UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington,WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  x                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨

Preliminary Proxy Statement

¨

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

x

Definitive Proxy Statement

¨

Definitive Additional Materials

¨

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Under Rule 14a-12

Neothetics, Inc.EVOFEM BIOSCIENCES, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified inIn Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Thanother than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x

No fee required.

¨

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)(1) and 0-11.

1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

     

4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

     

5)

Total fee paid:

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

filing:

1)

Amount Previously Paid:

previously paid:

 

     

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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

No:

 

     

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party:

 

     

4)

Date Filed:

 

 

 


LOGO

March 21, 2018

To Our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders of Evofem Biosciences, Inc., or the Company, to be held at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar located at 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, California 92130.

Details regarding the meeting, the business to be conducted at the meeting, and information about the Company that you should consider when you vote your shares are described in this proxy statement.

At the annual meeting, two (2) persons will be elected to our Board of Directors. In addition, we will ask our stockholders to approve an amended and restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The Board of Directors recommends the approval of each of the proposals. Such other business will be transacted as may properly come before the annual meeting.

Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the Internet, we have elected to deliver our proxy materials to the majority of our stockholders over the Internet. This delivery process allows us to provide stockholders with the information they need, while at the same time conserving natural resources and lowering the cost of delivery. On or about March 21, 2018, we will commence sending to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or the Notice, containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement for our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and our 2017 annual report to stockholders. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote online or by telephone and includes instructions on how to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

We hope you will be able to attend the annual meeting. Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting or not, it is important that you cast your vote either in person or by proxy. You may vote over the Internet as well as by telephone or by mail. When you have finished reading the proxy statement, you are urged to vote in accordance with the instructions set forth in this proxy statement. We encourage you to vote by proxy so that your shares will be represented and voted at the meeting, whether or not you can attend.

Thank you for your continued support of Evofem Biosciences, Inc. We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.

 

Sincerely,
LOGO
Saundra Pelletier
President and Chief Executive Officer


EVOFEM BIOSCIENCES, INC.

12400 High Bluff Drive, Suite 600

San Diego, CA 92130

(858)550-1900

March 21, 2018

NOTICE OF 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held June 16, 2016TIME: 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Neothetics, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on June 16, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. local time at DLA Piper LLP, located at 4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100,DATE: Tuesday, May 8, 2018

PLACE: San Diego Marriott Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, California 92121 for the following purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement:92130

PURPOSES:

1.

To elect Martha J. Demski as Class II directortwo directors to hold officeserve three-year terms expiring 2021;

2.To approve the amended and restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan which includes an increase in the number of shares available for a termthe grant of three years.

awards from 458,586 shares to 5,300,000shares;

2.

3.

To ratify the appointment of ErnstDeloitte & YoungTouche LLP as the Company’sEvofem Biosciences, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

2018; and

3.

4.

To transact such other business as maythat is properly come beforepresented at the annual meeting and any adjournments or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

postponements thereof.

Only stockholdersWHO MAY VOTE:

You may vote if you were the record owner of recordEvofem Biosciences, Inc. common stock at the close of business on April 20, 2016March 12, 2018.

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote in one of the following ways:

Vote over the Internet, by going to https://www.proxypush.com/EVFM (have your proxy card in hand when you access the website);

Vote by telephone, by calling1-866-509-1049 (have your proxy card in hand when calling);

Vote by mail, by returning the proxy card (signed and dated); or

Vote in person at the 2018 annual meeting.

If your shares are held in “street name,” that is, held for your account by a broker or other nominee, you will receive instructions from the holder of record that you must follow for your shares to be voted.

A list of stockholders of record will be entitledavailable at the annual meeting and, during the 10 days prior to notice of, andthe annual meeting, at our corporate offices located at 12400 High Bluff Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, California 92130.

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting.Whether you plan to attend the annual meeting or not, we urge you to vote by following the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that you previously received and submit your proxy by the Internet, telephone or mail in order to ensure the presence of a quorum. You may change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.meeting.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:DIRECTORS

LOGO
Alexander A. Fitzpatrick
Secretary


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Important Information About the Annual Meeting and Voting

2

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

7

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

8

Management and Corporate Governance

9

Executive Officer and Director Compensation

16

Equity Compensation Plan Information

25

Report of Audit Committee

26

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

27

Election of Directors

29

Approval of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Inentive Plan

30

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

36

Code of Conduct and Ethics

38

Other Matters

38

Stockholder Proposals and Nominations For Director

38

Appendix

San Diego, CaliforniaAppendix A Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as proposed to be amended and restated

April 29, 2016Appendix B Proxy Card

 


EVOFEM BIOSCIENCES, INC.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND SUBMIT YOUR PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM AT THE MEETING. FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, PLEASE REFER TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS (THE “NOTICE” ) YOU RECEIVED IN THE MAIL, THE QUESTION “HOW DO I VOTE?” IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, OR, IF YOU REQUESTED PRINTED PROXY MATERIALS, YOUR ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH TO DO SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED YOUR PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.

Neothetics, Inc.

9171 Towne Centre12400 High Bluff Drive, Suite 270600

San Diego, CA 9212292130

(858) 750-1008550-1900

PROXY STATEMENT FOR EVOFEM BIOSCIENCES, INC.

********************************2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 8, 2018

This proxy statement, along with the accompanying notice of 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, contains information about the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders of Evofem Biosciences, Inc., including any adjournments or postponements of the annual meeting. We are holding the annual meeting at 8:00 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar located at 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, California 92130.

In this proxy statement, we refer to Evofem Biosciences, Inc. as “Evofem,” “the Company,” “we” and “us.”

This proxy statement relates to the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors, or the Board, for use at the annual meeting.

On or about March 21, 2018, we will commence sending the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials to all stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE

STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2016  MAY 8, 2018

This Proxy Statement isproxy statement and our 2017 annual report to stockholders are available for viewing, printing and downloading at www.pstvote.com/neothetics2016.www.proxydocs.com/EVFM. To view these materials please have your12-digit control number(s) available that appears on your Notice or proxy card. On this website, you can also elect to receive future distributions of our proxy statements and annual reports to stockholders by electronic delivery.

Additionally, you can find a copy of our Annual Report on Form10-K, which includes our financial statements, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission atwww.sec.gov, or in the “SEC Filings” section of the “Investors” section of our website atwww.evofem.com. You may also obtain a printed copy of our Annual Report on Form10-K, including our financial statements, free of charge, from us by sending a written request to: Alexander A. Fitzpatrick, Evofem Biosciences, Inc., 12400 High Bluff Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, California 92130. Exhibits will be provided upon written request and payment of an appropriate processing fee.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2016

1

GENERAL

1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSIMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

1

BOARD OF DIRECTORS INFORMATION

4

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

9

STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS

11

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

12

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

14

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

15

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

15

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

16

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

16

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

22

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

24

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

24

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

26

PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

27

STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME ADDRESS

27

OTHER MATTERS

27


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2016  AND VOTING

GENERALWhy is the Company Soliciting My Proxy?

Neothetics, Inc. (the “Company”) hasThe Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders to be held at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar located at 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, California 92130, on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time and any adjournments of the meeting, which we refer to as the Annual Meeting. The proxy statement along with the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders summarizes the purposes of the meeting and the information you need to know to vote at the annual meeting.

We have made these proxy materials available to you on the internet,Internet or upon your request, has delivered printedhave sent you this proxy materials to you, in connection withstatement, the solicitationNotice of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proxy card and a copy of our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 because you owned shares of the Company’s common stock on the record date. The Company intends to be held on June 16, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. local time at DLA Piper LLP, located at 4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100, San Diego, California 92121,commence distribution of the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials, which we refer to throughout this proxy statement as the Notice, and, at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). Theseif applicable, the proxy materials were made available to stockholders on or about April 29, 2016.March 21, 2018.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

1.

What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

The Annual Meeting will be held forWhy Did I Receive a Notice in the following purposes: (i) to elect Martha J. Demski as Class II director to hold office forMail Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials Instead of a termFull Set of three years; (ii) to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016; and (iii) to transact such other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.Proxy Materials?

2.

How do I attend the Annual Meeting?

The meeting will be held on June 16, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. local time, at DLA Piper LLP, located at 4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100, San Diego, California 92121. Information on how to vote in person at the Annual Meeting is discussed below.

3.

Who is soliciting the proxies?

The proxies for the Annual Meeting are being solicitedAs permitted by the Board.

4.

Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of proxy materials (the “Notice”) instead of a full set of proxy materials?

In accordance with rules adopted byof the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, (the “SEC”), instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record or beneficial owner,the SEC, we are furnishing themay furnish our proxy materials to our stockholders overby providing access to such documents on the internet, which includeInternet, rather than mailing printed copies of these materials to each stockholder. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. We believe that this Proxy Statementprocess should expedite stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials, lower the costs of the Annual Meeting and the accompanying Notice, proxy card and the Company’s Annual Report. The Annual Report is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement and shall not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement or soliciting materials. Becausehelp to conserve natural resources. If you received a Notice by mail or electronically, you will not receive a printed or email copy of the proxy materials, unless you have previously made a permanent election to receive these materialsrequest one by following the instructions included in paper copy. Thethe Notice. Instead, the Notice which was mailed to most of our stockholders, instructs you as to how toyou may access and review all of the proxy materials on the internet. The Notice also instructs you how toand submit your proxy on the internet.Internet. If you would like to receiverequested a paper or email copy of ourthe proxy materials, you should followmay authorize the voting of your shares by following the instructions for requesting such materials in the Notice.

5.

How do I get electronic access to the proxy materials?

The Notice will provide you with instructions regarding how to view our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the internet. From our internet site you can instruct us to send our future proxy materials to you electronically by email.

Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of printing and mailing these materials on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a linkcard, in addition to the other methods of voting described in this proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.statement.

6.

Who Can Vote?

Who is entitled to vote?

Only record holders of outstanding shares of the Company’sstockholders who owned our common stock at the close of business on April 20, 2016March 12, 2018 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on April 20, 2016,On this record date, there were 13,799,196 outstanding17,763,340 shares of our common stock. Each share ofstock outstanding and entitled to vote. Our common stock is entitledour only class of voting stock.

You do not need to one vote.


In accordance with Delaware law, a list of stockholders entitledattend the Annual Meeting to vote atyour shares. Shares represented by valid proxies, received in time for the Annual Meeting and not revoked prior to the Annual Meeting, will be available at the Annual Meeting, and for 10 calendar days prior to the Annual Meeting at 9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, San Diego, California 92122, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific time.

7.

Is cumulative voting permitted for the election of directors?

No. You may not cumulate your votes for the election of directors.

8.

How do I vote?

If you have shares for which you are the stockholder of record, you may vote those shares by proxy. You may also vote by proxy over the internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice, or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you may also vote by mail or telephone pursuant to instructions provided on the proxy card. Additionally, shares held in your name as the stockholder of record may be voted by you in person at the Annual Meeting. For instructions on how to change or revoke your proxy, see “May I Change or Revoke My Proxy?” below.

MostHow Many Votes Do I Have?

Each share of our stockholders hold theirourcommon stock that you own entitles you to one vote.

How Do I Vote?

Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, we urge you to vote by proxy. All shares represented by valid proxies that we receive through this solicitation, and that are not revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card or as instructed via Internet or telephone. You may specify whether your shares should be voted for or withheld for each nominee for director and whether your shares should be voted for, against or abstain with respect to the proposal. If you properly submit a beneficial owner through a broker or other nominee rather thanproxy without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board’s recommendations as noted below. Voting by proxy will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered directly in their own name.your name through our stock transfer agent, Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc., or you have stock certificates registered in your name, you may vote:

By Internet (www.proxypush.com/EVFM). Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Have your proxy card and12-digit control number(s) in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

By telephone(1-866-509-1049). Use a touch-tone phone to transmit your voting instructions. Have your proxy card and12-digit control number(s) in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

By mail. If you arereceived a proxy card by mail, you can vote by mail by completing, signing, dating and returning the beneficial owner ofproxy card as instructed on the card. If you sign the proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares heldvoted, they will be voted in “street name,”accordance with the Board’s recommendations as noted below.

In person at the meeting. If you attend the meeting, you may alsodeliver a completed proxy card in person or you may vote by proxy overcompleting a ballot, which will be available at the internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice, or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you may also vote by telephone or mail by following themeeting.

Telephone and Internet voting instruction card provided to you by your broker or other nominee. If you do not give instructions to your broker, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes.” Under the rules that govern brokers who are voting shares held in street name,facilities for stockholders of record will be available 24 hours a broker is entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial ownerday and will close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on “routine” matters, such as the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors (Proposal 2), without instructions from the beneficial owner of those shares. On the other hand, absent instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares, a broker is not entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on “non-routine” matters, such as the election of our directors (Proposal 1).Monday, May 7, 2018.

If your shares are held in street“street name” (held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record), you maywill receive instructions from the holder of record. You must follow the instructions of the holder of record in order for your shares to be voted. Telephone and Internet voting also will be offered to stockholders owning shares through certain banks and brokers.If your shares are not registered in your own name and you plan to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting, unless you should contact your broker or agent to obtain a “legal proxy”legal proxy or broker’s proxy card and bring it to the Annual Meeting in order to vote.

How Does the Board of Directors Recommend That I Vote on the Proposals?

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote as follows:

FOR” the election of the nominees for director;

FOR” the Amended and Restated2014 Equity Incentive Plan which includes an increase in the number of shares available for the grant of awards from 458,586 shares to 5,300,000 shares; and

FORthe broker or nominee that holdsratification of the shares giving you the right to vote the sharesselection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

If any other matter is presented at the Annual Meeting.

Even if you planMeeting, your proxy provides that your shares will be voted by the proxy holder listed in the proxy in accordance with his best judgment. At the time this proxy statement was first made available, we knew of no matters that needed to attendbe acted on at the Annual Meeting, we willother than those discussed in this proxy statement.

May I Change or Revoke My Proxy?

If you give you a ballot when you arrive; provided, however, we recommend that you also submitus your proxy, or voting instructions as described below so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.

9.

Can I change my vote after I submit my proxy?

Yes. If you are a stockholder of record, you may change or revoke a proxyit at any time before the Annual Meeting. You may change or revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:

if you received a proxy card, by signing a new proxy card with a date later than your previously delivered proxy and submitting it is voted atas instructed above;

byre-voting by Internet or by telephone as instructed above;

by notifying the Company’s Secretary in writing before the Annual Meeting by: (a) delivering a proxy revocation or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date to our Corporate Secretary at 9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, San Diego, CA 92122; (b) voting again by telephone or over the internet at a later time; or (c) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not revoke a proxy unless you actually vote in person at the meeting. For shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker or other nominee in accordance with the instructions they provided, or, ifthat you have obtained a legal proxy fromrevoked your brokerproxy; or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares,

by attending the Annual Meeting in person and voting in person.

10.

How are the votes counted and what vote is needed to approve each of the proposals?

Attending the Annual Meeting in person will not in and of itself revoke a previously submitted proxy. You must specifically request at the Annual Meeting that it be revoked.

Proposal 1 — Election of Directors

InYour most current vote, whether by telephone, Internet or proxy card is the election of directors, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes, which meansone that the director nominees receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votescounted.

What if I Receive More Than One Notice or Proxy Card?

You may receive more than one Notice or proxy card if you hold shares of our common stock in more than one account, which may be in registered form or held in street name. Please vote in the manner described above under “How Do I Vote?” for each account to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Will My Shares be Voted if I Do Not Vote?

If your shares are registered in your name or if you have stock certificates, they will not be counted if you do not vote as votes cast,described above under “How Do I Vote?” If your shares are held in street name and therefore,you do not provide voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares as described above, the bank, broker or other nominee that holds your shares does not have the authority to vote your unvoted shares on certain of the proposals set forth in this proxy statement without receiving instructions from you. Therefore, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee. This ensures your shares will have no effectbe voted at the Annual Meeting. A “brokernon-vote” will occur if your broker cannot vote your shares on a particular matter because it has not received instructions from you.

What Vote is Required to Approve Each Proposal and How are Votes Counted?

Proposal 1: Elect DirectorsThe nominees for director who receive the most votes (also known as a “plurality” of the votes cast) will be elected. You may vote either FOR all the nominees, WITHHOLD your vote from all of the nominees or WITHHOLD your vote from any one or more of the nominees. Votes that are withheld will not be included in the vote tally for the election of directors. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name for the election of the directors. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a brokernon-vote. Such brokernon-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
Proposal 2: Approve the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive PlanThe affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast on the proposal is required to approve the amendment and restatement of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan which includes an increase in the number of shares available under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan from 458,586 shares to 5,300,000 shares. Brokerage firms do not have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name for the approval of the amendment and restatement of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. As a result, any shares not voted by a customer will be treated as a brokernon-vote. Such brokernon-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.
Proposal 3: Ratify Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmThe affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast on the proposal is required to ratify the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions will have no effect on the results of this vote. Brokerage firms have authority to vote customers’ unvoted shares held by the firms in street name on this proposal. If a broker does not exercise this authority, such brokernon-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote. We are not required to obtain the approval of our stockholders to select our independent registered public accounting firm. However, if our stockholders do not ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as

our independent registered public accounting firm for 2018, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors will reconsider its selection.

Where Can I Find the electionVoting Results of directors.

Proposal 2 —Ratification of Appointment of Ernst & Young LLPthe Annual Meeting?

The proposalpreliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting, and we will publish preliminary, or final results if available, in a Current Report on Form8-K within four business days of the Annual Meeting. If final results are unavailable at the time we file the Form8-K, then we will file an amended report on Form8-K to ratifydisclose the appointmentfinal voting results within four business days after the final voting results are known.

What Are the Costs of Ernst & Young LLP requiresSoliciting these Proxies?

We will pay all of the affirmative votecosts of soliciting these proxies. Our directors and employees may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, fax or email. We will pay these employees and directors no additional compensation for these services. We will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward these proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We will then reimburse them for their expenses.

What Constitutes a Quorum for the Annual Meeting?

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal. Abstentions are considered present and entitled to vote with respect to this proposal and will, therefore, be treated as votes against this proposal. Broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will not be considered as present and entitled to vote on the proposal, which will therefore reduce the numbervoting power of affirmative votes needed to approve this proposal.


11.

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE:

·

FOR THE PROPOSED NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD; AND

·

FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP.

12.

How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting?

A majority of theall outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be present in person or by proxy in order for thereis necessary to beconstitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Both broker non-votes (discussed in Question 7) andVotes of stockholders of record who are present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, abstentions, and who abstain from voting, including brokers holding customers’ shares of record who cause abstentions to be recorded at the Annual Meeting, will be included in the number of stockholders present at the Annual Meetingbrokernon-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.exists.

13.

Attending the Special Meeting

Who pays the costs of the proxy solicitation?

The Annual Meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar located at 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, California 92130. You need not attend the Annual Meeting in order to vote.

Why do you discuss a merger and a financing in this Proxy Statement?

On January 17, 2018, the Company will pay alland privately-held Evofem Biosciences Operations, Inc., or Evofem Operations, completed the merger and reorganization, or the Merger, in accordance with the terms of the costsAgreement and Plan of soliciting proxies. In addition to solicitationMerger and Reorganization, dated October 17, 2017, or the Merger Agreement, by mail, officers, directors and employeesamong the Company, Evofem Operations and Nobelli Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, without receiving additional compensation. The Company, if requested, will also pay brokersMerger Sub, whereby Merger Sub merged with and other fiduciaries that hold sharesinto Evofem Operations, with Evofem Operations surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of common stock for beneficial owners for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of forwarding these materials to stockholders. Although the Company has not yet done so, it may retain a firm to assist in the solicitation of proxiesCompany.

On January 17, 2018, in connection with the Annual Meeting. TheMerger, the Company would pay such firm, if any, customary fees, expectedfiled a certificate of amendment to its amended and restated certificate of incorporation to effect asix-for-one reverse stock split of its common stock, or the Reverse Split, to cause the Company not to be no more than $10,000 plus related expenses.

14.

Could other matters be presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting?

governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, and to change its name from “Neothetics, Inc.” to “Evofem Biosciences, Inc.” The name change and the Reverse Split were both effected on January 17, 2018. Shares of the Company’s common stock commenced trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the new name and ticker symbol “EVFM” as of market open on January 18, 2018.Unless otherwise noted, all references to share amounts in this proxy statement, including references to shares or options issued in connection with the Merger and the Financing (as defined below), reflect the Reverse Split.

On January 17, 2018, immediately following the completion of the Merger, the Company issued, in a private placement transaction, or the Financing, an aggregate of 1,614,289 shares of its common stock to certain accredited investors for an aggregate purchase price of $20 million pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated October 17, 2017, by and among the Company, Evofem Operations and certain accredited investors, or the Securities Purchase Agreement. Upon consummation of the Financing, the Company terminated its existing Fourth Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated September 22, 2014, by and between the Company and the investors listed therein, or the Existing Investors, and entered into a registration rights agreement with the accredited investors participating in the Financing and certain previous investors of Evofem Operations and the Company, or the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the

Company is, not aware, as of the date hereof, of any mattersamong other things, obligated to be presented forfile a vote at the Annual Meeting other than those stated in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxy holders (Susan A. Knudson) will have the discretionary authority to vote the shares represented by the proxy card on those matters. If for any reason the nominee is not available as a candidate for director, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board.

15.

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

We intend to announce the preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and will publish the final results in a current report on Form 8-K, which we expect to fileregistration statement with the SEC within four business60 days following completion of the Annual Meeting. IfMerger. The shares of Company common stock issued in the final voting results are unavailable in time to file a current report on Form 8-K withFinancing were exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) under the SEC within four business days afterSecurities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Annual Meeting, we intend to file a Form 8-K to discloseSecurities Act, and the preliminary results and, within four business days afterrules promulgated thereunder.

Following the final results are known, we will file an additional current report on Form 8-K with the SEC to disclose the final voting results.

16.

How do I make a stockholder proposal or nominate an individual to serve as a director for next year’s annual meeting of stockholders?

The Company’s bylaws (“Bylaws”) state the procedures for a stockholder to bring a stockholder proposal or nominate an individual to serve as a directorcompletion of the Board. The Bylaws provide that advance noticeReverse Split, the Merger and the Financing, there were approximately 17,757,167 shares of a stockholder’s proposal or nomination of an individual to serve as a director must be delivered to our Corporate Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices not earlier thancommon stock outstanding. The former Evofem Operations stockholders owned approximately 87% of the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, nor later thanissued and outstanding common stock of the close of business onCompany, or 15,448,737 shares, and the ninetieth (90th) day,Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the anniversaryMerger and Financing, whose shares of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders. However,Company’s common stock remained outstanding after the Bylaws also provide that in the event that the dateMerger and Financing, owned approximately 13% of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from the anniversary dateissued and outstanding common stock of the preceding year’sCompany, or 2,308,430 shares.

Householding of Annual Disclosure Documents

SEC rules concerning the delivery of annual meeting, notice must be received not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day priordisclosure documents allow us or your broker to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meetingsend a single Notice or, if the first public announcementapplicable, a single set of the date of such annual meeting is less than one-hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which the public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.

In addition to meeting the advance notice provisions mentioned above, the stockholder in its notice must provide the information required by our Bylaws to bring a stockholder proposal or nominate an individual to serve as a director of the Board.


A copy of the full text of the provisions of our Bylaws dealing with stockholder nominations and proposals is available to stockholders from our Corporate Secretary upon written request.

