock on the record date will be required for approval. Broker non-votes and properly executed
proxies marked ABSTAIN with respect to this proposal will not be voted, although they will be included in determining whether a quorum is present for this proposal. Accordingly, broker
non-votes and abstentions will have the effect of negative votes.
Other Proposals. Any other proposal that might properly come before the meeting will require
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in
person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such proposal in order to be approved.
On any such proposal, abstentions would be counted in the tabulation of the votes cast by
stockholders as negative votes. Broker non-votes would not be counted in the tabulation of the
votes cast on the proposal.
What percentage of our Common Stock is held by our directors and officers?
Our current directors and executive officers are entitled to vote 7,795,072 shares of the
54,387,843 shares of Common Stock outstanding on the record date, or approximately 14.3%. However,
they are deemed to beneficially own approximately 21.4% of our Common Stock as of March 16, 2007
under applicable rules of the SEC. See the discussion under the heading Stock Ownership of our
Directors, Executive Officers, and 5% Beneficial Owners on page 15 for more details.
Who is soliciting proxies, how are they being solicited, and who pays the cost?
We, on behalf of our Board of Directors, through our directors, officers, and employees, are
soliciting proxies primarily by mail and the Internet. In addition, proxies may also be solicited
in person, by telephone, or facsimile. The Company will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. We
will also reimburse stockbrokers and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation material to the owners of
our Common Stock.
When are stockholder proposals for next years Annual Meeting due?
To be included in the mailing of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, and
Proxy voting card for our 2008 Annual Meeting, proposed stockholder proposals must be received on
or after December 6, 2007 and on or before January 5, 2008 by our Corporate Secretary, at 102 Rock
Road, Horsham, PA 19044. You should submit any proposal by a method that permits you to prove the
date of delivery to us. See the discussion under the heading Requirements for Advance Notification
of Nominations and Stockholder Proposals beginning on page 48 for information regarding certain
procedures provided by our By-Laws with respect to stockholder proposals and nominations of
directors.
Who is our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and will they be represented at the
Annual Meeting?
KMPG LLP served as the independent registered public accounting firm auditing our financial
statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, and managements assessment of our
internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2006. KPMG LLP has been appointed to audit and report on
our financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting for 2007. We expect that
representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to
make a statement, if they desire, and will be available to answer appropriate questions after the
meeting.
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Will the directors be in attendance at the meeting?
We currently expect all of our nominated directors to be in attendance at the Annual Meeting. We
regularly schedule a Board of Directors meeting immediately following the annual meeting of
stockholders to facilitate attendance at both meetings by our directors. All of the then current
directors attended the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, except Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
How may I obtain a copy of Neoses Form 10-K or additional copies of this Proxy Statement?
You may request a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 or
this Proxy Statement, by writing to our Corporate Secretary at 102 Rock Road, Horsham,
Pennsylvania, 19044 or via e-mail at info@neose.com.
Governance of the Company
Our business, property and affairs are managed by, or under the direction of, our Board
of Directors, in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and our
By-Laws. Members of our Board of Directors are kept informed of our business through discussions
with the Chief Executive Officer and key members of management, by reviewing materials provided to
them by management, and by participating in meetings of our Board of Directors and its Committees.
On February 15, 2006, C. Boyd Clarke resigned as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
effective at our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders held on May 4, 2006. Mr. Clarke remains a
director. On February 14, 2006, our Board of Directors met and, subject to and effective upon Mr.
Clarkes resignation, appointed George J. Vergis, Ph.D. to the position of Chief Executive Officer.
At that time, our Board was expanded from nine directors to ten and Dr. Vergis was named a
director. As a result of Mr. Clarkes resignation, Dr. Vergis become our Chief Executive Officer,
effective May 4, 2006, and became a member of our Board, effective February 15, 2006.
On May 4, 2006, L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D. was elected non-executive Chairman of the Board of
Directors to replace Mr. Clarke as Chairman.
During 2006, our Board of Directors held nine meetings and the Committees held a total of 14
meetings. All of our Board members attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors
held during 2006, except for Mark H. Rachesky, M.D. All of our Board members attended at least 75%
of the meetings of Committees of the Board on which they served during 2006.
Our Board of Directors has provided two methods for stockholders to communicate with our
Board. Stockholder communications may be sent to our Board by email to
boardofdirectors@neose.com or by mail addressed to: Board of Directors, Neose Technologies,
Inc., 102 Rock Road, Horsham, PA 19044.
We continue to review our corporate governance policies and practices by comparing our policies and
practices with those suggested by various groups or authorities active in evaluating or setting
best practices for corporate governance of public companies. Based on this review, we have adopted,
and will continue to adopt, changes that our Board of Directors believes are the best corporate
governance policies and practices for us. We have adopted changes and will continue to adopt
changes, as appropriate, to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and subsequent rule changes
made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (NASDAQ).
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Independence of Directors
In December 2002, our Board of Directors adopted a set of Corporate Governance Principles,
addressing, among other things, standards for evaluating the independence of our directors. The
full text of these Principles can be found on our website at www.neose.com (under the section
entitled About Neose Corporate Governance).
According to these Principles, no director is considered independent unless our Board has
affirmatively determined that the director has no material relationship with us (either directly,
or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has such a relationship with the
Company). These Principles comply with the applicable rules of the SEC and NASDAQ. Pursuant to
these Principles, our Board undertook its annual review of director independence in February 2007.
After considering all relevant facts and circumstances, our Board affirmatively determined that all
of the directors nominated for election at the Annual Meeting are independent under the standards
set forth in the Corporate Governance Principles and applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules, with the
exception of Mr. Clarke and Dr. Vergis.
Committees of our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors has four Committees: the Audit Committee, which was established in
accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange
Act), the Compensation Committee, the Corporate Governance Committee, and the Scientific Review
Committee. Lowell E. Sears (Chairman), Brian H. Dovey and William F. Hamilton, Ph.D. are the
current members of the Audit Committee. Douglas J. MacMaster, Jr. (Chairman), L. Patrick Gage,
Ph.D., and H. Stewart Parker are the current members of the Compensation Committee. Dr. Hamilton
(Chairman), Mr. MacMaster, Mr. Sears, and Elizabeth H. S. Wyatt are the current members of the
Corporate Governance Committee. Dr. Gage (Chairman) and Ms. Wyatt are the current members of the
Scientific Review Committee.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of three non-employee directors, all of whom are independent as
defined in our Corporate Governance Principles and under the rules of the SEC and NASDAQ. In
addition, our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Sears, the Chairman of our Audit
Committee, qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined in the rules of the SEC.
The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which can be viewed on our website at
www.neose.com (under About Neose Corporate Governance). The charter gives the Audit Committee
the authority and responsibility for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of our
independent registered public accounting firm, including pre-approval of all audit and non-audit
services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. The charter also
gives the Audit Committee broader authority to fulfill its obligations under SEC and NASDAQ
requirements. The Report of the Audit Committee is set forth on page 14 of this Proxy Statement.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee consists of three non-employee directors, all of whom are
independent under the rules of NASDAQ and as defined in our Corporate Governance Principles, and
are also Non-Employee Directors as defined in SEC Rule 16b-3 and Outside Directors as defined
under the treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The
Compensation Committee determines the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, and reviews and
takes action on the recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer as to the appropriate
compensation of other officers. The Compensation Committee is primarily responsible for the
administration of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, under which stock option grants have been made to
employees, including executive officers, and non-employee directors and consultants, and restricted
stock units (RSUs) have been granted
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to officers and directors. Please refer to the section
entitled Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis, below, for greater detail
regarding the scope of authority of the Compensation Committee and the role others within and
outside our organization, such as our management, play in determining compensation levels. The
Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter, which can be viewed on our website at
www.neose.com (under About Neose Corporate Governance).
Corporate Governance Committee
The Corporate Governance Committee consists of four independent directors, as that term is
defined in our Corporate Governance Principles and under applicable rules of NASDAQ. Our Corporate
Governance Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which can be viewed on our website at
www.neose.com (under About Neose Corporate Governance). The role of the Corporate Governance
Committee is to: (1) identify individuals qualified to become Board members and recommend to our
Board the director nominees for each annual meeting of our stockholders; (2) recommend to our Board
any changes in our Corporate Governance Principles; (3) lead our Board in its annual review of the
performance of our Board and its Committees, and make recommendations to our Board regarding Board
organization, membership, function and effectiveness, as well as committee structure, membership,
function and effectiveness; (4) recommend to our Board director nominees for each Board Committee;
(5) review our efforts to promote diversity among directors, officers, employees and contractors;
(6) ensure an orientation for all directors; and (7) perform such other functions as are allocated
to it under the Corporate Governance Principles. The Chairman of our Board, currently Dr. Gage,
chairs the executive sessions of our Board.
Generally, our Board seeks diverse members who possess the background, skills and expertise to
make a significant contribution to our Board, the Company and our stockholders. The Corporate
Governance Committee looks for relevant experience, such as high-level leadership experience in
business or administrative activities, breadth of knowledge about issues affecting us, and the
ability and willingness to contribute special competencies to Board activities, and evaluates this
experience in the context of the current make-up of our Board. The Corporate Governance Committee
also looks for certain personal attributes, such as integrity, ability and willingness to apply
sound and independent business judgment, comprehensive understanding of a directors role in
corporate governance, availability for meetings and consultation on Company matters, and the
willingness to assume and carry out fiduciary responsibility. Qualified candidates for membership
on our Board will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national
origin or disability.
The Corporate Governance Committees process for identifying and evaluating nominees,
including any nominated by stockholders, is as follows. First, to establish a context for its
nominations, it reviews the size, composition, organization and operational structure of our Board,
and identifies missing skills and expertise. The Corporate Governance Committee then reviews the
incumbent directors overall service to the Company during their term, including the number of
meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance, and any other relevant factors,
including independence as defined by the Corporate Governance Principles and applicable SEC and
NASDAQ rules. This review is based in part on the Board and Committee evaluations completed by each
director. If the Corporate Governance Committee concludes new candidates are appropriate, it will
review appropriate biographical information about the proposed candidates consistent with the
standards applied to the incumbent directors. In seeking candidates, the Corporate Governance
Committee will seek suggestions from other Board members and may also engage the services of a
professional search firm. The Corporate Governance Committee will discuss and consider the
potential candidates and choose those candidates to recommend to our Board.
Before recommending director candidates to our Board, the Corporate Governance Committee also
will consider any director candidates that have been recommended by stockholders. Stockholder
recommendations of potential candidates may be sent to the Corporate Governance Committee by email
at boardofdirectors@neose.com or by mail addressed to: Corporate Governance Committee, Neose
8
Technologies, Inc., 102 Rock Road, Horsham, PA 19044. Submissions must include sufficient
biographical information concerning the recommended individual, including age, ten-year employment
history with employer names and a description of each employers business, whether such individual
can read and understand basic financial
statements, board memberships (if any), and whether such individual has agreed to be named in the
proxy statement and service as a director if elected, for the Corporate Governance Committee to
consider.
In addition, our By-Laws provide that nominations for director may be made by a stockholder
entitled to vote who delivers notice along with the additional information and materials required
by our By-Laws to our Corporate Secretary not less than 120 nor more than 150 days prior to the
first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement mailed to stockholders in connection with the
preceding years annual meeting. For our annual meeting in the year 2008, we must receive this
notice on or after December 6, 2007 and on or before January 5, 2008. You can obtain a copy of the
By-law provision by writing to our Corporate Secretary, 102 Rock Road, Horsham, PA 19044. A copy of
our By-Laws has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on
November 13, 2002, and is available through the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
Scientific Review Committee
The Scientific Review Committee consists of two independent directors, as that term is defined
in our Corporate Governance Principles. The Scientific Review Committee reviews and evaluates the
major research and development programs being conducted by us and evaluates whether these research
and development activities prudently support our overall business objectives and strategies. The
Scientific Review Committee also reviews major trends in the marketplace and assesses technologies
that we may seek to acquire.
Board and Committee Meetings held during 2006
During 2006, our Board of Directors held nine meetings, our Audit Committee held four
meetings, our Compensation Committee held four meetings, our Corporate Governance Committee held
four meetings, and our Scientific Review Committee held two meetings. Except for Mark Rachesky,
M.D. and H. Stewart Parker, each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of
our Board and the Committees on which he or she served.
