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· | Item FiveItem Four: Advisory approval of say-on-pay for named executive officers (yes or no) will be determined based on which of the two choices receives the most votes. Banks, brokers, and other nominees holding shares of record for a beneficial owner do not have the discretionary authority to vote shares held in street name as to which they have not received instructions from the beneficial owner on this proposal. Assuming a quorum has been established, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of say-on-pay for named executive officers(yes or no) will be determined by which of the two choices receives the most votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count neither for nor against the proposal.
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· | Item Six: Say-on-frequency advisory vote (one, two or three years) will be determined by which of the three choices receives the most votes.Abstentions and broker non-votes will count neither for nor against the proposal.
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· | Item Seven: Approval of one or more adjournments of theannual meeting requires a majority of all shares present in person or represented by proxy and voting on the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome.
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WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF NOT CASTING YOUR VOTE?
If shares are held in street name by a bank, broker, or other nominee, it is critical that you give instructions to your bank, broker or nominee as to how you wish your shares to be voted. If you hold your shares in street name it is critical thatand you castfail to provide instructions to your vote if you wantbank, broker or nominee with respect to the election of directors in Item One, your shares will not be counted for the election of directors in ItemOne.Your brokerage firmItem One, since your bank, broker or nominee will not have discretionary authority to vote for election of directors in Item One. If you holdAssuming a quorum has been established, the failure of your shares in street name and you do not provide instructions on howbank, broker, or nominee to vote forany shares as to which you have not provided voting instructions, however, will have no outcome of the election of directors, no votes may be cast for election of directors on your behalf.directors.
Your brokeragebank, broker or nominee firm cannot vote your uninstructed shares in their discretion on any other matter unless it is considered “routine.” We believe that Item Two, ratifying the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm, is a routine proposal, and your bank, broker or nominee firm will have discretionary authority to vote any shares as to which you have not provided voting instructions on Item Two. If you hold your shares in street name and you do not instruct your bank, broker, or other nominee as to how to vote your shares, your bank, broker, or nominee may vote your shares in its discretion on Item Two.
We believe that Item Three, the approval of an amendment of our restated certificateCertificate of incorporationIncorporation to effect an increase in the number of shares of authorized common stock, will be considered a routine proposal. If it is considered a routine proposal, and if you hold your brokerage firmshares in street name, your bank, broker, or other nominee will have discretionary authority to vote your shares as to which you have not provided voting instructions on Items Two andItem Three. If you hold your shares in street name and you do not instruct your brokerage firmbank, broker, or other nominee as to how to vote your brokerage firmshares, your bank, broker, or nominee may vote for Items Two andyour shares in its discretion on Item Three. However, we understand that certain banks, brokers, or other nominee firms have elected not to exercise their discretionary authority to vote shares as to which they have not received instructions on certain “routine” matters such as the amendment of our restated Certificate of Incorporation. If your bank, broker, or other nominee firm fails to exercise its discretion to vote your shares on Item Three, your shares will count as votes against the approval of Item Three. Accordingly, we urge you to provide instructions to your bank, broker, or other nominee as to how to vote your shares to ensure that your shares will be voted on Item Three in accordance with your wishes at the virtual annual meeting.
ItemsWe believe that Item Four, Five and Six, approval of an increase in shares available under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan,the advisory approval on say-on-pay for our named executive officers, and the say-on-frequency advisory vote, respectively, arewill not be considered routine. Your brokerage firmIf your shares are held in street name, your bank, broker, or other nominee will not have discretionary authority to vote your shares on ItemsFour, Five or Six.Item Four without your instructions. If you hold your shares in street name and you do not provide instructions onto your bank, broker, or other nominee as to how to vote, then no vote will be cast with respect to your shares on these itemsItem Four. Assuming a quorum has been established, the failure of your bank, broker, or nominee to vote any shares as to which you have not provided voting instructions will have no effect on your behalf.the outcome of Item Four.
If you are a stockholder of record and you do not cast your vote, no votes will be cast on your behalf on any of the items of business at the virtual annual meeting.
IS VOTING CONFIDENTIAL?
We will keep all the proxies, ballots and voting tabulations private. We only let Broadridge examine these documents. Management will not know how you voted on a specific proposal unless it is necessary to meet legal requirements. Broadridgewill,Broadridge will, however, forward to management any written comments you make on the proxy card.
VOTING RIGHTS, SHARES OUTSTANDING AND VOTES PER SHARE
Holders of common stock and of Series A preferred stock at the close of business on the record date of May 3, 2013 are entitled to vote at the meeting.
· | Common stock: 38,947,912shares outstanding, one vote per share |
· | Series A preferred stock: 4,697 shares outstanding with approximately 11.25 votes per share, a total of 52,829votes |
There are no rights of appraisal or similar rights of dissenters with respect to the items of business at this meeting.
HOUSEHOLDING OF ANNUAL DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS
To reduce the expense of delivering duplicate proxy materials to stockholders who may have more than one account holding our stock who share the same address, we have adopted a procedure approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) called “householding.” Under this procedure, one Notice or a single set of our annual report and proxy statement will be sent to any household at which two or more of our stockholders reside, if we or your broker believe that the stockholders are members of the same family. Householding benefits both you and us. It reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps to reduce our expenses. The procedure applies to our annual reports, proxy statements, other proxy materials 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. Each stockholder will continue to have access to and utilize separate proxy voting instructions.
If you do not wish to participate in “householding” and would like to receive your own set of any or all of our annual disclosure documents, or if you share an address with another Palatin stockholder and together both of you would like to receive only a single set of our annual disclosure documents, please contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., either by calling toll-free at (800) 542-1061, or by writing to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. Alternatively, if your brokerage firm or other nominee holds your Palatin shares, you may contact your 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.
WHY ARE WE HOLDING A VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING?
Our nominating and corporate governance committee has nominated the nine persons listed below to serve as directors. A stockholder who wishes to suggest a nomineeDue to the nominatingongoing public health impact of COVID-19, and corporate governance committee may do so into support the mannerhealth and within the time frame explained under “Nominationwell-being of Directors” below. Effective as ofour stockholders, this year’s annual meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. We have designed our virtual format to enhance, rather than constrain, stockholder access, participation, and communication. It is the numberpresent expectation of the board of directors that future annual meetings will have an in-person format.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ARE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES DURING THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING?
If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual annual meeting website.
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ITEM ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The board has nominated the following seven persons as directors to serve until the next annual meeting and until their successors have been duly elected. Each of the nominees is fixed at nine. We recommend voting FOR the nine nominees named in this proxy statement. At the meeting, the ninecurrently a director of Palatin. The seven nominees who receive the most votes will be elected as directors to serve until the next annual meeting, or until their successors are elected and qualified. Each of the nominees other than Angela Rossetti is currently a director and was elected at our last annual stockholders’ meeting on June 7, 2012. The nominating and corporate governance committee identified Ms. Rossetti as a candidate for nomination through a third-party search firm. If any of the nominees should become unavailable to serve on the board, which is not expected at this time,
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote your sharesthe proxies received by them for a board-approved substitute,the seven nominees named below. If any nominee is unable or declines to serve as director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who is designated by our present board to fill the vacancy, or the board may reduce the number of directors.
Nominees for Election as Directors. The board unanimously adopted a resolution proposing the nominees set forth below for election as directors of Palatin for the next year.
| Name | | Age | | Position with Palatin |
| | | | |
| Carl Spana, Ph.D. | | 50 | 58 | Chief executive officer, presidentExecutive Officer, President and a director |
| | | | Director |
| John K.A. Prendergast, Ph.D. (3) | | 59 | 67 | Director, chairmanChairman of the boardBoard of directors |
| | | | |
Perry B. Molinoff, M.D. (1) (3) | | 72 | | Director |
| | | | Directors |
| Robert K. deVeer, Jr. (1) (2) | | 67 | 74 | Director |
| | | | |
Zola P. Horovitz, Ph.D. (2) (3) | | 78 | | Director |
| | | | |
Robert I. Taber, Ph.D. (1) (2) | | 76 | | Director |
| | | | |
J. Stanley Hull (3)(1) (2) | | 60 | 68 | Director |
| | | | |
| Alan W. Dunton, M.D. (1) (2) | | 58 | 66 | Director |
| Arlene M. Morris (2) (3) | 69 | | | |
Angela Rossetti | | 60 | | Nominee for Director |
| Anthony M. Manning, Ph.D. (3) | 59 | | | Director |
(1) Member of the audit committee. (2) Member of the compensation committee. (3) Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee. |
CARL SPANA, Ph.D., co-founder of Palatin, has been our chief executive officerChief Executive Officer and presidentPresident since June 14, 2000. He has been a director of Palatin since June 1996 and has been a director of our wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiary, RhoMed Incorporated, since July 1995. From June 1996 through June 14, 2000, Dr. Spana served as an executive vice president and our chief technical officer. From June 1993 to June 1996, Dr. Spana was vice president of Paramount Capital Investments, LLC, a biotechnology and biopharmaceutical merchant banking firm, and of The Castle Group Ltd., a medical venture capital firm. Through his work at Paramount Capital Investments and The Castle Group, Dr. Spana co-founded and acquired several private biotechnology firms. From July 1991 to June 1993,
Dr. Spana was a Research Associate at Bristol-Myers Squibb, a publicly-heldpublicly held pharmaceutical company, where he was involved in scientific research in the field of immunology. Dr. Spana is a director of AVAX Technologies, Inc., a life science company. Dr. Spana received his Ph.D. in molecular biology from The Johns Hopkins University and his B.S. in biochemistry from Rutgers University.
Dr. Spana’s qualifications for our board include his scientific expertise, leadership experience, business judgment, and industry experience.knowledge. As a senior executive of Palatin for over fifteentwenty years, he provides in-depth knowledge of our company, our drug products under development and the competitive and corporate partnering landscape.
JOHN K.A. PRENDERGAST, Ph.D., co-founder of Palatin, has been chairmanserved as the non-executive Chairman of the board since June 14, 2000, and as a director since August 1996. While Mr. Prendergast has served as a member of the board, he does not, and has not, served in a management or operational role with the company. Dr. Prendergast has been president and sole stockholder of Summercloud Bay, Inc., an independent consulting firm providing services to the biotechnology industry, since 1993. Dr. Prendergast is lead director of Heat Biologics, Inc., a director and the chairman and chief executive officer of AVAX Technologies, Inc.publicly traded clinical stage immunotherapy company, and a director and executivenon-executive chairman of the board of directors of Antyra, Inc.Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a privately-held biopharmaceutical firm.publicly traded Australian pharmaceutical company developing antibiotic drugs. He was previously a member of the board of the life science companies AVAX Technologies, Inc., Avigen, Inc. and MediciNova, Inc. From October 1991 through December 1997, Dr. Prendergast was a managing director of The Castle Group Ltd., a medical venture capital firm. Dr. Prendergast received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia and a C.S.S. in administration and management from Harvard University.
Dr. Prendergast is a co-founder of Palatin, and brings a historical perspective to our board coupled with extensive industry experience in corporate development and finance in the life sciences field. His prior service on other publicly traded company boards provides experience relevant to good corporate governance practices.
PERRY B. MOLINOFF, M.D. has been a director since November 2001. He served as our executive vice president for research and development from September 2001 until November 3, 2003, when he resigned to accept a position as Vice Provost for Research at the University of Pennsylvania, which he held from November 2003 through September 2006. He was a director of Cypress Bioscience, Inc., a publicly-held life science company, from 2004 through its acquisition by Ramius LLC and related entities in 2010. In May 2012 he became a director of Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc., a publicly-held Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company. Dr. Molinoff has more than 30 years of experience in both the industrial and educational sectors. From 1981 to 1994, he was a professor of pharmacology and chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. From January 1995 until March 2001, he was vice president of neuroscience and genitourinary drug discovery for the Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, where he was responsible for directing and implementing the Institute’s research efforts. Dr. Molinoff earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Molinoff has extensive academic and pharmaceutical company experience, with scientific knowledge that makes him a resource to our executive officers and other board members. As a former officer of Palatin, Dr. Molinoff has significant knowledge of our technologies and drug products under development, as well as the markets potentially addressed by our drug products under development.
ROBERT K. deVEER, Jr. has been a director of Palatin since November 1998. Since January 1997, Mr. deVeer has been the president of deVeer Capital LLC, a private investment company. He was a director of Solutia Inc., a publicly-heldpublicly held chemical-based materials company, until its merger with Eastman Chemical Company in July 2012. From 1995 until his retirement in 1996, Mr. deVeer served as Managing Director, Head of Industrial Group, at New York-based Lehman Brothers. From 1973 to 1995, he held increasingly responsible positions at New York-based CS First Boston, including Head of Project Finance, Head of Industrials and Head of Natural Resources. He was a managing director, member of the investment banking committee and a trustee of the First Boston Foundation. He received a B.A. in economics from Yale University and an M.B.A. in finance from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Mr. deVeer has extensive experience in investment banking and corporate finance, including the financing of life sciences companies, and serves as the audit committee’s financial expert.
ZOLA P. HOROVITZ, Ph.D. has been a director since February 2001. Before he retired from Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1994, Dr. Horovitz spent 34 years in various positions, including associate director of the Squibb Institute for Medical Research, vice president of development, vice president, scientific liaison, vice president of licensing, and vice president of business development and planning for the pharmaceutical division of Bristol-Myers Squibb. He held advisory positions at the University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers College of Pharmacy and Princeton University. He is currently a director and non-executive chairman of the board of GenVec, Inc., a publicly-held life science company.Within the past five years, Dr. Horovitz also served on the board of directors of BioCryst Pharmaceutical, Inc., Genaera Corp., Immunicon Corp., NitroMed, Inc., Avigen, Inc. and DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. Dr. Horovitz earned his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Horovitz has extensive experience in development of pharmaceutical drugs, business development and licensing, and has served on the board of directors of a number of publicly-held life science companies.
ROBERT I. TABER, Ph.D. has been a director since May 2001. Dr. Taber began his career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1962, holding a succession of positions within Schering Corporation’s biological research group before leaving in 1982 as director of biological research. He has also held a number of increasingly important positions with DuPont Pharmaceuticals and the DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company, including director of pharmaceutical research, director of pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, vice president of pharmaceutical research and vice president of extramural research and development. From 1994 to 1998, Dr. Taber held the position of senior vice president of research and development at Synaptic Pharmaceuticals Corporation before founding Message Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 1998, serving as president and chief executive officer until 2000. Dr. Taber earned his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the Medical College of Virginia.
Dr. Taber has extensive experience in pharmaceutical research and development both in large pharmaceutical companies and in smaller biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies.
J. STANLEY HULL has been a director of Palatin since September 2005. Mr. Hull has over three decades of experience in the field of sales, marketing and marketing.drug development. Mr. Hull joined GlaxoSmithKline, a research-based pharmaceutical company, in October 1987 and retired as Senior Vice President,
Pharmaceuticals – North America in May 2010, having previously2010. Mr. Hull was responsible for all commercial activities including sales, marketing, sales training, and office operations. Previously Mr. Hull served in the R&D organization of GlaxoSmithKlineGlaxo Wellcome as Vice President and Worldwide Director of Therapeutic Development and Product Strategy – Neurology and Psychiatry. Prior to that,his service in the R&D organization he was Vice President of Marketing – Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology for Glaxo Wellcome Inc.Wellcome-U.S. Mr. Hull started his career in the pharmaceutical industry with SmithKline and French Laboratories in 1978. Mr. Hull received his B.S. in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Mr. Hull has extensive experience in commercial operations, development, and marketing of pharmaceutical drugs and corporate alliances between pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies.
ALAN W. DUNTON, M.D.hasM.D., has been a director of Palatin since June 2011. Since April 2006, he has been president ofHe founded Danerius, LLC, a biotechnology consulting company, whichin 2006. From November 2015 through March 2018, he founded in 2006.was senior vice president of research, development, and regulatory affairs for Purdue Pharma L.P., with responsibilities for overall research strategy and development programs. From January 2007 to March 2009, Dr. Dunton served as president and chief executive officer of Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc. and he served as a managing director of Panacos from March 2009 to January 2011. Dr. Dunton is currently a member of the board of directors of the publicly-tradedpublicly traded companies Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: RCE), CorMedix Inc. (NYSE: CRMD) and Oragenics, Inc., Targacept, Inc. and EpiCept Corporation, and is also non-executive chairman of EpiCept, and, within the past five years, he (NYSE: OGEN). He previously served on the board of directors of the publicly-tradedpublicly traded companies Targacept, Inc., EpiCept Corporation (as Non-Executive Chairman), Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Reckitt Benckiser Group plc), MediciNova, Inc. and Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Previously, Dr. Dunton has served as a director or executive officer of various pharmaceutical companies, and from 1994 to 2001, Dr. Dunton was a senior executive in various capacities in the Pharmaceuticals Group of Johnson & Johnson, including president and managing director of the Janssen Research Foundation, the primary global R&D organization for Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Dunton received his M.D. degree from New York University School of Medicine, where he completed his residency in internal medicine. He also was a Fellow in Clinical Pharmacology at the New York Hospital/Cornell University Medical Center.
Dr. Dunton has extensive drug development, regulatory, and clinical research experience, having played a key role in the development of more than 20 products to regulatory approval, and also has extensive experience as an executive orand officer for both large pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies.
ANGELA ROSSETTI is
ARLENE M. MORRIS has been a nominee for director.director of Palatin since June 2015. Since May 2015 she has served as the chief executive officer of Willow Advisors, LLC. From 2009 through JanuaryApril 2012 until May 2015, she was a vicepresident at PfizerPresident and Chief Executive Officer of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where she led a global commercial medicine teamprivately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of an epigenetic therapy for treatment-resistant cancers, and was a smoking cessation franchise.member of the board of directors from May 2011 until May 2015. From 2003 to January 2011, Ms. Morris served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Affymax, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company. Ms. Morris has also held various management and executive positions at Clearview Projects, Inc., a corporate advisory firm, Coulter Pharmaceutical, Inc., a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, Scios Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, and Johnson & Johnson, a publicly traded healthcare company. She is currently a member of the board of directors of Viveve Medical, Inc., a publicly traded female healthcare medical device company, Viridian Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded microRNA therapeutics company, and Cogent Biosciences, Inc., a publicly traded solid tumor cancer therapy company, and was an assistanta director of Neovacs SA, a publicly traded French company, Biodel Inc., a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company, from 2015 until its merger with Albireo Limited in 2016, and Dimension Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded gene therapy company, until its acquisition by Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. in 2017. Ms. Morris received a B.A. in Biology and Chemistry from Carlow College.
Ms. Morris has extensive experience in the biotechnology industry, including prior leadership positions, senior management, and board service, and experience as chief executive officer of companies with product candidates in phase 3 clinical trials.
ANTHONY M. MANNING, Ph.D., has been a director of Palatin since September 2017. Since March 2021 Dr. Manning has been providing scientific and strategic advice to biotechnology companies. From 2013 until March 2021, Dr. Manning was senior vice president of research, and since 2018 was chief scientific officer, at Wyeth, managingMomenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global hemophilia franchisefrom 2007 until 2009, when Wyethpublicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for rare immune-related diseases which was acquired by Pfizer.Johnson & Johnson in October 2020. From 20052011 to 2006 she2013, he was senior vice president of Ogilvy Healthworld, an advertising business inresearch and development at Aileron Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing stapled peptide therapeutics for cancers and other diseases. From 2007 to 2011, he was vice president and head of inflammation and autoimmune diseases research at Biogen, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company developing medicines for neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. From 2002 to 2007, he was vice president and global therapy area head for Inflammation, Autoimmunity and Transplantation Research at Roche Pharmaceuticals, the pharmaceutical division of Roche Holding AG, and biotechnology sectors. Previously she workedfrom 2000 to 2002 he was vice president of Pharmacia, a global pharmaceutical company acquired by Pfizer in a variety of increasingly responsible positions in communications, marketing2002. Dr. Manning received his Ph.D., M.Sc. and venture capital/investment banking. Ms. Rossetti is currently a candidate for a master’s degree in bioethics from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and has an M.B.A. in finance from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a B.A.B.Sc. from the University of Pennsylvania.Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Ms. RossettiDr. Manning has extensive experience in worldwidetranslational research and development and marketing of specialty pharmaceuticals, including prefilled syringenew pharmaceutical products, and in communicationspharmaceutical and biotechnology research, development, of marketing and promotional plans.business strategy.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the election of the nineseven nominees listed above.
[END OF ITEM ONE]
Board Composition and Nominating Process
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We recommend voting FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. KPMG served as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. We expect that a representative of KPMG will attend the annual meeting. The representative will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
Audit Fees. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, KPMG billed us a total of $305,000 for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, review of our consolidated financial statements in our Forms 10-Q and services provided in connection with regulatory filings. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, the total billed for the same services was $282,500.
Audit-Related Fees. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, KPMG did not perform or bill us for any audit-related services.
Tax Fees. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, KPMG billed us a total of $15,500 for professional services rendered for tax compliance. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, KPMG billed us $50,100for professional services rendered for tax compliance.
All Other Fees. KPMG did not perform or bill us for any services other than those described above for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors. Consistent with SEC policies regarding auditor independence, the audit committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation for and overseeing the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. In recognition of this responsibility, the audit committee has established a policy to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm.
Before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm for the next year’s audit, management will submit to the audit committee for approval an estimate of fees for services expected to be rendered during that year in each of four categories:
1. Audit services, including work that generally only our independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably be expected to provide, such as services provided in connection with regulatory filings, statutory audits and attest services and consultation regarding financial accounting and/or reporting standards;
2. Audit-related services, including assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by the independent registered public accounting firm, including due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit plan audits and special procedures required to meet certain regulatory requirements;
3. Tax services, including services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm’s tax personnel except those services specifically related to the audit of the consolidated financial statements, including fees in the areas of tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice; and
4. All other services not described in the preceding categories. We generally do not request other services from our independent registered public accounting firm.