Stockholders interested in submitting a proposal for consideration at our 2017 Annual Meeting must do so by sending such proposal to our Corporate Secretary at 9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, San Diego, CA 92122, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Under the SEC’s proxy rules, the deadline for submission of proposals to be included in our proxy materials forto any household at which two or more of our stockholders reside, if we or your broker believe that the 2017 Annual Meeting is December 30, 2016. Accordingly,stockholders are members of the same family. This practice, referred to as “householding,” benefits both you and us. It reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps to reduce our expenses. The rule applies to our Notices, annual reports, proxy statements and information statements. Once you receive notice from your broker or from us that communications to your address will be “householded,” the practice will continue until you are otherwise notified or until you revoke your consent to the practice. Stockholders who participate in order forhouseholding will continue to have access to and utilize separate proxy voting instructions.

If your household received a single Notice or, if applicable, a single set of proxy materials this year, but you would prefer to receive your own copy, please contact our transfer agent, Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc., by calling their toll free number,1-866-223-0448.

If you do not wish to participate in householding and would like to receive your own Notice or, if applicable, set of the Company’s proxy materials in future years, follow the instructions described below. Conversely, if you share an address with another Company stockholder proposaland together both of you would like to receive only a single Notice or, if applicable, set of proxy materials, follow these instructions:

If your Company shares are registered in your own name, please contact our transfer agent, Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc., and inform them of your request by calling them at1-866-223-0448 or writing them at Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc., 2320 Haverford Rd., Suite 230, Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003.

If a broker or other nominee holds your Company shares, please contact the broker or other nominee directly and inform them of your request. Be sure to include your name, the name of your brokerage firm and your account number.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the ownership of our common stock as of February 28, 2018, by (i) those persons who are known to us to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2017 Annual Meeting, any such stockholder proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary on or before December 30, 2016, and comply with the procedures and requirements set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Actbeneficial owner(s) of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as well as the applicable requirementsmore than five percent of our Bylaws. Any stockholder proposal received after December 30, 2016 will be considered untimely,common stock, (ii) each of our directors and will not be included innamed executive officers and (iii) all of our proxy materials. In addition, stockholders interested in submittingdirectors and named executive officers as a proposal outsidegroup.

The number of Rule 14a-8 must submit the proposal in writing to our Corporate Secretary no earlier than February 16, 2017 and no later than March 18, 2017,shares beneficially owned by each entity, person, director or executive officer is determined in accordance with the specific procedural requirements contained in our Bylaws. If you would like a copy of these procedures, please contact our Corporate Secretary as provided above, or access our Bylaws on our web site at www.neothetics.com. Failure to comply with our Bylaw procedures and deadlines may preclude presentationrules of the matter atSEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership generally includes any shares over which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power as well as any shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of February 28, 2018, through the exercise of stock options, warrants or other rights. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

  Shares
Beneficially
Owned
   Percent of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
 

5% Stockholders

    

Entities affiliated with Invesco Ltd.(1)

   7,037,498    39.6

1555 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta, GA 30309

    

Entities affiliated with Woodford Investment Management Limited (2)

   7,465,538    42.0

9400 Garsington Road

Oxford, OX4 2HN, United Kingdom

    

Directors and Named Executive Officers

    

Thomas Lynch(3)

   3,850    * 

Gillian Greer, Ph.D.

   —      * 

William Hall, Ph.D., M.D.

   —      * 

Kim Kamdar, Ph.D.(4)

   551,560    3.1

Tony O’Brien

   —      * 

Colin Rutherford(5)

   770    * 

Saundra Pelletier(6)

   34,215    * 

Justin J. File(7)

   12,338    * 

Kelly Culwell, M.D.(8)

   4,962    * 

Directors and executive officers as a group (11 Persons)(9)

   610,688    3.4

*Includes beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Evofem’s common stock.
Party to the Post-Merger Voting Agreements, pursuant to which stockholder agreed to vote certain shares of our common stock held by stockholder or over which stockholder has voting control in a certain manner. See the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Post-Merger Voting Agreements” beginning on page 27 of this proxy statement.
(1)Invesco Ltd., in its capacity as an investment adviser, may be deemed to beneficially own 7,037,498 shares. Invesco Ltd. is the parent issuer of Invesco UK limited, which is the parent issuer of Invesco Asset Management Limited, which is the manager of the funds and accounts that own the common stock consisting of (i) 3,519,366 shares of common stock owned by Invesco Perpetual High Income Fund and (ii) 3,518,132 shares of common stock held by Invesco Perpetual Income Fund.
(2)

Includes (i) 5,620,952 shares of common stock held by CF Woodford Equity Income Fund, a sub fund of CF Woodford Investment Fund, or WEIF, (ii) 171,975 shares of common stock held by Omnibus Income & Growth Fund, a sub fund of Omnis Portfolio Investments ICVC, or OIGF, and (iii) 1,672,611 shares of common stock held by Woodford Patient Capital Trust Plc., or WPCT. Woodford Investment Management Limited acts as agent for and on behalf of WEIF, OIGF and WPCT, each as a discretionary managed client. Woodford Investment Management Limited has the power to direct the vote and disposition of the common stock held by WEIF, OIGF and WPCT. Accordingly, Woodford Investment

Management Limited may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of an aggregate amount of 7,465,538 shares of common stock, consisting of the shares held by WEIF, OIGF and WPCT, as described above.
(3)Includes 3,850 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of February 28, 2018.
(4)Consists of (1) 515,273 shares of common stock owned by Domain Partners VII, L.P., (2) 8,004 shares of common stock owned by DP VII Associates, L.P, (3) 655 shares of common stock owned by Domain Associates, LLC and, with respect to Dr. Kamdar, options to purchase (4) 27,628 shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2018. One Palmer Square Associates VII, LLC, or One Palmer Square, is the general partner of Domain Partners VII and DP VII Associates. Dr. Kamdar is a member of One Palmer Square. The managing members of One Palmer Square are James Blair, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey, Brian Halak and Nicole Vitullo. Each of James Blair, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey, Brian Halak and Nicole Vitullo share voting and investment power with respect to the securities held by Domain Partners VII and DP VII Associates. The managing members of Domain Associates are James Blair, Brian Dovey, Nicole Vitullo, Brian Halak and Dr. Kamdar. Each of James Blair, Brian Dovey, Nicole Vitullo, and Brian Halak share voting and investment power with respect to the securities held by Domain Associates. Each of James Blair, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey, Brian Halak and Nicole Vitullo disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by Domain Partners VII and DP VII Associates except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein, if any. Each of James Blair, Brian Dovey, Nicole Vitullo, Brian Halak, and Dr. Kamdar disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by Domain Associates except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein, if any. Dr. Kamdar is a member of our board of directors.
(5)Includes 770 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of February 28, 2018.
(6)Includes 34,215 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of February 28, 2018.
(7)Includes 12,338 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of February 28, 2018.
(8)Includes 4,962 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of February 28, 2018.
(9)Includes (1) 515,273 shares of common stock owned by Domain Partners VII, L.P., but deemed to be beneficially owned by Dr. Kamdar, (2) 8,004 shares of common stock owned by DP VII Associates, L.P, but deemed to be beneficially owned by Dr. Kamdar, (3) 655 shares of common stock owned by Domain Associates, LLC, but deemed to be beneficially owned by Dr. Kamdar. Dr. Kamdar has a pecuniary interest in the securities held by Domain Associates as described in note 4, (ii) 86,756 shares of common stock that may be acquired by our current executive officers and directors pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of February 28, 2018.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of 1933, or the Exchange Act, and SEC rules, the Company’s directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of any class of equity security are required to file periodic reports of their ownership, and changes in that ownership, with the SEC. Based solely on its review of copies of reports provided to the Company pursuant toRule 16a-3(e) of the Exchange Act and representations of such reporting persons, the Company believes that during fiscal year 2017, Annual Meeting.such SEC filing requirements were satisfied.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS INFORMATIONMANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Board of Directors

Our Board currently consists of fourseven members with no vacancy.vacancies. Vacancies on the Board may be filled by potential candidates nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, who may seek out potential candidates that meet the criteria for selection as a Board nominee and have the specific qualities or skills being sought, and one or more of such candidates may be appointed as directors as appropriate and in accordance with the Company’s organizational documents. Our Board is divided into three classes as set forth below each serving staggered three-year terms until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified:

·

Our Class I directors are Jeffrey M. Nugent and Maxim GorbachevOur Class I directors are Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Colin Rutherford, and their terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2018;

·

Our Class II director is Martha J. Demski and her term expires at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2016; and

·

Our Class III director is Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and her term expires at the annual meeting of our stockholders in 2017.  

Martha J. Demski is

Our Class II directors are Gillian Greer, Ph.D., William Hall, Ph.D., M.D., and Tony O’Brien and their terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2019; and

Our Class III directors are Thomas Lynch and Saundra Pelletier and their terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2020.

Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Colin Rutherford are being nominated forre-election as a directordirectors at this year’s Annual Meeting. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, which means that the director nominee receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected as a Class II director.annual meeting. The nominee hasnominees have indicated hertheir willingness to serve if elected, but if sheeither or both nominees should be unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the shares represented by proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee as the Board may designate, unless a contrary instruction is indicated in the proxy.

The following sets forth information regarding members of our Board, including the director nominee for election at the Annual Meeting, related to their business experience and service on other boards of directors. In addition, weWe discuss below the qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to conclude that each of our directors should serve as a director. While we do not have a stand-alone diversity policy, in considering whether to recommend any director nominee, including candidates recommended by stockholders, we believe that the backgrounds and qualifications of the directors, considered as a group, should provide a significant mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow our Board of Directors to fulfill its responsibilities. As set forth in our corporate governance guidelines, theseEvaluation criteria generally include, among other things, an individual’s business experience and skills (including skills in core areas such as operations, management, technology, accounting and finance, strategic planning and international markets), as well as independence, judgment, knowledge of our business and industry, professional reputation, leadership, integrity and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also consider the ability to commit sufficient time and attention to the activities of the Board, of Directors, as well as the absence of any potential conflicts with our interests. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not intend to assign specific weights to particular criteria and no particular criterion is necessarily applicable to the prospective nominee. Our Board will be responsible for selecting candidates for election as directors based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.


The following sets forth informationtable lists the names, ages as of February 28, 2018 and positions of the date of this proxy statement for each nominee and director whose term of office continues after the annual meeting.individuals who serve as our directors:

 

Name

Age

Position(s)

Jeffrey M. Nugent

Saundra Pelletier

48

69

Chief Executive Officer and Class III Director

Maxim Gorbachev

Thomas Lynch

61

40

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Class III Director

Martha J. Demski

Gillian Greer, Ph.D.

73

63

Class II Director

William Hall, Ph.D., M.D.

68Class II Director
Tony O’Brien54Class II Director
Colin Rutherford60Class I Director
Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.

50

48

Class I Director

We believe that our current Board includes individuals with a strong background in executive leadership and management, accounting and finance, and industry knowledge. In addition, each of our directors has a strong professional reputation and has shown a dedication to their profession and community. We also believe that our directors’ diversity of backgrounds and experiences results in different perspectives, ideas and viewpoints, which make our Board more effective in carrying out its duties. We believe that our directors hold themselves to the highest standards of integrity and that they are committed to representing the long-term interests of our stockholders.

Nominees for Election as Class I Directors Continuing in Office until the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of StockholdersDirectors:

Jeffrey M. Nugent. Mr. Nugent, age 69, has served as a director of the Company since September 2015. Since November 2015, Mr. Nugent has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sientra. Mr. Nugent had served as a director to Sientra since July 2014. Mr. Nugent previously served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Biolase, Inc. from June 2014 until July, 2015. Prior to that, from December 2010 until February 2014, Mr. Nugent was Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Precision Dermatology, Inc., a multi-channel skin care company which was acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals in February 2014. From 1999 to 2002, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Revlon, Inc. and as Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer of Neutrogena Corporation from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Nugent currently serves as a director of Biolase, Inc. and has previously served as a director of Precision Dermatology, Inc., Myoscience, Inc. and Merz Aesthetics, Inc. Mr. Nugent holds a B.S. in mathematics from St. Joseph's College and earned his M.B.A. in finance and marketing from Loyola University in Chicago. He served as an Artillery Officer in the United States Army. We believe that Mr. Nugent’s valuable business and management experience as the Chief Executive Officer and director of several companies in the medical device and aesthetics industries qualifies him to serve on our Board of Directors.

Maxim Gorbachev. Mr. Gorbachev, age 40,Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.Dr. Kamdar has served as a member of our Board of Directors since July 2014. Mr. Gorbachev is a partner at RMI Partners, LLC, or RMI Partners, the management company of RusnanoMedInvest, LLC, or RMI LLC, a Russian-based life sciences venture capital firm, founded by RUSNANO State Corporation, which he joined in March 2013. Prior to joining RMI Partners, from September 2012 to March 2013, Mr. Gorbachev served as Associate Director, Business Planning at JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, an aerospace company. Prior to joining JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, from March 2012 to September 2012, Mr. Gorbachev acted as a consultant to various companies. From July 2009 to February 2012, Mr. Gorbachev served as Director of Finance and Administration at UCB Pharma LLC, a pharmaceuticals company. Prior to joining UCB Pharma, Mr. Gorbachev served as Investment Manager at Sminex, a Moscow-based private equity fund. Mr. Gorbachev currently serves on the boards of several of RMI LLC’s portfolio companies, including Miramar Labs, Atlas Genetics and Celtaxsys. Mr. Gorbachev earned a M.S. in applied mathematics from Lomonosov Moscow State University, a M.S. in Financial Management from Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and an M.B.A. from Vlerick Business School. We believe Mr. Gorbachev’s extensive experience in a wide range of industries, strong healthcare exposure as a partner of a leading Russian life sciences venture capital firm, as well as his service on the Board of Directors for a number of healthcare companies, qualifies him to serve on our Board of Directors.


Nominee for Election as Class II Director for a term expiring at the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Martha J. Demski. Ms. Demski, age 63, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since July 2014. Since August 2011, Ms. Demski has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ajinomoto Althea, Inc. (formerly Althea Technologies, Inc.), a fully-integrated contract development and manufacturing organization.  From July 2008 to December 2010, Ms. Demski served as the Interim Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, or SKCC, a non-profit corporation that was engaged in biomedical research which voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. Ms. Demski currently serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the audit committee of Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded biotech company.  Ms. Demski also serves as a member of the board, chair of the audit committee and member of the nominating and governance committee of Chimerix, Inc., a publicly traded biotech company.  Additionally, Ms. Demski previously served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vical Incorporated, a biopharmaceutical company, and has over 13 years of banking experience with Bank of America and U.S. Trust. She is a National Association of Corporate Directors Board Governance Fellow. Ms. Demski earned a B.A. from Michigan State University and M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in accounting and finance. We believe that Ms. Demski’s more than 30 years’ experience in the fields of finance and biotechnology as well as her experience in conducting financing transactions qualifies her to serve on our Board of Directors.

Class III Director Continuing in Office until the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. Dr. Kamdar, age 48, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2011. Dr. Kamdar is a managing memberManaging Member of Domain Associates, LLC, a life sciences venture capital firm, which she joined in 2005. Prior to joining Domain,

Dr. Kamdar served asis currently Chair of the board of directors of Obalon (Nasdaq: OBLN). She also serves on the board of directors of several private companies including Epic Sciences, Omniome, ROX Medical, Sera

Prognostics and Singular Genomics. Dr. Kamdar is founder and Chairman of the board of directors, and was formerly acting CEO of Truvian Sciences, a consumer-focused health and wellness company. Past investments include Ariosa (acquired by Roche), Corthera (acquired by Novartis), BiPar Sciences (acquired by Sanofi-Aventis) and Achaogen (Nasdaq: AKAO).

Formerly, Dr. Kamdar was a Kauffman Fellow with MPM Capital. Prior to joining MPM, Capital, she was a research director at Novartis, where she built and led a research team that focused on the biology, genetics and genomics of model organisms to uncover small molecules that modulated signaling pathway networks.organisms. Dr. Kamdar is a founderthe author of Aryzun Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company utilizing protein-protein interaction mapping for small molecule discovery with an initial focusten papers as well as the inventor on anti-infectives and oncology. Dr. Kamdar currently serves on the Board of Directors of several private and public companies, including Epic Sciences, Inc., Obalon Therapeutics, Omniome, Inc., ROX Medical, SalveoDx, Sera Prognostics, Syndax Pharmaceuticals and Tragara Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Kamdarseven patents. She received her B.A. in genetics and cell biology from Northwestern University and her Ph.D. in biochemistry and genetics from Emory University. Dr. Kamdar serves as an advisory board member of Dr. Eric Topol’s NIH supported Clinical and Translational Science Award for Scripps Medicine and is also on thenon-profit board for Access Youth Academy, an organization that is transforming the lives of underserved youth through academic enrichment, health and wellness, social responsibility and leadership through squash. We believe Dr. Kamdar is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on her extensive experience working and serving on the boards of directors of life sciences companies and her experience working in the venture capital industry.

Colin RutherfordMr. Rutherford has served as a member of our Board since January 2018 and served as a member of the board of Evofem Operations from November 2015 until January 2018. He currently serves as the audit committee chairman of Mitchells & Butlers’ Plc., and Renaissance Services SAOG. Mr. Rutherford is also serving as the Chairman of Brookgate, Limited, TPG and Teachers Media Group Plc. Prior to this, Mr. Rutherford worked for European Healthcare Group asNon-Executive Chairman from 2012 to 2014 until its acquisition by two hedge funds. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Rutherford also worked as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman to restructure MAM Funds Plc that had significant debt. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Rutherford was Chairman and oversaw the restructuring of Noble House Group Limited which was sold in 2006. In 2002, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he led the restructuring and sale of Euro-Sales Plc. with 18 offices across Europe. While a director of Evofem Operations, Mr. Rutherford was Chair of its audit committee and a member of its remuneration committee. Mr. Rutherford graduated in Accountancy and Finance from Heriot Watt University and qualified as a chartered accountant with Touche Ross in 1984. Mr. Rutherford is a Harvard Business School Alumni. We believe that Mr. Rutherford is qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his prior experience as a member of Evofem Operations’ board of directors and his many years of finance and operations leadership experience in the healthcare and life sciences industries.

Continuing Directors

Saundra PelletierSaundra Pelletier has served as Evofem Operations’ President and CEO since February 2013 and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2018. From 2009 to 2016, Ms. Pelletier was the founding Chief Executive Officer of WomenCare Global International, or WCGI, an internationalnon-profit organization focused on empowering, educating and enabling women and girls to make informed choices about their health. Under her leadership, WCGI secured approximately $68 million in committed funding from major foundations and governmental organizations, and launched an innovative U.S. educational campaign with American actress/activist Jessica Biel. Since November 2017, Ms. Pelletier has served as the Chair of the board of WCG Cares, anon-profit California corporation whose primary purpose is to directly engage in and/or fund the development and implementation of programs that promote reproductive health, education, research and increased access to high-quality, innovative and affordable reproductive healthcare and healthcare products around the world. Ms. Pelletier also served as WCG Cares’ Chief Executive Officer and President from 2013 until November 2017. From 2005 to 2009, Ms. Pelletier was founder and Chief Executive Officer of Saundra Pelletier International, where she served as a management consultant, executive coach, entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker. From 2000 until 2004, Ms. Pelletier served as Vice President, Pharmaceuticals at Women First Healthcare, a specialty healthcare company dedicated to improving the health of women inmid-life, and from 1992 until 2000 she was Global Franchise Leader (Vice President), with G.D. Searle, developer of the first female birth control pill and now a wholly owned trademark of Pfizer. In her capacity as a corporate vice president and global franchise leader, Ms. Pelletier managed a $250 million business unit, reorganized companies from the ground up, raised $40 million in capital, managed worldwide partnerships, negotiated cost saving licensing agreements, assessed country infrastructures, developed commercialization plans and hired full scale teams, including contract sales forces, to support women’s healthcare initiatives. Ms. Pelletier has launched pharmaceutical brands worldwide and expanded indications on female healthcare brands in multiple countries. She has had oversight and accountability for Sales, Marketing, Operations, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships. In 2015, Ms. Pelletier was profiled by the United Nations Foundation as a New Champion for Reproductive Health, and in 2014 was awarded the Athena Pinnacle Award for Life Sciences, recognizing extraordinary leadership in the life sciences. She is a published author and an international keynote speaker on the economic return of investing in women and has spoken at the Clinton Global Initiative, Women Deliver, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Cavendish Global

Health Impact Forum at Biocom, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business; and was the keynote speaker at the June 2016 Women’s Global Health Symposium. Her accomplishments have been frequently profiled in various media, including The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Devex, Refinery 29, Bustle, CNN, NBC News, Glamour, Marie Claire, BBC Radio, Global Grind and Vogue. Ms. Pelletier is the Chair of the Women Deliver Board of Directors and she is on the board of directors of ClearFast. We believe Ms. Pelletier’s service as our Chief Executive Officer and extensive professional experience in women’s healthcare qualifies her to serve as a member of our Board of Directors.

Thomas LynchMr. Lynch has served as the Chairman of the Board since January 2018 and served as the Chairman of the Board of Evofem Operations from November 2015 until January 2018. Mr. Lynch also currently serves as Chairman of the Boards of Profectus Biosciences Inc. and Adherium Inc. and as anon-executive director of GW Pharmaceuticals where he serves as Chairman of both its remuneration and nomination committees. Mr. Lynch is also thenon-executive chairman of the Ireland East Hospital Group and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, anon-profit charitable foundation providing acute hospital services to both public patients funded by the HSE (defined below) and private patients. Mr. Lynch serves on the board of a number of other privately held biotechnology companies. Mr. Lynch previously served as Chairman of ICON plc and was a member of its board for 22 years. Mr. Lynch has also worked in a variety of capacities in Amarin Corporation plc, Elan Corporation plc and Warner Chilcott plc. From 2001 to 2010, Mr. Lynch was a member of the Board of IDA Ireland (an Irish government investment agency). Mr. Lynch received his B.Sc. in Economics from Queen’s University of Belfast in 1978, and qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in 1983 and served as a partner in that firm from 1990 to 1993. We believe Mr. Lynch is qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his decades of business, operational and board of director experience with pharmaceutical and life sciences companies and because of his prior experience as Chairman of Evofem Operations’ board of directors.

Gillian Greer, Ph.D.Dr. Gillian Greer has served as a member of our Board since January 2018 and most recently served, from 2011 – 2017, as the Chief Executive Officer of Volunteer Service Abroad, a New Zealandnon-profit organization that sends volunteers to work with partner organizations in the Pacific and Asia region. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of Women of New Zealand. From 2006-2011 Dr. Greer served as Director General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, or IPPF, the world’s largest international sexual and reproductive healthnon-profit organization, working in 172 countries providing advocacy, education and sexual and reproductive health services, including maternal health, HIV/AIDS, family planning and adolescent health. During this time she also worked closely with UN agencies and governments to advocate for investment in health and human rights and served on the Board of ICON plc. Prior to her work with IPPF, Dr. Greer served as Executive Director of the Family Planning Association of New Zealand where she was involved in international and regional advocacy training and initiatives, including chairing the Asia Pacific Alliance, and was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to family planning in 2005. From 1996-1998 Dr. Greer was Assistant Vice Chancellor Equity and Human Resources, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Her early career was in education at secondary and tertiary levels. Throughout her career Dr. Greer has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to health, education, sustainable development, women’s empowerment, and human rights. She is passionate about strengthening civil society and building high performing organizations that are effective, ethical, and accountable and can clearly demonstrate their impact. She has also served in a governance capacity for a number of charities and a university Council, as well as advisory panels to New Zealand Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Dr. Greer was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to international health and women’s rights in 2012. She continues to be in high demand as a speaker, facilitator, chairperson, and board member. Dr. Greer holds a B.A. in English from the University of Auckland and a Ph.D. in New Zealand Literature from the Victoria University of Wellington. We believe Dr. Greer’s long experience as an executive officer and board member of organizations dedicated to women’s sexual health qualifies her to serve as a member of our Board of Directors.

