SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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1
Cassava
Pain Therapeutics, Sciences,Inc.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May 10, 20187, 2020
To the Stockholders:Dear Stockholders of Cassava Sciences, Inc:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN thatWe cordially invite you to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Pain Therapeutics,Cassava Sciences, Inc. (“we” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, which will be held on Thursday, May 10, 20187, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the Company’s offices located at 7801 N Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260, Austin, Texas, 7873178731. The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:purposes, as more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice:
1. | Proposal One: To re-elect |
2. | Proposal Two: To approve the Amendment No. 1 to the Cassava Sciences, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan, |
3. | Proposal Three: To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, |
4. | Proposal Four: To approve, by a non-binding advisory vote, the |
5. | To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the |
The foregoing itemsOur Board of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice. Only stockholders of record atDirectors has fixed the close of business on March 21, 201817, 2020 as the record date for the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record on March 17, 2020 are entitled to notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting. Further information regarding voting rights and the matters to be voted upon is presented in the accompanying proxy statement.
Sincerely,Depending on the status of exceptional health and transportation restrictions that prohibit large, in-person gatherings due to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), we also wish to notify you that in addition to hosting the annual meeting at our Austin offices, we may also elect to offer stockholders the ability to participate in the Annual Meeting online by live audio webcast. If we add a webcast to the Annual Meeting, no less than ten (10) days prior to our Annual Meeting we will issue a press release and file an SEC Form 8-K to report detailed information on how to access our Annual Meeting and avoid the need for in-person attendance, including two-way communications to enable shareholders to ask questions.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to submit your vote as soon as possible.
We appreciate your continued support,
/s/Remi Barbier
Remi Barbier
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, of Directors
President and Corporate Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
Austin, Texas
March 16, 2018
26, 2020
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS FURNISHED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY THE COMPANY, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR THE 20182020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS. THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE RELATED PROXY FORM ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED ON OR ABOUT APRIL 3, 2018.6, 2020. YOU CAN VOTE YOUR SHARES USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
· | COMPLETE AND RETURN A WRITTEN PROXY CARD |
· | BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE |
· | ATTEND THE COMPANY’S |
ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING. TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, HOWEVER, YOU ARE URGED TO MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE ENCLOSED FOR THAT PURPOSE OR TO VOTE YOUR SHARES BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE. ANY STOCKHOLDER ATTENDING THE MEETING MAY VOTE IN PERSON EVEN IF HE OR SHE HAS RETURNED A PROXY CARD OR HAS VOTED BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY
MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 10, 2018:7, 2020:
The Company’s Proxy Statement, form of proxy card and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at: http:https://investor.paintrials.com/annual-proxy.cfm.www.cassavasciences.com/financial-information/annual-reports.
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Pain Therapeutics, CassavaSciences,Inc.
7801 N Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260, Austin, Texas, 78731
________________
PROXY STATEMENT
________________
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
General
The enclosed Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Pain Therapeutics,Cassava Sciences, Inc. (the “Company”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Company’s offices located at 7801 NN. Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260, Austin, Texas, 78731, on Thursday, May 10, 2018,7, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., local time, and at any adjournment(s) thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company’s principal executive offices are located at the address listed at the top of this page and the Company’s telephone number is (512) 501-2444.
Depending on the status of exceptional health and transportation restrictions that prohibit large, in-person gatherings due to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), we also wish to notify you that in addition to hosting the annual meeting at our Austin offices, we may also elect to offer stockholders the ability to participate in the Annual Meeting online by live audio webcast. If we add a webcast to the Annual Meeting, no less than ten (10) days prior to our Annual Meeting we will issue a press release and file an SEC Form 8-K to report detailed information on how to access our Annual Meeting and avoid the need for in-person attendance, including two-way communications to enable shareholders to ask questions.
The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, containing financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017,2019, are being mailed together with these proxy solicitation materials to all stockholders entitled to vote. This Proxy Statement, the accompanying Proxy and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K will first be mailed on or about April 3, 20186, 2020 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.
THE COMPANY SHALL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER SOLICITED BY THESE PROXY SOLICITATION MATERIALS A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, TOGETHER WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, UPON REQUEST OF A STOCKHOLDER MADE IN WRITING TO PAIN THERAPEUTICS,CASSAVA SCIENCES, INC., 7801 N CAPITAL OF TEXAS HIGHWAY, SUITE 260, AUSTIN, TEXAS, 78731, ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS.
Record Date and Share Ownership
Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 201817, 2020 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting and at any adjournment(s) thereof. The Company has one series of common shares issued and outstanding, designated as common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and one series of undesignated preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”). As of the Record Date, 120,000,000 shares of Common Stock were authorized and 6,895,50924,729,902 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock were authorized and none were issued or outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote. Cumulative voting of shares of Common Stock is not permitted.
Revocability of Proxies
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before its use by delivering to the Company at its principal offices (Attention: Investor Relations)Corporate Secretary) a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or attending the meeting and voting in person.
Voting
There are differing vote requirements for the approval of the various proposals, as follows:
· | Proposal One: The directors will be elected by a plurality vote of the shares of Common Stock. See Proposal One – Election of |
· | Proposal Two: The affirmative vote of a majority of |
· | Proposals Three and Four: The ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to the Company and the non-binding advisory vote on 2019 executive compensation will be approved if the votes cast for the proposal exceed those cast against the proposal. Abstentions will not be counted either for or against |
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Solicitation of Proxies
The Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation of proxies, including preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this proxy statement,Proxy Statement, the proxyProxy and any additional information furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding shares of Common Stock in street name to forward to the beneficial owners of such shares. The Company may reimburse persons representing beneficial owners of Common Stock for their costs of forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of the Company’s directors, officers and regular employees, without additional compensation, personally or by telephone or facsimile.
Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes
Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Votes Cast”) will be tabulated by the Inspector of Elections (the “Inspector”). The Inspector will also determine whether or not a quorum is present at the meeting. Except in certain specific circumstances, the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present is required under Delaware law for approval of proposals presented to stockholders. In general, Delaware law provides that a quorum consists of a majority of shares entitled to vote are present or represented by proxy at the meeting.
The Inspector will treat shares that are voted WITHHELD or ABSTAIN as being present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but shares voted WITHHELD or ABSTAIN will not be treated as votes in favor of approving any matter submitted to the stockholders for a vote. When proxies are properly dated, executed and returned, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in accordance with the instructions of the stockholder. If no specific instructions are given, the shares will be voted:
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· | to APPROVE the Amendment No. 1 to the Cassava Sciences, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive |
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· | to APPROVE, by a non-binding advisory vote, the |
· | upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, but will not be voted in the election of directors other than as provided above. |
If a broker indicates on the enclosed proxy or its substitute that such broker does not have discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a particular matter (“broker non-votes”), those shares will be considered as present at the meeting with respect to establishing a quorum for the transaction of business. The Company believes that the tabulation procedures to be followed by the Inspector are consistent with the general statutory requirements in Delaware concerning voting of shares and determination of a quorum.
Broker non-votes with respect to proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement will not be considered “Votes Cast” and, accordingly, will not affect the determination as to whether the requisite majority of Votes Cast has been obtained with respect to a particular matter.
Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals
Stockholders are entitled to present proposals for action, including nominees for the election of directors and other business, at a forthcoming meeting if they comply with the requirements of the Company’s bylaws and the rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Under these requirements, proposals of stockholders of the Company that are intended to be presented by such stockholders at the Company’s 20192021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company no later than December 9, 2018.7, 2020, or not less than 120 days prior to the date the Company’s proxy statement was released to the stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided however, if the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is more than 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, notice by the stockholder must be delivered a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials (the “Proposal Deadline”). After the Proposal Deadline, a proposal of a stockholder is considered untimely. A copy of the relevant bylaw provisions related to stockholder proposals is available upon written request to the Company at: 7801 NN. Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260, Austin, Texas, 78731, Attention: Investor Relations.
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How to Obtain Directions to Location of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Our Annual Meeting of Stockholders is being held at the time and place set forth above under the heading “General”. For directions to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, contact the Company at (512) 501-2444.
Internet Availability of Proxy Materialsand Annual Report
This Proxy Statement, the form of proxy card and the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at: https://www.cassavasciences.com/financial-information/annual-reportshttp://investor.paintrials.com/annual-proxy.cfm..
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PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF THREETWO CLASS IIIII DIRECTORS
Nominees
The Company’s Board of Directors consists of seven directors. The Company has a classified Board of Directors, which is divided into three classes of directors whose terms expire at different times. The three classes are currently comprised of the following directors:
· | Class I consists of Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D. and Michael J. O’Donnell, who will serve until the |
· | Class II consists of Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D. and Saira Ramasastry, who will serve until the upcoming 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and who stand for re-election as Class II directors at |
· | Class III consists of Remi Barbier, Sanford R. Robertson and Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D., who will serve until the |
At each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms will then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following election and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for the Company’s nominees named below, who are currently directors of the Company. The nominees have consented to be named as such in the proxy statementthis Proxy Statement and to continue to serve as directors if elected. If a nominee becomes unable or declines to serve as a director or if additional persons are nominated at the meeting, the proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in such a manner as will assure the election of the nominees listed below if possible (or, if new nominees have been designated by the Company’s Board of Directors, in such a manner as to elect such nominees), and the specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders.
The nominees for Class IIIII Director are Remi Barbier, Sanford R. RobertsonRobert Z. Gussin, Ph.D. and Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D.Saira Ramasastry. Biographical information for the nominees can be found below in the section entitled “Directors and Executive Officers.”
The Company is not aware of any reason that the nominees will be unable or will decline to serve as director. The term of office of an individual elected as director will continue until the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in 20212023 or until a successor has been elected and qualified. Other than the relationships noted in the section entitled “Legal Services,” there are no arrangements or understandings between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which he is or was to be selected as a director or officer of the Company.
Vote Required
Each director will be elected by a plurality vote of the shares of Common Stock present or represented and entitled to vote on this matter at the meeting. Accordingly, the candidate receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of shares represented and voting on this proposal at the meeting will be elected as director of the Company. Votes withheld from a nominee and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum but, because directors are elected by a plurality vote, votes withheld and broker non-votes will have no impact once a quorum is present. See “Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes.”
THE CLASS I AND IIIII DIRECTORS RECOMMEND THAT
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE CLASS IIIII NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
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PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
CASSAVA SCIENCES, INC. 2018 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN(the FOR
THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK AUTHORIZED UNDER THE 2018 OMNIBUS
INCENTIVE PLAN BY 2,000,000 SHARES
Background and Purpose of Proposal
The Company’s 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors on January 31, 2018 and was approved by our stockholders on May 10, 2018. A total of 1,000,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the 2018 Plan. Of the 1,000,000 shares of common stock originally authorized under the 2018 Plan, after all award grants made by our Compensation Committee, 277,500 shares remained available for grant as of December 31, 2019.
The Board of Directors unanimously approved and adopted, subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Amendment No. 1 to the Cassava Sciences, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Amended Plan”) to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized under the 2018 Plan by 2,000,000 shares. The Company believes that such increase is necessary for the Company to continue to grant stock incentive awards to employees, directors and consultants as part of their compensation to provide appropriate incentives for sustaining our financial and operating performance and leadership excellence, to align their interests with those of our stockholders and to encourage them to remain with us for long and productive careers. Based on our prior grant practices and assuming future grant practices are consistent with past practice, we expect that the addition of the 2,000,000 shares will be sufficient to provide a competitive equity incentive program for approximately the next 3 years. If the Amended Plan is not approved, the Board of Directors believes the Company will have significant difficulties in recruiting, retaining, motivating and rewarding officers and employees, making it difficult for the Company to achieve desired operating results.
As of December 31, 2019, there were 21,841,810 shares of our common stock outstanding. The increase of 2,000,000 shares of common stock available for grant under the Amended Plan will result in additional potential dilution of our outstanding stock.
The term of the Amended Plan will expire on May 10, 2028.
This Proposal No. 2, if approved, would become effective upon stockholder approval. If stockholders do not approve the Amended Plan, grants will continue to be made under the 2018 Plan as currently in effect to the extent shares of common stock are available.
Key Changes to the Plan
If approved, the following changes would be implemented in the Amended Plan, as described in more detail under “Summary of the Plan” below:
The shares authorized for issuance under the 2018 Plan (as amended by the Amended Plan) would be increased by 2,000,000 shares. If approved, the total number of shares available for future awards will be approximately 2,277,500.
The shares authorized for issuance incentive stock options for issuance under the 2018 Plan (as amended by the Amended Plan) would be increased by 2,000,000, to 3,000,000 shares.
The name of the 2018 Plan (as amended by the Amended Plan) will be “Cassava Sciences, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan”.
No other amendments are being made to the 2018 Plan.