Compensation of Directors
Directors who are also our employees receive no additional compensation for serving as a
director or as a member of any Committee of the Board. Under our current arrangements, each
non-employee director is entitled to receive an annual retainer of $14,000. Upon initial election
or appointment to our Board of Directors, each non-employee director will receive an option to
purchase 30,000 shares of our Common Stock, and on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders,
each non-employee director re-elected to our Board will receive an option to purchase 10,000 shares
of our Common Stock. Each automatic option grant has an exercise price equal to the fair market
value of our Common Stock on the date of grant. Each automatic grant is immediately exercisable,
and has a term of ten years, subject to earlier termination, following the directors cessation of
service on our Board of Directors. Any shares purchased upon exercise of the option are subject to
repurchase should the directors service as a non-employee director cease prior to vesting of the
shares. The initial automatic option grant of 30,000 shares vests in successive equal, annual
installments over the directors initial four-year period of Board service. Each annual automatic
option vests upon the directors completion of one year of service on our Board of Directors, as
measured from the grant date. Each outstanding option vests immediately, however, upon certain
changes in the ownership or control of the Company.
9
Non-employee directors are compensated for their services at each meeting of our Board they
attend at the following rates: $2,500 for Board meetings attended in person, and $1,000 for
telephonic meetings of our Board. Non-employee directors are also paid an annual retainer for
service on Board Committees and are compensated for their services at each meeting of a Board
Committee which they attend, at the following rates:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Committee/Position |
|
Retainer |
|
Meeting Fee |
Audit Committee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chair |
|
$ |
8,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,000 |
|
Member |
|
$ |
4,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,500 |
|
Telephonic meetings or participation by
telephone for Chair or member |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
$ |
1,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Governance, Compensation and
Scientific Review Committees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chair |
|
$ |
4,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
Member |
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,000 |
|
Telephonic meetings or participation by
telephone for Chair or member |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
$ |
1,000 |
|
All Board members are reimbursed for their reasonable travel expenses incurred to attend
meetings of our Board or Committees of the Board on which they serve.
In 2006, our Directors, except Dr. Vergis who does not receive any additional compensation for
his role as director, received the following compensation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or |
|
Option |
|
|
Name |
|
Paid in Cash |
|
Awards (1) |
|
Total |
L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D. |
|
$ |
79,500 |
|
|
$ |
19,117 |
|
|
$ |
98,617 |
|
C. Boyd Clarke (2) |
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
Brian H. Dovey |
|
|
36,500 |
|
|
|
16,149 |
|
|
|
52,649 |
|
William F. Hamilton, Ph.D. |
|
|
51,000 |
|
|
|
16,149 |
|
|
|
67,149 |
|
Douglas J. MacMaster, Jr. |
|
|
47,000 |
|
|
|
16,149 |
|
|
|
63,149 |
|
H. Stewart Parker |
|
|
30,500 |
|
|
|
28,287 |
|
|
|
58,787 |
|
Mark H. Rachesky, M.D. |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
16,149 |
|
|
|
31,149 |
|
Lowell E. Sears |
|
|
52,500 |
|
|
|
16,149 |
|
|
|
68,649 |
|
Elizabeth Wyatt |
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
|
16,149 |
|
|
|
53,149 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Reflects the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R) and, thus,
includes amounts from awards granted in, and prior to, 2006. Assumptions used in the
calculation of the grant date fair value of these awards are included in Note 10 to our
audited financial statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2006. |
|
(2) |
|
Effective May 14, 2006, Mr. Clarke resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Vergis was
appointed to replace Mr. Clarke as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Clarke continues to serve on
the Board of Directors. The amount shown in the table above reflects fees received by Mr.
Clarke for his service on our board in 2006 after the termination of his employment with us.
The Summary Compensation Table contains compensation information for 2006 relating to both Mr.
Clarkes service as a director and employee of the Company. Mr. Clarke received no option or
stock awards for his service as a director. |
10
As of December 31, 2006, our directors, except Mr. Clarke and Dr. Vergis whose
outstanding equity awards are listed in the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2006 Fiscal Year-End
Table, had the following aggregate number of outstanding equity awards:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Number of |
|
Aggregate Number of |
|
|
Outstanding Option |
|
Outstanding Restricted |
Name |
|
Awards |
|
Stock Unit Awards |
L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D. |
|
|
|
97,147 |
|
|
|
8,197 |
Brian H. Dovey* |
|
|
|
62,147 |
|
|
|
2,869 |
William F. Hamilton, Ph.D. |
|
|
|
65,154 |
|
|
|
5,738 |
Douglas J. MacMaster, Jr. |
|
|
|
96,779 |
|
|
|
8,197 |
H. Stewart Parker |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
2,869 |
Mark H. Rachesky, M.D. |
|
|
|
92,729 |
|
|
|
5,738 |
Lowell E. Sears |
|
|
|
87,966 |
|
|
|
2,869 |
Elizabeth Wyatt |
|
|
|
76,457 |
|
|
|
7,377 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Mr. Dovey is a managing member of Domain Associates, LLC (Domain), a private venture capital
management firm. The number of options includes 42,147 options held by Domain that were
transferred to Domain from Mr. Dovey pursuant to an arrangement between Mr. Dovey and Domain. |
Executive Officers of the Company
George J. Vergis, Ph.D., 46, has served on our Board of Directors since February 2006, and as
our President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2006. Prior to taking his current position, Dr.
Vergis served as President and Chief Operating Officer from October 2005 to May 2006. Dr. Vergis
also served as Executive Vice President, Commercial and Clinical Development from February 2004
through October 2005. From December 2002 through February 2004, Dr. Vergis served as our Senior
Vice President, Business and Commercial Development. He served as our Vice President, Business and
Commercial Development from July 2001 to December 2002. From 1996 to 2001, Dr. Vergis served as
Vice President, New Product Development and Commercialization at Knoll Pharmaceutical Company, a
division of BASF Pharma, responsible for the commercial planning, product development, and
marketing for the immunology franchise. Prior to this position, Dr. Vergis was responsible for
managing the endocrine business for BASF Pharmas Knoll Pharmaceutical Division. Dr. Vergis
previously held a variety of clinical and medical marketing positions at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and
Warner-Lambert Parke-Davis. Dr. Vergis serves as a director of Woods Services, a not-for-profit
organization. Dr. Vergis received his B.A. in biology and history from Princeton University, his
Ph.D. in physiology from The Pennsylvania State University, and his MBA from Columbia University.
A. Brian Davis, 40, has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since
January 2005. From August 2002 until January 2005, he served as our Vice President, Finance, and
from 1994 until August 2002, Mr. Davis served in a variety of positions, most recently as Acting
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Director, Finance. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Davis was employed by
MICRO HealthSystems, Inc., a provider of healthcare information systems, where he served most
recently as Corporate Controller. Mr. Davis is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, received
his B.S. in accounting from Trenton State College and his MBA from the Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania.
11
Valerie M. Mulligan, 45, has served as our Vice President, Quality and Regulatory Affairs,
since October 2005. She joined us in 1996 as Manager, Quality Assurance. Prior to joining the
Company, she was at Ethicon, Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson Company) from 1992 to 1996, serving most
recently as Manager, Corporate Quality Assurance Engineering. From 1983 to 1992, Ms. Mulligan held
positions at McNeil Specialty Products Company (a Johnson & Johnson Company) and Squibb-Linson (a
Bristol-Myers-Squibb Company). She received her B.Sc. in chemistry, as well as a post-graduate
diploma in education, from University College in Dublin.
Debra J. Poul, Esq., 54, has served as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary since December 2002. From May 2002 to December 2002, she served as our Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary, and from January 2000 until May 2002, she served as our General
Counsel. From 1995 to 2000, Ms. Poul was Of Counsel at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP. From 1978 to
1994, Ms. Poul was at Dechert LLP, serving as Counsel from 1989 to 1994. Ms. Poul received her B.A.
from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Villanova University.
David A. Zopf, M.D., 64, has served as our Executive Vice President since January 2002, and
has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since February 2004. He served as our Vice President,
Drug Development from 1992 to January 2002. From 1991 to 1992, we engaged Dr. Zopf as a consultant
on the biomedical applications of complex carbohydrates. From 1988 to 1991, Dr. Zopf served as Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of BioCarb, Inc., a biotechnology company and the U.S.
subsidiary of BioCarb AB, where he managed the research and development programs of novel
carbohydrate-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Dr. Zopf received his A.B. in zoology from
Washington University, and his M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine.
Code of Conduct
We have a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which can be viewed on our website at
www.neose.com (under About Neose Corporate Governance). We require all employees to adhere to
this Code in addressing the legal and ethical issues encountered in conducting their work. The Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics requires that our employees avoid conflicts of interest, comply with
all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner, and
otherwise act with integrity and in our best interest. During 2006, all of our employees certified
that they reviewed and understood this Code.
The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics includes procedures for reporting violations of the
Code. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires companies to have procedures to receive, retain and
treat complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters
and to allow for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics also includes
these required procedures, and complies with applicable rules of the SEC and NASDAQ.
Copies of Referenced Documents
Copies of the documents referred to above that appear on our website are also available upon
request by any stockholder addressed to our Corporate Secretary, 102 Rock Road, Horsham, PA 19044.
Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee has reappointed KMPG LLP to audit and report on our financial
statements, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and the
effectiveness of managements assessment of our internal control over financial reporting for 2007.
12
In making its recommendation to stockholders to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2007, the
Audit Committee considered whether KPMG LLPs provision of services other than audit services is
compatible with maintaining independence of our independent registered public accounting firm. The
Audit Committee pre-approved the fees described below for audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees
and all other fees in accordance with our pre-approval policy as described below and believes such
fees are compatible with the independence of KPMG LLP.
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for each of the last two fiscal years for
professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of
managements assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, for the review of
interim financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and for services
that are normally provided by KPMG LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements, were approximately $255,000 for 2006 and $314,000 for 2005. Our audit fees for 2005
included approximately $57,000 related to the preparation of comfort letters in connection with
a registration statement filed on Form S-3, as well as the issuance of consents to use KPMG
LLPs audit opinions in other registration filings.
Audit-Related Fees. During 2006 and 2005, there were no fees billed that are not reported under
Audit Fees above for assurance and related services by KPMG LLP that are reasonably related to
the performance of the audits or reviews of our financial statements, the effectiveness of our
internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of managements assessment of
our internal control over financial reporting.
Tax Fees. The approximate aggregate fees billed in the last two fiscal years for professional
services rendered by KPMG LLP for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were
approximately $20,000 for 2006 and $23,000 for 2005.
All Other Fees. There were no fees billed in 2006 or 2005 for products and services provided by
KPMG LLP, other than services reported above under Audit Fees or Tax Fees.
Pre-approval Policies and Procedures.
Our Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the engagement of an independent registered
public accounting firm to render audit services for the Company, and any changes to the terms of
the engagement are required to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or its Chairman. On an annual
basis, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the terms of the audit engagement and a
description of, and budget for, the non-audit services management proposes to be provided by our
independent auditors during the fiscal year. Any changes or additions to the approved list or
budget for non-audit services must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or its Chairman. The
required pre-approval policies and procedures were complied with during 2006 and 2005.
13
Report of the Audit Committee
The following Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference
into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except
to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference therein.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised of directors who meet the existing
NASDAQ independence standards as well as the heightened standards for independence included in the
rules of the SEC and the Companys Corporate Governance Principles. The Board of Directors has
determined that the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mr. Sears, qualifies as an audit committee
financial expert as defined in the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee operates under a written
charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which was reviewed and approved in February 2007 and
which is available on our website at www.neose.com.
During 2006, at each of its regularly scheduled meetings, the Audit Committee met with the
senior members of the Companys finance department, the general or deputy general counsel, and
representatives of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm. Also at each
regular meeting, the Audit Committee met privately with representatives of the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm, and discussed financial management, legal,
accounting, auditing, and internal control matters.
At various meetings throughout the year, the Audit Committee discussed the adequacy of the
Companys internal controls, its internal control assessment process, managements assessment of
internal control over financial reporting, and the documentation of, and review of compliance with,
internal controls with the representatives of the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm, with independent consultants hired to assist in our compliance with Section 404 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and with appropriate Company financial personnel and members of
senior management. The Audit Committee also discussed with representatives of the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm their evaluation of the Companys system of internal
control over financial reporting, and discussed with the Companys senior management and
representatives of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm the process used for
the certifications by the Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by
the SEC.
In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee annually evaluates the effectiveness
and objectivity of KPMG LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, reviews
the Audit Committee charter and the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and on a
quarterly basis reviews the Companys adherence to its cash management and investment policies, the
Companys Reports on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K and earnings releases, and considers any disclosures
made by the CEO or CFO as a result of their evaluation of the effectiveness of the Companys
disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting.
The Audit Committee met four times during 2006. The Audit Committee schedules its meetings
with a view to ensuring that it devotes appropriate attention to all of its responsibilities and
promptly reports to the Board thereon. The Audit Committees meetings include executive sessions
with representatives of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm without the
presence of the Companys management.
Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, including the system of
internal controls, and for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S generally
accepted accounting principles. KPMG LLP audited the annual financial statements prepared by
management, expressed an opinion as to whether those financial statements fairly present, in all
material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and discussed with the Audit
Committee any issues they believe should be
14
raised with the Audit Committee. KPMG LLP also audited
and discussed with the Audit Committee the Companys internal control over financial reporting and
managements assessment of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. The Audit
Committees responsibility is to monitor and review these processes. The members of the Audit
Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of accounting or auditing. We rely,
without independent verification, on the information provided to us and on the representations made
by management and the Companys independent registered public accounting firm.
As part of its oversight of the Companys financial statements, the Audit Committee reviewed
and discussed the Companys audited financial statements with representatives of its independent
registered public accounting firm for the relevant periods with and without management present.
During 2006, management advised the Audit Committee that each set of financial statements presented
to the Audit Committee for review had been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles, and management reviewed with the Audit Committee significant accounting and
disclosure issues regarding such statements. These reviews included discussion with the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm of matters required to be discussed by Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended by the Auditing
Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The Audit Committee has
also received the written disclosures and letter from KPMG LLP required by Independence Standards
Board No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, and has discussed with KPMG LLP
matters relating to its independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommended to the Board that the
financial statements prepared by management for the year ended December 31, 2006 be included in the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the same period.
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
Lowell E. Sears, Chairman
Brian H. Dovey
William F. Hamilton, Ph.D.
Stock Ownership of our Directors, Executive Officers,
and 5% Beneficial Owners
The following table shows information known to us about beneficial ownership (as defined
under the regulations of the SEC) of our Common Stock by:
|
|
|
Each person we know to be the beneficial owner of at least five percent of our
Common Stock; |
|
|
|
|
Each current director; |
|
|
|
|
Each executive officer named in our Summary Compensation Table; and |
|
|
|
|
All current directors and executive officers as a group. |
Unless otherwise indicated, the information is as of March 16, 2007.
On March 16, 2007, there were 54,387,843 shares of our Common Stock outstanding. To calculate
a stockholders percentage of beneficial ownership, we include in the numerator and denominator
those shares underlying Common Stock derivatives, such as options, warrants and RSUs, that a person
has the right to acquire within 60 days after March 16, 2007. Common Stock derivatives held by
other stockholders are disregarded in this calculation. Therefore, the denominator used in
calculating beneficial ownership among our stockholders may differ. Unless we have indicated
otherwise, each person named in the table below has sole voting power and investment power for the
shares listed opposite such persons name.
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
|
|
of Common Stock |
|
Percent of |
|
|
Beneficially |
|
Shares |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Owned |
|
Outstanding |
Kopp Investment Advisors, LLC (1)
7701 France Avenue South
Suite 500
Edina, MN 55435 |
|
|
5,002,032 |
|
|
|
9.2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eastbourne Capital Management, L.L.C. (2)
1101 Fifth Avenue
Suite 160
San Rafael, CA 94901 |
|
|
4,584,132 |
|
|
|
8.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potomac Capital Management LLC (3)
825 Third Avenue
33rd Floor
New York, NY 10022 |
|
|
3,274,133 |
|
|
|
6.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Named Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark H. Rachesky (4) |
|
|
5,181,517 |
|
|
|
9.3 |
% |
Brian H. Dovey (5) |
|
|
4,603,891 |
|
|
|
8.3 |
% |
C. Boyd Clarke (6) |
|
|
1,183,431 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
% |
George J. Vergis (6) |
|
|
426,525 |
|
|
|
* |
|
David A. Zopf (6) |
|
|
238,485 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Debra J. Poul (6) |
|
|
216,537 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Douglas J. MacMaster, Jr. (6) |
|
|
153,672 |
|
|
|
* |
|
A. Brian Davis (6) |
|
|
150,745 |
|
|
|
* |
|
William F. Hamilton (6) |
|
|
133,536 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Lowell E. Sears (6)(7) |
|
|
111,582 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Patrick L. Gage (6) |
|
|
105,544 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Elizabeth Wyatt (6) |
|
|
88,834 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Valerie M. Mulligan (6) |
|
|
80,189 |
|
|
|
* |
|
H. Stewart Parker (6) |
|
|
42,869 |
|
|
|
* |
|
All current directors and executive
officers as a group (14 persons)
(4)(5)(6)(7) |
|
|
12,719,357 |
|
|
|
21.4 |
% |
|
|
|
* |
|
Less than one percent. |
|
(1) |
|
According to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 25, 2007: (i) Kopp Investment
Advisors, LLC (KIA) is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940; (ii) KIA is wholly owned by Kopp Holding Company LLC (KHC LLC), which is controlled by
Mr. Leroy C. Kopp (Mr. Kopp) through Kopp Holding Company (KHC); (iii) KIA reported sole
voting power over 2,705,250 shares, sole dispositive power over 209,200 shares and shared
dispositive power over 2,666,900 shares; (iv) KHC LLC reported beneficial ownership of
2,876,100 shares; (v) KHC reported beneficial ownership of 3,424,100 shares; (vi) Mr. Kopp
reported beneficial ownership of 4,349,100 shares, of which Mr. Kopp reported sole voting and
dispositive power over 1,473,000 shares; and (vii) of the shares beneficially owned by the
reporting persons, 3,139,100 are held in a fiduciary or representative capacity. The amount
in the table above also includes 450,297 shares of our Common Stock and warrants to purchase
202,635 shares of our Common Stock that were purchased in our March 2007 equity financing. |
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(2) |
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According to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2007: (i) Richard Jon Barry
(Mr. Barry) is a control person of Eastbourne Capital Management, L.L.C. (Eastbourne);
(ii) Eastbourne is the General Partner |
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of Black Bear Offshore Master Fund, L.P. (Black Bear
Offshore); (iii) each of Mr. Barry and Eastbourne reported beneficial ownership of 4,584,132
shares; (iv) each of Mr. Barry and Eastbourne reported shared voting and dispositive power
over 4,584,132 shares; (v) Black Bear Offshore reported beneficial ownership of, and shared
voting and dispositive power over, 3,049,996 shares; and (vi) Mr. Barry and Eastbourne
disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported, except to the extent of their respective
pecuniary interests therein. |
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(3) |
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According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 16, 2007: (i) Paul J. Solit (Mr.
Solit) is the Managing Member of Potomac Capital Management LLC; (ii) Mr. Solit is the
President and sole owner of Potomac Capital Management Inc.; (iii) each of Potomac Capital
Management LLC, Potomac Capital Management Inc., and Mr. Solit reported beneficial ownership
of 2,197,401 shares; and (iv) each of Potomac Capital Management LLC, Potomac Capital
Management Inc., and Mr. Solit reported shared voting and dispositive power over 2,197,401
shares. The amount in the table above also includes 742,574 shares of our Common Stock and
warrants to purchase 334,158 shares of our Common Stock that were purchased in our March 2007
equity financing. |
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(4) |
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Includes 3,969,189 shares and warrants to purchase 1,113,861 shares held by MHR Capital
Partners Master Account LP (MHRCPMA), MHR Capital Partners (100) LP (MHRCP 100), MRL Partners
LP (MRLLP), and OTT LLC, as disclosed in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on March 15,
2007. Dr. Rachesky is a member of OTT LLC and the managing member of MHR Advisors LLC
(MHRAL), the general partner of MHRCPMA, MHRCP 100
and MRLLP. Also includes 98,467 shares issuable to Mr. Rachesky under stock options and RSUs
that are deemed exercisable within 60 days after March 16, 2007. Dr. Rachesky disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares held by MHRCPMA, MHRCP 100, MRLLP, and OTT LLC, except to the
extent of his pecuniary interest in the funds. |
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(5) |
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Includes (i) 3,425,014 shares owned by Domain Partners V, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (DPV), and DP V Associates, L.P. a Delaware limited partnership (DPVA), of
which the general partner is One Palmer Square Associates V, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company, of which Mr. Dovey is a Managing Member, (ii) warrants to purchase
1,113,861 shares purchased by DPV and DPVA in our March 2007 equity financing, (iii) 42,147
shares issuable to Domain Associates, L.L.C. (DA), of which Mr. Dovey is a Managing Member,
under stock options that are exercisable within 60 days after March 16, 2007, and (iii) 22,869
shares issuable to Mr. Dovey under stock options and RSUs that are deemed exercisable within
60 days after March 16, 2007. Mr. Dovey disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by
DA, DPV and DPVA, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such shares. |
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(6) |
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Includes the following shares of common stock issuable under stock options and RSUs that are
deemed exercisable within 60 days after March 16, 2007: Clarke 1,025,000 shares; Vergis
408,750 shares; Zopf 217,500 shares; Poul 190,000 shares; MacMaster 103,822 shares; Davis
133,250 shares; Hamilton 70,453 shares; Sears 90,258 shares; Gage 92,844 shares; Wyatt
83,834 shares; Mulligan 74,500 shares; Parker 42,869 shares; and all current directors
and executive officers as a group 4,924,285 shares. |
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(7) |
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Includes 21,324 shares of common stock owned by the Sears Family Living Trust, of which Mr.
Sears is trustee. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Based solely upon a review of reports of stock ownership (and changes in stock ownership)
and written representations received by us, we believe that our directors and executive officers
met all of their filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
during the year ended December 31, 2006.
17
Proposal 1 Election of Directors
Nominees for Election
Our Board of Directors currently has ten members. Upon the recommendation of the Corporate
Governance Committee, and action by our Board, the size of the Board will be reduced to seven
effective May 4, 2007 to reflect our smaller size, and seven members have been nominated for
re-election. Each nominee has agreed, if elected, to serve a one-year term or until the election
and qualification of his or her successor. If any nominee is unable to stand for election, which
circumstance we do not anticipate, our Board may provide for a lesser number of directors or
designate a substitute. In the latter event, shares represented by proxies may be voted for a
substitute nominee.
If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, then nominees will be elected by a plurality of
the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the
meeting. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the nominees.
L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D., 64, has served on our Board since October 2002 and as Chairman of our
Board of Directors since May 2006. Dr. Gage has been a Venture Partner with Flagship Ventures since
2003 and currently serves as Chairman of Acceleron Pharma Inc. and Adnexus Therapeutics, Inc., two
private
biopharmaceutical companies. He also serves as a director of one public company, PDL BioPharma,
Inc., and two private companies, Immune Control Inc. and Alvine Pharmaceuticals Inc. Dr. Gage is an
advisor to Functional Genetics, Inc., Perkin Elmer, Inc. and Warburg Pincus LLC. Dr. Gage served as
Senior Vice President, Science and Technology, at Wyeth from 2001 to 2002, and as President of
Wyeth Research from 1998 to 2002. Prior to Wyeth, Dr. Gage held positions of increasing
responsibility at Genetics Institute, Inc. from 1989 to 1998, culminating with his service as
President after the company was acquired by Wyeth. He also spent 18 years at Hoffmann-La Roche,
Inc. in various scientific and management positions. He is also a director of two non-profit
companies, the Biotechnology Institute and The Philadelphia Orchestra Association. Dr. Gage has a
B.S. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from The University of
Chicago.
Brian H. Dovey, 65, has served on our Board since May 2003. He is a Managing Member of Domain
Associates, L.L.C., a private venture capital management firm focused on life sciences, and has
served in this capacity with the firm since 1988. He has served as Chairman of three companies and
on the Board of Directors of some 30 additional companies, including BAS Medical, Inc., Ocera
Therapeutics, Inc., Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., Orqis Medical Corporation, REVA Medical, Inc. and
SkinMedica, Inc. Prior to joining Domain, Mr. Dovey spent six years at Rorer Group, Inc. (now
Aventis), including as President from 1986 to 1988. Previously, he was President of Survival
Technology, Inc., a start-up medical products company. He also held management positions with
Howmedica, Inc., Howmet Corporation, and New York Telephone. Mr. Dovey has served as both President
and Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association. He is the chair of the Board of Managers
of the Wistar Institute. Mr. Dovey received his B.A. from Colgate University and an MBA degree from
the Harvard Business School.
William F. Hamilton, Ph.D., 68, has served on our Board since 1991. Dr. Hamilton has served on
the University of Pennsylvania faculty since 1967, and is the Landau Professor of Management and
Technology, and Director of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology at The Wharton
School and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. He serves as a director of NovaDel Pharma
Inc., Neuronyx Inc., Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. and Yaupon Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Hamilton
received his B.S. and M.S. in chemical engineering and his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania,
and his Ph.D. in applied economics from the London School of Economics.
18
Douglas J. MacMaster, Jr., 76, has served on our Board since 1993. Mr. MacMaster served as
Senior Vice President of Merck & Co., Inc. from 1988 until his retirement in 1992, where he was
responsible for worldwide chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, the Agvet Division, and the
Specialty Chemicals Group. From 1985 to 1988, Mr. MacMaster was President of the Merck Sharp Dohme
Division of Merck. Mr. MacMaster serves as a director of Martek Biosciences Corp., a public
biological products manufacturing company. He received his B.A. from St. Francis Xavier University,
and his J.D. from Boston College Law School.