William Hall, Ph.D., M.D.Professor Hall has served as a member of our Board since January 2018 and is a renowned expert in infectious diseases and virology. He currently serves as Distinguished Professor in Hokkaido University in Japan and is Professor Emeritus of Medical Microbiology and the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin’s, or UCD, School of Medicine and Medical Science. He is also Executive Chairman of the UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory and is a Consultant Microbiologist at St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin. Professor Hall also serves as a consultant to the Minister of Heath and Children in the Republic of Ireland, providing input on a range of topics including influenza pandemic preparedness and bioterrorism. Prior to his tenure at UCD, Professor Hall was Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Medical Virology, Senior Physician and Director of the Clinical Research Centre at the Rockefeller University in New York. He previously served as an Assistant and Associate Professor of Medicine at Cornell University. Professor Hall is a Board member of The Atlantic Philanthropies and is aco-founder of the Global Virus Network. Professor Hall has served as anon-executive director of ICON plc, based in Dublin, Ireland, since February 2013. He is a member of its audit committee and the compensation committee and is chair of the

nominating and governance committee. Professor Hall holds a B.Sc.(Honors.) in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Virology from Queen’s University Belfast. He received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, New York and a Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London. We believe Dr. Hall is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive experience working in infectious diseases and virology and prior experiences on other board of directors.

Tony O’BrienMr. O’Brien has served as a member of our Board since January 2018 and as the Director General of Ireland’s Health Service Executive, or HSE, an organization responsible for the provision of health and personal social services for the residents of Ireland, since July 2012. Prior to his role as Director General, Mr. O’Brien was the Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Health’s Special Delivery Unit and a member of the Department’s Management Board. From May 2011 to September 2011 Mr. O’Brien was Director of Clinical Strategy and Programs in the HSE. From December 2011 until October 2012 he held the post of Chief Executive Officer of the National Treatment Purchase Fund. He served as Chief Advisor to the HSE on the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy, Project Director for the National Plan for Radiation Oncology and is a former Chairman of the National Cancer Registry Board. He was the founding Chief Executive Officer of the National Cancer Screening Service, Director of BreastCheck, CervicalCheck and an Associate and Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme. Prior to joining the HSE, Mr. O’Brien served as Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association and as the Chief Executive of the UK Family Planning Association. Mr. O’Brien is a Council Member of the Irish Management Institute, a Member of the Healthy Ireland Council and a Member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland. Mr. O’Brien holds a Master of Sciences in Management Practice from Trinity College, University of Dublin. He is Adjunct Ass. Professor in Health Strategy and Management at Trinity College Dublin. He is also Vice President of the Institute of Public Administration and a Council Member of the Irish Management Institute. In 2016, he was admitted as a Chartered Director by the Institute of Directors. We believe Mr. O’Brien’s extensive experience as an executive and member of the boards of directors for healthcare and life sciences companies qualifies him to be a member of our Board of Directors.

Committees of the Board of Directors and Meetings

Directors are expected to attend meetings ofMeeting Attendance. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, our board met 13 times. During 2017 our Board and any Board committees on which they serve. The Board has three standing committees to facilitate and assist the Board in the execution of its responsibilities: the Audit Committee, the Compensationappointed a Strategic Transactions Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these committees has the responsibilities described in the committee charters which are available on our website at www.neothetics.com. Our Board may also establish other committees from time to time to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities. For example, our Board has currently established an Operating Committee to assist with manyaide in our recently completed merger activity. The Strategic Transactions Committee met seven times during 2017, and the Operating Committee met once during 2017. Each director attended at least 75% of the responsibilities arising inaggregate number of board meetings and the day-to-day operationsnumber of meetings held by all committees on which he or she served during 2017. The Board has adopted a policy under which each member of the Company that normally would be managed byBoard makes every effort to but is not required to attend each Annual Meeting of our stockholders. All of our directors in office as of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, which position isdate of our 2017 Annual Meeting attended our 2017 annual stockholder meeting.

Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee met four times during 2017. This committee currently vacant at the Company.  The Operating Committee currently is comprised of Martha J. Demski,has three members, Colin Rutherford (Chairman), Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Jeffrey M. Nugent,Tony O’Brien. Our Audit Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in the Board expectsAudit Committee’s written charter and include the Operating Committeeauthority to remain in place untilretain and terminate the Board appoints a new Chief Executive Officer and Presidentservices of the Company.  

Audit Committee.    Our audit committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process. The responsibilities of this committee include, among other things:

·

engaging our independent registered public accounting firm to perform audit services and any permissible non-audit services;

·

monitoring the objectivity and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm and the individuals assigned to the engagement team as required by law;

·

reviewing our annual and quarterly financial statements and reports and discussing the financial statements and reports with our independent auditors and management;

·

reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm and management any significant issues that arise regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentation, and matters concerning the scope, adequacy, and effectiveness of our internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures;

·

establishing procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by us regarding internal controls, accounting, or auditing matters;


·

establishing procedures for the confidential, anonymous submissions by employees regarding accounting, internal controls, or accounting matters; and

·

reviewing and, if appropriate, approving proposed related party transactions.

Both our independent registered public accounting firmfirm. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews annual financial statements, considers matters relating to accounting policy and management periodically meet separately with our audit committee.

The currentinternal controls and reviews the scope of annual audits. All members of ourthe Audit Committee satisfy the current independence standards promulgated by the SEC and by The Nasdaq Stock Market, as such standards apply specifically to members of audit committees. The Board has determined that Mr. Rutherford is an “audit committee are Martha J. Demski, Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Jeffrey M. Nugent. Ms. Demski servesfinancial expert,” as Chairpersonthe SEC has defined that term in Item 407 of RegulationS-K. Please also see the report of the committee.Audit Committee set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement.

A copy of the Audit Committee’s written charter is publicly available on our website atwww.evofem.com.

Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee met three times during 2017. This committee currently has three members, Gillian Greer, Ph.D., Tony O’Brien (Chairman) and William Hall, Ph.D., M.D. Our Compensation Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in the Compensation Committee’s written charter and includes reviewing, approving and making recommendations regarding our compensation policies, practices and procedures to ensure that legal and fiduciary responsibilities of the Board of Directors has determinedare carried out and that all of the members ofsuch policies, practices and procedures contribute to our audit committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ. Our Board of Directors has determined that Martha J. Demski is an audit committee financial expert as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and has the requisite financial sophistication as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ. Our Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of our audit committee are independent directors as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ.

Compensation Committee.success. Our Compensation Committee adopts andalso administers our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2014 Plan. The Compensation Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board the compensation policies, plans,of our chief executive officer, and benefit programsconducts its decision making process with respect to that issue without the chief executive officer present. All members of the Compensation Committee qualify as independent under the definition promulgated by The Nasdaq Stock Market.

In establishing compensation amounts for ourexecutives, the Compensation Committee seeks to support the Company’s overall business strategy and objectives, attract and retain key executives, link compensation with business objectives and organizational performance, and provide competitive compensation opportunities. In connection with the Merger, the officers of Evofem Operations were appointed to serve as executive officers and all other members of the Company. As our executive team. The responsibilities of this committee include, among other things:

·

determining the compensation and other terms of employment of our executive officers and senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer, and reviewing and approving corporate performance goals and objectives relevant to such compensation;

·

recommending to our Board of Directors the type and amount of compensation to be paid or awarded to members of our Board of Directors;

·

evaluating and recommending to our Board of Directors the equity incentive plans, compensation plans, and similar programs advisable for us, as well as modification or termination of existing plans and programs;

·

administering the issuance of stock options and other equity incentive arrangements under our equity incentive plans;

·

establishing policies with respect to equity compensation arrangements; and

·

reviewing and approving the terms of employment agreements, severance arrangements, change-in-control protections, and any other compensatory arrangements for our executive officers and senior management.

We expect thatcurrent management team transitions from operating a private company to operating a publicly traded company, our Compensation Committee will meet at least twice annuallyevaluate our compensation practices, philosophy and arrangements to ensure alignment with greater frequency if necessary.our structure and the roles of the executives as they relate to managing and oversight of a public company. The agenda for each meeting is usually developed by the ChairCompensation Committee may delegate authority to one or more members of the Compensation Committee in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee meets regularly in executive session. However, from time to time, various members of management and other employees as well as outside advisors or consultants may be invited by the Compensation Committee to make presentations, to provide financial or other background information or advice or to otherwise participate in Compensation Committee meetings. The Chief Executive Officer may not participate in,one or be present during, any deliberations or determinationsmore executives of the Compensation Committee, regarding hisexcept that the Compensation Committee may not delegate authority to approve compensation of the Company’s chief executive officer or individual performance objectives. its other Section 16 officers to any person or committee (other than to a subcommittee consisting exclusively of at least three members of the Compensation Committee).

The charterCompensation Committee has engaged the services of Marsh & McLennan Agency, or Marsh, a national executive compensation consulting firm, to review and provide recommendations concerning all of the components of the Company’s executive compensation program. Marsh performs services solely on behalf of the Compensation Committee grantsand has no relationship with the Company or management except as it may relate to performing such services. Marsh assists the Compensation Committee full access to all books, records, facilities and personnelin defining the appropriate market of the Company. In addition, underCompany’s peer companies for executive compensation and practices and in benchmarking our executive compensation program against the charter,peer group each year. Marsh also assists the Compensation Committee has the authority to take any actions it considers appropriate to fulfill its dutiesin benchmarking our director compensation program and responsibilities, including, without limitation, the authority to retain such outside counsel, experts, and other advisors as it determines appropriate to assist it in the performancepractices against those of its functions, including, without limitation, sole authority to retain and terminate one or more compensation consulting firms, and to approve the fees and other retention terms for any such firm that is retained by it.  Any compensation consultant retained by the Committee to assist with its responsibilities relating to executive compensation shall not be retained by the Company for any compensation or other human resource matters.our peers. The Company shall provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Compensation Committee for payment of compensation to any advisors employed by the Compensation Committee, as well as funding for the payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Compensation Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.  Prior to selecting, or receiving advice from, any counsel, expert or advisor, the Compensation Committee shall considerhas assessed the independence of such advisor based onMarsh pursuant to SEC rules and the SECcorporate governance rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market and NASDAQ  independence factors; provided, however,concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Marsh from independently representing the Compensation Committee shall not be prohibited from obtaining advice from advisors that it determines are not independent.Committee.

Our Compensation Committee reviews and evaluates potential risks related to our compensation policies and practices for employees and has determined that we have no compensation risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company. We structure our compensation to address company-wide risk. This is accomplished in part by tying compensation to corporate goals and individual performance goals. These goals can be adjusted annually to address risks identified in the annual risk assessment. We also use a mix of different compensation elements to balance short-term awards versus long-term awards to align compensation with our business strategy and stockholders’ interests. We believe the combination of base salary, performance-based


cash awards, and share-based incentive awards with multi-year vesting periods is balanced and serves to motivate our employees to accomplish our business plan without creating risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company.

In 2015, the Company engaged Compensia Inc., or Compensia, as a compensation consultant. Compensia was retained to provide an annual assessment of the Company’s executive and director compensation programs in comparison to executive and director compensation programs at selected publicly-traded peer companies. As part of its engagement, Compensia was requested by the Compensation Committee to develop a comparative group of companies and to perform analyses of competitive performance and compensation levels for that group. Compensia ultimately developed, and is continuing to develop, recommendations for the Compensation Committee’s consideration on an annual basis.  

It is expected that the Compensation Committee will consider most of the significant adjustments to annual compensation, target bonuses and equity awards and establish new performance objectives at one or more meetings held during the first quarter of the year. However, the Compensation Committee also considers matters related to individual compensation, such as compensation for new executive hires, as well as high-level strategic issues, such as the efficacy of the Company’s compensation strategy, potential modifications to that strategy and new trends, plans or approaches to compensation, at periodic meetings throughout the year on an as-needed basis. Generally, the Compensation Committee’s process comprises two related elements: the determination of compensation levels and the establishment of performance objectives for the current year. For executives other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee solicits and considers evaluations and recommendations submitted to the Committee by the Chief Executive Officer or Operating Committee, as applicable. In the case of the Chief Executive Officer, once a new Chief Executive Officer has been elected, the evaluation of their performance is conducted by the Compensation Committee, which recommends any adjustments to compensation as well as awards to be granted. For all executives and directors as part of its deliberations, the Compensation Committee may review and consider, as appropriate, materials such as financial reports and projections, operational data, tax and accounting information, tally sheets that set forth the total compensation that may become payable to executives in various hypothetical scenarios, executive and director stock ownership information, company stock performance data, analyses of historical executive compensation levels and current Company-wide compensation levels and recommendationsA copy of the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant, including analyses of executive and director compensation paidwritten charter is publicly available on our website at other companies identified by the consultant. Modifications to executive compensation must be approved by the full Board of Directors prior to implementation.www.evofem.com.

The current members of our Compensation Committee are Jeffrey M. Nugent, Martha J. Demski and Maxim Gorbachev. Mr. Nugent serves as the Chair of the committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of our Compensation Committee are independent directors under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ.  The Compensation Committee met two times during fiscal year 2015, including telephonic meetings.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.    Committee.Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things, making recommendations regarding corporate governance, the composition of our Board of Directors, identification, evaluation and nomination of director candidates, and the structure and composition of committees of our Board of Directors.

The responsibilities of this committee include, among other things:

·

developing and maintaining a current list of the functional needs and qualifications of members of our Board of Directors;

·

evaluating director performance on the board and applicable committees of the Board of Directors and determining whether continued service on our Board of Directors is appropriate;

·

interviewing, evaluating, nominating, and recommending individuals for membership on our Board of Directors;

·

evaluating stockholder nominations of candidates for election to our Board of Directors;

·

developing, reviewing and amending a set of corporate governance policies and principles, including a code of ethics;

·

considering questions of possible conflicts of interest of directors as such questions arise; and

·

recommending to our Board of Directors the establishment of such special committees as may be desirable or necessary from time to time in order to address ethical, legal, business, or other matters that may arise.  

The current members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Maxim Gorbachev, Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Ms. Demski. Dr. Kamdar serves as the Chairman of the committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once during 2017 and has two members, Gillian Greer, Ph.D. and William Hall, Ph.D., M.D (Chairman). The Nominating Committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in the fiscal year 2015.


There are no family relationships among our officersNominating Committee’s written charter and directors, nor are there any arrangements or understandings between any of our directors or officers or any other person pursuantinclude evaluating and making recommendations to which any officer or director was, or is,the full Board as to be selected as an officer or director.

Membership of Committees

Audit Committee

Compensation

Committee

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Dr. Kamdar*

X

Chair

Mr. Gorbachev*

X

X

Ms. Demski*

Chair

X

X

Mr. Nugent*

X

Chair

*

Independent director under NASDAQ and SEC rules.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

During fiscal year 2015, the Board met nine times, including telephonic meetingssize and all incumbent directors attended at least 75% or more of the aggregate of the meetingscomposition of the Board and its committees, evaluating and making recommendations as to potential candidates, and evaluating current Board members’ performance. All members of the Board committeesNominating Committee qualify as independent under the definition promulgated by The Nasdaq Stock Market.

If a stockholder wishes to nominate a candidate for director who is not to be included in our proxy statement, it must follow the procedures described in our bylaws and in “Stockholder Proposals and Nominations For Director” at the end of this proxy statement.

A copy of the Nominating Committee’s written charter is publicly available on which they served, held during the period for which they were directors or committee members.Company’s website atwww.evofem.com.

Director Independence

Our Board of Directors has undertaken a reviewreviewed the materiality of the compositionany relationship that each of our Board of Directors and each of its committees anddirectors has with the independence of each director.Company, either directly or indirectly. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships,this review, our Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Demski,the following members of the Board are “independent directors” as defined by The Nasdaq Stock Market: Dr. Greer, Dr. Hall, Dr. Kamdar, Mr. O’Brien and Messrs. Gorbachev and Nugent, representing our four directors, do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing requirements and rules of NASDAQ. In making this determination, our Board of Directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our Board of Directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director.Mr. Rutherford.

Board Leadership Structure

The position of Chairman ofOur corporate governance practices do not indicate a particular board structure, and our Board of Directors is currently vacant and many of such roles and responsibilities are managed bygiven the Operating Committeeflexibility to select its chairman and our Lead Independent Director. Our amended and restated bylaws and Corporate Governance Principles provide our Board of Directors with flexibility to appoint a Chairman ofchief executive officer in the Board and, moreover, to combine or separate the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in accordance with its determinationmanner that utilizing one or the other structureit believes is in the best interests of our company. Whenstockholders. Accordingly, the positions of chairman and the chief executive officer may be filled by either one individual or two individuals. The Board has currently elected to separate the positions of Chairman alsoand Chief Executive Officer at this time. Ms. Pelletier serves as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors. Mr. Lynch currently serves as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, or when the Chair is not independent, the Board, by majority vote of the independent directors, will designate an independent director to serve as the "Lead Independent Director." Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. currently serves as Lead Independent Director. AllChairman of our directors are encouraged to make suggestions for board agenda items or pre-meeting materials. Our Lead Independent Director assumes many functions traditionally within the purview of a Chairman of the Board. Under our Corporate Governance Principles, our Lead Independent Director must be independent.

The specific responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director (if so designated) are as follows:

·

Act as a principal liaison between the independent directors, any committees of the Board, as applicable, and the Chairman (if so designated or if applicable) on sensitive issues;

·

Develop the agenda for and moderate executive sessions of the Board's independent directors;

·

Provide feedback to committees of the Board, as applicable, and the Chairman (if so designated)  regarding matters discussed in executive sessions of the independent directors;

·

Work in collaboration with committees of the Board, as applicable, and the Chairman in developing the agendas for Board meetings;

·

Consult with the committees of the Board, as applicable, and Chairman (if so designated) as to an appropriate schedule of Board meetings, seeking to ensure that the independent directors can perform their duties responsibly while not interfering with the flow of Company operations;


·

Consult with the committees of the Board, as applicable, and Chairman (if so designated) as to the quality, quantity, and timeliness of the flow of information from Company management that is necessary for the independent directors to effectively and responsibly perform their duties;

·

Preside at any meeting of the Board at which the Chairman is not designated or if designated, not present;

·

Work in collaboration with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, other committees of the Board, as applicable, and the Chairman (if so designated) with respect to the implementation and periodic review and, as appropriate, alteration of the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines;

·

Develop a Board plan with regard to potential crisis management issues;

·

Assist in the development of the Board's competency around dealing with crisis management issues;

·

Work with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair, at its request, to regularly seek feedback and evaluate the Board's interest in modifying its existing procedures for evaluating Board performance including conducting peer to peer Board evaluations;

·

Work with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair to recommend, clarify or enhance Board educational programs, needs, and requirements;

·

Work with committees of the Board, as applicable, Chairman (if so designated) and Board Secretary to enhance the productivity and efficiency of Board meetings;

·

On a case-by-case basis, address sensitive/dysfunctional issues related to the Board and help facilitate a path to resolution; and

·

Work with Board Secretary to incorporate new technology software and hardware to enhance the overall productivity and efficiency of Board meetings.

Our Board of Directors has concludedDirectors. The Board believes that our current leadershipthis structure is appropriate at this time. However,serves us well by creating a critical link between management (through Ms. Pelletier’s membership on the Board of Directors periodically reviews our leadership structureBoard) and may make such changesthenon-executive directors led by Thomas Lynch in the futurehis role as it deems appropriate.anon-executive Chairman.

Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

One of the key functions of our Board of Directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. The Board does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through various standing committees of our Board of Directors that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our Board of Directors is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure and our Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken. The Audit Committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance practices, including whether they are successful in preventing illegal or improper liability-creating conduct. Our Compensation Committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking.

Corporate Governance GuidelinesStockholder Communications to the Board

OurGenerally, stockholders who have questions or concerns should contact our Investor Relations department at ir@evofem.com However, any stockholders who wish to address questions regarding our business directly with the Board of Directors, or any individual director, should direct his or her questions in writing to Evofem Biosciences, Inc., 12400 High Street Bluff Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, California 92130. Communications will be distributed to the Board, or to any individual director or directors as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communications. Items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board may be excluded, such as:

junk mail and mass mailings

resumes and other forms of job inquiries

surveys

solicitations or advertisements.

In addition, any material that is unduly hostile, threatening, or illegal in nature may be excluded, provided that any communication that is filtered out will be made available to any outside director upon request.

Executive Officers

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers and their respective ages as of February 28, 2018. All executive officers areat-will employees.

Name

Age

Position(s)

Executive Officers

Saundra Pelletier*

48Chief Executive Officer and Class III Director

Justin J. File

47Chief Financial Officer

Kelly Culwell, M.D.

43Chief Medical Officer

Russ Barrans

58Chief Commercial Officer

Alexander A. Fitzpatrick, Esq.

51General Counsel and Secretary

*Ms. Pelletier is a member of our Board of Directors. See “Management and Corporate Governance – The Board of Directors” within this proxy statement for more information about Ms. Pelletier.

Justin J. FileJustin J. File has served as Evofem Operations’ Chief Financial Officer since July 2015 and has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2018. He has approximately 25 years of diverse accounting and finance experience within a variety of both public and private biotechnology companies. Most recently, he provided executive financial and accounting oversight services to various biotechnology companies in San Diego, California, assisting in their initial public offering process and helping to establish and improve their accounting and finance operations as publicly-traded entities. Prior to this, Mr. File was Senior Director and Controller of Sequenom, Inc., a diagnostic company that developed and commercialized molecular diagnostics testing services for the women’s health market. During that time, he served as Treasurer of their diagnostic subsidiary and providing assistance in the raise of over $400 million in combined equity and convertible note offerings. He also assisted in the commercial launch of four diagnostic tests in atwo-year period, which included Sequenom’s revolutionary noninvasive prenatal test for Down syndrome. Earlier in his career he worked for approximately ten years in public accounting, primarily with Arthur Andersen LLP, where he worked with a variety of clients assisting with attestation and periodic reporting requirements,

public offerings and acquisitions. He graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and International Business and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Kelly Culwell, M.D.Dr. Kelly Culwell is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist with over 16 years specializing in women’s health and contraceptive research. She has served as our Chief Medical Officer since January 2018 and has served as Evofem Operations’ Chief Medical Officer since April 2015. Prior to joining Evofem Biosciences, she was a trainer Merck and maintained an academic clinical practice as the Director of Family Planning and Associate Clinical Professor at University of California, Davis. She previously served as a Medical Officer with the World Health Organization where she developed global guidelines for clinical practice and is widely published in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Culwell received a Bachelor’s of Science from California Lutheran University, a Medical Doctorate from the University of California, Davis and a Masters of Public Health from Northwestern University. She completed her post-graduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of California San Diego and her Family Planning Fellowship at Northwestern University. Dr. Culwell maintains appointments as Volunteer Assistant Clinical Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, Davis and San Diego campuses. She is qualified as a Diplomat from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Russ BarransRuss Barrans has served as our Chief Commercial Officer since January 2018 and has served as Evofem Operations’ Chief Commercial Officer since 2016. Mr. Barrans has over 25 years in the women’s healthcare pharmaceuticals and biotechnology space. As the Chief Commercial Officer, he is responsible for the commercial launch and lifecycle management of the Evofem Biosciences product portfolio, oversees manufacturing and supply chain, and provides executive leadership to the sales and marketing team. Prior to joining Evofem Biosciences, Mr. Barrans was the Senior Director of Women’s Healthcare Marketing for TEVA Pharmaceuticals. With significant tenure in life sciences and pharmaceutical companies, he has held senior level positions at global and domestic companies including Bayer Healthcare and Wyeth Pfizer (formerly Wyeth), as well as, being Chief Executive Officer of FusionRx, a strategic consulting firm servicing biotech and pharmaceutical brands of which Russ was the founding partner. He has overseen directed the launch of over half a dozen brands worldwide including the launch of Mirena®, and Plan BOne-Step® OTC. He graduated from California Coast University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and holds an MBA from California Coast University. Mr. Barrans is an Accredited Pharmaceutical Manufactures Representative of Canada in General Healthcare and Oncology, and has earned his certification as a Business Coach from Brian Tracy International.