As of December 31, 2019, Remi Barbier (President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board) had 160,000 options outstanding under the 2018 Plan; Nadav Friedmann (Chief Medical and Operating Officer and Director) had 100,000 options outstanding under the 2018 Plan; and Eric J. Schoen (Chief Financial Officer) had 50,000 options outstanding under the 2018 Plan. All executive officers as a group had 310,000 options outstanding under the 2018 Plan. All current directors who are not executive officers as a group had 215,000 options outstanding under the 2018 Plan. The following nominees for election as directors had the following number of options outstanding under the 2018 Plan: Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D. had 55,000 options; and Saira Ramasastry had 45,000 options. No associates of such directors, executive officers or nominees have received options under the 2018 Plan except Mr. Barbier’s spouse, a Company employee, has received 110,000 options under the 2018 Plan. No other person has received or is expected to receive five percent or more of the awards under the 2018 Plan. All employees who are not executive officers as a group had 177,500 options outstanding under the 2018 Plan. Other than options, no other awards have been made under the 2018 Plan. The closing price of a share of common stock on March 20, 2020 was $3.87 per share.
Vote Required
The approval of the Amended Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
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Recommendation of the Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends voting “FOR” the adoption of the Amended Plan.
Summary of the Plan
The following is a summary of the material terms of the 2018 Plan are summarized below. A copy of the full text of the 2018 Plan is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B. ThisAmended Plan. The summary of 2018 Plan is not intended to be a complete description of 2018 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Amended Plan. Stockholders are urged to read the actual text of the Amendment No. 1 to the 2018 Plan (as amended by the Amended Plan) and the Amended Plan in its entirety, which are set forth as Appendix A and Appendix B, respectively, to which reference is made.this Proxy Statement.
The 2018 Plan was adopted by our Board of Directors on January 31, 2018. The 2018 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”(“Section 162(m)”), to our employees and any parent and subsidiary employees, and for the grant of non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalent rights, cash-based awards (including annual cash incentives and long-term cash incentives), and any combination thereof to our employees, directors, and consultants and to employees, directors, and consultants of certain affiliated entities. As of March 21, 2018, we had approximately two officers who are directors, five non-employee directors, seven non-officer employees, and nine consultants that were eligible to participate in 2018 Plan. Such persons are eligible to participate in 2018 Plan generally imposes a $1 million limit on the basis that their participation provides an incentive to continue in service to the Company and related entities, and to help the Company compete effectively with other enterprisesamount a public company may deduct for the services of qualified persons. As of February 28, 2018, the closing price of a share of our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $6.50.
The 2018 Plan will allow us to continue to offer equity and other awards, which we believe is necessary for us to retain, motivate and attract experienced and highly qualified service providers.
Under current U.S. federal tax law, publicly-held companies are generally precluded from deducting certain compensation paid to certain current and former executive officers. Prior to 2018, this limitation did not apply to compensation that met Section 162(m)’s requirements for qualifying performance-based compensation. This performance-based compensation exemption was repealed, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, such that awards paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1.0$1 million per year. Prior to January 1, 2018, certain performance-based compensation (including future awards under the 2018 Plan) could generallywill not be excluded fromdeductible, unless such preclusion if certain requirements were satisfied. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”), such exclusion is no longer available, except with respectaward qualifies for transition relief applicable to certain arrangements that were in effect as of November 2, 2017 and are not materially modified thereafter (“grandfathered compensation.awards”). Consequently, although the 2018Amended Plan containsincludes provisions that would beare applicable to future awards that are intended to meet the requirements for such exclusion, such exclusion is generally no longer available andqualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), the Company will not grant any such future awards.
As in prior years, while deductibility of executive compensation for federal income tax purposes is among the factors we consider when structuring our executive compensation arrangements, it is not the sole or primary factor considered. We retain the flexibility to authorize compensation that may not be deductible if we believe it is in the best interests of the Company.
Types of Awards
The following types of awards are available for issuance under the Amended Plan: (i) stock options; (ii) stock appreciation rights; (iii) restricted stock; (iv) restricted stock units; (v) dividend equivalent rights; and (vi) cash-based awards.
Eligible Participants
The following individuals are eligible to receive awards under the Amended Plan: (i) employees of the Company or any related entity, (ii) directors of the Company or any related entity or (iii) consultants of the Company or any related entity. As of March 1, 2020, approximately 10 employees, 5 non-employee directors and approximately 5 consultants are eligible to participate under the Amended Plan.
Number of Shares of Common Stock Available.
We have reserved 1,000,0003,000,000 shares of Common Stockour common stock for issuance under the 2018Amended Plan.
Share Limits.
The Amended Plan limits (i) the number of shares with respect to which options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to an individual participant in any calendar year to 3,500,000 with allowance for an additional 3,500,000 options and stock appreciation rights in connection with an individual participant’s commencement of employment or service and (ii) the awards granted to any member of the board in any calendar year to: (x) no more than 500,000 shares; and (y) no more than $5,000,000 for the aggregate value of all compensation paid or provided to any such member. The Amended Plan also limits awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) granted to an individual participant in any calendar year to: (i) no more than 3,500,000 shares consisting of restricted stock or restricted stock units; and (ii) no more than $5 million for the grant date value of cash awards.
Administration of the Incentive Plan.
The Board of Directors or a committee thereof (the “Administrator”) administers the 2018Amended Plan. In the case of grandfathered awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m), the Administrator consists of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m). The Administrator has the power to determine and interpret the terms and conditions of the awards, including, as applicable, the employees, directors, and consultants who will receive awards, the exercise price, the number of shares subject to each award, the vesting schedule and exercisability of the awards, the restrictions on transferability of awards, and the form of consideration payable upon exercise.
Stock Options.
The 2018Amended Plan allows for the grant of incentive stock options that qualify under Section 422 of the Code only to our employees and employees of any of our parents or subsidiaries. Non-qualified stock options may be granted to our employees and directors and those of certain of our affiliates. The per share exercise price of all options granted under the 2018Amended Plan must be equal to at least the per share fair market value of the Common Stockour common stock on the date of grant. The term of an incentive stock option may not exceed 10 years, except that with respect to any employee who owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of our outstanding stock or any parent or subsidiary corporation as of the grant date, the term must not exceed five years, and the exercise price must equal at least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date.
After the continuous service of an employee, director or consultant terminates, he or she may exercise his or her option, to the extent vested, for the period of time specified in the option agreement. No option may be exercised later thanafter the expiration of its term.
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Stock Appreciation Rights.
The 2018Amended Plan allows for the grant of stock appreciation rights. Stock appreciation rights allow the recipient to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of Common Stockour common stock between the date of grant and the exercise date. The Administrator will determine the terms of stock appreciation rights, including when such rights become exercisable and whether to pay the increased appreciation in cash or with shares of Common Stock,ourcommon stock, or a combination
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thereof, except that the base appreciation amount used to determine the cash or shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right will be no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.
After the continuous service of an employee, director or consultant terminates, he or she may exercise his or her stock appreciation right, to the extent vested, only to the extent provided in the stock appreciation right agreement.
Restricted Stock.
The 2018Amended Plan allows for the grant of restricted stock. Restricted stock awards are shares of Common Stockcommon stock that vest in accordance with terms and conditions, if any, established by the Administrator. The Administrator will determine the number of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee, director or consultant. The Administrator may impose whatever conditions, if any, on vesting it determines to be appropriate. For example, the Administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals. Shares of restricted stock that do not vest are subject to our right of repurchase or forfeiture.
Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock.
The 2018Amended Plan allows for the grant of restricted stock units. Restricted stock units are awards that will result in payment to a recipient at the end of a specified period only if the vesting criteria established by the Administrator, if any, are achieved or the award otherwise vests. The Administrator may impose whatever conditions, if any, to vesting, or restrictions and conditions, if any, to payment that it determines to be appropriate. The Administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals or on the continuation of service or employment. Payments of earned restricted stock units may be made, in the Administrator’s discretion, in cash, with shares of Common Stock or other securities, or a combination thereof.
Awards denominated in cash.
The 2018Amended Plan also allows for the grant of awards denominated in cash that may be settled in cash or shares of Common Stock,common stock, which may be subject to restrictions, as established by the Administrator.
The Administrator will determinehas the provisions, terms, and conditions of each award including vesting schedules, forfeiture provisions, form authority to:
·to select the employees, directors and consultants to whom awards may be granted; |
·to determine whether and to what extent awards are granted; |
·to determine the number of shares or the amount of cash or other consideration to be covered by each award granted; |
·to approve forms of award agreements for use under the Amended Plan; |
·to determine the terms and conditions of any award granted, including vesting schedules, forfeiture provisions, form |
of payment (cash, shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the award, payment contingencies, and
satisfaction of any performance criteria. criteria;
·to amend the terms of any outstanding award granted under the Amended Plan, subject to certain limitations; |
·to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Amended Plan and to define terms not otherwise |
defined;
·to construe and interpret the terms of the Amended Plan and awards; |
·to approve corrections in the documentation or administration of any award; |
·to grant awards to employees, directors and consultants outside of the United States or to otherwise adopt or |
administer such procedures or subplans that the Administrator deems appropriate or necessary on such terms and
conditions different from those specified in the Amended Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be
necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Amended Plan; and
·to take such other action that is not inconsistent with the terms of the Amended Plan as the Administrator deems |
appropriate.
The performance criteria established by the Administrator for any grandfathered awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) will bewas one of, or combination of, the following: net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); earnings per share; revenues or sales (including net sales or revenue growth); net operating profit; regulatory filings; product approvals; return measures (including return on assets, net assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue); cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment); earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, or amortization; gross or operating margins; productivity ratios; share price (including growth measures and total stockholder return); expense targets; margins; operating efficiency; market share; working capital targets and change in working capital; economic value added or EVA® (net operating profit after tax minus the sum of capital multiplied by the cost of capital); or net operating income. The performance criteria may be applicable to our company, our affiliates or any individual business units of our company or any affiliate and may be measured over any specified period, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Administrator.
Transferability of Awards.
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The 2018Amended Plan allows for the transfer of awards under the 2018Amended Plan only (i) by will, (ii) by the laws of descent and distribution and (iii) for awards other than incentive stock options, to the extent authorized by the Administrator to certain persons or entities. Only the recipient of an incentive stock option may exercise such award during his or her lifetime.
Change in Control.
In the event of certain changes in our capitalization, to prevent enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under the 2018Amended Plan, the Administrator will make adjustments to one or more of the number of shares that are covered by outstanding awards, the exercise or purchase price of outstanding awards, the numerical share limits contained in the 2018Amended Plan, and any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment.
The 2018Amended Plan provides that, for full acceleration of vestingeach award that is assumed or replaced in connection with certain corporate transactions, such award will be fully accelerated in the event a grantee’s service provider status with the Company is terminated by the Company (or any successor entity) or a related entity without “cause” or by the grantee for “good reason”, in either case at any time following certainsuch corporate transactions. In addition, the 2018Amended Plan providersprovides for full acceleration of vesting (i) if awards are not assumed or replaced in connection with certain corporate transactions and (ii) in the event of certain contested or hostile changes in control.
Amendment and Termination of the Amended Plan.
The 2018Amended Plan will automatically terminate ten years following the date it becomes effective, unless we terminate it sooner. In addition, the Board of Directors has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2018Amended Plan, provided such action does not impair the rights under any outstanding award.
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Certain U.S. Federal Tax Consequences
The following summary of the federal income tax consequences of 2018 Plan transactions is based uponrelate to federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this proxy statement.Proxy Statement. This summary does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss non-U.S., state or localcomplete. The tax consequences.consequences of participating in the Amended Plan may vary with respect to individual situations. Participants should rely upon their own tax advisors for advice concerning the specific tax consequences applicable to them. As such, please refer to the applicable provisions of the Code for additional information.
Non-Qualified Stock Options.
Except as provided under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code discussed below (“Sectionand the Treasury Regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”), the grant of a non-qualified stock option under the 2018Amended Plan generally will not result in any U.S. Federalfederal income tax consequences to the grantee or to the Company. Upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the grantee is generally subject to income taxes at the rate applicable to ordinary compensation income on the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise. This income is generally subject to withholding for U.S. Federalfederal income and employment tax purposes. The Company ismay be entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of the income recognized by the grantee, subject to possible limitations imposed by Section 162(m) and so long as the Company withholds the appropriate taxes with respect to such income, if required, and the grantee’s total compensation is deemed reasonable in amount. Any gain or loss on the grantee’s subsequent disposition of the shares of Common Stock will receive longlong- or short-term capital gain or loss treatment, depending on whether the shares are held for more than one year following exercise. The Company does not receive a tax deduction for any such gain.