H. Stewart Parker, 51, has served on our Board since May 2005. Ms. Parker currently serves as
the President and Chief Executive Officer of Targeted Genetics Corporation, a public biotechnology
company, and has held various positions with the company since its founding in 1992. From 1981 to
1992, she held various positions at Immunex Corporation, most recently as Vice President, Corporate
Development. From 1991 to 1993, Ms. Parker served as President, CEO and director of Receptech
Corporation. She serves on the board of directors and the executive committee of the Biotechnology
Industry Organization, and as a director of several privately-held companies and not-for-profit
organizations. Ms. Parker received her B.A. and MBA from the University of Washington.
Mark H. Rachesky, M.D., 47, has served on our Board since 1999. Dr. Rachesky has served
as the President, as well as the founder, of MHR Management LLC and affiliates, investment managers
of various private investment funds that invest in inefficient market sectors, including special
situation equities and distressed investments, since 1996. From 1990 through 1996, Dr. Rachesky was
employed by Carl C. Icahn, initially as a senior investment officer and for the last three years as
sole Managing Director of Icahn Holding
Corporation, and acting chief investment advisor. Dr. Rachesky is currently on the Board of
Directors of Loral Space & Communications, Inc. (where he is Non-Executive Chairman of the Board),
Leap Wireless International, Inc. (where he is Non-Executive Chairman of the Board), NationsHealth
Inc., and Emisphere Technologies, Inc.. Dr. Rachesky is a graduate of Stanford University School of
Medicine, and Stanford University School of Business. Dr. Rachesky graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania with a major in Molecular Aspects of Cancer.
George J. Vergis, Ph.D., 46, has served on our Board since February 2006 and since May 2006
has been our Chief Executive Officer and President. Prior to taking his current position, Dr.
Vergis served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from October 2005 to May 2006. Dr.
Vergis also served as our Executive Vice President, Commercial and Clinical Development from
February 2004 through October 2005. From December 2002 through February 2004, Dr. Vergis served as
our Senior Vice President, Business and Commercial Development. He served as our Vice President,
Business and Commercial Development from July 2001 to December 2002. From 1996 to May 2001, Dr.
Vergis served as Vice President, New Product Development and Commercialization at Knoll
Pharmaceutical Company, a division of BASF Pharma, responsible for the commercial planning, product
development, and marketing for the immunology franchise. Prior to this position, Dr. Vergis was
responsible for managing the endocrine business for BASF Pharmas Knoll Pharmaceutical Division.
Dr. Vergis previously held a variety of clinical and medical marketing positions at Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals and Warner-Lambert Parke-Davis. Dr. Vergis serves as a director of Woods Services,
a not-for-profit organization. Dr. Vergis received his B.A. in biology and history from Princeton
University, his Ph.D. in physiology from The Pennsylvania State University, and his MBA from
Columbia University.
Nomination of Directors
Our Board of Directors has nominated seven current directors to stand for re-election based
upon the recommendations of the Corporate Governance Committee, which is comprised solely of
non-management, independent directors. One of our directors, Dr. Rachesky, was nominated in
accordance with our agreement to use best efforts to cause the Board to nominate the nominee of MHR
Capital Partners for election as a Board member, as long as MHR Capital Partners or its affiliates
own at least 200,000 shares of our Common Stock. See the discussions under the headings Governance
of the Company Corporate
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Governance Committee and Requirements for Advance Notification of
Nominations and Stockholder Proposals beginning on pages 8 and 48, respectively, for information
about procedures for stockholder nomination of directors.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview
We are a small company without earnings, competing with companies of all sizes to attract a
workforce with the skills and talent necessary to develop drugs and achieve our objectives. Given
that funding for compensation is limited, we have tried to devise a compensation structure that can
attract the essential experience and skills needed at the executive level, while minimizing, to the
extent possible, cash outlays. We have done this by combining base salary with variable
compensation and stock options.
Each element of our executives compensation takes into account corporate performance,
although as further described below, some elements may focus more heavily on short- or long-term
performance and some elements also take into consideration particular recruitment and retention
objectives.
Process
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (the Committee) is responsible for
determining the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, and reviews and takes action on the
recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer as to the appropriate compensation of our other
executive officers, including the named executive officers included in the Summary Compensation
Table on page 26. The Compensation Committee is primarily responsible for the administration of our
2004 Equity Incentive Plan, under which stock option grants have been made to employees, including
the named executive officers, as well as non-employee directors and consultants, and RSUs have been
granted to executive officers and directors.
The Committee consists of three non-employee directors, all of whom are independent under
the rules of NASDAQ and as defined in our Corporate Governance Principles, and are also
Non-Employee Directors as defined in SEC Rule 16(b)-3 and Outside Directors as defined under
the treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Report
of the Compensation Committee is set forth on page 25 of this Proxy Statement.
The current members of the Committee are Douglas J. MacMaster, Jr., L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D. and
H. Stewart Parker. None of these individuals has ever been an officer or employee of the Company.
In addition, none of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or
compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of
the Committee.
The Committee does not use outside consultants. The Committee meets annually at the end of
each calendar year and at least once at the beginning of each calendar year regarding compensation
decisions. These meetings are typically scheduled months in advance. At its meeting at the end of
each year, the Committee determines the information it wishes to receive to enable it to make
compensation decisions regarding the budget for annual salary increases for the subsequent year,
awarding of bonuses for the year about to be completed, and annual grants of stock options to
employees, including executive officers. Based on this information, the Committee makes
compensation decisions at its meeting or meetings at the beginning of the subsequent year.
Management assembles and distributes to the Committee in advance of the meetings the information
requested by the Committee, and conducts annual performance reviews of all employees, including the
named executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer. The results of these reviews are
included in the materials circulated to the Committee, along with the Chief Executive Officers
recommendations for the compensation for our executive officers. The Committee is responsible
20
for monitoring and reviewing the performance of the CEO on an ongoing basis.
The Committee reaffirmed its philosophy of combining base compensation with variable
compensation and stock options at its January 2007 meeting. The implementation of this philosophy
is supported by the corporate and individual ratings that have been established to inform the
Committee about performance. In each case, the possible ratings are: exceeds expectations, meets
expectations, meets some expectations and below expectations. The Chief Executive Officer
makes a recommendation about the rating of the Company based on the achievement of the corporate
objectives for the year and the Committee makes the final determination.
Elements of Compensation
The three basic elements of our executive compensation are:
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Base salary; |
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Variable compensation, consisting of annual bonuses based on individual and
corporate performance (paid in RSUs for 2005 bonuses, half in RSUs and half in cash for
2004 bonuses and in cash for other years); and |
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Initial and annual grants of long-term stock options. |
We believe this combination of elements provides reasonable fixed compensation on which our
executives can rely, while providing both short-term and long-term performance incentives.
Base Salaries
Faced with competition from large pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies for
employees skilled in regulatory affairs, clinical operations, process development, fermentation,
quality control, quality assurance, manufacturing, analytics, and other areas relevant to drug and
technology development, we aim to provide sufficient fixed compensation for employees, targeting
the 50th percentile of industry benchmarks, using Radford Surveys and other
publicly-reported or available information about other companies that we from time to time identify
as relevant comparators. The Committee also considers other factors, including internal pay equity,
the unique qualifications and experience and performance of particular executives, as well as
negotiations and input from search consultants.
Base salaries are reviewed annually for adjustment based on evaluations of corporate and
individual performance in the preceding year, again taking into account performance, internal pay
equity and industry comparables as well as available information about general and
industry-specific salary increase data. Our Chief Executive Officers performance is evaluated
exclusively by the Committee and the performance of other named executive officers is evaluated by
the Chief Executive Officer. Ultimately, all salary determinations for our named executive officers
are made by the Committee, which is free to accept or reject the recommendations of our Chief
Executive Officer.
Annual Bonuses
Under our annual bonus program, each employee is eligible to receive a target annual bonus
expressed as a percentage of his or her base salary for the year. Target bonus percentages are 35%
for vice presidents, 50% for senior and executive vice presidents, and 75% for our Chief Executive
Officer. These target percentages are established annually by the Committee, not with reference to
any particular benchmark, but rather based on the experience and judgment of its members. Our
Chief Executive Officers target percentage is set at 75% pursuant to his employment agreement.
21
Payment of our annual bonuses is based primarily on corporate and individual performance.
At the start of each year, performance objectives are established by the Chief Executive Officer,
the Committee and our Board for the Company, and by our Chief Executive Officer for each individual
executive officer as a way to communicate our expectations and to maintain and unify our
executives focus on key strategic objectives, as well as to measure performance.
For 2006, the corporate objectives approved by the Committee included:
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Complete a Phase I clinical trial in Europe, complete our response to the FDA and
continue clinical development for NE-180 (GlycoPEG-EPO); |
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Along with our partner, BioGenerix AG, complete pre-clinical development, commence
the regulatory process in Europe and commence a Phase I clinical trial for
GlycoPEG-GCSF; |
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Complete pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and mechanism of action studies for
GlycoPEG-hGH; |
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Complete proof of concept in vitro and animal studies on at least two proteins not
previously worked on by us; and |
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Secure additional funding. |
The corporate objectives were not specifically weighted. The individual objectives of the
named executive officers were designed to support the corporate objectives, and to enable the Chief
Executive Officer and the Committee to evaluate the performance of each executive officer. For our
Chief Executive Officer, the individual objectives are the same as the corporate objectives.
The achievement, or failure to achieve, the corporate and individual performance objectives
described above inform the Committees determination regarding the payment of annual bonuses, but
is not entirely determinative. Whether or not the listed objectives are achieved, the Committee may
choose to pay bonuses above or below the target level noted above, based on its own evaluation of
each named executives performance. And just as it seeks input from our Chief Executive Officer
when adjusting base salaries, the Committee seeks input of our Chief Executive Officer in
evaluating individual executives performance (other than the performance of the Chief Executive
Officer himself) for purposes of awarding annual bonuses.
Annual
bonuses for 2006 were paid in cash. In 2004, they were paid in a combination of
RSUs and cash, and in 2005 solely in RSUs, because of concerns about cash utilization.
Stock Options
We have also chosen to use equity compensation (primarily stock options) to provide long-term
upside to our executives without cash outlay by us, and to align their interests with those of our
stockholders. We also believe that stock options and other equity grants serve as an effective
retention device for executives.
We adopt annual guidelines, expressed in the number of shares for which options will be
granted, for stock option grants based on job level. These guidelines are based on the experience
and judgment of members of the Committee, rather than directly on benchmarks. Other than in
extraordinary circumstances, such as promotions, options are granted annually at a previously
scheduled meeting in accordance with these guidelines to all employees, including the named
executive officers. In all cases, options are priced at the closing price for our Common Stock on
the date of grant.
The Compensation Committee approves all grants of stock options to executive officers.
Generally, each option is exercisable over a ten-year period (subject to earlier termination in the
event of a cessation of employment) at the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of grant
and vests in equal annual
22
installments over a four-year period. In connection with the recruitment
of key executives, we have made exceptions to the vesting schedules of certain grants. This was the
case for some of the options granted to Dr. Vergis when he was hired in 2001.
Our stock options will provide a benefit to the executive officer only if he or she remains
employed by or otherwise in service to the Company during the vesting period, and then only if the
market price of our Common Stock has increased before the expiration of the exercise period. During
2006, the Committee granted options to our executive officers to purchase 575,000 shares of Common
Stock, including an option to purchase 300,000 shares granted on February 15, 2006 to Dr. Vergis in
connection with the announcement that he would be named Chief Executive Officer effective May 4,
2006.
Allocation Between Different Compensation Elements
Rather than setting a total level of target compensation and allocating that total amount
among different compensation elements, the Committee determines appropriate levels of the principal
elements of our executive officers compensation independently. The Committee is nonetheless
cognizant of total compensation levels and believes that its efforts to appropriately size each of
the three principal elements of our executive officers compensation has resulted in total
compensation levels that are appropriate and reasonable.
2006 and 2007 Compensation Determinations
Dr. Vergis became our Chief Executive Officer in May 2006 upon the effectiveness of Mr.
Clarkes resignation. The Committee set his annual salary at $350,000, and, in accordance with the
bonus target percentages established by the Committee for the Chief Executive Officer and reflected
in Dr. Vergis employment contract, set a target percentage of 75% of base salary for his annual
performance incentive bonus. The Committee also agreed in his employment contract that, for 2006,
if Dr. Vergis remained employed by us through the sooner of (i) the date of our payment of 2006
annual bonuses to senior executives and (ii) March 15, 2007, Dr. Vergis annual bonus for the 2006
calendar year would not be less than $105,000. The Committee also granted to Dr. Vergis an option
to purchase 300,000 shares of Common Stock. The option was granted on February 15, 2006 with an
exercise price of $3.08 per share, which was the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of
grant. The option vests in four equal, annual installments, commencing on February 15, 2007. These
terms were reached as a result of negotiation, in the context of the Committees understanding of
the costs of recruiting and attracting an alternative candidate, and Dr. Vergis experience and
qualifications. We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Vergis on May 4, 2006 to
memorialize these terms, which agreement is further described below under the heading Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.