Alexander A. Fitzpatrick, Esq.Alexander A. Fitzpatrick has served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since January 2018 and as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Evofem Operations since October 2017. He is responsible for the Company’s corporate governance, guidelines are designedlegal, corporate development, intellectual property and risk management functions. Prior to joining Evofem, Mr. Fitzpatrick served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Compliance Officer and Secretary of Verenium Corporation, a publicly traded biotechnology company. Prior to that, Mr. Fitzpatrick served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Kintera, Inc., a publicly traded technology company. Following the sale of Kintera, Mr. Fitzpatrick continued to serve in a similar position for a major division of Blackbaud, Inc. Prior to that, as a member of the business, corporate and technology departments with the law firms Cooley LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego, and Rogers & Wells LLP (now Clifford Chance) in London, Mr. Fitzpatrick represented pharmaceutical and other technology companies, investment banks and venture capitalists in a variety of transactions including numerous collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property matters, licensing and financing activity. Mr. Fitzpatrick received a B.S. in mathematics from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Prior to the Merger and as of December 31, 2017, our named executive officers, which consisted of our principal executive officer and our only other executive officer were:

Susan A. Knudson, Former Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer; and

Maria Feldman, Vice President, Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance.

We have also included the principal executive officer and the two most highly compensated officers of Evofem Operations during 2017 below:

Saundra Pelletier, Chief Executive Officer(1)

Justin J. File, Chief Financial Officer(1)

Kelly Culwell, M.D., Chief Medical Officer(1)

(1)Pursuant to the closing of the Merger, this individual became an executive officer of the Company in January 2018.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes information concerning the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid for services rendered in all capacities by our named executive officers and the principal executive officer and two most highly compensated officers of Evofem Operations during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As our management team transitions from operating a private company to operating a publicly traded company, our Compensation Committee will evaluate our compensation practices, philosophy and arrangements to ensure effective corporate governancealignment with our structure and the roles of the executives as they relate to managing and oversight of a public company. The compensation described in this table does not include medical or other benefits that are available generally to all our salaried employees:

Name and Principal Position

  Year Ended
December 31,
   Salary ($)   Bonus ($)   Option
Awards
(1)(2) ($)
  All Other
Compensation ($)
  Total ($) 

Susan A. Knudson

   2017    317,000    190,200    130,102(3)   1,010(4)   638,312 

Former Chief Financial Officer

   2016    281,197    59,052    19,170(5)   1,010(4)   360,429 

Maria Feldman

   2017    273,980    136,995    197,794(6)   539(7)   609,308 

FormerVice President, Clinical Research, Operations, Regulatory and Quality

   2016    243,000    46,550    10,650(8)   539(7)   300,739 

Saundra Pelletier

   2017    731,364    922,700    —     810(9)   1,654,874 

Chief Executive Officer

   2016    588,527    201,562    1,477,691(10)   1,621(9)   2,269,401 

Justin J. File

   2017    562,373    306,750    —     810(11)   869,933 

Chief Financial Officer

   2016    478,113    163,281    822,510(12)   1,185(11)   1,465,089 

Kelly Culwell, M.D.

   2017    428,650    123,600    —     540(13)   552,790 

Chief Medical Officer

   2016    425,275    90,000    274,170(14)   675(13)   790,120 

(1)Amounts listed in this column for Ms. Knudson and Ms. Feldman represent the aggregate fair value of the option awards computed as of the grant date of each option award in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification No. 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, or FASB ASC Topic 718, rather than amounts paid to or realized by the named individual. There can be no assurance that options will be exercised (in which case no value will be realized by the individual) or that the value on exercise will approximate the fair value as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in the valuation of these awards are set forth in Note 6 to our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, which are included in our Annual Report on Form10-K and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)Amounts listed in this column for Ms. Pelletier, Mr. File and Dr. Culwell represent the aggregate fair value of Evofem Operations option awards computed as of the grant date of each option award in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, rather than amounts paid to or realized by the named individual. The fair value of the stock-based payments for these awards was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model based on the following weighted-average assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2016:

Expected volatility

89.2

Risk-free interest rate

1.3

Expected dividend yield

0.0

Expected term (years)

5.6

There can be no assurance that options will be exercised (in which case no value will be realized by the individual) or that the value on exercise will approximate the fair value as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(3)In March 2017, Ms. Knudson received options to purchase up to 16,666 shares of the Company’s common stock with a performance-based vesting schedule, all of which were vested by December 31, 2017. In June 2017, Ms. Knudson received options to purchase up to 10,832 shares of the Company’s common stock with atwo-year vesting schedule.

(4)All Other Compensation for Ms. Knudson in 2017 and 2016 includes premiums paid for group term life insurance of $1,010.
(5)In February 2016, Ms. Knudson received an option to purchase up to 7,500 shares of the Company’s common stock with a four-year vesting schedule.
(6)In March 2017, Ms. Feldman received options to purchase up to 15,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with a performance-based vesting schedule, all of which were vested on December 31, 2017. In June 2017, Ms. Feldman received options to purchase up to 23,332 shares of the Company’s common stock with atwo-year vesting schedule.
(7)All Other Compensation for Ms. Feldman in 2017 and 2016 includes premiums paid for group term life insurance of $539.
(8)In February 2016, Ms. Feldman received an option to purchase up to 4,166 shares of the Company’s common stock with a four-year vesting schedule.
(9)All Other Compensation for Ms. Pelletier in 2017 and 2016 includes premiums paid for group term life insurance of $810 and $1,621, respectively.
(10)On September 28, 2016, Ms. Pelletier received (i) options to purchase up to 750,000 and 500,000 shares of Evofem Operations common stock with a three-year vesting schedule and a four-year vesting schedule, respectively, pursuant to which the unvested shares under each option grant agreement will become fully vested and exercisable upon a “change in control” (as defined in the agreements) and (ii) a fully vested option to purchase up to 389,404 shares of Evofem Operations common stock. Each such option has been exchanged for an option to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, equal to approximately 0.1540 multiplied by the number of Evofem Operations common stock issuable upon the exercise of the option to purchase shares of Evofem Operations common stock, on the same terms, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
(11)All Other Compensation for Mr. File in 2017 and 2016 includes premiums paid for group term life insurance of $810 and $1,185, respectively.
(12)On September 28, 2016, Mr. File received options to purchase up to 500,000 and 400,000 shares of Evofem Operations common stock with a three-year vesting schedule and a four-year vesting schedule, respectively, pursuant to which the unvested shares under each option grant agreement will become fully vested and exercisable upon a “change in control” (as defined in the agreements). Each such option has been exchanged for an option to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, equal to approximately 0.1540 multiplied by the number of Evofem Operations common stock issuable upon the exercise of the option to purchase shares of Evofem Operations common stock, on the same terms, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
(13)All Other Compensation for Dr. Culwell in 2017 and 2016 includes premiums paid for group term life insurance of $540 and $675, respectively.
(14)On September 28, 2016, Dr. Culwell received an option to purchase up to 300,000 shares of Evofem Operations common stock with a three-year vesting schedule, pursuant to which the unvested shares under such option grant agreement will become fully vested and exercisable upon a “change in control” (as defined in the agreement), and such option has been exchanged for an option to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, equal to approximately 0.1540 multiplied by the number of Evofem Operations common stock issuable upon the exercise of the option to purchase shares of Evofem Operations common stock, on the same terms, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

The exchange ratios noted above were adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split.

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

Employment, Severance and Separation Agreements

Susan A. Knudson Employment Agreement and Golden Parachute Compensation

On October 15, 2014, the Company entered into an executive employment agreement with Ms. Knudson which provided that, if Ms. Knudson was terminated by us without cause or if she resigned for good reason, she was entitled to a severance package consisting of (a) a payment equal to six months of her then in effect base salary payable in accordance with our regular payroll cycle beginning on the first regular payday occurring 60 days following the termination date and (b) payment by us of the premiums required to continue Ms. Knudson’s group health coverage for a period of six months following termination.

On January 31, 2018, after the Merger, Ms. Knudson’s employment with us was terminated, pursuant to the Separation and Release Agreement entered into by the Company and Ms. Knudson on January 17, 2018, which provided that in the event that Ms. Knudson was terminated within 12 months following a change in control, she was entitled to a severance package consisting of (a) a lump sum payment equal to $317,000, or 12 months of her then in effect base salary,

(b) payment by us of the premiums required to continue Ms. Knudson’s group health coverage for a period of 12 months following termination, valued at $24,939 and (c) full acceleration of all unvested equity awards under the 2007 Stock Plan and 2014 Plan, which had an intrinsic value of $11,344. Ms. Knudson was also entitled to receive a $150,000 cash bonus in connection with the consummation of the Merger, as approved the board of directors in July 2017. The exercise period for all options held by Ms. Knudson was extended to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the stock option pursuant to its terms or (ii) March 31, 2019.

Maria Feldman Compensation and Severance and Separation Agreement

On February 28, 2014, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Maria Feldman and on February 15, 2018, Ms. Feldman’s employment with us was terminated. Pursuant to the Separation and Release Agreement entered into by the Company and Ms. Feldman on February 6, 2018, upon Ms. Feldman’s termination without cause following the Merger, which constituted a change of control, she was entitled to a severance package consisting of (a) a lump sum payment equal to $136,990, or six (6) months of her then in effect base salary, (b) payment by us of the premiums required to continue Ms. Feldman’s group health coverage for a period of six (6) months following termination, valued at $8,326 and (c) full acceleration of all unvested equity awards under the 2007 Stock Plan and 2014 Plan, which had an intrinsic value of $2,575. The exercise period for all options held by Ms. Feldman was extended to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the stock option pursuant to its terms or (ii) March 31, 2019.

Pelletier, File and Culwell Evofem Operations Employment and Severance Arrangements

Saundra Pelletier

Ms. Pelletier’s employment with the Company isat-will and she is party to a Severance Agreement, dated April 27, 2015, by and between Evofem Operations and Ms. Pelletier, or the Pelletier Severance Agreement. Ms. Pelletier is also eligible to participate in the Company’s 401K plan, to receive paid vacation each year and to participate in other benefit plans and programs generally available to the Company’s employees.

Pursuant to the terms of the Pelletier Severance Agreement, if Ms. Pelletier’s employment is terminated other than for “Cause” or “Good Reason” (as defined in the Pelletier Severance Agreement), death, or disability, then, subject to Ms. Pelletier signing and not revoking a separation and release of claims agreement, Ms. Pelletier would be entitled to receive the following, regardless of whether the termination occurs within or outside the change of control period:

an amount equal to Ms. Pelletier’s Highest Monthly Salary (as defined in the Pelletier Severance Agreement) with such amount payable in each month following the date of termination of employment for a period of 12 months.

payments for the employer share of any applicable COBRA premiums for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

Justin J. File

Mr. File’s employment with the Company isat-will and he is party to a Severance Agreement, dated November 16, 2015, by and between Evofem Operations and Mr. File, or the File Severance Agreement. Mr. File is also eligible to participate in the Company’s 401K plan, to receive paid vacation each year and to participate in other benefit plans and programs generally available to the Company’s employees.

Pursuant to the terms of the File Severance Agreement, if Mr. File’s employment is terminated other than for “Cause” or “Good Reason” (as defined in the File Severance Agreement), death, or disability, then, subject to Mr. File signing and not revoking a separation and release of claims agreement, Mr. File would be entitled to receive the following, regardless of whether the termination occurs within or outside the change of control period:

an amount equal to Mr. File’s Highest Monthly Salary (as defined in the File Severance Agreement) with such amount payable in each month following the date of termination of employment for a period of 12 months

payments for the employer share of any applicable COBRA premiums for a period of 12 months following the date of termination.

Kelly Culwell, M.D.

Dr. Culwell’s employment with the Company isat-will. Dr. Culwell is eligible to participate in the Company’s 401K plan, to receive paid vacation each year and to participate in other benefit plans and programs generally available to the Company’s employees.

The Merger did not constitute a “change in control” for the purposes of the above described Evofem Operations employment arrangements. The Evofem Operations offer letters and severance agreements described above are currently in effect and will remain in effect until amended by our board of directors.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017

The following table presents the outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2017, and includes outstanding equity awards held by the principal executive officer and the two most highly compensated executive officers of Evofem Operations as of December 31, 2017, giving retroactive effect to the Merger.

   Option Awards 
Name  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options
Exercisable(1)
  

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised

Options Unexercisable(2)

  

Option
Exercise

price

   

Option
Expiration

date

 

Susan A. Knudson

   

5,119

5,544

4,160

2,454

5,146

7,500

11,655

5,011

5,249

5,583

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

  








—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
7.32
8.05
27.45
40.74
40.74
5.82
8.58
8.58
13.62
13.62
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   








2/11/2020
2/6/2024
7/17/2024
2/10/2025
2/10/2025
2/4/2026
3/2/2027
3/2/2027
6/22/2027
6/22/2027
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Maria Feldman

   

3,583

2,454

545

4,166

11,655

3,345

4,724

18,608

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

(3) 

  






—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
8.05
40.74
40.74
5.82
8.58
8.58
13.62
13.62
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   






3/10/2024
2/10/2025
2/10/2025
2/4/2026
3/2/2027
3/2/2027
3/22/2027
3/22/2027
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saundra Pelletier

   

6,719

9,994

10,821

4,009

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

  

—  
—  
8,428

8,824

 
 
(6)  

(7) 

 $
$
$
$
79.87
46.36
46.36
46.36
 
 
 
 
   


6/3/2023
9/28/2026
9/28/2026
9/28/2026
 
 
 
 

Justin J. File

   

7,209

3,205

(8) 

(9) 

  

5,624

7,061

(8) 

(9) 

 $
$
46.36
46.36
 
 
   
9/28/2026
9/28/2026
 
 

Kelly Culwell, M.D.

   4,322(10)   3,377(10)  $46.36    9/28/2016 

(1)The number of shares under the option that have vested.
(2)The number of shares under the option that have not vested.
(3)Pursuant to the 2014 Plan, all options issued under the 2014 Plan are immediately exercisable regardless of whether they have vested.
(4)The share numbers and exercise prices reflected are those of options issued to the executive upon completion of the Merger in January 2018. These options were issued upon completion of the Merger in exchange for options to purchase 261,784 shares of Evofem Operations common stock, which were fully vested upon grant, at an exercise price of $2.05 per share awarded to the executive by Evofem Operations in 2013.
(5)

The share numbers and exercise prices reflected are those of options issued to the executive upon completion of the Merger in January 2018. These options were issued upon completion of the Merger in exchange for options to

purchase 389,404 shares of Evofem Operations common stock, which were fully vested upon grant, at an exercise price of $1.19 per share awarded to the executive by Evofem Operations in 2016.
(6)The share numbers and exercise prices reflected are those of options issued to the executive upon completion of the Merger in January 2018. These options were issued upon completion of the Merger in exchange for options to purchase 750,000 shares of Evofem Operations common stock at an exercise price of $1.19 per share awarded to the executive by Evofem Operations in 2016. Twenty-five percent of the award vested upon grant and the remaining 75% vests monthly over three years.
(7)The share numbers and exercise prices reflected are those of options issued to the executive upon completion of the Merger in January 2018. These options were issued upon completion of the Merger in exchange for options to purchase 500,000 shares of Evofem Operations common stock, which vests over four years, with 25% vesting after one year and the remaining vesting monthly, at an exercise price of $1.19 per share awarded to the executive by Evofem Operations in 2016.
(8)The share numbers and exercise prices reflected are those of options issued to the executive upon completion of the Merger in January 2018. These options were issued upon completion of the Merger in exchange for options to purchase 500,000 shares of Evofem Operations common stock at an exercise price of $1.19 per share awarded to the executive by Evofem Operations in 2016. Twenty-five percent of the award vested upon grant and the remaining 75% vests monthly over three years.
(9)The share numbers and exercise prices reflected are those of options issued to the executive upon completion of the Merger in January 2018. These options were issued upon completion of the Merger in exchange for options to purchase 400,000 shares of Evofem Operations common stock, which vests over four years, with 25% vesting after one year and the remaining vesting monthly, at an exercise price of $1.19 per share awarded to the executive by Evofem Operations in 2016.
(10)The share numbers and exercise prices reflected are those of options issued to the executive upon completion of the Merger in January 2018. These options were issued upon completion of the Merger in exchange for options to purchase 300,000 shares of Evofem Operations Common stock at an exercise price of $1.19 per share awarded to the executive by Evofem Operations in 2016. Twenty-five percent of the award vested upon grant and the remaining 75% vests monthly over three years.

Employee Benefit and Equity Incentive Plans

Stock Compensation Plans

The Company initially adopted the 2007 Plan in March 2007, under which 211,893 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance to employees,non-employee directors, and consultants of the Company. Our corporate governance guidelines cover topicsThe Company ceased granting any additional awards under our 2007 Plan, and presently grants equity awards under the 2014 Plan.

On September 15, 2014, our board of directors adopted, and our stockholders approved, the 2014 Plan. The 2014 Plan provides incentives that will assist us to attract, retain, and motivate employees, including but not limitedofficers, consultants, and directors. We may provide these incentives through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares, and units and other cash-based or share-based awards. In addition, the 2014 Plan contains a mechanism through which we may adopt a deferred compensation arrangement in the future.

A total of 166,666 shares of our common stock was initially authorized and reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, and, as of February 28, 2018, a total of 458,586 shares of our common stock were reserved and available for issuance under the 2014 Plan. If Proposal No. 2 is approved, a total of 5,300,000 shares of our common stock will be reserved and available for issuance under the 2014 Plan. Per the terms of the 2014 Plan (as currently in effect and as proposed to director qualification criteria, director compensation, director orientationbe amended and continuing education, communications from stockholdersrestated), this reserve will automatically increase on each January 1 through 2024, by an amount equal to the Board, succession planningsmaller of:

4% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31; and

an amount determined by our board of directors.

Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of authorized shares and other numerical limits in the 2014 Plan and in outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights in the event of a stock split or other change in our capital structure. Shares subject to awards which expire or are cancelled or forfeited will again become available for issuance under the 2014 Plan.

The 2014 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of our board of directors. Pursuant to the provisions of the 2014 Plan, the Compensation Committee determines, in its discretion, the persons to whom and the annual evaluationstimes at which awards are granted, the sizes of such awards and all of their terms and conditions. The Compensation Committee has the authority to construe and interpret the terms of the Board2014 Plan and awards granted under it. The 2014 Plan provides, subject to certain limitations, for indemnification by us of any director, officer, or employee against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any legal action arising from such person’s action or failure to act in administering the 2014 Plan.

In the event of a change in control as described in the 2014 Plan, the acquiring or successor entity may assume or continue all or any awards outstanding under the 2014 Plan or substitute substantially equivalent awards. The Compensation Committee may provide for the acceleration of vesting of any or all outstanding awards upon such terms and to such extent as it determines, except that the vesting of all awards held by members of the board of directors who are not employees will automatically be accelerated in full upon a change in control. Any award held by a participant whose service has not terminated prior to a change in control that is not assumed, continued, or substituted for in connection with a change in control or are not exercised or settled prior to the change in control will terminate effective as of the time of the change in control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in an award agreement governing any award, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, any award that is not assumed, continued, or substituted for in connection with a change in control shall, subject to the provisions of applicable law, become fully vested and exercisable and/or settleable as of a date prior to, but conditioned upon, the consummation of the change in control. The 2014 Plan also authorizes the Compensation Committee, in its committees. Our corporate governance guidelinesdiscretion and without the consent of any participant, to cancel each or any outstanding award denominated in shares upon a change in control in exchange for a payment to the participant with respect to each vested share subject to the cancelled award (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Compensation Committee) of an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the consideration to be paid per share of common stock in the change in control transaction over the exercise price per share, if any, under the award. The vesting schedules of all outstanding options of the Company, excluding any shares issuable pursuant to the assumed equity incentive plan of Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan, were fully accelerated in connection with the Merger and termination of employment or service arrangement with the Company.

The 2014 Plan will continue in effect until it is terminated, provided, however, that all awards will be reviewed regularlygranted, if at all, within ten years of its effective date. The Compensation Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the 2014 Plan at any time, provided that without stockholder approval, the 2014 Plan cannot be amended to increase the number of shares authorized, change the class of persons eligible to receive incentive stock options, or effect any other change that would require stockholder approval under any applicable law or listing rule.

Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan

The Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan was assumed by the NominatingCompany in connection with the Merger and Corporate Governance Committee and revised when appropriate. The full textshares of Evofem Operations common stock issuable pursuant to options previously granted under the Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan became options to purchase our common stock upon completion of the Merger. No new awards may be granted under the Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan. As of February 28, 2018, a total of 159,325 shares of our corporate governance guidelines is accessible tocommon stock were reserved for issuance upon the public at www.neothetics.com. A printed copy may also be obtained by any stockholder upon request.exercise of outstanding options under the Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan.

Code of Business ConductPerquisites, Health and EthicsRetirement Benefits

Health, Welfare and Retirement Benefits

Our Board adopted a code of business conductnamed executive officers and ethicsthe Evofem Operations officers listed above are eligible to ensure that our business is conductedparticipate in a consistently legal and ethical manner. The code of business conduct and ethics establishes policies pertaining to, among other things, employee conduct in the workplace, securities trading, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, reporting violations and compliance procedures. Allall of our employees,employee benefit plans, including our executive officers,medical, dental, vision, group life and disability insurance plans, in each case on the same basis as wellother employees.

Director Compensation

The following table sets forth the compensation (cash and equity) received by ournon-employee directors and the Evofem Operationsnon-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2017. Ms. Demski, Mr. Gorbachev, and Mr. Nugent resigned as members of our Board, are requiredboard of directors on January 17, 2018, in connection with the Merger. Each of Dr. Greer, Dr. Hall, Mr. Lynch, Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Rutherford received options to comply with our codepurchase shares of business conductcommon stock

outside of the Amended and ethics. The full textRestatedNon-Employee Director Compensation Policy (described below) in March 2018 and were not awarded options to purchase shares of our code of business conduct and ethics is accessiblecommon stock upon their initial appointment to the public at www.neothetics.com. A printed copy may also be obtained by any stockholderboard of directors upon request. Any waivercompletion of the codeMerger in January 2018.

Name

  Fees Earned or
Paid

in Cash ($)
   Option Awards
($)(1)(2)
   All other
Compensation ($)
   Totals ($) 

Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.