Absent special limitations on exercisability, in the event a nonqualifiednon-qualified stock option is granted with an exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant or amended in certain respects, such option may be considered deferred compensation and subject to Section 409A, which provide rules regarding the timing of payment of deferred compensation. An option subject to Section 409A which fails to comply with the rules of Section 409A can result in the acceleration of income recognition, an additional 20% tax obligation, plus potential penalties and interest, and similar treatment potential additional excise taxesunder state law.
Incentive Stock Options.
The grant of an incentive stock option under the 2018Amended Plan will not result in any U.S. Federalfederal income tax consequences to the grantee or to the Company. A grantee recognizes no U.S. Federalfederal taxable income upon exercising an incentive stock option (subject to the alternative minimum tax rules discussed below), and the Company receives no deduction at the time of exercise. In the event of a disposition of stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option, the tax consequences depend upon how long the grantee has held the shares of Common Stock.common stock. If the grantee does not dispose of the shares within two years after the incentive stock option was granted, nor within one year after the incentive stock option was exercised, the grantee will recognize a long-term capital gain (or loss) equal to the difference between the sale price of the shares and the exercise price. The Company is not entitled to any deduction under these circumstances.
If the grantee fails to satisfy either of the foregoing holding periods, he or she must recognize ordinary income in the year of the disposition, which is referred to as a “disqualifying disposition.” The amount of such ordinary income generally is the lesser of (i) the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the exercise price or (ii) the difference between the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date and the exercise price. Any gain in excess of the amount taxed as ordinary income will be treated as a longlong- or short-term capital gain, depending on whether the stock was held for more than one year. The Company, in the year of the disqualifying disposition, is entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the grantee, subject to possible limitations imposed by Section 162(m) and so long as the Company withholds the appropriate taxes with respect to such income, if required, and the grantee’s total compensation is deemed reasonable in amount.
The “spread” under an incentive stock option — the difference between the fair market value of the shares at exercise and the exercise price—price — is classified as an item of adjustment in the year of exercise for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If a grantee’s alternative
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minimum tax liability exceeds such grantee’s regular income tax liability, the grantee will owe the larger amount of taxes. In order to avoid the application of alternative minimum tax with respect to incentive stock options, the grantee must sell the shares within the same calendar year in which the incentive stock options are exercised. However, such a sale of shares within the same year of exercise will constitute a disqualifying disposition, as described above.
In the event that an incentive stock option is amended in certain respects, such option may be considered deferred compensation and subject to the rules of Section 409A, which provides rules regarding the timing of payment of deferred compensation. An option subject to Section 409A which fails to comply with the rules of Section 409A can result in the acceleration of income recognition, an additional 20% tax obligation, plus potential penalties and interest,
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and similar treatment under state law. In addition, the amendment of an incentive stock option may convert the option from an incentive stock option to a nonqualified stock option.
Restricted Stock and Performance Stock.
The grant of restricted stock and performance shares will generally subject the recipient to ordinary compensation income on the difference between the amount paid for such stock and the fair market value of the shares on the date that the restrictions lapse. This income is generally subject to withholding for U.S. Federalfederal income and employment tax purposes. The Company is entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of the ordinary income recognized by the recipient, subject to possible limitations imposed by Section 162(m) and so long as the Company withholds the appropriate taxes with respect to such income, if required, and the grantee’s total compensation is deemed reasonable in amount. Any gain or loss on the recipient’s subsequent disposition of the shares will receive longlong- or short-term capital gain or loss treatment depending on how long the stock has been held since the restrictions lapsed. The Company does not receive a tax deduction for any such gain.
Recipients of restricted stock and performance shares may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, which is referred to as a “Section 83(b) Election,” to recognize as ordinary compensation income in the year that such restricted stock or performance shares are granted, the amount equal to the spread between the amount paid for such stock (if any) and the fair market value on the date of the issuance of the stock. If such an election is made, the recipient recognizes no further amounts of compensation income upon the lapse of any restrictions and any gain or loss on subsequent disposition will be long or short-term capital gain to the recipient. The Section 83(b) Election must be made within thirty days from the time the restricted stock or performance share is issued.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
Recipients of stock appreciation rights, which are referred to as “SARs,” generally should not recognize income until such rights are exercised, assuming there is no ceiling on the value of the right and Section 409A does not apply. Upon exercise, the grantee will normally recognize taxable ordinary income for U.S. Federalfederal income tax purposes equal to the amount of cash and fair market value the shares, if any, received upon such exercise. Grantees who are employees will be subject to withholding for U.S. Federalfederal income and employment tax purposes with respect to income recognized upon exercise of a SAR. Grantees will recognize gain upon the disposition of any shares received on exercise of a SAR equal to the excess of (i) the amount realized on such disposition over (ii) the ordinary income recognized with respect to such shares under the principles set forth above. That gain will be taxable as long or short-term capital gain depending on whether the shares were held for more than one year.
The Company will be entitled to a tax deduction to the extent and in the year that ordinary income is recognized by the grantee, subject to possible limitations imposed by Section 162(m) and so long as the Company withholds the appropriate taxes with respect to such income, if required, and the grantee’s total compensation is deemed reasonable in amount.
A SAR can be considered deferred compensation and subject to Section 409A. A SAR that does not meet the requirements of Section 409A, such as with respect to the timing of the delivery of cash or shares following vesting, can result in the acceleration of income recognition, an additional 20% tax obligation, plus potential penalties and interest, and similar treatment under state law.
Performance Units.
Recipients of performance units generally should not recognize income until such units are converted into cash or shares of stock unless Section 409A applies. Upon conversion, the grantee will normally recognize taxable ordinary income for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of cash and fair market value the shares, if any, received upon such conversion. Grantees who are employees will be subject to withholding for federal income and employment tax purposes with respect to income recognized upon conversion of the performance units. Grantees will recognize gain upon the disposition of any shares received upon conversion of the performance units equal to the excess of (i) the amount realized on such disposition over (ii) the ordinary income recognized with respect to such shares under the principles set forth above. That gain will be taxable as long or short-term capital gain depending on whether the shares were held for more than one year. The Company will be entitled to a tax deduction to the extent and in the year that ordinary income is recognized by the grantee, subject to possible limitations imposed by Section 162(m) and so long as the Company withholds the appropriate taxes with respect to such income (if required) and the grantee’s total compensation is deemed reasonable in amount.
Performance units also can be considered non-qualified deferred compensation and subject to the rules of Section 409A, which provide rules regarding the timing of payment of deferred compensation. A grant of performance units that does not meet the requirements of Code Section 409A can result in the acceleration of income recognition, an
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additional 20% tax obligation, plus potential penalties and interest to such grantee, and similar treatment under state law.
Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.
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Recipients of stock-based awards that earn dividends or dividend equivalents will recognize taxable ordinary income on any dividend payments received with respect to unvested shares subject to such awards, which income is generally subject to withholding for U.S. Federalfederal income and employment tax purposes. The Company is entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of the income recognized by a grantee, subject to possible limitations imposed by Section 162(m) and so long as the Company withholds the appropriate taxes with respect to such income, if required, and the individual’s total compensation is deemed reasonable in amount.
The foregoing is only a summary of the U.S. Federal income tax consequences of 2018 Plan transactions, and is based upon U.S. Federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this proxy statement. Reference should be made to the applicable provisions of the Code. This summary does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss the tax consequences of a grantee’s death or the tax laws of any municipality, state or foreign country to which the grantee may be subject.
New Plan Benefits.
Awards under the 2018Amended Plan are based on the discretion of the Administrator and/or the Company’s achievement of performance targets established by the Administrator, and it is not currently possible to determine the amounts that will be received by persons participating in the 2018Amended Plan in the future.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE CASSAVA SCIENCES, INC. 2018 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN.
AND THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER.
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PROPOSAL THREE
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
TO THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 20182020
The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee have selected Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, to audit the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20182020 and recommend that the stockholders vote to ratify such selection. Although action by stockholders is not required by law, the Board of Directors has determined that it is desirable to request approval of this selection by the stockholders. Notwithstanding the selection or ratification, the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee, in their discretion, may direct the selection of a new independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year, if the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee determine that such a change would be in the best interest of the Company.
We expect a representative of Ernst & Young LLP to be present at the meeting and will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and is also expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
TO THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2018.2020.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Fees for professional services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in each of the last two fiscal years, in each of the following categories were:
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| Years Ended December 31, | Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2017 |
| 2016 | 2019 |
| 2018 | ||||
Audit fees | $ | 259,800 |
| $ | 359,000 | $ | 197,100 |
| $ | 228,500 |
Audit-related fees |
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Tax fees |
| 21,000 |
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| 23,690 |
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Other fees |
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All other fees |
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| $ | 280,800 |
| $ | 380,000 | $ | 220,790 |
| $ | 251,676 |
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Ernst & Young LLP served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016.2018. Audit fees include fees associated with the Annual Reports on Form 10-K (including fees associated with attestation pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002);10-K; the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and all services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. Tax fees include tax compliance services. The Company did not incur audit-related or other fees in the years ended December 31, 20172019 or December 31, 2016.2018.
All auditing services and non-audit services provided to the Company by our independent registered public accounting firm are required to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Any pre-approval of non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP includes making a determination that the provision of the services is compatible with maintaining the independence of Ernst & Young LLP as an independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, provided that the Chairperson reports any decisions to pre-approve such audit and non-audit services to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. All services for audit and tax fees for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and December 31, 20162018 as set forth in the table above were pre-approved by the Company’s Audit Committee.
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PROPOSAL FOUR
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Our compensation programs are designed to provide long-term and currently-paid compensation and cash and non-cash compensation for our executive officers in order to align the compensation of our executive officers with our performance on a short term and long term basis. This proposal provides stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the Company’s executive compensation practices and principles.
In 2017, our stockholders recommended that the advisory vote on executive compensation be held every year. Accordingly, we have included this proposal for consideration at our 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Stockholders should consider the compensation programs and their implementation, included inincluding the section entitled “Executive Compensation Discussion and Analysis,Other Matters”, the compensation tables, and any narrativeother executive compensation disclosure below, and cast a non-binding vote either to endorse or not endorse our executive compensation programs through the following resolution:
"“RESOLVED: That the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers in 2017,2019, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative discussion is hereby approved."”
This vote is being provided pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act. While the vote does not bind our Board of Directors to any particular action, the Board of Directors expects to take into account the outcome of this vote in considering future compensation programs. The next advisory vote on our executive compensation will be at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE, IN A NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE,
THE 20172019 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
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DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth for each Class I Director, each Class II Director, each Class III Director and the executive officers of the Company, their ages and positions with the Company as of the Record Date.
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Name | Age | Position |
Remi Barbier |
| President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Class III Director |
Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D. |
| Chief Medical and Operating Officer and Class I Director |
Eric J. Schoen | 51 | Chief Financial Officer |
Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D. (1)(2)(3) |
| Class II Director |
Michael J. O’Donnell, Esq. (3) |
| Class I Director |
Saira Ramasastry (1)(3) |
| Class II Director |
Sanford R. Robertson (1)(2)(3) |
| Class III Director |
Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D. (3) |
| Class III Director |
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_________
(1) | Member of Audit Committee. |
(2) | Member of Compensation Committee. |
(3) | Meets the definition of independence under the |
There is no family relationship between any director or executive officer of the Company. There are no material proceedings to which any director, officer or affiliate, or any associate thereof, of the Company, any owner of record or beneficially of more than five percent of any class of voting securities of the Company, or security holder is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. During the past ten years, none of our officers, directors, promoters or control persons have been involved in any legal proceedings as described in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
Remi Barbier, the Company’s founder, has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors since the Company’s inception in May 1998. Prior to that time, Mr. Barbier helped in the growth or founding of:of Exelixis Inc. and ArQule, Inc., a functional genomics company, ArQule,both publicly-traded drug development companies, and EnzyMed, Inc., a chemistry company and EnzyMed, Inc. (now owned bysold to Albany Molecular Research, Inc.), a chemistry company. Mr. Barbier served as Chief Operating Officer of Exelixis, Inc. from January 1996 to May 1998. Mr. Barbier was Vice President of Corporate Development and Clinical Project Manager of XOMA Corporation, or XOMA, a biotechnology company, from 1993 to 1995. Mr. Barbier is a trustee emeritus of the Carnegie Institute of Washington and the Santa Fe Institute and is on the Advisory Board of the University of California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences.Biosciences and BioVentures LLC, a life science incubator at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Mr. Barbier received his B.A. from Oberlin College and his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D. has served as a director since September 1998. Dr. Friedmann has served as Chief Operating Officer since October 2001 and Chief Medical and Operating Officer since 2004. Dr. Friedmann was previously President and Chief Executive OfficerCEO of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, from 1997 to 2000, and was a consultant to the Board of Directors of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in Tokyo from 1995 to 1997. From 1992 to 1995,Corporation. Dr. Friedmann has served as Vice President, Clinical Research at XOMA. From 1980 to 1991, Dr. FriedmannXoma Corporation, and held various senior leadership positions with Johnson & Johnson, (“J&J”), including the position of Vice President and Head of its Biotechnology Research of the J&J Biotechnology Center. Prior to that, Dr. Friedmann was Medical Director of Abbott Laboratories. Dr. Friedmann received his M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego.