The audit committee pre-approves fees for each category of service. The fees are budgeted and the audit committee requires the independent registered public accounting firm and management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval. In those instances, the audit committee requires specific pre-approval before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm.
The audit committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Although stockholder approval of KPMG LLP’s appointment as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by law or binding on the board or the audit dommittee, the board and the audit committee believe that stockholders should have an opportunity to express their views. In the event the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, the audit committee will reconsider its appointment.
The audit committee of the board of directors, which consists entirely of directors who meet the independence and experience requirements of the NYSE MKT LLC (the “NYSE MKT”), has furnished the following report:
The audit committee assists the board in overseeing and monitoring the integrity of its financial reporting process, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the quality of internal and external audit processes. This 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 KPMG LLP.
The audit committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 with Palatin’s management and has discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required to be discussed under Public Company Accounting Oversight Board standards, including Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended. In addition, the audit committee has received from KPMG LLP the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG LLP regarding its independence as required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG LLP communications with the audit committee, and the audit committee further discussed with KPMG LLP its independence. The audit committee also considered the status of pending litigation, taxation matters and other areas of oversight relating to the financial reporting and audit process that the committee determined appropriate.
Based on these reviews and discussions, we recommended to the board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in Palatin’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
The Audit Committee
Robert K. deVeer, Jr., Chairman
Robert I. Taber, Ph.D.
Perry B. Molinoff, M.D.
Alan W. Dunton, M.D.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.
[END OF ITEM TWO]
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Increase in authorized capital resolution and amendment. On April 25, 2013, the board of directors adopted a resolution which authorizes, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to our restated certificate of incorporation to increase our authorized common stock, $0.01 par value per share, from 200,000,000 shares to 300,000,000 shares. The additional common stock to be authorized by adoption of this amendment would have rights identical to our currently authorized and outstanding common stock. The number of authorized shares of our preferred stock, 10,000,000 shares, will not be affected by this amendment.
Text of the increase in authorized capital resolution and amendment. The complete text of the increase in authorized capital resolution and amendment is set forth as Appendix A to this proxy statement. If this proposal is approved, the amendment will become immediately effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware, which is expected to occur promptly after the annual meeting.
Purpose and background of increase in authorized capital. The increase in authorized capital will increase the number of shares of our common stock available to be issued. Due in part to a large private placement offering of stock and warrants which we completed in July 2012 (see the following paragraph), just over two thirds (67.6%) of our authorized common stock is now either issued, reserved for issuance on conversion of Series A preferred stock, or reserved for issuance under existing warrants, options, restricted stock units and stock incentive plans. We are seeking this increase in authorized common stock in order to:
· | have sufficient authorized common stock available for future financings or other business reasons, including strategic acquisitions, |
· | enable us to provide equity incentives through warrants to key contractors, and |
· | increase the number of shares available under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, as discussed in Item Four below. |
For the reasons listed above and as discussed below, the board and management believe it is in the best interests of Palatin and its stockholders to increase the authorized common stock.
On July 3, 2012, we closed on a private placement offering in which we sold 3,873,000 shares of our common stock, Series A warrants to purchase up to 31,988,151 shares of our common stock and Series B warrants to purchase up to 35,488,380 shares of our common stock, for an overall purchase price of $0.50 per share of common stock (the “2012 Private Placement”). In order to complete our obligations under that offering, the board requested and the stockholders approved an increase in our authorized common stock from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000 shares in September 2012.
The following table shows our common stock outstanding and issuable or reserved for issuance as of April 25, 2013.
| | Common Stock
Outstanding or Reserved
| |
| | | | |
Common stock outstanding | | | 38,947,912 | |
| | | | |
Shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A preferred stock | | | 52,829 | |
| | | | |
Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, including those issued in the 2012 Private Placement | | | 91,951,276 | |
| | | | |
Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise or vesting of outstanding stock options and restricted stock units under all plans | | | 3,144,858 | |
| | | | |
Shares of common stock available for issuance under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan | | | 1,151,821 | |
| | | | |
Total | | | 135,248,696 | |
The board of directors believes it is in the best interests of Palatin and its stockholders to have sufficient additional authorized but unissued shares of common stock available in order to provide flexibility for corporate action in the future. Management believes that the availability of additional authorized shares for issuance from time to time in the board’s discretion, such as in connection with stock options and rights, including our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, future financings, incentives for key contractors, possible acquisitions of other companies, investment opportunities or for other corporate purposes, is desirable to allow Palatin to enter into such transactions in a timely way. We would like to avoid the situation which occurred in 2012, where completion of a major financing transaction was delayed and contingent on holding a special meeting of the stockholders, which cost approximately $58,000.
We currently have no specific understandings, arrangements, agreements or other plans to issue, in connection with future financings, acquisitions or otherwise, any of the additional authorized but unissued shares that would be available as a result of the proposed increase in the number of authorized shares of our common stock. However, the board believes that the currently unissued shares do not provide sufficient flexibility for corporate action in the future, including future financings.
An increase in the number of authorized shares of our common stock could have the effect of making it more difficult to, or discouraging an attempt to, obtain control of Palatin by means of a takeover bid that our board determines is not in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. However, our board does not intend or view the proposed increase in authorized common stock as an anti-takeover measure and is not proposing the increase in response to any attempt or plan to obtain control of Palatin.
If the increase in authorized common stock is approved, we will not solicit further authorization by vote of the stockholders for issuance of the additional shares of common stock, except as required by law, regulatory authorities, the rules of the NYSE MKT or any other stock exchange on which our shares may then be listed.
The issuance of additional shares of common stock could have the effect of diluting existing stockholder earnings per share, book value per share and voting power. Other than rights of participation in future financings under the terms of the 2012 Private Placement offering described above, as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement included as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on July 6, 2012, our stockholders do not have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any part of any new or additional issuance of our securities.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the increased common stock authorization.
[END OF ITEM THREE]
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INCREASE IN PLAN SHARES
On April 25, 2013, the board of directors authorized an increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) from 3,500,000 shares to 7,000,000 shares. Approval by our stockholders of the share increase is required by the listing rules of the NYSE MKT, for favorable federal income tax treatment for grants of incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and for continued eligibility to receive a federal income tax deduction for certain compensation paid under the plan by complying with Rule 162(m) of the Code. The only material change that is proposed to be made to the 2011 Plan is to increase the shares available for issuance from 3,500,000 shares to 7,000,000 shares.
In addition to the 3,500,000 shares initially available under the 2011 Plan, 482,921 shares have been available under the 2011 Plan upon reversion from its predecessor plan, our 2005 Stock Plan (the “Prior Plan”), making a total of 3,982,921 shares initially available under the 2011 Plan. As of April 25, 2013, options to purchase 2,108,600 shares were outstanding under the plan and 472,500 shares were issuable on vesting of outstanding restricted stock units. Restricted stock units for 250,000 shares have vested under the plan and those shares are no longer available for issuance. As of April 25, 2013, the number of shares issued or potentially issuable under all options and stock awards was 2,831,100, which leaves only 1,151,821 shares available for future grants of awards under the 2011 Plan. The board believes that it will not be able to continue carrying out the purposes of the plan unless additional stock becomes available for issuance under the plan.
Plan Highlights.The 2011 Plan authorizes the grant of equity-based and cash-based compensation to our key employees, consultants and non-employee directors in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, other share-based awards and cash-based awards. Some of the key features of the 2011 Plan, assuming authorization of an increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance, are highlighted below and are more fully described under the heading “Summary of the Plan.”
· | The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the 2011 Plan is 7,000,000, plus the number of shares available to be granted under the Prior Plan on May 11, 2011, the date of the initial stockholder approval of the 2011 Plan, and shares which become available under the 2011 Plan if they are forfeited under the Prior Plan on or after May 11, 2011. |
· | The 2011 Plan does not permit what has been labeled by some stockholder groups as “liberal share counting” when determining the number of shares that have been granted. Only awards that are cancelled, forfeited or which are paid in cash can be added back to the share reserve. |
· | The 2011 Plan is designed to allow awards made under the plan to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
· | Dividends or dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards that vest based on the achievement of performance goals shall be accumulated until such award is earned, and the dividends or dividend equivalents shall not be paid if the performance goals are not satisfied. |
· | The 2011 Plan prohibits the use of “discounted” stock options or stock appreciation rights. |
· | The 2011 Plan prohibits the re-pricing of stock options and stock appreciation rights without stockholder approval. |
· | Any awards granted under the 2011 Plan are subject to forfeiture or repayment if a participant’s employment or service is terminated for cause (as described below). Awards may also be subject to forfeiture or repayment pursuant to the terms of any compensation recovery policy adopted to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any rules issued by the SEC or the NYSE MKT. |
The following is a summary of the plan. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the plan, a copy of which is attached as Appendix B to this proxy statement.
SUMMARY OF THE PLAN
The following is a summary of the 2011 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2011 Plan, which is attached as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement. If our stockholders do not approve this amendment to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the 2011 Plan, the share increase will not take effect. However, the 2011 Plan will remain in full effect accordingly to its existing terms, and we will be able to continue to make awards under the 2011 Plan subject to existing authorized share limits.
Plan Limits. Assuming stockholder approval of the increase of the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2011 Plan, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be issued or transferred with respect to awards under the 2011 Plan will be7,000,000, plus the number of shares available to be granted under the Prior Plan on May 11, 2011, and shares that become available under the 2011 Plan if they are forfeited under the Prior Plan on or after May 11, 2011. Shares issued or delivered pursuant to an award under the 2011 Plan may include authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares, or a combination of the foregoing. Shares covering awards that terminate or are forfeited, or shares that are returned to the company pursuant to a compensation recovery policy, will again be available for issuance under the 2011 Plan, and upon payment in cash of the benefit provided by any award granted under the 2011 Plan, any shares that were covered by that award will be available for issue or transfer under the 2011 Plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares surrendered for the payment of the exercise price under stock options, repurchased by us with option proceeds, or withheld for taxes upon exercise or vesting of an award, are not again available for issuance under the 2011 Plan. In addition, if a stock appreciation right is exercised and settled in shares, all of the shares underlying the stock appreciation right are counted against the 2011 Plan limit regardless of the number of shares used to settle the stock appreciation right.
The 2011 Plan imposes various sub-limits on the number of shares of our common stock that may be issued or transferred under the 2011 Plan. In order to comply with the rules applicable to incentive stock options, the 2011 Plan provides that all of the shares available may be issued as incentive stock options. In order to comply with the exemption from Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code relating to performance-based compensation, the 2011 Plan imposes the following additional individual sub-limits on awards intended to satisfy that exemption:
· | the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be subject to stock options or stock appreciation rights granted in any calendar year to any one participant is 500,000 shares, |
· | the maximum aggregate number of shares of restricted shares and shares subject to restricted share units granted in any calendar year to any one participant is 500,000 shares, |
· | the maximum aggregate compensation that can be paid pursuant to other share-based awards or cash-based awards granted in any calendar year to any one participant is $500,000 or a number of shares having an aggregate fair market value not in excess of such amount, and |
· | the maximum dividend equivalents that may be paid in any calendar year to any one participant is $100,000. |
Administration. The 2011 Plan is administered by our compensation committee or such other committee as our board selects consisting of two or more directors, each of whom is intended to be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an “outside director” under regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, and an “independent director” under the NYSE MKT listing standards. The compensation committeehas full and final authority in its discretion to take all actions determined to be necessary in the administration of the 2011 Plan.
Our board may reserve to itself any or all of the authority and responsibility of the compensation committee under the 2011 Plan or may act as administrator of the 2011 Plan for any and all purposes. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, our board or compensation committee may expressly delegate to one or more directors or officers some or all of the compensation committee’s authority, within specified parameters, to administer the 2011 Plan.
Eligibility. The 2011 Plan provides that awards may be granted to our employees (including employees of our subsidiaries), consultants and non-employee directors, except that incentive stock options may be granted only to employees. Seven non-employee directors and 19 employees, together with consultants we utilize, would currently be eligible to participate in the 2011 Plan.
Duration and Modification.The 2011 Plan will terminate on March 11, 2021, or such earlier date as our board of directors may determine. The 2011 Plan will remain in effect for outstanding awards until no awards remain outstanding. The board may amend, suspend or terminate the 2011 Plan at any time but stockholder approval is required for any further amendment to the extent necessary to comply with the NYSE MKT rules or applicable laws.
An amendment of the 2011 Plan or any award may not adversely affect in a material way any outstanding award without the consent of the affected participant, provided that the compensation committee may amend the plan or any award without a participant’s consent to the extent the compensation committee deems necessary to comply with applicable law.
Stock Options. Our compensation committee may, at any time and from time to time, grant stock options to participants in such number as the compensation committee determines in its discretion. Stock options may consist of incentive stock options (or “ISOs”), non-qualified stock options or any combinations of the foregoing awards.
Stock options provide the right to purchase common shares at a price not less than their fair market value on the date of grant (which date may not be earlier than the date that the compensation committee takes action with respect to such grants). The fair market value of our common stock as reported on the NYSE MKT on the record date, May 3, 2013, was $[●] per share. No stock options may be exercised more than 10 years from the date of grant.
Each grant must specify (i) the period of continuous employment that is necessary (or the performance objectives that must be achieved) before the stock options become exercisable, and (ii) the extent to which the option holder will have the right to exercise the stock options following termination. Our compensation committee will determine the terms in its discretion, which terms need not be uniform among all option holders.
The option price is payable at the time of exercise (i) in cash, (ii) by tendering unrestricted shares of our common stock that are already owned by the option holder and have a value at the time of exercise equal to the option price, (iii) by a cashless exercise (including by withholding shares deliverable upon exercise and through a broker-assisted arrangement to the extent permitted by applicable law), (iv) by any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or (v) through any other method approved by the compensation committee.
Stock Appreciation Rights.Our compensation committee may, at any time and from time to time, grant stock appreciation rights (or “SARs”) to participants in such number as the compensation committee determines in its discretion. The grant price for each SAR will be determined by the compensation committee, in its discretion, and will be at least equal to the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. No SAR may be exercised more than 10 years from the date of grant.
Upon the exercise of a SAR, the holder is entitled to receive payment in an amount determined by multiplying (i) the excess of the fair market value of a common share on the date of exercise over the grant price, by (ii) the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. Each grant will specify whether the payment will be in cash, common shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
Each grant of a SAR must specify (i) the period of continuous employment that is necessary (or the performance objectives that must be achieved) before the SAR becomes exercisable and (ii) the extent to which the holder will have the right to exercise the SAR following termination. Our compensation committee will determine these terms in its discretion, and these terms need not be uniform among all participants.
Restricted Shares.Our compensation committee may, at any time and from time to time, grant or sell restricted shares to participants in such number as the compensation committee determines in its discretion.
An award of restricted shares constitutes an immediate transfer of ownership of a specified number of common shares to the recipient in consideration of the performance of services. Unless otherwise provided by the compensation committee, the participant is entitled immediately to voting, dividend and other ownership rights in the shares. However, any right to dividends with respect to restricted shares that vest based on the achievement of performance objectives (as defined below) will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the restricted shares. The transfer may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the recipient that is less than the fair market value per share on the date of grant.
Restricted shares must be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture,” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code, based on continued service, the achievement of performance objectives, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by our compensation committee, at its discretion. In order to enforce these forfeiture provisions, the transferability of restricted shares will be prohibited or restricted in the manner prescribed by the compensation committee on the date of grant for the period during which such forfeiture provisions are to continue.
Restricted Share Units.Our compensation committee may, at any time and from time to time, grant or sell restricted share units, which are also sometimes called “restricted stock units,” to participants in such number as the compensation committee determines in its discretion.
Restricted share units constitute an agreement to deliver common shares to the recipient in the future at the end of a restriction period and subject to the fulfillment of such conditions as the compensation committee may specify. To the extent earned, the participant will receive payment of such performance-based restricted share units at the time and in the manner determined by our compensation committee, in cash, common shares, restricted shares, or any combination thereof.
During the restriction period the participant has no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and no right to vote or receive dividends on the shares covered by the restricted share units, but the compensation committee may authorize the payment of dividend equivalents with respect to the restricted share units on a current or deferred basis. However, any right to dividends equivalents with respect to restricted share units that vest based on the achievement of performance objectives (as defined below) is subject to the same terms and conditions as the restricted share units.
Other Share-Based Awards.Our compensation committee may, at any time and from time to time, grant or sell other share-based awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, shares of our common stock or factors that may influence the value of such shares. For example, the awards may include common shares granted as a stock bonus, convertible or exchangeable debt securities or other securities, purchase rights for shares, or awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of our company or our subsidiaries or other factors determined by the compensation committee.
The compensation committee will determine the terms and conditions of these other share-based awards. Common shares delivered pursuant to these types of awards will be purchased for such consideration, by such methods and in such forms as the compensation committee determines. Other share-based awards may be granted with a right to receive dividend equivalents on a current or deferred basis. However, any right to dividend equivalents with respect to any other share-based award that vests based on the achievement of performance objectives (as defined below) will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the other share-based award.
Cash-Based Awards.We may also grant cash-based awards under the 2011 Plan. A cash-based award gives a participant a right to receive a specified amount of cash, subject to terms and conditions established by the compensation committee, which may include continued service and/or the achievement of performance objectives.
Performance Objectives. Our compensation committee may condition the vesting, exercise or payment of any award upon the achievement of one or more performance objectives. Performance objectives may be described in terms of either company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual participant or the performance of our company or one or more of its subsidiaries, divisions, departments, units, functions, partnerships, joint ventures or minority investments, product lines or products, or the performance of an individual participant. The performance objectives may be relative to the performance of a group of comparable companies, a published or special index that our compensation committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate, or we may also select performance objectives as compared to various stock market indices.
Moreover, the compensation committee may designate any restricted share, restricted share unit, other share-based award or cash-based award as a qualified performance-based award in order to make the award fully deductible for federal income tax purposes without regard to the $1 million limit imposed by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. If an award is so designated, the compensation committee must establish objectively determinable performance objectives for the award within certain time limits. Performance objectives for such awards will be based on one or more of the following criteria: revenues, earnings from operations, operating income, earnings before or after interest and taxes, operating income before or after interest and taxes, net income, cash flow, earnings per share, return on total capital, return on invested capital, return on equity, return on assets, total return to stockholders, earnings before or after interest, or extraordinary or special items, operating income before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or extraordinary or special items, return on investment, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, cash flow in excess of cost of capital, operating margin, profit margin, contribution margin, stock price and/or strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified product development, strategic partnering, research and development milestones, clinical trial status, product approvals in geographic regions, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction, management of employment practices and employee benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures. To the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the performance objectives may be calculated without regard to extraordinary items or adjusted, as the compensation committee deems equitable, in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting our company or its subsidiaries or changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles.
Acceleration of Awards.Our compensation committee may in its discretion determine at any time that: (i) all or a portion of a participant’s stock options, SARs and other awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised will become fully or partially exercisable; (ii) all or a part of the time-based vesting restrictions on all or a portion of the outstanding awards will lapse; (iii) any performance-based criteria with respect to any awards will be deemed to be wholly or partially satisfied; and/or (iv) any other limitation or requirement under any such award will be waived, in each case, as of such date as the compensation committee, in its discretion, declares. Any such decisions by the compensation committee need not be uniform among all participants or awards. Unless our compensation committee otherwise determines, any such adjustment that is made with respect to an award that is intended to qualify for the performance-based exception of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code will be specified at such times and in such manner as will not cause such awards to fail to qualify under the performance-based exception. Additionally, the compensation committee will not make any adjustment that would cause an award that is otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code to become subject to Section 409A or that would cause an award that is subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A.
Change in Control.If we experience a change in control, the compensation committee generally has discretion to take action with respect to outstanding awards, including, without limitation, the ability to (i) accelerate the vesting, settlement or exercisability of an award; (ii) cancel an award in exchange for a cash payment; (iii) cancel a stock option or SAR without payment if the fair market value of a share on the date of the change in control does not exceed the exercise price per share of the stock option or SAR; or (iv) issue substitute awards.
A change in control generally means any of the following: (i) the acquisition of 50% or more of our outstanding voting securities; (ii) a change in the membership of our board of directors, so that the current incumbents and their approved successors no longer constitute a majority; (iii) consummation of a merger, reorganization or consolidation, unless the owners of our voting securities own 50% or more of the resulting corporation; or (iv) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets.
Forfeiture or Repayment of Awards.If a participant’s employment or service is terminated for cause, then, upon notice from the compensation committee, the participant shall forfeit all outstanding awards, return any shares held by the participant that were acquired under the 2011 Plan, and repay the company in cash for any shares that were acquired under the 2011 Plan but previously disposed of by the participant. For this purpose, “cause” shall have the meaning specified in any applicable employment agreement with the participant, or, if there is no such agreement, “cause” generally shall mean: (i) a material breach of, or habitual neglect or failure to perform the material aspects of a participant’s duties; the participant’s material failure to follow the reasonable directives or policies established by the company; or the participant’s engaging in conduct that is materially detrimental to the interests of the company and that results in a material loss or injury, provided that in each case the participant has a limited opportunity to remedy the situation (if capable of being remedied); (ii) the willful breach by the participant of any provision of any confidentiality, invention and non-disclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the participant and the company; or (iii) the conviction of the participant of, or the entry of a pleading of guilty or nolo contendere by the participant to, any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony.
Awards may also be subject to forfeiture or repayment pursuant to the terms of any compensation recovery policy adopted to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any rules issued by the SEC or the NYSE MKT.
Transferability.Except as our board of directors or compensation committee otherwise determines, awards granted under the 2011 Plan will not be transferable by a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Except as otherwise determined by our compensation committee, any stock options and SARs will be exercisable during a participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative. Any award made under the 2011 Plan may provide that any common shares issued or transferred as a result of the award will be subject to further restrictions upon transfer.