   67,500    68,853    —      136,353 

Maxim Gorbachev

   43,500    11,683    —      55,183 

Martha J. Demski

   58,500    68,853    —      127,353 

Jeffrey M. Nugent

   52,500    68,853    —      121,353 

Thomas Lynch(3)(4)

   60,000    —      640,000    700,000 

Colin Rutherford(3)

   65,402    24,891    —      90,293 

(1)With respect to awardsgranted to Dr. Kamdar, Mr. Gorbachev, Ms. Demski and Mr. Nugent, amounts listed in this column represent the aggregate fair value of the option awards computed as of the grant date of each option award in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, rather than amounts paid to or realized by the named individual. There can be no assurance that options will be exercised (in which case no value will be realized by the individual) or that the value on exercise will approximate the fair value as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in the valuation of these awards are set forth in Note 6 to our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, which are included in our Annual Report onForm 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(2)With respect to an award granted to Mr. Rutherford, amounts listed in this column present the aggregate fair value of the Evofem Operations option awards on the issuance date of these awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, rather than amounts paid to or realized by Mr. Rutherford. The fair value of the stock-based payments for Mr. Rutherford’s award was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model based on the following weighted-average assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2017:

Expected volatility

91.2

Risk-free interest rate

2.2

Expected dividend yield

0.0

Expected term (years)

5.7

There can be no assurance that options will be exercised (in which case no value will be realized by the individual) or that the value on exercise will approximate the fair value as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(3)Pursuant to the closing of the Merger as described within this proxy statement, this individual became a director of the Company in January 2018, and the amounts reported for this individual, if applicable, represent equity awarded for services rendered to Evofem Operations.
(4)Mr. Lynch’s fees earned include $60,000 payable as board fees under his Consulting Agreement. Mr. Lynch’s other compensation consists of $290,000 in consulting fees payable under his Consulting Agreement and a $350,000 bonus earned by Mr. Lynch in connection with consulting services provided during 2017. Mr. Lynch did not receive an equity award in 2017 in his capacity as a member of Evofem Operation’s board of directors.

In June 2015, our board of business conductdirectors approved a compensation policy for ournon-employee directors to adjust compensation based upon current market rates. This policy remained in effect for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and ethicsprovided the following compensation:

Eachnon-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $35,000 per year.

The Lead Independent Director will receive an additional annual cash retainer in the amount of $17,500 per year.

The chairperson of the audit committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $15,000 per year for our executive officerssuch chairperson’s service on the audit committee. Eachnon-chairperson member of the audit committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $7,500 per year for such member’s service on the audit committee.

The chairperson of the compensation committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 per year for such chairperson’s service on the compensation committee. Eachnon-

chairperson member of the compensation committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $5,000 per year for such member’s service on the compensation committee.

The chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $7,500 per year for such chairperson’s service on the nominating and corporate governance committee. Eachnon-chairperson member of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $3,500 per year for such member’s service on the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Eachnon-employee directors will receive a stock option grant with an initial grant equal to a cash value of $125,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock upon a director’s initial appointment or election to the board of directors, must be approved by our Board after receivingvesting quarterly over a recommendation from our Audit Committee. We will disclose future amendments or waiversthree-year period and an annual stock option grant equal to our codea cash value of business conduct and ethics$65,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock on our website, www.neothetics.com, within four business days following the date of each annual stockholder’s meeting thereafter, fully vesting in one year from the amendment or waiver.


date of grant.

Stockholder Recommendations for Director Nominees

In nominating candidatesJanuary 2018, our Board amended ourNon-Employee Director Compensation Policy to provide the compensation set forth below:

Eachnon-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $50,000 per year.

The Chairman of the Board will receive an additional annual cash retainer in the amount of $17,500 per year.

The chairperson of the Audit Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 per year for election as a director,such chairperson’s service on the Audit Committee. Eachnon-chairperson member of the Audit Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $5,000 per year for such member’s service on the Audit Committee.

The chairperson of the Compensation Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 per year for such chairperson’s service on the Compensation Committee. Eachnon-chairperson member of the Compensation Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $5,000 per year for such member’s service on the Compensation Committee.

The chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider a reasonable numberreceive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of candidates$7,500 per year for director recommended by a single stockholder who has held over 0.1% of our common stock for over one year and who satisfies the notice, information and consent provisions set forth in our Bylaws and corporate governance guidelines. Stockholders who wish to recommend a candidate may do so by writing tosuch chairperson’s service on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of the Corporate Secretary, Neothetics, Inc., 9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, San Diego, CA 92122. For more information about the specific requirements relating to stockholder proposals, see “How do I make a stockholder proposal or nominate an individual to serve as a director for next year’s annual meeting of stockholders?” above. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will use the same evaluation process for director nominees recommended by stockholders as it uses for other director nominees.

Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regularly assesses the appropriate size and composition of the Board, the needs of the Board and the respective committees of the Board, and the qualifications of candidates in light of these needs. Candidates may come to the attentionCommittee. Eachnon-chairperson member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee through stockholders, management, current memberswill receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of the Board, or search firms. The evaluation of these candidates may be based solely upon information provided to$3,500 per year for such member’s service on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or may also include discussionsCommittee.

Eachnon-employee director will receive a stock option grant with persons familiar with the candidate, an interviewinitial grant equal to a cash value of the candidate, or other actions the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems appropriate, including the use of third parties to review candidates.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

We have a policy of encouraging all of our directors to attend each annual meeting of stockholders.

Role of Board$180,000 in Risk Oversight Process

Our Board of Directors’ role in risk oversight includes receiving reports from members of management regarding material risks faced by us and applicable mitigation strategies and activities, at least on a quarterly basis. The reports cover the critical areas of operations, sales and marketing, technology, and legal and financial affairs. Our Board of Directors and its committees consider these reports, discuss matters with management and identify and evaluate strategic or operational risks, and determine appropriate initiatives to address those risks.

STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS

Any stockholder who desires to contact any member of the Board or management can write to:

Neothetics, Inc.

Attn: Investor Relations

9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270

San Diego, CA 92122

or send an e-mail to ir@neothetics.com

Your letter should indicate that you are a stockholder of the Company. Comments or questions regarding the Company’s accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will be referred to members of the Audit Committee. Comments or questions regarding the nomination of directors and other corporate governance matters will be referred to members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. For all other matters, our investor relations personnel will, depending on the subject matter:

·

forward the communication to the director or directors to whom it is addressed;

·

forward the communication to the appropriate management personnel;

·

attempt to handle the inquiry directly, for example where it is a request for information about the Company, or it is a stock related matter; or

·

not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature or if it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic.


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of our common stock as of April 21, 2016 (or such other date as provided below) based on information available to us and filings with the SEC by (a) each person known to the Company to own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (b) each directorupon a director’s initial appointment or election to our board of directors, vesting quarterly over a three-year period and nominee for directoran annual stock option grant equal to a cash value of the Company, (c) our Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and each other named executive officer, and (d) all of our directors and executive officers as a group. Each stockholder’s percentage ownership is based on 13,799,196$90,000 in shares of our common stock outstandingon the date of each annual stockholder’s meeting thereafter, beginning in 2018, fully vesting in one year from the date of grant.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides certain aggregate information with respect to all of our equity compensation plans in effect as of April 21, 2016. The information in this table is based solely on statements in filings with the SEC or other reliable information.December 31, 2017:

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)

 

Shares Beneficially Owned

 

 

 

Number(2)

 

 

Percentage

 

5% or Greater Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entities affiliated with Domain Partners(3)

One Palmer Square

Princeton, NJ 08542

 

 

3,139,668

 

 

 

22.75

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMI Investments S.à.r.l.(4)

7, rue Robert Stümper

L-2557 Luxembourg

 

 

1,585,549

 

 

 

11.49

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ervington Investments Limited (5)

Chrysanthou Mylona, 3030 Limassol

Cyprus

 

 

1,349,740

 

 

 

9.78

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alta Partners VIII, L.P.(6)

One Embarcadero Center, 37th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

 

 

1,198,195

 

 

 

8.68

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors and Named Executive Officers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.(3)

 

 

3,176,058

 

 

 

23.02

%

Maxim Gorbachev(4)

 

 

1,621,939

 

 

 

11.75

%

Martha J. Demski(7)

 

 

36,390

 

 

*

 

Jeffrey M. Nugent(8)

 

 

10,179

 

 

*

 

George W. Mahaffey(9)

 

 

387,927

 

 

 

2.81

%

Susan A. Knudson(10)

 

 

179,554

 

 

 

1.30

%

All directors and named executive officers as a group (6 persons)(11)

 

 

5,412,047

 

 

 

39.22

%

Plan Category

  Number of Securities
to be
Issued Upon Exercise
of

Awards (a)
  Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Awards
   Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for

Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (excluding
securities

reflected in column (a))
 

Equity compensation plans approved by Stockholders(1)

   407,058 (2)  $30.98    536,370 (3) 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total:

   407,058  $30.98    536,370 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 *

Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

(1)

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o Neothetics, Inc., 9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, San Diego, CA 92122.

(2)

Beneficial ownership of shares and percentage ownership are determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In calculatingThis table does not include the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual or entityissuable upon exercise of issued and outstanding awards under the percentage ownershipEvofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan. No new awards may be issued under the Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan. As of that individual or entity, shares underlying stock options held by that individual or entity that are either currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days from April 21, 2016 are deemed outstanding. Our standard formFebruary 28, 2018, a total of award agreement under our Amended and Restated 2007 Stock Plan, or the 2007 Plan, provides that the participants may exercise all vested and unvested options. Therefore, we have included the entire amount of shares underlying each of the options held by our directors and named executive officers in the table. These shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other individual or entity. Unless otherwise indicated and subject to community property laws where applicable, the individuals and entities named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all159,325 shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.

were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options under the Evofem Operations Equity Incentive Plan with a weighted average exercise price of $56.72 per share.

(3(2))

ConsistsIncludes our 2007 Plan and the 2014 Plan.

(3)As of (1) 3,091,643December 31, 2017, an aggregate of 366,249 shares of common stock ownedwere available for grant under the 2014 Plan and an aggregate of 95,741 shares were available for issuance under 2014 ESPP. The 2014 Plan contains a provision for an automatic increase in the number of shares available for grant each January 1st until and including January 1, 2024, subject to certain limitations, by Domain Partners VII, L.P., (2) 48,025a number of shares equal to the lesser of 4% of the number of shares of our common stock ownedissued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or a number of shares set by DP VII Associates, L.Pour board of directors. The ESPP contains a provision for an automatic increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP each January 1st and optionsincluding January 1, 2024, subject to purchase (3) 36,390certain limitations, by a number of shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2016. One Palmer Square Associates VII, LLC, or One Palmer Square, is the general partner of Domain Partners VII and DP VII Associates. The managing members of One Palmer Square are James Blair, Kathleen Schoemaker, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey and Nicole Vitullo. Each of James Blair, Kathleen Schoemaker, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey and Nicole Vitullo share voting and investment power with respectequal to the securities held by Domain Partners VII and DP VII Associates. The managing memberslesser of Domain Associates are James Blair, Kathleen Schoemaker, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey, Nicole Vitullo, Brian Halak and Kim P. Kamdar. Each of James Blair, Kathleen Schoemaker, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey, Nicole Vitullo, Brian Halak and Kim P. Kamdar share voting and investment power with respect to the securities held by Domain Associates. Each of James Blair, Kathleen Schoemaker, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey and Nicole Vitullo disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by Domain Partners VI and DP VI Associates except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein, if any. Each of James Blair, Kathleen Schoemaker, Jesse Treu, Brian Dovey, Nicole Vitullo, Brian Halak, Kim P. Kamdar and Dennis Podlesak disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by Domain Associates except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein, if any. Dr. Kamdar is a member1% of our Board of Directors.

(4)

Consists of (1) 1,585,549 shares held by RMI Investments S.à.r.l. (“RMI Investments”) and options to purchase (2) 36,390 shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2016 held by Mr. Gorbachev. RMI LLC, the parent company of RMI Investments, and RMI Partners LLC, the management company of RMI LLC, may be deemed to beneficially own such shares. Mr. Gorbachev is a managing director at RMI Partners LLC and may be deemed to beneficially own such shares. Vladimir Gurdus is the general director of RMI Partners LLC and may be deemed to beneficially own such shares. Each of Messrs. Gorbachev and Gurdus share voting and investment power with respect to the securities held by RMI Investments. Each of RMI LLC, RMI Partners LLC, Mr. Gorbachev and Mr. Gurdus disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interest therein, if any. Mr. Gorbachev is a member of our Board of Directors.

(5)

The foregoing information is based solely upon information contained in a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on January 13, 2016 filed by Ervington Investments Limited. Consists of 1,349,740 shares of common stock heldissued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or a number of recordshares set by Ervington Investments Limited. Ervington Investments Limited, Greenleas International Holdings Ltd., and Harmony Trust Settlement all share voting and investment powers with respect to the shares held by Ervington Investments Limited.

our board of directors.

(6)

The foregoing information is based solely upon information contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 12, 2016 filed by Alta Partners VIII, L.P. Consists of 1,198,195 shares of common stock held of record by Alta Partners VIII, L.P. Alta Partners Management VIII, LLC is the general partner of Alta Partners VIII, L.P. Guy Nohra, Daniel Janney and Farah Champsi are managing directors of Alta Partners Management VIII, LLC and share voting and investment powers with respect to the shares held by Alta Partners VIII, L.P. Each of the reporting persons disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of their proportionate pecuniary interest therein, if any.

(7)

Represents options to purchase 36,390 shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2016.

(8)

Represents options to purchase 10,179 shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2016.

(9)

Represents options to purchase 386,927 shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2016 and 1,000 shares of common stock.

(10)

Represents options to purchase 179,554 shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2016.

(11)

Shares beneficially include options to purchase 685,830 shares currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 21, 2016 and 4,726,217 shares of common stock.

REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists entirely of directors who meet the independence and experience requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market, has furnished the following report:

The Audit Committee assists the Board in overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our financial reporting process, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the quality of internal and external audit processes. This committee’s role and responsibilities are set forth in our charter adopted by the Board, which is available on our website at www.evofem.com. The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses our charter annually and recommends any changes to the Board for approval. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing our overall financial reporting process, and for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of independent registered public accountants. In fulfilling its responsibilities for the financial statements for fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Audit Committee took the following actions:

 


Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 with management and Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2017;

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed in accordance with Auditing StandardNo. 16-Communications with Audit Committees; and

Set forth below are

Received written disclosures and the name, age, position, and a brief accountletter from Ernst & Young LLP regarding its independence as required by applicable requirements of the business experiencePublic Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Ernst & Young LLP communications with the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee further discussed withErnst & Young LLP their independence. The Audit Committee also considered the status of eachpending litigation, taxation matters and other areas of oversight relating to the financial reporting and audit process that the committee determined appropriate.

Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the audited financial statements and discussions with management andErnst & Young LLP, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our executive officers as of April 20, 2016.Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for filing with the SEC.

 

Name

Age

Position

Susan A. Knudson

52

Chief Financial Officer

Members of the Evofem Biosciences, Inc. Audit Committee

Kenneth W. Locke,

Colin Rutherford, Chairman
Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.

59

Chief Scientific Officer

Tony O’Brien

Susan A. Knudson has served as Chief Financial Officer since July 2014. Ms. Knudson previously served as our Vice President of Finance and Administration since February 2009. Prior to joining Neothetics, Ms. Knudson served as Senior Director of Finance and Administration at Avera Pharmaceuticals from May 2002 to January 2009. Prior to May 2002, Ms. Knudson served as Director of Finance and Administration at MD Edge, Inc., a medical communications company, from October 2000 to April 2002. Prior to joining MD Edge, Ms. Knudson served as Assistant Director of Accounting at Isis Pharmaceuticals from April 2000 to October 2000. Ms. Knudson has also held senior positions at CombiChem, General Atomics and Deloitte & Touche. Ms. Knudson holds a B.A. in Accounting from the University of San Diego.

Kenneth W. Locke, Ph.D. has served as Chief Scientific Officer since May 2008. Prior to joining Neothetics, Dr. Locke worked since September 2000 at MediciNova, Inc., holding in succession the positions of Vice President, Research, Senior Vice President, Development Operations & Drug Discovery, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management, Chief Business Officer and Chief Scientific Officer. Concurrent with his service at MediciNova, Dr. Locke served as Vice President of Research at Tanabe Research Laboratories U.S.A., Inc. from July 2000 to October 2002. Prior to joining Tanabe Research Laboratories, Dr. Locke served as Manager of Behavioral Neuroscience at Interneuron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 1989 to 1999. Prior to joining Interneuron, Dr. Locke headed laboratories for analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug research as well as Alzheimer’s disease drug research at Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Locke earned a B.A. in Chemistry and French from Franklin and Marshall College and a M.S. and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Emory University School of Medicine.

The biography for our former Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mahaffey, and our former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Krochmal, appears below.

George W. Mahaffey served as our President and Chief Executive Officer from March 2011 to March 2016. Prior to joining Neothetics, Mr. Mahaffey served as Chief Executive Officer of Peplin, Inc., a dermatology company, from September 2009 to February 2010 following its acquisition by LEO Pharma A/S in 2009. Prior to its acquisition, Mr. Mahaffey served as Chief Commercial Officer and VP, Sales and Marketing of Peplin, Inc. from May 2007 to September 2009. Prior to joining Peplin, Mr. Mahaffey served as Sr. VP, Sales and Marketing for CoTherix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2004 until its acquisition by Actelion Ltd. in 2006. Prior to CoTherix, Mr. Mahaffey served as Senior Director, Marketing and Business Development at Scios, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2000 to 2004. Prior to joining Scios, Mr. Mahaffey served in the marketing group at Neurex, Inc., a biotechnology company, until its acquisition by Elan Corp. in 1998. Mr. Mahaffey began his pharmaceutical career at DuPont Pharmaceuticals where he held various sales and marketing positions. Mr. Mahaffey earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware and an MBA from the University of South Florida.

Lincoln Krochmal, M.D. served as our Chief Medical Officer from November 2013 to January 2016. Prior to joining Neothetics, from September 2010 to November 2013, Dr. Krochmal volunteered his time in peer to peer counseling with new stroke patients and their families, leading a stroke survivor group at Valley Medical Center and serving as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association and serving as a consultant in dermatology to the pharmaceutical industry. From September 2008 until October 2010, Dr. Krochmal served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Excaliard Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Pfizer, Inc. Prior to joining Excaliard, Dr. Krochmal served as Executive Vice President, Research and Product Development for Connetics Corporation, a specialty dermatology company, from 2003 until its acquisition by Stiefel Labs in 2007 and held other senior management positions at Unilever and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology, and a member of the International Society of Dermatology and the Dermatology Foundation. Dr. Krochmal received his Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree from the University of Wisconsin, his M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and his board certification in Dermatology following successful completion of the residency training program at the University of Missouri Medical Center.


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATEDRELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

In the last fiscal year, except as set forth below, there has not been nor are there currently proposed any transactions or series of similar transactions to which the Company was or is to be 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.

Indemnification Agreements and Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of us, arising out of the person’s services as a director or executive officer.

Restricted Stock and Stock Option Awards

For information regarding stock option awards and other equity incentive awards granted to our named executive officers and directors, see "Election of Directors—Director Compensation" and "Compensation of Executive Officers."

Company Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions

Our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions in which we are a participant and in which any parties related to us, including our executive officers, directors, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our securities, immediate family members of the foregoing persons, and any other persons whom our Boardboard of Directorsdirectors determines may be considered related parties, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. If advanced approval is not feasible, the Audit Committee has the authority to ratify a related party transaction at the next Audit Committee meeting. For purposes of our Audit Committee charter, a material interest is deemed to be any consideration received by such a party in excess of $120,000 per year.

In reviewing and approving such transactions, the Audit Committee shall obtain, or shall direct our management to obtain on its behalf, all information that our committee believes to be relevant and important to a review of the transaction prior to its approval. Following receipt of the necessary information, a discussion shall be held of the relevant factors if deemed to be necessary by our committee prior to approval. If a discussion is not deemed to be necessary, approval may be given by written consent of our committee. This approval authority may also be delegated to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee in respect of any transaction in which the expected amount is less than $500,000.

The Audit Committee or its Chairperson,chairperson, as the case may be, shall approve only those related party transactions that are determined to be in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of us and our stockholders, taking into account all available facts and circumstances as our committee or the Chairperson determines in good faith to be necessary. These facts and circumstances will typically include, but not be limited to, the material terms of the transaction, the nature of the related party’s interest in the transaction, the significance of the transaction to the related party and the nature of our relationship with the related party, the significance of the transaction to us, and whether the transaction would be likely to impair (or create an appearance of impairing) the judgment of a director or executive officer to act in our best interest. No member of the Audit Committee may participate in any review, consideration, or approval of any related party transaction with respect to which the member or any of his or her immediate family members is the related party, except that such member of the Audit Committee will be required to provide all material information concerning the related party transaction to the Audit Committee.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCEFinancing and the Merger

Under Section 16(a)In connection with the Merger, we issued shares of our common stock to certain investors in Evofem Operations, including funds affiliated with Invesco Ltd., at a purchase price of $12.389355 per share in the Financing. In addition, we issued shares of our common stock and, with respect to funds affiliated with Woodford Investment Management, the Post-Merger Warrants. As of February 28, 2018 and upon the closing of the ExchangeMerger, the funds affiliated with Invesco Ltd. and the funds affiliated with Woodford Asset Management each beneficially owned more than 10% of our issued and outstanding capital stock. The issuances to funds affiliated with Invesco Ltd. and to funds affiliated with Woodford Asset Management in connection with the Merger and Financing are reflected below:

Name

  Shares of
Common

Stock Issued in
the

Financing
   Shares of
Common Stock
Issued in
Connection
with

the Merger
   Warrants to
Purchase
Shares

of Common
Stock

Issued in
Connection
with

the Merger
 

Omnis Income & Growth Fund asub-fund of Omnis Portfolio Investments ICVC

   None.    171,975    50,000 

Woodford Patient Capital Trust Plc

   None.    1,672,611    475,000 

CF Woodford Equity Income Fund, a sub fund of CF Woodford Investment Fund

   None.    5,620,952    1,475,000 

Invesco Perp High Income

   375,000    3,144,366    None. 

Invesco Perp Income

   1,239,289    2,278,843    None. 

Post-Merger Voting Agreements

On January 17, 2018, the Company entered into Post-Merger Voting Agreements with funds affiliated with Woodford Investment Management, or the Voting Agreement Holders, regarding shares of our common stock then

representing more than 19.5% of the then issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, or the Threshold. The Post-Merger Voting Agreements grant us or our designee a proxy to vote on matters presented to our stockholders, or the Proxy Matters, any and all shares of our common stock held by a Voting Agreement Holder in excess of the Threshold, or the Proxy Shares. In accordance with the proxies granted to us by the Post-Merger Voting Agreements, the Proxy Shares shall be voted in the same proportions as the shares voted by all other stockholders voting on the Proxy Matters. The Post-Merger Voting Agreements may not be revoked by a Voting Agreement Holder so long as such holder holds shares of our common stock in excess of the Threshold.

Evofem Operations Series D Preferred Stock Issuance

Prior to the Merger in July 2017 and November 2017, Evofem Operations issued additional shares of its Series D Preferred Stock and warrant rights to purchase shares of its capital stock to funds affiliated with Woodford Investment Management at a purchase price of $500,000 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $10 million in a private placement transaction in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

Registration Rights Agreement

On January 17, 2018, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company is, among other things, obligated to file a registration statement with the SEC rules,within 60 days following completion of the Company’s directors, executive officersMerger. Funds affiliated with Invesco Ltd., Domain Partners and Woodford Investment Management are party to the Registration Rights Agreement. Funds affiliated with Domain Partners were beneficial owners of more than 10% of any class of equity security are required to file periodic reports of their ownership,our issued and changes in that ownership, withoutstanding common stock at the SEC. Based solely on its review of copies of reports provided to the Company pursuant to Rule 16a-3(e)time of the Exchange Act and representations of such reporting persons, the Company believes that during fiscal year 2015, such SEC filing requirements were satisfied.Merger.