Eric Schoen has served as Chief Financial Officer since October 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Schoen served in numerous financial leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer of Vermillion, Inc., a publicly-held bioanalytical-based women’s health company focused on gynecologic disease, from 2011 to 2017. Mr. Schoen also began his career and spent nine years with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the audit and assurance, transaction services and global capital markets practices. Mr. Schoen received his B.S. in Finance from Santa Clara University.
Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D. has served as a director since March 2003. Dr. Gussin worked at J&JJohnson & Johnson for 26 years, most recently as Chief Scientific Officer and Corporate Vice President, Science and Technology from 1986 through his retirement in 2000. Prior to assuming this role, Dr. Gussin worked at J&J’s McNeil division for 12 years, most recently as Vice President, Research and Development and Vice President, Scientific Affairs. From 1967 to 1974, Dr. Gussin held various research positions with Lederle Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company. Dr. Gussin servesserved on the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors of Duquesne University and the advisory boards of the Duquesne University Pharmacy School and the University of Michigan Medical School Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Gussin received his B.S. and M.S. degrees and D.Sc. with honors from Duquesne University and his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Michael J. O’Donnell, Esq. has served as a director since June 1998. Mr. O’Donnell has been a member of the law firm of Morrison & Foerster, LLP since January 2011. From 1993 to January 2011, Mr. O’Donnell was a member of the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation. Morrison & Foerster, LLP is the Company’s corporate counsel and provides legal services to the Company. Mr. O’Donnell serves as corporate counsel to numerous public and private biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies. Previously, Mr. O’Donnell was a member of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.Mr. O’Donnell received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard University and his B.A. from Bucknell University, summa cum laude.
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Saira Ramasastry has served as a director since February 2013. Prior to 2013, Ms. Ramasastry was an advisor to the Company. Since 2009 she has served as Managing Partner of Life Sciences Advisory, LLC, a life science company advisory business. From 1999 to 2009, Ms. Ramasastry was an investment banker with Merrill Lynch & Company, Inc., an investment banking firm. From 1997 to 1998, she was a financial analyst in the M&A group at Wasserstein Perella & Co., an investment banking firm. Ms. Ramasastry serves on the Board of Directors of Sangamo Biosciences,Therapeutics, Inc., VIR Biotechnology, Inc., Innovate Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and Repros Therapeutics, Inc.Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., each a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, the Industry Advisory Board of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Boardhead of Directorsbusiness and sustainability for the European Prevention of the American Liver Foundation.Alzheimer’s Dementia (EPAD). She received aher B.A. in Economics with Honors and Distinction and an M.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, Phi Beta Kappa, as well as an M. Phil. in Management Studies from the University of Cambridge.
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Sanford R. Robertson has served as a director since September 1998. Mr. Robertson has been a partner of Francisco Partners, a technology buyout fund, since 1999. Prior to founding Francisco Partners, Mr. Robertson was the founder and chairman of Robertson, Stephens & Company, a technology investment bank formed in 1978 and sold to BankBoston in 1998. Since the sale, Mr. Robertson has been a technology investor and advisor to several technology companies. Mr. Robertson was also the founder of Robertson, Colman, Siebel & Weisel, later renamed Montgomery Securities, another technology investment bank. Mr. Robertson is athe committees lead director of Salesforce.com, a publicly-held provider of enterprise cloud computing applications and RPX, Inc., a publicly-held provider of patent risk solutions.applications. Mr. Robertson received his B.A. and M.B.A. degrees with distinction from the University of Michigan.
Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D. has served as a director since December 2007. Dr. Scannon is one of the founders of XOMA. Dr. Scannon retired from XOMA and resigned from XOMA’s board of directors on December 21, 2016. From 2006 to 2016, Dr. Scannon was Executive Vice President, Chief Biotechnology Officer of XOMA. From 1993 to 2006, Dr. Scannon served as Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of XOMA. Dr. Scannon retired from XOMA and resigned from XOMA’s board of directors in 2016. Dr. Scannon received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia.
Board Structure
The Board of Directors maintains a structure with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company holding the position as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and with an Audit Committee and Compensation Committee for oversight of specific areas of responsibility, discussed further below. The Company does not have a lead independent director. The Company believes that this structure is appropriate and allows for efficient and effective oversight, given the Company’s relatively small size (both in terms of number of employees and in scope of operational activities directly conducted by the Company), its corporate strategy (including the use of outsourcing for certain activities) and its focus on drug research and development. The Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Committees of the Board of Directors and, as needed, other executive officers and employees of the Company provide the Board of Directors with information regarding the Company’s risks. The Board of Directors, or the Committee with special responsibility for oversight of the area implicated by the highlighted risks, then uses this information to perform its oversight role and inform its decision making with respect to such areas of risk.
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Board Qualifications and Nominations
The Board of Directors requires that its members and its candidates for appointment or nomination maintain high personal and professional integrity and the ability to contribute to the Board of Directors’ effectiveness in serving the interests of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, the Board of Directors and director nominees are expected to have appropriate management or scientific experience that are relevant to our current and expected future direction, a track record of accomplishment and a commitment to ethical business practices. The particular experience, qualification or skills of each member of the Board of Directors that led the Board of Directors to conclude that the individual should serve as a director are set forth below:
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Director | Key Qualifications |
Remi Barbier | Experience as President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board of Directors since the inception of the Company. |
Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D. | Experience as Chief Medical and Operating Officer of the Company. Additional experience as President and CEO and other executive roles at other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as an executive officer. |
Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D. | Experience in executive roles at J&J and as a director or as advisor to a number of academic institutions. |
Michael J. O’Donnell, Esq. | Experience as a member of law firms and as counsel and advisor to numerous public and private biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies. |
Saira Ramasastry | Experience as founder and managing director of a biotechnology advisory firm, in global healthcare investment banking and strategic advisory consulting, as a director |
Sanford R. Robertson | Experience as founder and director of investment banks and funds and as a director to public companies. |
Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D. | Experience as a founder and executive of a biopharmaceutical company. |
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The Board of Directors evaluates all proposed director nominees and incumbent directors before nomination, including those proposed by the Board of Directors for election and those to be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors to fill interim director vacancies on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors utilizes its own resources to identify qualified candidates and may, in the future, use an executive recruiting firm to assist in the identification and evaluation of such qualified candidates. For these services, an executive recruiting firm would be paid a fee. The Board of Directors determined that a Nominating Committee was not necessary, and that it was in the best interest of the Company to continue to directly oversee the activities and responsibilities that might be delegated to a Nominating Committee. All of the Company’s directors may participate in the consideration of director candidates. The approval of at least a majority of the independent directors on the Board of Directors is required to nominate a director candidate for a position on the Company’s Board of Directors. Such independent directors are identified below in the section entitled: “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions – Independence of Directors.”
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The Board of Directors has not established a procedure for considering nominees for director nominated by the Company’s stockholders. The Board of Directors believes that it can identify appropriate candidates to our Board of Directors. Stockholders may nominate candidates for director in accordance with the advance notice and other procedures contained in our bylaws.
Board Meetings
The Board of Directors held a total of four meetings during the fiscal year 2017.2019. No director serving throughout fiscal year 20172019 attended fewer than 89%75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees of the Board of Directors upon which such director served. Mr. Barbier, Dr. Friedmann, Mr. Gussin, Mr. O’Donnell, Mr. Robertson, Ms. Ramasastry and Dr. Scannon attended all meetings of the Board of Directors.
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The Company does not have formal policies regarding attendance by members of the Board of Directors at its annual meetings of stockholders, but directors are encouraged to attend. TwoThree directors attended the 20172019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors
The Company does not have a written policy regarding stockholder communication with the Board of Directors. However, stockholders may communicate with the Board of Directors by sending an e-mail to the Company at IR@paintrials.comIR@cassavasciences.com or by writing to the Company at Pain Therapeutics,Cassava Sciences, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 7801 NN. Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260, Austin, Texas, 78731. Stockholders who would like their submissions directed to an individual member of the Board of Directors may so specify, and the communication will be forwarded, as appropriate.
Board Committees
The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee that oversees the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of the Company’s financial statements. The Company also has a standing Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors does not have a lead director or a standing Nominating Committee. Mr. Barbier is the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
The Audit Committee consists of directors Dr. Gussin, Mr. Robertson and Ms. Ramasastry. The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that these individuals are independent as defined under the NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC listing standards as well as the SEC rules. The Board of Directors has also determined that Mr. Robertson is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in the SEC rules. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Company maintains a copy of the Audit Committee charter on its website: www.paintrials.com.www.cassavasciences.com. The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s internal accounting procedures, consults with and reviews the services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee held four meetings during fiscal year 2017.2019.
The Compensation Committee consists of directors Dr. Gussin and Mr. Robertson. The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that these individuals are independent as defined under the NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC listing standards. The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors the salaries, incentive compensation and benefits of the Company’s officers and administers the Company’s stock plans and employee benefit plans. Refer to the Compensation“Compensation Discussion and AnalysisAnalysis” section herein for more information about the Company’s Compensation Committee and its processes and procedures. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Company maintains a copy of the Compensation Committee charter on its website: www.paintrials.com.www.cassavasciences.com. The Compensation Committee held one meetingtwo meetings during fiscal year 2017.2019.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Compensation Committee or any executive officer of the Company has served 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 Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. No Compensation Committee member has been an officer or employee of the Company while also serving as a member of the Compensation Committee.
1517
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of February 15, 2018March 17, 2020 by:
· | any person (including any group as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s voting securities (a “5% Holder”); |
· | each director and each nominee for director to the Company; |
· | each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table appearing herein; and |
· | all executive officers, directors and nominees for director of the Company as a group. |
The number of shares and percentage of Common Stock outstanding are based on the aggregate of 6,595,50924,729,902 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 15, 2018, adjusted for the 7-for-1 reverse stock split that took effect on May 10, 2017.March 17, 2020. The Company does not know of any arrangements, including any pledge by any person of securities of the Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Company.
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owners (1) | Number of Shares |
| Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding | Number of Shares |
| Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding |
5% Holders |
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First Eagle Investment Management, LLC(2) | 980,241 |
| 14.9% | |||
1345 Avenue of the Americas |
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Bleichroeder LP(2) | 2,523,854 |
| 9.9% | |||
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor |
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New York, NY 10105 |
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Thomas A. Satterfield, Jr.(3) | 550,472 |
| 8.3% | 1,323,195 |
| 5.2% |
2609 Caldwell Mill Lane |
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Birmingham, Alabama 35243 |
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Nantahala Capital Management, LLC(4) | 347,053 |
| 5.3% | |||
19 Old Kings Highway S, Suite 200 |
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Darien, CT 06820 |
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Directors and Executive Officers |
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Remi Barbier(5) | 1,689,969 |
| 20.4% | |||
Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D.(6) | 449,507 |
| 6.4% | |||
Remi Barbier(4) | 1,956,435 |
| 7.6% | |||
Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D.(5) | 521,344 |
| 2.1% | |||
Eric Schoen(6) | 34,050 |
| * | |||
Sanford R. Robertson(7) | 139,991 |
| 2.1% | 764,258 |
| 3.1% |
Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D.(8) | 81,273 |
| 1.2% | 105,540 |
| * |
Michael J. O’Donnell, Esq.(9) | 57,782 |
| * | 79,453 |
| * |
Saira Ramasastry(10) | 36,375 |
| * | 77,906 |
| * |
Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D.(11) | 69,824 |
| 1.0% | |||
All directors, executive officers and nominees for director as a group (7 persons)(12) | 2,524,721 |
| 31.4% | |||
Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D.(10) | 84,143 |
| * | |||
All directors, executive officers and nominees for director as a group (8 persons)(11) | 3,623,129 |
| 13.7% | |||
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(1) | This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and principal stockholders and Schedules 13G filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, and subject to community property laws where applicable, each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned. The address for directors and executive officers is the Company’s address. Percentages of common stock outstanding are rounded to the nearest tenth. |
(2) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A as filed with the SEC and dated February |
(3) | Based on a Schedule |
(4) |
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| Includes (i) |
| Includes |
| Includes |
(7) | Includes 101,635 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 17, 2020. |
(8) | Includes |
16
(9) | Includes |
(10) |
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(11) | Includes |
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* Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, adjusted as required by the rules promulgated by the SEC.