Adjustments. In the event of any equity restructuring, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, our compensation committee will adjust the number and kind of shares that may be delivered under the 2011 Plan, the individual award limits, and, with respect to outstanding awards, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards, the exercise price, and the grant price or other price of shares subject to outstanding awards, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights. In the event of any other change in corporate capitalization, such as a merger, consolidation or liquidation, the compensation committee may, in its discretion, cause there to be such equitable adjustment as described in the foregoing sentence, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights. However, unless otherwise determined by the compensation committee, we will always round down to a whole number of shares subject to any award. Any such adjustment will be made by our compensation committee, whose determination will be conclusive.
Prohibition on Re-Pricing.Subject to adjustment as described under “Adjustments” immediately above, the 2011 Plan does not permit, without the approval of our stockholders, what is commonly known as the “re-pricing” of stock options or SARs, including:
· | an amendment to reduce the exercise price of any outstanding stock option or base price of any outstanding SAR; |
· | the cancellation of an outstanding stock option or SAR and replacement with a stock option having a lower exercise price or with a SAR having a lower base price; and |
· | the cancellation of an outstanding stock option or SAR and replacement with another award under the 2011 Plan. |
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion is limited to a summary of the U.S. federal income tax provisions relating to the grant, exercise and vesting of awards under the 2011 Plan. The tax consequences of awards may vary according to country of participation. Also, the tax consequences of the grant, exercise or vesting of awards vary depending upon the particular circumstances, and it should be noted that income tax laws, regulations and interpretations change frequently. Participants should rely upon their own tax advisors for advice concerning the specific tax consequences applicable to them, including the applicability and effect of state, local and foreign tax laws.
Tax Consequences to Participants
Nonqualified Stock Options.In general, (i) a participant will not recognize income at the time a nonqualified option is granted; (ii) a participant will recognize ordinary income at the time of exercise in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option price paid for the shares; and (iii) at the time of sale of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the nonqualified option, appreciation (or depreciation) in value of the shares after the date of exercise will be treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on how long the shares have been held.
Incentive Stock Options. A participant will not recognize income at the time an ISO is granted or exercised. However, the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option price paid may constitute a preference item for the alternative minimum tax. If shares are issued to the optionee pursuant to the exercise of an ISO, and if no disqualifying disposition of such shares is made by such optionee within two years after the date of the grant or within one year after the issuance of such shares to the optionee, then upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the option price will be taxed to the optionee as a long-term capital gain and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss. If shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above, the optionee generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of such shares as of the time of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the disposition of such shares if a sale or exchange) over the option price paid for such shares. Any further gain (or loss) realized by the participant generally will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on the holding period.
SARs. A participant will not recognize income upon the grant of a SAR. The participant generally will recognize ordinary income when the SAR is exercised in an amount equal to the cash and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares received on the exercise.
Restricted Shares.A participant will not be subject to tax until the shares of restricted shares are no longer subject to forfeiture or restrictions on transfer for purposes of Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code. At that time, the participant will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of the restricted shares (reduced by any amount paid by the participant for such restricted shares). However, a participant who so elects under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code within 30 days of the date of transfer of the shares will have taxable ordinary income on the date of transfer of the shares equal to the excess of the fair market value of such shares over the purchase price, if any, of such restricted shares. Any appreciation (or depreciation) realized upon a later disposition of such shares will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain depending upon how long the shares have been held. If a Section 83(b) election has not been made, any dividends received with respect to restricted shares that are subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transfer generally will be treated as compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the participant.
Restricted Share Units. A participant will not recognize income upon the grant of restricted share units. Upon payment of the awards, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the cash and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares received.
Other Share-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards. A participant generally will recognize ordinary income upon the payment of other share-based awards or cash-based awards in an amount equal to the cash and the fair market value of any unrestricted shares received.
Dividend Equivalents. Any dividend equivalents awarded with respect to awards granted under the 2011 Plan and paid in cash or unrestricted shares will be taxed to the participant at ordinary income rates when received by the participant.
Section 409A. The 2011 Plan permits the grant of various types of awards that may or may not be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. If an award is subject to Section 409A, and if the requirements of Section 409A are not met, the taxable events as described above could apply earlier than described, and could result in the imposition of additional taxes and penalties. Restricted shares awards, unrestricted shares awards, stock options and stock appreciation rights that comply with the terms of the 2011 Plan are designed to be exempt from the application of Section 409A. Restricted share units and dividend equivalents granted under the 2011 Plan will be subject to Section 409A unless they are designed to satisfy the short-term deferral exemption (or another applicable exception). If not exempt, those awards will be designed to meet the requirements of Section 409A in order to avoid early taxation and penalties.
Tax Consequences to Us. To the extent that a participant recognizes ordinary income in the circumstances described above, our company or our subsidiary for which the participant performs services will be entitled to a corresponding compensation deduction provided that, among other things, the compensation meets the test of reasonableness, is an ordinary and necessary business expense, is not an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, and is not disallowed by the $1 million limitation on executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
AWARDS GRANTED TO MANAGEMENT, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES
The following table shows all outstanding options and restricted stock units as of April 25, 2013, whether currently exercisable or not, granted under the 2011 Plan to our executive officers, directors and employees. These options and restricted stock units are not subject to stockholder approval of the increase in common stock available under the 2011 Plan. The closing price of our common stock as reported on NYSE MKT was $0.67 on April 25, 2013.
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
OUTSTANDING AWARDS TABLE – 2011 PLAN
| Name and Position | | Number of option shares | | | Number of restricted
stock units | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Carl Spana, Ph.D., chief executive officer, president and director | | | 450,000 | | | | 237,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen T. Wills, MST, CPA, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and executive vice president | | | 385,000 | | | | 222,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| John K.A. Prendergast, Ph.D., director and chairman of the board | | | 131,250 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Perry B. Molinoff, M.D., director | | | 87,500 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Robert K. deVeer, Jr., director | | | 87,500 | | | | 0 | |
Name and Position | | Number of option shares | | | Number of restricted
stock units | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Zola P. Horovitz, Ph.D., director | | | 87,500 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Robert I. Taber, Ph.D., director | | | 87,500 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| J. Stanley Hull, director | | | 87,500 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Alan W. Dunton, M.D., director | | | 47,500 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| TWO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS A GROUP: | | | 835,000 | | | | 460,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| SEVEN NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AS A GROUP: | | | 616,250 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| NON-EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES AS A GROUP: | | | 657,350 | | | | 12,500 | |
Our compensation committee will determine, in its discretion, all awards under the 2011 Plan, but except as set forth above no future awards to our officers, employees or non-employee directors under the 2011 Plan are currently determinable.
OTHER MATTERS
Registration with the SEC.We intend to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of additional common shares under the 2011 Plan with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as soon as is practicable after approval by our stockholders of the increase in shares available of the 2011 Plan.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans. The table below provides information on our equity compensation plans as of June 30, 2012:
Equity Compensation Plan Information
as of June 30, 2012
| Plan category | | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | |
| | | (a) | | | (b) | | | (c) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | | | 2,431,853 | (1) | | $ | 3.50 | (2) | | | 1,908,796 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | | | 2,431,853 | | | $ | 3.50 | | | | 1,908,796 | |
(1) | Consists of 1,541,750 options and 250,000 restricted stock units granted under our 2011 Plan, 538,150 options granted under our 2005 Stock Plan and 101,953 options granted under our 1996 Stock Option Plan. Both our 2005 Stock Plan and 1996 Stock Option Plan have terminated, but termination does not affect awards that are currently outstanding under these plans. The shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2005 Stock Plan, if forfeited prior to exercise, will become available for issuance under the 2011 Plan.
|
(2) | The amount in column (a) for equity compensation plans approved by security holders includes 250,000 shares reserved for issuance on vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, granted under our 2011 Plan, which vest on June 22, 2013, subject to the fulfillment of service conditions. Because no exercise price is required for issuance of shares on vesting of the restricted stock units, the weighted-average exercise price in column (b) does not take the restricted stock units into account. |
Current Equity Compensation Plan Information.As of April 25, 2013, there were 2,672,358 shares subject to issuance upon exercise of outstanding options or awards under all of our equity compensation plans referred to in the table below, at a weighted average exercise price of $2.63, and with a weighted average remaining life of 7.6 years. There were a total of 472,500 shares subject to outstanding restricted stock unit awards that remain subject to forfeiture. As of April 25, 2013, there were 1,151,821 shares available for future issuance under the 2011 Plan, which is the only equity compensation plan for which any shares are available for future issuance.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
as of April 25, 2013
| Plan category | | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | |
| | | (a) | | | (b) | | | (c) | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | | | 3,144,858 | (1) | | $ | 2.63 | (2) | | | 1,151,821 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | | | 3,144,858 | | | $ | 2.63 | | | | 1,151,821 | |
(1) | Consists of 2,108,600 options and 472,500 restricted stock units granted under our 2011 Plan, 505,775 options granted under our 2005 Stock Plan and 57,983 options granted under our 1996 Stock Option Plan. Both our 2005 Stock Plan and 1996 Stock Option Plan have terminated, but termination does not affect awards that are currently outstanding under these plans. The shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2005 Stock Plan, if forfeited prior to exercise, will become available for issuance under the 2011 Plan. |
(2) | The amount in column (a) for equity compensation plans approved by security holders includes 472,500 shares reserved for issuance on vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, granted under our 2011 Plan, of which 250,000 vest on June 22, 2013, 111,250 vest on July 17, 2013 and the balance of 111,250 vest on July 17, 2014, subject to the fulfillment of service conditions. Because no exercise price is required for issuance of shares on vesting of the restricted stock units, the weighted-average exercise price in column (b) does not take the restricted stock units into account. |
There have been no grants of any options, warrants or rights under the 2011 Plan or otherwise between April 25, 2013 and the date of this proxy statement, May 15, 2013.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the amendment to increase common stock available for issuance under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan.
[END OF ITEM FOUR]
As required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are seeking an advisory, non-binding stockholder vote with respect to the compensation of our executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table in the “Executive Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement (sometimes referred to as the “NEOs”) for fiscal year 2012, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. This vote is commonly known as a “say-on-pay” advisory vote.
We compensate our NEOs in accordance with three-year employment agreements that are designed to motivate our NEOs to achieve both annual and long-term financial and strategic objectives. See “Employment Agreements” under the Executive Compensation section below. Here is a summary of how we determine compensation under those agreements:
· | Base salary. The employment agreement sets a base salary which reflects the market for executive talent in our industry at the time we entered into the agreement, along with each NEO’s experience and particular expertise, both in the industry and with Palatin. The fact that the employment agreements are for a term of three years gives us the opportunity to do a thorough re-evaluation of market conditions at reasonable intervals, and gives us and the NEO the opportunity to renegotiate any terms which experience has indicated ought to change.
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· | Annual salary adjustment. Each year the compensation committee evaluates whether the NEO’s salary is keeping pace with inflation and market conditions and adequately reflecting the NEO’s overall contributions to the company. This may result in a salary increase.
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· | Annual discretionary bonus. Each year the compensation committee evaluates the NEO’s contributions to annual operating results and achievement of annual objectives. This may result in a cash bonus.
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· | Stock-based incentives. Each year the compensation committee evaluates the non-cash portion of the NEO’s compensation, consisting of grants of stock options and restricted stock units. The stock-based compensation can vest over longer or shorter terms, usually from one to four years. Providing a significant portion of the NEO’s total compensation in the form of stock or stock options is intended to align the NEO’s motivation with long-term stock value. Our stock-based awards are simple and straightforward, just stock options and restricted stock units, the dollar value of which is set forth under Executive Compensation.
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None of the compensation we award above the base salary is automatic or perfunctory. There have been years in which we did not increase salaries, grant any cash bonuses or grant any stock-based awards. We believe that NEO compensation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 was effective in retaining and motivating our NEOs to work toward our annual and long-term goals, and well within the range of normal practices for companies of our size and in our industry. Accordingly, we ask for our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation paid to our NEOs by voting FOR the following non-binding resolution at the meeting:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve the compensation of the named executive officers for fiscal year 2012 listed in the Summary Compensation Table in the Executive Compensation section of the proxy statement, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion.
Approval of this proposal requires that votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal. Because your vote is advisory, the result will not be binding on the board or the compensation committee. Nonetheless, the board and the compensation committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote, along with other relevant factors, when making future compensation decisions for NEOs.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the approval of the compensation of the NEOs, as stated in the above non-binding resolution.
[END OF ITEM FIVE]
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In addition to holding a say-on-pay advisory vote on executive compensation (see Item Five above), we are seeking an advisory, non-binding vote regarding the frequency of future advisory say-on-pay votes as required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, known as a “say-on-frequency” advisory vote. Stockholders will be able to vote that we hold the say-on-pay advisory vote at a frequency of every year, every two years, or every three years.
The board recommends that the say-on-pay advisory vote should occur annually. Although the effects of any changes in compensation policies or amounts may not be entirely apparent within the space of one year, we undergo the process of evaluating our policies and setting actual compensation every year, and we value the input of stockholders into that process. We can always ask the stockholders to change the frequency in the future if it becomes apparent that an annual vote is unduly burdensome or not meaningful, or for reasons which have yet to become evident, is not in accordance with the best corporate governance practices.
The frequency (one year, two years or three years) that receives the highest number of votes cast by the stockholders will be deemed the frequency for the advisory say-on-pay vote preferred by the stockholders. Because your vote is advisory, the results will not be binding upon the board. Although not binding, the board values the opinions of our stockholders and will review and consider the outcome of the vote, along with other relevant factors, in evaluating the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends that stockholders vote for the option of ONE YEAR as your preference for the frequency of holding future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers.
[END OF ITEM SIX]
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A proposal will be submitted to the stockholders at the annualmeeting to approve one or more adjournments of the annualmeeting, if necessary or appropriate, to establish a quorum or to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the annualmeeting to approve either Item Three or Item Four. Any adjournment of the annualmeeting may be made without notice, other than by an announcement made at the annualmeeting. Any adjournment of the annualmeeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow stockholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to the time that the proxies are used.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the adjournment of the annual meeting authorization.
[END OF ITEM SEVEN]
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NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
The nominating and corporate governance committee conducts an annual director performance evaluation process and proposes nominees for election as directors. Nominees must be well-regarded and experienced participants in their field(s) of specialty, familiar at the time of their appointment with our business, willing to devote the time and attention necessary to deepen and refine their understanding of Palatin and the issues we face and must have an understanding of the demands and responsibilities of service on a public company board of directors. The committee considers individual merits, such as personal integrity and sound judgment, business and professional skills and experience, independence, knowledge of the industry in which we operate, possible conflicts of interest, diversity, the extent to which the candidate would fill a present need on the board and concern for the long-term interests of the stockholders. While we do not have a formal diversity policy, to ensure that the board of directors benefitsbenefit from diverse perspectives, the committee seeks qualified nominees from a variety of backgrounds, including candidates of gender and ethnic diversity.Thediversity. The committee also considers each candidate in relation to existing or other potential members of the board, with a view to establishing a well-rounded, diverse, knowledgeable, and experienced board.
The board amended its written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee effective October 1, 2013 to provide that directors will not be nominated for election to the board after their 75th birthday, although the full board, upon the recommendation of the committee, may nominate candidates over 75 years of age in special circumstances. There are no nominees for director who when nominated were over 75 years of age.
The committee will consider stockholder recommendations of nominees if they are accompanied by a comprehensive written resume of the recommended nominee’s business experience and background, and a signed consent from the recommended nominee stating that he or she is willing to be considered as a nominee and, if nominated and elected, will serve as a director. The committee will consider candidates recommended by stockholders on the same basis as candidates from other sources. The committee may retain outside consultants to assist in identifying suitable director candidates. Stockholders may send their written recommendations with the required documentation to our executive offices at 4B Cedar Brook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, Attention: Secretary.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCEDirector Independence
The board of directors has determined that all of the directors and nominees (including Ms. Rossetti until her resignation as a director effective December 17, 2020), except for Dr. Spana (our chief executive officerChief Executive Officer and president) and Dr. Prendergast (our chairman)President), are independent directors, as defined in the listing standards of the NYSE MKT,American, on which our common stock is listed.listed, and under Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES
The Board and Its Committees
Committees and meetings. The board has an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. During the fiscal 2012,year ended June 30, 2020 (“fiscal 2020”), the board met foursix times, the audit committee met four times, the compensation committee met twicetwo times and the nominating and corporate governance committee met once.two times. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the board and committees of the board on which he served.or she served (during the period in which he or she was a director). The independent directors meet in executive sessions at least annually, following the annual board meeting. With the exception of Drs. Prendergast and Spana, the directors did not attend the annual meeting of stockholders held on June 7, 2012.25, 2020, and no director attended the adjourned meeting of stockholders held on July 23, 2020. We do not have a policy requiring our directors to attend stockholder meetings.
Audit committee. The audit committee reviews the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm and reviews the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. The audit committee also reviews the audit and non-audit fees of the independent registered public accounting firm and the adequacy of our internal control procedures.
The audit committee is currently composed of four non-employeethree independent directors, Mr. deVeer (chair), Dr. Dunton and Drs. Taber, Molinoff and Dunton.Mr. Hull. Until her resignation as a director effective December 17, 2020, Angela Rossetti also served on the audit committee. The board has determined that the members of the audit committee are, or were, independent, as defined in the listing standards of the NYSE MKT,American, and satisfysatisfied the requirements of the NYSE MKTAmerican as to financial literacy and expertise. The board has determined that at least one member of the committee, Mr. deVeer, is the audit committee financial expert as defined by Item 407 of Regulation S-K. The responsibilities of the audit committee are set forth in a written charter adopted by the board and updated as of October 1, 2013, a copy of which is available on our web site at www.palatin.com.
Compensation committeecommittee.. The compensation committee reviews and recommends to the board on an annual basis employment agreements and compensation for our officers, directors and some employees, and administers our 2011 Plan and the options still outstanding which were granted under previous stock option plans. The compensation committee is composed of Mr.Dr. Dunton (chair), Ms. Morris and Messrs. deVeer and Drs. Horovitz, Taber (chair) and Dunton.Hull. The board has determined that the members of the compensation committee are independent, as defined in the listing standards of the NYSE MKT.Our chief executive officerAmerican. Our Chief Executive Officer aids the compensation committee by providing annual recommendations regarding the compensation of all executive officers, other than himself. Our chief financial officerChief Financial Officer supports the committee in its work by gathering, analyzing, and presenting data on our compensation arrangements and compensation in the marketplace.
The responsibilities of the compensation committeecurrently does not havecommittee are set forth in a written charter.charter adopted by the board effective October 1, 2013, a copy of which is available on our web site at www.palatin.com. The committee administers our 2011 Plan, under which it has delegated to an officer its authority to grant stock options to employees and to a single-member committee of the board its authority to grant restricted stock units to officers and to grant options and restricted stock units to our consultants, but in either instance not to grant options or restricted stock units to themselves, any member of the board or officer, or any person subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.Act.
Nominating and corporate governance committeecommittee.. The nominating and corporate governance committee assists the board in recommending nominees for directors, and in determining the composition of committees. It also reviews, assesses, and makes recommendations to the board concerning policies and guidelines for corporate governance, including relationships of the board, the stockholders and management in determining our direction and performance. The responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee are set forth in a written charter adopted by the board and updated as of October 1, 2013, a copy of which is available on our web site at www.palatin.com. The nominating and corporate governance committee is composed of Mr. HullDr. Prendergast (chair), Ms. Morris and Drs. Horovitz (chair) and Molinoff,Dr. Manning, each of whom meets the independence requirements established by the NYSE MKT. For fiscal 2011 the nominatingAmerican, and corporate governance committeeuntil her resignation as a director effective December 17, 2020, also included Dr. Prendergast, who did not meet the independence requirements established by the NYSE MKT, but as to whom the board determined that having him serve on the committee was in the best interests of the company and its stockholders, given his role as a co-founder of the company, his historical perspective of the Company, and his extensive industry experience in corporate development in the life sciences field.Ms. Angela Rossetti.
Duration of OfficeOffice.. Unless a director resigns, all directors hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Directors serve as members of committees as the board determines from time to time.
Communicating with Directors
COMMUNICATING WITH DIRECTORS
Generally, stockholders or other interested parties who have questions or concerns should contact Stephen T. Wills, Secretary, Palatin Technologies, Inc., 4B Cedar Brook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512. However, any stockholder or other interested party who wishes to address questions regarding our business directly to the board of directors, or any individual director, including the Chairman or non-management directors as a group, can direct questions to the board members or a director by regular mail to the Secretary at the address above or by e-mail at boardofdirectors@palatin.com. Stockholders or other interested parties may also submit their concerns anonymously or confidentially by postal mail.
Communications are distributed to the board, or to any individual directors as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication, unless the Secretary determines that the communication is unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the board, such as product inquiries, resumes, advertisements, or other promotional material. Communications that are unduly hostile, threatening, illegal, or similarly unsuitable will also not be distributed to the board or any director. All communications excluded from distribution will be retained and made available to any non-management director upon request.
BOARD ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHTBoard Role in Risk Oversight
Our board, as part of its overall responsibility to oversee the management of our business, considers risks generally when reviewing our strategic plan, financial results, business development activities, legal and regulatory matters. The board satisfies this responsibility through regular reports directly from our officers responsible for oversight of particular risks. The board’s risk management oversight also includes full and open communications with management to review the adequacy and functionality of the risk management processes used by management.management, including, without limitation, the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business. The board’s role in risk oversight has no effect on the board’s leadership structure. In addition, committees of the board assist in its risk oversight responsibility, including:
· | The audit committee assists the board in its oversight of the integrity of the financial reporting and our compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. It also oversees our internal controls and compliance activities, and meets privately with representatives from our independent registered public accounting firm. |
●
The audit committee assists the board in its oversight of the integrity of the financial reporting and our compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. It also oversees our internal controls and compliance activities and meets privately with representatives from our independent registered public accounting firm.