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATIONELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Notice Item 1)

The following table provides certain informationBoard of Directors has nominated Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Colin Rutherford for election at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors currently consists of seven members, classified into three classes as follows: Saundra Pelletier and Thomas Lynch constitute a class with respecta term ending in 2020; Gillian Greer, Ph.D., William Hall, Ph.D., M.D. and Tony O’Brien constitute a class with a term ending in 2019; and Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Colin Rutherford constitute a class with a term which expires at the upcoming Annual Meeting. At each Annual Meeting of stockholders, directors are elected for a full term of three years to allsucceed those directors whose terms are expiring.

The Board of our equity compensation plans in effect asDirectors has voted to nominate Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Colin Rutherford for election at the Annual Meeting for a term of December 31, 2015:

Plan Category

 

Number of Securities to be

Issued Upon Exercise of

Awards

 

 

Weighted Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding Awards

 

 

Number of Securities

Remaining Available for

Future Issuance Under

Equity Compensation

Plans (excluding securities

reflected in column (a))

 

 

Equity compensation plans approved by

   stockholders

 

 

1,363,027

 

(1)

$

3.09

 

 

 

1,611,409

 

(2)

Total:

 

 

1,363,027

 

 

 

3.09

 

 

 

1,611,409

 

 

(1)

Includes our 2007 Plan and our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2014 Plan.

(2)

As of December 31, 2015, an aggregate of 1,312,734 shares of common stock were available for issuance under the 2014 Plan and an aggregate of 298,675 shares were available for grant under the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). To the extent outstanding awards under the 2007 Plan are forfeited, lapse unexercised or would otherwise have been returned to the share reserve under the 2007 Plan, the shares of common stock subject to such awards instead will be available for future issuance under the 2014 Plan. The 2014 Plan contains a provision for an automatic increase in the number of shares available for grant each January 1st until and including January 1, 2024, subject to certain limitations, by a number of shares equal to the lesser of 3% of the number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or a number of shares set by our Board.  The ESPP contains a provision for an automatic increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP each January 1st and including January 1, 2024, subject to certain limitations, by a number of shares equal to the lesser of 1% of our common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or a number of shares set by our Board.  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Our named executive officers which consistthree years to serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of our principal executive officerStockholders, and until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal. The Class II directors (Gillian Greer, Ph.D., William Hall, Ph.D., M.D. and Tony O’Brien) and the next two most highly compensated executive officers during 2015, are:

·

George W. Mahaffey, former President and Chief Executive Officer and Director; 

·

Susan A. Knudson, Chief Financial Officer; and 

·

Lincoln A. Krochmal, M.D., former Chief Medical Officer


2015 Summary Compensation TableClass III directors (Saundra Pelletier and Thomas Lynch) will serve until the Annual Meetings of Stockholders to be held in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal.

The following table summarizes information concerning the compensation awardedUnless authority to earned by, or paidvote for services rendered in all capacities by our named executive officers during the years ending December 31, 2015 and 2014. The compensation described in this table does not include medical, group life insurance, or other benefits which are available generally to all of our salaried employees.

Name and Principal Position

 

Year Ended

December 31,

 

Salary ($)

 

 

Bonus ($)

 

 

Option Awards ($)

 

 

Stock Awards ($)

 

 

All Other

Compensation ($)

 

 

Total ($)

 

George W. Mahaffey

 

2015

 

 

415,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

53,328

 

 

 

468,328

 

Former President and Chief Executive

   Officer and Director

 

2014

 

 

356,112

 

 

 

142,445

 

 

 

660,501

 

 

 

2,051,997

 

 

 

53,150

 

(1)

 

3,264,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susan A. Knudson

 

2015

 

 

275,010

 

 

 

 

 

 

137,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

918

 

(2)

 

413,640

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2014

 

 

258,769

 

 

 

80,100

 

 

 

155,767

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,336

 

(2)

 

502,972

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lincoln A. Krochmal, M.D.

 

2015

 

 

324,450

 

 

 

 

 

 

49,182

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,895

 

(3)

 

395,527

 

Former Chief Medical Officer

 

2014

 

 

315,000

 

 

 

53,550

 

 

 

529,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

898,386

 

(1)

All Other Compensation for Mr. Mahaffey in 2015 and 2014 includes (a) payments for a corporate apartment of $28,931 and $24,780, respectively, (b) payments for the lease of a company car of $7,004 and $4,062, respectively, (c) reimbursement for commuting expenses of $16,475 and $9,351, (d) premiums paid for group term life insurance of $918 and $810, respectively and (e) payout for unused vacation of $14,147 in 2014.

(2)

All Other Compensation for Mrs. Knudson in 2015 and 2014 includes (a) premiums paid for group term life insurance of $918 and $810, respectively and (b) payout for unused vacation of $7,526 in 2014.

(3)

All Other Compensation for Mr. Krochmal in 2015 includes reimbursement for commuting expenses.

Employment Arrangements

We previously entered into agreements with each of the named executive officers in connection with his or her employment with us. With the exception of his own arrangement, eachany of these employment agreements was negotiated on our behalfnominees is withheld, the shares represented by our former Chief Executive Officer, with the oversightenclosed proxy will be votedFOR the election as directors of Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and approval of our Board of Directors. In connection with the departures of Mr. Mahaffey and Dr. Krochmal, we entered into separate agreements providing for the termination of each of their employment agreements with us.  

Our executive employment agreements provided for “at will” employment and set forth the terms and conditions of employment of Susan A. Knudson, as our current named executive officer, including base salary, target annual bonus opportunity, and standard employee benefit plan participation. Our executive employment agreements were each subject to execution of our standard confidential information and invention assignment agreement.

George W. Mahaffey

We entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Mahaffey, our President and Chief Executive Officer, dated October 15, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Mr. Mahaffey’s annual base salary for 2015 was $415,000 and Mr. Mahaffey was eligible to receive an annual discretionary target bonus of up to 40% of his annual base salary, prior to December 31, 2015. On March 17, 2016 we entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Mahaffey, whereby he is entitled to a severance package consisting of a payment equal to 12 months of his 2015 base salary payable in accordance with our regular payroll cycle beginning on the first regular payday following termination, payment by us of the premiums required to continue Mr. Mahaffey’s group health coverage for a period of 12 months following termination, and 12 months accelerated vesting of any outstanding equity awards.


Susan A. Knudson

We entered into an executive employment agreement with Mrs. Knudson, our Chief Financial Officer, dated October 15, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Mrs. Knudson annual base salary for 2015 was $275,010 and Mrs. Knudson is eligible to receive an annual discretionary target bonus of up to 30% of her annual base salary.Colin Rutherford. In the event that Mrs. Knudson is terminatedeither nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve, the shares represented by us without cause or if she resigns for good reason, shethe enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of such other person as the Board of Directors may recommend in that nominee’s place. We have no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director.

Each director nominee must be elected by an affirmative vote of a plurality of shares present at the Annual Meeting and entitled to a severance package consisting of (a) a payment equal to six months of her then in effect base salary payable in accordance with our regular payroll cycle beginningvote on the first regular payday occurring 60 days following the termination date and (b) payment by uselection of the premiums required to continue Mrs. Knudson’s group health coverage for a period of six months following termination. In the event Mrs. Knudson is terminated within 12 months following a change in control, she will be entitled to the severance package described in (a) and (b)directors.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THE ELECTION OF KIM P. KAMDAR, PH.D., except that the severance payment shall be increased to 12 months and payable in a lump sum and continuation of health coverage premiums shall also be increased to 12 months, and she will receive full acceleration of all unvested equity awards under the 2007 Plan and AND COLIN RUTHERFORD AS DIRECTORS, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR THEREOF UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER HAS INDICATED OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.

APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED

2014 Plan.EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Lincoln Krochmal, M.D.(Notice Item 2)

We entered into an executive employment agreement with Dr. Krochmal, our Chief Medical Officer, dated October 15, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Dr. Krochmal’s annual base salary for 2015 is $324,450 and Dr. Krochmal was eligible to receive an annual discretionary target bonus of up to 20% of his annual base salary.  On January 21, 2016 we entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Krochmal, whereby he is entitled to a severance package consisting of a payment equal to six months of his 2015 base salary payable in accordance with our regular payroll cycle beginning on the first regular payday occurring 60 days following the termination date and payment by us of the premiums required to continue Dr. Krochmal’s group health coverage for a period of six months following termination.

Compensation Recovery PoliciesGeneral

Our Board of Directors is requesting that our stockholders approve the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan as attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement, or the Compensation Committee have not determined whether they would attempt to recover bonuses fromAmended and Restated 2014 Plan. The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan was approved by our executive officers if the performance objectives that led to the bonus determination were to be restated, or found not to have been met to the extent originally believed by the Board of Directors oron March 9, 2018 and includes an increase in the Compensation Committee. However, as a public company subject to the provisionsnumber of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, if we are required as a result of misconduct to restate our financial results due to our material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirementsauthorized shares under the federal securities laws, our CEO and chief financial officer may be legally required2014 Plan from 458,586 to reimburse us for any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation they receive. In addition, we will comply with the requirementsan aggregate of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and will adopt a compensation recovery policy once final regulations on the subject have been adopted.

Employee Benefit and Equity Incentive Plans

Stock Compensation Plans

The Company initially adopted the 2007 Plan in March 2007, under which 1,271,3605,300,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuanceand makes certain other changes to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants of the Company. Following the completion of our initial public offering, or IPO, we ceased granting any additional awards under our 2007 Plan. Instead, we will grant equity awards under our 2014 Plan Equity Incentive Plan, oras set forth in the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

With respect to options granted to employees under the 2007 Plan, in general, the options vest 25% on the first anniversary of the option’s vesting commencement date, with the remainder vesting ratably over the next thirty-six months, subject to the optionee’s continued service through each applicable vesting date. No stock purchase rights are outstanding under the 2007 Plan. The standard form of award agreement under our 2007 Plan provides that the participants may exercise all vested and unvested options, provided that the unvested options are subject to a repurchase right in favor of us which lapses based on the vesting schedule of the option award. In addition, our standard option awards provide for a “double trigger” acceleration of vesting upon certain terminations occurring within eighteen months following a termination of service after a change of control or similar transaction.

On September 15, 2014 Planwas originally approved by our Board of Directors adopted,and stockholders in September 2014. By its terms, the 2014 Plan may be amended by the Compensation Committee provided that any amendment that the Compensation Committee determines requires stockholder approval is subject to receiving such stockholder approval. Approval of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is required by the listing rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market and by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code and related regulations in order for options to employees to be issued as incentive stock options.

As of February 28, 2018, a total of 458,586 shares of our common stock remain available for issuance under the 2014 Plan; options to purchase 240,637 shares of common stock remain outstanding. As of February 28, 2018, a total of 54,528 shares of our common stock have been issued upon the exercise of options and vesting of other equity awards granted under the 2014 Plan.

Reasons for the Amendment and Restatement of the 2014 Plan

Our Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee and management believe that the effective use of stock-based long-term incentive compensation is vital to our ability to achieve strong performance in the future. As our management team transitions from operating a private company to operating a publicly traded company, our Compensation Committee, in connection with its evaluation of our compensation practices and after discussions with our advisors, has determined it to be in the best interest of the Company and our stockholders approved,to adopt the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. We intend to use theThe Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will maintain and enhance the key policies and practices adopted by our Board of Directors to align employee and stockholder interests and to link compensation to Company performance. In addition, our future success depends, in large part, upon our ability to maintain a competitive position in attracting, retaining and motivating key personnel. We believe that the increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan is essential to permit our management to continue to provide long-term, equity-based incentives that will assist us to attract, retain, and motivatepresent to future key employees, including officers, consultants and directors. We may provide these incentives throughdirectors, particularly in light of the granteffect of the Merger on the equity ownership of our management team. The Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee believe that the number of shares currently remaining available for issuance pursuant to future awards under the existing 2014 Plan (as of February 28, 2018) is not sufficient for its immediate or future granting needs. The following is a brief summary of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement.

Summary of Material Features of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan

Eligibility.The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan allows us, under the direction of our Compensation Committee, to make grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted and unrestricted stock RSUs, performance shares, and unitsawards, restricted stock awards and other cash-based or share-based awards. In addition, the 2014 Plan contains a mechanism through which we may adopt a deferred compensation arrangementcash and stock-based awards to employees, consultants and directors who, in the future.opinion of the Compensation Committee, are in a position to make a significant contribution to our long-term success. All employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates are eligible to participate in the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. As of February 28, 2018, there were approximately 30 individuals eligible to participate in the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.


AShares Available for Issuance. As of February 28, 2018, a total of 1,000,000458,586 shares of our common stock was initially authorizedwere reserved and reservedavailable for issuance under the 2014 Plan. Therefore,If Proposal No. 2 is approved, a total of 5,300,000 shares of our

common stock will be reserved and available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. Per the terms of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, this reserve will automatically increase on each January 1 through 2024, by an amount equal to the smaller of:

4% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31; and

 

an amount determined by our Board of Directors.

The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan upon the exercise of incentive stock options is 5,300,000 shares of common stock.

The maximum number of shares subject to awards issued to anynon-employee director during a calendar year shall not exceed 90,000 shares of common stock; provided further, that with respect to the first calendar year in which an individual is elected or appointed to the Board, this limit shall be 285,000 shares of common stock. This limitation shall not apply to awards made pursuant to an election by anon-employee director to receive the award in lieu of cash for all or a portion of cash fees to be received for service on the Board or any Committee thereof and shall not apply awards issued in respect of bona fide consulting services provided to the Company.

·

4% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31; and

·

an amount determined by our Board of Directors.

Appropriate adjustments will be made in the number of authorized shares and other numerical limits in the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and in outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights in the event of a stock split or other change in our capital structure. Shares subject to awards which expire or are cancelled or forfeited will again become available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

The shares available under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will not be reduced by awards settled in cash, but will be reduced by shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to stock options and stock appreciation rights (but not other types of awards). The gross number of shares issued upon the exercise of stock appreciation rights or options exercised by means of a net exercise or by tender of previously owned shares will be deducted from the shares available under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan generally will be administered by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, the Compensation Committee will determine in its discretion the persons to whom and the times at which awards are granted, the sizes of such awards and all of their terms and conditions. The Compensation Committee will have the authority to construe and interpret the terms of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and awards granted under it. The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan provides, subject to certain limitations, for indemnification by us of any director, officer, or employee against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any legal action arising from such person’s action or failure to act in administering the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

TheAwards may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan to our employees, including officers, directors, or consultants or those of any present or future parent or subsidiary corporation or other affiliated entity. All awards will authorizebe evidenced by a written agreement between us and the Compensation Committee, without further stockholder approval, to provide for the cancellation of stock options or stock appreciation rights with exercise prices in excessholder of the fair market valueaward and may include any of the underlying shares of common stock on the date of grant in exchange for new options or other equity awards with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant or a cash payment.following:

Stock options. We may grant nonstatutory stock options or incentive stock options (as described in Section 422 of the Code), each of which gives its holder the right, during a specified term (not exceeding ten years) and subject to any specified vesting or other conditions, to purchase a number of shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share determined by the administrator, which may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of a stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and the term of the option may not be longer than ten years. If an incentive stock option is granted to an individual who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and the term of the option may not be longer than five years.

Stock appreciation rights. A stock appreciation right, or SAR, gives its holder the right, during a specified term (not exceeding ten years) and subject to any specified vesting or other conditions, to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our common stock between the date of grant of the award and the date of its exercise. We may pay the appreciation in shares of our common stock or in cash.

Restricted stock. The administrator may grant restricted stock awards either as a bonus or as a purchase right at a price determined by the administrator. Shares of restricted stock remain subject to forfeiture until vested, based on such terms and conditions as the administrator specifies. Holders of restricted stock will have the right to vote the shares and to receive any dividends paid, except that the dividends shall be subject to the same vesting conditions as the related shares.

Restricted stock units. Restricted stock units, or RSUs, represent rights to receive shares of our common stock (or their value in cash) at a future date without payment of a purchase price, subject to vesting or other conditions specified by the administrator. Holders of RSUs have no voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of common stock are issued in settlement of such awards. However, the administrator may grant RSUs that entitle their holders to dividend equivalent rights provided that such rights will have the same vesting conditions as the RSUs to which they relate.

Cash-based awards and other share-based awards. The administrator may grant cash-based awards that specify a monetary payment or range of payments or other share-based awards that specify a number or range of shares or units that, in either case, are subject to vesting or other conditions specified by the administrator. Settlement of these awards may be in cash or shares of our common stock, as determined by the administrator. Their holders will have no voting rights or right to receive cash dividends unless and until shares of our common stock are issued pursuant to the awards. The administrator may grant dividend equivalent rights with respect to other share-based awards.

In the event of aan “ownership change in controlevent” as described in the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, the Company may provide that an acquiring or successor entity may assume or continue all or any awards outstanding under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan or substitute substantially equivalent awards. The Compensation Committee may provide for the acceleration of vesting of any or all outstanding awards upon such terms and to such extent as it determines, except that the vesting of all awards held by members of the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors who are not employees will automatically be accelerated in full.full upon a change in control. Any awards that are not assumed, continued, or substituted for in connection with aan ownership change in controlevent or are not exercised or settled prior to thean ownership change in controlevent will terminate effective as of the time of the ownership change in control.event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in an award agreement governing any award, as determinedany award held by the Compensation Committee, any awarda participant whose service has not terminated prior to an ownership change event that is not assumed, continued, or substituted for or cashed out in connection with aan ownership change in controlevent shall, subject to the provisions of applicable law, become fully vested and exercisable and/or settleable immediatelyas of a date prior to, but conditioned upon, the consummation of the ownership change event as determined by the Compensation Committee. Subject to the requirements of 409A, as applicable, outstanding awards held bynon-employee directors shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full prior to a change in control. The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will also authorize the Compensation Committee, in its discretion and without the consent of any participant, to cancel each or any outstanding award denominated in shares upon aan ownership change in controlevent in exchange for a payment to the participant with respect to each share subject to the cancelled award of an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the consideration to be paid per share of common stock in the ownership change in controlevent transaction over the exercise price per share, if any, under the award.

The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan will continue in effect until it is terminated, by our Board of Directors, provided, however, that all awards will be granted, if at all, within ten years of its effective date.on or prior to September 15, 2024. The Board of DirectorsCompensation Committees may amend, suspend or terminate the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan at any time, provided that without stockholder approval, the planAmended and Restated 2014 Plan cannot be amended to increase the number of shares authorized, change the class of persons eligible to receive incentive stock options, or effect any other change that would require stockholder approval under any applicable law or listing rule.

2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

On November 4, 2014, our Board

Federal Income Tax Considerations

The material federal income tax consequences of Directors adopted,the issuance and our stockholders approved, our 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or 2014 ESPP.

A totalexercise of 170,000 shares of our common stock was initially authorizedoptions and reserved for issuanceother awards under the Amended and Restated 2014 ESPP. In addition, our 2014 ESPP provides for annual increases inPlan, based on the numbercurrent provisions of shares available for issuancethe Code and regulations, are as follows. Changes to these laws could alter the tax consequences described below. This summary assumes that all awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2014 ESPP on each January 1 through 2024, equalPlan are exempt from or comply with, the rules under Section 409A of the Code related to the smallest of:nonqualified deferred compensation.

·

1%

Incentive Stock Options:Incentive stock options are intended to qualify for treatment under Section 422 of the issuedCode. An incentive stock option does not result in taxable income to the optionee or deduction to us at the time it is granted or exercised, provided that no disposition is made by the optionee of the shares acquired pursuant to the option within two years after the date of grant of the option nor within one year after the date of issuance of shares to the optionee (referred to as the “ISO holding period”). However, the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and outstandingthe option price will be an item of tax preference includible in “alternative minimum taxable income” of the optionee. Upon disposition of the shares after the expiration of our commonthe ISO holding period, the optionee will generally recognize long term capital gain or loss based on the difference between the disposition proceeds and the option price paid for the shares. If the shares are disposed of prior to the expiration of the ISO holding period, the optionee generally will recognize taxable compensation, and we will have a corresponding deduction, in the year of the disposition, equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise of the option over the option price. Any additional gain realized on the disposition will normally constitute capital gain. If the amount realized upon such a disqualifying disposition is less than fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, the amount of compensation income will be limited to the excess of the amount realized over the optionee’s adjusted basis in the shares.
Non-Statutory Options:Options otherwise qualifying as incentive stock options, to the extent the aggregate fair market value of shares with respect to which such options are first exercisable by an individual in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, and options designated asnon-statutory options will be treated as options that are not incentive stock options.
Anon-statutory option ordinarily will not result in income to the optionee or deduction to us at the time of grant. The optionee will recognize compensation income at the time of exercise of suchnon-statutory option in an amount equal to the excess of the then value of the shares over the option price per share. Such compensation income of optionees may be subject to withholding taxes, and a deduction may then be allowable to us in an amount equal to the optionee’s compensation income.
An optionee’s initial basis in shares so acquired will be the amount paid on exercise of thenon-statutory option plus the amount of any corresponding compensation income. Any gain or loss as a result of a subsequent disposition of the shares so acquired will be capital gain or loss.
Stock Appreciation Rights:Generally, if a stock appreciation right is granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the immediately preceding December 31;grant date, the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the stock or

·

cash received upon such other amount asexercise. Such compensation income of optionees may be determinedsubject to withholding taxes, and a deduction may then be allowable to us in an amount equal to the optionee’s compensation income.

Stock Grants:With respect to stock grants under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan that result in the issuance of shares that are either not restricted as to transferability or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the grantee must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of shares received. Thus, deferral of the time of issuance will generally result in the deferral of the time the grantee will be liable for income taxes with respect to such issuance. We generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by our Boardthe grantee.
With respect to stock grants involving the issuance of Directors.

shares that are restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the grantee must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares received at the first time the shares become transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier. A grantee may elect to be taxed at the time of receipt of shares rather than upon lapse of restrictions on transferability or substantial risk of forfeiture, but if the grantee subsequently forfeits such shares, the grantee would not be entitled to any tax deduction, including as a capital loss, for the value of the shares on which he previously paid tax. The grantee must file such election with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of the receipt of the shares. We generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the grantee.
Stock Units:The grantee recognizes no income until the issuance of the shares. At that time, the grantee must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares received. We generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the grantee.


The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors will administer the 2014 ESPP and have full authority to interpret the terms of the 2014 ESPP. The 2014 ESPP provides, subject to certain limitations, for indemnification by us of any director, officer or employee against all judgments, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any legal action arising from such person’s action or failure to act in administering the 2014 ESPP.

In the event of a change in control, an acquiring or successor corporation may assume our rights and obligations under outstanding purchase rights or substitute substantially equivalent purchase rights. If the acquiring or successor corporation does not assume or substitute for outstanding purchase rights, then the purchase date of the offering periods then in progress will be accelerated to a date prior to the change in control.

Our 2014 ESPP will continue in effect until terminated by the administrator. The Compensation Committee has the authority to amend, suspend, or terminate our 2014 ESPP at any time.

Perquisites, Health and Retirement Benefits

Health, Welfare and Retirement Benefits

Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, including our medical, dental, vision, group life and disability insurance plans, in each case on the same basis as other employees.

Except as described below, we currently have no plans that provide for the payment of retirement benefits, or benefits that will be paid primarily following retirement, including but not limited to tax-qualified defined benefit plans, supplemental executive retirement plans, tax-qualified defined contribution plans and nonqualified defined contribution plans.