In January 2007, the Committee set target bonus percentages for 2007. The target percentages
for 2007 are the same as those in effect for 2006 and noted above: Chief Executive Officer 75%;
Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents 50%; and Vice Presidents 35%. The
corporate objectives for 2007 include the following:
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With respect to NE-180 (GlycoPEG-EPO), complete a Phase II clinical trial in Europe, and
continue clinical development, including commencement of an additional Phase II trial; |
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With respect to GlycoPEG-G-CSF, with our partner, BioGeneriX, complete the initial Phase
I trial in Europe, complete a second Phase I trial, and take other steps to advance
clinical development; and |
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Move other programs forward, including our collaboration with Novo Nordisk. |
At the January 2007 meeting, the Committee made regularly scheduled stock option grants to all
employees in accordance with its pre-existing guidelines. In making these grants, the Committee
reasoned that the awards are, by nature, forward-looking and intended, in accordance with our
compensation
23
strategy, to provide long-term incentive. Accordingly, consistent with past practice
and the option guidelines most recently revised on January 30, 2006, the Committee approved the
grant of options with respect to an aggregate of 225,000 shares of our Common Stock to our named
executive officers.
Stock option grants made in 2006 are detailed below in the table entitled Grants of
Plan-Based Awards.
At a meeting in March 2007, the Committee rated our 2006 performance as meets expectations
based on the performance to objectives as of the date of the meeting. The Committee evaluated the
individual performance of each named executive officer (with the input of our Chief Executive
Officer regarding the performance of named executive officers other than himself) in the context of
the challenges faced by us during 2006 and concluded that the individual performances met or
exceeded expectations. The Committee, after considering the factors described above under the
heading Base Salaries and the need to retain and motivate executive management to meet the
challenges of 2007, voted to increase the base salary of each named executive officer by 4%, which
was the same amount awarded to most employees, and in one case, by 7%, reflecting a rating of
exceeds expectations.
In addition, based on this rating, and the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, the
Committee awarded bonuses to the named executive officers at 100% of target in all cases, except
Mr. Davis, who was awarded 125% of his target bonus. For Ms. Poul and Dr. Zopf, the award was
equivalent to 50% of their respective 2006 base salaries; in the case of Mr. Davis, the award was
equivalent to 62.5% of his 2006 base salary, and for Ms. Mulligan, the award was 35% of her base
salary. In making these awards, the Committee reviewed and considered the individual performance
to objectives and recommended rating of each executive, our progress through the date of the
meeting, and the fact that cash bonuses had not been paid for performance in 2005, and bonuses for
2004 were paid only one-half in cash. The Committee also took into account the high level of
performance of the executives in the face of significant obstacles and the need to motivate and
retain executive management.
Having rated our performance as meets expectations, the Committee decided to increase Dr.
Vergis base salary by 4% and award him 100% of his target bonus, or 75% of his salary.
Severance and Change in Control Arrangements
The specific terms of our severance and change in control arrangements are discussed in detail
below under the heading Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control. As a general
matter, however, we believe that reasonable severance and change in control protection for our
named executive officers is necessary in order for us to recruit and retain qualified executives.
We have defined the events that would trigger severance rights in a manner that we believe is
reasonable and consistent with current, conventional market practices. For example, the definition
of Good Reason contained in our employment and change in control agreements is intended to be
limited to true circumstances of constructive discharge and includes notice and opportunity to cure
provisions, so that severance rights are not triggered by us inadvertently.
Similarly, all of the severance commitments in our employment or change in control
arrangements are of the double trigger variety that is, in order for a severance obligation to
arise, there must occur both a change in control and an affirmative action by us to terminate (or
constructively terminate) an executives employment. Finally, any severance obligation arising
under our employment and change in control agreements is conditioned on the affected executives
execution of a release of claims against us and our affiliates.
24
Tax and Accounting Considerations Affecting Executive Compensation
The compensation paid to our executives is generally subject to taxation at ordinary rates and
no particular attempt is made to alter that result. We do, however, attempt to structure our
arrangements so that our executives are not subject to tax penalties (such as additional taxes
arising under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code), although our efforts in this regard have not materially affected the
terms of our compensation arrangements.
The deductibility limit of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code has not been implicated
by our compensation arrangements in the past and, accordingly, the Committee has not purposefully
altered its compensation approach to conform to the requirements of available Section 162(m)
exemptions (although stock options issued under our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan should generally
meet the requirements for treatment as qualified performance-based compensation and, therefore,
gains realized upon the exercise of those options should generally be exempt from the $1 million
deductibility cap of Section 162(m)).
We endeavor to design our equity incentive awards conventionally, so that they are accounted
for under standard governing equity-based arrangements and, more specifically, so that they are
afforded fixed treatment under those standards. We have not, however, materially altered the design
of our awards as a result of recent changes to the standard for accounting for equity-based
compensation.
Report of the Compensation Committee
We, the members of the Compensation Committee, have reviewed and discussed the foregoing
Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on our review and discussion with
management, we have recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and in the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006.
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:
Douglas J MacMaster, Jr., Chairman
L. Patrick Gage
H Stewart Parker
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Executive Compensation
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides information about all compensation earned in 2006 by the
individuals who served as our Chief Executive Officer during 2006, our Chief Financial Officer and
the three other most highly compensated executive officers during 2006 (collectively referred to as
the named executive officers):
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|
|
|
Awards |
|
Awards |
|
All Other |
|
|
Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
(1) |
|
(2) |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
|
George J. Vergis,
President and Chief
Executive Officer (3) |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
322,767 |
|
|
$ |
262,500 |
|
|
$ |
21,144 |
|
|
$ |
486,947 |
|
|
$ |
6,940 |
|
|
$ |
1,100,298 |
|
C. Boyd Clarke,
Former Chief Executive
Officer (3) |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
170,500 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,859 |
|
|
|
693,142 |
|
|
|
3,700 |
|
|
|
896,201 |
|
David A. Zopf,
Executive Vice
President and Chief
Scientific Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
276,205 |
|
|
|
138,102 |
|
|
|
20,378 |
|
|
|
137,016 |
|
|
|
5,740 |
|
|
|
577,441 |
|
Debra J. Poul,
Senior Vice President
and General Counsel |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
266,395 |
|
|
|
133,198 |
|
|
|
21,272 |
|
|
|
136,920 |
|
|
|
5,740 |
|
|
|
563,525 |
|
A. Brian Davis,
Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial
Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
248,588 |
|
|
|
155,368 |
|
|
|
18,719 |
|
|
|
121,920 |
|
|
|
56,774 |
(5) |
|
|
601,369 |
|
Valerie M. Mulligan,
Vice President,
Quality and Regulatory
Affairs |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
190,334 |
|
|
|
66,617 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,519 |
|
|
|
5,298 |
|
|
|
315,768 |
|
(1) |
|
The amounts shown in this column represent the expense amount recognized for financial
statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, in accordance with
SFAS No. 123R. These amounts reflect RSUs that vested during 2006 that were granted in lieu
of bonuses for fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 and in lieu of salary increases
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. RSUs were only granted to our named executive
officers who were executive officers at each respective grant date. Ms. Mulligan was not an
executive officer on any of the grant dates and thus was not granted any RSUs. |
|
(2) |
|
These amounts represent the expense amount recognized for financial statement purposes for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, in accordance with SFAS No. 123R. These amounts reflect
that portion of stock options awarded in 2006 and in prior years that vested in 2006. See
Note 10 to the Notes to our financial statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for assumptions used in determining the grant
date fair value of these awards. |
|
(3) |
|
Effective May 4, 2006, Mr. Clarke resigned as our Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Vergis
replaced Mr. Clarke as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Clarke continues to serve on our Board of
Directors. Dr. Vergis had previously served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from
October 2005 to May 2006. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes $5,500 paid to Mr. Clarke for his service as a director after the termination of his
employment with us. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes forgiveness of principal and interest of $31,330 and related incremental income of
$19,704 to gross up for taxes pursuant to a tuition reimbursement agreement between us and Mr.
Davis. |
26
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table provides information about grants of stock options and RSUs made during
2006 to each of our named executive officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other Stock |
|
Awards: |
|
Exercise or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards: |
|
Number of |
|
Base Price |
|
Grant Date Fair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Securities |
|
per Share |
|
Value of Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Stock or Units |
|
Underlying |
|
of Option |
|
and Option |
Name |
|
Grant Date |
|
(1) |
|
Options (2) |
|
Awards |
|
Awards |
|
George J. Vergis |
|
|
02/15/2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
$ |
3.08 |
|
|
$ |
687,750 |
|
|
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
85,125 |
|
|
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
16,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,995 |
|
C. Boyd Clarke |
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
170,250 |
|
David A. Zopf |
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
59,588 |
|
|
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
16,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,995 |
|
Debra J. Poul |
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
59,588 |
|
|
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
16,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,995 |
|
A. Brian Davis |
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
59,588 |
|
|
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
16,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,995 |
|
Valerie M. Mulligan |
|
|
01/30/2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
34,050 |
|
(1) |
|
The amounts shown in this column reflect RSUs granted to our named executive officers, except
Ms. Mulligan, pursuant to our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. Ms. Mulligan was not an executive
officer on any of the grant dates and thus was not granted any RSUs. Each RSU was granted on
January 30, 2006 and vests in four equal quarterly installments on April 30, July 30 and
September 30, 2006, and January 30, 2007. The RSUs will be settled by delivery of shares of
our Common Stock to the award recipients on July 30, 2007 at no cash cost to the award
recipient. The 2004 Equity Incentive Plan is discussed in more detail under the heading
Proposal 3 Amendment of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan Description of the 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan below. |
|
(2) |
|
The amounts shown in this column reflect stock options granted to our named executive
officers pursuant to our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. Each stock option vests in four equal
installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the grant date, and the
expiration of each stock option is the 10th anniversary of the grant date. The 2004
Equity Incentive Plan is discussed in more detail under the heading Proposal 3 Amendment of
our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan Description of the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan below. |
27
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2006 Fiscal Year-End
The following table provides information about the equity awards held as of December 31, 2006
by each of our named executive officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Awards (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Value of |
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or |
|
Shares or |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of |
|
Units of |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option |
|
Option |
|
Stock that |
|
Stock that |
|
|
Options: |
|
Options: |
|
Exercise |
|
Expiration |
|
have not |
|
have not |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Price |
|
Date |
|
Vested |
|
Vested |
|
George J. Vergis |
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
38.25 |
|
|
|
07/11/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29.00 |
|
|
|
12/13/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.62 |
|
|
|
12/12/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
7.45 |
|
|
|
02/12/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
11.68 |
|
|
|
02/03/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
02/24/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
10/07/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
01/30/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
3.08 |
|
|
|
02/15/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
|
|
|
9,007 |
|
C. Boyd Clarke |
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.05 |
|
|
|
03/29/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.75 |
|
|
|
12/24/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
11.68 |
|
|
|
02/03/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
02/24/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
01/30/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David A. Zopf; |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.63 |
|
|
|
12/19/2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.50 |
|
|
|
12/02/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.00 |
|
|
|
12/07/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.75 |
|
|
|
12/21/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29.00 |
|
|
|
12/13/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.62 |
|
|
|
12/12/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
7.45 |
|
|
|
02/12/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
11.68 |
|
|
|
02/03/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
02/24/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
01/30/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
|
|
|
9,007 |
|
Debra J. Poul |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19.44 |
|
|
|
01/31/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.75 |
|
|
|
12/21/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29.00 |
|
|
|
12/13/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.61 |
|
|
|
05/27/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.62 |
|
|
|
12/12/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
7.45 |
|
|
|
02/12/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
|
11.68 |
|
|
|
02/03/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
02/24/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
01/30/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
|
|
|
9,007 |
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Awards (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Value of |
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or |
|
Shares or |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of |
|
Units of |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option |
|
Option |
|
Stock that |
|
Stock that |
|
|
Options: |
|
Options: |
|
Exercise |
|
Expiration |
|
have not |
|
have not |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Price |
|
Date |
|
Vested |
|
Vested |
|
A. Brian Davis |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.63 |
|
|
|
12/19/2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.50 |
|
|
|
12/02/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.00 |
|
|
|
12/07/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.75 |
|
|
|
12/21/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29.00 |
|
|
|
12/13/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.60 |
|
|
|
08/13/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
7.45 |
|
|
|
02/12/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
11.68 |
|
|
|
02/03/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
|
52,500 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
02/24/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
01/30/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
|
|
|
9,007 |
|
Valerie M. Mulligan |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.63 |
|
|
|
12/19/2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.50 |
|
|
|
12/02/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.00 |
|
|
|
12/07/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.75 |
|
|
|
12/21/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29.00 |
|
|
|
12/13/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.91 |
|
|
|
08/02/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
7.45 |
|
|
|
02/12/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
11.68 |
|
|
|
02/03/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
4.22 |
|
|
|
02/24/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.58 |
|
|
|
08/05/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
10/07/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
01/30/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Option awards vest as follows: |
|
a. |
|
Grants with expiration dates in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and
2012, and the grant to Ms. Mulligan with the expiration date of August 5, 2015, are
fully vested. |
|
|
b. |
|
All other grants vest one-fourth on the first anniversary of the date of grant,
one-fourth on the second anniversary of the date of grant, one-fourth on the third
anniversary of the date of grant and one-fourth on the fourth anniversary of the date
of grant. Grants with expiration dates in 2013 are 75% vested, grants with expiration
dates in 2014 are 50% vested, grants with expiration dates in 2015 (except the grant to
Ms. Mulligan expiring on August 5, 2015 that vested immediately upon grant on August 5,
2005) are 25% vested and grants with expiration dates in years after 2015 have not
vested at all. |
|
|
c. |
|
All option awards have a term of 10 years. |
(2) |
|
The amounts in the stock award columns represent awards of RSUs granted in place of cash
bonuses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The RSUs were granted on January 30, 2006
to our named executive officers except Ms. Mulligan, pursuant to our 2004 Equity Incentive
Plan. Ms. Mulligan was not an officer on the grant date and thus was not granted any RSUs.