· | The compensation committee assists the board in its oversight of risk relating to compensation policies and practices. The compensation committee annually reviews our compensation policies, programs and procedures, including the incentives they create and mitigating factors that may reduce the likelihood of excessive risk taking, to determine whether they present a significant risk to our company. |
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The compensation committee assists the board in its oversight of risk relating to compensation policies and practices. The compensation committee annually reviews our compensation policies, programs, and procedures, including the incentives they create and mitigating factors that may reduce the likelihood of excessive risk taking, to determine whether they present a significant risk to our company.
BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
Board Leadership Structure
Since 2000, the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer have been held by separate persons. John K.A. Prendergast, Ph.D., a non-employee director, has served as chairmanChairman of the board since June 2000. Carl Spana, Ph.D., has been our chief executive officerChief Executive Officer and presidentPresident since June 2000. Generally, the chairmanChairman is responsible for advising the chief executive officer,Chief Executive Officer, assisting in long-term strategic planning, and presiding over meetings of the board, and the chief executive officerChief Executive Officer, together with our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for leading our day-to-day performance.performance and operations. While we do not have a written policy with respect to separation of the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer, the board believes that the existing leadership structure, with the separation of these roles, provides several important advantages, including: enhancing the accountability of the chief executive officer to the board; strengthening the board’s independence from management; assisting the board in reaching consensus on particular strategies and policies; and facilitating robust director, board, and executive officer evaluation processes.
Code of Corporate Conduct and Ethics
CODE OF CORPORATE CONDUCT AND ETHICS
We have adopted a code of corporate conduct and ethics, updated as of March 8, 2021, that applies to all of our directors, officers, and employees, including our chief executive officerChief Executive Officer and chief financial officer.Chief Financial Officer. You can view the code of corporate conduct and ethics at our website, www.palatin.com. We will disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, provisions of the code of corporate conduct and ethics that apply to our directors, principal executive officers, and financial officers in a current report on Form 8-K, unless the rules of the NYSE MKTAmerican permit website posting of any such amendments or waivers.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation we paid to all directors during fiscal 2012,2020, except for Dr. Spana, whose compensation is set forth below in the Fiscal 2020 Summary Compensation Table and related disclosure. Dr. Spana did not receive any separate compensation for his services as a director.
| Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | Total ($) |
| | | |
| John K.A. Prendergast, Ph.D. | 75,000 | 75,000 |
| | | |
| Perry B. Molinoff, M.D. | 37,000 | 37,000 |
| | | |
| Robert K. deVeer, Jr. | 43,500 | 43,500 |
| | | |
| Zola P. Horovitz, Ph.D. | 37,500 | 37,500 |
| | | |
| Robert I. Taber, Ph.D. | 42,000 | 42,000 |
| | | |
| J. Stanley Hull | 32,000 | 32,000 |
| | | |
| Alan W. Dunton, M.D. | 38,500 | 38,500 |
| Name | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | Stock awards ($) (1) (2) | Option awards ($) (1) (2) | Total ($) |
| John K.A. Prendergast, Ph.D. | 97,500 | 57,400 | 57,400 | 212,300 |
| Robert K. deVeer, Jr. | 66,250 | 42,300 | 42,400 | 150,950 |
| J. Stanley Hull | 57,500 | 42,300 | 42,400 | 142,200 |
| Alan W. Dunton, M.D. | 66,250 | 42,300 | 42,400 | 150,950 |
| Angela Rossetti (3) | 53,750 | 42,300 | 42,400 | 138,450 |
| Arlene Morris | 53,750 | 42,300 | 42,400 | 138,450 |
| Anthony Manning, Ph.D. | 48,750 | 42,300 | 42,400 | 133,450 |
(1) | The aggregate number of shares underlying option awards outstanding at June 30, 2012 for each director was: |
(1)
The aggregate number of shares underlying option awards and stock awards outstanding at June 30, 2020 for each director was:
Dr. Prendergast | 174,850 |
| |
Dr. Molinoff | 118,333 |
| |
Mr. deVeer | 114,500 |
| |
Dr. Horovitz | 111,000 |
| |
Dr. Taber | 111,000 |
| |
Mr. Hull | 107,166 |
| |
Dr. Dunton | 32,500 |
| | Option awards | Stock awards |
| Dr. Prendergast | 808,250 | 259,000 |
| Mr. deVeer | 365,500 | 153,000 |
| Mr. Hull | 362,000 | 153,000 |
| Dr. Dunton | 314,000 | 143,000 |
| Ms. Rossetti | 266,500 | 133,000 |
| Ms. Morris | 221,500 | 123,000 |
| Dr. Manning | 149,000 | 115,000 |
(2)
Amounts in these columns represent the aggregate grant date fair value for stock awards and option awards. For a description of the assumptions we used to calculate these amounts, see Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2020 (our “Annual Report”). Amounts in this column include options granted on June 16, 2020 for our current fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.
Angela Rossetti resigned as a director effective December 17, 2020.
Our director compensation program is designed to enhance our ability to attract and retain highly qualified directors and to align their interests with the long-term interests of our stockholders. The program includes an equity component, which is designed to align the interests of non-employee directors and stockholders, and a cash component, which is designed to compensate non-employee directors for their service on the board. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for their service on the board.
The compensation committee annually reviews compensation paid to our non-employee directors and makes recommendations for adjustments, as appropriate, to the full board. As part of this annual review, the compensation committee considers the significant time commitment and skill level required by each non-employee director in serving on the board and its various committees. The compensation committee seeks to maintain a market competitive director compensation program and, with the assistance of its independent compensation consultant, Korn Ferry Hay Group, benchmarks our director compensation program against the peer group we use to evaluate our executive compensation program.
Non-Employee Directors’ OptionEquity Grants. Our non-employee directors receive an annual optionequity grant at the board meeting closest to the beginning of each fiscal year, or such other date as may be determined by the board.
On July 17, 2012, asJune 16, 2020, the annual option grant for our current (2013) fiscal year, the chairmanChairman of the board received 99,000 restricted stock units which vest on June 16, 2021 and an option to purchase 22,500172,000 shares of common stock, and each other serving non-employee director received 73,000 restricted stock units which vest on June 16, 2021 and an option to purchase 15,000127,000 shares of common stock. All of thesethe options have an exercise price of $0.72$0.58 per share, the closing price of our common stock on the business day immediately preceding the date of grant, vest in twelve monthly installments beginning on July 31, 2012,2020, expire ten years from the date of grant and provide for accelerated vesting in the event of involuntarilyinvoluntary termination as a director following a change in control, with exercise permitted following accelerated vesting for up to the earlier of one year after termination or the expiration date of the option. Vesting of the options is restricted by our agreements in connection with the 2012 Private Placement, and the options will not vest until September 1, 2013.
On June 22, 2011, as24, 2019, the previously reported annual option grant for our 2012 fiscal year, the chairmanChairman of the board received 84,000 restricted stock units which vested on June 24, 2020, and an option to purchase 18,75070,000 shares of common stock, and each other serving non-employee director received 32,000 restricted stock units which vested on June 24, 2020, and an option to purchase 12,50052,000 shares of common stock, which vested in twelve monthly installments beginning on July 31, 2011. The board also granted additional incentive and retention options to non-employee directors. The chairman received additional option grants for 60,000 shares which vested as to 50% on the date of grant and as to 50% on June 22, 2012, and for 30,000 shares which vest as to 25% on each anniversarystock. All of the grant date, starting June 22, 2012. Each other non-employee director received additional option grants for 20,000 shares, which vest as to 25% on each anniversary of the grant date, starting June 22, 2012, and, except for Dr. Dunton, for 40,000 shares, which vested as to 50% on the date of grant and as to 50% on June 22, 2012. The foregoing options have an exercise price of $0.86$1.34 per share, the closing price of our common stock on the business day immediately preceding the date of grant, vested in twelve monthly installments beginning on July 31, 2019, expire ten years from the date of grant and provide for accelerated vesting in the event of involuntarily termination as a director following a change in control, with exercise permitted following accelerated vesting for up to the earlier of one year after termination or the expiration date of the option.
Non-Employee Directors’ Cash Compensation. Dr. Prendergast serves as chairmanChairman of the board and for our 2012 fiscal year2020 received an annual retainer of $75,000,$87,500, payable quarterly. Other non-employee directors received an annual base retainer of $30,000,$40,000, payable on a quarterly basis.Thebasis. The chairperson of the audit committee received an additional annual retainer of $10,000,$17,500, the chairperson of the compensation committee received an additional annual retainer of $7,000$17,500 and the chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee received an additional annual retainer of $4,000.$10,000. Members of the foregoing committees, other than the non-employee chairman,Chairman, received an additional retainer of one-half the retainer payable to the committee chairperson. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, Dr. Prendergast serves as Chairman of the board and will received an annual retainer of $87,500, payable quarterly. Other non-employee directors will receive an annual base retainer of $40,000, payable on a quarterly basis. The chairperson of the audit committee will receive an additional annual retainer of $17,500, the chairperson of the compensation committee will receive an additional annual retainer of $17,500 and the chairperson of the corporate governance committee will receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000. Members of the foregoing committees, other than the non-employee Chairman, receive an additional retainer of one-half the retainer payable to the committee chairperson.
The board also formed a program development committee, charged with reviewing new product opportunities and product development strategy. The chairperson of the program development committee receives $3,500 per day of service, and members of the committee receive $2,500 per day of service.
Non-Employee Directors’ Expenses. Non-employee directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in performing their duties as directors, including attending all meetings of the board and any committees on which they serve.
Employee Directors. Employee directors are not separately compensated for services as directors but are reimbursed for expenses incurred in performing their duties as directors, including attending all meetings of the board and any committees on which they serve.
[END OF ITEM ONE]
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AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We recommend voting FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. KPMG served as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020. We expect that a representative of KPMG will participate in the virtual annual meeting. The representative will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
Audit Fees. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, review of our consolidated financial statements in our Forms 10-Q, and services provided in connection with comfort letters were $329,000. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, the audit of internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2019, review of our consolidated financial statements in our Forms 10-Q, and services provided in connection with regulatory filings and comfort letters were $504,000.
Audit-Related Fees. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, KPMG did not perform or bill us for any audit-related services.
Tax Fees. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, KPMG billed us $23,600 for professional services rendered for tax compliance services. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, KPMG billed us a total of $37,000 for professional services rendered for tax compliance and consulting services.
All Other Fees. KPMG did not perform or bill us for any services other than those described above for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors. Consistent with SEC policies regarding auditor independence, the audit committee has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation for and overseeing the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. In recognition of this responsibility, the audit committee has established a policy to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm.
Before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm for the next year’s audit, management will submit to the audit committee for approval an estimate of fees for services expected to be rendered during that year in each of four categories:
1. Audit services, including work that generally only our independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably be expected to provide, such as services provided in connection with regulatory filings, statutory audits and attest services and consultation regarding financial accounting and/or reporting standards;
2. Audit-related services, including assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by the independent registered public accounting firm, including due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit plan audits and special procedures required to meet certain regulatory requirements;
3. Tax services, including services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm’s tax personnel except those services specifically related to the audit of the consolidated financial statements, including fees in the areas of tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice; and
4. All other services not described in the preceding categories. We generally do not request other services from our independent registered public accounting firm.
The audit committee pre-approves fees for each category of service. The fees are budgeted, and the audit committee requires the independent registered public accounting firm and management to report actual fees versus the budget periodically throughout the year by category of service. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval. In those instances, the audit committee requires specific pre-approval before engaging the independent registered public accounting firm.
The audit committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Although stockholder approval of KPMG LLP’s appointment as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by law or binding on the board or the audit committee, the board and the audit committee believe that stockholders should have an opportunity to express their views. In the event the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, the audit committee will reconsider its appointment.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE The audit committee of the board of directors, which consists entirely of directors who meet the independence and experience requirements of the NYSE American, has furnished the following report:
The audit committee assists the board in overseeing and monitoring the integrity of its financial reporting process, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the quality of internal and external audit processes. This 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 KPMG LLP.
The audit committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 with Palatin’s management and has discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required to be discussed under Public Company Accounting Oversight Board standards. In addition, the audit committee has received from KPMG LLP the written disclosures and a letter from KPMG LLP regarding its independence as required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG LLP communications with the audit committee, and the audit committee further discussed with KPMG LLP its independence. The audit committee also considered the status of pending litigation, taxation matters and other areas of oversight relating to the financial reporting and audit process, among other factors, that the committee determined appropriate.
Based on these reviews and discussions, we recommended to the board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in Palatin’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.
The Audit Committee
Robert K. deVeer, Jr., Chairman
Alan W. Dunton, M.D.
J. Stanley Hull
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.
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ITEM THREE: APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Increase in authorized capital resolution and amendment. On March 23, 2021, the board of directors adopted resolutions approving and declaring advisable an amendment to our restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized common stock, $0.01 par value per share, from 300,000,000 shares to 400,000,000 shares, and submitting the amendment to stockholders at our annual meeting for their adoption. The additional common stock to be authorized by adoption of this amendment would have rights identical to our currently authorized and outstanding common stock.
Text of the increase in authorized capital resolution and amendment. The complete text of the increase in authorized capital resolution and amendment is set forth as Appendix A to this proxy statement. If this proposal is approved, the amendment will become immediately effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware, which is expected to occur promptly after the virtual annual meeting. Except as contemplated by the amendment, the other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation will remain unchanged. If the proposed amendment is not approved by stockholders, no amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to an increase in the number of authorized common stock will be filed and the proposal will not be implemented.
Purpose and background of increase in authorized capital. We have one pharmaceutical product that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Vyleesi® for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women, which we are currently marketing in the United States. We anticipate that Vyleesi will not be profitable for at least the next year as we establish marketing, sales, and distribution capability. We are developing new melanocortin agonist products to treat inflammatory and autoimmune conditions which we believe will have substantial market potential, including PL9643 for dry eye disease and other indications and PL8177 for inflammatory bowel diseases. However, the cost is substantial to advance and complete development work, including establishing manufacturing capability, completing FDA required clinical trials, and submitting a New Drug Application to FDA for product approval.
We are currently authorized to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of common stock, and approximately 93% of our authorized common stock is now issued, reserved for issuance on conversion of Series A preferred stock, or reserved for issuance under existing warrants, options, restricted stock units and stock incentive plans. The number of authorized common stock is insufficient for future financings that will be required to continue product development, certain actions designed to increase value to stockholders, including, without limitation, strategic acquisitions, or granting equity incentives to key employees or contractors, such as through options, warrants or other stock-based awards.
While we have approximately $72.2 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020, this is insufficient to complete development of our clinical-stage products, such as PL9643 and PL8177, and to establish marketing, sales, and distribution capability for Vyleesi. If the authorized number of common stock is not increased, we will have difficulty raising funds through common stock equity offerings, and may be forced to raise funds through alternative means, which may ultimately be detrimental to existing stockholders. Such financings actions may include:
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Issuance of preferred stock which would have rights and preferences superior to common stock, which may be more dilutive than issuing common stock;
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Entering into license or similar agreements relating to one or more of our products, which may require us to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies or product candidates, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us, and ultimately raise less money than through the issuance of common stock; and
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Entering into debt facilities and/or product-specific financing agreements with financial or investment institutions, which may significantly reduce prospective upfront license or similar payments and revenues or royalties on the sale of our products.
The alternative financing actions described above would not require stockholder approval. For example, the board may set the terms for and issue preferred stock without seeking approval from holders of common stock. Such preferred stock may have conversion rights to common stock contingent on an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock and may rank senior to our common stock in terms of dividend priority or liquidation preference, and may be entitled to more votes per share than our common stock. Similarly, entering into license agreements, debt facilities and product-specific financing agreements will not, in most instances, require approval from holders of common stock.
Risks of Non-Approval. If we are unable to issue common stock to raise the additional capital required to complete the development of our clinical-stage products, such as PL9643 and PL8177, and to establish effective and successful marketing, sales and distribution capability for Vyleesi, we may be required to materially and significantly curtail product development and reduce or eliminate marketing, sales and/or distribution activities and capability for Vyleesi. This will most likely adversely affect our perceived market value and stock price of our common stock, to the detriment of our stockholders. We believe that having the option and ability to raise additional capital through sales of our authorized but unissued shares of common stock is necessary to enhance value for our stockholders, including providing means for future financings required to advance our development programs and realize stockholder value.
For the reasons described above and discussed in further detail below, the board and management believe it is in the best interests of Palatin and its stockholders to increase the number of authorized common stock.
The following table shows our common stock outstanding and issuable or reserved for issuance as of April 23, 2021.
| Common Stock Outstanding or Reserved |
| Common stock outstanding | 230,049,691 |
| Shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A preferred stock | 66,059 |
| Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants | 12,639,495 |
| Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise or vesting of outstanding stock options and restricted stock units under all plans | 31,455,236 |
| Shares of common stock available for issuance under our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan | 6,006,843 |
| Total | 280,217,324 |
The board of directors believes it is in the best interests of Palatin and its stockholders to have sufficient additional authorized but unissued shares of common stock available in order to provide flexibility for corporate action in the future. Management believes that the availability of additional authorized shares of common stock for issuance from time to time in the board’s discretion, such as in connection with stock options and rights, including our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, future financings to ensure the advancement of our development programs, incentives for key contractors, possible acquisitions of other product assets or companies, investment opportunities or for other corporate purposes, is desirable to allow Palatin to enter into such transactions in a timely way.
We currently have no specific understandings, arrangements, agreements, or other plans to issue, in connection with future financings, acquisitions or otherwise, any of the additional authorized but unissued shares of common stock that would be available as a result of the proposed increase in the number of authorized shares of our common stock. However, the board believes that the currently unissued shares do not provide sufficient flexibility for corporate action in the future, including future financings.
The board believes that the proposed increase in authorized shares of common stock, from 300,000,000 to 400,000,000 shares, is the minimum that will be sufficient to complete the development of our proposed new melanocortin agonist products to treat inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, to provide flexibility in entering into financing transactions that the board believes are in the best interests of the company and its stockholders, including strategic acquisitions, and to provide equity incentives to key employees and contractors.
An increase in the number of authorized shares of our common stock could have the effect of making it more difficult to, or discouraging an attempt to, obtain control of Palatin by means of a takeover bid that our board determines is not in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. However, our board does not intend or view the proposed increase in authorized common stock as an anti-takeover measure and is not proposing the increase in response to any attempt or plan to obtain control of Palatin.
If the increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock is approved, we will not solicit further authorization by vote of the stockholders for issuance of the additional shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of common stock, except as required by law, regulatory authorities, the rules of the NYSE American or any other stock exchange on which our shares may then be listed. The issuance of additional shares of common stock could have the effect of diluting existing stockholder earnings per share, book value per share and voting power. Our stockholders do not have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any part of any new or additional issuance of our securities.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends that stockholders vote FOR the amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of our authorized shares of common stock.
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ITEM FOUR: ADVISORY APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS As required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are seeking an advisory, non-binding stockholder vote with respect to the compensation of our named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement (sometimes referred to as the “NEOs”) for fiscal 2020, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. This vote is commonly known as a “say-on-pay” advisory vote.
The board of directors, consistent with the advisory vote of the stockholders at the 2019 annual meeting, has adopted an annual frequency for a say-on-pay advisory vote.
Our executive compensation program is based on pay for performance. Our NEOs are compensated based on advancing our product candidates, developing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies that add value to our product candidates, and seeking financing to support our development programs. We believe that our NEO compensation program aligns incentive compensation with the long-term interests of our stockholders. The board encourages you to review the Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, for additional details of our executive compensation program.
Discussions with investors who responded to our outreach efforts (and others with whom we had discussions) touched on several themes, including stockholders’ desires that a meaningful portion of long-term incentives be allocated to performance-based equity based on achieving longer-term performance goals closely linked to our business strategy. Consistent with discussions with investors both this past year and last year, changes to our executive compensation that were implemented in the last two fiscal years included a performance-based component.
We believe that NEO compensation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 was effective in retaining and motivating our NEOs to work toward our annual and long-term goals, and well within the range of normal practices for companies of our size and in our industry. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” under the Executive Compensation section below. Our NEOs are compensated in accordance with three-year employment agreements that are designed to motivate our NEOs to achieve both annual and long-term financial, operational, and strategic objectives. See “Employment Agreements” under the Executive Compensation section below Accordingly, we ask for our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation paid to our NEOs by voting FOR the following non-binding resolution at the meeting:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve the compensation of the named executive officers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 listed in the Summary Compensation Table in the Executive Compensation section of the proxy statement, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board recommends a vote FOR the approval of the compensation of the NEOs, as stated in the above non-binding resolution.
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The following compensation discussion and analysis contains statements regarding future individual and corporate performance targets and goals. These targets and goals are disclosed and discussed in the context of Palatin’s compensation programs and should not be understood to be statements of management’s expectations or guidance.
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the compensation program for our NEOs. During fiscal 2020 our NEOs were:
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Carl Spana, Ph.D., our President and Chief Executive Officer (our “CEO”); and
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Stephen T. Wills, our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (our “CFO/COO”).
The material elements of our executive compensation program during fiscal 2020 are also described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, as well as an overview of our executive compensation philosophy and our related policies and practices.
Our Company
We are a specialized biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin and natriuretic peptide receptor systems. Vyleesi®, the trade name for bremelanotide, a peptide melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4r) agonist, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in June 2019 for the treatment of premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (“HSDD”), which is a type of female sexual disorder (“FSD”), defined as low desire with associated distress or interpersonal difficulty. Our product candidates are targeted, receptor-specific therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential.
Vyleesi. Vyleesi is a subcutaneous injectable product for the treatment of HSDD in premenopausal women. Vyleesi is a synthetic peptide analog of the naturally occurring hormone alpha-MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone). In January 2020, our North American licensee for Vyleesi, AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“AMAG”), announced that it had completed a strategic review of its product portfolio and business strategy, and was pursuing options to divest its female health products, including Vyleesi. On July 27, 2020, Palatin and AMAG announced that they had mutually terminated the license agreement for Vyleesi effective July 24, 2020, and that we had assumed responsibility for manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of Vyleesi in the United States.