401(k)

We maintain a tax-qualified salary deferral retirement plan, or the 401(k)New Plan that provides eligible employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax advantaged basis. The 401(k) Plan permits us to make contributions up to the limits allowed by law on behalf of all eligible employees. Eligible employees are able to participate in the 401(k) Plan following the date they meet the plan’s eligibility requirements, which is generally the first day of the first month following the eligible employee’s start date. Eligible employees are able to defer (on a pre-tax basis) a portion of their eligible compensation subject to applicable annual Code and plan limits. Participants are 100% vested in their deferrals. Both employee deferrals and company contributions are allocated to individual participant accounts, and then are invested in investment alternatives selected by each participant. The 401(k) Plan is intended to qualify under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code. As a tax-qualified retirement plan, all contributions are deductible by us when made, and those contributions and any earnings thereon are not taxable (other than Roth contributions) to the employees until distributed from the 401(k) Plan.


Outstanding Option Awards at December 31, 2015Benefits

The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding optionshows the total number of awards held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2015.

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

 

 

 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options

(#)

 

 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options

(#)

 

 

Options

Exercise

Price

 

 

Option

Expiration

Date

Name

 

Grant Date

 

Exercisable

 

 

Unexercisable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George W. Mahaffey

 

May 17, 2011(2)

 

 

160,471

 

 

 

 

 

$

2.01

 

 

May 17, 2021

 

 

February 6, 2014(3)

 

 

218,499

 

 

 

 

 

$

1.34

 

 

February 6, 2024

 

 

October 15, 2014(4)

 

 

147,540

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

October 15, 2024

Susan A. Knudson

 

February 11, 2010 (2)

 

 

30,718

 

 

 

 

 

$

1.22

 

 

February 11, 2020

 

 

February 6, 2014(3)

 

 

33,265

 

 

 

 

 

$

1.34

 

 

February 6, 2024

 

 

July 17, 2014(1)

 

 

24,964

 

 

 

 

 

$

4.58

 

 

July 17, 2024

 

 

February 10, 2015(3)

 

 

45,607

 

 

 

 

 

$

6.79

 

 

February 10, 2025

Lincoln Krochmal, M.D.

 

February 6, 2014(1)

 

 

175,274

 

 

 

 

 

$

1.34

 

 

February 6, 2024

 

 

February 10, 2015(3)

 

 

16,288

 

 

 

 

 

$

6.79

 

 

February 10, 2025

(1)

The stock option grant vests as to 25% of the shares subject to the option on the first anniversary and the remaining unvested shares shall vest in 36 monthly installments thereafter. The option is immediately exercisable, although shares issued upon exercise of any unvested options are subject to repurchase in accordance with the terms of the grant unless and until vested. 

(2)

The stock option is fully vested and immediately exercisable.

(3)

The stock option grant vests over 48 months in equal monthly installments. The option is immediately exercisable, although shares issued upon exercise of any unvested options are subject to repurchase in accordance with the terms of the grant unless and until vested. 

(4)

Restricted stock award that vest annually over a four year period starting on October 15, 2015.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limitsexpected to be made under the liability of directorsincrease to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for any of the following acts:

·

Any breach of their duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;

·

Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

·

Unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or

·

Any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities lawsAmended and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

Our amended and restated bylaws also provide that we will indemnify our directors, officers, employees, and other agentsRestated 2014 Plan to the fullest extent permitted by law. Our amendedidentified individuals and restated bylaws also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee, or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in connection with their services to us, regardless of whether our amended and restated bylaws permit such indemnification. We have obtained an insurance policy that insures our directors and officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under applicable securities laws.


We have entered, and intend to continue to enter, into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated bylaws. These agreements, among other things, provide that we will indemnify our directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and settlement amounts incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our directors or executive officers, or any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise togroups, which the person provides services at our request. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or executive officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. A stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

Each of our named executive officers are eligible to receive severance and change in control benefits under the terms of their employment agreements described above under “—Employment Agreements.” Additionally, stock options granted to our named executive officers are subject to the change in control provisionsapproval of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan by our stockholders:

Name and Position

Number of Shares

Saundra Pelletier, President and Chief Executive Officer

825,000

Justin J. File, Chief Financial Officer

300,000

Alexander A. Fitzpatrick, Secretary and General Counsel

275,000

Kelly Culwell, M.D., Chief Medical Officer

260,000

Russ Barrans, Chief Commercial Officer

260,000

*Thomas Lynch, Chairman and Director

225,000

Thomas Lynch, Chairman and Director

24,691

Colin Rutherford, Director

39,691

Gillian Greer, Ph.D., Director

24,691

William Hall, Ph.D, M.D., Director

24,691

Tony O’Brien, Director

24,691

Non-executive employees and consultants

852,575

Total

3,136,030

*Option granted in connection with consulting services provided to Evofem Biosciences Operations, Inc.

Except as set forth in the table above or pursuant to our Amended and RestatedNon-Employee Director Compensation Policy, the amounts of future grants under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan are not determinable as awards under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan and will be granted at the 2007 Stock Plan, as applicable and as further described above under “—Employee Benefit and Equity Incentive Plans.”

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION  

Since our founding in 2007, and prior to our IPO, in 2014, we had no formal director compensation program, nor did we compensate members of our Board of Directors, except as described below.

On September 1, 2011, we entered into a letter agreement with Dr. Dobak. Pursuant to the letter agreement, we agreed to pay Dr. Dobak $5,000 per month in connection with his services as a member of our Board of Directors. Dr. Dobak resigned as a director effective July 25, 2014. In connection with Mr. Dobak’s resignation from our Board of Directors, we agreed to continue to pay him his monthly retainer through January 2015.

In connection with, and effective upon, our IPO in 2014, we implemented a compensation program for our non-employee directors (the “Non-Employee Director Compensation Program”). In June 2015, our Board of Directors approved a compensation policy for our non-employee directors to adjust compensation based upon current market rates. Below is the report from the peer market review and updated compensation:

·

Each non-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $35,000 per year.

·

The Lead Independent Director will receive an additional annual cash retainer in the amount of $17,500 per year.

·

The chairperson of the Audit Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $15,000 per year for such chairperson’s service on the Audit Committee. Each non-chairperson member of the Audit Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $7,500 per year for such member’s service on the Audit Committee.

·

The chairperson of the Compensation Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 per year for such chairperson’s service on the Compensation Committee. Each non-chairperson member of the Compensation Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $5,000 per year for such member’s service on the Compensation Committee.

·

The chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $7,500 per year for such chairperson’s service on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each non-chairperson member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $3,500 per year for such member’s service on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.


Under the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, each non-employee directors will receive a stock option grant with an initial grant equal to a cash value of $125,000 in shares of our common stock upon a director’s initial appointment or election to our Board of Directors, vesting quarterly over a 3 year period and an annual stock option grant equal to a cash value of $65,000 in shares of our common stock on the date of each annual stockholder’s meeting thereafter, beginning in 2016, fully vesting in one year from the date of grant.

The table below sets forth the compensation (cash and equity) received by our non-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2015. Fees are prorated based on length of service for independent directors serving a portion of the year.

Director Compensation Table

The following table summarizes director compensation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Name

 

Fees Earned or Paid

in Cash ($)

 

 

Option Awards ($)(1)

 

 

Other Compensation ($)

 

 

Totals ($)

 

Kim P. Kamdar

 

 

78,072

 

 

 

94,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

172,783

 

Maxim Gorbachev

 

 

46,494

 

 

 

94,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

141,204

 

Daniel S. Janney(2)

 

 

40,451

 

 

 

94,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

135,161

 

Martha J. Demski

 

 

56,923

 

 

 

57,909

 

 

 

 

 

 

114,832

 

Jeffrey M. Nugent

 

 

11,451

 

 

 

52,382

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,834

 

Hani Zeini(3)

 

 

4,854

 

 

 

52,382

 

 

 

 

 

 

57,237

 

Patricia Walker, Ph.D.(4)

 

 

12,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,439

 

John Dobak, M.D.(5)

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

(1)

Amount reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of options granted during 2015 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 Stock Compensation, as used by analogy for non-employees. The assumptions used in the valuation of these awards are set forth in Note 6 to our financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

(2)

Mr. Janney resigned from the Board effective September 23, 2015.

(3)

Mr. Zeini resigned from the Board effective October 30, 2015.

(4)

Dr. Walker resigned from the Board effective April 22, 2015.

(5)

Mr. Dobak resigned from the Board effective July 25, 2014.


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

As of December 31, 2015, the Compensation Committee consisted of Martha J. Demski, Maxim Gorbachev and Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. (Chair). All of the memberssole discretion of the Compensation Committee, are non-employee directors. No member of our Compensation Committee isthe Board or hasother delegated persons, and we cannot determine at anythis time duringeither the past year been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves orpersons who will receive awards, which may include the persons listed in the past year has served as a member oftable above, under the Board of DirectorsAmended and Restated 2014 Plan or Compensation Committeethe amount or types of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.such awards.

REPORTRecommendation

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEEAMENDED AND RESTATED 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN WHICH INCLUDES AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES UNDER THE 2014 PLAN FROM 458,586 SHARES TO 5,300,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AVAILABLE FOR THE GRANT OF AWARDS, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER HAS INDICATED OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

(Notice Item 3)

The Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, to audit committee oversees the company’sour financial reporting process on behalf of our Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibilitystatements for the financial statementsfiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The Board proposes that the stockholders ratify this appointment.

In deciding to appoint Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Audit Committee reviewed auditor independence issues and existing commercial relationships with Deloitte & Touche LLP and concluded that Deloitte & Touche LLP has no commercial relationship with the reporting process, includingCompany that would impair its independence for the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities,fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

Changes in the audit committee reviewed theCompany’s Certifying Accountant

Ernst & Young LLP audited our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, including a discussion of any significant changes in2017. On January 19, 2018, the selection or application of accounting principles,Audit Committee approved the reasonableness of significant judgments, the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements and the effect of any new accounting initiatives.

The audit committee reviewed with Ernst & Young LLP, which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the company’s audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the audit committee under generally accepted auditing standards and the matters listed in Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees. In addition, the audit committee has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, its independence from management and the company, has received from Ernst & Young LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Ernst & Young LLP’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.

The audit committee met with Ernst & Young LLP to discuss the overall scope of its services, the results of its audit and reviews, its evaluation of the company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the company’s financial reporting. Ernst & Young LLP, as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, also periodically updates the audit committee about new accounting developments and their potential impact on the company’s reporting. The audit committee’s meetings with Ernst & Young LLP were held with and without management present. The audit committee is not employed by the company, nor does it provide any expert assurance or professional certification regarding the company’s financial statements. The audit committee relies, without independent verification, on the accuracy and integrity of the information provided, and representations made, by management and the company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee has recommended to the company’s Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The audit committee and the company’s Board of Directors also have recommended, subject to stockholder approval, the ratification of the appointmentdismissal of Ernst & Young LLP aseffective upon Ernst & Young LLP’s completion of its audit services for the company’s independent registered public accounting firmCompany’s financial statements for 2015.

This report of the audit committee is not “soliciting material,” shall not be deemed “filed” with the SEC and shall not be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

The Audit Committee met six times in 2015. This report for 2015 is provided by the members offiscal year ended December 31, 2017. On January 19, 2018, the Audit Committee of the Board.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Martha J. Demski (Chair)

Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.

Jeffrey M. Nugent


Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The Audit Committee has appointed ErnstDeloitte & YoungTouche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

The reports of Ernst & Young LLP on the Company’s financial statements for each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and is asking our stockholderswere not qualified or modified as to ratify this appointment.uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

In connection with the event the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent auditing firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in the best interestsaudits of the Company’s stockholders.financial statements for each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and during the subsequent interim period through February 26, 2018 (the effective date of Ernst & Young’s dismissal), there were no disagreements (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of RegulationS-K and related instructions) with Ernst & Young LLP on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope and procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young LLP, would have caused Ernst & Young LLP to make reference to the matter in their reports

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the subsequent interim period through January 19, 2018, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted with Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Deloitte & Touche LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of RegulationS-K and the related instructions) or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of RegulationS-K).

We expect that representatives of Ernst & Young LLP and Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, will be able to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees

The following table presents the fees for professional audit services and other services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP to the Company for 2015fiscal year 2017 and 2014.2016.

 

 

Fiscal Year

2015

 

 

Fiscal Year

2014

 

  Fiscal Year
2017
   Fiscal Year
2016
 

Audit Fees(1)

 

$

452,777

 

 

$

925,866

 

  $485,736   $256,209 

Audit-Related Fees

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

   N/A    N/A 

Tax Fees

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

   N/A    N/A 

All Other Fees

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

   N/A    N/A 
  

 

   

 

 

Total

 

$

452,777

 

 

$

925,866

 

  $485,736   $256,209 
  

 

   

 

 

 

(1)

Audit Fees represent fees andout-of-pocket expenses whether or not yet invoiced for professional services provided in connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements, the review of our registration statement on Form S-1 and Form S-3,S-4, the review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements, and audit services provided in connection with other regulatory filings.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee annually reviews andpre-approves certain audit andnon-audit services that may be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and establishes andpre-approves the aggregate fee level for these services. Any proposed services that would cause us to exceed thepre-approved aggregate fee amount must bepre-approved by the Audit Committee. All audit services for 20152017 werepre-approved by the Audit Committee.


PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

AtIn the Annual Meeting, our stockholders will vote on the election of one Class II director to serve for a three-year term until our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2019 and until her successor is elected and qualified. The Board has unanimously nominated Martha J. Demski for election to the Board as a Class II director. The nominee has indicated that she is willing and able to serve as a director. If Ms. Demski becomes unable to serve, or for good cause will not serve, the accompanying proxy may be voted for the election of such other person as shall be designated by the Board. The proxies being solicited will be voted for no more than two nominees at the Annual Meeting.

The Class II director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting assuming a quorum is present, which means that the director nominee receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and, therefore, will have no effect on the election of directors. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of Martha J. Demski as a Class II director.

Unless otherwise instructed, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy card to vote shares represented by properly executed proxy cards for the election of Ms. Demski.


PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

At the Annual Meeting,event the stockholders will be asked todo not ratify the appointment of ErnstDeloitte & YoungTouche LLP as the Company’sour independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make statements if they desire to do so. Such representatives are also expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

In the event our stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent auditing firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders.

Voting and Board of Directors’ Recommendationappointment.

The proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in personcast affirmatively or represented by proxynegatively at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH RATIFICATION UNLESS A STOCKHOLDER INDICATES OTHERWISE ON THE PROXY.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS

We have adopted a code of conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our chief executive officer and chief financial and accounting officers. The text of the code of conduct and ethics is posted on our website atwww.evofem.comand will be made available to stockholders without charge, upon request, in writing to the Corporate Secretary at Evofem Biosciences, Inc., 12400 High Bluff Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92130. Disclosure regarding any amendments to, or waivers from, provisions of the code of conduct and ethics that apply to our directors, principal executive and financial officers will be included in a Current Report on Form8-K within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver, unless website posting or the issuance of a press release of such amendments or waivers is then permitted by the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market.

OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Directors knows of no other business which will be presented to the Annual Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons named therein.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTOR

In nominating candidates for election as a director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider a reasonable number of candidates for director recommended by a single stockholder who has held over 0.1% of our common stock for over one year and who satisfies the notice, information and consent provisions set forth in our Bylaws and corporate governance guidelines. Stockholders who wish to recommend a candidate may do so by writing to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of the Corporate Secretary, Evofem Biosciences, Inc., 12400 High Bluff Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92130. Our amended and restated bylaws state the procedures for a stockholder to bring a stockholder proposal or nominate an individual to serve as a director of the Board. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that advance notice of a stockholder’s proposal or nomination of an individual to serve as a director must be delivered to our Corporate Secretary at our corporate offices not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, nor later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, prior to the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders. However, our amended and restated bylaws also provide that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from the anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice must be received no earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less thanone-hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which the public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In addition to meeting the advance notice provisions mentioned above, the stockholder in its notice must provide the information required by our Bylaws to bring a stockholder proposal or nominate an individual to serve as a director of the Board.

A copy of the full text of the provisions of our Bylaws dealing with stockholder nominations and proposals is available to stockholders from our Corporate Secretary upon written request. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will use the same evaluation process for director nominees recommended by stockholders as it uses for other director nominees.

San Diego, California

March 21, 2018

Appendix A

Evofem Biosciences, Inc.

Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan

1.ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSEAND TERMOF PLAN.

1.1Establishment. The Evofem Biosciences, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (thePlan) was established effective as of September 15, 2014 (theEffective Date) and amended and restated on March 9, 2018.

1.2Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.

1.3Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided, however, that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

2.DEFINITIONSAND CONSTRUCTION.

2.1Definitions.Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

(a)Affiliate means (i) a parent entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) a subsidiary entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the terms “parent,” “subsidiary,” “control” and “controlled by” shall have the meanings assigned such terms for the purposes of registration of securities on FormS-8 under the Securities Act.

(b)Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

(c)Award Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to an Award.

(d)Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e)Cash-Based Award means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 11.

(f)Cashless Exercise means a Cashless Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(i).

(g)Cause means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service,non-disclosure,non-competition,non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty ornolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company.

(h)Change in Control means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, the occurrence of any one or a combination of the following:

(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined inRule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’sthen-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such proposal. Abstentions are considered present andvoting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or

(ii) an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, aTransaction) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(dd)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (theTransferee), as the case may be; or

(iii) a date specified by the Committee following approval by the stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

provided, however, that a Change in Control shall be deemed not to include a transaction described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.1(h) in which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of Incumbent Directors.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Committee shall determine whether multiple events described in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.1(h) are related and to be treated in the aggregate as a single Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

(i)Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations and administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.

(j)Committee means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.

(k)Company means Evofem Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation thereto.

(l)Consultant means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration onForm S-8 under the Securities Act.

(m)Director means a member of the Board.

(n)Disability means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the

Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(o)Dividend Equivalent Right means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.

(p)Employee means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual’s status as an Employee.

(q)Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(r)Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:

(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported inThe Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the basis of the opening, closing, or average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Stock on such date or the preceding trading day, the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a Participant, any other reasonable basis using actual transactions in the Stock as reported on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, or on any other basis consistent with the requirements

of Section 409A (including, but not limited to, the determination of Fair Market Value based on the average selling price of the Stock during a specified period that is within thirty (30) days before or thirty (30) days after such date, provided that, with respect to the grant of an Option or SAR, the commitment to grant such Award based on such valuation method must be irrevocable before the beginning of the specified period). The Committee may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this proposalSection for different purposes under the Plan to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

(iii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and will, therefore,in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

(s)Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

(t)Incumbent Director means a director who either (i) is a Director as of the Effective Date or (ii) is elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but excluding a director who was elected or nominated in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company).

(u)Insider means an Officer, a Director or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(v)Net Exercise means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(iii).

(w)Nonemployee Director means a Director who is not an Employee.

(x)Nonemployee Director Award means any Award granted to a Nonemployee Director.

(y)Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or which does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

(z)Officer means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.

(aa)Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

(bb)Other Stock-Based Award means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.

(cc)Ownership Change Event means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).

(dd)Parent Corporation means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(ee)Participant means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.

(ff)Participating Company means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.

(gg)Participating Company Group means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.

(hh)Performance Award means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

(ii)Performance Award Formula means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.

(jj)Performance Goal means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.

(kk)Performance Period means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.

(ll)Performance Share means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).

(mm)Performance Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).

(nn)Predecessor Plan means the Company’s 2007 Stock Plan, as amended.

(oo)Restricted Stock Award means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.

(pp)Restricted Stock Bonus means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.

(qq)Restricted Stock Purchase Right means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.

(rr)Restricted Stock Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive on a future date or the occurrence of a future event a share of Stock or cash in lieu thereof, as determined by the Committee.

(ss)Rule 16b-3 meansRule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.

(tt)SAR orStock Appreciation Right means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price thereof.

(uu)Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code.

(vv)Section 409A Deferred Compensation means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.

(ww)Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(xx)Service means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether as an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have been interrupted or terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. However, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds ninety (90) days, then on the ninety-first (91st) day following the commencement of such leave the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, an unpaid leave of absence shall not be treated as votes against this proposal. Broker non-votesService for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of and reason for such termination.

(yy)Stock means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.5.

(zz)Stock Tender Exercise means a Stock Tender Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).

(aaa)Subsidiary Corporation means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

(bbb)Ten Percent Owner means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

(ccc)Trading Compliance Policy means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.

(ddd)Vesting Conditions mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which an Award or shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service or failure of a performance condition to be satisfied.

2.2Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

3.ADMINISTRATION.

3.1Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. All expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

3.2Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to this proposal willany matter, right, obligation, determination or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Company herein, provided that the Officer

has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board or the Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to a committee comprised of one or more Officers and/or Directors the authority to grant one or more Awards of Options or SARs, without further approval of the Board or the Committee, to any Employee, other than an Employee who, at the time of such grant, is an Insider, and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board or the Committee may determine; provided, however, that (a) the Board and/or the Committee shall fix the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that may be granted by such Officers and/or Directors, (b) each such Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the appropriate standard form of Award Agreement approved by the Board or the Committee and shall conform to the provisions of the Plan, and (c) each such Award shall conform to such other limits and guidelines as may be established from time to time by the Board and/or the Committee.

3.3Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, ofRule 16b-3.

3.4Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;

(b) to determine the type of Award granted;

(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;

(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be consideredidentical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Measures, Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of any Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

(e) to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;

(f) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;

(g) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;

(h) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;

(i) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adoptsub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as presentthe Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose residents may be granted Awards; and entitled

(j) to votecorrect any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

3.5Option or SARRepricing. The Committee shall not have the authority, without additional approval by the stockholders of the Company, to approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock (“Underwater Awards”) and the grant in substitution for Underwater Awards of new Options or SARs covering the same or a different number of shares but having a lower exercise price per share then on the proposal,original grant date, or payments in cash, or (b) the substitution of other Awards for Underwater Awards.

3.6Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any 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 right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

4.SHARES SUBJECTTO PLAN.

4.1Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be equal to five million three hundred thousand (5,300,000) shares and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.

4.2Annual Increase in Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.5, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 4.1 shall be cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each subsequent January 1 through and including January 1, 2024, by a number of shares (the “Annual Increase”) equal to the smaller of (a) fourpercent (4%) of the number of shares of Stock of the Company issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or (b) an amount determined by the Board.

4.3Reserved.

4.4Share Counting. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 16.2 with respect to Options and SARs shall not be available for issuance under the Plan, however, shares withheld for such basis on other Awards shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of a SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which such SAR was exercised. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by means of a Net Exercise, then the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares subject to the Option exercise. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the Option is exercised.

4.5Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split,split-up,split-off,spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting regular, periodic cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and

to any outstanding Awards, the Annual Increase, the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (theNew Shares), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the exercise or purchase price per share shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent, and in no event may the exercise or purchase price, if any, under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Committee in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.

4.6Assumption or Substitution of Awards. The Committee may, without affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code.

5.ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATIONAND AWARD LIMITATIONS.

5.1Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors.

5.2Participation in the Plan. Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.

5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations.

(a)Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.5, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed five million three hundred thousand shares (5,300,000) shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to all Awards other than Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of shares determined in accordance with Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5.

(b)Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being anISO-Qualifying Corporation). Any person who is not an Employee of anISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

(c)Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all equity plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise of the Option, shares issued pursuant to each such portion of the Option shall be separately identified.

5.4Nonemployee Director Limitations. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, effective as of the date following the date on which the Company’s stockholders approve this amended and restated Plan, the maximum number of shares subject to Awards issued to any Nonemployee Director as Nonemployee Director Awards during a calendar year shall not exceed ninety thousand (90,000) shares of Stock; provided further, that with respect to the first calendar year in which an individual is elected or appointed to the Board, this limit shall be two hundred eighty-five thousand (285,000) shares of Stock. The foregoing limitation shall not apply to Awards made pursuant to an election by a Nonemployee Director to receive an Award in lieu of cash for all or a portion of cash fees to be received for service on the Board or any Committee thereof and Awards issued in respect of bona fide consulting services provided to the Company notwithstanding that such Consultant may also be a Nonemployee Director. The limitations set forth in this paragraph shall be subject to adjustment as provided pursuant to Section 4.5.