Each RSU vests in equal quarterly installments over the year following the grant (25% on each
of April 30, July 30, October 30, 2006, and January 30, 2007) and each RSU award will be
settled by the delivery of shares of our Common Stock to the award recipient at no cash cost
to the award recipient six months following the final vesting date of the award (July 30,
2007). The market value is based upon the closing price of our Common Stock on December 29,
2006 ($2.23), which was the last trading day of 2006. |
29
Option Exercises and Stock Vested during Fiscal Year 2006
There were no options or other derivative securities exercised in 2006 by our named executive
officers. The following table provides information about stock awards vested in each of our named
executive officers that vested in 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized on |
Name |
|
Acquired on Vesting |
|
Vesting |
|
George J. Vergis |
|
|
2,254 |
(1) |
|
$ |
8,543 |
|
|
|
|
11,594 |
(2) |
|
|
43,941 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,501 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,865 |
|
|
|
|
4,038 |
(3) |
|
|
10,095 |
|
C. Boyd Clarke |
|
|
4,038 |
(1) |
|
|
15,304 |
|
|
|
|
64,904 |
(2) |
|
|
245,986 |
|
David A. Zopf |
|
|
2,342 |
(1) |
|
|
8,876 |
|
|
|
|
12,715 |
(2) |
|
|
48,190 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,501 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,865 |
|
|
|
|
4,038 |
(3) |
|
|
10,095 |
|
Debra J. Poul |
|
|
2,194 |
(1) |
|
|
8,315 |
|
|
|
|
12,539 |
(2) |
|
|
47,523 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,501 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,865 |
|
|
|
|
4,038 |
(3) |
|
|
10,095 |
|
A. Brian Davis |
|
|
1,844 |
(1) |
|
|
6,989 |
|
|
|
|
7,067 |
(2) |
|
|
26,784 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,501 |
|
|
|
|
4,039 |
(3) |
|
|
10,865 |
|
|
|
|
4,038 |
(3) |
|
|
10,095 |
|
Valerie M. Mulligan (4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amounts represent awards of RSUs granted in place of cash bonuses for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004. The last vest date for these awards was March 3, 2006. Pursuant to
the terms of the award, each award was settled on September 7, 2006 by the delivery of shares
of our Common Stock to the award recipient. |
(2) |
|
The amounts represent awards of RSUs granted in lieu of salary increases for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005. The last vest date for these awards was March 3, 2006. Pursuant to
the terms of the award, each award was settled on September 7, 2006 by the delivery of shares
of our Common Stock to the award recipient. |
(3) |
|
The amounts represent awards of RSUs granted in place of cash bonuses for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005. Each award vests in quarterly installments over the year following
grant date of the award. The final vest date for these awards will be January 30, 2007.
Pursuant to the terms of the award, on July 30, 2007 each award will be settled by the
delivery of shares of our Common Stock to the award recipient. |
(4) |
|
RSUs were only granted to our named executive officers who were officers at each respective
grant date. Ms. Mulligan was not an officer on any of the grant dates and thus was not granted
any RSUs. |
30
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal Year 2006
The following table provides information about defined contribution or other plans that
provide for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax-qualified for each of our named
executive officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registrant |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Contribution in |
|
Earnings in Last |
|
Withdrawals/ |
|
Balance at Last |
|
|
Last Fiscal Year |
|
Fiscal Year |
|
Distributions |
|
Fiscal Year End |
Name |
|
(1) |
|
(2) |
|
(3) |
|
(4) |
|
George J. Vergis |
|
$ |
83,945 |
|
|
$ |
(18,429 |
) |
|
$ |
38,497 |
|
|
$ |
27,019 |
|
C. Boyd Clarke |
|
|
261,290 |
|
|
|
(69,631 |
) |
|
|
191,659 |
|
|
|
|
|
David A. Zopf |
|
|
88,527 |
|
|
|
(19,649 |
) |
|
|
41,859 |
|
|
|
27,019 |
|
Debra J. Poul |
|
|
87,299 |
|
|
|
(19,323 |
) |
|
|
40,957 |
|
|
|
27,019 |
|
A. Brian Davis |
|
|
65,234 |
|
|
|
(13,443 |
) |
|
|
24,772 |
|
|
|
27,019 |
|
Valerie M. Mulligan (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amounts shown in this column reflect the aggregate value at the vesting date of RSUs, and
are based on the closing price of our Common Stock as of the respective vesting dates. Please
refer to the footnotes in the table entitled Option Exercises and Stock Vested during Fiscal
Year 2006 for a discussion of the terms under which the RSUs have been granted. |
(2) |
|
The amounts shown in this column reflect the aggregate change in value of RSU awards from the
respective vest date of the RSU in 2006 through the earlier of (i) the date of distribution of
the RSU and (ii) December 29, 2006, which was the last trading day in 2006, for RSUs not yet
distributed. |
(3) |
|
The amounts shown in this column reflect the aggregate value of RSU awards settled by the
delivery of shares of our Common Stock to the award recipient. The value of each award was
calculated using the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of the delivery. |
(4) |
|
The amounts shown in this column reflect the aggregate value of RSUs that have vested but
which have not been settled by the delivery of shares of our Common Stock to the award
recipient. The value of each RSU was calculated using the closing price of our Common Stock on
December 29, 2006, which was the last trading day in 2006. |
(5) |
|
RSUs were only granted to our named executive officers who were officers at each respective
grant date. Ms. Mulligan was not an officer on any of the grant dates and thus was
not granted any RSUs. |
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The following is a discussion of payments and benefits that would be due to each of our named
executive officers upon the termination of his or her employment with us. The amounts in the tables
below assume that each termination was effective as of December 29, 2006 (the last business day of
2006). These are merely illustrative of the impact of a hypothetical termination of each
executives employment, based on the terms of arrangements then in effect. The amounts to payable
upon an actual termination of employment can only be determined at the time of such termination,
based on the facts and circumstances then prevailing.
Defined Terms. The following terms are used throughout this section:
Cause means fraud, embezzlement, or any other illegal act committed intentionally by
the executive in connection with his or her employment or the performance of his or her duties as
an officer or director or, in the case of all executives other than Dr. Vergis, the executives
conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony.
31
Change in Control means a change in ownership or control of us effected through any of
the following transactions:
|
|
|
The direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other
than us or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, us) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of
the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting
power of our outstanding securities; |
|
|
|
|
A change in the composition of our Board over a period of 36 months or less such
that a majority of our Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested
elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (a) have been
Board members continuously since the beginning of such period, or (b) have been elected
or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of
our Board members described in clause (a) who were still in office at the time such
election or nomination was approved by our Board; |
|
|
|
|
The consummation of any consolidation, share exchange or merger of us (a) in which
our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority
of the voting power of the entity which survives/results from such transaction, or (b)
in which one of our stockholders who does not own a majority of our voting stock
immediately prior to such transaction, owns a majority of our voting stock immediately
after such transaction; or |
|
|
|
|
The liquidation or dissolution of us or any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer
(in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of
our assets, including stock held in subsidiary corporations or interests held in
subsidiary ventures. |
Disability means the executives inability, by reason of any physical or mental
impairment, to substantially perform his or her regular duties, as determined by our Board in its
sole discretion, which inability is reasonably contemplated to continue for at least one year from
its commencement and at least 90 days from the date of our Boards determination.
Good Reason means the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions without
the executives prior written consent:
|
|
|
a change in the executives title (not including, with regard to Dr. Vergis, his
election to the position of Chairman of the Board); |
|
|
|
|
a reduction in the executives authority, duties or responsibilities, or the
assignment to the executive of duties that are inconsistent, in a material respect,
with the executives position; |
|
|
|
|
the relocation of our headquarters more than 15 miles from Horsham, Pennsylvania,
unless the move reduces the executives commuting time; |
|
|
|
|
a reduction in the executives base salary or in the target amount, expressed as a
percentage of base salary, of the annual bonus; or |
|
|
|
|
our failure to pay or make available any material payment or benefit due under to
the executive or any other material breach by us of any employment or change of control
agreement in place with the executive. |
32
However, any of the events or conditions described above will only constitute Good Reason if
(a) the executive provides us with written objection to the event or condition within 60 days
following his or her knowledge of the occurrence of the event or the condition, (b) we do not
reverse or otherwise cure the event or condition within 30 days of receiving the executives
written objection and (c) the executive resigns his or her employment within 90 days following the
expiration of the cure period.
George J. Vergis, Ph.D.
We are a party to an employment agreement with Dr. Vergis dated as of May 4, 2006. In
accordance with the terms of such agreement, we are obligated to make certain payments to Dr.
Vergis related to the termination of his employment.
Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. If we terminate Dr. Vergis without
Cause or Dr. Vergis resigns for Good Reason, Dr. Vergis shall be entitled to:
|
|
|
a lump sum cash amount equal to his then current base salary; |
|
|
|
|
a lump sum cash payment equal to his then current target annual bonus; and |
|
|
|
|
to the extent not already paid, any annual bonus payable with respect to a calendar
year that ended prior to that termination. |
In addition to the foregoing payments, all outstanding stock options then held by Dr. Vergis
which would have become vested and exercisable had Dr. Vergis remained continuously employed by us
for an additional 12 months will immediately become vested and exercisable and all vested and
exercisable stock options held by Dr. Vergis as of the date of termination (including those stock
options that vest upon termination) will remain exercisable until the end of the calendar year in
which such options would have otherwise expired (or, if later, 21/2 months following the date such
options would have otherwise expired).
Termination Due to Death or Disability. If Dr. Vergis employment is terminated due to his
death or Disability, Dr. Vergis (or his representative(s), heirs, estate or beneficiaries) will be
entitled to receive the payments set forth above with regard to a termination without Cause;
provided, however, that any payments will be offset by the amount of benefits paid to him (or his
representative(s), heirs, estate or beneficiaries) pursuant to the life insurance or long-term
disability plans, policies or arrangements by virtue of his death or Disability (including, for
this purpose, only that portion of such life insurance or disability benefits funded by us or by
premium payments made by us).
Termination Following a Change in Control. If the Dr. Vergis employment with us ceases
within eighteen months following a Change in Control (either as a result of a termination by us
without Cause or a resignation by Dr. Vergis for Good Reason), then Dr. Vergis shall be entitled
to:
|
|
|
a lump sum cash payment equal to his then current base salary for two years; |
|
|
|
|
a lump sum cash payment equal to two times his then current target annual bonus amount; |
|
|
|
|
to the extent not already paid, any annual bonus payable to Dr. Vergis with respect
to a calendar year that ended prior to that termination; and |
|
|
|
|
in the event any of the foregoing payments to Dr. Vergis would result in the
imposition of a parachute excise tax under Internal Revenue Code section 4999, an
additional gross-up payment to insulate Dr. Vergis from the effect of the tax. |
33
In addition to the foregoing payments, all outstanding stock options then held by Dr. Vergis
will immediately become vested and exercisable and will remain exercisable until the end of the
calendar year in which such options would have otherwise expired (or, if later, 21/2 months following
the date such options would have otherwise expired).
Timing of Payments Following Termination. All of the payments and benefits described above
are contingent upon Dr. Vergis execution and delivery of a release in a manner consistent with the
requirements of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (Release). All lump sum payments described
above will be paid on the eighth day following the Dr. Vergis execution and delivery of a Release
(provided that such Release has not been revoked by Dr. Vergis). Any annual bonus payable to Dr.