18
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER MATTERS
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Our compensation programs are designed to provide long-term and currently-paid compensation and cash and non-cash compensation for our executive officers in order to align the compensation of our executive officers with our performance on a short-term and long-term basis. Our compensation programs reflect the following objectives:
· | to attract and retain high-performing executive talent; |
· | to encourage corporate behavior that is consistent with our values and goals; |
· | to create financial incentives for superior performance; |
· | to balance the achievement of corporate and individual goals, whereby individual executives are rewarded for the performance of the business functions for which they are responsible in addition to our overall performance; |
· | to ensure that our executive compensation programs are competitive with those of regional companies in our industry, so that we can continue to attract, retain and motivate executive talent; and |
· | to encourage the development of a diverse executive talent pool and continuity of leadership. |
These objectives include qualitative factors that strengthen our ability to meet long-term growth, such as demonstrated leadership ability, management development, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations and our policies, and anticipating and responding to changing conditions.
We do not have a set policy for allocating long-term and currently-paid compensation. Each year, our Compensation Committee determines the amount and allocation of long-term and currently-paid compensation and cash and non-cash compensation for executive officers. We believe there is no single source of data that provides the information sought by the Compensation Committee to arrive at these determinations. We have relied on data from a number of sources, including a review of internally generated industry surveys; the experience and knowledge of members of the Compensation Committee, Board of Directors and senior management; and additional factors, such as recent market trends and general business conditions. Survey data from prior years that we use include compensation information regarding publicly-held companies in our industry that are similar in size, breadth, stage of development or complexity to us.
While none of these sources of data is prescriptive per se, each source helps the Compensation Committee evaluate the appropriateness of total compensation for each executive at a particular point in the Company’s life cycle. For example, a certain position may be highly strategic for a period of time and we believe it may therefore be desirable to pay that position closer to the level of a chief executive officer during that period of time.
To assist the Compensation Committee with its responsibilities, we provide briefing materials prepared or summarized by management. Our Chief Executive Officer participates in the collection and dissemination of briefing materials and interacts with the Compensation Committee in reviewing some of the elements of yearly performance and compensation of the executive management team. The Compensation Committee believes that an appropriate level of input from our Chief Executive Officer provides a necessary and valuable perspective in helping the Compensation Committee formulate its own independent views on compensation. The Compensation Committee makes all final determinations as to compensation levels for executive officers.
Elements of Executive Compensation
We focus our executive compensation program on three related but distinct elements: base salary, cash bonuses and stock related compensation. We did not purchase or generate updated internal survey data in connection with the review of compensation in 2017.2019.
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Base Salary. We offer a base salary to attract and retain qualified executive officers. Base salaries are based on broad salary ranges that take into consideration a number of factors, including:
· | an executive’s job |
· | individual |
· | our corporate |
· | competitive market |
· | our total compensation expense. |
Changes to base salary vary according to individual contributions to our success and comparisons to similar positions here and at other comparable companies.
In 2017,mid-2019, after reviewing each executive’s job responsibilities, individual performance, our corporate performance, competitive market data and our total compensation expense, the annualized salary of Mr. Barbier was increased by approximately 5% to $920,000 from $875,000, the annualized salary of Dr. Friedmann was increased by approximately 8% to $345,000 from $320,000. This represented the first change in base salaries for each executive since 2016. The annualized salary for Mr. Barbier and Dr. Friedmann wereSchoen, who joined the Company in October 2018, was not changed.
19
Cash Bonuses. Each executive officer is eligible for an annual cash bonus. We provide such bonuses to motivate executive officers to perform on behalf of general corporate goals and to perform in their areas of responsibility. We do not have a policy of prospectively establishing annual target bonuses or bonus criteria.
Each individual executive officer’s bonus for the prior year is determined through an evaluation of overall corporate performance with a particular focus on our progress since the prior year’s bonus determination in the areas of research and development, finance and other operations.
In 2017,2019, the Compensation Committee determined that no bonuses were to be paid for 2017.2019.
Stock Related Compensation. Stock related compensation includes both stock option grants and other types of equity awards within the terms of our 2008 Equity Incentive Plan or “the Equityand 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as applicable, (the “Equity Plan”).
Each executive officer is eligible for stock option grants as well as share-based awards that vest upon achievement of certain performance criteria, or “Performance Awards”. Such grants are intended to link executive rewards with stockholder value over time. Only our Board of Directors, acting in its sole discretion, or the Compensation Committee grants options or Performance Awards to our executive officers.
We view stock options as one of the more important components of our long-term, performance-based compensation philosophy. We provide options through initial grants at or near the date of hire and through subsequent periodic grants. Options for executive officers are granted, vest and become exercisable at such time as determined by our Board of Directors. Generally, stock option grants are exercisable over a four-year period and have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our stock at the time of grant. Initial grants are based on ranges that take into consideration an executive’s job responsibilities and competitive market data. For subsequent periodic grants, the Compensation Committee evaluates performance based on each individual’s contribution to the long-term success and growth of the Company, the Company’s performance based on the factors discussed above and the motivational value of additional incremental stock option grants. No stock options are granted in the absence of satisfactory performance. Stock option grants generally terminate shortly after an executive officer ceases providing services to the Company.
We grant periodic additional stock options:
· | to reflect the individuals’ ongoing contributions; |
· | to create an incentive to remain with us; and |
· | to provide a long-term incentive to achieve or exceed our financial goals. |
In granting stock options in the current year, we may consider the cumulative benefit of stock options granted in prior years.
In granting stock options in the current year, we may consider the cumulative benefit of stock options granted in prior years. We do not have a program, plan or practice to time stock option grants to our executives in coordination with the release of material nonpublic information. We have not re-priced any of our options and do not intend to re-
18
pricere-price or otherwise adjust options in the event that fair market value of our common stock declines below an option grant price. In August 2017,December 2019, after review of each individual’s contributions to the Company and consideration of option grants provided in prior years, Mr. Barbier, received options to purchase 300,000100,000 shares of our common stock and Dr. Friedmann received options to purchase 250,00050,000 shares of common stock. Mr. Schoen, who joined the Company in October 2018, did not receive an option grant in 2019.
Any personal tax obligations resulting from equity awards are the responsibility of the award recipient. If we issue certain shares for equity awards net of applicable individual taxes, the number of shares issued would be reduced, without reducing the amount of taxable compensation to the award recipient.
Performance Awards
No Performance Awards were granted in 2017.2019.
Other Compensation
Pension or Retirement Plans. We do not offer any of our employees a pension plan, retirement plan or other forms of compensation or perquisites paid out upon retirement. Executive officers are eligible for other benefits, in each case, on generally the same basis as other employees, subject to applicable law.
Employee Medical and Welfare Benefit Plans:. Our employee medical and welfare benefit plans include medical, dental, life, disability and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. We add to taxable income of each Named Executivenamed executive officer an amount representing the premium for term life insurance.
2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan:Plan.Our Named Executivesnamed executive officers are eligible to participate in our 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan or ESPP,(“ESPP”), but did not participate in the ESPP in 2017.2019. We may terminate the ESPP at any time.
401(k) Plan:Plan. We maintain a 401(k) Plan that is a defined contribution plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the IRS Code. We have not matched any pre-tax contributions to the 401(k) Plan.
20
Paid Time Off:Off. Our executive officers do not accrue vacation benefits available to our other employees, but do receive other paid time off benefits on the same basis as other employees.
Post-Employment Obligations
We have an employment agreementagreements with Mr.Messrs. Barbier and Schoen that provide for payments related toand benefits in connection with a termination of employment without cause. The primary basis for selecting termination without cause for triggering payment was that such terms are deemed necessary in attracting and retaining high-performing executive talent. For additional information on the specific terms and conditions of this employment arrangements, see the discussion in the section entitled “Employment and Severance Arrangements” of this proxy statement.Proxy Statement.
Accounting and Tax Considerations
Generally, the expense related to an option grant or award is established at the time of awards for purposes of financial reporting and recognized as appropriate over the period of time covered by the option grant or award. Our financial statements include more information regarding accounting for stock options.
The tax deductions related to equity awards are generally determined in the future, usually at the time of exercise or sale of the underlying stock from stock options or at the time of vesting of other equity awards. These tax deductions may be more or less than the amount of the underlying expense recorded for financial reporting purposes. We cannot predict the amount of tax deductions we earn in the future, if any, because the deductions are based on the fair market value of Common Stockcommon stock on the date when the tax deduction is earned.
Under current U.S. federal tax law, publicly-held companies areSection 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 162(m)”) generally precluded from deducting certainimposes a $1 million limit on the amount a public company may deduct for compensation paid to certain current and former executive officers. Prior to 2018, this limitation did not apply to compensation that met Section 162(m)’s requirements for qualifying performance-based compensation. This performance-based compensation exemption was repealed, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, such that awards paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1.0$1 million per year. Prior to January 1, 2018, certain performance-based compensation could generallywill not be excluded fromdeductible, unless such preclusion if certain requirements were satisfied. Under the TCJA, such exclusion is no longer available, except with respectaward qualifies for transition relief applicable to certain grandfathered compensation. Given the lackarrangements that were in effect as of regulatory guidance to date, weNovember 2, 2017 and are not yet ablematerially modified thereafter (“grandfathered awards”). As in prior years, while deductibility of executive compensation for federal income tax purposes is among the factors we consider when structuring our executive compensation arrangements, it is not the sole or primary factor considered. We retain the flexibility to determineauthorize compensation that may not be deductible if we believe it is in the full impactbest interests of the TCJA’s changes on the Company and our compensation programs.Company. In addition, certain distributions under severance arrangements with an executive officer can only be made after six months after separation from service. We have
19
endeavored and will continue to endeavor to structure our compensation arrangements to comply with current U.S. tax laws.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
We do not have any stock ownership guidelines, ownership goals or holding requirements. We have an insider trading policy that establishes certain restrictions on trading windows.
AsIf and as we succeed in achieving approval for and commercializing our drugproduct candidates, we expect that we will adapt the elements of our compensation program as appropriate and may include or substitute other elements in our compensation program. Changes in the elements of our compensation program may also reflect changes in the importance of tax or accounting treatments of a particular element of our compensation program.
Results of 2017 Say on Pay2019 Say-on-Pay Advisory Vote
In 2017,2019, our stockholders did not approve,approved, in ana non-binding advisory vote, the 20162018 compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers. We considered the stockholders’ vote in our review of our compensation programs and did not payin establishing compensation for our named executive officers in 2017.2019.
21
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation for each of our named executive officers.