6.STOCK OPTIONS.

Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

6.1Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be

not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Sections 409A or 424(a) of the Code.

6.2Exercisability and Term of Options. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (c) no Option granted to an Employee who is anon-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such Option (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.

6.3Payment of Exercise Price.

(a)Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Committee and subject to the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, (2) a Stock Tender Exercise or (3) a Net Exercise; (iii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iv) by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

(b)Limitations on Forms of Consideration.

(i)Cashless Exercise. ACashless Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of

Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.

(ii)Stock Tender Exercise. AStock Tender Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice accompanied by a Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. A Stock Tender Exercise shall not be permitted if it would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. If required by the Company, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for a period of time required by the Company (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

(iii)Net Exercise. ANet Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will therefore reduce the number of affirmative votes neededshares otherwise issuable to approvea Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued.

6.4Effect of Termination of Service.

(a)Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided by this proposal.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal 2.

STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME ADDRESS

InPlan and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with notices previously sentthis Section and thereafter shall terminate.

(i)Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to many stockholders who hold theirthe extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares through a bank, brokeron the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (theOption Expiration Date).

(ii)Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or

such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the Participant’s termination of Service.

(iii)Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.

(iv)Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

(b)Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.4(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 14 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the applicable time period under Section 6.4(a), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

6.5Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions toForm S-8 under the Securities Act or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, only as permitted by applicable regulations under Section 421 of the Code in a manner that does not disqualify such Option as an Incentive Stock Option.

7.STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

7.1Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (aTandem SAR) or may be granted independently of any Option (aFreestanding SAR). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.

7.2Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs.

(a)Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.

(b)Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that (i) no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR and (ii) no Freestanding SAR granted to an Employee who is anon-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such SAR (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of a Freestanding SAR, each Freestanding SAR shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the SAR, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.

7.4Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 7.5.

7.5Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of record (a “Street-Name Stockholder”)such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.

7.6Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and shareunless otherwise provided by the Committee, an SAR shall be exercisable after a single address,Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.

7.7Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable onlylimitations, if any, described in the General Instructions toForm S-8 under the Securities Act.

8.RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

8.1Types of RestrictedStock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock

Purchase Right. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one Annual Reportor more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of or satisfaction of Vesting Conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).

8.2Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.

8.3Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.

8.4Payment of Purchase Price. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.

8.5Vesting and Proxy Statement is being deliveredRestrictions on Transfer. Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, address unless contrary instructions fromif the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any stockholder at that address were received. This practice, known as “householding,” is intendedshares subject to reducesuch Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the Company’s printingsale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the first to occur of (a) next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy; and postage costs. However,(b) the last day of the calendar year in which the original vesting date occurred. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such Street-Name Stockholder residingtransfer restrictions.

8.6Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided, however, that such dividends and distributions shall be subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid, and otherwise shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders (or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders). In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.5, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.

8.7Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then (a) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (b) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.

8.8Nontransferability of RestrictedStock Award Rights. Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

9.RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

9.1Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without

limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award or the Vesting Conditions with respect to such Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).

9.2Purchase Price. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.

9.3Vesting. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to the Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then the satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the first to occur of (a) the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy; and (b) the last day of the calendar year in which the original vesting date occurred.

9.4Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with a cash amount or with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded down to the nearest whole number), if any, to be credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Such cash amount or additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same address who wishestime as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to receivethe Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a separate copydividend or distribution paid in shares of this Proxy Statement or accompanying Annual Report to Stockholders may request a copy by contacting the bank, brokerStock or other holderproperty or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of record, or the Company by telephone at: (858) 750-1008 or by mail at 9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, San Diego, CA 92122. The voting instruction sent to a Street-Name Stockholder should provide information on how to request (1) householding of future Company materials or (2) separate materials if only one set of documents is being sent to a household. If it does not, a stockholder who would like to make one of these requests should contact the Company as indicateddescribed in

Section 4.5, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.

9.5Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.

9.6Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee in compliance with Section 409A, if applicable, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.4) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) and amount(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide for settlement of any Restricted Stock Unit Award by payment to the Participant in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the payment date of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.

9.7Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

10.PERFORMANCE AWARDS.

Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

10.1Types of Performance Awards Authorized. Performance Awards may be granted in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units. Each Award

Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.

10.2Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial monetary value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.5, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial monetary value established by the Committee at the time of grant. The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.

10.3Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula. In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant. The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.

10.4Measurement of Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained (Performance Targets) with respect to one or more measures of business or financial performance (each, aPerformance Measure), subject to the following:

(a)Performance Measures. Performance Measures shall be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, or, if such measures are not reported in the Company’s financial statements, they shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, a method used generally in the Company’s industry, or in accordance with a methodology established by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award. As specified by the Committee, Performance Measures shall be calculated with respect to the Company and each Subsidiary Corporation consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes, one or more Subsidiary Corporations or such division or other business unit of any of them selected by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award, the Performance Measures applicable to the Performance Award shall be calculated prior to the accrual of expense for any Performance Award for the same Performance Period and excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) on the Performance Measures of any change in accounting standards or any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item, as determined by the Committee, occurring after the establishment of the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. 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 Measures in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect to a Performance Award. Performance Measures may be based

upon one or more of the following, as determined by the Committee: (i) revenue; (ii) sales; (iii) expenses; (iv) operating income; (v) gross margin; (vi) operating margin; (vii) earnings before any one or more of: stock-based compensation expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;(viii) pre-tax profit; (ix) net operating income; (x) net income; (xi) economic value added; (xii) free cash flow; (xiii) operating cash flow; (xiv) balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities; (xv) stock price; (xvi) earnings per share; (xvii) return on stockholder equity; (xviii) return on capital; (xix) return on assets; (xx) return on investment; (xxi) total stockholder return; (xxii) employee satisfaction; (xxiii) employee retention; (xxiv) market share; (xxv) customer satisfaction; (xxvi) product development; (xxvii) research and development expenses; (xxviii) completion of an identified special project; (xxix) completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction and (xxx) pursuant to any other measure determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Performance Award.

(b)Performance Targets. Performance Targets may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the Performance Target level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value, an increase or decrease in a value, or as a value determined relative to an index, budget or other standard selected by the Committee.

10.5Settlement of Performance Awards.

(a)Determination of Final Value. As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.

(b)Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula. In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine.

(c)Effect of Leaves of Absence. Unless otherwise required by law or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days in unpaid leaves of absence during a Performance Period shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on an unpaid leave of absence.

(d)Notice to Participants. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.

(e)Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with

Sections 10.5(a) and (b), but in any event within the Short-Term Deferral Period described in Section 15.1 (except as otherwise provided below or consistent with the requirements of Section 409A), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the payment to be made to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred payment date(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest.

(f)Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares. If payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of such shares shall be determined by dividing the final value of the Performance Award by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock determined by the method specified in the Award Agreement. Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5. Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.

OTHER MATTERS10.6Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or the date on which they are forfeited. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be credited to the Participant either in cash or in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Performance Shares (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be paid currently or may be accumulated and paid to the extent that Performance Shares become nonforfeitable, as determined by the Committee. Settlement of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 10.5. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.5, appropriate

As

adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.

10.7Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, the effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Performance Award shall be as follows:

(a)Death or Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death or Disability of the Participant before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award shall be determined by the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained with respect to the entire Performance Period and shall be prorated based on the number of months of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period. Payment shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.

(b)Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, such Award shall be forfeited in its entirety; provided, however, that in the event of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s Service, the Committee, in its discretion, may waive the automatic forfeiture of all or any portion of any such Award and determine the final value of the Performance Award in the manner provided by Section 10.7(a). Payment of any amount pursuant to this Section shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.

10.8Nontransferability of Performance Awards. Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

11.CASH-BASED AWARDSAND OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.

Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

11.1Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions, including the achievement of performance criteria, as the Committee may determine.

11.2Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock-equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock or other forms determined by the Committee) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Stock-Based Awards may be made available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

11.3Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or units based on such shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance criteria, the final value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance criteria are met.

11.4Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, shares of Stock or other securities or any combination thereof as the Committee determines. To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash-Based Award and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.

11.5Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Other Stock-Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares of Stock (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award. However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock-Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 9.4. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash-Based Awards. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.5, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock-Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock

issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.

11.6Effect of Termination of Service. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain such Award following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, subject to the requirements of Section 409A, if applicable.

11.7Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may impose such additional restrictions on any shares of Stock issued in settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares of Stock are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such shares of Stock.

12.STANDARD FORMSOF AWARD AGREEMENT.

12.1Award Agreements. Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time. No Award or purported Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement, which execution may be evidenced by electronic means.

12.2Authority to Vary Terms. The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

13.CHANGEIN CONTROLAND OWNERSHIP CHANGE EVENTS.

13.1Effect of Change in Control and Ownership Change Events on Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee may provide for any one or more of the following:

(a)Accelerated Vesting. In its discretion, the Committee may provide in the grant of any Award or at any other time may take action it deems appropriate to provide for acceleration of the exercisability, settlement, and/or vesting in connection with a Change in

Control of each or any outstanding Award or portion thereof and shares acquired pursuant thereto upon such conditions, including termination of the Participant’s Service prior to, upon, or following the Change in Control, and to such extent as the Committee determines. Further, unless otherwise provided by the applicable Award Agreement or determined by the Committee and subject to Section 15.4(f), in the event that the Acquiror (as defined below) elects not to assume, continue or substitute for, in accordance with Section 13.1(b) or to cash out in accordance with Section 13.1(c), any portion of an Award outstanding immediately prior to an Ownership Change Event, the exercisability and/or vesting of such portion of the Award held by a Participant whose Service has not terminated prior to an Ownership Change Event shall be accelerated in full effective as of a date prior to, but conditioned upon, the consummation of an Ownership Change Event as determined by the Committee.

(b)Assumption, Continuation or Substitution. In the event of an Ownership Change Event in which the Company is not the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (theAcquiror), the Company may, without the consent of any Participant, assume, substitute for, or continue the Company’s rights and obligations under each or any Award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Ownership Change Event or substitute for each or any such outstanding Award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to the Acquiror’s stock, as applicable. For purposes of this Section, if so determined by the Committee in its discretion, an Award denominated in shares of Stock shall be deemed assumed if, following the Ownership Change Event, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Ownership Change Event, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Ownership Change Event was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Stock subject to the Award, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Ownership Change Event. Any Award or portion thereof which is neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Ownership Change Event nor exercised or settled as of the time of preparationconsummation of the Ownership Change Event shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Ownership Change Event in which the Company is no longer surviving.

(c)Cash-Out of Outstanding Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant, determine that, upon the occurrence of an Ownership Change Event, each or any Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Ownership Change Event and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Committee) of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Acquiror , or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Ownership Change Event, reduced (but not

below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award. In the event such determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Ownership Change Event in which the Company is no longer surviving may be canceled without payment of consideration to the holder thereof. Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Ownership Change Event and in respect of the unvested portions of their canceled Awards in accordance with the vesting schedules applicable to such Awards.

13.2Effect of a Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, including as provided by Section 15.4(f), in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Nonemployee Director Award shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full and, except to the extent assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 13.1(b), shall be settled effective immediately prior to the time of consummation of the Change in Control.

13.3Federal Excise TaxUnder Section 4999 of the Code.

(a)Excess Parachute Payment. If any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, then, provided such election would not subject the Participant to taxation under Section 409A, the Participant may elect to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization. Unless the Participant is subject to a written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company governing the order of reduction, to the extent amounts are to be reduced, then payments shall be accomplished by reducing or eliminating severance payments that the Participant may become entitled to, then reducing or eliminating cash bonus payments, then by the reduction, or elimination of equity awards which are valued in full for purposes of Section 280G of the Code, then the reduction or elimination of accelerated vesting or settlement of other equity awards and finally the reduction or elimination of other compensatory payments. Such reductions shall first come from each category to the extent such amounts constitute Section 409A Deferred Compensation and with respect to any category in which there are multiple awards or grants, in reverse chronological order (i.e. with the most recent grant or award reduced or eliminated first).

(b)Determination by Independent Accountants. To aid the Participant in making any election called for under Section 13.3(a), no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an “excess parachute payment” to the Participant as described in Section 13.3(a), the Company shall request a determination in writing by the professional firm engaged by the Company for general tax purposes, or, if the tax firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the Acquiror, the Company will appoint a nationally recognized tax firm to make the determinations required by this Section. (the “Tax Firm”). As soon as practicable thereafter, the Tax Firm shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such

acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatestafter-tax benefit to the Participant. For the purposes of such determination, the Tax Firm may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Tax Firm such information and documents as the Tax Firm may reasonably request in order to make its required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Tax Firm charge in connection with its services contemplated by this Section.

14.COMPLIANCEWITH APPLICABLE LAW.

The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock or other property pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign securities law and other applicable laws rules and regulations, approvals by government agencies as may be required or as the Company deems necessary or advisable, and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under the Plan 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. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

15.COMPLIANCEWITH SECTION 409A.

15.1Awards Subject to Section 409A. The Company intends that Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be so construed. The provisions of this Proxy Statement, neitherSection 15 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that constitutes or provides for payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation. Such Awards may include, without limitation:

(a) A Nonstatutory Stock Option or SAR that includes any feature for the Board nor management intends to bring before the meeting any businessdeferral of compensation other than the matters referreddeferral of recognition of income until the later of (i) the exercise or disposition of the Award or (ii) the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Award first becomes substantially vested.

(b) Any Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award at a time or upon an event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits the Participant granted

the Award to elect one or more dates or events upon which the Award will be settled after the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period.

Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period means the 2 12 month period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning provided by Section 409A.

15.2Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to any compensation deferral and/or payment elections (each, an “Election”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee pursuant to an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation:

(a) Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the payment in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of payment as permitted by this Plan.

(b) Elections shall be made by the end of the Participant’s taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to the Participant.

(c) Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 15.3.

15.3Subsequent Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, any Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation which permits a subsequent Election to delay the payment or change the form of payment in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made.

(b) Each subsequent Election related to a payment in settlement of an Award not described in Section 15.4(a)(ii), 15.4(a)(iii) or 15.4(a)(vi) must result in a delay of the payment for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.

(c) No subsequent Election related to a payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(iv) shall be made less than twelve (12) months before the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.

(d) Subsequent Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in the Noticesubsequent Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in a subsequent Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the subsequent Election determined in accordance the preceding paragraphs of Annual Meetingthis Section 15.3.

15.4Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation.

(a)Permissible Payments. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation must provide for payment in settlement of the Award only upon one or more of the following:

(i) The Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A);

(ii) The Participant’s becoming “disabled” (as defined by Section 409A);

(iii) The Participant’s death;

(iv) A time or fixed schedule that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 15.2 or 15.3, as applicable;

(v) A change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with Section 409A; or

(vi) The occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency” (as defined by Section 409A).

(b)Installment Payments. It is the intent of this Proxy Statement.Plan that any right of a Participant to receive installment payments (within the meaning of Section 409A) shall, for all purposes of Section 409A, be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

(c)Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee Pursuant to Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(i) in settlement of an Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (theDelayed Payment Date) that is six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.

(d)PaymentUpon Disability. All distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation payable pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(ii) by reason of a Participant becoming disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participant’s Election. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon becoming disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.

(e)PaymentUpon Death. If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participant’s Election upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.

(f)PaymentUpon Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Change in Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change in Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Any Award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control as a result of the failure of the Acquiror to assume, continue or substitute for such Award in accordance with Section 13.1(b) shall vest to the extent provided by such Award but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change in Control into a right to receive, in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or as required by Section 15.4(c)), an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the Award at the time of the Change in Control.

(g)PaymentUpon Unforeseeable Emergency. The Committee shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation for payment pursuant to Section 1 (a)(vi) in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Committee, the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency. In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such unforeseeable emergency cannot exceed the amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such emergency need is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by cessation of deferrals under the Award. All distributions with respect to an unforeseeable emergency shall be made in a lump sum upon the Committee’s determination that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred. The Committee’s decision with respect to whether an unforeseeable emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the payment in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.

(h)Prohibition of Acceleration of Payments.Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation, except as permitted by Section 409A.

(i)No Representation Regarding Section 409A Compliance. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company makes no representation that Awards shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. No Participating Company shall be liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on a Participant by Section 409A.

16.TAX WITHHOLDING.

16.1Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by any Participating Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.

16.2Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates. The Company may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to such Participating Company in cash.

17.AMENDMENT, SUSPENSIONOR TERMINATIONOF PLAN.

The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee. Other than as set forth in Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee may not without shareholder approval reduce the exercise

price of an Option or cancel any outstanding Option in exchange for a replacement option having a lower exercise price, any other Award or for cash. In addition, the Committee not take any other action that is considered a direct or indirect “repricing” for purposes of the shareholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Stock is listed, including any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles. Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may have a materially adverse effect on any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.

18.MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

18.1Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

18.2Forfeiture Events.

(a) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service, or any accounting restatement due to material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirements of securities laws as a result of which, and to the extent that, such reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment is required by applicable securities laws.

(b) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, shall reimburse the Company

for (i) the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award received by such Participant during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and (ii) any profits realized by such Participant from the sale of securities of the Company during such twelve-(12-) month period.

18.3Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.

18.4Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Consultant or Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.

18.5Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.5 or another provision of the Plan.

18.6Delivery of Title to Shares. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.

18.7Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.

18.8Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any Participating Company’s retirement plans (both qualified andnon-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.

18.9Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive

any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.

18.10Severability. If any otherone or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

18.11No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or another Participating Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business should properly come before the meeting,structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any adjournmentpart of its business or postponement thereof,assets; or (b) limit the persons namedright or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

18.12Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the proxy will votevalue of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

18.13No Representations or Covenants with respect to Tax Qualification. Although the Company may endeavor to (a) qualify an Award for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States (e.g., incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code or French-qualified stock options) or (b) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment, anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 15 hereof, notwithstanding. The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential

negative tax impact on such matters accordingholders of Awards under the Plan.

18.14Choice of Law. Except to their best judgment.the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

Appendix B

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF EVOFEM BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

Date:May 8, 2018
Time:8:00 A.M. (Local Time)
Place:San Diego Marriott Del Mar 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Please make your marks like this:  ☒Use dark black pencil or pen only

Board of Directors Recommends a VoteFOR proposals 1, 2, and 3.

1: Election of Class I Directors

Directors

Recommend

ForWithholdLOGO

    01 Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D.

For

    02 Colin Rutherford

For
ForAgainstAbstain

2: To approve the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which includes an increase in the number of shares reserved under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan from 458,586 shares to 5,300,000 shares.

For

3: To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

For

Authorized Signatures - This section must be completed for your Instructions to be executed.

 

Please Sign HerePlease Date Above

Please Sign HerePlease Date Above

San Diego, California

April 29, 2016Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certificate. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy.

 

LOGO


NEOTHETICS, INC.

THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NEOTHETICS, INC.

The undersigned, revoking any previous proxies relating to these s0hares, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement dated April 29, 2016, in connection with the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Neothetics,Evofem Biosciences, Inc.

to be held at 9:30 a.m., PDT, on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at DLA Piper LLP, located at 4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100, San Diego, California 92121,Tuesday, May 8, 2018

for Holders as of March 12, 2018

This proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

LOGO     INTERNETVOTE BY:

LOGO     TELEPHONE

Go To866-509-1049

www.proxypush.com/EVFM

• Cast your vote online.

• View Meeting Documents.

OR

LOGOMAIL

• Use any touch-tone telephone.

• Have your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form ready.

• Follow the simple recorded instructions.

ORMark, sign and date your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form.
Detach your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form.

Return your Proxy Card/Voting Instruction Form in the postage-paid envelope provided.

The undersigned hereby appoints Susan A. Knudson, (with full power to act alone),Alexander Fitzpatrick and Justin J. File, and each or either of them, as the attorneystrue and proxieslawful attorneys of the undersigned, with thefull power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to appear for and vote all the shares of the Common Stockcapital stock of Neothetics,Evofem Biosciences, Inc. registered in the name provided herein which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,said meeting and at any postponements or adjournmentsadjournment thereof with all the powers the undersigned would have if personally present. Without limiting the general authorization hereby given, said proxies are, and each of them is, instructed to vote or act as indicated below hereof on the proposals set forth in said Proxy.

SEE BELOW FOR ALL PROPOSALS. If you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations, just sign below. You need not mark any boxes. Please mark, date and return this card promptly, using the enclosed envelope. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED

POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE OR PROVIDE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE VIA THE INTERNET.

x Please mark votes as in this example.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 1.

1. Election of one Class II Director (or if any nominee is not available for election, such substitute as the Board of Directors may designate) for a three year term and until her successor is duly elected and qualified.

NOMINEE:

01. Martha J. Demski

o FOR THE NOMINEE

o WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR NOMINEE

TO VOTE “FOR THE NOMINEE” OR TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR THE NOMINEE MARK THE APPROPRIATE BOX ABOVE.

2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

o FOR

o AGAINST

o ABSTAIN

As of the time of preparation of the Proxy Statement and this Proxy, neither the Board nor management intends to bring before the meeting any business other thanupon the matters referred to in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholdersspecified and the Proxy Statement. If anyupon such other business shouldmatters as may be properly comebrought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, the proxies willconferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys to vote in their discretion on such other matters according to their discretionas may properly come before the meeting and best judgment.  revoking any proxy heretofore given.

This Proxy when executed will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no direction is made this proxy will be votedTHE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEE in Proposal No.ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS IN ITEM 1 andAND FOR Proposal No. 2.  This Proxy may be revoked by the undersigned at any time prior to the time it is voted by any of the means described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATETHE PROPOSALS IN ITEMS 2 AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.3.

Date:

 

Signature:All votes must be received by 5:00 P.M., Eastern Time, May 7, 2018.

 

PROXY TABULATOR FOR

 

Signature:EVOFEM BIOSCIENCES, INC.

P.O. BOX 8016

CARY, NC 27512-9903

EVENT #
CLIENT #

Please separate carefully at the perforation and return just this portion in the envelope provided.


Proxy — (Evofem Biosciences, Inc.)
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 8, 2018, 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors

 

The undersigned appoints Alexander Fitzpatrick and Justin J. File (the “Named Proxies”) and each of them as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote the shares of common stock of Evofem Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar located at 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130, on May 8, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. PST and all adjournments thereof.

NOTE: Please insert date and sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or officer or other authorized person on behalf of a corporation or other entity, or in another representative capacity, please give full title as such under signature(s).


Voting Instructions

You may vote your proxy in the following ways:

·LOGO

Via Internet:

·

LoginThe purpose of the Annual Meeting is to www.pstvote.com/neothetics2016

·

Enter your control number (12 digit number located below)

·

Via Mail:

Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc.

2320 Haverford Rd., Suite 230

Ardmore, PA 19003

CONTROL NUMBER

take action on the following:

 

You may vote by Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Internet voting is available through 11:59 p.m., prevailing time, on June 15, 2016. Your Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

1.

Election of Class I Directors: Kim P. Kamdar, Ph.D. and Colin Rutherford.

2.

Approval of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which includes an increase in the number of shares available under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan from 458,586 shares to 5,300,000 shares.

3.

Ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018; and

4.

Transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company recommends a vote “FOR” all nominees for director and “FOR” each proposal.

 

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted “FOR” all nominees for director and “FOR” each proposal. In their discretion, the Named Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

You are encouraged to specify your choice by marking the appropriate box (SEE REVERSE SIDE) but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation. The Named Proxies cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this card.

                To attend the meeting and vote your shares            

                in person, please mark this box.