Vergis with respect to a calendar year that ended prior to that termination will be paid along with
the payment of such bonuses to other employees or officers entitled to a bonus.
Non-Compete Agreement. Dr. Vergis is bound by certain non-competition and non-solicitation
covenants which extend for a period of one year following termination of employment (two years if
his employment ceases due to a termination by us without Cause or due to a resignation by Dr.
Vergis with Good Reason within 18 months following a Change in Control).
Assuming Dr. Vergis employment terminated under each of the circumstances described above on
December 29, 2006, the payments and benefits have an estimated value of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued, |
|
Subject to |
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Target |
|
but Unpaid |
|
Acceleration |
|
Excise Tax |
|
|
Continuation |
|
Bonus |
|
Bonus |
|
(1) |
|
Gross-Up |
|
Resignation for
Good Reason |
|
$ |
350,000 |
|
|
$ |
262,500 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination without
Cause |
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Death |
|
|
150,000 |
(2) |
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Disability (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
following a Change
of Control |
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
541,745 |
(4) |
(1) |
|
This column is intended to represent the value of unvested stock options to purchase an
aggregate of 441,250 shares of Common Stock, based on the difference between the exercise
price of the options and $2.23, the closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006.
Because the per share closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006 was less than the
exercise price of each option that would be subject to acceleration, no amount is shown. The
actual value realized will vary depending on the date the option is exercised and the closing
price of our Common Stock on such date. |
(2) |
|
This amount reflects the $350,000 lump sum otherwise payable to Dr. Vergis beneficiary or
heir, offset, in accordance with his agreement, by the $200,000 death benefit payable under
our group life plan. |
(3) |
|
Our group long-term disability plan would provide Dr. Vergis with monthly payments through
age 65 of $10,000 per month. The present value of that stream of payments would exceed Dr.
Vergis base salary and target bonus and, accordingly, in accordance with Dr. Vergis
agreement, would fully offset the lump sum otherwise payable to him. |
34
(4) |
|
This amount does not reflect the value of Dr. Vergis two-year non-competition and
non-solicitation agreement with us. Such value may be offset from the parachute payments
attributed to Dr. Vergis in connection with a Change in Control. If the value of that
non-competition and non-solicitation agreement is at least $451,245, no excise tax would be
due under Section 4999 of the Code and no gross-up payment would be necessary. |
David A. Zopf, M.D., Debra J. Poul, A. Brian Davis, and Valerie M. Mulligan
We are a party to a change of control agreement with each of Dr. Zopf, Ms. Poul, Mr. Davis and
Ms. Mulligan. In accordance with the terms of each individuals agreement, we are obligated to
make certain payments related to the termination of his or her employment.
Termination Without Cause. If we terminate the executives employment without Cause, the
executive shall be entitled to:
|
|
|
a lump sum cash payment equal to six months of the then current executives base
salary; |
|
|
|
|
the continuation of medical benefits to the executive (and, if covered immediately
prior to such termination, his or her spouse and dependents) for a period of six months
commencing from the date of termination at a monthly cost to the executive equal to the
employees monthly contribution, if any, toward the cost of such coverage immediately
prior to such termination; and |
|
|
|
|
reasonable executive outplacement services by a provider selected by the mutual
agreement of us and the executive. |
The payments and benefits described above are in lieu of (and not in addition to) any other
severance arrangement maintained by us.
Termination Due to Death or Disability. If the executives employment is terminated due to
death or Disability, the executive (or his or her representative(s), heirs, estate or
beneficiaries) will be entitled to receive the payments set forth above with regard to a
termination without Cause; provided, however, that any payments will be offset by the amount of
benefits paid to the executive (or his or her representative(s), heirs, estate or beneficiaries)
pursuant to the life insurance or long-term disability plans, policies or arrangements by virtue of
the executives death or Disability (including, for this purpose, only that portion of such life
insurance or disability benefits funded by us or by premium payments made by us).
Termination Following a Change in Control. If the executives employment ceases within 12
months following a Change in Control (either as a result of a termination by us without Cause or a
resignation by the executive for Good Reason), then the executive shall be entitled to:
|
|
|
a lump sum cash payment equal to the executives then current base salary; |
|
|
|
|
a lump sum cash payment equal to the executives then current target annual bonus; |
|
|
|
|
the continuation of medical benefits to the executive (and, if covered immediately
prior to such termination, his or her spouse and dependents) for a period of one year
commencing from the date of termination at a monthly cost to the executive equal to the
employees monthly contribution, if any, toward the cost of such coverage immediately
prior to such termination; |
|
|
|
|
reasonable executive outplacement services; and |
35
|
|
|
in the event any of the foregoing payments would result in the imposition of a
parachute excise tax under Internal Revenue Code section 4999, an additional gross-up
payment to insulate the executive from the effect of the tax. |
In addition to the foregoing, all outstanding stock options then held by the executive will
immediately become vested and exercisable and will remain exercisable for 12 months following the
executives date of termination, notwithstanding any inconsistent language in any equity incentive
plan or agreement.
Timing of Payments Following Termination. All of the payments and benefits described above
are contingent upon the executives execution and delivery of a Mutual Release. All lump sum
payments described above will be paid on the eighth day following the executives execution and
delivery of a Release (provided that such Release has not been revoked by the executive).
Non-Compete Agreement. Each executive is bound by certain non-competition and
non-solicitation covenants, which extend for a period of one year following termination of
employment.
Assuming Dr. Zopfs employment is terminated under each of the circumstances described above
on December 29, 2006, the payments and benefits have an estimated value of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subject to |
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Target |
|
Medical |
|
Outplacement |
|
Acceleration |
|
Excise Tax |
|
|
Continuation |
|
Bonus |
|
Benefits (1) |
|
Services (2) |
|
(3) |
|
Gross-Up |
Termination without
Cause |
|
$ |
141,147 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
6,039 |
|
|
$ |
7,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Death |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Disability (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
following a Change
of Control |
|
|
282,295 |
|
|
|
141,147 |
|
|
|
12,079 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This amount represents the estimated amount of our share of the cost of medical benefits for
Dr. Zopf and his eligible dependents for six or twelve months, as applicable. |
|
(2) |
|
This amount represents the estimated cost to us to provide Dr. Zopf with reasonable
outplacement services. |
|
(3) |
|
This column is intended to represent the value of unvested stock options to purchase an
aggregate of 92,500 shares of common stock, based on the difference between the exercise price
of the options and $2.23, the closing price of our common stock on December 29, 2006. Because
the per share closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006 was less than the
exercise price of each option that would be subject to acceleration, no amount is shown. The
actual value realized will vary depending on the date the option is exercised and the closing
price of our Common Stock on such date. |
|
(4) |
|
This amount reflects the $141,147 lump sum otherwise payable to Dr. Zopfs beneficiary or
heir, offset, in accordance with Dr. Zopfs agreement, by the $200,000 death benefit payable
under our group life insurance plan. |
|
(5) |
|
Our group long term disability plan would provide Dr. Zopf with monthly payments for 21/2
years of $10,000 per |
36
|
|
|
month. |
|
The present value of that stream of payments would exceed six
months of Dr. Zopfs base salary and, accordingly, in accordance with his agreement, would
fully offset the lump sum otherwise payable to him. |
Assuming Ms. Pouls employment is terminated under each of the circumstances described
above on December 29, 2006, the payments and benefits have an estimated value of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subject to |
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Target |
|
Medical |
|
Outplacement |
|
Acceleration |
|
Excise Tax |
|
|
Continuation |
|
Bonus |
|
Benefits (1) |
|
Services (2) |
|
(3) |
|
Gross-Up |
Termination without
Cause |
|
$ |
136,050 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
6,039 |
|
|
$ |
7,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Death |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Disability (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
following a Change
of Control |
|
|
272,100 |
|
|
|
136,050 |
|
|
|
12,079 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This amount represents the estimated amount of our share of the cost of medical benefits
for Ms. Poul and her eligible dependents for six or 12 months, as applicable. |
|
(2) |
|
This amount represents the estimated cost to us to provide Ms. Poul with reasonable
outplacement services. |
|
(3) |
|
This column is intended to represent the value of unvested stock options to purchase an
aggregate of 87,500 shares of Common Stock, based on the difference between the exercise price
of the options and $2.23, the closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006. Because
the per share closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006 was less than the
exercise price of each option that would be subject to acceleration, no amount is shown. The
actual value realized will vary depending on the date the option is exercised and the closing
price of our Common Stock on such date. |
|
(4) |
|
This amount reflects the $136,250 lump sum otherwise payable to Ms. Pouls beneficiary or
heir, offset, in accordance with the terms of Ms. Pouls agreement, by the $200,000 death
benefit payable under our group life insurance plan. |
|
(5) |
|
Our group long-term disability plan would provide Ms. Poul with monthly payments through age
65 of $10,000 per month. The present value of that stream of payments would exceed six months
of Ms. Pouls base salary and, accordingly, in accordance with the terms of Ms. Pouls
agreement, would fully offset the lump sum otherwise payable to her. |
37
Assuming Mr. Davis employment is terminated under each of the circumstances described
above on December 29, 2006, the payments and benefits have an estimated value of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Medical |
|
|
|
|
|
Subject to |
|
Loan |
|
Excise |
|
|
Salary |
|
Target |
|
Benefits |
|
Outplacement |
|
Acceleration |
|
Forgiveness |
|
Tax |
|
|
Continuation |
|
Bonus |
|
(1) |
|
Services (2) |
|
(3) |
|
(4) |
|
Gross-Up |
Termination without
Cause |
|
$ |
130,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
6,039 |
|
|
$ |
7,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
47,941 |
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Death |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
47,941 |
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Disability (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
47,941 |
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
following a Change
of Control |
|
|
260,000 |
|
|
|
130,000 |
|
|
|
12,079 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
47,941 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This amount represents the estimated amount of our share of the cost of medical benefits for
Mr. Davis and his eligible dependents for six or 12 months, as applicable. |
|
(2) |
|
This amount represents the estimated cost to us to provide Mr. Davis with reasonable
outplacement services. |
|
(3) |
|
This column is intended to represent the value of unvested stock options to purchase an
aggregate of 102,500 shares of Common Stock, based on the difference between the exercise
price of the options and $2.23, the closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006.
Because the per share closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006 was less than the
exercise price of each option that would be subject to acceleration, no amount is shown. The
actual value realized will vary depending on the date the option is exercised and the closing
price of our Common Stock on such date. |
|
(4) |
|
By agreement dated May 24, 2001, we agreed to lend to Mr. Davis an amount equal to the cost
of tuition to pursue his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, in
addition to all application, registration and other program-related fees charged by the
University. The agreement provides that if Mr. Daviss employment is terminated other than
for cause prior to May 27, 2007, we will forgive repayment of the loan. In addition, we will
pay to Mr. Davis an amount equal to the amount which would be necessary to place him in the
same after-tax position as if the loan had not been forgiven (Loan Forgiveness Gross-Up). The
value of the loan forgiveness and related tax gross-up payment as of December 29, 2006 would
have been $47,941, composed of total principal and interest of $29,431 and a tax gross-up of
$18,510. |
|
(5) |
|
This amount reflects the $130,000 lump sum otherwise payable to Mr. Davis
beneficiary or heir, offset, in accordance with the terms of Mr. Davis agreement, by the
$200,000 death benefit payable under our group life insurance plan. |
|
(6) |
|
Our group long-term disability plan would provide Mr. Davis with monthly payments for through
age 65 of $10,000 per month. The present value of that stream of payments would exceed six
months of Mr. Davis base salary and accordingly, in accordance with the terms of Mr. Davis
agreement, would fully offset the lump sum otherwise payable to him. |
38
Assuming Ms. Mulligans employment is terminated under each of the circumstances
described above on December 29, 2006, the payments and benefits have an estimated value of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subject to |
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Target |
|
Medical |
|
Outplacement |
|
Acceleration |
|
Excise Tax |
|
|
Continuation |
|
Bonus |
|
Benefits (1) |
|
Services (2) |
|
(3) |
|
Gross-Up |
Termination without
Cause |
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
6,039 |
|
|
$ |
7,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Death |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination due to
Disability (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,039 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
following a Change
of Control |
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
12,079 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This amount represents the estimated amount of our share of the cost of medical benefits for
Ms. Mulligan and her eligible dependents for six or 12 months, as applicable. |
|
(2) |
|
This amount represents the estimated cost to us to provide Ms. Mulligan with reasonable
outplacement services. |
|
(3) |
|
This column is intended to represent the value of unvested stock options to purchase an
aggregate of 50,000 shares of Common Stock, based on the difference between the exercise price
of the options and $2.23, the closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006. Because
the per share closing price of our Common Stock on December 29, 2006 was less than the
exercise price of each option that would be subject to acceleration, no amount is shown. The
actual value realized will vary depending on the date the option is exercised and the closing
price of our Common Stock on such date. |
|
(4) |
|
This amount reflects the $100,000 lump sum otherwise payable to Ms. Mulligans
beneficiary or heir, offset, in accordance with the terms of Ms. Mulligans agreement, by the
$200,000 death benefit payable under our group life insurance plan. |
|
(5) |
|
Our group long term disability plan would provide Ms. Mulligan with monthly payments for
through age 65 of $10,000 per month. The present value of that stream of payments would
exceed six months of Ms. Mulligan base salary and accordingly, in accordance with the terms of
Ms. Mulligans agreement, would fully offset the lump sum otherwise payable to her. |
C. Boyd Clarke
The employment agreement, dated March 29, 2002 between us and Mr. Clarke, and the related
employment relationship between us and Mr. Clarke, terminated on May 15, 2006, the effective date
of the termination of his employment. He resigned as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
effective May 4, 2006. We had no obligation at that time and have no future obligation to make any
payments to him with regard to the termination of his employment.