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Name and Principal Position | Year |
| Salary |
| Bonus |
| Stock |
| Option Awards |
| Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compen- |
| All Other Compen- |
| Total | Year |
| Salary |
| Bonus |
| Stock (1) |
| Option Awards (1) |
| Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compen- |
| All Other Compen- |
| Total |
Remi Barbier | 2017 |
| 875,000 |
| — |
| — |
| 1,016,223 |
| — |
| 4,386 |
| 1,895,609 | 2019 |
| 899,375 |
| — |
| — |
| 166,860 |
| — |
| 6,991 |
| 1,073,226 |
President, Chief Executive Officer | 2016 |
| 855,000 |
| — |
| 61,714 |
| 1,147,646 |
| 300,000 |
| 4,386 |
| 2,368,746 | 2018 |
| 875,000 |
| — |
| — |
| 51,714 |
| — |
| 6,991 |
| 933,705 |
and Chairman of the Board | 2015 |
| 818,958 |
| — |
| — |
| 1,229,886 |
| — |
| 4,386 |
| 2,053,230 |
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Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D. | 2017 |
| 320,000 |
| — |
| — |
| 537,647 |
| — |
| — |
| 857,647 | 2019 |
| 333,542 |
| — |
| — |
| 83,430 |
| — |
| — |
| 416,972 |
Chief Medical and Operating Officer | 2016 |
| 312,500 |
| — |
| 30,857 |
| 586,586 |
| 150,000 |
| — |
| 1,079,943 | 2018 |
| 320,000 |
| — |
| — |
| 32,934 |
| — |
| — |
| 352,934 |
and Director | 2015 |
| 298,125 |
| — |
| — |
| 619,712 |
| — |
| — |
| 917,837 |
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Eric J. Schoen(4) | 2019 |
| 250,000 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,369 |
| 251,369 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2018 |
| 42,628 |
| — |
| — |
| 52,700 |
| — |
| 11,242 | (3) | 106,570 | |||||||||||||||
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(1) | Assumptions used in calculating the value of Stock Awards and Option Awards are described in Notes 2 and 5 to the Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, incorporated herein by reference. The amounts reported for Stock Awards and Option Awards are based on the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. For information about these awards, see section herein entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” |
(2) | All Other Compensation includes life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of our executive officers. |
(3) | All Other Compensation for Mr. Schoen includes consulting fees paid prior to his being named Chief Financial Officer of the Company. |
(4) | Mr. Schoen joined the Company in October 2018. |
Assumptions used in calculating the value of Stock Awards and Option Awards are described in Note 6 to the Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, incorporated herein by reference. For information about these awards, see section herein entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” All Other Compensation includes life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of our executive officers.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
There were no grants of plan-based awards during 20172019 to our named executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
2022
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table sets forth information regarding the outstanding equity awards at December 31, 20172019 held by each of theour executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
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| Option Awards | Stock Awards |
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| Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||
Name | Option/ Award Grant Date |
| Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable |
| Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable |
| Option Exercise Price |
| Option Expiration Date | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested |
| Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested | Option/ Award Grant Date |
| Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable |
| Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable |
| Option Exercise Price |
| Option Expiration Date | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested |
| Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested |
Remi Barbier | 6/13/08 |
| 79,668 |
| — |
| 30.73 |
| 6/13/18 |
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| 9/1/10 |
| 73,539 |
| — |
| 23.87 |
| 9/1/20 |
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| 56,030 |
| — |
| 53.55 |
| 6/1/21 |
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| 7/31/09 |
| 73,539 |
| — |
| 18.06 |
| 7/31/19 |
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| 6/8/12 |
| 65,368 |
| — |
| 23.38 |
| 6/8/22 |
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| 9/1/10 |
| 73,539 |
| — |
| 23.87 |
| 9/1/20 |
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| 57,142 |
| 951,986 |
| 6/1/11 |
| 56,030 |
| — |
| 53.55 |
| 6/1/21 |
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| 6/5/13 |
| 71,428 |
| — |
| 16.87 |
| 6/5/23 |
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| 6/8/12 |
| 65,368 |
| — |
| 23.38 |
| 6/8/22 |
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| 6/6/14 |
| 85,714 |
| — |
| 35.00 |
| 6/6/24 |
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| 57,142 |
| 951,986 | 11/14/14 |
| 85,714 |
| — |
| 12.04 |
| 11/14/24 |
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| 6/5/13 |
| 71,428 |
| — |
| 16.87 |
| 6/5/23 |
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| 12/11/15 |
| 85,714 |
| — |
| 13.02 |
| 12/11/25 |
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| 6/6/14 |
| 74,999 |
| 10,715 |
| 35.00 |
| 6/6/24 |
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| 8/23/17 |
| 175,000 |
| 125,000 |
| 3.24 |
| 8/23/27 |
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| 11/14/14 |
| 66,071 |
| 19,643 |
| 12.04 |
| 11/14/24 |
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| 9/28/18 |
| 18,750 |
| 41,250 |
| 1.01 |
| 9/28/28 |
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| 12/11/15 |
| 42,856 |
| 42,858 |
| 13.02 |
| 12/11/25 |
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| — |
| 100,000 |
| 1.88 |
| 12/13/29 |
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| 25,000 |
| 275,000 |
| 3.24 |
| 8/23/27 |
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Nadav Friedmann, Ph.D., M.D. | 6/13/08 |
| 73,538 |
| — |
| 30.73 |
| 6/13/18 |
|
|
| 9/1/10 |
| 36,768 |
| — |
| 23.87 |
| 9/1/20 |
|
|
|
| 7/31/09 |
| 36,769 |
| — |
| 18.06 |
| 7/31/19 |
|
|
| 6/1/11 |
| 28,015 |
| — |
| 53.55 |
| 6/1/21 |
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|
| 9/1/10 |
| 36,768 |
| — |
| 23.87 |
| 9/1/20 |
|
|
| 6/8/12 |
| 28,014 |
| — |
| 23.38 |
| 6/8/22 |
|
|
|
| 6/1/11 |
| 28,015 |
| — |
| 53.55 |
| 6/1/21 |
|
|
| 6/8/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 37,353 |
| 622,301 |
| 6/8/12 |
| 28,014 |
| — |
| 23.38 |
| 6/8/22 |
|
|
| 6/5/13 |
| 42,856 |
| — |
| 16.87 |
| 6/5/23 |
|
|
|
| 6/8/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 37,353 |
| 622,301 | 6/6/14 |
| 42,857 |
| — |
| 35.00 |
| 6/6/24 |
|
|
|
| 6/5/13 |
| 42,856 |
| — |
| 16.87 |
| 6/5/23 |
|
|
| 11/14/14 |
| 42,857 |
| — |
| 12.04 |
| 11/14/24 |
|
|
|
| 6/6/14 |
| 37,499 |
| 5,358 |
| 35.00 |
| 6/6/24 |
|
|
| 12/11/15 |
| 42,857 |
| — |
| 13.02 |
| 12/11/25 |
|
|
|
| 11/14/14 |
| 33,035 |
| 9,822 |
| 12.04 |
| 11/14/24 |
|
|
| 8/23/17 |
| 145,833 |
| 104,167 |
| 3.24 |
| 8/23/27 |
|
|
|
| 12/11/15 |
| 21,428 |
| 21,429 |
| 13.02 |
| 12/11/25 |
|
|
| 9/14/18 |
| 15,625 |
| 34,375 |
| 0.95 |
| 9/14/28 |
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|
|
| 8/23/17 |
| 20,833 |
| 229,167 |
| 3.24 |
| 8/23/27 |
|
|
| 12/13/19 |
| — |
| 50,000 |
| 1.88 |
| 12/13/29 |
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Eric J. Schoen | 10/31/18 |
| 14,583 |
| 35,417 |
| 1.18 |
| 10/31/28 |
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Option Awards were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant. One forty-eighth of the shares subject to each such option vest and become exercisable one month after the vesting commencement date, and an additional one forty-eighth of the shares subject to such option vest each month thereafter. Stock Awards reflect Performance Awards. Stock Awards granted on June 8, 2012 vest upon achievement of regulatory approval of REMOXY.certain performance goals.
Option Exercises
No options were exercised in 20172019 by theour named executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.officers.
Employment and Severance ArrangementArrangements
We have an employment agreementagreements with Mr.each of Messrs. Barbier and Schoen, which includeprovide for post-termination payments related toand benefits upon a termination of employment without cause. “cause” as discussed below.
Employment Agreement with Remi Barbier
The employment agreement with Mr. Barbier automatically renews for consecutive one-year terms each July, unless the Company or Mr. Barbier terminates the agreement 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term or otherwise at any time on sixty60 days’ notice. The agreement entitles Mr. Barbier to serve on the Board of Directors for as long as he is our President and Chief Executive Officer. Thereafter, he will remain a member of the Board of Directors only if we terminate his employment without cause. The agreement also provides that if we terminate Mr. Barbier for reasons other than cause we must pay him his base salary for 12 months, provide him continued participation in our medical and disability plans for 12 months and continuation of insurance policies covering Mr. Barbier as of the date of termination.
2123
Mr. Barbier’s employment agreement defines “cause” as a termination for any of the following, unless cured within five business days of Mr. Barbier receiving notice of such event:
· | any intentional action or failure to act that was performed in bad faith and to the detriment of the Company; |
· | any intentional action or failure to act in accordance with any lawful and proper direction or order of the Board of Directors; |
· | any willful and habitual neglect of the duties of employment assigned by the Board of Directors; and |
· | any felony conviction. |
Under Mr. Barbier’s employment agreement, a termination for reasons “other than cause” also includes a resignation by Mr. Barbier for any of the following:
· | the assignment to or reduction of Mr. Barbier’s duties that results in a significant diminution in Mr. Barbier’s position or responsibilities; |
· | the substantial reduction, without good business reasons, of the facilities or perquisites (including office space and location) available to Mr. Barbier; |
· | a reduction of Mr. Barbier’s base compensation, other than a bonus reduction resulting from application of a bonus plan or formula consistent with prior practice; |
· | a material reduction in the kind or level of employee benefits available to Mr. Barbier that would result in his overall benefits package being significantly reduced; |
· | the relocation of Mr. Barbier to a facility more than 25 miles from the then current location; |
· | any termination of Mr. Barbier which is not effected for “cause,” for valid grounds or due to Mr. Barbier’s death or disability; or |
· | any purported termination of Mr. Barbier’s employment without meeting the term-end 90-day prior notice requirements described above. |
In the event of a change of control in which this employment agreement is not assumed by the successor entity either operation of law or by assignment, Mr. Barbier’s employment with the Company shall be deemed to be termination for “other than cause.” The cost of our post-employment obligations to Mr. Barbier cannot be determined until a termination has occurred. However, assuming Mr. Barbier’s employment was terminated for reasons other than cause on December 31, 2017,2019, we would have had to pay Mr. Barbier approximately $875,000, $15,000$920,000, $27,000 and $5,000$13,000 for base salary, medical and disability plan-related expenses and insurance policy expenses, respectively, pursuant to his employment agreement with the Company.
Employment Agreement with Eric Schoen
Under the terms of an employment agreement provided to Mr. Schoen, we may terminate employment at any time for any reason or no reason. However, if we terminate employment without cause or in the event of a “constructive dismissal”, terms not specifically defined in such agreement, we must pay severance equal to Mr. Schoen’s base salary and benefits until the sooner of the date that he secures other employment, or the date that is three months after the date of his termination. The cost of our post-employment obligations under this offer letter cannot be determined until a termination has actually occurred. However, assuming Mr. Schoen’s employment was terminated without cause and assuming further that Mr. Schoen did not secure employment within three months of such termination, we would have had to pay Mr. Schoen approximately $62,500 and $9,000 for base salary and benefit expenses, respectively, pursuant to his employment agreement with the Company.
2224
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth all director compensation for 20172019 for all directors who are not named executive officers.
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| Option |
| Total | Option |
| Total |
Robert C. Gussin, Ph.D. | 134,059 |
| 134,059 | 66,744 |
| 66,744 |
Michael J. O'Donnell, Esq. | 107,477 |
| 107,477 | 33,372 |
| 33,372 |
Saira Ramasastry | 135,137 |
| 135,137 | 50,058 |
| 50,058 |
Sanford R. Robertson | 134,059 |
| 134,059 | 66,744 |
| 66,744 |
Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D. | 107,477 |
| 107,477 | 33,372 |
| 33,372 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumptions made in the valuation of Option Awards are described in Note 6Notes 1 and 5 to the Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,2019, incorporated herein by reference.The amounts reported for Option Awards are based on the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718.
We maintain director and officer indemnification insurance coverage. This insurance covers directors and officers individually. These policies currently run from July 13, 20172019 through July 12, 20182020 at a total annual cost of approximately $368,000.$452,000. The primary carrier is U.S. Specialty Insurance Company. We reimburse our officers and directors for expenses incurred in attending any Board of Directors or committee meeting.
Each non-employee director who serves as a director onPeriodically, the dateCompensation Committee reviews and determines the adequacy of each Annual Stockholders Meeting automatically receivesthe compensation program for outside directors and, based upon the results of its review, the Compensation Committee will make recommendations regarding the compensation program for outside directors to the Board. For 2019, the Board of Directors granted an option to purchase 7,14220,000 shares of Common Stock. A director who first becomes acommon stock at $1.88 per share to each non-employee director (except those directors who become non-employee directors by ceasing to be employee directors) automatically receivesdirector. In addition, the Board of Directors granted an option to purchase 7,14210,000 shares of Common Stock on the date he or she is appointed tocommon stock at $1.88 per share for each committee of the Board of Directors. AllDirectors on which a non-employee director serves. These options automatically granted to non-employee directors will:
· | vest as to |
· | be exercisable only while he or she remains a member of the Board of Directors; |
· | have a term of 10 years; and |
· | have an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value per share of |
In June 2017, the Board of Directors granted an option to purchase 2,500 shares of Common Stock at $5.46 per share to each non-employee director then serving on a committee of the Board of Directors. In December 2017, the Board of Directors were each granted the following option to purchase 25,000 to Dr. Gussin and Mr. Robertson, 22,500 to Ms. Ramasastry and 20,000 to Dr. Scannon and Mr. O’Donnell shares of Common stock at $4.09 per share. These options were granted at 100% of the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant and vest as to 1/48th of the shares subject to such options each month from the date of grant, subject to each individual continuing to serve as a member of the Board of Directors on such date. These option grants have a term of 10 years.
2325
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The purpose of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is, in part, to review and approve the compensation and benefits to be provided to the officers and directors of the Company and to administer the Company’s various stock plans and the issuance of stock options and other stock-related awards not pursuant to a plan. The Compensation Committee shall also make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding adoption or modification of all stock plans.
One of the Compensation Committee’s goals is to ensure that the Company’s executive compensation programs are competitive with those of regional companies in our industry. In addition, the Compensation Committee strives to enable the Company to attract and retain key people and motivate them to achieve or exceed certain key objectives of the Company by making individual compensation directly dependent on the achievement of certain corporate and individual goals, and by providing rewards for meeting or exceeding those goals.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on the review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s proxy statement.Proxy Statement.