We have licensed rights to Vyleesi for the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong S.A.R. and Macau S.A.R. (collectively, the “Chinese Territories”) and the Republic of Korea (“Korea”) and retain worldwide rights for Vyleesi for HSDD and all other indications outside Korea and the Chinese Territories. We are actively seeking potential partners for marketing and commercialization rights for Vyleesi for HSDD outside the licensed territories. However, we may not be able to enter into suitable agreements with potential partners on acceptable terms, if at all.
Melanocortin Receptor Systems. There are five melanocortin receptors, MC1r through MC5r. Modulation of these receptors, through use of receptor-specific agonists, which activate receptor function, or receptor-specific antagonists, which block receptor function, can have significant pharmacological effects. Our new product development activities primarily focus on MC1r agonists, with potential to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as dry eye disease, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and inflammatory bowel disease. We believe that MC1r agonists, including the MC1r agonist peptides we are developing, have broad anti-inflammatory effects and appear to utilize mechanisms engaged by the endogenous melanocortin system in regulation of the immune system and resolution of inflammatory responses. We are also developing peptides that are active at more than one melanocortin receptor, and MC4r agonists, with potential utility in certain obesity and metabolic-related disorders, including rare disease and orphan indications.
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PL9643, a pan-melanocortin receptor peptide agonist, is a development candidate for treating ocular inflammation, including dry eye disease. We completed the exploratory Phase 2 human clinical trials for treatment of dry eye disease in 2020, which provided data supporting moving into Phase 3 registration studies, with excellent ocular safety and tolerability and statistically significant signs and symptom data in the moderate to severe patient population. We intend to initiate further studies this year.
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We have ongoing development programs for other ocular indications, including diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, and intend to initiate further studies this year.
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PL8177, a selective MC1r agonist peptide, has received orphan drug designation for non-infectious uveitis, and is ready for Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies.
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PL8177 in an oral, intestinal delivery formulation is our lead clinical development candidate for inflammatory bowel diseases. We intend to initiate Phase 2 studies this year.
Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Systems. The natriuretic peptide receptor (“NPR”) system has numerous cardiovascular functions, and therapeutic agents modulating this system may be useful in treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including reducing cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, heart failure, acute asthma, other pulmonary diseases, and hypertension. We have designed and are developing potential NPR candidate drugs that are selective for one or more different natriuretic peptide receptors, including natriuretic peptide receptor-A (“NPR-A and natriuretic peptide receptor C (“NPR-C”).
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PL3994 is an NPR-A agonist we developed which has completed Phase 1 clinical safety studies. In conjunction with clinicians at a major research institution, PL3994 entered a Phase 2A clinical trial supported by a grant from the American Heart Association in 2020.
The following chart illustrates the status of our drug development programs.
Financial Highlights
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Revenue – Generated revenue of $117,989 for fiscal 2020, compared to revenue of $60.3 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 (“fiscal 2019”).
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Net (Loss) Income – Reported net loss of $(22.4) million for fiscal 2020, compared to net income of $35.8 million for fiscal 2019.
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Net (Loss) Income Per Share – Recorded net loss per share (basic and diluted) of $(0.10) for fiscal 2020, compared to net income per share of $0.17, basic and $0.16, diluted for fiscal 2019.
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Cash at End of Fiscal 2020 – Cash and cash equivalents were $82.9 million at June 30, 2020, compared to $43.5 million with accounts receivable of $60.3 million at June 30, 2019.
Executive Compensation Highlights
Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation. At our last annual meeting of stockholders in June 2020, our non-binding stockholder advisory vote to approve the compensation of our NEOs (commonly known as a “Say-on-Pay” vote) was supported by approximately 70% of the votes cast for or against advisory approval. We continue to evaluate our executive compensation program and solicit input from our largest investors. Following is a summary of our current compensation practices and policies.
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Stockholder Engagement. We attend investor conferences in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and meet with our institutional and other investors at those conferences. We also held teleconference meetings, led by our Chief Financial Officer, with stockholders seeking to engage with us. We intend to continue engaging with our stockholders on a regular basis. Elements of our executive compensation program which we have addressed over the past several years are disclosed below.
| What We Heard | Our Response |
We would like more disclosure, and more accessible disclosure, on compensation practices. | We have revised our proxy disclosure this year and included more disclosure on what we have done and how our compensation process works. We have expanded disclosure on the work of our independent compensation advisor. |
We would like increased disclosure on metrics used for bonuses and incentive compensation. | We have increased our disclosure. Annual bonuses are tied to specific performance metrics for the fiscal year, such as advancing clinical and regulatory development of our product candidates, entering into licensing and related agreements, and our financial condition. |
We would like at least half of long-term incentives to be performance-based. | We incorporated performance-based elements into our long-term incentive program for 2019 and 2020 and intend to structure the 2021 long-term incentive program so that half of the awards will be subject to the achievement of pre-established performance goals. |
A formal policy on stock ownership by NEOs and board members should be adopted. | We have adopted a stock ownership policy that requires our NEOs, as well as our board members, to maintain a minimum ownership level of our common stock. As of June 30, 2020, the most recent “Determination Date” under the stock ownership policy, all current NEOs and board members meet the target ownership levels of shares with a value equal to at least five times the annual base salary of NEOs and at least two times the annual retainer for board members. Our stock ownership policy is available on our website at www.palatin.com/about/corporate-governance/. In addition, both time-based and performance-based restricted stock unit awards contain deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery of the common stock after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined changed in control. |
A formal “clawback” policy should be adopted. | We have adopted a clawback policy allowing Palatin to recover related compensation should the board determine that compensation paid to NEOs resulted from material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements under federal securities law. Our clawback policy is available on our website at www.palatin.com/about/corporate-governance/. |
Elimination of “golden parachute” gross-up provisions in NEO employment agreements. | Prior to July 1, 2019, our employment agreements for the NEOs provided that they were entitled to a tax gross-up for any golden parachute excise tax imposed on payments received in connection with a change in control. Most investors disfavor this type of tax gross-up benefit. In response to stockholder feedback, effective with new employment agreements for our NEOs commencing July 1, 2019, we removed all golden parachute excise tax gross-up provisions. As a result, the company no longer provides tax gross-ups for NEOs or any other employees in the event they are subject to golden parachute excise taxes on payments received in connection with a change in control. |
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Retain an Independent Compensation Advisor. The compensation committee engaged Korn Ferry Hay Group (“Hay Group”), a nationally recognized global human resources consulting firm, as its independent compensation advisor in May 2019. Hay Group principally provided analysis, advice and recommendations on NEO and non-employee director compensation. The compensation committee intends to conduct an independent compensation advisor review every fiscal year, with the most recent reviews by our independent compensation advisor made for awards in June 2020 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 and June 2019 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.
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Compensation at Risk. Our executive compensation program is designed so that a significant portion of compensation is “at risk” based on our performance, as well as short-term cash and long-term equity incentives to align the interests of our executive officers and stockholders. Long-term equity incentives will be no less than base salaries, with at least half of long-term equity incentives being performance-based.
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Use a Pay-for-Performance Philosophy. The compensation committee employs a mixture of compensation elements designed to balance short-term goals with longer-term performance. Our executive compensation program includes these principal elements:
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Base salary, which targets the comparable position median salary for our peer group;
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An annual incentive compensation opportunity, with a target bonus payout, effective for fiscal 2020, of no less than 60% of base salary; and,
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A long-term incentive program consisting of stock option and restricted stock unit awards. In fiscal 2020, approximately 50% of all long-term incentive awards were performance-based, with 50% of stock options and 50% of restricted share units performance-based, and the balance time-based.
The compensation committee and board also reviewed our existing compensation practices, and intend to continue the following policies and practices:
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Maintain an Independent Compensation Committee. The compensation committee consists entirely of independent directors.
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Annual Executive Compensation Review. The compensation committee conducts an annual review and approval of our compensation strategy, utilizing an independent compensation advisor at least every other year. This review, including a peer group review, is intended to ensure that our compensation programs appropriately reward corporate growth without encouraging excessive or inappropriate risk-taking.
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“Double Trigger” Feature for Acceleration of CEO and CFO/COO Equity Awards. Under employment agreements with our NEOs, outstanding equity awards granted to our NEOs provide that, upon a change in control of Palatin, the vesting of such awards will accelerate only in the event of a subsequent involuntary termination of employment (a “double-trigger” provision).
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No Stock Option Re-pricing. Our 2011 Stock Incentive Plan does not permit options to purchase shares of our common stock to be repriced to a lower exercise or strike price without the approval of our stockholders.
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No Dividends or Dividend Equivalents Payable on Unvested or Undelivered Equity Awards. Under our restricted share unit agreements, we do not pay dividends or dividend equivalents on unvested RSU awards or vested RSU awards subject to delayed delivery.
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No Executive Retirement Plans. We do not offer pension arrangements or retirement plans or arrangements to our executive officers that are different from or in addition to those offered to our other employees.
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No Special Welfare or Health Benefits. Our executive officers participate in broad-based Company-sponsored health and welfare benefit programs on the same basis as our other full-time, salaried employees.
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Anti-Hedging Policy. Under our Insider Trading and Securities Law Compliance Policy, employees, directors, and officers may not engage in hedging, monetization or pledging transactions of our securities.
Independent Compensation Advisor – Competitive Positioning. A competitive assessment of both our NEOs and our non-employee directors was conducted in May and June 2019, prior to setting salaries, equity award and bonus targets and objectives for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2019. The compensation committee engaged Hay Group to assess total compensation and compensation elements for both NEOs and directors, including a comparison against a compensation peer group consisting of the following companies:
| AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | MEI Pharma, Inc. |
| Ardelyx, Inc. | Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. |
| ArQule, Inc. | Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
| Calithera Biosciences, Inc. | Savara Inc. |
| ChemoCentryx, Inc. | Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. |
| Cytokinetics, Inc. | Sutro Biopharma, Inc. |
| Geron Corporation | Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
| ImmunoGen, Inc. | Verastem, Inc. |
| La Jolla Pharmaceutical |
|
The peer group was designed to reflect the industry and sector in which Palatin competes, as well as companies comparable to Palatin in terms of company life cycle, phase of development of potential products, market capitalization and talent market. We anticipate engaging an independent compensation advisor for a review for awards to be made in June 2021 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, including utilization of a compensation peer group.
Executive officers are appointed by the board and serve at the discretion of the board. Each officer holds his position until his successor is appointed and qualified. The current executive officers hold office under employment agreements.
Name | Age | Age
| | Position with Palatin |
| | | | |
| Carl Spana, Ph.D. | | 50 | 58 | Chief executive officer, presidentExecutive Officer, President and director |
| | | | Director |
| Stephen T. Wills, MST, CPA | | 56 | 64 | Chief financial officer, chief operating officer, executive vice president, secretaryFinancial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, Secretary and treasurerTreasurer |
Additional information about Dr. Spana is included above under the heading “The Nominees.“Item One: Election of Directors.”
STEPHEN T. WILLS, CPA, MST, CPA,currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (since 1997), Chief Operating Officer (since 2011), Treasurer and Secretary of Palatin. Mr. Wills has been vice president, secretary, treasurerserved on the board of directors of MediWound Ltd. (Nasdaq: MDWD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on treatment in the fields of severe burns, chronic and chief financial officerother hard to heal wounds, since 1997April 2017, and was executive vice presidentas Chairman since January 2018, and also has served on the board of operations from 2005 until June 2011, when he was appointed chief operating officerdirectors of Gamida Cell Ltd. (Nasdaq: GMDA), a leading cellular and immune therapeutics company, since March 2019 (audit, compensation, and finance committee member), and of Amryt Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and delivering treatments to help improve the lives of patients with rare and orphan diseases, since September 2019 (chairman of audit committee and member of the compensation and finance committee). Mr. Wills also serves on the board of trustees and executive vice president. From July 1997 to August 2000,committee of The Hun School of Princeton, a college preparatory day and boarding school, since 2013, and as its Chairman since June 2018. Mr. Wills was also a vice presidentserved as Executive Chairman and the chief financial officerInterim Principal Executive Officer of Derma Sciences, Inc., a publicly-held company which providesprovider of advanced wound and skin care products, and currently servesfrom December 2015 to February 2017, when Derma Sciences was acquired by Integra Lifesciences (Nasdaq: IART). Previously, Mr. Wills served on the board of directors of Derma Sciences as the lead director of Derma. Mr. Wills is also a director and chairchairman of the audit committee from June 2000 to December 2015. Mr. Wills served as the Chief Financial Officer of Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC, a privately-held fully-electronic optionsDerma Sciences from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Wills served as the President and equities exchange current in development, and within the past five years was a directorChief Operating Officer of U.S. Helicopter Corp., a publicly-held company. From 1991 to August 2000, he was the president and chief operating officer of Golomb, Wills, Owens & Company,Baker, P.C., a public accounting firm.firm, from 1991 to 2000. Mr. Wills, a certified public accountant, receivedearned his B.S.Bachelor of Science in accounting from West Chester University, and an M.S.a Master of Science in taxation from Temple University.
Fiscal 20122020 Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the compensation earned by or paid to our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, who constitute all of our executive officers, for fiscal 2020 and our one other executive officer (our named executive officers) for our fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.2019. We have no defined benefit or actuarial pension plan, and no deferred compensation plan.
| Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($) | Stock awards (1) ($) | Option awards (1) ($) | Nonequity incentive plan compensation (2) ($) | All other compensation (3) ($) | Total ($) |
Carl Spana, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President | 2020 | 600,000 | 712,443 | 712,559 | 252,000 | 15,615 | 2,292,617 |
2019 | 505,400 | 616,668 | 632,225 | 506,000 | 14,118 | 2,274,411 |
Stephen T. Wills, MST, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President | 2020 | 550,000 | 613,814 | 613,805 | 231,000 | 16,207 | 2,024,826 |
2019 | 461,700 | 527,826 | 542,151 | 462,000 | 14,085 | 2,007,762 |
| | | | | | | |
(1)
Amounts in these columns represent the aggregate grant date fair value for stock awards and option awards computed using either the Black-Scholes model or a multifactor Monte Carlo simulation. The aggregate grant date fair value of the performance-based stock options and performance-based restricted stock units granted in fiscal 2020, assuming that the highest level of performance would be achieved, was as follows: for Dr. Spana, $337,500 for performance-based stock options and $337,500 for performance-based restricted stock units; and for Mr. Wills, $290,750 for performance-based stock options and $290,750 for performance-based restricted stock units. The aggregate grant date fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units granted in fiscal 2019, assuming that the highest level of performance would be achieved, was $300,428 for Dr. Spana and $257,146 for Mr. Wills. There were no performance-based stock options granted in fiscal 2019. For a description of the assumptions we used to calculate these amounts, see Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report for fiscal 2020.
(2)
Annual incentive amounts.
(3)
Proxy Statement, page 43Consists of matching contributions to 401(k) plan.
Base Salary
The salary for each NEO is based, among other factors, upon job responsibilities, level of experience, individual performance, comparisons to the salaries of executives in similar positions obtained from market surveys, and internal comparisons. The compensation committee considers changes in the base salaries of our NEOs annually. In fiscal 2020, the compensation committee approved increases in base salaries to $600,000 for Dr. Spana and $550,000 for Mr. Wills in connection with entering into new employment agreements with each officer.
Annual Incentive Program
We provide annual incentive opportunities to our NEOs to promote the achievement of annual performance objectives. Each year, the compensation committee establishes the target annual incentive opportunity for each NEO, which is based on a percentage of his base salary. For fiscal 2020, the target annual incentive opportunity for each NEO equaled 60% of his annual base salary, up from 50% of base salary for fiscal 2019.
The 2020 annual incentive bonus for the NEOs was determined based on corporate performance and individual achievements and performance, as warranted. In determining the annual incentive bonus opportunity for executives, the executive’s annual base salary is multiplied by the target bonus percentage. The resulting amount is then multiplied by the corporate performance percentage approved by the compensation committee, which is dependent on the achievement of corporate performance goals, and also potentially adjusted upwards or downwards for individual executives based on their individual contribution toward the corporate results during the relevant year. The corporate objectives are established so that target attainment is not assured. Instead, our executives are required to demonstrate significant effort, dedication, and achievement to attain payment for performance at target or above.
Name and
Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($) | Stock awards (1) ($) | Option awards (1) ($) | Nonequity
incentive plan
compensa-tion (2) ($) | All other compensa-
tion (3) ($) | Total ($) |
| Carl Spana, Ph.D., | 2012 | 420,000 | | | 112,500 | 12,750 | 545,250 |
chief executive officer and president | 2011 | 400,000 | 257,500 | 228,326 | 120,000 | 12,500 | 1,018,326 |
Stephen T. Wills, MST, CPA, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and executive vice president | 2012 | 375,000 | | | 105,000 | 13,375 | 493,375 |
| 2011 | 330,000 | 227,500 | 190,271 | 100,000 | 12,475 | 860,246 |
Trevor Hallam, Ph.D., former executive vice president of research and development (4) | 2012 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | 165,000 | 34,000 | — | — | 169,225 | 368,225 |
Corporate Objectives Related to: | Weight | Achievement Level | Discretionary Adjustment* | Total Weighted Achievement |
| Vyleesi (bremelanotide) FSD Program | 20% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Anti-Inflammatory Programs | 15% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Ocular Program | 45% | 77% | 15% | 40% |
| Corporate | 20% | 100% | 50% | 30% |
| Total Payout | 70% |
* Discretionary adjustments for ocular programs were primarily related to program advances for PL9643 for dry eye disease, including management of clinical trial enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic; discretionary adjustments for other corporate were primarily related to management of AMAG’s announced divestiture of Vyleesi and management of corporate operations in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For fiscal 2020, the compensation committee determined that our NEOs achieved 70% of their target objectives. As a result, each NEO received a payout under the 2020 annual incentive program equal to 70% of his target annual incentive opportunity, or $252,000 for Dr. Spana and $231,000 for Mr. Wills (subject to rounding conventions).
Long-Term Incentive Program
The total direct compensation levels for our NEOs are heavily weighted to long-term incentive opportunities. This structure is intended to align executives’ interests with those of our stockholders, enhance our retention incentives and focus our executives on delivering sustainable performance over the longer-term.
The design of this program has evolved over the past several years to reflect core performance metrics and an incentive structure the compensation committee believes is necessary to drive our long-term success and that reflects feedback received from investors during our stockholder engagement process.
Each year, the compensation committee establishes the target long-term incentive opportunity for each NEO, which is based on a percentage of his base salary. For fiscal 2020, the target long-term incentive opportunity for each NEO equaled 250% of base salary for Dr. Spana and 235% of base salary for Mr. Wills.
On June 24, 2019, as part of our 2020 long-term incentive program, we granted 236,000 time-based restricted stock units and 236,000 performance-based restricted stock units to Dr. Spana, and 202,000 time-based restricted stock units and 202,000 performance-based restricted stock units to Mr. Wills. The time-based restricted stock units vest as to 25% of the number of shares granted at each anniversary of the date of grant. The performance-based restricted stock units vest on performance criteria relating to advancement of MC1r programs, including initiation of clinical trials, and licensing of Vyleesi in additional countries or regions.
On June 24, 2019, we also granted 744,000 stock options to Dr. Spana and 638,000 stock options to Mr. Wills, which vest as to 25% of the number of shares granted on each anniversary of the date of grant. The options have an exercise price of $1.34, the fair market value of the common stock on the business day immediately preceding the date of grant, and they expire on June 24, 2029.
On June 16, 2020, as part of our 2021 long-term incentive program, we granted 646,500 time-based restricted stock units and 646,500 performance-based restricted stock units to Dr. Spana, and 557,000 time-based restricted stock units and 557,000 performance-based restricted stock units to Mr. Wills. The time-based restricted stock units vest as to 25% of the number of shares granted at each anniversary of the date of grant. The performance-based restricted stock units vest on performance criteria relating to advancement of MC1r programs, including initiation of clinical trials, and licensing of Vyleesi in additional countries or regions.
On June 16, 2020, we also granted 1,071,500 time-based options and 1,071,500 performance-based options to Dr. Spana, and 923,000 time-based options and 923,000 performance-based options to Mr. Wills, a portion of which were contingent on increasing the shares reserved for grant under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by the stockholders at a meeting on June 25, 2020. The time-based options vest as to 25% of the number of shares granted at each anniversary of the date of grant. The performance-based options vest on performance criteria relating to advancement of MC1r programs, including initiation of clinical trials, and licensing of Vyleesi in additional countries or regions. The options have an exercise price of $0.58, the fair market value of the common stock on the business day immediately preceding the date of grant, and they expire on June 16, 2030.
The following table shows the allocation of performance and time-based awards on a share basis for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019. Awards included restricted stock unit awards and stock option awards.
| Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Time-based stock awards (RSUs) (1) | Performance-based stock awards (RSUs) (1) | Time-based option awards (1) | Performance-based option awards (1) |
| Carl Spana, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President | 2020 | 646,500 | 646,500 | 1,071,500 | 1,071,500 |
| 2019 | 236,000 | 236,000 | 744,000 | - |
| Stephen T. Wills, MST, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President | 2020 | 557,000 | 557,000 | 923,000 | 923,000 |
| 2019 | 202,000 | 202,000 | 638,000 | - |
(1)
Amounts in these columns represent the aggregate maximum number of shares obtainable based on awards in the relevant fiscal year, and assuming all awards ultimately vest.