39
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Our Audit Committee charter assigns to the Audit Committee the responsibility to review
and approve all of our related-party transactions. There were no related-party transactions in 2006
with a value in excess of $120,000.
In March 2007, as part of an approximately $43 million equity financing transaction with third
parties that was unanimously approved by our Board, investment funds affiliated with Dr. Mark H.
Rachesky and Brian H. Dovey, two of our directors, purchased Common Stock and warrants to purchase
Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $10 million. The participation of
these funds in the equity financing was unanimously approved in advance by the Audit Committee.
This amount represented approximately 23% of the entire transaction. The investment funds
affiliated with Dr. Rachesky purchased approximately 2.5 million shares of Common Stock and
warrants to purchase approximately 1.1 million shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase
price of approximately $5 million. The investment funds affiliated with Mr. Dovey purchased
approximately 2.5 million shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase approximately 1.1 million
shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $5 million. We do not have
information available to us of the approximate dollar value of Dr. Racheskys and Mr. Doveys
personal interests in this transaction.
Proposal 2 Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has appointed KPMG LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2007, and managements assessment of our internal control over financial reporting and
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. KPMG
LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since April 2002. Services
provided to us by KPMG LLP during 2006 are described under Relationship with Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm on page 12.
Vote Required and Recommendation
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal is required for approval of this
proposal.
Our Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR ratification of the appointment
of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2007.
In the event that the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the appointment will be
reconsidered by the Audit Committee.
Proposal 3 Amendment of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan
Proposed Amendment
At the Annual Meeting, a proposal will be presented to the stockholders to approve and adopt
an amendment to our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2004 Plan) to increase by 1,000,000 shares
the number of shares of Common Stock authorized under the 2004 Plan. As of the record date for the
Annual Meeting, March 16, 2007, 1,000,000 shares represented 1.8% of the outstanding shares of our
Common Stock. Of the 7,374,074 shares currently authorized under the 2004 Plan, 820,637 shares have
been issued
40
pursuant to option exercises, 246,461 shares have been issued pursuant to the
conversion of RSUs into shares of Common Stock, and 61,937 shares
were deemed to reduce the number of shares available for issuance
pursuant to net issuances of RSUs, and as such, these shares are no longer available for grant. Of the remaining
6,368,913 shares available for grant under the 2004 Plan as of March 16, 2007, options to purchase
5,203,605 shares of Common Stock were outstanding, 127,860 RSUs were
outstanding, and 1,037,448
shares remained available for future grants.
In February 2007, the Board adopted the amendment, subject to approval by our stockholders. We
believe that our ability to grant equity incentives under the 2004 Plan is a valuable and necessary
compensation tool that aligns the long-term financial interests of employees, non-employee
directors and consultants with the financial interests of our stockholders. As a result of existing
grants of stock options and RSUs and contemplated future grants of options, the need for shares
available for options and RSUs has increased. We believe that grants under the 2004 Plan help us to
attract, retain, and motivate qualified employees and board members, and encourages them to devote
their best efforts to our business and financial success. In addition, we believe options are a
meaningful compensation alternative to cash. An increase in the number of shares available for
issuance under the 2004 Plan is necessary to meet these objectives. The Board of Directors believes
that approval of Proposal 3 is in the best interests of Neose and its stockholders.
The material features of the 2004 Plan as now in effect are described below. Approval of the
proposal to amend the 2004 Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal at the
Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to amend the 2004 Plan.
Description of the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan
The equity incentive plan requires our Board of Directors to designate a committee of two or
more non-employee directors as the plan administrator. Our Compensation Committee has been
designated as the plan administrator and administers the 2004 Plan. The following types of awards
are available under the equity incentive plan: incentive stock options, non-qualified stock
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares and RSUs.
Subject to the approval of our stockholders, our Board of Directors has authorized an increase
of 1,000,000 shares of stock available to be subject to future awards under the 2004 Plan. Any of
those shares may be subject to incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted shares, RSUs or any combination of any of them. Shares of Common
Stock currently issuable under the 2004 Plan are covered by a registration statement on Form S-8.
Eligibility
All employees, non-employee directors, and consultants are eligible to receive awards under
the equity incentive plan. In addition to being eligible to receive awards under the 2004 Plan
generally, non-employee directors are eligible to receive automatic grants of options upon
re-election at each Annual Meeting, including the first Annual Meeting at which they are first
elected to our Board of Directors. As of March 16, 2007, there
were approximately 48 employees and 9 non-employee directors who
would be eligible to receive future awards under the 2004 Plan.
In any given year, no person may be granted awards with respect to more than 1,000,000 shares of
Common Stock under the equity incentive plan.
Generally, the Compensation Committee determines which eligible employees, non-employee
directors and consultants will receive awards under the 2004 Plan. However, our Board of Directors
may delegate the authority to grant awards to employees who are not subject to Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to a committee of one or more of our officers and/or one or more
members of our Board of Directors. The Board has delegated this authority to three executive
officers for the grant of
41
options, consistent with approved option grant guidelines, to new
employees who are not Section 16 officers in connection with their hiring.
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
The Compensation Committee may grant stock options and stock appreciation rights to eligible
employees and directors under the 2004 Plan. The Compensation Committee has complete discretion to
determine:
|
|
|
Which eligible individuals are to receive option grants or stock appreciation rights; |
|
|
|
|
The time or times when option and stock appreciation rights grants are to be made; |
|
|
|
|
The number of shares subject to, and the vesting schedule for, each option grant and
stock appreciation right; |
|
|
|
|
The designation of each stock option as either an incentive or a non-qualified stock
option; |
|
|
|
|
The maximum term for which each option grant and stock appreciation right is to
remain outstanding, which term, for an incentive stock option, may not exceed ten
years, and for an incentive stock option granted to a person who owns more than 10% of
the voting power of the Company may not exceed five years; and |
|
|
|
|
The exercise price for each option and stock appreciation right, which for a
non-qualified stock option may not be less than 85% of the fair market value of the
stock on the date of grant. If the recipient of an incentive stock option owns more
than 10% of the voting power of the Company, the exercise price must be at least 110%
of the fair market value on the date of grant. For all other recipients, the exercise
price of an incentive stock option must be at least 100% of the fair market value on
the date of grant. |
The Internal Revenue Code allows an optionee to receive incentive stock options only to the
extent that the aggregate amount of incentive stock options exercisable for the first time by an
optionee during any calendar year does not exceed $100,000. Any stock option that is granted to an
optionee who fails to meet the criteria for an incentive stock option must be treated as a
non-qualified stock option.
For purposes of the 2004 Plan, the fair market value of the Common Stock is the closing sale
price per share on the grant date as such price is reported by NASDAQ. If there is no reported
closing sale price on such date, the fair market value is the closing sale price on the last
preceding date for which a quotation exists. The closing sale price per share of Common Stock on
March 16, 2007 was $1.97.
Under our By-Laws, the Compensation Committee may not cancel outstanding options under the
2004 Plan in return for the grant of new options for the same or different number of option shares
unless such repricing is approved by our stockholders.
Stock appreciation rights may be issued under the 2004 Plan. Each stock appreciation right
will entitle the holder to surrender the stock appreciation right for a distribution from us equal
to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock less the exercise price of the stock
appreciation right. The distribution may be made in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as we
determine.
Automatic Non-Employee Director Option Grants
Under the equity incentive plan, each non-employee director, on the date he or she is first
elected or appointed to the Board of Directors, will automatically be granted an option to purchase
30,000 shares of Common Stock, provided that such individual has not been previously employed by
us. In addition, upon each annual re-election to the Board, each non-employee director with at
least six months of Board service will automatically be granted an option to purchase an additional
10,000 shares of Common Stock.
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adversely affect the rights and obligations of awards outstanding under the 2004 Plan at the time
of such amendment, modification or early termination, without the consent of the award holder. In
addition, the Board may not, without stockholder approval, amend the equity incentive plan to:
The 2004 Plan will terminate on tenth anniversary of either (i) the effective date of the plan
or (ii) the date that any amendment increasing the number of shares subject to the plan is approved
by our stockholders. The current termination date of the 2004 Plan is May 3, 2015.
The following discussion summarizes the principal federal income tax consequences of the 2004
Plan based on the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations, and administrative and judicial
interpretations. The summary does not address any foreign, state, or local income, or FICA, tax
consequences of participation in the 2004 Plan.
There generally are no federal income tax consequences to an optionee or to us upon the grant
of a non-qualified stock option. Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, an optionee
will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the
shares at the time of exercise less the exercise price of the non-qualified stock option. We
generally will be entitled to a corresponding federal income tax deduction. Upon the sale of shares
of Common Stock that were acquired by the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, an optionee
will recognize a capital gain or loss. The amount of the capital gain or loss will be equal to the
difference between the amount realized upon the sale of the shares and the optionees adjusted tax
basis in the shares of Common Stock. The optionees adjusted tax basis in the shares of Common
Stock is equal to the exercise price plus the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee
at the time of exercise of the non-qualified stock option. The tax rate for the capital gain will
depend on the length of time the shares were held by the optionee and other factors. The tax
consequences described above would not apply to a non-qualified stock option with an exercise price
below the underlying stocks fair market value on the date of grant. In light of the recent tax law
change, we do not intend to grant any non qualified stock options with an exercise price below the
fair market value of the shares subject to the option on the date of grant.
Participating Preferred Shares we are authorized to issue from 300,000 shares to 1,500,000
shares ((i) and (ii) collectively are referred to as the Authorized Shares Amendment). If the
Authorized Shares Amendment is approved, the additional 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock will be
available for issuance from time to time as may be deemed advisable or required for various
purposes, principally in connection with financing transactions, the reservation of Common Stock
for equity awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants, and the additional 1,200,000
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares will be reserved for issuance pursuant to
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of December 3, 1998 by and between us and American
Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as amended (the Rights Plan). Except for options and warrants
currently outstanding, we do not have any present plan, understanding, arrangement, commitment or
agreement regarding the issuance of our Common Stock or Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Shares after the proposed increase in our authorized shares.
As of March 16, 2007, 54,387,843 of the 75,000,000 shares authorized Common Stock and none of
the 300,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding.
Of the remaining authorized shares of Common Stock, 2,335,396 shares
of Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
outstanding options that were granted under our 1995 Amended and
Restated Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, 2,996,069 shares of Common Stock were reserved
for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options and RSUs under the 2004 Plan, and 487,520
shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options that
were granted outside of either of these plans. Furthermore, an additional
1,037,448 shares have been set aside to support the issuance of future equity-based awards under
the 2004 Plan and 9,636,950 shares have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the
warrants sold in our March 2007 financing. All authorized shares of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Rights Plan.
Subject to our continued eligibility, we may sell from time to time shares of Common Stock
under the Registration Statements on Form S-3 filed with the SEC and numbered 333-106327 and
333-121112 (collectively, the Shelf Registration Statements) having a total offering price, in
aggregate, of up to $61,854,354.
The Authorized Shares Amendment will permit our Board of Directors to authorize the issuance
of shares of Common Stock without the necessity and related costs and delays of either calling a
special stockholders meeting or waiting for the regularly scheduled annual meeting of stockholders
in order to increase the authorized capital. Our Board believes that the Authorized Shares
Amendment is desirable to maintain our flexibility in connection with offerings of Common Stock to
raise capital and to provide for grants of options, RSUs and other equity-based awards under our
2004 Plan. Our Board will determine the terms of any issuance of the additional shares of Common
Stock. The Authorized Shares Amendment will also ensure we have enough authorized shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Rights Plan.
If this proposal is approved, all or any of the authorized shares may be issued without
further stockholder action (unless such approval is required by applicable law or regulatory
authorities) and without first offering those shares to the stockholders for subscription. The
issuance of Common Stock in any manner other than on a pro-rata basis to all stockholders would
reduce the proportionate interest in the Company of each stockholder. Our stockholders have no
preemptive rights to subscribe for additional shares of Common Stock when issued.