Respectfully Submitted By:
MEMBERS OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D.
Sanford R. Robertson
Dated: March 16, 20186, 2020
2426
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The purpose of the Audit Committee includes the following:
· |
|
· | Approve audit and non-audit services and fees; |
· | Assist the Board of Directors of the Company in oversight and monitoring: |
· | the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; |
· | the Company’s financial reporting process; |
· | the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements under applicable securities law; |
· | the independent registered public accounting firms’ qualifications, independence and performance; and |
· | the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s systems of internal accounting and financial controls; |
· | Prepare a report in the Company’s annual proxy statement in accordance with the rules of the SEC; |
· | Provide the Board of Directors with the results of its monitoring and recommendations derived therefrom; and |
· | Provide to the Board of Directors such additional information and materials as it may deem necessary to make the Board aware of significant financial matters that come to its attention and that require the attention of the Board of Directors. |
Management has the primary responsibility for preparing the financial statements and the reporting process including the system of internal controls.controls, and the independent auditor is responsible for auditing and reviewing those financial statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in overseeing the conduct of these activities by management and the independent auditor.
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has:
· | Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements, including balance sheets, related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows, with management; |
· | Discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, the matters required to be discussed by the |
· | Received from Ernst & Young LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence; and |
· | Discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the independent accountant’s independence. |
The Audit Committee discusses with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the overall scope and plans for their audits. The Audit Committee meets with the independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172019 for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors have also recommended, subject to stockholder ratification, the selection of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
Respectfully Submitted by:
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Sanford R. Robertson, Audit Committee Chair
Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D.
Saira Ramasastry
Dated: March 16, 20186, 2020
25
The information contained above under the captions “Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors” and “Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors” shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Such officers, directors and ten-percent stockholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all forms that they file pursuant to Section 16(a). Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that our executive officers and directors complied with all such applicable filing requirements during fiscal year 2017.
2627
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Related Party Transactions
There has not been nor is there currently proposed any transaction or series of similar transactions requiring disclosure in this Proxy Statement to which we were or are a party in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our Common Stock or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than fees and expenses incurred for legal services, described below, and compensation agreements and other arrangements which are described in the section entitled “Employment and Severance Arrangements” and the indemnification agreements described below. In accordance with the charter of the Company’s Audit Committee, the Company's policy is to require that any related party transactions be reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee.
Legal Services
During 2017,2019, Morrison & Foerster LLP (“Morrison & Foerster”) provided legal services to the Company. Mr. O’Donnell, a director of the Company, is a memberpartner of Morrison & Foerster. For the fiscal year of 2019 and 2018, we paid Morrison & Foerster LLP. We incur expensesa total of $120,300 and $347,900, respectively, for legal services. All such services fromprovided by Morrison & Foerster LLP that vary depending upon our legal needs.to the Company were made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms as other comparable transactions with third parties. We believe the legal fees paid in 20172019 to Morrison Foerster LLP were less than 5% of thesuch firm’s total gross revenues for its last completed fiscal year.
Independence of Directors
The Board of Directors has determined that directors Robert Z. Gussin, Ph.D., Michael J. O’Donnell, Esq., Saira Ramasastry, Sanford R. Robinson and Patrick J. Scannon, M.D., Ph.D. are each independent as defined under the NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC listing standards. In determining the independence of Mr. O’Donnell, our Board of Directors reviews our relationship with Morrison & Foerster, LLP in conjunction with the applicable independence guidelines under the applicable listing standards of the NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC. The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent as defined under the NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC listing standards, and that each member of the Audit Committee is independent as defined under NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC listing standards, as well as applicable SEC rules.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers, which require us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
OTHER MATTERS
WeThe Board of Directors does not know of noany other matters to be submitted to the meeting.Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed Proxy form to vote the shares they represent as the Board of Directors may recommend.
It is important that your shares of our common stock be represented at the Annual Meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. You are, therefore, urged to vote by telephone or by using the Internet as instructed on the enclosed proxy card or execute and return, at your earliest convenience, the enclosed proxy card in the envelope that has also been provided.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dated: March 16, 26, 2020
28
APPENDIX A
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE CASSAVA SCIENCES, INC.
2018 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
This Amendment No. 1 to the Cassava Sciences, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. Capitalized but undefined terms shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.
1.The name of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to the “Cassava Sciences, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan”. |
2.Section 3(a) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: |
“(a)Subject to the provisions of Section 12 below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards shall be 3,000,000 Shares. Subject to the provisions of Section 12, below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options is 3,000,000 Shares. The Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.”
271
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX A
PAIN THERAPEUTICS,CASSAVA SCIENCES, INC.
2018 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
|
|
(a) “Administrator” means the Board or any of the Committees appointed to administer the Plan. |
(b) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b‑2 promulgated under the Exchange Act. |
(c) “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein. |
(d) “Assumed” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly affirmed by the Company or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed (and not simply by operation of law) by the successor entity or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities of the successor entity or its Parent subject to the Award and the exercise or purchase price thereof which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to assume the Award. |
(e) “Award” means the grant of an Option, SAR, Dividend Equivalent Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Cash-Based Award or other right or benefit under the Plan. |
(f) “Award Agreement” means the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Grantee, including any amendments thereto. |
(g) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(h) “Cash-Based Award” means an award denominated in cash that may be settled in cash and/or Shares, which may be subject to restrictions, as established by the Administrator. |
(i) “Cause” means, with respect to the termination by the Company or a Related Entity of the Grantee’s Continuous Service, that such termination is for “Cause” as such term (or word of like import) is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or such Related Entity, or in the absence of such then-effective written agreement and definition, is based on, in the determination of the Administrator, the Grantee’s: (i) performance of any act or failure to perform any act in bad faith and to the detriment of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) dishonesty, intentional misconduct or material breach of any agreement with the Company or a Related Entity; or (iii) commission of a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical or emotional harm to any person. |
(j) “Change in Control” means a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through either of the following transactions: |
A-1
(i) the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than an acquisition from or by the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or by a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d‑3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders which a majority of the Continuing Directors who are not Affiliates or Associates of the offeror do not recommend such stockholders accept, or |
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve (12) months or less such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number) ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who are Continuing Directors. |
(k) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
(l) “Committee” means any committee composed of members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. |
A-1
(m) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company. |
(n) “Company” means |
(o) “Consultant” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity. |
(p) “Continuing Directors” means members of the Board who either (i) have been Board members continuously for a period of at least twelve (12) months or (ii) have been Board members for less than twelve (12) months and were elected or nominated for election as Board members by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (i) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board. |
(q) “Continuous Service” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service shall be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective under Applicable Laws. A Grantee’s Continuous Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Continuous Service or upon the entity for which the Grantee provides services ceasing to be a Related Entity. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, in the event of any spin-off of a Related Entity, service as an Employee, Director or Consultant for such Related Entity following such spin-off shall be deemed to be Continuous Service for purposes of the Plan and any Award under the Plan. An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave. For purposes of each Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan, if such leave exceeds three (3) months, and reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then the Incentive Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the day three (3) months and one (1) day following the expiration of such three (3) month period. |
(r) “Corporate Transaction” means any of the following transactions, provided, however, that the Administrator shall determine under parts (iv) and (v) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive: |
(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated; |
A-2
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; |
(s) “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is a “covered employee” under Section 162(m)(3) of the Code. |
(t) “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity. |
A-2
(u) “Disability” means as defined under the long-term disability policy of the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides services regardless of whether the Grantee is covered by such policy. If the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Grantee is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Grantee by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days. A Grantee will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Administrator in its discretion. |
(v) “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right entitling the Grantee to compensation measured by dividends paid with respect to Common Stock, provided that no such right may be granted with respect to Options or SARs. Dividend Equivalent Rights granted in connection with a Restricted Stock Unit that vests based on the attainment of performance criteria shall be subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit. |
(w) “Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity, subject to the control and direction of the Company or any Related Entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company. |
(x) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
(y) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows: |
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation, the NASDAQ Global Select Capital Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Common Stock is listed (as determined by the Administrator) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; |
A-3
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or |
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith. |
(z) “Good Reason” means, with respect to the termination by the Grantee of the Grantee’s Continuous Service, that such termination is for “Good Reason” as such term (or word of like import) is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or a Related Entity, or in the absence of such then-effective written agreement and definition, means any of the following events or conditions unless consented to by the Grantee (and the Grantee shall be deemed to have consented to any such event or condition unless the Grantee provides written notice of the Grantee’s non-acquiescence within 30 days of the effective time of such event or condition): |
(i) a change in the Grantee’s responsibilities or duties which represents a material and substantial diminution in the Grantee’s responsibilities or duties; |
(ii) a material reduction in the Grantee’s base salary; provided that an across-the-board reduction in the salary level of substantially all other individuals in positions similar to the Grantee’s by the same percentage amount shall not constitute such a salary reduction; or |
(iii) requiring the Grantee to be based at any place outside a 50 mile radius from the Grantee’s job location or residence except for reasonably required travel on business. |
(aa) “Grantee” means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives an Award under the Plan. |
(bb) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. |
(cc) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
(dd) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
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(ee) “Option” means an option to purchase Shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the Plan. |
(ff) “Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. |
(gg) “Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation qualifying as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. |
(hh) “Performance Period” means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to, or the amount or entitlement to, an Award. |
(ii) “Plan” means this 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time. |
(jj) “Related Entity” means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. |
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(kk) “Replaced” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction the Award is replaced with a comparable stock award or a cash incentive award or program of the Company, the successor entity (if applicable) or Parent of either of them which preserves the compensation element of such Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same (or, for the Grantee, a more favorable) vesting schedule applicable to such Award. The determination of Award comparability shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. |
(ll) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued under the Plan to the Grantee for such consideration, if any, and subject to such restrictions on transfer, rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions and forfeiture provisions, if any, and other terms and conditions as established by the Administrator. Dividends payable in connection with a Restricted Stock Award that vests upon the attainment of performance criteria shall be held subject to the vesting of the underlying Share of Restricted Stock. |
(mm) “Restricted Stock Units” means an Award which may be earned based on criteria, if any, established by the Administrator, including being earned in whole or in part upon the passage of time or the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator, and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of cash, Shares or other securities as established by the Administrator. |
(nn) “Rule 16b‑3” means Rule 16b‑3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto. |
(oo) “SAR” means a stock appreciation right entitling the Grantee to Shares or cash compensation, as established by the Administrator, measured by appreciation in the value of Common Stock. |
(pp) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock. |
(qq) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. |
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section |
(b) Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) shall not be deemed to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are forfeited, or repurchased by the Company at their original purchase price, or at the lower of their original purchase price or their Fair Market Value at the time of repurchase, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan. Any Shares covered by an Award which are surrendered (i) in payment of the Award exercise or purchase price (including pursuant to the “net exercise” of an option pursuant to Section 7(b)(v)) or (ii) in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations incident to the exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award shall be deemed to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards under the Plan. |
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(a) Plan Administrator. |
(i) Administration with Respect to Directors and Officers. With respect to grants of Awards to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws and to permit such grants and related transactions under the Plan to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act in accordance with Rule 16b‑3. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. In the case of Awards granted to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, references to the “Administrator” or to a “Committee” shall be deemed to be references to such Committee. |
(ii) Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees. With respect to grants of Awards to Employees or Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. The Board may authorize one or more Officers to grant such Awards and may limit such authority as the Board determines from time to time. |
(iii) Administration With Respect to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is intended that grants of Awards to any Covered Employee intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made only by a Committee (or subcommittee of a Committee) which is comprised solely of two or more Directors eligible to serve on a committee making Awards qualifying as Performance-Based Compensation. In the case of such Awards granted to Covered Employees, references to the “Administrator” or to a “Committee” shall be deemed to be references to such Committee or subcommittee. |
(iv) Administration Errors. In the event an Award is granted in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection (a), such Award shall be presumptively valid as of its grant date to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws. |
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), and except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion: |
(i) to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder; |
(ii) to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder; |
(iii) to determine the number of Shares or the amount of cash or other consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder; |
(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan; |
(v) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder; |
(vi) to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee’s written consent, provided, however, that an amendment or modification that may cause an Incentive Stock Option to become a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be treated as adversely affecting the rights of the Grantee, and provided that the Administrator may only amend an Award to accelerate the vesting thereof in connection with a termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service due to death or Disability, or in connection with a Change in Control or Corporate Transaction. |
(vii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan and to define terms not otherwise defined herein; |
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(viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards, including without limitation, any notice of award or Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan; |
(ix) to approve corrections in the documentation or administration of any Award; |
(x) to grant Awards to Employees, Directors and Consultants employed outside the United States or to otherwise adopt or administer such procedures or subplans that the Administrator deems appropriate or necessary on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Plan; and |
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(xi) to take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate. |
The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Administrator shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Administrator; provided that the Administrator may not exercise any right or power reserved to the Board. Any decision made, or action taken, by the Administrator or in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan.