(1) | Amounts in these columns represent the aggregate grant date fair value for stock awards and option awards computed using the Black-Scholes model. For a description of the assumptions we used to calculate these amounts, see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report. |
(2) | Bonus amounts earned in fiscal 2012 were paid in July 2012. Bonus amounts for fiscal 2011 were set by the board on June 22, 2011, but were not paid until July 15, 2011. |
(3) | Consists of matching contributions to 401(k) plan accounts and, for fiscal 2011 for Dr. Hallam, includes severance payments of $165,000. |
(4) | Dr. Hallam resigned effective December 31, 2010. All of his stock and option awards terminated prior to June 30, 2011. |
Employment Agreements
Effective July 1, 2010,2019, we entered into employment agreements with Dr. Spana Mr. Wills and Dr. Hallam. The agreements with Dr. Spana and Mr. Wills which continue through June 30, 20132022 unless terminated earlier. The agreement with Dr. Hallam terminated with his resignation on December 31, 2010. Under these agreements, which replaced substantially similar agreements that expired on June 30, 2010,2019, Dr. Spana is serving as chief executive officerChief Executive Officer and presidentPresident at a base salary of $390,000$600,000 per year;year and Mr. Wills is serving as chief financial officer, chief operating officerChief Financial Officer and executive vice presidentChief Operating Officer at a base salary of $321,000 per year; and Dr. Hallam was serving as executive vice president of research and development at a base salary of $321,000 per year. The current salary as set by the board for Dr. Spana is $437,500 per year and for Mr. Wills is $395,000$550,000 per year. Each agreement also provides for:
· | annual discretionary bonus compensation, in an amount to be decided by the compensation committee and approved by the board, based on achievement of yearly objectives; and |
●
annual discretionary bonus compensation, in an amount to be decided by the compensation committee and approved by the board, based on achievement of yearly performance objectives; and
· | participation in all benefit programs that we establish, to the extent the executive’s position, tenure, salary, age, health and other qualifications make him eligible to participate. |
●
participation in all benefit programs that we establish, to the extent the executive’s position, tenure, salary, age, health, and other qualifications make him eligible to participate.
Each agreement allows us or the executive to terminate the agreement upon written notice and contains other provisions for termination by us for “cause,” or by the employee for “good reason” or due to a “change in control” (as these terms are defined in the employment agreements and set forth below). Early termination may, in some circumstances, result in severance pay at the salary then in effect, plus continuation of medical and dental benefits then in effect for a period of two years (Dr. Spana) or 18 months (Mr. Wills).
years. In addition, the agreements provide that options and restricted stock units granted to these officers accelerate upon termination of employment except for voluntary resignation by the officer or termination for cause. In the event of retirement, termination by the officer for good reason, or termination by us other than for “cause”, options may be exercised until the earlier of twenty-four months following termination or expiration of the option term. Arrangements with our named executive officersNEOs in connection with a termination following a change in control are described below. Each agreement includes non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality covenants.
The compensation committee awarded bonuses to our named executive officers for fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, which were paid in July 2012 and July 2011, respectively, based on results of operations, including clinical trial operations and our financial condition.
Stock Option and Restricted Stock Unit Grants
The compensation committee determined that additional equity grants were necessary in order to motivate and retain our executive officers. Effective July 17, 2012, Dr. Spana and Mr. Wills were granted options to purchase 150,000 and 135,000 shares of common stock, respectively, vesting over four years, with an exercise price of $0.72 per share, equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. In addition, on the same date, Dr. Spana and Mr. Wills were granted restricted stock units for 112,500 and 110,000 shares of common stock, respectively, vesting over two years. Vesting of both the options and the restricted stock units is restricted by our agreements in connection with the 2012 Private Placement, and neither the options nor restricted stock units can vest until September 1, 2013.
On June 22, 2011, we granted 250,000 and 225,000 restricted stock units to Dr. Spana and Mr. Wills, respectively, which vested as to 50% on June 22, 2012 and will vest as to the remaining 50% on June 22, 2013. We also granted 300,000 and 250,000 stock options to Dr. Spana and Mr. Wills, respectively, which vested as to 25% on June 22, 2012 and will vest as to an additional 25% on each anniversary of the grant date. These options have an exercise price of $1.00, which is in excess of the fair market value on the date of grant ($0.86), and they expire on June 22, 2021.
On July 21, 2010, we granted 25,000, 20,000 and 20,000 restricted stock units to Dr. Spana, Mr. Wills and Dr. Hallam, respectively, which vested as to 50% on September 15, 2010 and the remaining 50% on March 15, 2011 for Dr. Spana and Mr. Wills. Dr. Hallam’s 10,000 unvested restricted stock units terminated with his resignation on December 31, 2010.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 20122020 Fiscal Year-End
The following table summarizes all of the outstanding equity-based awards granted to our named executive officersNEOs as of June 30, 2012,2020, the end of our fiscal year.
| | | Option awards (1) | | Stock awards (2) |
Name | Option or stock award grant date | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | Equity incentive plan award: number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options (#) | Option exercise price ($) | Option expiration date | | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($) (3) | Equity incentive plan awards: number of unearned shares, unit or other rights that have not vested (#) | Equity incentive plan awards: market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($) |
| Carl Spana | 06/22/11 | 300,000 | - | - | 1.00 | 06/22/21 | | | | | |
| | 07/17/12 | 150,000 | - | - | 0.72 | 07/17/22 | | | | | |
| | 06/27/13 | 275,000 | - | - | 0.62 | 06/27/23 | | | | | |
| | 06/25/14 | 175,000 | - | - | 1.02 | 06/25/24 | | | | | |
| | 06/11/15 | 300,000 | - | - | 1.08 | 06/11/25 | | | | | |
| | 09/07/16 | 354,500 | 77,500 | - | 0.68 | 09/07/26 | | | | | |
| | 06/20/17 | 703,500 | 234,500 | - | 0.37 | 06/20/27 | | | | | |
| | 12/12/17 | 312,500 | 312,500 | - | 0.85 | 12/12/27 | | | | | |
| | 12/12/17 | 500,000 | - | 125,000 | 0.85 | 12/12/27 | | | | | |
| | 06/26/18 | 266,500 | 266,500 | - | 1.00 | 06/26/28 | | | | | |
| | 06/24/19 | 186,000 | 558,000 | - | 1.34 | 06/24/29 | | | | | |
| | 06/16/20 | - | 1,071,500 | - | 0.58 | 06/16/30 | | | | | |
| | 06/16/20 | - | - | 1,071,500 | 0.58 | 06/16/30 | | | | | |
| | 12/12/17 | | | | | | | 312,500 | 159,375 | 125,000 | 63,750 |
| | 06/24/19 | | | | | | | 177,000 | 90,270 | 185,850 | 94,784 |
| | 06/16/20 | | | | | | | 646,500 | 329,715 | 646,500 | 329,715 |
| | Total Stock Awards | | | | | 1,136,000 | 579,360 | 957,350 | 488,249 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen T. Wills | 06/22/11 | 250,000 | - | - | 1.00 | 06/22/21 | | | | | |
| | 07/17/12 | 135,000 | - | - | 0.72 | 07/17/22 | | | | | |
| | 06/27/13 | 250,000 | - | - | 0.62 | 06/27/23 | | | | | |
| | 06/25/14 | 150,000 | - | - | 1.02 | 06/25/24 | | | | | |
| | 06/11/15 | 270,000 | - | - | 1.08 | 06/11/25 | | | | | |
| | 09/07/16 | 324,750 | 71,250 | - | 0.68 | 09/07/26 | | | | | |
| | 06/20/17 | 644,250 | 214,750 | - | 0.37 | 06/20/27 | | | | | |
| | 12/12/17 | 287,500 | 287,500 | - | 0.85 | 12/12/27 | | | | | |
| | 12/12/17 | 372,500 | - | 95,000 | 0.85 | 12/12/27 | | | | | |
| | 06/26/18 | 227,000 | 227,000 | - | 1.00 | 06/26/18 | | | | | |
| | 06/24/19 | 159,500 | 478,500 | - | 1.34 | 06/24/29 | | | | | |
| | 06/16/20 | - | 923,000 | - | 0.58 | 06/16/30 | | | | | |
| | 06/16/20 | - | - | 923,000 | 0.58 | 06/16/30 | | | | | |
| | 12/12/17 | | | | | | | 287,500 | 146,625 | 95,000 | 48,450 |
| | 06/24/19 | | | | | | | 151,500 | 77,265 | 159,075 | 81,128 |
| | 06/16/20 | | | | | | | 557,000 | 284,070 | 557,000 | 284,070 |
| | Total Stock Awards | | | | | 996,000 | 507,960 | 811,075 | 413,648 |
Proxy Statement, page 45
Stock option vesting schedules: all options granted on or before September 6, 2016 have fully vested. Options granted after September 6, 2016 vest over four years with 1/4 of the shares vesting per year starting on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the NEO remains an employee. See “Termination and Change-In-Control Arrangements” below, except for performance-based options granted on Granted on June 16, 2020, which vest according to the terms of the grant described above, and December 12, 2017, which vested as to 30% on June 26, 2018, upon ratification by the Board of the compensation committee’s determination that the FDA had accepted for filing an NDA for Vyleesi for HSDD, and 50% on June 24, 2019, upon the compensation committee’s determination that FDA had approved the NDA for Vyleesi for HSDD. The remaining 20% did not vest during the performance period ending December 31, 2020.| | | Option awards (1) | | Stock awards (2) |
| Name (3) | Option or stock award grant date | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | Option exercise price ($) | Option expiration date | | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($) (4) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Carl Spana | 12/11/02 | 10,000 | | 20.00 | 12/11/12 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/16/03 | 10,000 | | 32.40 | 07/16/13 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/05 | 7,500 | | 37.50 | 07/01/15 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/05 | 8,300 | | 17.50 | 07/01/15 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 10/06/06 | 12,500 | | 24.90 | 10/06/16 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 03/26/08 | 28,125 | | 2.80 | 03/26/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 03/26/08 | 4,687 | | 5.00 | 03/26/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 03/26/08 | 4,688 | | 6.60 | 03/26/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/08 | 18,750 | 6,250 | 1.80 | 07/01/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/09 | 12,500 | 12,500 | 2.80 | 07/01/19 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 06/22/11 | 75,000 | 225,000 | 1.00 | 06/22/21 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 06/22/11 | | | | | | 125,000 | 62,500 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Stephen T. Wills | 12/11/02 | 8,000 | | 20.00 | 12/11/12 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/16/03 | 8,000 | | 32.40 | 07/16/13 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/05 | 5,000 | | 37.50 | 07/01/15 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/05 | 7,300 | | 17.50 | 07/01/15 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 10/06/06 | 10,000 | | 24.90 | 10/06/16 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 03/26/08 | 22,500 | | 2.80 | 03/26/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 03/26/08 | 3,750 | | 5.00 | 03/26/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 03/26/08 | 3,750 | — | 6.60 | 03/26/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/08 | 15,000 | 5,000 | 1.80 | 07/01/18 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 07/01/09 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 2.80 | 07/01/19 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 06/22/11 | 62,500 | 187,500 | 1.00 | 06/22/21 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 06/22/11 | | | | | | 112,500 | 56,250 |
Time-based stock award vesting schedule: restricted stock units granted on December 12, 2017, as to 625,000 shares for Dr. Spana and 575,000 shares for Mr. Wills, which vest in equal amounts over a four year period, provided that the NEO remains an employee; restricted stock units granted on June 24, 2019 as to 236,000 shares for Dr. Spana and 202,000 shares for Mr. Wills and restricted stock units granted on June 16, 2020 as to 646,500 shares for Dr. Spana and 557,000 shares for Mr. Wills, which vest in equal amounts over a four year period, provided that the NEO remains an employee. Both time-based and performance-based restricted stock unit awards prior to fiscal 2019 contain deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery of the common stock after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control. See “Stock Options and Restricted Stock Unit Awards” above and “Termination and Change-In-Control Arrangements” below.
(3)
Calculated by multiplying the number of restricted stock units by $0.51, the closing market price of our common stock on June 30, 2020, the last trading day of our most recently completed fiscal year.
(1) | Stock option vesting schedules: all options granted on or before March 26, 2008 have fully vested. Options granted after March 26, 2008 vest over four years with 1/4 of the shares vesting per year starting on the first anniversary of the grant date. |
(2) | Stock awards consist of restricted stock units granted on June 22, 2011, which vest as to 50% on June 22, 2012 and as to the remaining 50% on June 22, 2013, provided that the named executive officer remains an employee. The restricted stock units provide for accelerated vesting on a “change in control” or termination of employment other than for “cause” or at the election of the named executive officers (as these terms are defined in employment agreements with the named executive officers). If the named executive officer is terminated for cause or voluntarily terminates employment, all unvested restricted stock units are immediately forfeited. |
(3) | Dr. Hallam, who resigned effective December 31, 2010, did not have any equity-based awards outstanding at fiscal year-end. |
(4) | Calculated by multiplying the number of restricted stock units by $0.50, the closing market price of our common stock on June 29, 2012, the last trading day of our most recently completed fiscal year. |
Termination and Change-In-Control Arrangements
The employment agreements, stock option agreements and restricted stock unit agreements with Dr. Spana and Mr. Wills contain the following provisions concerning severance compensation and the vesting of stock options and restricted stock units upon termination of employment or upon a change in control. The executive’s entitlement to severance, payment of health benefits and accelerated vesting of options is contingent on the executive executing a general release of claims against us.
Termination Without Severance Compensation. Regardless of whether there has been a change in control, if we terminate employment for cause or the executive terminates employment without good reason (as those terms are defined in the employment agreement and set forth below), then the executive receiveswill receive only his accrued salary and vacation benefits through the date of termination. He may also elect to receive medical and dental benefits pursuant to COBRA for up to two years (Dr. Spana) or 18 months (Mr. Wills), but must remit the cost of coverage to us. Under the terms of our outstanding options and restricted stock units, all unvested options and restricted stock units would terminate immediately, and vested options would be exercisable for three months after termination.
Severance Compensation After Death or Disability. In the event of the executive’s death or disability, we will provide lump sum severance pay equal to 24 months of base pay, as well as the opportunity for COBRA benefits as described above under “Termination Without Severance Compensation.”
Severance Compensation Without a Change in Control.Control. If we terminate or fail to extend the employment agreement without cause, or the executive terminates employment with good reason, then the executive will receive as severance pay his salary then in effect, paid in a lump sum, plus medical and dental benefits at our expense, for a period of two years (Dr. Spana) or 18 months (Mr. Wills) after the termination date. In addition, upon such event all unvested options would immediately vest and be exercisable for two years after the termination date or, if earlier, the expiration of the option term, and all unvested restricted stock units would accelerate and become fully vested.
Severance Compensation After a Change in Control.Control. If, within one year after a change in control, we terminate employment without cause or the executive terminates employment with good reason, then the executive will receive as severance pay 200% (Dr. Spana) or 150% (Mr. Wills) of his salary then in effect, paid in a lump sum, plus medical and dental benefits at our expense, for a period of two years (Dr. Spana) or 18 months (Mr. Wills) after the termination date. We would also reimburse the executive for up to $25,000 in fees and expenses during the six months following termination, for locating employment. We would also reimburse the executive for any excise tax he might incur on “excess parachute payments” (as defined in Section 280G(b) of the Internal Revenue Code). All unvested options would immediately vest and be exercisable for two years after the termination date or, if earlier, the expiration of the option term. All unvested restricted stock units would vest upon a change in control, without regard to whether the executive’s employment is terminated.
Option and Restricted Stock Unit Vesting Upon a Change in Control. OptionsPursuant to the employment agreements, options and restricted stock units granted under the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan vest upon termination of the employee within twelve months following a change in control. If any options granted under the 2005 Stock Plan are to be terminated in connection with a change in control, those options will vest in full immediately before the change in control.
Definitions. Under the employment agreements, a “change in control,”“cause” “cause” and “good reason” are defined as follows:
A “change in control” occurs when:
| (a) | some person or entity acquires more than 50% of the voting power of our outstanding securities; |
| (b) | the individuals who, during any twelve month period, constitute our board of directors cease to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors; |
| (c) | we enter into a merger or consolidation; or |
(a)
any person or entity acquires more than 50% of the voting power of our outstanding securities;
| (d) | we sell substantially all our assets. |
(b)
the individuals who, during any twelve-month period, constitute our board of directors cease to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors;
(c)
the consummation of a merger or consolidation; or
(d)
we sell substantially all our assets.
The term “cause” means:
| (a) | the occurrence of (i) the executive’s material breach of, or habitual neglect or failure to perform the material duties which he is required to perform under, the terms of his employment agreement; (ii) the executive’s material failure to follow the reasonable directives or policies established by or at the direction of our board of directors; or (iii) the executive’s engaging in conduct that is materially detrimental to our interests such that we sustain a material loss or injury as a result thereof, provided that the breach or failure of performance is not cured, to the extent cure is possible, within ten days of the delivery to the executive of written notice thereof; |
(a)
the occurrence of (i) the executive’s material breach of, or habitual neglect or failure to perform the material duties which he is required to perform under, the terms of his employment agreement; (ii) the executive’s material failure to follow the reasonable directives or policies established by or at the direction of our board of directors; or (iii) the executive’s engaging in conduct that is materially detrimental to our interests such that we sustain a material loss or injury as a result thereof, provided that the breach or failure of performance is not cured, to the extent cure is possible, within ten days of the delivery to the executive of written notice thereof;
the willful breach by the executive of his obligations to us with respect to confidentiality, invention and non-disclosure, non-competition or non-solicitation; or
| (b) | the willful breach by the executive of his obligations to us with respect to confidentiality, invention and non-disclosure, non-competition or non-solicitation; or |
(c)
the conviction of the executive of, or the entry of a pleading of guilty or nolo contendere by the executive to, any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony.
| (c) | the conviction of the executive of, or the entry of a pleading of guilty or nolo contendere by the executive to, any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony. |
The term “good reason” means the occurrence of any of the following, with our failure to cure such circumstances within 30 days of the delivery to us of written notice by the executive of such circumstances:
| (a) | any material adverse change in the executive’s duties, authority or responsibilities, which causes the executive’s position with us to become of significantly less responsibility, or assignment of duties and responsibilities inconsistent with the executive’s position; |
(a)
any material adverse change in the executive’s duties, authority or responsibilities, which causes the executive’s position with us to become of significantly less responsibility, or assignment of duties and responsibilities inconsistent with the executive’s position;
| (b) | a material reduction in the executive’s salary; |
(b)
a material reduction in the executive’s salary;
| (c) | our failure to continue in effect any material compensation or benefit plan in which the executive participates, unless an equitable arrangement has been made with respect to such plan, or our failure to continue the executive’s participation therein (or in a substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of the executive’s participation relative to other participants; |
(c)
our failure to continue in effect any material compensation or benefit plan in which the executive participates, unless an equitable arrangement has been made with respect to such plan, or our failure to continue the executive’s participation therein (or in a substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided and the level of the executive’s participation relative to other participants;
| (d) | our failure to continue to provide the executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by the executive under any of our health and welfare insurance, retirement and other fringe-benefit plans, the taking of any action by us which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits, or our failure to provide the executive with the number of paid vacation days to which he is entitled; or |
(d)
our failure to continue to provide the executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by the executive under any of our health and welfare insurance, retirement and other fringe-benefit plans, the taking of any action by us which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits, or our failure to provide the executive with the number of paid vacation days to which he is entitled; or
| (e) | (e) the relocation of the executive to a location which is a material distance from Cranbury, New Jersey. |
The rules of the SEC require us to disclose failures to file or late filings of reports of stock ownership and changes in stock ownership required to be filed by our directors, officers and beneficial holders of more than 10% of our common stock. To the best of our knowledge, all of the filings for our directors, officers and beneficial holders of more than 10% of our common stock were made on a timely basis in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, except that one report on Form 4 relating to the open market purchase of common stock by Mr. Dunton on November 16, 2011 was filed late.
BENEFICIALBENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
The tables below show the beneficial stock ownership and voting power, as of May 3, 2013,April [ ∙ ], 2021, of:
· | each director, each nominee for director, each of the named executive officers, and all current directors and officers as a group; and |
●
each director, each nominee for director, each of the NEOs, and all current directors and officers as a group; and
· | all persons who, to our knowledge, beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock or Series A preferred stock. |
●
all persons who, to our knowledge, beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock or Series A preferred stock.
“Beneficial ownership” here means direct or indirect voting or dispositive power over outstanding stock and stock whichthat a person has the right to acquire now or within 60 days after May 3, 2013.April [ ∙ ], 2021. See the footnotes for more detailed explanations of the holdings. Except as noted, to our knowledge, the persons named in the tables beneficially own and have sole voting and dispositive power over all shares listed.
The common stock has one vote per share and the Series A preferred stock has approximately 11.2516 votes per share. Total votingshare of Series A preferred stock. Voting power is calculated on the sumbasis of the aggregate of common stock and Series A preferred stock outstanding as of May 3, 2013,April [ ∙ ], 2021, on which date 38,947,912[230,049,691] shares of common stock and 4,6974,030 shares of Series A preferred stock,convertible into 52,82966,059 shares of common stock, were outstanding.
Under our Insider Trading and Securities Law Compliance Policy, employees, directors and officers may not engage in hedging, monetization or pledging transactions of our securities. None of the shares of our management and directors shown on the table below are pledged.
The address for all members of our management and directors is c/o Palatin Technologies, Inc., 4B Cedar Brook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512. Addresses of other beneficial owners are in the applicable table.
MANAGEMENT:
| Class | Name of beneficial owner | Amount and nature of beneficial ownership | Percent of class | Percent of total voting power |
| | | | | |
| Common | Carl Spana, Ph.D. | 658,141 (1) | 1.7% | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | Stephen T. Wills | 581,742 (2) | 1.5% | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | John K.A. Prendergast, Ph.D. | 180,117 (3) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | Perry B. Molinoff, M.D. | 130,333 (4) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | Robert K. deVeer, Jr. | 139,060 (5) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | Zola P. Horovitz, Ph.D. | 124,000 (6) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | Robert I. Taber, Ph.D. | 119,000 (7) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | J. Stanley Hull | 114,166 (8) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | Alan W. Dunton, M.D. | 45,020 (9) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| Common | Angela Rossetti | 0 | * | * |
| | | | | |
| | All current directors and executive officers as a group (ten persons) | 2,091,579 (10) | 5.2% | 1.2% |
Class | Name of beneficial owner | Amount and nature of beneficial ownership | Percent of class | Percent of total voting power |
Common | Carl Spana, Ph.D. | 8,163,868 (1) | 3.4% | * |
Common | Stephen T. Wills | 7,252,297 (2) | 3.0% | * |
Common | John K.A. Prendergast, Ph.D. | 1,441,683 (3) | * | * |
Common | Robert K. deVeer, Jr. | 864,556 (4) | * | * |
Common | J. Stanley Hull | 817,216 (5) | * | * |
Common | Alan W. Dunton, M.D. | 777,768 (6) | * | * |
Common | Arlene M. Morris | 644,416 (7) | * | * |
Common | Anthony M. Manning, Ph.D. | 440,416 (8) | * | * |
| | | | | |
| | All current directors and executive officers as a group (nine persons) | 20,402,220 (9) | 8.2% | 1.3% |
*Less than one percent.
(1) | Includes 275,800 shares which Dr. Spana has the right to acquire under options, 125,000 shares issuable under restricted stock units, and 50,000 shares which he has the right to acquire under Series A and Series B 2011 warrants. |
(1)
Includes 4,259,125 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 3,021,375 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(2) | Includes 225,300 shares which Mr. Wills has the right to acquire under options, 112,500 shares issuable under restricted stock units, and 50,000 shares which he has the right to acquire under Series A and Series B 2011 warrants. |
(2)
Includes 3,731,000 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 2,659,000 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(3) | Includes 178,350 shares which Dr. Prendergast has the right to acquire under options. |
(3)
Includes 787,916 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 259,000 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(4) | Includes 119,333 shares which Dr. Molinoff has the right to acquire under options. |
(4)
Includes 470,416 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 153,000 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(5) | Includes 117,000 shares which Mr. deVeer has the right to acquire under options. |
(5)
Includes 470,416 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 153,000 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(6) | Includes 113,500 shares which Dr. Horovitz has the right to acquire under options. |
(6)
Includes 430,416 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 143,000 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(7) | Includes 113,500 shares which Dr. Taber has the right to acquire under options. |
(8) | Includes 112,166 shares which Mr. Hull has the right to acquire under options. |
(7)
Consists of 337,916 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 123,000 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(9) | Includes 37,500 shares which Dr. Dunton has the right to acquire under options. |
(8)
Consists of 251,916 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and 88,000 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units, all of which shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units have vested but not been delivered under deferred delivery provisions providing for delivery after the grantee’s separation from service or a defined change in control, but does not include shares of common stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock unit awards that have not vested and will not vest within 60 days.
(10) | Includes 1,629,949 shares which directors and officers have the right to acquire under options, restricted stock units and warrants. |
(9)
Includes 17,338,496 shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and restricted stock units.
MORE THAN 5% BENEFICIAL OWNERS:
Class | Name and address of beneficial owner | Amount and nature of beneficial ownership (1) | Percent of class | Percent of total voting power | Name and address of beneficial owner | Amount and nature of beneficial ownership (1) | Percent of class | Percent of total voting power |
| | | | | | |
| Common | Mark N. Lampert BVF Inc. BVF Partners L.P. 900 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1100 Chicago, Illinois 60611 | 5,200,000 (2) | 13.4% | 13.3% | |
Series A Preferred | | Steven N. Ostrovsky 43 Nikki Ct. Morganville, NJ 07751 | 500 | 12.4% | * |
Series A Preferred | | Thomas L. Cassidy IRA Rollover 38 Canaan Close New Canaan, CT 06840 | 500 | 12.4% | * |
Series A Preferred | | Jonathan E. Rothschild 300 Mercer St., #28F New York, NY 10003 | 500 | 12.4% | * |
Series A Preferred | | Arthur J. Nagle 19 Garden Avenue Bronxville, NY 10708 | 250 | 6.2% | * |
Series A Preferred | | Thomas P. and Mary E. Heiser, JTWROS 10 Ridge Road Hopkinton, MA 01748 | 250 | 6.2% | * |
Series A Preferred | | Carl F. Schwartz 31 West 87th St. New York, NY 10016 | 250 | 6.2% | * |
Class | Name and address of beneficial owner | Amount and nature of beneficial ownership (1) | Percent of class | Percent of total voting power |
| | | | | |
| Common | QVT Financial LP 1177 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor New York, New York 10036 | 3,892,882 (3) | 9.9% | 9.9% |
| | | | | |
| Common | Great Point Partners LLC Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D. David Kroin 165 Mason Street, 3rd Floor Greenwich, CT 06830 | 4,030,040 (4) | 9.9% | 6.8% |
| | | | | |
| Common | James E. Flynn 780 Third Avenue, 37th Floor New York, NY 10017 | 4,067,707 (5) | 9.9% | 5.9% |
| | | | | |
| Common | First Eagle Investment Management, LLC 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10105 | 2,298,660 (6) | 5.8% | 2.0% |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Tokenhouse PTE LTD 9 – 11 Reitergasse Zurich 8027, Switzerland | 667 | 14.2% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Steven N. Ostrovsky 43 Nikki Ct. Morganville, NJ 07751 | 500 | 10.6% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Thomas L. Cassidy IRA Rollover 38 Canaan Close New Canaan, CT 06840 | 500 | 10.6% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Jonathan E. Rothschild 300 Mercer St., #28F New York, NY 10003 | 500 | 10.6% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Arthur J. Nagle 19 Garden Avenue Bronxville, NY 10708 | 250 | 5.3% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Thomas P. and Mary E. Heiser, JTWROS 10 Ridge Road Hopkinton, MA 01748 | 250 | 5.3% | * |
Class
| Name and address
of beneficial owner
| Amount and nature
of beneficial
ownership (1)
| Percent
of class
| Percent of
total voting
power
|
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Carl F. Schwartz 31 West 87th St. New York, NY 10016 | 250 | 5.3% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Michael J. Wrubel 3650 N. 36 Avenue, #39 Hollywood, FL 33021 | 250 | 5.3% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Myron M. Teitelbaum, M.D. 175 Burton Lane Lawrence, NY 11559 | 250 | 5.3% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A Preferred | Laura Gold Galleries Ltd. Profit Sharing Trust Park South Gallery at Carnegie Hall 154 West 57th Street, Suite 114 New York, NY 10019-3321 | 250 | 5.3% | * |
| | | | | |
Series A | Laura Gold 180 W. 58th Street New York, NY 10019 | 250 | 5.3% | * |
Series A Preferred | Michael J. Wrubel 3650 N. 36 Avenue, #39 Hollywood, FL 33021 | 250 | 6.2% | * |
Series A Preferred | Myron M. Teitelbaum, M.D. 175 Burton Lane Lawrence, NY 11559 | 250 | 6.2% | * |
Series A Preferred | Laura Gold Galleries Ltd. Profit Sharing Trust Park South Gallery at Carnegie Hall 154 West 57th Street, Suite 114 New York, NY 10019 | 250 | 6.2% | * |
Series A Preferred | Laura Gold 180 W. 58th Street New York, NY 10019 | 250 | 6.2% | * |
Series A Preferred | Nadji T. Richmond 20 E. Wedgewood Glen The Woodlands, TX 77381 | 230 | 5.7% | * |
*Less than one percent.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated by footnote, all share amounts represent outstanding shares of the class indicated, and all beneficial owners listed have, to our knowledge, sole voting and dispositive power over the shares listed.
(2) According to a joint Schedule 13G/A filed on October 7, 2011, Mr. Lampert, BVF Partners L.P. and BVF, Inc. shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all the shares listed, and the other filers had beneficial ownership as follows, as to which Mr. Lampert, BVF Partners L.P. and BVF, Inc. disclaim beneficial ownership:
(i) BVF Investments, L.L.C.: 3,091,000 shares;
(ii) Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P.: 1,086,200 shares;
(iii) Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P.: 667,900 shares; and
(iv) Investment 10, L.L.C.: 354,900 shares.
(3) Includes 19,882 shares issuable on exercise of Series A 2012 warrants. According to a joint Schedule 13G filed on July 10, 2012, QVT Financial LP (“QVT Financial”) is the investment manager for QVT Fund IV LP (“Fund IV”), which beneficially owns 501,360 shares of common stock, for QVT Fund V LP (“Fund V”), which beneficially owns 2,956,894 shares of common stock, and for Quintessence Fund L.P. (“Quintessence”), which beneficially owns 434,628 shares of common stock. QVT Financial has the power to direct the vote and disposition of the common stock held by Fund IV, Fund V and Quintessence. Accordingly, QVT Financial may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of an aggregate amount of 3,892,882 shares of common stock, consisting of the shares beneficially owned by Fund IV, Fund V and Quintessence.
QVT Financial GP LLC, as General Partner of QVT Financial, may be deemed to beneficially own the same number of shares of common stock reported by QVT Financial. QVT Associates GP LLC, as General Partner of Fund IV, Fund V and Quintessence, may be deemed to beneficially own the aggregate number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by Fund IV, Fund V and Quintessence, and accordingly, QVT Associates GP LLC may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of an aggregate amount of 3,892,882 shares of common stock.
Exercise of the Series A 2012 warrants and Series B 2012 warrants is restricted if, as a result of an exercise, the beneficial ownership of the holder and its affiliates and any other party or person that could be deemed to be a group would exceed 9.99% of the outstanding common stock (as may be adjusted to the extent set forth in the Series A 2012 warrants and Series B 2012 warrants). Beneficial ownership as listed in the table above excludes Series A 2012 warrants and Series B 2012 warrants which are not exercisable because of that restriction.
(4) Includes 1,392,833shares issuable on exercise of warrants. Dr. Jay and Mr. Kroin are managing members of Great Point Partners, LLC. According to a joint Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2013, each of the owners listed had shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all the shares listed. Great Point Partners, LLC is the investment manager for the following entities or persons, which have shared voting and dispositive power over the number of shares indicated:
(i) Biomedical Value Fund, LP: 860,637 shares outstanding and 762,692 shares issuable on exercise of warrants;
(ii) Biomedical Offshore Value Fund, Ltd.: 496,301 shares outstanding and 439,819 shares issuable on exercise of warrants;
(iii) Biomedical Institutional Value Fund, LP: 319,131 shares outstanding and 282,815 shares issuable on exercise of warrants;
(iv) Lyrical Multi-Manager Fund, LP: 299,998 shares outstanding and 265,834 shares issuable on exercise of warrants;
(v) Lyrical Multi-Manager Fund Offshore Fund, Ltd.: 130,362 shares outstanding and 115,513 shares issuable on exercise of warrants;
(vi) Class D Series of GEF-PS, LP: 430,362 shares outstanding and 381,347 shares issuable on exercise of warrants;
(vii) David J. Morrison: 14,343 shares outstanding and 12,712 shares issuable on exercise of warrants; and
(viii) WS Investments III, LLC: 86,073 shares outstanding and 76,269 shares issuable on exercise of warrants.
Exercise of the warrants is restricted if, as a result of exercise, the beneficial ownership of the holder or any group including the holder would exceed 9.99% of the outstanding common stock. Beneficial ownership as listed in the table above excludes warrants which are not exercisable because of that restriction.
(5) Includes 1,769,877 shares issuable on exercise of warrants. According to a joint Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2013, Mr. Flynn and the other filers had beneficial ownership and shared voting and dispositive power as follows:
(i) James E. Flynn: 2,297,830 shares outstanding and 3,250,000 shares issuable on exercise of warrants held by Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P. and Deerfield Special Situations Fund International Limited. Mr. Flynn shares voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P. and Deerfield Special Situations Fund International Limited.
(ii) Deerfield Mgmt, L.P.: 2,297,830 shares outstanding and 3,250,000 shares issuable on exercise of warrants held by Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P. and Deerfield Special Situations International Master Fund, L.P., of which Deerfield Mgmt, L.P. is the general partner.
(iii) Deerfield Management Company, L.P.: 2,297,830 shares outstanding and 3,250,000 shares issuable on exercise of warrants held by Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P. and Deerfield Special Situations International Master Fund, L.P., of which Deerfield Management Company, L.P. is the investment advisor.
(iv) Deerfield Special Situations Fund L.P.: 1,057,000shares outstanding and 1,287,000 shares issuable on exercise of warrants.
(v) Deerfield Special Situations International Master Fund, L.P.: 1,240,830 shares outstanding and 1,963,000 shares issuable on exercise of warrants.
Exercise of the warrants is restricted if, as a result of exercise, the beneficial ownership of the holder or any group including the holder would exceed 9.99% of the outstanding common stock. Beneficial ownership as listed in the table above excludes warrants which are not exercisable because of that restriction.
(6) Includes 1,525,020 shares issuable on exercise of warrants. According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 11, 2013, First Eagle Investment Management, LLC is deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares listed as a result of acting as investment advisor to various clients, including First Eagle Value in Biotechnology Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands company, which may be deemed to beneficially own 773,660 shares outstanding and 762,500 shares issuable on exercise of warrants.
CERTAINCERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
As a condition of employment, we require all employees to disclose in writing actual or potential conflicts of interest, including related party transactions. Our code of corporate conduct and ethics, which applies to employees, officers, and directors, requires that the audit committee review and approve related party transactions. In connection with a firm commitment public offering whichOur code of corporate conduct and ethics is described in a prospectus dated February 24, 2011 which we filed with the SEC,available at our two executive officers, Carl Spana, Ph.D. and Stephen T. Wills, each purchased 50,000 units, consisting of 50,000 shares of common stock, 50,000 Series A warrants and 50,000 Series B warrants, at the public offering price of $1.00 per unit, which purchase was reviewed and approved by our audit committee. Other than as disclosed in this paragraph, sincewebsite, www.palatin.com. Since July 1, 2010,2019, there have been no transactions or proposed transactions in which we were or are to be a participant, in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
We are not aware of any matters, other than the items of business discussed in this proxy statement, which may come before the meeting. If other items of business properly come before the meeting, the proxy holders will vote shares in accordance with their judgment.
STOCKHOLDERSTOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder action at annual meetings for inclusion in our proxy statement in accordance with regulations adopted by the SEC.SEC under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. To be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the next annual meeting of stockholders, such proposals must be received no later than January 15, 2014.[December 30, 2021].
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws set an advance notice procedure for proposals a stockholder wishes to present directly at an annual meeting (rather than submitting for inclusion in our proxy statement under Rule 14a-8) and for director nominations. To be considered for presentation at the 20142022 annual meeting, although not included in the proxy statement, proposals and nominations submitted through our advance notice procedure must be received no earlier than February 8, 2022 and no later than March 31, 2014. 10, 2022 and must be accompanied by the specific information required under Section 2.10 of our Amended and Restated Bylaws. Limited exceptions apply to the advance notice deadlines if the date of the 2022 annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days, or delayed by more than 70 days, from the anniversary date of the 2021 annual meeting, or, with respect to director nominations, we increase the number of directors to be elected at the 2022 annual meeting and fail to make a public announcement about the increase at least 100 calendar days prior to the first year anniversary of 2021 annual meeting.
Proposals or nominations that are not received in a timely manner will not be voted on at the 20142022 annual meeting. If a proposal or nomination is received on time, the proxies that management solicits for the meeting may still exercise discretionary voting authority on the proposal or nomination under circumstances consistent with the proxy rules of the SEC. All stockholder proposals and nominations should be marked for the attention of the Secretary at our executive offices, 4B Cedar Brook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512.
Your cooperation in giving these matters your immediate attention and voting by Internet or telephone or by returning your proxy card is greatly appreciated.
| By order of the board of directors, |
| |
|  |
| |
| Stephen T. Wills, Secretary |
| April [ *∙ ], 20132021 |
Proxy Statement, page 56PRELIMINARY COPY – SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
APPENDIX A
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Palatin Technologies, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify:
FIRST: The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”) is Palatin Technologies, Inc.
SECOND: The date of filing of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was November 21, 1986 under the name Cinedco, Inc. A Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed on November 1, 1993 which contained a change of the name of the corporation to Interfilm, Inc. Thereafter, a Certificate of Amendment was filed on July 19, 1996, which changed the name of the Corporation to Palatin Technologies, Inc., a Certificate of Amendment was filed on September 5, 1997, a Certificate of Amendment was filed on May 4, 2005, a Certificate of Amendment was filed on July 23, 2010, a Certificate of Amendment was filed on September 24, 2010, a Certificate of Amendment was filed on May 12, 2011, and a Certificate of Amendment was filed on September 27, 2012.2012, and a Certificate of Amendment was filed on June 27, 2013.
THIRD: That at a meeting of the board of directors of Palatin Technologies, Inc., resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of said Corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and calling a meeting of the stockholders of said Corporation for consideration thereof.
FOURTH: That this Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the board of directors and stockholders of the Corporation.
FIFTH: That the capital of the Corporation shall not be reduced under or by reason of this Certificate of Amendment.
SIXTH: That upon the effectiveness of this Certificate of Amendment, Section 1 of the Article thereof numbered “IV” of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, is hereby amended such that, as amended, said Section 1 shall read in its entirety as follows:
Section 1. Authorized Capital Stock. The Corporation shall be authorized to issue two classes of shares of capital stock to be designated, respectively, “Preferred Stock” and “Common Stock.” The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 310,000,000,410,000,000, comprised of 300,000,000400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be signed this ___ day of _______ 2013.2021.
| By: | |
| Name: Stephen T. Wills |
| Title: Executive Vice President, Chief
By: _____________________ Name: Stephen T. Wills Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer |
[END OF APPENDIX A]
APPENDIX B
PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
2011 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED
1. Establishment, Purpose, Duration.
a. Establishment. Palatin Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) established an equity compensation plan known as the Palatin Technologies, Inc. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) effective as of March 11, 2011 (the “Effective Date”). The Company’s stockholders approved the Plan on May 11, 2011(the “Approval Date”). Definitions of capitalized terms used in the Plan are contained in Section 2 of the Plan.
b. Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain Directors, Consultants, officers and other key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to provide to such persons incentives and rewards for superior performance.
c. Duration. No Award may be granted under the Plan after the day immediately preceding the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date, or such earlier date as the Board shall determine. The Plan will remain in effect with respect to outstanding Awards until no Awards remain outstanding.
d. Prior Plans. The Palatin Technologies, Inc. 2005 Stock Plan, as amended (the “Prior Plan”) terminated in its entirety effective on the Approval Date; provided that all outstanding awards under the Prior Plan as of the Approval Date remain outstanding and shall be administered and settled in accordance with the provisions of the Prior Plan.
2. Definitions.As used in the Plan, the following definitions shall apply.
“Applicable Laws” means the applicable requirements relating to the administration of equity-based compensation plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.
“Approval Date” has the meaning given such term in Section 1(a).
“Award” means a Nonqualified Stock Option, Incentive Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Shares Award, Restricted Share Unit, Other Share-Based Award, or Cash-Based Award granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
“Award Agreement” means either: (i) an agreement, either in written or electronic format, entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan; or (ii) a statement, either in written or electronic format, issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, which need not be signed by the Participant.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cash-Based Award” shall mean a cash Award granted pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan.
“Cause” as a reason for a termination of a Participant's employment shall have the meaning assigned such term, if any, in the employment agreement, if any, between the Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary, or if none, under a severance plan or arrangement maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary that applies to the Participant on the date of termination. If the Participant is not a party to an employment agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary in which such term is defined or if during the applicable severance protection period, the Participant is not a participant in any severance plan or arrangement maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary, then unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, then the term “Cause” shall mean: (a) (i) the Participant's material breach of, or habitual neglect or failure to perform the material aspects of his or her duties; (ii) the Participant's material failure to follow the reasonable directives or policies established by or at the direction of the board; or (iii) the Participant's engaging in conduct that is materially detrimental to the interests of the Company such that the Company sustains a material loss or injury as a result thereof, provided that the breach or failure of performance by the Participant under subparagraphs (i) through (iii) hereof is not cured, to the extent cure is possible, within ten (10) days of the delivery to the Participant of written notice thereof; (b) the willful breach by the Participant of any provision of any confidentiality, invention and non-disclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company; or (c) the conviction of the Participant of, or the entry of a pleading of guilty or nolo contendere by the Participant to, any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony.
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) Any “Person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company) becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; (b) the date the individuals who, during any twelve month period, constitute the board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director during the twelve month period whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board;
(c) a merger or consolidation of the Company approved by the stockholders of the Company with any other corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) 50% or more of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a re-capitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or (d) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee or subcommittee of the Board as may be duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. To the extent required by Applicable Laws, the Committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board, each of whom is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, an “outside director” within the meaning of regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code, and an “independent director” within the meaning of applicable rules of any securities exchange upon which Shares are listed.
“Company” has the meaning given such term in Section 1(a) and any successor thereto.
“Consultant” means an independent contractor that (i) performs services for the Company or a Subsidiary in a capacity other than as an Employee or Director and (ii) qualifies as a consultant under the applicable rules of the SEC for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement.
“Date of Grant” means the date as of which an Award is determined to be effective and designated in a resolution by the Committee and is granted pursuant to the Plan. The Date of Grant shall not be earlier than the date of the resolution and action therein by the Committee. In no event shall the Date of Grant be earlier than the Effective Date.
“Director” means any individual who is a member of the Board who is not an Employee.
“Effective Date” has the meaning given such term in Section 1(a).
“Employee” means any employee of the Company or a Subsidiary; provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, the term “Employee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3401(c) of the Code, as interpreted by the regulations thereunder and Applicable Law.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.
“Fair Market Value” means the value of one Share on any relevant date, determined under the following rules: (a) the closing sale price per Share on that date as reported on the principal exchange or national market system on which Shares are then trading, or if there are no sales on that date, on the next preceding trading day during which a sale occurred; (b) if the Shares are not reported on a principal exchange or national market system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices last quoted on that date by an established quotation service for over-the-counter securities; or (c) if neither (a) nor (b) applies, (i) with respect to Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and any Award of stock rights that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the value as determined by the Committee through the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, taking into account all information material to the value of the Company, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and (ii) with respect to all other Awards, the fair market value as determined by the Committee in good faith.
“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means a Stock Option that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
“Nonqualified Stock Option” means a Stock Option that is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or otherwise does not meet such requirements.
“Other Share-Based Award” means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms of the Plan, granted in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 10.
“Participant” means any eligible individual as set forth in Section 5 who holds one or more outstanding Awards.
“Performance-Based Exception” means the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.
“Performance Objectives” means the measurable performance objective or objectives established by the Committee pursuant to the Plan. Any Performance Objectives may relate to the performance of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, divisions, departments, units, functions, partnerships, joint ventures or minority investments, product lines or products, or the performance of the individual Participant, and may include, without limitation, the Performance Objectives set forth in Section 14(b). The Performance Objectives may be made relative to the performance of a group of comparable companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Company may select Performance Objectives as compared to various stock market indices. Performance Objectives may be stated as a combination of the listed factors.
“Plan” means this Palatin Technologies, Inc. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
“Prior Plan” has the meaning given such term in Section 1(d).
“Restricted Shares” means Shares granted or sold pursuant to Section 8 as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers referred to in such Section 8 has expired.
“Restricted Share Unit” means a grant or sale of the right to receive Shares or cash at the end of a specified restricted period made pursuant to Section 9.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Share” means a share of common stock, par value $.01, of the Company, or any security into which such Share may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 16.
“Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 7.
“Stock Option” means a right to purchase a Share granted to a Participant under the Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6. Stock Options may be either Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options.
“Subsidiary” means: (a) with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, a “subsidiary corporation” as defined under Section 424(f) of the Code; and (b) for all other purposes under the Plan, any corporation or other entity in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, a proprietary interest of more than fifty percent (50%) by reason of stock ownership or otherwise.
“Ten Percent Stockholder” shall mean any Participant who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
3. Shares Available Under the Plan.
a. Shares Available for Awards. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued or delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be 7,000,000, plus the number of Shares that, on the Approval Date, were available to be granted under the Prior Plan but which were not then subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan, all of which may be granted with respect to Incentive Stock Options. Shares issued or delivered pursuant to an Award may be authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares, including Shares purchased in the open market, or a combination of the foregoing. The aggregate number of Shares available for issuance or delivery under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16.
b. Share Usage. In addition to the number of Shares provided for in Section 3(a), the following Shares shall be available for Awards under the Plan: (i) Shares covered by an Award that expires or is forfeited, canceled, surrendered or otherwise terminated without the issuance of such Shares; (ii) Shares covered by an Award that is settled only in cash;
(iii) Shares granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards granted by a company to individuals who become Employees, Consultants or Directors as the result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving such company and the Company or any of its Affiliates (except as may be required by reason of Section 422 of the Code or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or other trading market on which the Shares are listed); (iv) any Shares subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plans as of the Approval Date that on or after the Approval Date are forfeited, canceled, surrendered or otherwise terminated without the issuance of such Shares; and (v) any Shares from awards exercised for or settled in vested and nonforfeitable Shares that are later returned to the Company pursuant to any compensation recoupment policy, provision or agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Shares issued or delivered under this Plan shall not again be available for grant as described above: Shares tendered in payment of the exercise price of a Stock Option, Shares withheld by the Company or any Subsidiary to satisfy a tax withholding obligation, and Shares that are repurchased by the Company with Stock Option proceeds. Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right that is settled in Shares, the full number of Shares subject to the Award shall count against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan regardless of the number of Shares used to settle the Stock Appreciation Right upon exercise.
c. Per Participant Limits. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 of the Plan, the following limits shall apply with respect to Awards that are intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception: (i) the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted in any calendar year to any one Participant shall be 500,000 Shares; (ii) the maximum aggregate number of Restricted Shares and Shares issuable or deliverable under Restricted Share Units granted in any calendar year to any one Participant shall be 500,000 Shares; (iii) the maximum aggregate compensation that can be paid pursuant to Cash-Based Awards or Other Share-Based Awards granted in any calendar year to any one Participant shall be $500,000 or a number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value not in excess of such amount; and (iv) the maximum dividend equivalents that may be paid in any calendar year to any one Participant shall be $100,000.
4. Administration of the Plan.
a. In General. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Committee shall have full and final authority in its discretion to take all actions determined by the Committee to be necessary in the administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, discretion to: select Award recipients; determine the sizes and types of Awards; determine the terms and conditions of Awards in a manner consistent with the Plan; grant waivers of terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to any Award, or accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any Award, in a manner consistent with the Plan; construe and interpret the Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement or instrument entered into under the Plan; establish, amend, or waive rules and regulations for the Plan’s administration; and take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee deems appropriate. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to one or more Directors or Employees any of the Committee’s authority under the Plan. The acts of any such delegates shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Committee with respect to any matters so delegated.
b. Determinations. The Committee shall have no obligation to treat Participants or eligible Participants uniformly, and the Committee may make determinations under the Plan selectively among Participants who receive, or Employees, Consultants or Directors who are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such Participants or eligible Employees, Consultants or Directors are similarly situated). All determinations and decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and resolutions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, its stockholders, Directors, Consultants, Employees, Participants and their estates and beneficiaries.
c. Authority of the Board. The Board may reserve to itself any or all of the authority or responsibility of the Committee under the Plan or may act as the administrator of the Plan for any and all purposes. To the extent the Board has reserved any such authority or responsibility or during any time that the Board is acting as administrator of the Plan, it shall have all the powers of the Committee hereunder, and any reference herein to the Committee (other than in this Section 4(c)) shall include the Board. To the extent that any action of the Board under the Plan conflicts with any action taken by the Committee, the action of the Board shall control.
5. Eligibility and Participation. Each Employee, Consultant and Director is eligible to participate in the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine, in its sole discretion, the nature of any and all terms permissible by Applicable Law and the amount of each Award.
6. Stock Options. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Stock Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
a. Award Agreement. Each Stock Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Option, the number of Shares covered by the Stock Option, the conditions upon which the Stock Option shall become vested and exercisable and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Stock Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
b. Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Stock Option is granted and shall be specified in the related Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise price per Share of any Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant.
c. Term. The term of an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Option exceed ten (10) years from its Date of Grant.
d. Exercisability. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such times and upon such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, the satisfaction of (a) performance goals based on one or more Performance Objectives, and (b) time-based vesting requirements.
e. Exercise of Options. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a related Award Agreement, a Stock Option may be exercised for all or any portion of the Shares for which it is then exercisable. A Stock Option shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or its designee in a form specified by the Company which sets forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Option is to be exercised and full payment of the exercise price for such Shares. The exercise price of a Stock Option may be paid: (i) in cash or its equivalent; (ii) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price; (iii) by a cashless exercise (including by withholding Shares deliverable upon exercise and through a broker-assisted arrangement to the extent permitted by applicable law); (iv) by a combination of the methods described in clauses (i), (ii) and/or (iii); or (v) though any other method approved by the Committee in its sole discretion. As soon as practicable after receipt of the notification of exercise and full payment of the exercise price, the Company shall cause the appropriate number of Shares to be issued to the Participant.
f. Special Rules Applicable to Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the contrary:
(i) Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The terms and conditions of Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to and comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
(ii) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares (determined as of the Date of Grant) with respect to which an Incentive Stock Option is exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) is greater than $100,000 (or such other amount specified in Section 422 of the Code), as calculated under Section 422 of the Code, then the Stock Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.
(iii) No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Participant who, on the Date of Grant, is a Ten Percent Stockholder, unless (x) the exercise price per Share of such Incentive Stock Option is at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant, and (y) the term of such Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed five (5) years from the Date of Grant.
7. Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
a. Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions upon which the Stock Appreciation Right shall become vested and exercisable and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
b. Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Stock Appreciation Right is granted and shall be specified in the related Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise price per Share of any Stock Appreciation Right be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant.
c. Term. The term of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement; provided however, that in no event shall the term of any Stock Appreciation Right exceed ten (10) years from its Date of Grant.
d. Exercisability of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right shall become exercisable at such times and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee and set forth in the related Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, the satisfaction of (i) performance goals based on one or more Performance Objectives, and (ii) time-based vesting requirements.
e. Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a related Award Agreement, a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for all or any portion of the Shares for which it is then exercisable. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or its designee in a form specified by the Company which sets forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is to be exercised. Upon exercise, a Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle a Participant to an amount equal to (a) the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the exercise date over (ii) the exercise price per Share, multiplied by (b) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. A Stock Appreciation Right may be settled in whole Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as specified by the Committee in the related Award Agreement.
8. Restricted Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Restricted Shares may be granted or sold to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
a. Award Agreement. Each Restricted Shares Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of Restricted Shares, the restricted period(s) applicable to the Restricted Shares, the conditions upon which the restrictions on the Restricted Shares will lapse and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
b. Terms, Conditions and Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other terms, conditions and/or restrictions on any Restricted Shares as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant pay a purchase price for each Restricted Share, restrictions based on the achievement of specific Performance Objectives, time-based restrictions or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Shares. Unless otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement or required by applicable law, the restrictions imposed on Restricted Shares shall lapse upon the expiration or termination of the applicable restricted period and the satisfaction of any other applicable terms and conditions.
c. Custody of Certificates. To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Restricted Shares in the Company’s possession until such time as all terms, conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse.
d. Rights Associated with Restricted Shares during Restricted Period. During any restricted period applicable to Restricted Shares: (i) the Restricted Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated; (ii) unless otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement, the Participant shall be entitled to exercise full voting rights associated with such Restricted Shares; and (iii) the Participant shall be entitled to all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Restricted Shares during the restricted period (on a current or deferred basis, as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement); provided, however, that with respect to Restricted Shares that are conditioned upon the achievement of Performance Objectives, receipt of any such dividends or other distributions will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they are paid.
9. Restricted Share Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Restricted Share Units may be granted or sold to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
a. Award Agreement. Each Restricted Share Unit shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of units, the restricted period(s) applicable to the Restricted Share Units, the conditions upon which the restrictions on the Restricted Share Units will lapse, the time and method of payment of the Restricted Share Units, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
b. Terms, Conditions and Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other terms, conditions and/or restrictions on any Restricted Share Units as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant pay a purchase price for each Restricted Share Unit, restrictions based on the achievement of specific Performance Objectives or time-based restrictions or holding requirements.
c. Form of Settlement. Restricted Share Units may be settled in whole Shares, Restricted Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as specified by the Committee in the related Award Agreement.
10. Other Share-Based Awards. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Other Share-Based Awards may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Other Share-Based Awards are Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, Shares, and shall be in such form as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, unrestricted Shares or time-based or performance-based units that are settled in Shares and/or cash.
a. Award Agreement. Each Other Share-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the terms and conditions upon which the Other Share-Based Award shall become vested, if applicable, the time and method of settlement, the form of settlement and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
b. Form of Settlement. An Other Share-Based Award may be settled in whole Shares, Restricted Shares, cash or a combination thereof, as specified by the Committee in the related Award Agreement.
11. Dividend Equivalents. At the discretion of the Committee, Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may provide Participants with the right to receive dividend equivalents, which may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participants, and may be settled in cash and/or Shares, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, subject in each case to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) receipt of any dividend equivalents with respect to Awards that are conditioned upon the achievement of Performance Objectives will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Award with respect to which they are paid, and (b) no dividend equivalents shall relate to Shares underlying a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right unless such dividend equivalent rights are explicitly set forth as a separate arrangement and do not cause any such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right to be subject to Section 409A of the Code.
12. Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Cash-Based Awards may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Each Cash-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the payment amount or payment range, the time and method of settlement and the other terms and conditions, as applicable, of such Award which may include, without limitation, restrictions based on the achievement of specific Performance Objectives.
13. Compliance with Section 409A. Awards granted under the Plan shall be designed and administered in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that the Committee determines that any award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement (unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise with specific reference to this Section): (i) an Award shall not be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out, settled, substituted or modified under the Plan in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a Participant; and (ii) if an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, and if the Participant holding the award is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code, with such classification to be determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company), then, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a Participant, no distribution or payment of any amount shall be made before the date that is six (6) months following the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan so that Awards will be exempt from, or will comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Company does not warrant that any Award under the Plan will qualify for favorable tax treatment under Section 409A of the Code or any other provision of federal, state, local, or non-United States law. The Company shall not be liable to any Participant for any tax, interest, or penalties the Participant might owe as a result of the grant, holding, vesting, exercise, or payment of any Award under the Plan.
14. Compliance with Section 162(m).
a. In General. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Other Share-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards may be granted in a manner that is intended to qualify the Award for the Performance-Based Exception. As determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the grant, vesting, exercisability and/or settlement of any Awards intended to qualify the Award for the Performance-Based Exception shall be conditioned on the attainment of one or more Performance Objectives during a performance period established by the Committee. Any such Award must meet the requirements of this Section 14.
b Performance Objectives. If an Award is intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, then the Performance Objectives shall be based on specified levels of, or growth in, one or more of the following criteria: revenues, earnings from operations, operating income, earnings before or after interest and taxes, operating income before or after interest and taxes, net income, cash flow, earnings per share, return on total capital, return on invested capital, return on equity, return on assets, total return to stockholders, earnings before or after interest,
or extraordinary or special items, operating income before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or extraordinary or special items, return on investment, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, cash flow in excess of cost of capital, operating margin, profit margin, contribution margin, stock price and/or strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified product development, strategic partnering, research and development milestones, clinical trial status, product approvals in geographic regions, market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction, management of employment practices and employee benefits, supervision of litigation and information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures. To the extent consistent with the Performance-Based Exception, the Performance Objectives may be calculated without regard to extraordinary items or adjusted, as the Committee deems equitable, in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or its Subsidiaries or changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles.
c. Establishment of Performance Goals. With respect to Awards intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee shall establish: (i) the applicable Performance Objectives and performance period, and (ii) the formula for computing the payout. Such terms and conditions shall be established in writing while the outcome of the applicable performance period is substantially uncertain, but in no event later than the earlier of: (x) ninety days after the beginning of the applicable performance period; or (y) the expiration of twenty-five percent (25%) of the applicable performance period.
d. Certification of Performance. With respect to any Award intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable Performance Objectives and other material terms imposed on such Award have been satisfied, and, if they have, ascertain the amount of the payout or vesting of the Award. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, payment or vesting of any such Award shall not be made until the Committee certifies in writing that the applicable Performance Objectives and any other material terms of such Award were in fact satisfied in a manner conforming to applicable regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.
e. Negative Discretion. With respect to any Award intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee shall not have discretion to increase the amount of compensation that is payable upon achievement of the designated Performance Objectives. However, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce the amount of compensation that is payable upon achievement of the designated Performance Objectives.
15. Transferability. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no Award or dividend equivalents paid with respect to any Award shall be transferable by the Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, that if so determined by the Committee, each Participant may, in a manner established by the Board or the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant and to receive Shares or other property issued or delivered under such Award. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee,
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will be exercisable during a Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law and/or court supervision.
16. Adjustments. In the event of any equity restructuring (within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation), such as a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spinoff, rights offering, or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, the Committee shall cause there to be an equitable adjustment in the numbers of Shares specified in Section 3 of the Plan and, with respect to outstanding Awards, in the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, the exercise price, exercise price or other price of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, in each case to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants. In the event of any other change in corporate capitalization, or in the event of a merger, consolidation, liquidation, or similar transaction, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cause there to be an equitable adjustment as described in the foregoing sentence, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be rounded down to a whole number. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not make any adjustment pursuant to this Section 16 that would (i) cause any Stock Option intended to qualify as an ISO to fail to so qualify, (ii) cause an Award that is otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code to become subject to Section 409A, or (iii) cause an Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on all Participants and any other persons claiming under or through any Participant.
17. Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any fractional Shares pursuant to the Plan and, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, fractional shares shall be settled in cash.
18. Withholding Taxes. To the extent required by Applicable Law, a Participant shall be required to satisfy, in a manner satisfactory to the Company or Subsidiary, as applicable, any withholding tax obligations that arise by reason of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise, the vesting of or settlement of Shares under an Award, an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code or otherwise with respect to an Award. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to issue or deliver Shares, make any payment or to recognize the transfer or disposition of Shares until such obligations are satisfied. The Committee may permit or require these obligations to be satisfied by having the Company withhold a portion of the Shares that otherwise would be issued or delivered to a Participant upon exercise of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the vesting or settlement of an Award, or by tendering Shares previously acquired, in each case having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld or paid. Any such elections are subject to such conditions or procedures as may be established by the Committee and may be subject to disapproval by the Committee.
19. Foreign Employees. Without amending the Plan, the Committee may grant Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may in the judgment of the Committee be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan, and, in furtherance of such purposes, the Committee may make such modifications, amendments, procedures, and the like as may be necessary or advisable to comply with provisions of Applicable Laws of other countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate or have employees.
20. Termination for Cause; Forfeiture of Awards.
a. Termination for Cause. If a Participant's employment or service is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for Cause, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, then, promptly upon receiving notice of the Committee’s determination, the Participant shall: (i) forfeit all Awards granted under the Plan to the extent then held by the Participant; (ii) return to the Company or the Subsidiary all Shares that the Participant has not disposed of that had been acquired pursuant to all Awards granted under the Plan, in exchange for payment by the Company or the Subsidiary of any amount actually paid therefor by the Participant; and (iii) with respect to any Shares acquired pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan that were disposed of, pay to the Company or the Subsidiary, in cash, the excess, if any, of: (A) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date acquired, over (B) any amount actually paid by the Participant for the Shares.
b. Compensation Recovery Policy. Any Award granted to a Participant shall be subject to forfeiture or repayment pursuant to the terms of any applicable compensation recovery policy adopted by the Company, including any such policy that may be adopted to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any rules or regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission rule or applicable securities exchange.
c. Set-Off and Other Remedies. To the extent that amounts are not immediately returned or paid to the Company as provided in this Section 20, the Company may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, seek other remedies, including a set off of the amounts so payable to it against any amounts that may be owing from time to time by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant for any reason, including, without limitation, wages, or vacation pay or other benefits; provided, however, that, except to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4), such offset shall not apply to amounts that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
21. Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without providing prior notice or receiving the consent of the Participant, take such actions, if any, as it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any Award that is outstanding as of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control. Such actions may include, without limitation: (i) the acceleration of the vesting, settlement and/or exercisability of an Award; (ii) the payment of a cash amount in exchange for the cancellation of an Award;
(iii) the cancellation of Stock Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights without payment therefor if the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the Change in Control does not exceed the exercise price per Share of the applicable Awards; and/or (iv) make provisions for the assumption or conversion of Awards, or the issuance of substitute Awards that, in either case, substantially preserve the value, rights and benefits of any affected Awards.
22. Amendment, Modification and Termination.
a. In General. The Board may at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that no alteration or amendment that requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to comply with any rule promulgated by the SEC or any securities exchange on which Shares are listed or any other Applicable Laws shall be effective unless such amendment shall be approved by the requisite vote of stockholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon within the time period required under such applicable listing standard or rule.
b. Adjustments to Outstanding Awards. The Committee may in its sole discretion at any time (i) provide that all or a portion of a Participant’s Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised shall become fully or partially exercisable; (ii) provide that all or a part of the time-based vesting restrictions on all or a portion of the outstanding Awards shall lapse, and/or that any Performance Objectives or other performance-based criteria with respect to any Awards shall be deemed to be wholly or partially satisfied; or (iii) waive any other limitation or requirement under any such Award, in each case, as of such date as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, declare. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, any such adjustment that is made with respect to an Award that is intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception shall be made at such times and in such manner as will not cause such Awards to fail to qualify under the Performance-Based Exception. Additionally, the Committee shall not make any adjustment pursuant to this Section 22(b) that would cause an Award that is otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code to become subject to Section 409A, or that would cause an Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A.
c. Prohibition on Repricing. Except for adjustments made pursuant to Sections 16 or 22, the Board or the Committee will not, without the further approval of the stockholders of the Company, authorize the amendment of any outstanding Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price. No Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be cancelled and replaced with an Award having a lower exercise price, or for another Award, or for cash without further approval of the stockholders of the Company, except as provided in Sections 16 or 22. Furthermore, no Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right will provide for the payment, at the time of exercise, of a cash bonus or grant or sale of another Award without further approval of the stockholders of the Company. This Section 22(c) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without stockholder approval and will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Sections 16 or 22.
d. Effect on Outstanding Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary (other than Sections 16, 20, 21, 22(b) and 24(d)), no termination, amendment, suspension, or modification of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any ISO granted under the Plan may be modified by the Committee to disqualify such Stock Option from treatment as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.
23. Applicable Laws. The obligations of the Company with respect to Awards under the Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws and such approvals by any governmental agencies as the Committee determines may be required. The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.
24. Miscellaneous.
a. Deferral of Awards. Except with respect to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the Committee may permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance or delivery of Shares or the settlement of Awards in cash under the Plan pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes of the Plan. The Committee also may provide that deferred issuances and settlements include the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents or interest on the deferral amounts. All elections and deferrals permitted under this provision shall comply with Section 409A of the Code, including setting forth the time and manner of the election (including a compliant time and form of payment), the date on which the election is irrevocable, and whether the election can be changed until the date it is irrevocable.
b. No Right of Continued Employment. The Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant’s employment or other service at any time. No Employee, Consultant or Director shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive future Awards.
c. Unfunded, Unsecured Plan. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, including without limitation, any specific funds, assets or other property which the Company or any Subsidiary may set aside in anticipation of any liability under the Plan. A Participant shall have only a contractual right to an Award or the amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.
d. Severability. If any provision of the Plan is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to Applicable Laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, it shall be stricken and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.
e. Acceptance of Plan. By accepting any benefit under the Plan, each Participant and each person claiming under or through any such Participant shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated their acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and any action taken under the Plan by the Committee, the Board or the Company, in any case in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
f. Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan and with respect to Awards shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or other event, or a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company and references to the “Company” herein and in any Award agreements shall be deemed to refer to such successors.
[END OF APPENDIX B]
Appendix B, page 18