(c) Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity, members of the Board and any Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity to whom authority to act for the Board, the Administrator or the Company is delegated shall be defended and indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law on an after-tax basis against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct; provided, however, that within thirty (30) days after the institution of such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at the Company’s expense to defend the same. |
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(a) Types of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award any type of arrangement to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) an Option, a SAR, or similar right with a fixed or variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares and with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions. Such awards include, without limitation, Options, SARs, sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Cash-Based Awards, or Dividend Equivalent Rights, and an Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two (2) or more of them in any combination or alternative. |
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(b) Designation of Award. Each Award shall be designated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Option, the Option shall be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, an Option will qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded. The $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is calculated based on the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company). For purposes of this calculation, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the grant date of the relevant Option. In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the date the Plan becomes effective to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to Incentive Stock Options, then such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment. |
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(c) Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. The performance criteria established by the Administrator for any Awards intended to be Performance-Based Compensation shall be one of, or combination of, the following: net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); earnings per share; revenues or sales (including net sales or revenue growth); net operating profit; regulatory filings; product approvals; return measures (including return on assets, net assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue); cash flow (including operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment); earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization; gross or operating margins; productivity ratios; share price (including growth measures and total stockholder return); expense targets; margins; operating efficiency; market share; working capital targets and change in working capital; economic value added or EVA® (net operating profit after tax minus the sum of capital multiplied by the cost of capital); or net operating income. The performance criteria established by the Administrator for any Awards not intended to be Performance-Based Compensation may be based on any one of, or combination of, the foregoing or any other performance criteria established by the Administrator. The performance criteria may be applicable to the Company, Related Entities and/or any individual business units of the Company or any Related Entity and may be measured over any specified period, including but not limited to quarterly, semi-annually, annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Administrator. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Award Agreement. In addition, to the extent applicable to Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the performance criteria shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) of any change in accounting standards and any item that is either unusual or infrequent in nature, as determined in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 225-20 “Extraordinary and Unusual Items”, as determined by the Administrator, occurring after the establishment of the performance criteria applicable to the Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of performance criteria in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Grantee’s rights with respect to an Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation. |
(e) Deferral of Award Payment. The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Grantees the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Grantee to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program. |
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(f) Separate Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time. |
(g) Individual Limitations on Awards. |
(i) Individual Limit for Options and SARs. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be 3,500,000 Shares. In connection with a Grantee’s commencement of Continuous Service, a Grantee may be granted Options and SARs for up to an additional 3,500,000 Shares which shall not count against the limit set forth in the previous sentence. The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section |
(ii) Individual Limit for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. For awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units that are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which such Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be 3,500,000 Shares. The foregoing limitation shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section |
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(iii) Individual Limit for Cash-Based Awards. For Cash-Based Awards that are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation, with respect to each twelve (12) month period that constitutes or is part of each Performance Period, the maximum amount that may be paid to a Grantee pursuant to such Awards shall be $5,000,000. In addition, the foregoing limitation shall be prorated for any Performance Period consisting of fewer than twelve (12) months by multiplying such limitation by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the Performance Period and the denominator of which is twelve (12). |
(iv) Individual Limit for Awards to Members of the Board. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any member of the Board (in consideration for such member’s services as a member of the Board) in any calendar year shall be 500,000 Shares. Without limiting the foregoing, the aggregate value of all compensation paid or provided to any such member, in consideration for such member’s services as a member of the Board, in respect of a calendar year shall not exceed $5,000,000 (for purposes of determining such aggregate value, compensation in the form of Awards shall be valued at the aggregate grant date fair value (as determined for financial reporting purposes)). |
(h) Deferral. If the vesting or receipt of Shares or cash under an Award is deferred to a later date, any amount (whether denominated in Shares or cash) paid in addition to the original number of Shares or amount of cash subject to such Award will not be treated as an increase in the number of Shares or amount of cash subject to the Award if the additional amount is based either on a reasonable rate of interest or on one or more predetermined actual investments such that the amount payable by the Company at the later date will be based on the actual rate of return of a specific investment (including any decrease as well as any increase in the value of an investment). |
(i) Early Exercise. The Award Agreement may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Grantee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or Consultant to exercise any part or all of the Award prior to full vesting of the Award. Any unvested Shares received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or a Related Entity or to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate. |
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(j) Term of Award. The term of each Award shall be the term stated in the Award Agreement, provided, however, that the term of an Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. However, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Grantee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the specified term of any Award shall not include any period for which the Grantee has elected to defer the receipt of the Shares or cash issuable pursuant to the Award. |
(k) Transferability of Awards. Incentive Stock Options may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Grantee, only by the Grantee. Other Awards shall be transferable (i) by will and by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) during the lifetime of the Grantee, to the extent and in the manner authorized by the Administrator but only to the extent such transfers are made to family members, to family trusts, to family controlled entities, to charitable organizations, and pursuant to domestic relations orders or agreements, in all cases without payment for such transfers to the Grantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee may designate one or more beneficiaries of the Grantee’s Award in the event of the Grantee’s death on a beneficiary designation form provided by the Administrator. |
(l) Time of Granting Awards. The date of grant of an Award shall for all purposes be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. |
(a) Exercise or Purchase Price. The exercise or purchase price, if any, for an Award shall be as follows: |
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option: |
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or |
(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
(ii) In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
(iii) In the case of Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the exercise or purchase price, if any, shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
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(iv) In the case of SARs, the base appreciation amount shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
(v) In the case of other Awards, such price as is determined by the Administrator. |
(vi) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section |
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(b) Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise or purchase of an Award including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator. In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for Shares issued under the Plan the following, provided that the portion of the consideration equal to the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash or other legal consideration permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law: |
(i) cash; |
(ii) check; |
(iii) surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Administrator may require which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award shall be exercised; |
(v) with respect to Options, payment through a “net exercise” such that, without the payment of any funds, the Grantee may exercise the Option and receive the net number of Shares equal to (i) the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Fair Market Value per Share (on such date as is determined by the Administrator) less the exercise price per Share, and the denominator of which is such Fair Market Value per Share (the number of net Shares to be received shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Shares); or |
(vi) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. |
The Administrator may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by amendment to the standard forms of Award Agreement described in Section 4(b)(iv), or by other means, grant Awards which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment for the Shares or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(c) Taxes. No Shares or cash shall be delivered under the Plan to any Grantee or other person until such Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any non-U.S., federal, state, or local income and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt of Shares or cash. Upon exercise or vesting of an Award the Company shall withhold or collect from the Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, including, but not limited to, by surrender of the whole number of Shares covered by the Award, if applicable, sufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligations incident to the exercise or vesting of an Award (limited to avoid, as determined by the Administrator, financial accounting charges under applicable accounting guidance and reduced to the lowest whole number of Shares if such number of Shares withheld would result in withholding a fractional Share with any remaining tax withholding settled in cash). |
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(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. |
(i) Any Award granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the terms of the Plan and specified in the Award Agreement. |
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(ii) An Award shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been made, including, to the extent selected, use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the purchase price as provided in Section 7(b)(iv). |
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(b) Exercise of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service. |
(i) An Award may not be exercised after the termination date of such Award set forth in the Award Agreement and may be exercised following the termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement. |
(ii) Where the Award Agreement permits a Grantee to exercise an Award following the termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service for a specified period, the Award shall terminate to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the Award, whichever occurs first. |
(iii) Any Award designated as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent not exercised within the time permitted by law for the exercise of Incentive Stock Options following the termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service shall convert automatically to a Non-Qualified Stock Option and thereafter shall be exercisable as such to the extent exercisable by its terms for the period specified in the Award Agreement. |
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(a) If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Shares pursuant to the exercise, vesting or any other provision of an Award is or may be unlawful under Applicable Laws, the vesting or right to exercise an Award or to otherwise receive Shares pursuant to the terms of an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Shares under federal or state laws. |
(b) As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any Applicable Laws. |
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(a) Termination of Award to Extent Not Assumed in Corporate Transaction. Effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding Awards under the Plan shall terminate. However, all such Awards shall not terminate to the extent they are Assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction. |
(b) Acceleration of Award Upon Corporate Transaction or Change in Control. |
(i) Corporate Transaction. In the event of a Corporate Transaction: |
(A) for the portion of each Award that is Assumed or Replaced, then such Award (if Assumed), the replacement Award (if Replaced), or the cash incentive program (if Replaced) automatically shall become fully vested, exercisable and payable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value) for all of the Shares (or other consideration) at the time represented by such Assumed or Replaced portion of the Award, immediately upon termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service if such Continuous Service is terminated by the successor company or the Company or a Related Entity without Cause or voluntarily by the Grantee with Good Reason at any time after the Corporate Transaction; and |
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(B) for the portion of each Award that is neither Assumed nor Replaced, such portion of the Award shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value) for all of the Shares (or other consideration) at the time represented by such portion of the Award, immediately prior to the specified effective date of such Corporate Transaction, provided that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has not terminated prior to such date. |
(ii) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, each Award shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value) for all of the Shares (or other consideration) at the time represented by such portion of the Award, immediately prior to the specified effective date of such Change in Control, provided that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has not terminated prior to such date. |
(c) Effect of Acceleration on Incentive Stock Options. Any Incentive Stock Option accelerated under this Section |
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(a) The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent such approval is required by Applicable Laws. |
(b) No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan. |
(c) No suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan under Section |
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(a) The Company, during the term of the Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. |
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(b) The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. |
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A-1412
PAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC. IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. Electronic Voting Instruction Available 24 hours a day, 7 days week! Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. Proxies submitted by the internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 AM, PDT, on May 10, 2018. Vote by Internet Go to www.investorvote.com/PTIE Or scan the QR code with your smartphone Follow the steps outlined on the secure website. Vote by telephone Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada on a touch tone telephone Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message Annual Meeting Proxy Card 123456789012345 IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. A Proposals — DIRECTORS RECOMMEND VOTE “FOR” ITEMS 1-4. 1. Elect three (3) Class III Directors to serve for three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualified: 1a) Remi Barbier For Withhold 1b) Sanford R. Robertson For Withhold 1c) Patrick J. Scannon M.D., Ph.D. For Withhold 2. To approve the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the reservation of a total of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for issuance thereunder; For Against Abstain 3. Ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. For Against Abstain 4. Approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the 2017 executive compensation for the Company’s executive officers. 5. To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof. B Non-Voting items. Change of Address – Please print new address below. Comments – Please print your comments below. C. Authorized Signatures – This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. Date and Sign Below NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) – Please print date below. Signature 1 – Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 – Please keep signature within the box.
PAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD MAY 10, 2018 YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company, on behalf of the Board of Directors, for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Proxy Statement and the related Proxy Form are being distributed on or about April 3, 2018. You can vote your shares using one of the following methods: • Complete and return a written Proxy Card, • By internet or telephone, or • Attend the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and vote. All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting. To ensure your representation at the Meeting, however, you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the attached Proxy Card as promptly as possible in the postage pre-paid envelope enclosed for that purpose or to vote your shares by Internet or Telephone. Any Stockholder attending the Meeting may vote in person even if he or she has returned a Proxy Card or has voted by internet or telephone. IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 10, 2018 The Company’s Proxy Statement, form of proxy card and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at: http://investor.paintrials.com/annual-proxy.cfm IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Proxy — PAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC. The undersigned hereby appoints Remi Barbier with power to act as proxy and attorney-in-fact and hereby authorizes him to represent and vote, as provided on the other side, all the shares of Pain Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote, and, in their discretion, to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 10:00 am local time, at the Company offices at 7801 N. Capital of Texas Highway, Suite 260, Austin, Texas, 78731, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, with all powers which the undersigned would possess if present at the Meeting. (Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side) THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS FURNISHED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY THE COMPANY, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR THE 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS. THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE RELATED PROXY FORM ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED ON OR ABOUT APRIL 3, 2018. YOU CAN VOTE YOUR SHARES USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS: • COMPLETE AND RETURN A WRITTEN PROXY CARD, • BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, OR • ATTEND THE COMPANY’S 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND VOTE. ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING. TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, HOWEVER, YOU ARE URGED TO MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE ENCLOSED FOR THAT PURPOSE OR VOTE YOUR SHARES BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE. ANY STOCKHOLDER ATTENDING THE MEETING MAY VOTE IN PERSON EVEN IF HE OR SHE HAS RETURNED A PROXY CARD OR HAS VOTED BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE.