UNITED STATES



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION



Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant☑

Registrant                                                  ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant☐Registrant                     ☐

 

Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

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

☐ Definitive Proxy Statement

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

VAXART, INC.

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

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other thanOther Than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

No fee required.

☐  

Fee computed on table below

☒ No fee required.

☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

☐ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

(1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

(2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

(3)  

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

(4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

(5)  

Total fee paid:

☐  

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

 

☐  

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

(1)  

Amount Previously Paid:

(2)  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

(3)  

Filing Party:

(4)  

Date Filed:


 

BIOTA PHARMACEUTICALS,VAXART, INC.

2500 Northwinds Parkway,170 Harbor Way, Suite 100300

Alpharetta, GA 30009South San Francisco, California 94080

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

November 12, 2013

 

To Be Held on Tuesday, June 7, 2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN thatDear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 20132022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Biota Pharmaceuticals,Vaxart, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 9:0030 a.m., Eastern Time, on November 12, 2013 local time at the corporate offices of the CompanyVaxart, Inc. located at 2500 Northwinds Parkway,170 Harbor Way, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30009300, South San Francisco, California 94080, and through live webcast of the meeting, which you can access, together with the list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting during the meeting, by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VXRT2022 and entering the 16‐digit control number included in your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, on your proxy card or in the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials for the following purposes:

 

1.1.    To elect the board of directors’ seven directors of the Companynominees for director to hold officeserve until the 2014 Annual Meetingnext annual meeting of Stockholdersstockholders and until the electiontheir successors are duly elected and qualification of their respective successors;qualified.

 

2.    To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2014; 

3. To approveadopt an amendment to the Company’sour Restated Certificate of Incorporation as amended, to decreaseincrease the authorized number of the authorized shares of the Company’sour common stock from 200,000,000 to 70,000,000;250,000,000 shares.

 

4.3.     To approve, thecontingent upon approval of Proposal No. 2, an amendment to the Company’s 2007 Omnibusand restatement of our 2019 Equity and Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved under the planfor issuance thereunder by 3,000,00012,000,000 shares to 28,900,000 shares.

4.     To adopt, contingent upon approval of Proposal No. 2, the Company’s common stock,to revise certain limitations on the awards intended to qualify as performance-based awards for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and to re-approve the performance goals for performance based awards;2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

5.    To ratify the selection by our Audit Committee of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022.

6.    To approve, byon a non-binding, advisory vote,basis, the compensation of the Company’sour named executive officers; andofficers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.

 

6.7.     To transact suchconduct any other business as may properly comebrought before the meeting and any adjournment thereof.meeting.

 

We are actively monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state, and local governments may impose. In the event it is not possible or advisable to hold our Annual Meeting in person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include postponing or adjourning the meeting or holding the meeting solely by means of remote communication (i.e., a virtual-only meeting). We plan to announce any such updates via a press release and posting details on our website that will also be filed with the SEC as proxy material. Please monitor the Investor Relations section of our website at www.vaxart.com for updated information. If you are planning to attend our Annual Meeting, please check the website one week prior to the Annual Meeting date. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Annual Meeting.

These items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this notice.

The record date for the Annual Meeting is April 11, 2022. Only holdersstockholders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on September 19, 2013 are entitled to notice of, and tothat date may vote at the meeting andor any adjournment thereof. Such stockholders may vote in person or by proxy.

ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. HOWEVER, EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERNET VOTING ON THE NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS, OR PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD SO THAT YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED AT THE MEETING. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

/s/ Todd C. Davis

 

Todd C. Davis

Chairman of the Board

Russell H. PlumbSouth San Francisco, California

President and Chief Executive Officer_________, 2022

 

 

BIOTA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

We are primarily providing access to our proxy materials over the internet pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commissions notice and access rules. On or about April 28, 2022, we expect to mail to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that will indicate how to access our 2022 Proxy Statement and 2021 Annual Report on the internet and will include instructions on how you can receive a paper copy of the annual meeting materials, including the notice of annual meeting, proxy statement, and proxy card.

Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, please submit a proxy or voting instructions for your shares promptly using the directions on your Notice, or, if you elected to receive printed proxy materials by mail, your proxy card, by one of the following methods: (1) over the internet at http://www.proxyvote.com, (2) by telephone by calling the toll-free number (800) 690-6903, or (3) if you elected to receive printed proxy materials by mail, by marking, dating, and signing your proxy card and returning it in the accompanying postage-paid envelope. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still vote in person if you attend the meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank, or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder.

2500 Northwinds Parkway, Suite 100

Alpharetta, GA 30009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

SECTION

Page 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING

2

PROXY STATEMENT

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

9

PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

10

Information Regarding the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

12

Information Regarding Committees of the Board of Directors

13

Board Diversity Matrix

18

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

18

Code of Ethics

19

Anti-Hedging/Pledging Policy

19

Corporate Governance Guidelines

19

PROPOSAL NO. 2 ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANYS RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

20

PROPOSAL NO. 3 APPROVAL, CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL NO. 2, OF AMENDMENT TO 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

22

PROPOSAL NO. 4 ADOPTION, CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL NO. 2, THE COMPANYS 2022 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

32

Equity Compensation Plans at December 31, 2021

35

PROPOSAL NO. 5 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

36

PROPOSAL NO. 6 APPROVAL, ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY BASIS, THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT

37

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

38

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

38

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

44

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

49

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

51

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

52

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

53

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

54

OTHER MATTERS

54

 

 

This Proxy StatementEXHIBITS

Exhibit A: Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation

A-1

Exhibit B: 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, As Amended

B-1

Exhibit C: 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

C-1

VAXART, INC.

170 Harbor Way, Suite 300

South San Francisco, California 94080

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

June 7, 2022

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING

Who is furnishedVaxart?

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company primarily focused on the development of oral recombinant vaccines based on our Vector-Adjuvant-Antigen Standardized Technology (“VAAST”) proprietary oral vaccine platform. Our oral vaccines are designed to generate broad and durable immune responses that may protect against a wide range of infectious diseases and may be useful for the treatment of chronic viral infections and cancer. Our investigational vaccines are administered using a room temperature-stable tablet, rather than by injection.

We are developing prophylactic vaccine candidates that target a range of infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”)), norovirus (a widespread cause of acute gastro-intestinal enteritis), seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (“RSV”) (common causes of respiratory tract infections). We have completed a Phase 1 clinical trial for our first SARS CoV-2 vaccine candidate, that commenced in connectionOctober 2020; the study met its primary and secondary endpoints. A Phase 2 study with our second-generation SARS CoV-2 vaccine candidate commenced dosing in October 2021 and is currently ongoing. Three Phase 1 human studies for our norovirus vaccine candidate have been completed, including a study with a bivalent norovirus vaccine which, as we disclosed in September 2019, met its primary and secondary endpoints. Additional Phase 1 studies with our norovirus vaccine are currently ongoing. In addition, we have started a Phase 2 monovalent norovirus GI.1 challenge study. Our monovalent H1 influenza vaccine protected participants against H1 influenza infection in a Phase 2 challenge study, as published in 2020 (Lancet ID). In addition, we are in early development of our first therapeutic vaccine targeting cervical cancer and dysplasia caused by human papillomavirus (“HPV”).

Vaccines have been essential in eradicating or significantly reducing multiple devastating infectious diseases, including polio, smallpox, mumps, measles, diphtheria, hepatitis B, influenza, HPV and several others. According to a MarketsandMarkets research report titled “Vaccines Market - Global Forecast to 2023”, the solicitationglobal market for vaccines is expected to reach $50.42 billion by 2023 from $36.45 billion in 2018, at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7%.

We believe our oral tablet vaccine candidates offer several important advantages, the most notable being:

First, they are designed to generate broad and durable immune responses, including systemic, mucosal and T cell responses, which may enhance protection against certain infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, influenza, norovirus and RSV, and may have potential clinical benefit for certain cancers and chronic viral infections, such as those caused by HPV.

Second, our tablet vaccine candidates are designed to provide a more efficient and convenient method of administration, enhance patient acceptance and reduce distribution bottlenecks, which we believe will improve the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. For example, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the “CDC”), in the 2018/2019 seasonal influenza season, only approximately 49% of the U.S. population was vaccinated against influenza, with particularly low vaccination rates among adults between ages 18 and 49.

In 2021, we began active engagement efforts to ensure stockholder interests were incorporated into our planning practice for environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) initiatives. During 2021, we discussed various topics (including diversity and inclusion of our workforce, our ESG initiatives, and our executive compensation philosophy) with stockholders. In part as a result of stockholder feedback, we continue to enhance our disclosures and ESG reporting practices, and we continue to encourage you to share your opinions with us. Vaxart has embedded ESG considerations in our governance structures (including in the charters of the committees of our board of directors), strategies, risk management, and reporting. Board of Directors (the “Board” or the “Boarddirectors oversight of Directors”) of Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Biota” or the “Company”) of proxies to be voted at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on November 12, 2013 (the “Annual Meeting”). The purposes of the Annual Meeting are as follows: 

1. To elect seven directors of the Company to hold office until the 2014 Annual Meeting of StockholdersESG matters is integrated into our governance structures, including Nominating and until the electionGovernance Committee responsibility in assisting in overseeing and qualification of their respective successors;

2. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2014; and

3. To approve an amendment tomonitoring the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,approach and strategy relating to decreaseenvironmental, legal and social responsibility, diversity, and other corporate citizenship and sustainability matters; Audit Committee responsibility for reviewing with management the number of the authorized sharestype and presentation of the Company’s common stock from 200,000,000ESG disclosures and the adequacy and effectiveness of applicable internal controls related to 70,000,000;

4. To approvesuch disclosures; Compensation Committee responsibility for reviewing and advising management on our strategies and policies related to talent management (including talent acquisition, development and retention, internal pay equity, diversity and inclusion and corporate culture); and Science and Technology Committee responsibility in assisting the amendment to the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan to increase the numberboard of shares reserved under the plan by 3,000,000 sharesdirectors in its oversight of the Company’s common stock,to revise certain limitations onresearch and development programs. Vaxart’s management, in consultation and with the awards intended to qualify as performance-based awards for purposes of Section 162(m)oversight and direction of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,Nominating and Governance Committee, actively works to re-approveidentify priority ESG issues for Vaxart, is developing an ESG program, is forming an internal, management-level ESG governance structure, and provides progress reports to the performance goals for performance based awards;

5. To approve, by a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;

6. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual MeetingNominating and any adjournment thereof.

The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this Proxy Statement, the proxy card and the 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders are being made available to stockholders beginning on or about October 1, 2013.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE

2013 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 12, 2013

This proxy statement and the 2013 Annual Report are available at http://investors.biotapharma.comGovernance Committee.

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTINGVaxart Biosciences, Inc. was originally incorporated in California under the name West Coast Biologicals, Inc. in March 2004 and changed its name to Vaxart, Inc. (“Private Vaxart”) in July 2007, when it reincorporated in the state of Delaware.

 

Why are you receiving theseOn February 13, 2018, Private Vaxart completed a reverse merger (the “Merger”) with Aviragen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Aviragen”), pursuant to which Private Vaxart survived as a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviragen. Under the terms of the Merger, Aviragen changed its name to Vaxart, Inc. and Private Vaxart changed its name to Vaxart Biosciences, Inc. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Vaxart,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” in this proxy materials?statement mean Vaxart, Inc., the combined company.

 

The Company is providing these proxy materials to you because the Board of Directors is soliciting holders of the Company’s common stock, $0.10 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), to provide proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 12, 2013, commencing at 9:00 a.m. local time at the Company’s corporate offices located at 2500 Northwinds Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30009. Your proxy will be used at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment(s) of the meeting.

Why did Ireceive a notice of internetregarding the availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?on the Internet?

 

In accordance with thePursuant to rules ofadopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”(the “SEC), the Company is permittedwe have elected to furnishprovide access to our proxy materials including this proxy statement and its 2013 annual report, to stockholders by providing access to these documents onover the internet insteadInternet. Accordingly, we have sent you a Notice of mailing printed copies. Most stockholders will not receive printed copiesInternet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”), because the proxy materials unless requested. Instead, the notice provides instructions on how to access and review the proxy materials on the internet. The notice also provides instructions on how to submit your proxy and voting instructions via the internet. If you would like to receive a printed or email copyboard of the Company’s proxy materials, please follow the instructions for requesting the materials in the notice.

Who is soliciting my proxy?

The Boarddirectors of Vaxart, Inc. is soliciting your proxy to vote on all matters scheduled to come beforeat the Company’s2022 Annual Meeting whetherof Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), including at any adjournment or not you attend in person. By completing, dating, signing and returningpostponement of the meeting. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy cardmaterials on the website referred to in your Notice or voting instruction card, or by submitting yourrequest to receive a printed set of the proxy and voting instructions viamaterials.  Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet you are authorizing the proxy holdersor to voterequest a printed copy may be found in your shares at the annual meeting as you have instructed.Notice.

 

Who isWe intend to mail the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials on or about April 28, 2022, to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?Meeting.

 

StockholdersWill I receive any other proxy materials by mail?

No, you will not receive any other proxy materials by mail unless you request a paper copy of proxy materials. To request that a full set of the proxy materials be sent to your specified postal address, please go to www.proxyvote.com, or call (800) 579-1639, or send an email to sendmaterials@proxyvote.com. Please have your proxy card in hand when you access the website or call and follow the instructions provided therein.

How do I attend the Annual Meeting?

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. local time at the offices of Vaxart located at 170 Harbor Way, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080. Directions to the Annual Meeting may be found on the Investors section of our website at www.vaxart.com. Information on how to vote in person at the Annual Meeting is discussed below. You will also be able to listen and participate in the Annual Meeting as well as vote and submit your questions during a live webcast of the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VXRT2022 and entering the 16‐digit control number included in your Notice, on your proxy card or in the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. As part of our precautions regarding COVID-19, we are planning for the possibility that the meeting may be held virtually only over the Internet. If we take this step, we will announce the decision to do so via a press release and posting details on our website that will also be filed with the SEC as proxy material. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Annual Meeting.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 19, 2013, the record date for the Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”), areApril 11, 2022, will be entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote their shares held on that date. As of the Record Date, 28,423,987 shares of Common Stock were outstanding, each of which is entitled to one vote on each proposal to be considered at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights.On this record date, there were 126,405,811 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. 

 

How can you vote?Stockholder of Record:Shares Registered in Your Name

 

If on April 11, 2022, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting, vote by proxy, or vote by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VXRT2022 and entering the 16���digit control number included in your Notice. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to submit a proxy to ensure your vote is counted.

StockholdersBeneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank

If on April 11, 2022, your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and your Notice is being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting or vote by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VXRT2022 and entering the 16‐digit control number included in your Notice. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

What am I voting on?

There are six matters scheduled for a vote:

Proposal No. 1 – To elect seven directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Proposal No. 2 – To adopt an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of our common stock to 250,000,000 shares.

Proposal No. 3 – To approve, contingent upon approval of Proposal No. 2, an amendment and restatement of our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 12,000,000 shares to 28,900,000 shares.

Proposal No. 4 – To adopt, contingent upon approval of Proposal No. 2, the Company’s 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Proposal No. 5 – To ratify the selection by our Audit Committee of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022.

Proposal No. 6 – To approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.

What if another matter is properly brought before the meeting?

The board of directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment.

How do I vote?

You may either vote “For” the nominees to the board of directors or you may “Withhold” your vote for any nominee you specify. For all other proposals you may vote “For” or “Against” or abstain from voting.

The procedures for voting are fairly simple:

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

 

If you are a stockholder of record, holder, which means your shares are registered in your name, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting, vote by proxy at the meeting, vote by proxy through the internet by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VXRT2022 and entering the 16‐digit control number included in your Notice, or submit a proxy: proxy to vote your shares in advance of the meeting by using a proxy card that you may request or that we may elect to deliver at a later time or by telephone or the internet. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted.  You may still attend the meeting and vote in person even if you have already voted by proxy.

 

To vote in person, come to the Annual Meeting, provide us with your identification, and we will give you a ballot when you arrive.

1. Over the Internet — If you have internet access, you may authorize the voting of your shares by following the internet voting instructions set forth in the notice of internet availability of proxy materials. You must specify how you want your shares voted, or your vote will not be registered and you will receive an error message. Your shares will be voted according to your instructions.

To submit a proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the proxy card that may be delivered and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us before the Annual Meeting, the proxyholders named therein will vote your shares as you direct.

To submit a proxy over the telephone, dial toll-free (800) 690-6903 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from your Notice. Your telephone vote should be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on June 6, 2022 in order to ensure that it is counted.

To submit a proxy through the internet, go to http://www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from your Notice. Your proxy submitted by internet should be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on June 6, 2022 in order to ensure that it is counted.

 

2. By Mail — If you have received printed materials, complete, date and sign your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you sign your proxy card but do not specify how you want your shares voted, they will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. Unsigned proxy cards will not be voted.

3. In Person at the Meeting — If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may deliver a completed and signed proxy card in person or you may vote by completing a ballot, which the Company will provide to you at the Annual Meeting.


Beneficial Owners: Owner:Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank

 

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, or other agent, (typically referred to as being held in “street name”), you should receivehave received a noticeNotice containing voting instructions from that organization rather than the Company.from Vaxart. Simply follow the voting instructions in the noticeyour Notice to ensure that your vote is counted. To vote in person or virtually at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other agent. Follow the instructions from your broker bank or agentbank included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker bank or agentbank to request a proxy form. You may also vote by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VXRT2022 and entering the 16‐digit control number included in your Notice.

 

What are “broker non-votes”?The ability to submit a proxy via the internet may be provided to allow you to submit a proxy to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions.However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your internet access, such as usage charges from internet access providers and telephone companies.

How many votes do I have?

 

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you own as of April 11, 2022.

What happens if I do not vote?

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If you are a stockholder of record and do not submit a proxy by completing and delivering your proxy card or through the internet or telephone, and do not vote in person (or virtually) at the Annual Meeting, your shares will not be voted. 

Beneficial Owner:Shares Registered in the Name of Broker non-votes occur whenor Bank

If you are a beneficial owner and do not instruct your broker, bank, or other agent how to vote your shares, the question of shares held in street name does not give instructions to thewhether your broker or nominee holding the shares as to howwill still be able to vote your shares depends on matters deemed “non-routine”. Generally, if shares are held in street name,whether the beneficial owner ofNew York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, deems the shares is entitledparticular proposal to give voting instructionsbe a “routine” matter. Brokers and nominees can use their discretion to the broker or nominee holding the shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker or nominee can still vote the“uninstructed” shares with respect to matters that are considered to be “routine”, such as the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company; however,“routine,” but not with respect to “non-routine” matters. Under the rules and interpretations of NYSE, which apply regardless of whether an issuer is listed on the NYSE or Nasdaq, “non-routine” matters which would includeare matters that may substantially affect the rights or privileges of stockholders, including, but not limited to,such as mergers, stockholder proposals, relating to electionelections of directors (even if not contested), executive compensation (including any advisory stockholder votes on executive compensation and on the compensationfrequency of our namedstockholder votes on executive officers,compensation), and certain corporate governance proposals, even if management-supported. Accordingly, your broker or nominee may not vote your shares on Proposal No. 1, Proposal No. 3, Proposal No. 4 or Proposal No. 6 without your instructions, but may vote your shares on Proposal No. 2 and Proposal No. 5 even in the absence of your instruction.

What if I return a proxy card or otherwise vote but do not make specific choices?

If you return a signed and dated proxy card or otherwise vote without marking voting selections, your shares will be voted, as applicable:

“For” the election of the seven nominees for director;

“For” the adoption of the amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of our common stock to 250,000,000 shares;

“For the approval of the amendment to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 12,000,000 shares to 28,900,000 shares;

“For” the adoption of the Company’s 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan;

“For” the ratification of the selection of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022; and

“For” the non-binding, advisory approval of executive compensation.

If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxyholder (one of the amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the approval of the amendment to the 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan and stockholder proposals, if any.individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his best judgment.

 

Can you change your vote or revoke your proxy?Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

 

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks, and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. We have engaged Morrow Sodali to assist in the solicitation of proxies and provide related advice and informational support for a fee of $7,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses and customary disbursements.

What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice?

If you receive more than one Notice, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts.  Please follow the voting instructions on your Notices to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

Yes. You may change your vote orcan revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are votedthe final vote at the Annual Meeting by: (1) notifying the Company’s Secretary, Peter Azzarello, in writing at 2500 Northwinds Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30009, that you are revoking your proxy; (2) submitting new voting instructions using any of the methods described above; or (3) attending and voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting.

meeting. If you are the beneficial ownerrecord holder of your shares, held in street name, you must submit new voting instructions to your broker, bank, or other nominee pursuant to the instructions you have received from them.

How willmay revoke your proxy vote your shares?

Your proxy will vote according to your instructions. If you vote by mail and complete, sign, and return the proxy card but do not indicate your vote, your proxy will vote “FOR” eachin any one of the director nominees, “FOR” for the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, “FOR” the approval of the amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, ”FOR” the approval of the amendment to the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan and the re-approval of performance goals for performance based awards and “FOR” the approval, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, which votes represent the recommendations of the Board with respect to such matters. The Board does not intend to bring any other matter for a vote at the Annual Meeting, and neither the Company nor the Board knows of anyone else who intends to do so. However, on any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting, your proxies are authorized to vote on your behalf using their best judgment.

What constitutes a quorum?

At any meeting of stockholders, the holders of issued and outstanding shares of capital stock which represent a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum. A quorum is necessary in order to conduct the Annual Meeting. If you choose to have your shares represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, you will be considered part of the quorum. Broker non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, the stockholders present in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting to a date when a quorum is present. If an adjournment is for more than 30 days or a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Company will provide notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

What vote is required to approve each matter, and how are votes counted?

Proposal 1 — Elect of directors — For Proposal 1, the nominees will be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote. This means that the nominees with the most “FOR” votes will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes will each be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not have any effect on the outcome of the vote.


Proposal 2 — Ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm  — For Proposal 2, the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes properly cast on this proposal is required to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. Abstentions will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal.

Proposal 3 — Approval of an amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to decrease the number of the authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock to 70,000,000 –The proposal to approve the amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.Both abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, and will have the same effect as votes “AGAINST” approval of each of these proposals.

Proposal 4 – Approval of the 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan, as amended, which includes an increase in the share reserve by 3,000,000 shares, revisions to certain limitations on the awards intended to qualify as performance-based awards for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the re-approval of performance goals for performance based awards – The proposal to approve the amended 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan and the re-approval of performance goals for performance based awards requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, at which a quorum is present, either in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal.

Proposal 5 — Approval, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers— The proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers requires the affirmative vote of the votes properly cast on this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal. However, because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee.

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

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

Where can you find the voting results?

We intend to announce the preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and will publish the final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company will file with the SEC no later than four business days following the Annual Meeting. If the final voting results are unavailable in time to file a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting, we intend to file a Form 8-K to disclose the preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known, we will file an additional current report on Form 8-K with the SEC to disclose the final voting results.

Who is soliciting proxies, how are they being solicited, and who pays the cost?

The solicitation of proxies is being made on behalf of the Board of Directors, and the Company will bear the costs of the solicitation. The Company will be responsible for paying for all expenses to prepare, print, and mail the proxy materials to stockholders. In accordance with the regulations of the SEC, the Company will make arrangements with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy materials to their principals and will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses in so doing. In addition to the solicitation by use of the mails, the Company officers, directors and employees may solicit the return of proxies by telephone or personal interviews. The Company may also retain a proxy solicitor if it appears reasonably likely that the Company may not obtain a quorum to conduct the Annual Meeting. The Company may retain a proxy solicitor, if it chooses to do so, not to exceed $7,500.


PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and the Company’s By-Laws provide that directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to hold office until the next annual meeting and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Currently, the Board of Directors consists of seven members. Vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, whether or not a quorum of the Board is present. Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may, unless the Board determines otherwise, be filled only by the affirmative vote of the directors then in office, whether or not a quorum of the Board is present. Any director elected as a result of a vacancy shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.

Based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has nominated Messrs. Cox, Dougherty, Fox, Hill, Plumb and Richard and Ms. VanLent to serve a one-year term commencing at the Annual Meeting and continuing until the 2014 annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Each of the nominees is an existing director of the Company.

Each of the nominees has consented to being named as a nominee for director of the Company and has agreed to serve if elected. If, for any reason, at the time of the election any of the nominees should become unavailable to serve as a director, it is intended that the proxies voted for the election of such director will be voted for the election, in such nominee’s place, of a substitute nominee recommended by the Board of Directors.

Set forth below is biographical information for each person nominated, including a description of the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that the person should serve as a director of the Company as of the date hereof, in light of the Company’s business strategy, prospects and structure.

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION

Russell H. Plumb, age 54, has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since November 2012. Mr. Plumb previously served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Inhibitex, Inc., a U.S. publicly-traded, clinical-stage drug development company, from December 30, 2006 through February 13, 2012, when it was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Prior to that, Mr. Plumb served as Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Inhibitex from August 2000 through December 2006. From December 1999 to July 2000, Mr. Plumb served as Chief Financial Officer of Emory Vision, a privately-held healthcare company. From 1994 to November 1999, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance of Serologicals Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Plumb received both a Bachelor of Commerce and a M.B.A. from the University of Toronto. Mr. Plumb has received designations as a certified public accountant in Michigan and Georgia. Mr. Plumb’s experience in managing the strategic, financial and operational growth of emerging biopharmaceutical companies, as well as his key role in leading the Company and developing its current business strategy as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, led to the conclusion that he should serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

James Fox, Ph.D., age 61, has served as Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors since his appointment as a director in November 2012 and served as Chairman of the Board of Biota Holdings Limited from February 2009 to November 2012. Dr. Fox has extensive experience in global technology and healthcare businesses. Dr. Fox led the start-up of Invetech, an Australian contract research and development company that specializes in healthcare products and complex instruments for international markets. Invetech was merged with Australian Securities Exchange listed Vision Systems Limited in 1993 and Dr. Fox took over as Group Managing Director of the combined entity. In January 2007, Vision Systems Ltd., then a global cancer diagnostics company, was acquired by Danaher Corporation. Prior to Invetech, Dr. Fox spent seven years working as a consultant and director with PA Technology. Dr. Fox currently serves as a director of GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., Air New Zealand Ltd., TTP Group plc and MS Research Australia, a not-for-profit organization aimed at financing public multiple sclerosis research. Dr. Fox received his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in engineering from the University of Melbourne. Dr. Fox’s extensive experience in the healthcare industry, including technology and product development, and his business leadership as a director of several companies led to the conclusion that he should serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

Geoffrey F. Cox, Ph.D.,age 69, has served on the Company’s Board of Directors since 2000. Dr. Cox is an independent consultant and a senior advisor with Red Sky Partners LLC and a member of the board of directors of QLT Inc. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Gallus Biopharmaceuticals LLC. Dr. Cox previously served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2001 to 2010. From 1997 to 2001, he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company. From 1984 to 1997, he was employed by Genzyme Corporation, a biotechnology company, last serving as its Executive Vice President, Operations. Dr. Cox is Immediate Past Chairman of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and served for a number of years on the Board of the Biotechnology Industries Association (“BIO”), together with the Health Governing Sections and Emerging Companies Sections of BIO. Dr. Cox received a BS in biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of East Anglia, U.K. Dr. Cox’s extensive biotechnology industry expertise, including his many years of experience as an executive officer and board member of publicly-traded biotechnology companies, led to the conclusion that he should serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.


Michael R. Dougherty, age 55, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2013. Mr. Dougherty was Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors, of Kalidex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from May 2012 to October 2012. Mr. Dougherty was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Adolor Corp. and a member of the Board of Directors of Adolor from December 2006 until December 2011. Mr. Dougherty joined Adolor as Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations in November 2002, and until his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, served in a number of capacities, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. From November 2000 to November 2002, Mr. Dougherty was President and Chief Operating Officer of Genomics Collaborative, Inc., a privately-held functional genomics company. Previously, Mr. Dougherty served in a variety of senior positions at Genaera Corporation, a publicly-traded biotechnology company, including as President and Chief Executive Officer and at Centocor, Inc., a publicly-traded biotechnology company, including as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Dougherty received a B.S. from Villanova University. Mr. Dougherty’s deep understanding of biotechnology finance, research and development, sales and marketing, strategy, and operations and his executive experience as chief executive officer at several biotechnology companies led to the conclusion that he should serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

Richard Hill, age 66, has served on the Company’s Board of Directors since November 2012 and he served as a director of Biota Holdings Limited from November 2008 to November 2012. Mr. Hill currently serves as chairman of the boards of directors of Sirtex Medical Limited, a biotechnology and medical device company listed on the ASX, Calliden Group Limited, an Australia-based company that underwrites general insurance and is listed on the ASX, and is Chairman of Blackwall Property Funds Limited, a vertically integrated property funds manager listed on the ASX. Mr. Hill was a founding partner of Hill Young & Associates, a corporate advisory firm, and previously held multiple senior executive positions in Hong Kong and New York with Wardley Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (“HSBC”). Mr. Hill has been admitted as an attorney in New York, and holds a BA LLB (Sydney), and LLM (London). Mr. Hill’s business leadership as chairman and director of multiple companies and his extensive experience in finance and investing led to the conclusion that he should serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

John P. Richard, age 56, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since August 2013. Since June 2005, Mr. Richard has been a managing director of Georgia Venture Partners, LLC, a venture capital firm that focuses on the biotechnology industry. Mr. Richard has served on the board of directors of Targacept, Inc. since November 2002. He has also served as senior business adviser to Agennix AG, a biotechnology company, since April 1999 and as a non-executive director of Phase4 Ventures Limited, a private equity fund, since March 2011. From 2008 until March 2011, Mr. Richard served as a venture partner of Nomura Phase4 Ventures LP. In addition, Mr. Richard currently serves and from time-to -time during at least the past five years has served as a consultant to portfolio companies of Georgia Venture Partners, as well as to Nomura Phase4 Ventures (or an affiliated entity) and certain of its portfolio companies. Within the past five years, Mr. Richard served as a member of the board of directors of the formerly publicly-traded company Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc. Mr. Richard’s extensive executive, venture capital and business development experience, having led that function at several life science companies and establishing numerous pharmaceutical alliances, led to the conclusion that he should serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

Anne M. VanLent, age 65, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2013. Ms. VanLent is President of AMV Advisors, providing corporate strategy and financial consulting services to emerging growth life sciences companies. Ms. VanLent also currently serves as a member of the board of directors and chair of the Audit Committee of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ocera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Onconoda Therapeutics, Inc., all Nasdaq-listed companies. Ms. VanLent had been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Barrier Therapeitics, Inc., a publicly traded pharmaceutical company that develops and markets prescription dermatology products, from May 2002 through April 2008. From July 1997 to October 2001, she was the Executive Vice President – Portfolio Management for Sarnoff Corporation, a multidisciplinary research and development firm. From 1985 to 1993, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Liposome Company, Inc., a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company. During the past five years, Ms. VanLent also served as a director of Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co., until its sale to Endo Pharmaceuticals in 2010, and as a director of Integra Life Sciences until May 2008, where she served as the Audit Committee from 2006 to 2012.. Ms. VanLent received a B.A. degree in Physics from Mount Holyoke College. Ms. VanLent’s extensive leadership and finance experience, and her extensive experience serving as a board member, audit committee member and audit committee chair of public companies in the life sciences industry led to the conclusion that he should serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

Required Vote and Board Recommendation

If a quorum is present, the nominees will be elected by a plurality of the votes properly cast for election to the Board of Directors. This means that the nominees with the most “FOR” votes will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes will each be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not have any effect on the outcome of the vote.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “For” each of the nominees for director.


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

General  

The Company’s By-laws provide that the number of members of the Board of Directors shall be determined from time-to-time by vote of a majority of directors then in office. The Board of Directors currently has seven members.

The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Dougherty, Hill and Richard, Ms. VanLent and Drs. Fox and Cox are independent under the standards of independence applicable to companies listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”). In addition, as required by Nasdaq, the Board of Directors has made an affirmative determination as to each independent director that no relationships exists which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with such director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his responsibilities as a director of the Company.

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, the Board of Directors met eleven times. Each member of the Board of Directors attended more than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committee or committees on which he or she served. The committees of the Board of Directors consist of an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below. The Board may also establish other committees from time-to-time to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Audit Committee. The members of the Company’s Audit Committee are Ms. VanLent (Chair), Mr. Dougherty and Mr. Hill. The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent directors under the Nasdaq listing standards and each of them is able to read and fundamentally understand financial statements. The Board has determined that Ms. VanLent qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the SEC. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee both the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company as well as audits of its financial statements. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include appointing and approving the compensation of the independent registered public accounting firm selected to conduct the annual audit of the Company’s accounts, reviewing the scope and results of the independent audit, reviewing and evaluating internal accounting policies, and approving all professional services to be provided to the Company by its independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board. The Audit Committee report is included in this Proxy Statement under the caption “Report of the Audit Committee.” The Company’s Audit Committee met six times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

Compensation Committee. The members of the Compensation Committee are Dr. Fox (Chair), Mr. Dougherty and Dr. Cox. The Board has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors under the Nasdaq listing standards. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s benefit and stock plans, reviews and administers all compensation arrangements for executive officers, and establishes and reviews general policies relating to the compensation and benefits of the Company’s officers and employees. The Compensation Committee meets several times a year to review, analyze and set compensation packages for the Company’s executive officers, which include its President and Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers. The Compensation Committee determines the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation and, as it deems appropriate, leverages industry benchmark compensation data. The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for determining the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation. For the other executive officers, the Chief Executive Officer prepares and presents to the Compensation Committee performance assessments and compensation recommendations. Following consideration of the Chief Executive Officer’s presentation, the Compensation Committee may accept or adjust the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations. The other executive officers are not present during this process. For more information, please see below under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board. The Compensation Committee report is included in this proxy statement under the caption “Report of the Compensation Committee.” The Compensation Committee met six times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Dr. Cox (Chair), Mr. Richard and Ms. VanLent, each of whom the Board has determined is an independent director under the Nasdaq listing standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include recommending to the Board nominees for possible election to the Board, ensuring that each of the committees of the Board have qualified and independent directors and providing oversight with respect to corporate governance and succession planning matters. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board. The Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

The current charters of the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are posted on Biota’s website at www.biotapharma.com .


Stockholder Recommendations for Director Nominees

In nominating candidates for election as director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider a reasonable number of candidates for director recommended by a single stockholder who has held over 0.1% of Common Stock for over one year and who satisfies the notice, information and consent provisions set forth in our by-laws and corporate governance guidelines. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider stockholder recommendations for nominees sent to the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2500 Northwinds Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009, Attention: Secretary. Any recommendation from a stockholder with respect to a nominee should include the name, background and qualifications of such candidate, and should be accompanied by evidence of such stockholder’s ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will use the same evaluation process for director nominees recommended by stockholders as it uses for other director nominees.

Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors

The Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and recruiting candidates for the Board, including the review of a candidate’s qualifications and compliance with independence and any other legal requirements for Board or committee service. The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews with the Board from time-to-time the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the make-up of the Board and developing criteria for identifying and evaluating candidates for the Board. These criteria include, among other things, an individual’s business experience and skills (including skills in core areas such as operations, management, technology, and drug development industry knowledge, accounting and finance, leadership, strategic planning and international markets), independence, judgment, integrity and ability to commit sufficient time and attention to the activities of the Board, as well as the absence of any potential or existing conflicts with the Company’s interests. The Nominating and Governance Committee considers these criteria in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of the Board as a whole and seeks to achieve diversity of occupational and personal backgrounds on the Board.

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders

The Company encourages and expects each of its directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders, absent unusual circumstances.

Board Leadership Structure

The Company is currently led by Mr. Plumb, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and James Fox, Ph.D., an independent director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Fox has served as the Chairman of the Board since November 2012 and has also served as Chairman of the Board of Biota Holdings Limited from February 2009 to November 2012. Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, it is the Board’s preferred governance structure to separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, but the Board will regularly evaluate whether it is in the best interests of the Company for the Chief Executive Officer or another director to hold the position of Chairman.

The Board of Directors believes the Company’s current Board leadership structure is advantageous because it demonstrates to the Company’s stockholders, employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders that the Company is under strong leadership, with the Chairman maintaining an effective working relationship with other Board members and the Chief Executive Officer. Furthermore, the Board believes the separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman enhances the Board’s oversight of, and independence from, Company management, the ability of the Board to carry out its roles and responsibilities on behalf of the Company’s stockholders, and the Company’s overall corporate governance.

Stockholder Communications

Communications to the Board or to any committee of the Board or to any individual director must be in writing and sent correspondence to Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2500 Northwinds Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009, Attention: Corporate Secretary or delivered via e-mail to pazzarello@biotapharma.com. The name(s) of any specific intended Board recipient(s) should be noted in the communication.Any such communication should specify the applicable director(s) to be contacted, as well as the general topic of the communication. The Company will initially receive and process a communication before forwarding it to the applicable director(s). The Company generally will not forward a stockholder communication to its directors if it determines that such communication is primarily commercial in nature or is abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate.


Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Company’s corporate governance guidelines are designed to ensure effective corporate governance of the Company. These corporate governance guidelines cover topics including, but not limited to, director qualification criteria, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, communications from stockholders to the Board, succession planning and the annual evaluations of the Board and its committees. Corporate governance guidelines will be reviewed regularly by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and revised when appropriate. The full text of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines is accessible to the public at www.biotapharma.com. A printed copy may also be obtained by any stockholder upon request.

Code of Ethics

The Company’s Board adopted a code of ethics to ensure that our business is conducted in a consistently legal and ethical manner. The code of ethics establishes policies pertaining to, among other things, employee conduct in the workplace, securities trading, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, reporting violations and compliance procedures. All employees, including the Company’s executive officers, as well as members of its Board, are required to comply with this code of ethics. The full text of code of ethics is accessible to the public at www.biotapharma.com. A printed copy may also be obtained by any stockholder upon request. Any waiver of the code of ethics for executive officers or directors must be approved by the Board after receiving a recommendation from the Audit Committee. The Company will disclose future waivers and amendments to its code of ethics on its website, www.biotapharma.com, within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.

Role of Board in Risk Oversight Process

The responsibility for the day-to-day management of risk lies with the Company’s management, while the Board is responsible for overseeing the risk management process to ensure that it is properly designed, well-functioning and consistent with the Company’s overall corporate strategy. Each year the Company’s management identifies what it believes are the top individual risks facing the Company. These risks are then discussed and analyzed with the Board. This enables the Board to coordinate the risk oversight role, particularly with respect to risk interrelationships. However, in addition to the Board, the committees of the Board consider the risks within their areas of responsibility. The Audit Committee oversees the risks associated with the Company’s financial reporting and internal controls, the Compensation Committee oversees the risks associated with the Company’s compensation practices, including an annual review of the Company’s risk assessment of its compensation policies and practices for its employees, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees the risks associated with the Company’s overall governance, corporate compliance policies (for example, policies addressing relationships with health care professionals and compliance with anti-kickback laws) and its succession planning process to understand that the Company has a slate of future, qualified candidates for key management positions.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Common Stock (collectively the “Reporting Persons”) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common Stock with the SEC, with a copy delivered to the Company. In addition, the Company prepares Section 16(a) reports on behalf of certain Reporting Persons, including its officers and directors. Based solely on a review of Forms 3 and 4 furnished to the Company by the Reporting Persons or prepared on behalf of the Reporting Persons by the Company and on written representations from certain Reporting Persons that no Forms 5 were required, the Company believes that the Reporting Persons have complied on a timely basis with reporting requirements applicable to them for transactions during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Company’s Compensation Committee was an officer or employee of the Company. In addition, none of the Company’s executive officers has served on the board of directors or Compensation Committee of another entity at any time during which an executive officer of such other company served on the Company’s Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Review and Approval of Related Person Transactions

The Company’s Related Party Transaction Policy and Procedures requires all directors and executive officers of the Company to bring any potential transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving a “related person” (as such term is defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K) to the attention of the Audit Committee. Under the policy, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and either approving or disapproving transactions involving potential conflicts of interest with corporate officers and directors, whenever possible in advance of the creation of such transaction or conflict and all other related party transactions. In determining whether to approve or ratify such a transaction, the Audit Committee will take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, the material terms of the transaction, the nature of the related party’s interest in the transaction, the significance of the transaction to the related party and the nature of the related party’s relationship with the Company, the significance of the transaction to the Company, and whether the transaction would be likely to impair (or create an appearance of impairing) the judgment of a director or executive officer to act in the best interest of the Company.


Related Person Transactions

The Company is not aware of any transactions, since the beginning of the last fiscal year, or any proposed transactions, in which the Company was or is a party, where the amount involved exceeded $120,000 and in which a director, director nominee, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of the Company’ Common Stock, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.


PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information known to the Company with respect to the beneficial ownership of its Common Stock as of August 31, 2013 (except as indicated in the footnotes below), by:

• 

each person or group of affiliated persons known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock and not otherwise represented on the Board of Directors;

• 

each of the directors and nominees;

• 

each of the executive officers listed on the Summary Compensation Table included under the caption “Executive Compensation” (collectively, the “named executive officers”); and

• 

all directors and executive officers as a group.

The column entitled “Percentage of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned” is based on 28,423,987 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 31, 2013, assuming no further exercises of outstanding options or warrants. Ownership is based upon information provided by each respective officer and director, Forms 4, Schedules 13G and other public documents filed with the SEC for some of the stockholders.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. The information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. For purposes of calculating each person’s or group’s percentage ownership, except as set forth in the footnotes to the beneficial ownership table below, stock options exercisable or equity awards that will vest within 60 days after August 31, 2013 are included for that person or group, but not such awards of any other person or group.

Except as otherwise noted, the persons or entities in this table have sole voting and investing power with respect to all of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws, where applicable.

Beneficially Owned

 

Shares Held

  

Percentage of

Shares of

Common Stock

Beneficially

Owned (%)

 
         

5% stockholders:

        

Entities affiliated with London T. Clay(1)

  3,164,017   11.1 

Entities affiliated with Hunter Hall Investment Management Ltd(2)

  2,080,839   7.3 
         

Named executive officers and directors:

        

Russell H. Plumb

  47,774   * 

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D.

  23,887   * 

James Fox, Ph.D. (3)

  43,664   * 

Geoffrey Cox, Ph.D. (4)

  45,110   * 

Michael Dougherty

     * 

Richard Hill (5)

  14,300   * 

John Richard

     * 

Anne VanLent

     * 

Raafat Fahim, Ph.D. (6)

  143,431   * 

Paul Kessler, M.D. (7)

  37,166   * 

Matthew Kalnik, Ph.D. (8)

  

85,267

   

*

 
         
         

All current executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons) (9)

  

174,735

   

*

 

Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent of the Company’s Common Stock.


(1)     The foregoing information is based solely upon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2013 by London T. Clay and certain affiliates. East Hill Hedge Fund, LLC (“EHHF”) beneficially owns 1,515,629 shares of Common Stock of the Company. Landon T. Clay is the managing member of East Hill Holding Company, LLC (“EHHC”), which is the managing member of each of East Hill Management Company, LLC (“EHM”) and East Hill Advisors, LLC (“EHA”). EHM is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. EHM has eight (8) investment advisory clients, including EHHF. EHA is the general partner of various venture capital limited partnerships which own shares of the Company. These venture capital limited partnerships are East Hill University Spinouts Fund I, LP, East Hill University Spinouts Fund II, LP, East Hill University Spinouts Fund III, LP, East Hill University Spinouts Fund IV, LP, East Hill University Spinouts Fund V, LP, East Hill University Spinouts Fund VI, LP, East Hill University Spinouts Fund V(b), LP, and East Hill Venture Fund, LP, each a Delaware limited partnership (collectively, the “Funds”). As a result of such relationships, Landon T. Clay may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 3,191,505 shares of Common Stock. This total includes (i) 27,488 shares held directly by Mr. Clay, (ii) an aggregate of 280,594 shares of Common Stock held by the Funds, (iii) and aggregate of 2,783,892 shares held by the Clients of which EHHF holds 1,515,629 shares, and (iv) 99,531 shares held by EHM. Landon T. Clay disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock.

(2)     The foregoing information is based solely upon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on July 26, 2013 by Hunter Hall Investment Management Ltd. (“HHIM”) and certain affiliates, located at Level 2, 60 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia. HHIM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunter Hall International Ltd (“HHI”). Hampshire Assets and Services Pty Ltd (“Hampshire”) owns 43.81% of HHI. Peter Hall owns 100% of Hampshire and controls a further 1.31% of HHI through other holdings. As a result of such relationships, Peter Hall may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 3,267,905 shares of common stock. HHIM has the power to control the exercise of the right to vote attached to the shares, and the power to exercise control over the disposal of shares as Responsible Entity of the (i) 1,635,592 shares held by Hunter Hall Value Growth Trust and (ii) the 445,247 shares held by Hunter Hall Global Value Limited.

(3)     Includes 4,350 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock units which will vest within 60 days of August 31, 2013. Includes 30,614 shares held by Penashe Holdings Propriety Limited. Dr. Fox is an executive director of Penashe Holdings Proprietary Limited and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these securities, to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest in his distributive shares therein

(4)      Includes 40,830 options to purchase shares of Common Stock currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2013 and 4,280 shares of common stock.

(5)      Includes 4,350 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock units which will vest within 60 days of August 31, 2013 and 9,950 shares of common stock.

(6)      Includes 143,431 options to purchase shares of Common Stock currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2013.

(7)     Includes 37,166 options to purchase shares of Common Stock currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2013.

(8)     Includes 85,267 options to purchase shares of Common Stock currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2013.

(9)     Includes 125,205 shares of Common Stock underlying outstanding options or restricted stock units as of August 31, 2013, 40,830 options to purchase shares of Common Stock currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2013 and 8,700 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock units which will vest within 60 days of August 31, 2013.


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth information concerning the current executive officers of the Company:

Name

Age

Position

Russell H. Plumb

54

President, Chief Executive Officer;and Director

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D. 

49

Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy and Assistant Secretary

Set forth below is biographical information with respect to the Company’s executive officers other than Mr. Plumb. Biographical information for Mr. Plumb is set forth under the caption “Proposal I — Election of Directors.”

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D., age 49, has served Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy since November 2012. Dr. Patti previously served as Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President of Research and Development of Inhibitex, Inc., a U.S. publicly-traded, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, from 2007 through February 2012, when it was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Prior to that, he served as the Vice President, Preclinical Development and Chief Scientific Officer of Inhibitex from 1998 to 2007, and Vice President of Research and Development from 2005 to 2007. From 1994 to 1998, Dr. Patti was an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M’s Institute of Biosciences and Technology. From 1996 to 1998, he also served on the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Patti received a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.S.P.H. from the University of Miami, School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

On November 8, 2012, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (“Nabi”) completed a reverse merger with Biota Holdings Limited, with the resulting combined company changing its name to Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and continuing the business of Biota Holdings Limited as the principal business of the combined company. The disclosures provided for executive officers includes persons deemed to be “named executive officers” under SEC rules for the Company, which includes the former Chief Executive Officer, the former Senior Vice President, Clinical, Medical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer and the former Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Operations of Nabi prior to the closing of the merger.

The following compensation discussion and analysis focuses on the Company’s compensation programs following completion of the merger and the current and anticipated compensation programs of the Company. It is designed to provide stockholders with an understanding of the Company’s compensation philosophy and objectives as well as an overview of the analysis that the Compensation Committee performed in setting executive compensation following completion of the merger. It discusses the Compensation Committee’s determination of how and why, in addition to what, compensation actions were taken following completion of the merger.

The persons deemed to be “named executive officers” for fiscal 2013 under SEC rules were as follows:ways:

 

 

Russell H. Plumb, President and Chief Executive OfficerYou may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date.

 

 

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & StrategyYou may grant a subsequent proxy by telephone or through the internet.

 

 

Raafat Fahim, Ph.D., former President and Chief Executive Officer of NabiYou may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our Secretary at 170 Harbor Way, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080.

 

 

Paul Kessler, M.D., former Senior Vice President, Clinical, MedicalYou may attend the Annual Meeting and Regulatory Affairsvote in person, or listen and Chief Medical Officerparticipate in the Annual Meeting as well as vote and submit your questions during a live webcast of Nabi

Matthew Kalnik, Ph.D., former Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Operations of Nabithe meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VXRT2022 and entering the 16‐digit control number included in your Notice, on your proxy card or in the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. Simply attending or participating in the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.

 

This discussion contains forward-looking statementsYour most current proxy card or other proxy is the one that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations, and determinations regarding our business objectives and anticipated achievement under existing and future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs that we may adoptis counted.

Beneficial Owner:Shares Registered in the future may differ materially from currently planned programs as summarized in this discussion.Name of Broker or Bank

 

Overview of Executive Compensation ProgramIf your shares are held by your broker or bank as a nominee or agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or bank.

 

Our Compensation Committee oversees our executive compensation programWhen are stockholder proposals and determines executive compensation. Our compensation program is intended to align our named executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders by rewarding performancedirector nominations due for the achievement of goals as established by the Compensation Committee and Board. Our compensation approach is tied to our stage of development and the current performance goals are set with the objectives of advancing our product development and testing and, thereby, increasing stockholder value.2023 Annual Meeting?

 

In an effort to ensureStockholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder action at annual meetings for inclusion in our compensation practices are comparable to those of similar public biopharmaceutical companies, in February 2013 the Compensation Committee engaged Radford, an Aon Hewitt Company (“Radford”), an independent compensation consultant, to provide compensation advisory services that included the following:

an assessment of our executive compensation philosophy and plan structures and objectives;

the development of a peer group of companies for compensation comparison purposes;

a review of considerations and market practices related to short-term cash incentive plans and a review of long-term equity and other incentive trends in the biopharmaceutical industry;

the collection of competitive compensation levels for each of our executive positions;

an assessment of our executives’ base salaries, cash bonuses, and equity compensation levels;

a review of our equity compensation strategy, including the development of award guidelines; and,

a review of board of director compensation market practices among biopharmaceutical companies of comparable size and/or stage.

Radford completed their initial assessment of the Company’s director compensation program in March 2013 and the Company’s executive compensation program in June 2013 and provided its respective recommendations to the Compensation Committee at those times. The Compensation Committee intends to continue to assess the Company’s executive and director compensation programs through the benchmarking and other services provided by Radford.


The Compensation Committee reviews and approves all compensation decisions relating to our executives, including our named executive officers, and oversees and administers our executive compensation programs and initiatives. Our compensation program is designed to attract and retain talented employees, to motivate them to achieve our key financial, operational, and strategic goals, and to reward them for superior performance. Assuming we continue to meet our corporate, operational and research milestones, add to our senior management team, and progress toward commercialization of additional products, we expect that the overall philosophy and the specific direction, emphasis, and various components of our executive compensation program will evolve. Following completion of the merger, the objectives of the compensation program included:

a program structure to attract, motivate and retain a highly qualified executive management team;

linking executive compensation to key corporate objectives, including near-term product development and business development goals, as well as to define individual management objectives established by the Compensation Committee;

compensate competitively with the practices of similarly staged and situated biopharmaceutical companies; and

create management incentives designed to enhance stockholder value.

We intend to evaluate our philosophy and compensation programs as circumstances require, and at a minimum, we will review our executive compensation annually.

Compensation Process

Our Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing our compensation philosophy and setting the compensation levels for our executives, including base salaries, cash bonus awards, and equity-based incentive awards. To assist the Compensation Committee in its executive compensation evaluations, our Chief Executive Officer prepares a report each fiscal year recommending base salaries, bonus targets, and equity-based incentive awards for each executive officer. In addition to this report, our Compensation Committee considers relevant market compensation data. The Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may accept or adjust the compensation recommendations it is provided. No executive officer is allowed to be present at the time his or her compensation is being discussed or determined by the Compensation Committee.

Benchmarking

As part of Radford’s compensation advisory services to the Compensation Committee, Radford developed and recommended a “peer” group of companies comprised of 21 publicly traded biopharmaceutical companies in similar stages of drug development (Phase 2 or Phase 3), as well as some smaller commercial companies, to be our “peer” group for purposes of benchmarking our compensation program. Each member of the peer group was selected based on market capitalization and number of employees. Given our stage of development, the selection of peer companies focused on those companies with a market capitalization similar to ours at the time of between $50 million and $225 million and with less than 230 employees.

The following companies comprised our peer group (the “peer group”) for fiscal 2013:

A.P. Pharma

BioDelivery Sciences Int'l

Pharmathene

Aastrom Biosciences

Cell Therapeutics

Pozen

Agenus

Corcept Therapeutics

Senomyx

Alimera Sciences

Cytokinetics

Targacept

Amicus Therapeutics

Galena Biopharma

Transcept Pharmaceuticals

Apricus

Insmed

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals

Novavax

Zalicus

At the Compensation Committee’s request, Radford conducted an executive compensation review to benchmark our executive compensation relative to the peer group with supplemental data from published market surveys. The Compensation Committee used this report to evaluate whether our executive compensation levels, including base salary and incentive awards, were within industry norms, and determined that our compensation levels were positioned between the 50th - 75th percentiles of the peer group as further described below.

Determination of Executive Compensation

In setting compensation for our executive officers, our Compensation Committee’s philosophy is to consider market levels of compensation, an executive’s contributions and responsibilities, and the goals and overall progress of the Company. During fiscal 2013, with the assistance of Radford, the Compensation Committee established a philosophy to target total compensation for our named executives at or slightly above the 50th percentile of the market, based on the peer group. Total compensation for this purpose comprises base salary, annual cash bonus incentives, and long-term equity incentives.


In addition to market benchmarking, the Compensation Committee reviews the compensation recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer (other than with respect to determining his own compensation), considers the Company’s overall performance during the prior fiscal year, each executive’s individual contributions during the prior fiscal year, the individual’s annual performance reviews based on achievement of annual goals, industry research, and other relevant market data. With respect to new hires, our Compensation Committee considers an executive’s background, historical compensation and role undertaken within the Company in lieu of prior year performance.

Components of Executive Compensation

Our current executive compensation program consists of the following components:

base salary;

performance-based cash awards;

equity-based incentives; and,

other benefits.

We combine these elements in order to formulate compensation packages that provide competitive pay; reward achievement of financial, operational, and strategic objectives; and, align the interests of our named executive officers and other senior personnel with those of our stockholders.

Base Salary

We provide our executive officers with a base salary to compensate them for services provided to us during the fiscal year. In setting base salaries for our executive officers, our Compensation Committee considered, and will continue to consider, the executive’s position, our success in achieving our prior year corporate goals, the individual’s contribution and performance during the prior fiscal year, relevant market data, and benchmark levels. The evaluations and recommendations proposed by our Chief Executive Officer are also considered. With respect to new hires, the Compensation Committee considers an executive’s background and historical compensation in lieu of prior year performance. Our Compensation Committee evaluates and sets the base salaries for our executives following annual performance evaluations, as well as upon a promotion or other change in responsibility. We expect our Compensation Committee to continue these policies going forward.

In setting the base salaries for our executives for fiscal 2013 following the merger, our Compensation Committee initially did so subjectively based on its research, informal benchmarking, and knowledge of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry. Following the assessment of our compensation programs by Radford, which was completed in June 2013, the Compensation Committee determined that no material change in base salaries for fiscal 2014 was necessary for our named executive officers, as their base salaries were already at or in some cases above the 50th percentile level. However, the Compensation Committee did determine that a standard increase of approximately 2% was necessary to maintain pace with market for Mr. Patti. Our named executive officers have been paid the base salaries for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, and are currently being paid the salaries for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, as set forth in the following table:

Name and Title

 

Fiscal 2013

Base Salary

  

Fiscal 2014

Base Salary

 

Russell H. Plumb, President and Chief Executive Officer

 $525,000  $525,000 

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy

  400,000   408,000 

Raafat Fahim, Ph.D, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Nabi(1)

  494,777  

N/A

 

Paul Kessler, M.D., former Senior Vice President, Clinical, Medical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of Nabi(1)

  318,270  

N/A

 

Matthew Kalnik, Ph.D., former Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Operations of Nabi(1)

  350,097  

N/A

 

(1)

Former Nabi executive officer terminated prior to or in connection with the reverse merger.


Performance-Based Cash Bonus Awards

To help align each executive officer’s efforts with the Company’s financial, operations and strategic goals, the Compensation Committee will approve key corporate level goals for purposes of establishing an executive’s potential short-term cash incentive award, and in any given year, these goals will be generally related to the achievement of specific research, clinical, regulatory, business development, operational or financial milestones. Each of these corporate goals is assigned a respective weighting relative to all the corporate goals. For fiscal 2013, based upon actual performance, an achievement level of between a threshold of 60% and a maximum of 100% may be assigned to each goal by the Compensation Committee. If actual performance falls below the 60% threshold, the goal is generally assigned a 0% achievement level and no incentive compensation is earned on that particular goal.

Mr. Plumb’s and Dr. Patti’s annual performance-based short-term incentive target award, as a percentage of base salary, are 55% and 40%, respectively. The amount of the annual cash incentive or bonus actually earned and payable to each named executive officer depends primarily on the level of achievement, as determined by the Compensation Committee, of the overall corporate goals that have been approved by the Compensation Committee. For example, if the Compensation Committee determined that a 75% achievement level was met with respect to the corporate goals during a given year, Dr. Patti would be eligible for a cash bonus of 30% of his base salary (40% target x 75% achievement level). In its discretion, the Compensation Committee may award bonus payments to the executives above or below the target amount, particularly in cases where goals are materially exceeded.

We defined the Company’s fiscal 2013 performance goals as follows:

Enter into agreements with third-party licenses for certain preclinical programs;

Complete certain identified research milestones for certain preclinical programs;

Complete certain identified steps to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial of laninamivir octanoate; and

Achieve other identified financial goals.

In June 2013, the Compensation Committee gave consideration to the achievement levels of the above referenced performance goals for fiscal 2013. After consideration of the performance level achieved for each goal and its relative weighting, the Compensation Committee determined that we had achieved a performance level of 41% for our overall corporate goals, resulting in the following bonus awards as of June 30, 2013:

Name and Title

 

Fiscal 2013 Bonus

Potential

  

Fiscal 2013 Bonus

Award

   

Russell H. Plumb, President and Chief Executive Officer

 $288,750  $60,000 (1)

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy

  160,000   37,500 (1)

(1) Pro-rated for fiscal 2013.

Our Compensation Committee also approved the key performance goals for the bonus plan for fiscal 2014 at its meeting in June of 2013. The following sets forth the anticipated target bonus amounts for fiscal 2014:

Name and Title

 

Fiscal 2014

Bonus Target

(% of Salary)

  

Amount

at Target

 

Russell H. Plumb, President and Chief Executive Officer

  55%  $288,750 

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy

  40%   163,200 

Dr. Fahim and Messrs. Kessler and Kalnik were paid their respective target bonuses under Nabi’s VIP Management Incentive Plan as part of their severance in connection with their respective terminations prior to or in connection with the reverse merger. See “Severance Payments” for more information.

Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Awards

In addition to base salary and performance-based cash bonus awards, we provide long-term equity-based incentive awards to our executive officers. For fiscal 2013, these equity-based incentive awards generally consisted of options to purchase shares of our common stock and restricted stock units. We believe that stock option awards and restricted stock units help further our compensation objectives by encouraging our executives to remain with us through at least the vesting period for these awards and providing them with an incentive to continue to focus on our long-term financial performance and increasing stockholder value.

Initial Equity Awards. Executives and all other employees who join the Company are typically provided an initial equity-based award, generally in the form of options to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock. These stock option grants have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date, and typically will vest over a period of three to four years. The size of the initial stock option grant awarded to an executive or employee is determined based on a number of factors, including the executive or employee’s position in the Company, the number of shares reserved and available to be issued pursuant to awards under the 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan, and an analysis of the competitive practices of comparable peer group companies of similar size and stature as represented in the compensation data compiled by Radford. We also consider the executive’s background and historical compensation when determining the number of options or restricted stock units to grant to the executive upon being hired, and from time-to-time.


Following completion of the merger and in connection therewith, we hired Mr. Plumb to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Patti to serve as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy. In connection with the execution of his employment agreement, the Company granted Mr. Plumb as inducement grants (i) a restricted stock unit equal to 143,322 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, one-third of which fully vested ninety (90) days after November 12, 2012, and the other two-thirds of which will vest in two equal installments on the first and second anniversary thereof, and (ii) 573,286 options to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.07 with a 10 year term, which will vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of November 12, 2012.

In addition, in connection with the execution of his employment agreement, the Company granted Dr. Patti as inducement grants (i) a restricted stock unit equal to 71,661 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, one-third of which fully vested ninety (90) days after November 12, 2012, and the other two-thirds of which will vest in two equal installments on the first and second anniversary thereof, and (ii) 358,304 options to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.07 with a ten year term, which will vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of November 12, 2012.

No other equity-based incentive awards were granted to Mr. Plumb or Dr. Patti during fiscal 2013.

Annual Equity-Based Awards. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, as we refined our compensation philosophy, we determined to complement our base salary and cash bonus incentives with annual long-term equity awards based on their value at the date of grant that would provide our named executive officers with total compensation at or slightly above the 50 th percentile of our peer group of companies. The Compensation Committee believes that these ongoing equity awards provide executives and all employees with a strong incentive to maximize long-term corporate performance and value creation. The aggregate value of these awards is intended to provide long-term incentives in an amount that will retain executives and employees, individually and as a whole, and represents an opportunity for executives to earn total compensation above the median compensation levels of comparable peer group companies represented in the compensation data compiled by Radford.

Equity Award Grant Practices.The exercise price of stock option grants, or the value of other equity awards granted to our executives, employees and directors have been and will continue to be granted at no less than the fair market value on the date of the award or grant. The amount of realizable value related to such grants and awards is determined by our stock price on the dates of vesting and, therefore, will be determined by our financial performance during the time after award but prior to vesting. Whether the stock price moves up or down in the near-term after the award date is largely irrelevant for purposes of the equity awards.

The exercise price of any stock option grant and the value of any restricted stock unit or other equity award is determined by reference to the fair market value of the underlying shares, which our 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan defines as the closing price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq. However, because stock options have been, and will continue to be, granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value, such options only have cash or intrinsic value to the holder to the extent that the price of our Common Stock increases during the term of the option. Restricted stock unit awards generally have cash value equal to the current stock price.

Following completion of the merger, stock option granted to executives or employees generally will vest in three to four equal installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the grant date and have a six to 10-year term, or will be performance-based and will vest upon performance milestones, as predetermined and approved by the Compensation Committee, being achieved. All vesting is generally subject to continued service to the Company.  Following the completion of the merger, restricted stock units granted to executives and employees (other than the initial awards granted to Mr. Plumb and Dr. Patti in connection with their employment as set forth above) generally will vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued service to the Company. Additional information regarding accelerated vesting prior to, upon, or following a change in control is discussed below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Severance and Change of Control Benefits

We have entered into employment agreements that require specific payments and benefits to be provided to certain executive officers in the event their employment is terminated following a change of control or in the event their employment is terminated without cause or by the executive for good reason. See “Employment Agreements” below.

Other Benefits

In order to attract and retain qualified individuals, we have historically provided, and will continue to provide, our executives with the following benefits:

Health Insurance – We provide each of our executives and their spouses and children the same health, dental, and vision insurance coverage we make available to our other eligible employees. Outside of the U.S., this coverage may be provided by government sponsored health insurance programs.

Life and Disability Insurance – We generally provide each of our executives with life and disability insurance coverage equal to twice their respective base salary.


Retirement Benefits – We do not provide pension arrangements or post-retirement health coverage for our executives or employees. Our executives and other eligible employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) defined contribution plan, or if employed outside the U.S., similar retirement savings programs in those countries. For our U.S.-based employees, we currently make matching contributions to participants in the 401(k) plan in an amount equal to 25 percent of the employee’s deferral up to a maximum of four percent of an employee’s salary, subject to statutory limits.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation – We do not provide any nonqualified defined contribution or other deferred compensation plans to any of our employees.

Perquisites – We limit the perquisites that we make available to our executive officers. Our executives are entitled to relocation expenses on their initial hire and other benefits with de minimis value that otherwise may not be available to all of our employees.

Employment Agreements

Russell H. Plumb, President and Chief Executive Officer

Effective November 12, 2012, we entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Mr. Plumb in conjunction with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Plumb receives an annual base salary of $525,000, subject to adjustment as determined by the Compensation Committee, and is eligible to participate in the bonus and incentive compensation plans of the Company in which other executives of the Company are generally eligible to participate, as the Board or a committee thereof will determine from time to time in its sole discretion. Subject to the terms and conditions of such bonus and incentive compensation plans, Mr. Plumb’s annual cash incentive compensation will be targeted at not less than 55% of his then annual salary.

Mr. Plumb’s agreement continues through December 31, 2013, and thereafter will be renewed automatically for successive one year periods (without any action by either party) effective as of January 1st of each year, but may be terminated by either party prior to that dateproxy statement in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

If Mr. Plumb’s employment is terminated by him for good reason or by the Company for any reason other than cause, death or disability (as those terms are defined in the agreement) in either case within three months prior to or one year after a change in control, Mr. Plumb will receive a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (i) Mr. Plumb’s unpaid salary and vacation through such termination; plus (ii) any cash incentive compensation earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) two times (2x) the sum of (A) Mr. Plumb’s annual base salary as then in effect and (B) the cash incentive compensation paid to Mr. Plumb in respect of the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which the change in control occurs; plus (iv) a payment equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Mr. Plumb were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 24 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

If Mr. Plumb’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, death or disability or in connection with a change in control or if Mr. Plumb terminates his employment for good reason other than in connection with a change in control, the Company will pay Mr. Plumb a lump sum equal to the sum of (i) Mr. Plumb’s unpaid salary through such termination; plus (ii) any cash incentive compensation earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) Mr. Plumb’s salary for eighteen (18) months; plus (iv) the product of one and a half times (1.5x) the cash incentive compensation paid to Mr. Plumb in respect of the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which such termination occurs; plus (v) an amount equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Mr. Plumb were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 18 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

Joseph M. Patti, M.S.P.H., Ph.D.

Effective November 12, 2012, we and Dr. Patti entered into an Executive Employment Agreement in conjunction with his appointment as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy. Pursuant to the agreement, Dr. Patti will receive an annual base salary of $400,000, subject to adjustment as determined by the Compensation Committee, and will be eligible to participate in the bonus and incentive plans of the Company in which other executives of the Company are generally eligible to participate, as the Board or a committee thereof will determine from time to time in its sole discretion. Subject to the terms and conditions of such bonus and incentive compensation plans, Dr. Patti’s annual cash incentive compensation will be targeted at not less than 40% of his then annual salary.

The agreement continues through December 31, 2013, and thereafter will be renewed automatically for successive one year periods (without any action by either party) effective as of January 1st of each year, but may be terminated by either party prior to that date in accordance with the terms of the agreement.


If Dr. Patti’s employment is terminated by him for good reason or by the Company for any reason other than cause, death or disability (as those terms are defined in the agreement), in either case, within three months prior to or one year after a change in control, he shall receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (i) Dr. Patti’s unpaid salary and vacation through such termination; plus (ii) any bonus earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) one and one-half times (1.5x) the sum of (A) Dr. Patti’s annual base salary and (B) the bonus paid to Dr. Patti for the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which his employment is terminated; plus (iv) an amount equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Dr. Patti were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 18 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

In the event Dr. Patti’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, death or disability or in connection with a change in control or if Dr. Patti terminates his employment for good reason other than in connection with a change in control, the Company will pay Dr. Patti a lump sum equal to the sum of (i) Dr. Patti’s unpaid salary through such termination; plus (ii) any bonus earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) Dr. Patti’s salary for twelve (12) months; plus (iv) the bonus paid to Dr. Patti in respect of the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which the change in control occurs; plus (v) an amount equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Dr. Patti were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 12 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

Severance Payouts in Connection with Merger

Prior to the merger in November 2012, Nabi had entered into agreements with each of its executive officers providing for the payment of severance benefits in the event of a qualifying termination of employment in connection with a change of control of Nabi.

Each of Dr. Kessler, Nabi’s former Senior Vice President—Clinical, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, and Dr. Kalnik, Nabi’s former Senior Vice President—Strategic Planning and Business Operations, had entered into separate change of control agreements pursuant to which they were entitled to receive change of control benefits if, in connection with a change of control, their employment was terminated by Nabi without cause or they terminated their employment with Nabi for good reason (as such terms were defined in the change of control agreements). Drs. Kessler and Kalnik’s benefits under the agreements included a payment equal to two times (2x) their base salary plus target bonus for the year in which the change of control occurred, payable in equal installments over a 24 month period. They were also entitled to receive the continuation of benefits under Nabi’s employee welfare benefit plans and any other employee benefit program or arrangements (including without limitation, medical and dental insurance plans and disability and life insurance plans) for 12 months following termination if it is possible to do so under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs. In addition, all outstanding equity awards vested upon a change of control of Nabi.

In March 2011, Dr. Fahim, Nabi’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Nabi. Under this agreement, Dr. Fahim was entitled to receive change of control benefits if (i) within 12 months after a change of control or during a potential change of control he terminated his employment with Nabi for good reason or died or became disabled; (ii) during a potential change of control period or within 12 months after a change of control his employment was terminated by Nabi without cause (including Nabi’s failure to renew his employment agreement); or (iii) during the six-month period beginning six months after a change of control he terminated his employment for any reason. Dr. Fahim also was entitled to receive change of control benefits in the event that his employment was terminated (i) by Nabi without cause, (ii) by Nabi if it failed to renew his agreement at the expiration of the term or (iii) by Dr. Fahim for good reason, within (a) the 12 month period ending upon a change of control (other than as a result of a liquidation or dissolution of Nabi approved by Nabi’s stockholders), (b) the 12 month period ending upon the execution by Nabi of a definitive agreement and providing for and resulting in a change of control or (c) the 18 month period ending upon a change of control constituted solely by a liquidation or dissolution of Nabi approved by Nabi’s stockholders.

Dr. Fahim’s change of control severance benefits include his regular severance benefits that he would receive in any non-change of control situation (which are described below) plus a lump sum amount equal to (A) two and one-half (2.5) times the sum of (a) the higher of (x) Dr. Fahim’s then current annual base salary or (y) his base salary immediately prior to the date of termination plus (b) the target bonus Dr. Fahim could have earned under Nabi’s former VIP Management Incentive Plan or any comparable bonus plan maintained by Nabi for the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs), reduced by (B) an amount equal to the sum of (x) two times Dr. Fahim’s base salary in effect as of the last day of the employment term, plus (y) the amount of any pro-rated bonus paid or payable pursuant to any such bonus plan (i.e., reduced by the amount of Dr. Fahim’s regular severance benefits). In addition, all outstanding equity awards vest upon a change of control of Nabi. While Dr. Fahim’s regular severance benefits include 24 months of salary continuation, following a change of control or an approval of a bankruptcy court that (A) qualifies as an event described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(A) or (B) permits acceleration of Dr. Fahim’s regular severance pay, all unpaid amounts of the regular severance pay will be paid to him in a lump sum on the date of the change of control or within 10 days of the approval of the bankruptcy court, as the case may be. Nabi had also agreed to reimburse Dr. Fahim on a grossed-up basis for any excise tax that is payable by him under Sections 409A or 4999 of the IRC as a result of any payments by Nabi to him under his employment agreement with Nabi.

Dr. Fahim’s regular severance benefits that he would receive in a non-change of control situation consist of (i) severance pay equal to his base salary as in effect at the time of such termination for 24 months, (ii) bonus compensation prorated for the portion of the year worked, (iii) the continuation of certain fringe benefits for 24 months, (iv) immediate vesting of any non-vested stock options or shares of restricted stock held by the executive, which will be exercisable for 12 months after the termination date, but in no event later than the original option expiration date, and (v) executive outplacement services.


For the severance benefits actually paid to each of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik in connection with the merger, see “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Report of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

By the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:

James Fox, Ph.D. (Chair)

Geoffrey Cox, Ph.D.

Michael Dougherty

2013 Summary Compensation Table

As provided above, on November 8, 2012, Nabi completed a reverse merger with Biota Holdings Limited, with the resulting combined company changing its name to Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and continuing the business of Biota Holdings Limited as the principal business of the combined company. In connection with the merger, the Company changed its fiscal year end to June 30 to conform its fiscal year end to that of Biota Holdings Limited. The information in this table reflects the compensation paid to the former Nabi executive officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 (through November 8, 2012, the effective date of the merger). The information in this table for fiscal year 2013 reflects the compensation paid to the Company’s current named executive officers following completion of the merger through June 30, 2013.

Name and Principal Position

Year 

Salary

($) 

Bonus
($)
 

Stock
Awards
($)(1)
 

Option
Awards
($)(1)
 

All Other
Compensation
($)

Total

($) 

        

Russell H. Plumb (2)

2013

335,192

60,000

583,321

1,365,753

19,431(6)

2,363,697

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

       
        

Joseph M. Patti (3)

2013

255,385

37,500

291,660

853,596

17,244(7)

1,455,385

Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy

       
        

Raafat E.F. Fahim, Ph.D. (4)

2013

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Former President and Chief Executive Officer

2012

422,933

2,604,785(9)

3,027,718

 

2011

504,773

59,373(8)

290,500

405,000

326,347(10)

1,585,993

 

2010

490,071

370,843(8)

274,500

443,475

319,538(11)

1,898,427

        

Paul Kessler, M.D. (5)

2013

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Former Sr. Vice President, Clinical, Medical and

2012

208,140

1,155,449(9)

1,363,589

Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

2011

347,744

20,218(8)

209,160

243,000

21,977(10)

842,099

 

2010

340,789

177,696(8)

197,640

323,082

30,606(11)

1,069,813

        

Matthew Kalnik, Ph.D. (5)

2013

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Former Sr. Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business

2012

189,218

1,067,922(9)

1,257,140

Operations

2011

316,131

18,374(8)

174,300

162,000

21,988(10)

692,793

 

2010

306,923

162,772(8)

131,760

212,868

30,920(11)

845,243

(1)

Represents the grant date valuation of the awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718.

(2)

Mr. Plumb joined the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer in November 2012.

(3)

Mr. Patti joined the Company as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy in November 2012.

(4)

Dr. Fahim was terminated as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer on November 8, 2012, in connection with the completion of the reverse merger transaction.

(5)

Drs. Kessler and Kalnik were terminated effective August 5, 2012.

(6)

Includes health and life insurance benefits of $10,244 and a 401(k) match of $9,187.

(7)

Includes health and life insurance benefits of $10,244 and a 401(k) match of $7,000.

(8)

All payments were made under Nabi’s VIP Management Incentive Plan.

(9)

Includes severance payments made in connection with the termination of each of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik. See “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” for more information.


(10)

Includes for 2011 (i) contributions made by Nabi under its 401(k) Plan in the amount of $9,800 on behalf of each of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik; (ii) an automobile allowance of $14,400 to Dr. Fahim; (iii) contributions in the amounts of $15,000, $12,000 and $12,000 made by Nabi on behalf of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik, respectively, under Nabi’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, which provided the executive with a self-directed insurance or annuity-based retirement plan; (iv) reimbursement of $8,603, $177 and $3,084 paid to Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik respectively for taxes payable by them on contributions made by Nabi under its Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan; (v) $1,580, $2,810 and $2,050 representing premiums for supplemental life insurance paid on behalf of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik, respectively, and $12,767 representing premiums for supplemental disability insurance paid on behalf of Dr. Fahim; (vi) reimbursement of $906 and $1,054 paid to Drs. Fahim and Kalnik respectively for taxes payable by them on contributions made by Nabi under its supplemental life insurance and supplemental disability insurance plans; (vii) aggregate per diem reimbursements of $36,000 paid to Dr. Fahim for miscellaneous expenses in connection with his working at Nabi’s facility in Rockville, Maryland; (viii) reimbursement of $72,704 paid to Dr. Fahim for hotel, airfare and car rental expenses in connection with working at Nabi’s facility in Rockville, Maryland; (ix) reimbursement of $41,700 paid to Dr. Fahim for taxes related to hotel, airfare and car rental expenses incurred in connection with working at Nabi’s facility in Rockville, Maryland and (x) reimbursement of $113,297 paid to Dr. Fahim for other Maryland state taxes payable by him on his compensation income.

(11)

Includes for 2010 (i) contributions made by Nabi under its 401(k) Plan in the amount of $9,800 on behalf of each of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik; (ii) an automobile allowance of $14,400 to Dr. Fahim; (iii) contributions in the amounts of $15,000, $12,000 and $12,000 made by Nabi on behalf of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik, respectively, under Nabi’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, which provides the executive with a self-directed insurance or annuity-based retirement plan; (iv) reimbursement of $11,762, $6,168 and $6,168 paid to Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik respectively for taxes payable by them on contributions made by Nabi under its Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan; (v) $1,455, $2,600 and $1,950 representing premiums for supplemental life insurance paid on behalf of Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik, respectively, and $12,767 representing premiums for supplemental disability insurance paid on behalf of Dr. Fahim; (vi) reimbursement of $10,032, $38 and $1,002 paid to Drs. Fahim, Kessler and Kalnik respectively for taxes payable by them on contributions made by Nabi under its supplemental life insurance and supplemental disability insurance plans; (vii) aggregate per diem reimbursements of $32,760 paid to Dr. Fahim for miscellaneous expenses in connection with his working at Nabi’s facility in Rockville, Maryland; (viii) reimbursement of $66,308 paid to Dr. Fahim for hotel, airfare and car rental expenses in connection with working at Nabi’s facility in Rockville, Maryland; (ix) reimbursement of $51,994 paid to Dr. Fahim for taxes related to hotel, airfare and car rental expenses incurred in connection with working at Nabi’s facility in Rockville, Maryland; (x) reimbursement of $5,000 paid to Dr. Fahim for tax preparation and financial planning services and (xi) reimbursement of $88,282 paid to Dr. Fahim for taxes payable by him on other income.


2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan

Awards(1)

 

Name

Award

Type

Grant
Date

 

Target
($)

  

All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
of Stock or Units

(#)(2)

  

All Other
Option
Awards:
Number
of Securities
Underlying

Options
(#)(2)

  

Exercise
Price of
Option

Awards
($/Sh)

  

Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option

Awards
($)(3)

 
                      

Russell H. Plumb

2013 Bonus Program

  288,750                 
 

Restricted Stock Unit

11/12/12

     143,322           583,321 
 

Stock Option

                    
  

11/12/12

         573,286   4.07   1,365,753 
                      

Joseph M. Patti

2013 Bonus Program

  160,000                 
 

Restricted Stock Unit

11/12/12

     71,661           291,660 
 

Stock Option

11/12/12

         358,304   4.07   853,596 


(1)

Represents the estimated maximum possible annual cash incentive payment that could have been received by each named executive officer pursuant to the annual incentive bonus program for fiscal year 2013. The actual cash amounts paid to the named executive officers pursuant to the annual incentive plan for 2013 are reflected in the “2013 Summary Compensation Table.” See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Performance-Based Cash Bonus Awards” for more information.

(2)

The amount reported for Mr. Plumb and Dr. Patti reflect their initial grants of restricted stock units and stock options, which were awarded outside of the 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan as inducement grants in connection with their commencement of employment in November 2012. One-third of the restricted stock units for each of Mr. Plumb and Dr. Patti fully vested ninety (90) days after November 12, 2012, and the other two-thirds will vest in two equal installments on the first and second anniversary thereof. The stock options granted to Mr. Plumb and Dr. Patti each have a 10 year term and will vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of November 12, 2012.

(3)

Amounts represent the grant date valuation of the awards computed in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 718.


Outstanding Equity Awards at June 30, 2013

   

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

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 that
have not
Vested

  

Market
Value of
shares or
units that
have not
Vested
(3)

 

Russell H. Plumb

11/12/12

     573,286  $4.07 

11/12/22

(1)  95,548(2) $329,641 
                       

Joseph M. Patti

11/12/12

     358,304  $4.07 

11/12/22

(1)  47,774(2)  164,820 
                       

Raafat Fahim, Ph.D.

3/24/2004

  7,186      $89.52 

3/24/2014

        
 

5/14/2004

  1,357      $99.91 

5/14/2014

        
 

11/11/2004

  26,666      $93.36 

11/11/2014

        
 

2/24/2006

  9,057      $22.98 

2/24/2016

        
 

5/18/2007

  15,000      $31.20 

5/18/2014

        
 

4/1/2008

  19,166      $23.70 

4/1/2015

        
 

4/1/2009

  19,166      $22.68 

4/1/2016

        
 

4/1/2010

  20,833      $32.94 

4/1/2017

        
 

4/1/2011

  25,000      $34.86 

4/1/2018

        
                       

Paul Kessler, M.D.

3/14/2005

  1,666      $72.39 

3/14/2015

        
 

5/16/2005

  2,500      $68.94 

5/16/2015

        
 

2/24/2006

  3,435      $22.98 

2/24/2016

        
 

5/25/2006

  2,500      $33.90 

5/25/2016

        
 

5/18/2007

  15,000      $31.20 

5/18/2014

        
 

4/1/2008

  15,000      $23.70 

4/1/2015

        
 

4/1/2009

  15,000      $22.68 

4/1/2016

        
 

3/15/2010

  166      $35.30 

3/15/2017

        
 

4/1/2010

  15,000      $32.94 

4/1/2017

        
 

4/1/2011

  15,000      $34.86 

4/1/2018

        
                       

Matthew Kalnik, Ph.D.

7/18/2007

  4,166      $28.20 

7/18/2014

        
 

4/1/2008

  2,438      $23.70 

4/1/2015

        
 

4/1/2009

  7,500      $22.69 

4/1/2016

        
 

4/1/2010

  10,000      $32.94 

4/1/2017

        
 

4/1/2011

  12,500      $34.86 

4/1/2018

        


(1)

Represents stock options that vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of November 12, 2012. All option grants have a term of 10 years.

(2)

Represents restricted stock that vests in two equal installments on the first and second anniversary of November 12, 2012.

(3)

The market value was determined by multiplying the number of stock awards by the closing the closing price of our Common Stock on NASDAQ on June 30, 2013 of $3.45.

2013 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

Option Awards 

Stock Awards 

 

Name

Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)
 

Value Realized on
Exercise ($)
 

Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)
 

Value Realized
on Vesting
($)(1)
 

Russell Plumb

—  

—  

47,774

$164,820

Joseph Patti

—  

—  

23,887

82,410

Raafat Fahim, Ph.D.

—  

—  

—  

—  

Paul Kessler, M.D.

—  

—  

—  

—  

Matthew Kalnik, Ph.D.

—  

—  

—  

—  

(1)

The value realized on vesting is determined by multiplying the number of shares that vested during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq on the applicable vesting date.


Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control

Employment Agreement with Russell Plumb.

Effective November 12, 2012, the Company and Mr. Plumb entered into an Executive Employment Agreement in conjunction with his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer. If Mr. Plumb’s employment is terminated by him for good reason or by the Company for any reason other than cause, death or disability (as those terms are defined in the agreement) in either case within three months prior to or one year after a change in control, Mr. Plumb will receive a lump-sum cash amount equal to the sum of (i) Mr. Plumb’s unpaid salary and vacation through such termination; plus (ii) any cash incentive compensation earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) two times (2x) the sum of (A) Mr. Plumb’s annual base salary as then in effect and (B) the cash incentive compensation paid to Mr. Plumb in respect of the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which the change in control occurs; plus (iv) a payment equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Mr. Plumb were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 24 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

If Mr. Plumb’s employment is terminated for cause, death or disability (as those terms are defined in the agreement), then the Company will pay his unpaid salary and any accrued but unpaid vacation and cash incentive compensation through such termination date.

If Mr. Plumb’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than those set out above, then the Company will pay Mr. Plumb a lump sum equal to the sum of (i) Mr. Plumb’s unpaid salary through such termination; plus (ii) any cash incentive compensation earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) Mr. Plumb’s salary for 18 months; plus (iv) the product of one and a half times (1.5x) the cash incentive compensation paid to Mr. Plumb in respect of the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which such termination occurs; plus (v) an amount equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Mr. Plumb were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 18 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

In addition, upon a change in control or the termination of Mr. Plumb by the Company within three months prior to such change in control without cause, the inducement options and restricted stock units granted to Mr. Plumb in connection with his employment will become fully vested and exercisable in the case of options and vested and immediately settled in the case of the restricted stock units immediately prior to, but conditioned upon, the consummation of the change in control.

Employment Agreement with Joseph Patti.

Effective November 12, 2012, the Company and Dr. Patti entered into an Executive Employment Agreement in conjunction with his appointment as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy. If Dr. Patti’s employment is terminated by him for good reason or by the Company for any reason other than cause, death or disability (as those terms are defined in the agreement), in either case, within three months prior to or one year after a change in control, he shall receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (i) Dr. Patti’s unpaid salary and vacation through such termination; plus (ii) any bonus earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) one and one-half times (1.5x) the sum of (A) Dr. Patti’s annual base salary and (B) the bonus paid to Dr. Patti for the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which his employment is terminated; plus (iv) an amount equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Dr. Patti were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 18 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

If Mr. Patti’s employment is terminated for cause, death or disability (as those terms are defined in the agreement), then the Company will pay his unpaid salary and any accrued but unpaid vacation and cash incentive compensation through such termination date.

In the event Dr. Patti’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than those set out above, or if Dr. Patti terminates his employment for good reason, then the Company will pay Dr. Patti a lump sum equal to the sum of (i) Dr. Patti’s unpaid salary through such termination; plus (ii) any bonus earned and unpaid through such termination; plus (iii) Dr. Patti’s salary for 12 months; plus (iv) the bonus paid to Dr. Patti in respect of the most recent fiscal year prior to the year in which the change in control occurs; plus (v) an amount equal to the present value of the premium payments that would be made by the Company if Dr. Patti were to continue to be covered under the Company’s group health, life and disability insurance for 12 months, which amount will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

In addition, upon a change in control or the termination of Dr. Patti by the Company within three months prior to such change in control without cause, the inducement options and restricted stock units granted to Dr. Patti in connection with his employment will become fully vested and exercisable in the case of options and vested and immediately settled in the case of the restricted stock units immediately prior to, but conditioned upon, the consummation of the change in control.


Change of Control Provisions in Employment Agreement with Raafat Fahim.

Dr. Fahim’s employment was terminated on November 8, 2012 in connection with the merger. In March 2011, Dr. Fahim, entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Nabi, pursuant to which Dr. Fahim was entitled to receive change of control severance benefits if, among other things, his employment was terminated by Nabi without cause during a potential change of control period or within 12 months after a change of control. In connection with his termination, Dr. Fahim received approximately $2.6 million in change of control severance benefits, including, among other things, cash severance, the continuation of health and dental benefits, financial planning and outplacement expenses, reimbursement for premiums payable under Nabi’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, supplemental life and disability insurance, matching contributions under Nabi’s 401(k) Plan and certain tax reimbursements, contingent upon Dr. Fahim executing and not rescinding a general release of claims against the Company. In addition, the vesting of 12,291 of Dr. Fahim’s restricted stock awards accelerated in connection with the merger.

Employment Agreements with Paul Kessler and Matthew Kalnik.

Both Drs. Kessler and Kalnik’s employment was terminated effective August 5, 2012. Under the terms of their employment agreements with Nabi, each of Drs. Kessler and Kalnik were entitled to receive change of control severance benefits if, among other things, their employment was terminated by Nabi without cause during a potential change of control period or within 12 months after a change of control. In connection with their termination, Dr. Kessler and Kalnik received approximately $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively in change of control severance benefits, including, among other things, cash severance, the continuation of health and dental benefits, reimbursement for premiums payable under Nabi’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, supplemental life and disability insurance, matching contributions under Nabi’s 401(k) Plan and certain tax reimbursements, contingent upon executing and not rescinding a general release of claims against the Company. In addition, the vesting of all non-vested stock options (options to purchase 135,500 shares in the case of Dr. Kessler and 97,500 shares in the case of Dr. Kalnik) and shares of restricted stock (52,500 shares in the case of Dr. Kessler and 39,000 shares in the case of Dr. Kalnik) was accelerated, which options will be exercisable until the respective applicable option expiration dates.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control

Name

 

Cash ($)

  

Equity ($)

  

Health Benefits

  

Tax Reimbursements

  

Other

  

Total

 
                         

Russell H. Plumb (1)

                        

Termination in connection with a Change of Control

 $1,170,000  $329,641(4) $61,776          $1,231,776 

Termination Without Cause/Good Reason

 $877,500  $  $46,332          $923,832 

Termination For Cause/Without Good Reason

 $  $  $  $  $  $ 

Death/Disability

 $  $  $  $  $  $ 

Joseph M. Patti (1)

                        

Termination in connection with a Change of Control

 $656,250  $164,821(4) $46,332          $702,582 

Termination Without Cause/Good Reason

 $437,000  $  $30,888          $467,888 

Termination For Cause/Without Good Reason

 $  $  $  $  $  $ 

Death/Disability

 $  $  $  $  $  $ 

Raafat Fahim, Ph.D.(2)

 $2,415,397  $119,100(6) $136,752  $0  $52,636(5) $2,723,885 
                         

Paul Kessler, M.D.(3)

 $1,085,301  $508,725(6) $18,800  $17,123  $22,748(5) $1,652,697 
                         

Matthew Kalnik, Ph.D. (3)

 $986,368  $377,910(6) $41,019  $28,265  $12,000(5) $1,445,562 


(1)

Represents payments due upon a termination in connection with a change in control for Mr. Plumb and Dr. Patti as determined in accordance with the terms of their respective employment agreement described above.

(2)

Dr. Fahim was terminated on November 8, 2012 in connection with the merger. Amounts reported for Dr. Fahim represent actual amounts paid pursuant to the terms of his amended and restated employment agreement with the Company entered into in March 2011.

(3)

Drs. Kessler and Kalnik were terminated on August 5, 2012 in connection with the merger.Amounts reported for Drs. Kessler and Kalnikrepresent actual amounts paid pursuant to the terms of their respective change of control severance agreements with the Company.

(4)

Amounts reported reflect the value of the accelerated vesting of unvested stock options based on the excess of $3.45 per share, the closing price of our Common Stock on June 30, 2013, over the option exercise price per share. The value of the accelerated vesting of unvested restricted stock is based on $3.45 per share.

(5)

Consists of reimbursement for premiums payable under Nabi’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and other miscellaneous benefits. 

(6)

Consists of the valueof the accelerated vesting of unvested restricted stock units pursuant to the terms of the respective change of control severance agreement or employment agreement multiplied by the Nabi’s closing price on November 8, 2012 of $9.69, the date immediately prior to the merger. Does not includethe value of the accelerated vesting of unvested stock options as the exercise price of all related options was greater than Nabi’s closing price on November 8, 2012. 


COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

On May 1, 2013, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board adopted, changes to the Company’s non-employee director compensation plan, pursuant to which:

each non-employee director will receive an annual retainer of $37,000 payable as cash compensation for the director’s service during the year;

each non-employee director serving on a committee, or active as the Chair of a committee, will receive certain additional annual cash retainers as follows:

Chairman of the Board

 $20,000 

Audit Committee Chair

 $17,500 

Audit Committee Member (non-chair)

 $8,750 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Chair

 $9,000 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Member (non-chair)

 $4,500 

Compensation Committee Chair

 $12,500 

Compensation Committee Member (non-chair)

 $6,250 

each non-employee director will receive, upon the initial effective date of such director’s appointment, an award of either (i) options to purchase 30,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock or (ii) 17,400 restricted stock units under the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, one-third (33%) of which will vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant, with the remaining two-thirds (67%) of such award vesting ratably over the following eight (8) quarters; and

each non-employee director will receive an annual award of either (i) options to purchase 15,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock or (ii) 8,700 restricted stock units under the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, each award vesting in 12 equal monthly installments from the date of grant.

The exercise price of all stock options granted to directors is equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant.

The following table summarizes compensation received by the Company’s directors during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

Name 

   

Fees

Earned

Or

Paid in

Cash

($)(1)

   

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

($)(2)

    

Stock Option Awards

($)(3)

      

Total

($)

 

 

                   
                    

James Fox, Ph.D.(4)

 $167,157   $35,235        $202,392 

Geoffrey Cox, Ph.D.(5)

  32,523        36,634     69,157 

Michael Dougherty(6)

  8,750        62,388     71,138 

Richard Hill(7)

  74,702    35,235         109,937 

Anne VanLent(8)

  9,916        62,388     72,304 

Peter Cook(9)

  42,760    35,235         77,995 

Jeffery Errington, Ph.D.(10)

  63,507        28,238     91,745 

Raafat Fahim, Ph.D.(11)

  13,815              13,815 

Paul Bell(12)

  73,137              73,137 


(1)

Fees earned in fiscal 2013 relate to service on Biota Holdings Limited and Biota’s Board of Directors and Committees of the Board of Directors.

(2)

Amounts represent the grant date valuation of the awards computed in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 718 which vest in 12 equal monthly installments commencing on the one-month anniversary of the grant date.

(3)

Amounts represent the grant date valuation of the awards computed in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 718 which vest in 12 equal monthly installments commencing on the one-month anniversary of the grant date, except for Mr. Dougherty and Ms. VanLent. For Mr. Dougherty, Ms. Vanlent the options vest 1/3 on the one year anniversary of the grant date with the remaining option shares vesting and become exercisable in eight equal quarterly installments thereafter.


(4)

As of June 30, 2013, Dr. Fox held no options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and 8,700 restricted stock units.

(5)

As of June 30, 2013, Dr. Cox held 15,000 options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and no restricted stock units.

(6)

As of June 30, 2013, Mr. Dougherty held 30,000 options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and no restricted stock units.

(7)

As of June 30, 2013, Mr. Hill held no options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and 8,700 restricted stock units.

(8)

As of June 30, 2013, Ms. VanLent held 30,000 options to purchase shares of our Common Stock and no restricted stock units.

(9)

Mr. Cook resigned from the Board of Directors on September 10, 2013.

(10)

Dr. Errington resigned from the Board of Directors on August 12, 2013.

(11)

Dr. Fahim resigned from the Board of Directors on April 30, 2013.

(12)

Mr. Bell resigned from the Board of Directors on May 1, 2013.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides certain information with respect to all of our equity compensation plans in effect as of June 30, 2013:

Plan Category

 

Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Awards

(a)

  

Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Awards

(b)

  

Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))

(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by
stockholders

  641,939(1) $28.59   1,157,978(2)

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

  1,159,912(3) $4.06    

Total:

  1,801,851  $13.59   1,157,978 

(1)     Reflects 641,939 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, including 491,939 stock options held by former Nabi employees.

(2)      As of June 30, 2013, an aggregate of 1,157,978 shares of Common Stock were available for issuance under the 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan.

(3)     Reflects an aggregate of 1,016,590 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of stock options and 143,322 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the vesting of stock unit awards, all of which were awarded outside of the 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan as inducement grants in connection with the commencement of employment of new hires.


PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and the Company seeks the ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting of such selection. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has audited the Company’s financial statements since December, 2012. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Ernst & Young LLP audited the legacy Nabi financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP audited the financial statements of Biota Holdings Limited for its fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. On November 8, 2012, Nabi completed a merger with Biota Holdings Limited. The merger was treated as a reverse acquisition for accounting purposes and, as such, the historical financial statements of the accounting acquirer, Biota Holdings Limited, became the Company’s historical financial statements. In connection with the merger, the Company changed its fiscal year end to June 30 to conform to that of Biota Holdings Limited.

The SEC has released guidance that, unless the same accountant reported on the most recent financial statements of both the accounting acquirer and the acquired company, a reverse acquisition results in a change of accountants. Consequently, upon the consummation of the merger, Ernst & Young LLP was dismissed as our independent registered public accounting firm and on December 5, 2012, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors formally engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

Ernst & Young LLP’s reports on Nabi’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, or qualification or modification as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. In addition, during the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this report, there were no disagreements with Ernst & Young LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement(s), if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young LLP, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement(s) in connection with its report.

We have provided Ernst & Young LLP with a copy of the foregoing disclosures as contained in Item 4.01 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2012 and requested that Ernst & Young LLP furnish a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agreed with the above statements made by the Company. A copy of such letter, dated December 10, 2012, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to that Current Report on Form 8-K.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was the independent registered public accounting firm that audited Biota Holdings Limited’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and during the interim period from July 1, 2012 to December 5, 2012, the Company did not consult with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in regards to Nabi, Inc.’s financial statements, which were audited by Ernst & Young LLP, with respect to any of (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; (ii) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements; or (iii) any other matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event of the type described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. Additionally, during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and during the interim period from July 1, 2012 to December 5, 2012, no written report or oral advice was provided to the Company by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP that was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue.

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

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

Required Vote and Board Recommendation

If a quorum is present and voting, the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes properly cast on this proposal is required to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. Abstentions will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “For” on the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm.


FEES OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

As stated above, in connection with the reverse merger, the Company changed its fiscal year end to June 30 to conform to that of Biota Holdings Limited. The following table sets forth the aggregate fees accrued by the Company for audit and other services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013

  

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2012

  

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2011

 
             

Audit Fees(1)

 $356,000  $335,626  $114,102 

Audit-Related Fees

  33,500   6,517   60,966 

Tax Fees

  -   -   - 

All Other Fees

  -   -   - 

Total

 $389,500  $342,143  $175,068 

(1)

Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements and reviews of its periodic financial statements and audit services provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory filings, including comfort letters and consents.

Pre-approval policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has adopted a pre-approval policy with respect to any fees that may be paid to the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and, therefore, has approved in advance all fees paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers during the last two fiscal years.

Pursuant to the Company’s pre-approval policy, on an annual basis the Audit Committee specifically reviews and pre-approves the audit services to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, along with the associated fees. Prior to the end of each fiscal year, management provides to the Audit Committee a list of other services that it anticipates requiring of its independent registered public accounting firm during the year, along with estimates of the costs of these services. The Committee subsequently considers the general pre-approval of these services and their costs. All other services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with applicable requirements.


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Under the guidance of a written charterregulations adopted by the Board, the purposeSEC under Rule 14a-8 of the Audit Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of its financial statements. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include appointing and providing for the compensation of our independent registered public accounting firm. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence and qualification standards for Audit Committee membership set forth in the listing standards provided by Nasdaq.

Management has primary responsibility for the system of internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm has the responsibility to express an opinion on the financial statements based on an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The independent registered public accounting firm is also responsible for auditing the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. The Audit Committee appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to audit the Company’s financial statements and the effectiveness of the related systems of internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

The Audit Committee is kept apprised of the progress of the documentation, testing and evaluation of the Company’s system of internal controls over financial reporting, and provides oversight and advice to management. In connection with this oversight, the Committee receives periodic updates provided by management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP at each regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. The Committee also holds private sessions with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on a regular basis to discuss their audit plan for the year, the financial statements and risks of fraud. At the conclusion of the process, management provides the Audit Committee with, and the Audit Committee reviews, a report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, as well as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Audit Committee pre-approves all services toExchange Act. To be provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Pre-approval is required for audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. In some cases, the full Audit Committee provides pre-approval for up to a year, related to a particular defined task or scope of work and subject to a specific budget. In other cases, a designated member of the Audit Committee, typically the chair, may have delegated authority from the Audit Committee to pre-approve additional services, and such pre-approval is later reported to the full Audit Committee. See “Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” below for more information regarding fees paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for services in fiscal years 2013 and 2012.

In this context, and in connection with the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Audit Committee:

reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, with the Company’s management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;

discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), (Communication with Audit Committees), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T;

received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence, and concluded that the non-audit services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are compatible with maintaining its independence;

based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 filed with the SEC; and

instructed the independent registered public accounting firm that the Audit Committee expects to be advised if there are any subjects that require special attention.

The Audit Committee met six times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. This report for fiscal 2013 is provided by the members of the Audit Committee of the Board.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Anne VanLent (Chair)

Michael Dougherty

Richard Hill


PROPOSAL 3

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO DECREASE THE AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

We are seeking stockholder approval to decrease the authorized number of shares of our Common Stock from 200,000,000 to 70,000,000 and to make other non-substantive changes to our Certificate of Incorporation.

The form of the amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation to accomplish the decrease in our authorized shares, and to make other non-substantive changes, is attached to this proxy statement asAppendix A. The discussion herein is qualified in its entirety by the full text of such amendment, which in incorporated herein by reference.

Background and Reasons for the Decrease in Authorized Shares

Current Capitalization.    We currently have 200 million shares of authorized Common Stock. As of the Record Date, there were approximately 28.4 million shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. In addition, as of the Record Date, there were approximately 1.7 million shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, approximately 0.1 million shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units and approximately 1.2 million shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under our 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan.

Reasons for the Decrease.    At a special meeting of the Nabi stockholders held on October 22, 2012, the stockholders approved an increase in the authorized shares from 125 million to 200 million in order to provide a sufficient number of authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of Nabi common stock available for issuance to the stockholders of Biota Holdings Limited in connection with the reverse merger. Also, at that special meeting of stockholders, the stockholders approved an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of Nabi’s common stock, and on November 8, 2012, Nabi effected a reverse split of its common stock at a ratio of one for six shares. The increase in the authorized shares to 200 million was a closing condition to the merger and was necessary for Nabi to have sufficient authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of Nabi common stock available for issuance. The reverse stock split was also necessary to ensure that the per share price of the common stock of the combined company following the merger complied with the Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements.

In connection with the Nabi stockholder approval of the reverse merger, Nabi’s Board of Directors agreed that the combined company would seek stockholder approval at its next meeting of stockholders to reduce the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock to a number equal to approximately two times the number of shares outstanding shortly before such meeting of stockholders. For this reason, we are seeking stockholder approval to authorize our Board of Directors to amend and restate our Certificate of Incorporation in order to decrease the number of authorized shares of common stock of the Company from 200 million to 70 million and to make other non-substantive changes.

General.    If the amendment is approved by our stockholders, the reduced number of authorized shares of Common Stock would be available for issuance for any proper corporate purpose as determined by our Board of Directors without further approval by the stockholders, except as required by law, the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the rules of any other national securities exchange on which our shares of Common Stock are listed.

There will be no change in the rights attributable to our authorized shares of Common Stock. The proposed amendment will not affect the par value of the Common Stock, which will remain at $0.10 per share. Under our Certificate of Incorporation, our stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to additional securities that we may issue; in other words, current holders of Common Stock do not have a prior right to purchase any new issue of our capital stock to maintain their proportionate ownership of Common Stock. If we issue additional shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible into Common Stock in the future, it will dilute the voting rights of existing holders of Common Stock and may also dilute earnings per share and book value per share.

If this proposal is approved by the stockholders, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will become effective upon the filing of such with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. We would make such filing promptly after approval at the Annual Meeting.

Required Vote and Board Recommendation

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote is required to approve the amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.Both abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, and will have the same effect as votes “AGAINST” approval of each of these proposals.

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “For”

approval of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.


PROPOSAL 4

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF NABI BIOPHARMACEUTICALS

2007 OMNIBUS EQUITY AND INCENTIVE PLAN AND

RE-APPROVAL OF PERFORMANCE GOALS

FOR PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS

The fourth proposal to be considered and voted upon by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting is to approve the amendment of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan (the “2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan”) to increase the number of shares reserved under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan by 3.0 million shares of Common Stock and to revise certain limitations on the awards intended to qualify as performance-based awards under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (originally called the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Original Plan”)) superseded and replaced the Company’s 1998 Non-Qualified Employee Stock Option Plan (the “1998 Employee Stock Plan”) and the Company’s 2004 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2004 Directors Plan”), when the Original Plan was amended and restated (and renamed) in 2007. Both the 1998 Employee Stock Plan and the 2004 Directors Plan were terminated at that time, but remain in effect with respect to any currently outstanding awards under those Plans. Shares remaining available to be issued under the 1998 Employee Stock Plan or the 2004 Directors Plan at the time of their termination became available for awards under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

The purpose of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Planis to help the Company attract, motivate and retain the employees, directors and consultants whose contributions are important to our success. The use of broad-based equity incentive programs, such as those made available through the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, is an important component of our compensation and incentive philosophy. We believe that this philosophy emphasizes the alignment of compensation and incentives with stockholder interests. Additionally, the Company uses long-term equity incentives to increase the proportion of individual compensation that is dependent upon Company performance, particularly at the more senior executive levels. As further discussed below, we believe that the proposed amendment of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is necessary to enable us to continue to provide these incentives.

Following a review of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Planand the Company’s compensation policies with the assistance of Radford and management, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board adopted, the proposed amendment subject to the approval of the stockholders, to increase the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan by 3.0 million shares to enable the Company to continue utilizing this long-term equity incentive component of its compensation program.

Further, stockholders are being asked to approve the amendment of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan to revise limitations placed on performance-based awards and to re-approve the material terms of the performance goals under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan to better enable the Company to deduct for federal income tax purposes performance-based compensation provided to certain employees pursuant to the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, provided the other conditions imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code relating to performance-based compensation are also satisfied.

In addition to the foregoing, the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan was also amended to include a limitation on the number of awards that may be granted annually to non-employee directors, to remove the ability of the Compensation Committee to approve a cash-out of certain in-the-money stock options under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and to change the name of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan to the “Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan.” These amendments are not subject to stockholder approval.

Summary of Proposal

The proposed amendment to the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan would increase by 3.0 million the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock split or other change in the Common Stock or capital structure of the Company (the “Additional Shares”). For purposes of this description, the number of shares referred to throughout this summary takes into account all stock splits and other changes in the Common Stock and/or capital structure of the Company since, 2007, when the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan was last approved by the Company’s stockholders. This includes, but is not limited to, the merger of Nabi and Biota Holdings Limited on November 8, 2012.

In addition, the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is designed to help enable the deductibility for federal income tax purposes the compensation recognized by certain employees in connection with certain awards granted under the Plan. Section 162(m) of the Code generally denies a corporate tax deduction for annual compensation exceeding one million dollars ($1,000,000) paid to a “covered employee” of a publicly held company. Generally, covered employees include the chief executive officer and the three highest compensated officers, other than the chief executive and chief financial officers. However, certain types of compensation, including performance-based compensation, are generally excluded from this limitation on deductibility. To enable compensation in connection with stock options, stock appreciation rights, certain restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards, performance shares and performance units granted under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan to qualify as “performance-based” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the stockholders must approve the material terms of the performance goals that may be established in conjunction with performance-based compensation awarded under the Plan. In addition, regulations issued under Section 162(m) generally require re-approval by the stockholders of the material terms of performance goals utilized under an incentive plan such as the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan if that plan permits a company’s compensation committee to select the specific target levels of performance to be achieved under these awards. Because the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan authorizes the Company’s Compensation Committee to select the appropriate target levels of performance to be achieved, stockholder re-approval of the material terms of the performance goals is being requested at this Annual Meeting. In addition, because the amendment to the Plan will modify the number of awards that may be granted which are intended to satisfy these requirements, the stockholders are also being asked to approve these new grant limitations as well.


Accordingly, by approving this proposal, stockholders will, in addition to approving an increase in the number of shares authorized for the issuance under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, be re-approving the criteria upon which the vesting of awards of performance shares, performance units and certain awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units may be based which are described in more detail below, as well as certain limitations for purposes of compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code on the number of shares covered by certain types of awards which may be granted under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Currently, a maximum of 1.8 million shares of Common Stock have been authorized for issuance under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Pursuant to the merger, approximately 0.5 million shares of our Common Stock are subject to outstanding vested stock options held by former employees of Nabi that have strike prices between $11.22 and $99.94 per share, with terms expiring from March, 2014 to January, 2019. As of September 13, 2013, there were 1.2 million shares of our Common Stock remaining available for future grants under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. We believe that these remaining shares may be insufficient to continue operating the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan beyond the Company’s fiscal year 2014 as majority of our employees have no equity incentives at this time.

We believe that the Additional Shares will allow us to satisfy our intent to provide adequate equity incentives while limiting the annual potential incremental dilution attributable to equity incentive awards at, or below, a long-term industry or peer average of approximately 3 to 4 percent. We believe this will enable us to have the ability to continue to utilize awards under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan to compete for, attract, and retain talent necessary to the Company’s future success and align employee interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

In determining the number of Additional Shares to add to the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee, Radford, an Aon consulting company, and management made forecasts based on a number of assumptions regarding, among other things, award exercises and vesting, stock price volatility, and the number of expected further participants in the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan taking into account the effects of the above described merger.

Although the Company has set the goal of limiting the potential incremental dilution as described above, it is not possible at this time to determine the number of actual awards that will be made in the event that the amendment to the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders. Accordingly, it is not possible to calculate the amount of subsequent dilution that may ultimately result from such awards. However, in no event will the dilutive impact of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan on the Company’s stockholders exceed the dilution occurring as a result of stockholder approval of this proposal, absent subsequent approval by the Company’s stockholders of an additional amendment to this 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

As of September 19, 2013, there were 1,658,529 shares of our Common Stock subject to outstanding options, with a weighted average exercise price per share equal to $13.59 and a weighted average term remaining of 7.02 years, and 143,322 restricted stock units that were issued and outstanding, but not yet vested. The total of these 1,801,851 shares subject to outstanding awards represented approximately 6.3% of our outstanding shares on such date, including the 491,939 awards held by former Nabi Pharmaceuticals, Inc. employees and 1,159,912 shares subject to outstanding awards issued outside of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan in 2013.

As of September 19, 2013, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock was $4.29.

Summary of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan

The following description of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is only a summary of certain provisions thereof and is qualified in its entirety by reference to its full text, a copy of which, as proposed in its amended and restated form, is attached hereto as Appendix B, together with the amendment to the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

The purpose of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible individuals whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance.

Administration. The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may grant options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, performance shares or units, dividend and dividend equivalent rights, and director awards in lieu of cash retainer or cash-based performance awards under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.


Eligibility. All employees, directors, and consultants of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, are eligible to be participants in the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. As of September 1, 2013, the Company, and its subsidiaries, had approximately 89 full time equivalent employees (includes two executive officers) and 7 non-employee directors.

Stock Available for Awards. There will be 4,157,978 shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan if the amendment is approved by stockholders. The total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan at any time is referred to as the “Share Limit.”

Any shares subject to an award granted under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan that are not delivered because the award expires unexercised or is forfeited, terminated, canceled, or exchanged for awards that do not involve Common Stock, or any shares of Common Stock that are not delivered because the award is settled in cash or that are withheld to satisfy any payment to the Company due upon exercise of an award, including a tax withholding obligation, and shares that are delivered or deemed to be delivered to the Company to satisfy such payment obligations, are not be deemed to be issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and are available for future awards.

The following awards or payments will not reduce or be counted against the Share Limit: (a) the grant of a cash award under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan; and (b) the payment of cash dividends and dividend equivalents paid in cash in conjunction with outstanding awards. Shares of Common Stock delivered under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan upon the assumption, substitution, conversion, adjustment or replacement of outstanding awards under a plan or arrangement of an entity acquired by the Company in a merger or other acquisition to the extent that the rules and regulations of the applicable listing exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or traded provide an exemption from stockholder approval for assumption, substitution, conversion, adjustment or replacement of outstanding awards in connection with mergers, acquisitions, or other corporate combinations.

The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan provides that the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding award, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan but as to which no awards have yet been granted, as well as the exercise price per share of Common Stock covered by each option or SAR, and the limits described below shall be proportionately adjusted by the Compensation Committee for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, special cash dividend, combination, recapitalization, or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the aggregate number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.

Limitations on Individual Awards. No incentive stock options may be granted under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns (or is deemed to own) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Company, or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations, unless the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant, and the term of the option does not exceed five years from the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options granted under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year (under all such plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations) may not exceed $100,000.

The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is intended to permit awards to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code,see “—Potential Limitations on Company Deductions under Section 162(m) of the Code,” below. Accordingly, as amended, the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will provide that no participant may be granted awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. in excess of the following in any fiscal year of the Company:

Stock options and SARs: No more than 1,000,000 shares in each fiscal year.

Restricted stock and stock unit awards having vesting based upon the attainment of performance goals: No more than 500,000 shares in each fiscal year.

Performance share or performance unit awards: No more than 1,000,000 shares for each full fiscal year contained in the performance period of the award.

Cash-based performance awards: No more than $1,000,000 for each full fiscal year contained in the performance period of the award.

Transferability. Except with the prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, no awards and no shares of Common Stock that have not been issued or to which any applicable restriction has not lapsed may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, except by will, the laws of descent and distribution or a qualified domestic relations order and except for the transfer of an award to or for the benefit of the participant’s immediate family member, or other member of the participant’s household, a family trust, a private foundation or other entity in which the participant or immediate family members own more than 50% of the voting interests.


No Repricing. The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan prohibits the repricing of options and SARs (other than to reflect stock splits, spin-offs, or other corporate events) unless stockholder approval is obtained. For purposes of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, “repricing” means

any amendment or adjustment to an option or SAR that reduces its exercise price;

any issuance of a new option or SAR to a participant in place of one or more cancelled options or stock appreciation rights with a higher exercise price, whether such option or stock appreciation right was issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or any other option plan of the Company,

any other amendment, adjustment or cancellation of an option or SAR, or the grant of another Award in exchange therefor, that effects a repricing of such option or SAR, or any other means of repricing an outstanding option or SAR, including a buyout for a payment of cash or cash equivalents, and

any other transaction or series of related transactions that constitutes a repricing of an outstanding option or SAR under the applicable rules of the principal securities market on which the shares of Common Stock are traded).

Options. The Compensation Committee may award incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options and determine the number of shares to be covered by each option, the exercise price, the term of the option, and the other conditions applicable to the exercise of the option. The effect of termination of an optionee’s employment or service with the Company on awards granted under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will be determined in accordance with individual award agreements or individual employment or change of control agreements entered into by the optionee and the Company.

The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan provides that the exercise price of any stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of award. If the participant owns or is deemed to own more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary or parent corporation of the Company, and an incentive stock option is granted to such participant, then the exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of award.

The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan provides that no stock option may be exercisable more than 10 years after the date that the option is awarded.

No shares may be delivered pursuant to any option exercise until payment in full of the exercise price is received by the Company. Such payment may be made in whole or in part in cash or by certified or bank check or, to the extent permitted by the Compensation Committee, by delivery of a note or shares of Common Stock, valued at fair market value on the date of delivery, shares of restricted stock owned by the optionee or such other lawful consideration as the Compensation Committee may determine. The Compensation Committee may permit the participant to pay the exercise price and any tax withholding by broker-assisted cashless exercise.

The Compensation Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any option.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right, or SAR, is an award entitling the participant to receive an amount in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, having a value equal to or less than the excess of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise over the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant (or over the exercise price, if the SAR was granted in tandem with an option) multiplied by the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. The minimum exercise price for any SAR may be no less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the award.

The Compensation Committee may award free-standing SARs and SARs in tandem with an option, and may determine the terms and conditions applicable thereto. SARs granted in tandem with an option will terminate no later than ten years after the date it is awarded, will terminate to the extent that the related option is exercised, and the related option will terminate to the extent that the tandem SARs are exercised.

SARs related to an option that can be exercised only during limited periods following a change in control of the Company may entitle the participant to receive, if the award agreement expressly so provides, an amount based upon the highest price paid or offered for Common Stock in any transaction related to the change in control or the highest price paid for Common Stock in any transaction during the 30-day period immediately before the change in control.

Restricted Stock. Restricted stock is an award entitling the participant to acquire shares of Common Stock for a purchase price (which may be zero) equal to or less than its par value, subject to conditions, including the Company’s right during a specified period to repurchase such shares at the original purchase price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if the purchase price was zero) upon the participant’s termination of employment.

The Compensation Committee may award shares of restricted stock and determine the purchase price (if any), the duration of the restricted period during which, and the conditions under which, the shares may be forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such awards. Shares of restricted stock may be issued for no cash consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law.


A participant will have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to the restricted stock, including voting and dividend rights, subject to non-transferability restrictions and the Company’s repurchase or forfeiture rights and subject to any other conditions of the award.

Stock Units. The Compensation Committee may award stock units subject to such terms, restrictions, conditions, performance criteria, vesting requirements, and payment rules as the Compensation Committee may determine. Shares of Common Stock awarded in connection with a stock unit may be issued for no cash consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law. Stock units may include performance-based vesting criteria including, but not limited to, performance criteria described in connection with performance awards. These performance-based metrics may be based on the comparison of the Company’s stock price over a specified period and may not always qualify as performance awards depending on the metrics used. As such, depending on the performance metrics, such awards, often referred to as “market stock units” may be in the form of the award of stock units, or performance awards.

Performance Awards. Performance awards provide participants with the opportunity to receive shares of Common Stock, cash or other property based on performance and other vesting conditions. Performance awards may be granted from time-to-time as determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Subject to the share limit and maximum dollar value set forth above, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to determine (a) the number of shares of Common Stock under, or the dollar value of, a performance award and (b) the conditions that must be satisfied for grant or for vesting, which typically will be based principally or solely on achievement of performance goals. The performance period under a performance award will not be less than one year or greater than five years.

The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is designed to permit the Compensation Committee to issue awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, by making performance goals meeting the requirements of Section 162(m) applicable to a participant with respect to an award. At the Compensation Committee’s discretion, performance goals shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or more or any combination of the following criteria:

net sales;

return on assets or net assets

revenue;

return on equity;

revenue or product revenue growth;

return on capital (including return on total capital or return on

operating income or loss (before or after taxes);

invested capital);

earnings or losses (including earnings or losses before taxes,

total stockholder return;

earnings or losses before interest and taxes, earnings or losses

economic value-added models (or equivalent metrics);

before interest, taxes and depreciation or earnings or losses

attainment of strategic and operational initiatives;

before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization);

appreciation in and/or maintenance of the price of the shares of

after-tax income or loss (before or after allocation of corporate

Common Stock or any of the Company’s other publicly traded

overhead and bonus);securities;

net earnings or loss

regulatory achievements, including submission of Investigational

comparisons of the price of the shares of Common Stock or any of

New Drug Applications (INDs) or New Drug Applications (NDAs) or
the Company’s other publicly traded securities with various stockapproval of a compound;
market indices;

progress of internal research or clinical programs;

market share for one or more products;

progress of partnered research programs;

margins, including operating margin, gross margin, and cash margin;

implementation or completion of projects and processes;

reductions in costs;

partner satisfaction;

cash flow or cash flow per share (before or after dividends),

budget management;

including cash flow return on investment;

partner or collaborator achievements;

improvement in or attainment of expense or working capital levels;

internal controls, including those related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

debt reduction;

of 2002;

stockholders’ equity;

financing;

research progress, including the development of programs;

investor relations, analysts and communication;

achievement of drug development milestones, clinical progress or

in-licensing; and

timely completion of clinical trials;

recruiting and maintaining personnel.

net earnings or loss per share;

Such performance goals may be based solely by reference to the Company’s performance or of the performance of one or more of the Company’s subsidiaries, divisions, business segments or business units, or based upon the relative performance of other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to other companies. The Compensation Committee may also exclude the impact of an event or occurrence which the Compensation Committee determines should appropriately be excluded, including (a) restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring charges, (b) an event either not directly related to the Company’s operations or not within the reasonable control of the Company’s management, and (c) the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan provides that the Compensation Committee will establish, in writing, the applicable performance goal(s) and the specific targets related to such goal(s) prior to the earlier to occur of (a) 90 days after the commencement of the performance cycle to which the performance goal relates and (b) the lapse of 25% of the performance cycle (as scheduled in good faith at the time the goal is established), and in any event while the outcome is substantially uncertain within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, subject to adjustment by the Compensation Committee as it deems appropriate to reflect significant unforeseen events or changes.

After the end of a performance cycle, the Compensation Committee will determine the number of performance awards that have been earned on the basis of performance in relation to the established performance goals, and the payment values of earned performance shares or units will be distributed to the participant. The Compensation Committee may determine whether the payment values are settled in whole or in part in cash, Common Stock or other property. The Compensation Committee may provide for the payment to a participant awarded performance shares of dividend equivalents with respect to cash dividends paid on the Common Stock. The Compensation Committee may also provide for performance award payments in a lump sum or installments.

By approving this proposal, the stockholders will be approving the use of the performance goals set forth above. In addition, approval of this proposal will constitute approval of the award limitations for this purpose as well.

Director Awards. The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan provides that each non-employee director may elect in writing to be paid his or her annual retainer, in whole or in part, in shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash subject to prior approval by the Board of Directors. In addition, each non-employee director is entitled to receive an option to purchase shares of Common Stock upon his or her initial election to the Board and each reelection to the Board at any meeting of stockholders. The number of shares underlying such options is determined by the Board of Directors at the time of grant in its sole discretion, provided, that, as amended, the maximum number of Shares of Common Stock subject to awards that a non-employee director may receive in any one fiscal year for service on the Company’s Board of Directors is 150,000 shares; provided further, that with respect to a newly elected or appointed non-employee director, this figure is 300,000 shares.

General Provisions Applicable to Awards. The Compensation Committee may determine whether awards are settled in whole or in part in cash, Common Stock, other securities of the Company, other awards, or other property. The Compensation Committee may permit a participant, subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, to defer all or any portion of a payment under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, including the crediting of interest on deferred amounts denominated in cash and dividend equivalents on deferred amounts denominated in Common Stock.

In the discretion of the Compensation Committee, any award under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan may provide the participant with (a) dividends or dividend equivalents payable currently or deferred with or without interest and (b) cash payments in lieu of or in addition to an award.

In the event of a change in control of the Company, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may take one or more of the following actions, subject in all cases to any limitation imposed upon the Committee under the Plan: (a) provide for the acceleration of any time period relating to the exercise or realization of an award, (b) provide for the purchase of an award upon the participant’s request for an amount of cash or other property that could have been received upon the exercise or realization of an award had the award been currently exercisable or payable, (c) adjust the terms of an award in a manner determined by the Compensation Committee, (d) cause an award to be assumed, or new rights to be substituted for the award, by another entity, or (e) make such other provision as the Compensation Committee may consider equitable and in the best interests of the Company.

The participant must pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Compensation Committee for payment of, any tax withholding no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. In the Compensation Committee’s discretion, such tax obligations may be paid in whole or in part in shares of Common Stock, valued at fair market value on the date of delivery. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant, provided that such deduction will not exceed the minimum amount required to satisfy tax liability applicable to such payment.

The Compensation Committee may amend, modify, or terminate any outstanding award, provided that the participant’s consent to such action is required unless the Compensation Committee determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the participant, except that the Compensation Committee may not terminate an option and grant a substitute option having a lower exercise price that would constitute a “repricing” (as defined in the Plan, and as described above).

Miscellaneous. The Board may amend, suspend, or terminate the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that no amendment may be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any applicable tax or regulatory requirement and provided that no amendment may be made that would effect a “repricing” (as defined in the Plan, and as described above) without stockholder approval.


Awards may not be made under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan more than 10 years after the effective date of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, but outstanding awards may extend beyond such date.

Federal Income Tax Consequences of Incentive Compensation

The following is a brief summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences associated with awards granted under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. This summary is based upon existing United States laws and regulations, and there can be no assurance that those laws and regulations will not change in the future. The summary does not purport to be complete and does not discuss the tax consequences upon a participant’s death, or the provisions of any state, local, or foreign income tax laws. As a result, tax consequences for any particular participant may vary based on individual circumstances.

Furthermore, this summary does not address the federal tax provisions of Section 409A of the Code. Although the Company intends that the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and any award granted thereunder will comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A, such treatment cannot be governed.

Nonqualified Stock Options. The grant of a nonqualified stock option under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will not result in any federal income tax consequences to the participant or to the Company. Upon exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the participant is subject to income tax at the rate applicable to ordinary compensation income on the excess of the fair market value on the date of exercise of the shares acquired over the exercise price paid. If the participant is an employee, this income will be subject to withholding of federal income and employment taxes. Subject to compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company generally will be entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of the income recognized by the participant, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code. Any gain or loss realized by the participant upon a subsequent disposition of the shares will be a long- or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on whether the shares are held for more than one year following exercise of the option. The Company does not receive a tax deduction for any such gain.

Incentive Stock Options. The grant of an incentive stock option under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will not result in any federal income tax consequences to the participant or to the Company. A participant recognizes no taxable income for regular tax purposes upon exercising an incentive stock option (subject to the alternative minimum tax rules discussed below), and the Company receives no deduction at the time of exercise. In the event of a disposition of stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option, the tax consequences depend upon how long the participant has held the shares. If the participant does not dispose of the shares within two years after the incentive stock option was granted or within one year after the incentive stock option was exercised, the participant will recognize a long-term capital gain (or loss) equal to the difference between the sale price of the shares and the exercise price paid. The Company is not entitled to any deduction under these circumstances.

If the participant fails to satisfy either of the foregoing holding periods, he or she must recognize ordinary income in the year of the disposition (referred to as a “disqualifying disposition”). The amount of such ordinary income generally is the lesser of (i) the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the exercise price paid, or (ii) the difference between the fair market value of the stock on the exercise date and the exercise price paid. Any gain in excess of the amount taxed as ordinary income will be treated as a long- or short-term capital gain, depending on whether the shares were held for more than one year. Subject to compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company, in the year of the disqualifying disposition, is generally entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.

In general, the difference between the exercise price paid and the fair market value of the shares on the date when an incentive stock option is exercised is treated as an adjustment in computing income that may be subject to the alternative minimum tax, which is paid if such tax exceeds the regular tax for the year. Special rules may apply with respect to certain subsequent sales of the shares in a disqualifying disposition, certain basis adjustments for purposes of computing the alternative minimum taxable income on a subsequent sale of the shares and certain tax credits which may arise with respect to participants subject to the alternative minimum tax.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A participant recognizes no taxable income upon the receipt of a stock appreciation right. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the underlying shares of common stock on the exercise date over the award’s base price. If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. Subject to compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company generally should be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant in connection with the exercise of the stock appreciation right, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code. Any gain or loss on participant’s subsequent disposition of the shares will be a long- or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on whether the shares have been held for more than one year following exercise of the stock appreciation right. The Company does not receive a tax deduction for any such gain.

Restricted Stock and Stock Units. A participant generally will not have taxable income upon the grant of restricted stock or stock units. In the case of stock units, the participant will recognize ordinary income at the time of vesting equal to the fair market value on the vesting date of the shares or cash received less any amount paid.


For restricted stock only, a participant may elect under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed at the time of grant. If the recipient of a restricted stock award makes a Section 83(b) election within 30 days of the date of the award, or if the recipient receives an award that is not subject to forfeiture provisions and restrictions on transfer, he or she will recognize ordinary income, for the year in which the award is received, in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the restricted stock award at the time the award is made and the purchase price paid for the Common Stock. If such election is made and the recipient subsequently forfeits some or all of the Common Stock, he or she will not be entitled to any capital loss for the amount includible in his or her income. However, the recipient is allowed a capital loss if the amount paid for the Common Stock is not fully restored on forfeiture. If a Section 83(b) election is not made with respect to a restricted stock award, the recipient will recognize ordinary income in the first taxable year in which the rights of the recipient are either transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Common Stock at that time and the price paid, if any, for the shares plus any taxed amount.

Subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company will generally be entitled to deduct, as business expense, the same amount as the recipient of restricted stock or stock units must include as ordinary income. Such deduction will be allowed in the Company’s tax year which includes the last day (generally December 31) of the recipient’s tax year in which the recipient is required to include the amount in income. When the recipient sells the shares, he or she will recognize capital gain or loss at the time of sale equal to the difference between his or her basis (the price paid, if any, for the shares plus any amount previously included in income) and the sale price. Any capital gain or loss will be treated as long-term gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year.

Performance Awards. A participant will not recognize taxable income at the time performance awards are granted. The participant will recognize ordinary income for the year in which the performance award is paid, with such amount generally being deductible by the Company provided the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code are satisfied.

Cash Awards. A participant generally will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the cash award is paid and the Company may generally recognize a deduction equal to such amount provided the requirements of Section 162(m) are satisfied.

Stock Bonuses and Other Stock-Based Awards. A participant generally will recognize taxable income upon receipt of the shares subject to the award or bonus (or, if later, on the date such shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture). As with the awards described above, the Company’s ability to deduct the amount included in the income of participants may depend, in part, on whether the awards comply with Section 162(m) of the Code.

Withholding Taxes. Because the amount of ordinary income a participant recognizes with respect to the receipt or exercise of an award may be treated as compensation that is subject to applicable withholding of federal, state, and local income taxes and social security taxes, the Company may require the participant to pay the amount required to be withheld by the Company before delivering to the participant any shares or other payment to be received under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The Company will have the right to deduct from any grant, issuance, vesting, exercise, or payment of an award under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan an amount of cash or shares of Common Stock having a value sufficient to cover such withholding. The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, also may permit the participant to deliver to the Company shares of Common Stock owned by such participant and having an aggregate fair market value up to or equal to (but not in excess of) the amount of the withholding or other taxes due. The Company also may deduct the amount of any withholding or other tax due from other compensation, including salary or bonus, otherwise payable to the participant.

Potential Limitation on Company Deductions under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income, if any, realized by the participant and at the time the participant recognizes such income (for example, upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option). As described above, special rules limit the deductibility of compensation paid to the covered employees of a public company. Under Section 162(m) of the Code, unless various conditions are met that enable compensation to qualify as “performance-based,” the annual compensation paid to any of these specified executives will be deductible only to the extent that it does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000). However, the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan has been designed to permit the Compensation Committee to grant awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of satisfying the conditions of Section 162(m), thereby permitting the Company to receive a federal income tax deduction in connection with such awards, even to the extent that they exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000) threshold.

Stockholder approval of the material terms of the performance goals is one of the conditions that must be satisfied in order for an award to qualify as a performance award for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, as well as periodic re-approval of such performance goals. Stockholder approval of this proposal constitutes re-approval of the material terms of the performance goals set forth in the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. In addition, stockholder approval of this proposal constitutes approval of the revised grant limitations set forth above.

Notwithstanding the above, the deductibility of awards under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will still be dependent on the satisfaction of other requirements imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code, including but not limited to: (a) that the awards are granted by a compensation committee comprised solely of “outside directors,” (b) the compensation is paid only upon the achievement of an objective performance goal established in writing by the Compensation Committee while the outcome is substantially uncertain, and (c) the Compensation Committee certifies in writing prior to the payment of the compensation that the performance goal has been satisfied. There can be no guaranty that awards will be designed to, or in fact will, satisfy all of these requirements.


New Plan Benefits

The grant of future awards under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is discretionary, and therefore it is impossible to determine the total amount and terms of future grants under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Options Granted to Certain Persons

The following table shows the number of shares subject to options issued under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan since its inception to:

o

The named executive officers;

o

All current executive officers as a group;

o

All current directors who are not executive officers; and

o

All employees as a group (excluding executive officers).

2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Name and Position

Number of Shares

 

Russell H. Plumb

President and Chief Executive Officer

0

(1)

Joseph M. Patti

Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy

0

(2)

All current executive officers as a group (2 persons)

0

 

All current directors who are not executive officers, as a group (7 persons)

90,000

 

All employees as a group (excluding current executive officers)

60,000

(3)

(1) Does not include 573,286 option awards and 143,322 restricted stock awards issued outside of the Company’s plan as inducement grants.

(2) Does not include 358,304 option awards and 71,661 restricted stock awards issued outside of the Company’s plan as inducement grants.

(3) Does not include 85,000 option awards issued outside of the Company’s plan as an inducement grant.

Required Vote and Board Recommendation

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on this proposal will be required to approve the proposed amendment of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and the re-approval of the performance goals as outlined above. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the amendment of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the re-approval of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan’s performance goals.


PROPOSAL 5

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Board of Directors is providing stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. This proposal, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” proposal, gives you, as a stockholder, the opportunity to endorse or not endorse the Company’s executive compensation programs and policies and the compensation paid to its named executive officers.

The Say on Pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Compensation Committee or the Board. Although the vote is non-binding, the Compensation Committee and the Board will review the voting results, seek to determine the cause or causes of any significant negative voting, and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation programs.

The Company designs its executive compensation programs to implement its core objectives of providing competitive pay, pay for performance, and alignment of management’s interests with the interests of its stockholders. Stockholders are encouraged to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement for a more detailed discussion of how the Company’s compensation programs reflect its core objectives.

The Board believes the Company’s executive compensation programs use appropriate structures and sound pay practices that are effective in achieving its core objectives. Accordingly, the Board recommends that you vote in favor of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s compensation disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Executive Compensation sections of this Proxy Statement.”

Required Vote and Board Recommendation

The proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers requires the affirmative vote of the votes properly cast on this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal.

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “For”, on a non-binding advisory basis,

the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.


OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Directors knows of no matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than as described in this Proxy Statement. However, if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof, it is intended that proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in accordance with the discretion of the persons named therein. 

Proxy Solicitation

The solicitation of proxies is being conducted by the Company, which will bear the cost of the solicitation. The Company will request brokerage houses, banks and other custodians or nominees holding stock in their names for others to forward proxy materials to their customers or principals who are the beneficial owners of shares and will reimburse them for their expenses in doing so. The Company expects to solicit proxies primarily by mail, but directors, officers, and other employees of the Company may also solicit in person, by telephone, by facsimile, or by mail. 

Stockholder Proposals for Next Year’s Annual Meeting

Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, some stockholder proposals may be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, such proposals must be received by our Secretary at our executive offices at 170 Harbor Way, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080, no later than _________, 2022. Our Bylaws set an advance notice procedure for the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders. For a proposal ofproposals 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 inclusionpresentation at the 2023 annual meeting, although not included in next year’sthe proxy statement, itproposals and nominations submitted through our advance notice procedure must be submitted in writing, with the proof of stock ownership in accordance with Rule 14a-8 and received by the Secretary of the Company no later than July 4, 2014. 

Under the Company’s By-Laws, if a stockholder wants to submit a proposal for next year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders under Rule 14a-8, or wants to nominate candidates for election as directors at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholder must provide timely notice of his or her intention in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary, at the Company’s principal executive offices,above address not less than 90 days prior to the date of the Annual Meetingannual meeting of Stockholders.stockholders. However, in the event that less than 100 days’ notice or prior public announcement of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, then a proposal shall be received no later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or a public announcement was made. OnlyYou are also advised to review our Bylaws, which contain a description of the information required to be submitted as well as additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

To comply with the universal proxy rules (once effective), stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than Vaxart nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, no later than April 10, 2023. Such notice may be mailed to the Corporate Secretary at 170 Harbor Way, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080, or emailed to ir@vaxart.com.

How are votes counted?

Votes will be counted by the inspector of elections appointed for the meeting, who will separately count, (a) for the proposal to elect directors, votes “For,” “Withhold” and broker non-votes, and (b) with respect to other proposals, votes “For” and “Against,” abstentions and, if applicable, broker non-votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect, and will not be counted towards the vote total, for Proposal No. 1, Proposal No. 3, Proposal No. 4 and Proposal No. 6. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal No. 2. Abstentions will have no effect on Proposal No. 5 and, because Proposal No. 5 is “routine,” no broker non-votes will occur with respect to Proposal No. 5.

What are broker non-votes?

As discussed above, when a beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” does not give instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares as to how to vote on matters deemed by NYSE to be “non-routine,” the broker or nominee cannot vote the shares. When there is at least one “routine” matter to be considered at a meeting, and a broker exercises its discretionary authority on any such “routine matter” with respect to any uninstructed shares, “broker non-votes” occur with to the “non-routine” matters for which the broker lacks discretionary authority to vote such uninstructed shares.

How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?

Proposal No. 1 – For the election of directors, the nominees receiving the most “For” votes from the holders of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal.

Proposal No. 2 – To adopt the amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company entitled to vote. Abstentions will count as a vote “Against” the proposal and broker non-votes will also count as a vote “Against” the proposal.

Proposal No. 3 – To approve the amendment and restatement of our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, the proposal must be approved by a majority of the votes cast on such proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal. Additionally, stockholder approval of this proposal is contingent upon approval of Proposal No. 2.

Proposal No. 4 – To approve the 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the proposal must be approved by a majority of the votes cast on such proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal. Additionally, stockholder approval of this proposal is contingent upon approval of Proposal No. 2.

Proposal No. 5 – To ratify the selection of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022, the proposal must be approved by a majority of the votes cast on such proposal. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will have no effect on this proposal.  Broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal.

Proposal No. 6 – To approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement, the proposal must be approved by a majority of the votes cast on such proposal. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will have no effect on this proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal.

What is the quorum requirement?

A quorum of stockholders is generally required to hold a valid meeting of stockholders. A quorum is present if stockholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at a meeting are present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy. 

Any shares that you hold of record will be counted towards the establishment of a quorum only if you submit a valid proxy or if you or your proxy attend the meeting in person (or virtually). If you are a beneficial holder of shares held through a broker, bank or other nominee, your shares will be counted towards the establishment of a quorum if you provide voting instructions with respect to such shares, if you obtain a proxy to vote such shares and attend the meeting in person (or virtually) or if you fail to provide voting instructions with respect to such shares and your broker, bank or other nominee exercises its discretionary authority and votes your shares on Proposal No. 5 at the meeting.

Shares for which abstentions or broker non-votes occur on any proposal will be counted towards the establishment of a quorum.

How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. In addition, final voting results will be published in a current report on Form 8-K that we expect to file within four business days after the Annual Meeting.  If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a current report on Form 8-K within four business days after the meeting, we intend to file a current report on Form 8‑K to publish preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an additional current report on Form 8-K to publish the final results.

What can I do if I need technical assistance during the 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 live webcast log-in page.

If I cant attend the meeting, how do I vote or listen to it later?

You do not need to attend the in-person or virtual meeting to vote if you submitted your vote via proxy in advance of the meeting. A replay of the meeting, including the questions answered during the meeting, will be available on www.vaxart.com for one year following the meeting date.

What happens if a change to the Annual Meeting is necessary due to exigent circumstances?

We intend to hold the Annual Meeting in person and virtually. However, we are actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state, and local governments may impose. In the event it is not possible or advisable to hold our Annual Meeting in person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include postponing or adjourning the meeting or holding the meeting solely by means of remote communication (i.e., a virtual-only meeting). We plan to announce any such updates via a press release and posting details on our website that will also be filed with the SEC as proxy material. Please monitor the Investor Relations section of our website at www.vaxart.com for updated information. If you are planning to attend our Annual Meeting, please check the website one week prior to the Annual Meeting date. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Annual Meeting.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This proxy statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections, concerning our business, operations, and financial performance and condition as well as our plans, objectives, and expectations for business operations and financial performance and condition. Any statements contained herein that are not of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. As a result, any or all of our forward-looking statements in this proxy statement may turn out to be inaccurate. Factors that could materially affect our business operations and financial performance and condition include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties described herein under “Item 1A - Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and any risk factors disclosed in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the filing date of this proxy statement. Unless required by law, we do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or otherwise. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this proxy statement.

This proxy statement also contains market data related to our business and industry. These market data include projections that are based on a number of assumptions. If these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. As a result, our markets may not grow at the rates projected by these data, or at all. The failure of these markets to grow at these projected rates may harm on our business, results of operations, financial condition and the market price of our common stock.

PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

What am I voting on?

Electing the seven director nominees identified below to hold office until the 2023 Annual Meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected or appointed.

Vote recommendation:

FOR the election of each of the seven director nominees.

Vote required:

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast such that the seven nominees receiving the most votes FOR votes in favor of their election will be elected as directors.

Effect of abstentions:

None.

Effect of broker non-votes:

None.

Our board of directors is comprised of seven members all of whom, except Julie M. Cherrington who was appointed by our board of directors to fill a vacancy, were previously elected by our stockholders. All of our directors have one-year terms and stand for election annually. The board of directors has determined that all of the director nominees except for Mr. Floroiu are independent directors, as defined by The Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. Mr. Floroiu is not independent because he serves as our Chief Executive Officer. The nominees listed below are currently directors of Vaxart. If elected at the Annual Meeting, these nominees would serve until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and until a successor has been duly elected and qualified, or, if sooner, until the director’s death, resignation, or removal. Our policy is to encourage directors and nominees for director to attend annual meeting of our stockholders. With respect to our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, one member of our board of directors attended the meeting.

Vacancies and newly created directorships on the board of directors may be filled only by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors, whether or not a quorum. A director elected by the board of directors to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall serve for the remainder of the full term and until the director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or, if sooner, until the director’s death, resignation, or removal.

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Accordingly, the seven nominees receiving the highest number of FOR votes in favor of their election will be elected. Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted, if authority to do so is not withheld, for the election of each nominee named below. If any such nominee becomes unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, shares that would have been voted for that nominee will instead be voted for the election of a substitute nominee proposed by Vaxart, if any. Each person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected. We have no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve.

Nominees for Election to Serve Until the 2023 Annual Meeting

Name

Age

Position(s)

Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D.64Director

Todd Davis

61

Director

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.

63

Director

Andrei Floroiu

49

Director

David Wheadon, M.D.

64

Director

Karen J. Wilson

59

Director

Robert A. Yedid

64

Director

Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D. is an experienced life science executive with extensive insight in bringing drugs into the clinic and through to commercialization. She has been a key contributor to the successful development of multiple FDA-approved products, including SUTENT®, PALLADIA®, VISTIDE®, VIREAD®, and HEPSERA®. Dr. Cherrington has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2021.

Dr. Cherrington served as the Chief Executive Officer of QUE Oncology (“QUE”) from September 2020 through October 2021, a clinical stage company developing novel non-hormonal treatments for vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women and cancer patients receiving hormone therapy. She served as a member of the board of directors of QUE from July 2019 to March 2022. Since April 2022, she has served as a member and as the Chair of the board of directors of Actym Therapeutics, Inc., a preclinical company developing a live, attenuated bacterial cell therapy delivering a combinatorial genetic payload to the tumor. Dr. Cherrington is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Clearity Foundation and is an advisor in entrepreneurship initiatives at the California Life Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Davis, and Equalize 2020/2021/2022. Currently, she is a Venture Partner at Brandon Capital Partners and serves on the boards of directors of Syncona Ltd, KisoJi Biotechnology Inc., Sardona Therapeutics, Inc., MycRx Pty Ltd, and Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Cherrington previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Arch Oncology, Inc. from October 2017 to September 2020, a clinical-stage immune-oncology company developing novel anti-CD47 mAbs. Previously, she served as President and Chief Executive Officers at various other oncology companies, including Revitope Oncology Inc., Zenith Epigenetics Ltd., and Pathway Therapeutics. In addition, she served as President and Executive Vice President of R&D at Phenomix Corporation, a diabetes and antiviral company. Dr. Cherrington holds a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in microbiology from the University of California, Davis. She earned a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Minnesota and Stanford University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.

We believe Dr. Cherrington is qualified to serve on the board of directors because of her extensive experience and leadership within the life sciences industry.

Todd Davis has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2019 and Chairman of our board of directors since July 2021. He is the Founder and has served as the Managing Partner of RoyaltyRx Capital, LLC, a special opportunities investment firm, since 2018. Since November 2019, he has also served as Chairman and CEO of Benuvia Holdings Inc., a pharmaceutical holding company. From 2006 to 2018, Mr. Davis was a Founder and Managing Partner of Cowen/HealthCare Royalty Partners, a global healthcare investment firm. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Davis was a partner at Paul Capital Partners, where he co-managed its royalty investments as a member of the Royalty Management Committee. From 2001 to 2004, he served as a partner responsible for biopharmaceutical growth equity investments at Apax Partners. Mr. Davis began his business career in sales at Abbott Laboratories where he held several commercial roles of increasing responsibility. He subsequently held general management, business development, and licensing roles at Elan Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Davis is a navy veteran and received a B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. He currently serves on the board of directors of Palvella Therapeutics Inc., BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc., and Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. He is also a board member of the Harvard Business School Healthcare Alumni Association.

We believe Mr. Davis is qualified to serve on the board of directors because of his extensive experience within the life sciences industry, including as a founder and managing partner of a special opportunities investment firm.

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2018 and previously served as a member of Private Vaxart’s board of directors since 2007. Since October 2004, Dr. Finney has served as the Managing Director of Finney Capital, an investment firm. Since 1986, Dr. Finney has served as a founder, director and/or investor in various life sciences companies. Currently, he sits on seven private company boards. From 2009 to 2011, Dr. Finney served as Vaxart’s Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Finney received an A.B. in biochemical sciences from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in biology (genetics) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

We believe Dr. Finney is qualified to serve on the board of directors because of his extensive experience within the life sciences industry, including as an executive and a director in the biotechnology industry.

Andrei Floroiu has served as our Chief Executive Officer since June 2020, and as a director since April 2020. Prior to becoming our Chief Executive Officer, he was a senior advisor to the chief executive officer of Agenus Inc., a biotechnology company focused on immunotherapy including immuno-oncology, since 2015. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Floroiu was a Managing Director of Exigo Capital Corp., where he provided strategic, financial and operational advice to companies undergoing significant transformational and strategic transactions. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Floroiu served as the founder and president of Fly for MS, a charity to raise global awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. From 2004 to 2008, he served as a principal for The Invus Group, a private equity investment firm. He holds an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the Universitatea Politehnica in Bucharest, Romania.

We believe Mr. Floroiu is qualified to serve on the board of directors because of his extensive leadership and finance experience, and his extensive experience serving as a senior advisor to the chief executive officer of a biotechnology company, and managing director of a private equity fund in the life sciences industry.

David Wheadon, M.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2021. He served as Senior Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Patient Safety and Quality Assurance for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals from 2014 to 2019 and as Executive Vice President, Research and Advocacy at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation from 2013 to 2014. From 2009 to 2013, Dr. Wheadon served as Senior Vice President, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs and as a member of the Management Committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (“PhRMA”). Prior to his joining PhRMA, Dr. Wheadon held senior regulatory and clinical development leader roles at Abbott Laboratories and GlaxoSmithKline plc. Dr. Wheadon began his career as a clinical research physician in neuroscience at Eli Lilly & Company. Dr. Wheadon currently serves on the board of directors of Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. and Sotera Health, Inc. He formerly served on the board of directors of Assertio Holdings, Inc. (formerly Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.). Dr. Wheadon holds an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his fellowship training in Psychiatry at the Tufts, New England Medical Center.

We believe Dr. Wheadon is qualified to serve as a member of the Board due to his extensive experience as an executive in the pharmaceutical industry and expertise in regulatory affairs, government policy and clinical strategy.

Karen J. Wilson has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2020. Ms. Wilson is also currently a member of the boards of directors of Angion Biomedica Corp., Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited and LAVA Therapeutics. Ms. Wilson previously served as Senior Vice President of Finance at Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, a biopharmaceutical company, until September 2020 after serving as Principal Accounting Officer and Vice President of Finance. Prior to joining the Jazz Pharmaceuticals organization in February 2011, she served as Principal Accounting Officer and Vice President of Finance at PDL BioPharma, Inc., a life sciences company. She also previously served as a Principal at the consulting firm of Wilson Crisler LLC, Chief Financial Officer of ViroLogic, Inc., a biosciences company, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations for Novare Surgical Systems, Inc., a medical device manufacturer, and as a consultant and auditor for Deloitte & Touche LLP, a professional services firm. Ms. Wilson is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California and received a B.S. in Business from the University of California, Berkeley.

We believe that Ms. Wilson is qualified to serve on our Board due to her extensive background in financial and accounting matters for public companies and her leadership experience in the life science industry.

Robert A. Yedid has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2019. He has served as a Managing Director at LifeSci Advisors, LLC, a global healthcare dedicated investor relations/public relations firm since 2014. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Yedid served as a Managing Director at ICR Inc., in its healthcare investor relations. Mr. Yedid previously served as a portfolio manager of Hillhouse Capital Management and as a portfolio manager and senior research analyst at Principled Capital, with responsibility for health care investing. From 1999 to 2000, he was a Vice President at Warburg Pincus, a private equity and venture capital firm, investing in health care. Mr. Yedid began his career as an investment banker, including serving as a Managing Director in the healthcare finance group at Bear Stearns & Co. From 1999 to 2001, he served as a member of the board of directors of The Medicines Company and from 1999 to 2001, he was member of the board of directors of Eurand International S.p.a., an Italian-based specialty pharma company. Mr. Yedid earned a B.A. in Economics from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

We believe Mr. Yedid is qualified to serve on the board of directors because of his extensive experience within the life sciences industry, including as managing director of a firm focused on investor relations in the global healthcare sector.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS

A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE NAMED NOMINEES.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among the members of the board of directors and executive officers.

Independence of the Board of Directors

As required under The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) listing standards, a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors must qualify as “independent,” as affirmatively determined by the board of directors. The board of directors consults with our counsel to ensure that its determinations are consistent with relevant securities and other laws and regulations regarding the definition of “independent,” including those set forth in pertinent listing standards of Nasdaq, as in effect from time to time.

Consistent with these considerations, after review of all relevant identified transactions or relationships between each director, or any of his or her family members, and us, our senior management and our independent auditors, the board of directors has affirmatively determined that all of our current directors, other than Mr. Floroiu due to his position as our current Chief Executive Officer, are independent within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards.  In making this determination, the board of directors found that none of the nominees for director had a material or other disqualifying relationship with Vaxart.

Board Leadership Structure

While the board of directors believes that it is important to retain the flexibility to allocate the responsibilities of the offices of Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer in any manner that it determines to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, we currently have separate individuals serving in the roles of Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer in recognition of the differences between the two roles. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and the day-to-day leadership of the Company, while the Chairman of the board of directors provides guidance to the CEO, prepares the agendas for board meetings, determines materials to be distributed to the board of directors, and presides over the meetings of the board of directors. We believe this balance of shared leadership between the two positions is appropriate and is a strength for the Company.

As discussed above, except for our Chief Executive Officer, our board of directors is comprised of independent directors. The active involvement of these independent directors, combined with the qualifications and significant responsibilities of our Chief Executive Officer, provide balance in the board of directors and promote strong, independent oversight of our management and affairs.

Role of the Board of Directors in Risk Oversight

The board of directors has an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing management of Vaxart’s risks. The board of directors regularly reviews information regarding our credit, liquidity, and operations, as well as the risks associated with each. The Audit Committee’s charter mandates the Audit Committee to review and discuss with management and our independent registered public accounting firm, as appropriate, our major financial risk exposures and the steps taken by management to monitor and control these exposures. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to our executive compensation plans and arrangements. The Nominating and Governance Committee manages risks associated with the independence of the board of directors and potential conflicts of interest. The Science and Technology Committee assists the board of directors with its oversight responsibility for risk management in areas affecting the Company’s research and development activities. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire board of directors is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks.

In 2021, we began active engagement efforts to ensure stockholder interests were incorporated into our planning practice for environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) initiatives. During 2021, we discussed various topics (including diversity and inclusion of our workforce, our ESG initiatives, and our executive compensation philosophy) with stockholders. In part as a result of stockholder feedback, we continue to enhance our disclosures and ESG reporting practices, and we continue to encourage you to share your opinions with us. Vaxart has embedded ESG considerations in our governance structures (including in the charters of the committees of our board of directors), strategies, risk management, and reporting. Board of directors oversight of ESG matters is integrated into our governance structures, including Nominating and Governance Committee responsibility in assisting in overseeing and monitoring the Company’s approach and strategy relating to environmental, legal and social responsibility, diversity, and other corporate citizenship and sustainability matters; Audit Committee responsibility for reviewing with management the type and presentation of the Company’s ESG disclosures and the adequacy and effectiveness of applicable internal controls related to such disclosures; Compensation Committee responsibility for reviewing and advising management on our strategies and policies related to talent management (including talent acquisition, development and retention, internal pay equity, diversity and inclusion and corporate culture); and Science and Technology Committee responsibility in assisting the board of directors in its oversight of the Company’s research and development programs. Vaxart’s management, in consultation and with the oversight and direction of the Nominating and Governance Committee, actively works to identify priority ESG issues for Vaxart, is developing an ESG program, is forming an internal, management-level ESG governance structure, and provides progress reports to the Nominating and Governance Committee.

Meetings of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors met ten times during 2021. On January 28, 2021, Steven J. Boyd and Keith Maher, M.D., each resigned from the board of directors. Wouter Latour’s term as director and Chairman of the Company’s board of directors expired at the 2021 annual meeting of the stockholders, and he did not stand for re-election. Additionally, on April 21, 2021, we appointed David Wheadon, M.D. to our board of directors. In August 2021, we appointed Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D. to our board of directors. Each member of the board of directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the board of directors and of the committees on which he or she served, held during the portion of 2021 for which he or she was a director or committee member.

As required under applicable Nasdaq listing standards, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Vaxart independent directors met at least twice in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors were present. Dr. Latour presided over the executive sessions until his term as director and Chairman of the board of directors expired on June 16, 2021, and Mr. Davis presided over subsequent executive sessions.

INFORMATION REGARDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The board of directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Governance Committee. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for each committee that is available to stockholders on the Investors section of our website at www.vaxart.com.

The following table provides membership and meeting information for each of the committees of the board of directors during 2021:

Name

Audit

Compensation

Nominating and Governance

Wouter W. Latour, M.D. (1)

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D. (2)

Karen J. Wilson

√*

Keith Maher, M.D. (3)

Robert A. Yedid

√*

Todd C. Davis (4)

√*

Steven Boyd (3)

Andrei Floroiu

David Wheadon, M.D. (5)

Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D. (6)

*      Committee Chairperson

(1)         Mr. Latour’s term as director and Chairman of the Company’s board of directors expired at the 2021 annual meeting of the stockholders, and he did not stand for re-election.

(2)         Dr. Finney joined the Compensation Committee in January 2021.

(3)         Mr. Boyd and Dr. Maher resigned from the board of directors and all committees of the board of directors in January 2021.

(4)         Mr. Davis joined the Nominating and Governance Committee in April 2021.

(5)         Dr. Wheadon also joined the Compensation Committee in April 2021.

(6)         Dr. Cherrington was appointed to the board of directors in August 2021.

The following table provides membership and meeting information for each of the committees of the board of directors as of April 11, 2022:

Name

Audit

Compensation

Nominating and Governance

Science and Technology Committee

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.

Karen J. Wilson

√*

Robert A. Yedid

√*

Todd C. Davis

Andrei Floroiu

David Wheadon, M.D.

√*

Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D.

√*

*      Committee Chairperson

Committees of the Board of Directors

Below is a description of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Science and Technology Committee of the board of directors. Each of the committees has authority to engage legal counsel or other experts or consultants, as it deems appropriate to carry out its responsibilities. 

Audit Committee

The board of directors reviews the Nasdaq listing standards definition of independence for Audit Committee members on an annual basis and has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Nasdaq listing standards). The Audit Committee held four meetings and acted through written consent in lieu of holding a meeting once during 2021.

The board of directors determined that Ms. Wilson qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in applicable SEC rules. The board of directors made a qualitative assessment of Ms. Wilson’s level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including Ms. Wilson’s experience as a chief financial officer for public reporting companies.

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to discharge the responsibilities of the board of directors with respect to our accounting, financial, and other reporting and internal control practices and to oversee its independent registered accounting firm. Specific responsibilities of the audit committee include:

selecting a qualified firm to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the combined company’s financial statements;

helping to ensure the independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm;

discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviewing, with management and the independent accountants, the combined company’s interim and year-end operating results;

developing procedures for employees to anonymously submit concerns about questionable accounting or audit matters;

reviewing policies on risk assessment and risk management;

reviewing with management the type and presentation of the Company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) disclosures and the adequacy and effectiveness of applicable internal controls related to such disclosures;

reviewing related party transactions;

reviewing cyber risk on a quarterly basis and reporting to the board of directors;

obtaining and reviewing a report by the independent registered public accounting firm at least annually, that describes the combined company’s internal quality control procedures, any material issues with such procedures, and any steps taken to deal with such issues when required by applicable law; and

approving (or, as permitted, pre-approving) all audit and all permissible non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm.

Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 with Vaxart’s management. The Audit Committee discussed with Vaxart’s independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. The Audit Committee also received the written disclosures and the letter from Vaxart’s independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountants’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the accounting firm’s independence.  Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in Vaxart’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Ms. Karen J. Wilson (Chairperson)

Dr. Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D.

Mr. Robert A. Yedid

The material in this report is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing of Vaxart under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.

Compensation Committee

All members of the Compensation Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(d)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards).  The Compensation Committee held two meetings and acted through written consent in lieu of holding a meeting twice during 2021.

The primary purpose of the Compensation Committee is to discharge the responsibilities of the board of directors to oversee our compensation policies, plans and programs and to review and determine the compensation to be paid to our executive officers, directors and other senior management, as appropriate. Specific responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include:

reviewing and approving, or recommending that our board of directors approve, the compensation of our executive officers;

reviewing and recommending to our board of directors the compensation of our directors;

reviewing and approving, or recommending that our board of directors approve, the terms of compensatory arrangements with our executive officers;

administering our stock and equity incentive plans;

periodically reviewing, and consulting with and advising management on, the Company’s strategies and policies related to human capital management, including talent acquisition, development and retention, internal pay equity, diversity and inclusion and corporate culture;

selecting independent compensation consultants and assessing whether there are any conflicts of interest with any of the committee’s compensation advisers;

reviewing and approving, or recommending that our board of directors approve, incentive compensation and equity plans, severance agreements, change-of-control protections and any other compensatory arrangements for our executive officers and other senior management, as appropriate; and

reviewing and establishing general policies relating to compensation and benefits of our employees and reviewing our overall compensation philosophy.

Compensation Committee Processes and Procedures

Typically, the Compensation Committee will meet at least twice annually and with greater frequency if necessary.  The agenda for each meeting is usually developed by the Chair of the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee meets regularly in executive session. However, from time to time, various members of management and other employees as well as outside advisors or consultants may be invited by the Compensation Committee to make presentations, to provide financial or other background information or advice, or to otherwise participate in Compensation Committee meetings.  Our Chief Executive Officer may not participate in, or be present during, any deliberations or determinations of the Compensation Committee regarding his or her compensation. The charter of the Compensation Committee grants the Compensation Committee full access to all books, records, facilities, and personnel of the Company. In addition, under its charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to obtain, at the expense of the Company, advice and assistance from compensation consultants and internal and external legal, accounting or other advisors and other external resources that the Compensation Committee considers necessary or appropriate in the performance of its duties. The Compensation Committee has direct responsibility for the oversight of the work of any consultants or advisers engaged for the purpose of advising the Compensation Committee.  In particular, the Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain, in its sole discretion, compensation consultants to assist in its evaluation of executive and director compensation, including the authority to approve the consultant’s reasonable fees and other retention terms.  Under its charter, the Compensation Committee may select, or receive advice from, a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser to the Compensation Committee, other than in-house legal counsel and certain other types of advisers, only after taking into consideration six factors, prescribed by the SEC and Nasdaq, that bear upon the adviser’s independence; however, there is no requirement that any adviser be independent.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the Compensation Committee is currently, or has been at any time, one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or has served during the last year, as a member of the board of directors or Compensation Committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or Compensation Committee.

Compensation Committee Report

The information contained in this Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, subject to Regulations 14A or 14C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. No portion of this Compensation Committee Report shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act, through any general statement incorporating by reference in its entirety the proxy statement in which this report appears, except to the extent that Vaxart specifically incorporates this report or a portion of it by reference. In addition, this report shall not be deemed filed under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the section captioned “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the board of directors that this “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section be included in this proxy statement.

Respectfully submitted by the members of the Compensation Committee of the board of directors:

David Wheadon, M.D. (Chairperson)

Dr. Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D.

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.

Nominating and Governance Committee

As of December 31, 2021, we had two members on our Nominating and Governance Committee, both of whom are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards).  The Nominating and Governance Committee held one meeting and acted by written consent in lieu of holding meetings twice during 2021. Specific responsibilities of the Nominating and Governance Committee include:

identifying, evaluating and selecting, or recommending that the board of directors approve, nominees for election to the board of directors;

evaluating the performance of the board of directors and of individual directors;

considering and making recommendations to the board of directors regarding the composition of the committees of the board of directors;

reviewing developments in corporate governance practices;

evaluating the adequacy of corporate governance practices and reporting;

reviewing management succession plans;

developing and making recommendations to the board of directors regarding corporate governance guidelines and matters;

assisting in overseeing and monitoring the Company’s approach and strategy relating to environmental, legal and social responsibility, diversity, and other corporate citizenship and sustainability matters; and

overseeing an annual evaluation of the board of directors’ performance.

The Nominating and Governance Committee believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including the ability to read and understand basic financial statements, being over 21 years of age and having the highest personal integrity and ethics. The Nominating and Governance Committee also intends to consider such factors as possessing relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management, having sufficient time to devote to the affairs of the Company, demonstrated excellence in his or her field, having the ability to exercise sound business judgment and having the commitment to rigorously represent the long-term interests of our stockholders. However, the Nominating and Governance Committee retains the right to modify these qualifications from time to time. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the context of the current composition of the board of directors, the operating requirements of the Company and the long-term interests of stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the Nominating and Governance Committee typically considers diversity, age, skills, and such other factors as it deems appropriate, given the current needs of the board and the Company, to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience and capability. Recently, in recruiting and nominating candidates for our board of directors, our Nominating and Governance Committee has focused on increasing diversity overall, considering, among other factors, gender, race, nationality, country of origin, and cultural diversity of potential director nominees.

In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Nominating and Governance Committee reviews these directors’ overall service to Vaxart during their terms, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance and any other relationships and transactions that might impair the directors’ independence. The Nominating and Governance Committee also takes into account the results of the board of directors’ self-evaluation, conducted annually on a group and individual basis. In the case of new director candidates, the Nominating and Governance Committee also determines whether the nominee is independent for Nasdaq purposes, which determination is based upon applicable Nasdaq listing standards, applicable SEC rules and regulations, and the advice of counsel, if necessary. The Nominating and Governance Committee then uses its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems appropriate, a professional search firm.  The Nominating and Governance Committee conducts any appropriate and necessary inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates after considering the function and needs of the board of directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee meets to discuss and consider the candidates’ qualifications and then selects a nominee for recommendation to the board by majority vote.

The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not intend to alter the manner in which it evaluates candidates, including the minimum criteria set forth above, based on whether or not the candidate was recommended by a stockholder. Stockholders who wish to recommend individuals for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee to become nominees for election to the board may do so by delivering a written recommendation to the Nominating and Governance Committee at the following address: 170 Harbor Way, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080. Submissions must include the full name of the proposed nominee, a description of the proposed nominee’s business experience for at least the previous five years, complete biographical information, a description of the proposed nominee’s qualifications as a director and a representation that the nominating stockholder is a beneficial or record holder of Vaxart’s stock and has been a holder for at least one year. Any such submission must be accompanied by the written consent of the proposed nominee to be named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.

Science and Technology Committee

The members of our Science and Technology Committee are Drs. Cherrington, Wheadon, and Finney. Dr. Cherrington serves as the Chairperson of our Science and Technology Committee. Our board of directors formed the Science and Technology Committee in March 2022. Specific responsibilities of the Science and Technology Committee include:

to assist the board of directors in its oversight of the Company’s research and development (“R&D”) programs;

to assist in discussing significant emerging trends and issues in science and technology and consider the potential impact of such on the Company’s R&D programs; and

to provide advice to the Company’s management and to the board of directors in connection with the prioritization, allocation, deployment, utilization, and investment of resources in the Company’s R&D programs.

BOARD DIVERSITY MATRIX

The following matrix is provided in accordance with applicable Nasdaq listing requirements:

Board Diversity Matrix (as of April 11, 2022)

Total Number of Directors

7

 

Female

Male

Non-Binary

Did Not Disclose Gender

Part I: Gender Identity

Directors

2

3

0

2

Part II: Demographic Background

African American or Black

0

1

0

0

Alaskan Native or Native American

0

0

0

0

Asian

0

0

0

0

Hispanic or Latinx

0

0

0

0

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

0

0

0

0

White

2

2

0

0

Two or More Races or Ethnicities

0

0

0

0

LGBTQ+

2

Did Not Disclose Demographic Background

2

In addition to gender and demographic diversity, we also recognize the value of other diverse attributes that directors may bring to our board of directors, including veterans of the U.S. military. We are proud to report that of our seven current directors, one is also a military veteran.

STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Communications addressed to the board of directors will be reviewed by one or more Vaxart executive officers, who will determine whether the communication should be presented to the board of directors.  The purpose of this screening is to allow the board of directors to avoid having to consider irrelevant or inappropriate communications (such as advertisements, solicitations, and hostile communications). All communications directed to the Audit Committee in accordance with our whistleblower policy that relate to questionable accounting or auditing matters involving Vaxart will be promptly and directly forwarded to the Audit Committee.

CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all officers, directors, and employees.  The Code of Conduct is available on the Investors section of our website at www.vaxart.com. If we make any substantive amendments to the Code of Conduct or grant any waiver from a provision of the Code of Conduct to any executive officer or director, we will promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website. 

ANTI-HEDGING/PLEDGING POLICY

Our insider trading policy prohibits directors, executive officers, and other employees from engaging in speculative trading activities, including hedging transactions or other inherently speculative transactions with respect to our securities. Our insider trading policy also prohibits directors, executive officers, and other employees from pledging our securities as collateral for any loans.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES

The board of directors has documented our governance practices by adopting Corporate Governance Committee thereofPrinciples to assure that the board of directors will have the necessary authority and practices in place to review and evaluate our business operations as needed and to make decisions that are independent of our management. The guidelines are also intended to align the interests of directors and management with those of our stockholders. The Corporate Governance Principles set forth the practices the board of directors intends to follow with respect to board composition and selection, board meetings and involvement of senior management, chief executive officer performance evaluation and succession planning, and board committees and compensation.  The Corporate Governance Principles, as well as the charters for each committee of the board of directors, may nominate candidatesbe viewed on the Investors section of our website at www.vaxart.com.

PROPOSAL NO. 2

ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANYS RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

What am I voting on?

To adopt an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized number of shares of common stock from 150,000,000 shares to 250,000,000 shares.

Vote recommendation:

“FOR” the adoption of the amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

Vote required:

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote.

Effect of abstentions:

Same as a vote “AGAINST”.

Effect of broker non-votes:

Same as a vote “AGAINST”.

General

The board of directors is requesting stockholder adoption of an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase our authorized number of shares of common stock from 150,000,000 shares to 250,000,000 shares (the “Authorized Shares Increase”) by filing a Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation in the form attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit A (the “Certificate of Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

Background and Purpose of the Authorized Shares Increase

The board of directors has determined that we do not currently have enough authorized shares of common stock to accommodate our forecasted capital raising needs, based on the current outstanding shares of common stock and shares of common stock reserved for electionissuance upon exercise of outstanding stock options, warrants and other arrangements. As of April 11, 2022, we had 126,405,811 shares of common stock outstanding. In addition, the board of directors has reserved shares as of April 11, 2022:

●         13,228,647 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.96 per share;

●         227,434 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.40 per share;

●         245,625 shares issuable on the vesting of restricted stock units; and

●         2,294,093 shares available for future issuance under our 2019 Plan, which may be increased to an aggregate of 14,294,093 shares upon approval by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Please see Proposal No. 3 for further information.

The board of directors believes it is in our best interest to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock to give us greater flexibility in considering and planning for future corporate needs, including, but not limited to: raising additional capital, which is needed to fund our ongoing clinical and nonclinical research programs; making long-term equity incentive awards under our equity compensation plans; attracting and retaining key employees, consultants, advisors, executive officers, and directors; considering potential strategic transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and business combinations; funding operations; issuing shares pursuant to the Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and B. Riley Securities Inc.; and other general corporate purposes. The board of directors believes that additional authorized shares of common stock will enable us to take timely advantage of market conditions and favorable financing and acquisition opportunities that may become available to us without the delay and expense associated with convening a special meeting of theour stockholders. The Company’s By-Laws also specify requirements asboard of directors has determined that we do not currently have enough shares to accommodate these needs.

In addition to the formrationale noted above, as described in Proposal Nos. 3 and content4, in order to attract and retain employees with the necessary background and talent, we are seeking stockholder approval of (i) an amendment and restatement of our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 12,000,000 shares to 28,900,000 shares, and (ii) the Company’s 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. A portion of the authorized share increase will be used for the reservation of such additional shares for issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Except as discussed above and in Proposal Nos. 3 and 4, the board of directors has no other plans to issue any additional shares of common stock at this time; however, it desires to have shares available to provide flexibility to issue for business and financial purposes in the future, and believes that 250,000,000 shares is adequate for the foreseeable future.

Impact of the Authorized Shares Increase if Implemented

The adoption of the Authorized Shares Increase would not affect the rights, powers or preferences of the shares of common stock currently outstanding, although it could allow, in the future, further dilution of the outstanding shares of common stock.

Procedure for Effecting the Authorized Shares Increase

If the stockholders approve Proposal No. 2 and the board of directors decides to implement the Authorized Shares Increase, the Authorized Shares Increase will become effective either upon the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such other date and time as is specified therein. Although the board of directors intends to file the Certificate of Amendment as soon as practicable after the Annual Meeting if Proposal No. 2 is approved, the board of directors may determine in its discretion not to effect the Authorized Shares Increase at any time prior to the effectiveness of the Certificate of Amendment.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote will be required to adopt this amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS

A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL NO. 2.

PROPOSAL NO. 3

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

What am I voting on?

To approve an amendment and restatement of our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 12,000,000 shares to 28,900,000 shares.

Vote recommendation:

“FOR” the approval of the amendment and restatement of our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

Vote required:

A majority of the votes cast on the proposal.

Effect of abstentions:

None.

Effect of broker non-votes:

None.

Summary of the Proposal

At the Annual Meeting, we will request that our stockholders approve an amendment and restatement of the Vaxart, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “2019 Plan”), attached hereto as ExhibitB. The amendment and restatement of the 2019 Plan was approved by our board of directors on April 18, 2022, subject to approval by our stockholders.  If approved, the amendment and restatement will (i) increase the number of shares of our common stock reserved under the 2019 Plan by 12,000,000 shares to 28,900,000 shares, (ii) prohibit the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on unvested awards, and (iii) remove the liberal share recycling provision.

Approval of the amendment and restatement of the 2019 Plan by our stockholders will allow us to grant stock options, restricted stock unit awards, and other awards at levels determined appropriate by our board of directors or its Compensation Committee.

The effectiveness of this Proposal No. 3 and the amendment and restatement of the 2019 Plan is contingent on the approval of Proposal No. 2 to approve an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock. As a result, if the stockholders do not approve Proposal No. 2, then the amendment and restatement to the 2019 Plan cannot become operative even if the stockholders approve this Proposal No. 3.

Requested Shares

The 2019 Plan was initially approved by our stockholders on April 23, 2019. At that time, 1,600,000 shares were reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, which was increased through an amendment to the 2019 Plan adopted by the Company’s stockholders on June 8, 2020, to 8,000,000 shares, and then increased again through an amendment to the 2019 Plan adopted by the Company’s stockholders on June 16, 2021, to 16,900,000 shares, in each case subject to equitable adjustments in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other extraordinary dividend, or other similar change in the Company’s common stock or capital structure.

The board of directors believes that the future success of the Company depends, in large part, on our ability to attract, motivate, and retain high-caliber employees, consultants, and directors. Equity compensation is a key component of our compensation program because it helps us attract, motivate and retain talented employees, consultants and directors and align their interests with those of our stockholders.

As of April 11, 2022, and excluding the proposed increase in the number of shares reserved under the 2019 Plan, there were 2,294,093 shares available for issuance under the 2019 Plan pursuant to future awards. Based on our historical grant practices, as summarized below, and our projected recruiting and retention needs, we anticipate that the Company will no longer be able to grant annual equity awards under our long-term incentive program for employees and our non-employee director compensation program beyond 2022 unless we reserve more shares for issuance under the 2019 Plan.

Stock price volatility, combined with a rapidly growing workforce, has contributed to a sooner-than-expected need for additional shares under the 2019 Plan. To illustrate the rapid growth in our employee base, we had:

14 employees as of December 31, 2019,

28 employees as of December 31, 2020 (100% year-over-year growth),

110 employees as of December 31, 2021 (292% year-over-year growth), and

145 employees as of March 31, 2022 (32% increase for the first quarter).

During the final three quarters of 2022, we expect to hire approximately 60 more employees, for a 2022 year-end headcount of approximately 205 employees, assuming no employee terminations (representing approximately 86% year-over-year growth).

To maintain the flexibility to keep pace with our competitors and effectively attract, motivate and retain a high-caliber workforce, we are asking our stockholders to authorize an additional 12,000,000 shares for issuance under the 2019 Plan, which would increase the aggregate number of shares available for issuance as future awards under the 2019 Plan to 28,900,000 shares. 

It is essential that we continue the use of equity compensation to better position us in the market and allow us to retain our skilled employees while attracting talented new employees to help us achieve our objectives, which include increasing stockholder value by growing the business. Without the approval of an addition to our share reserve, we will not be able to continue to compete in this highly competitive market, which would ultimately result in the loss of critical talent and inhibit our ability to meet our future growth objectives.

We intend to grant future equity awards under the 2019 Plan in amounts that are reasonable and consistent with market data prepared by the Compensation Committee’s independent consultant. Based on our projected recruiting and retention needs, we believe that the proposed share increase would allow us to continue granting equity awards under the 2019 Plan to employees, consultants and directors for approximately two more years.

In determining the number of additional shares to reserve for issuance under the 2019 Plan, our board of directors also considered the number of shares available for future awards, the potential dilution resulting from the proposed increase, equity plan guidelines established by certain proxy advisory firms, and advice provided by the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant.

Key Plan Features

The 2019 Plan includes provisions that are designed to protect our stockholders’ interests and to reflect corporate governance best practices including:

No single trigger acceleration. Generally, there is no single-trigger acceleration of vesting upon change in control. The 2019 Plan does not provide for automatic vesting of awards upon a change in control; although certain performance-based stock option grants made to our Chief Executive Officer in 2020 were eligible to vest on a single trigger basis.

Prohibition on liberal share recycling. The 2019 Plan prohibits liberal share recycling, meaning that shares tendered in payment of the exercise price of a stock option, shares withheld to satisfy a tax withholding obligation, and shares that are repurchased by the Company with stock option proceeds will not be added back to the share reserve. In addition, when a stock appreciation right is settled in shares, all of the shares underlying the stock appreciation right will be counted against the share reserve.

No payment of dividends or equivalents on unvested awards. Dividends or dividend equivalents payable with respect to any awards granted under the 2019 Plan will be accumulated or reinvested until such award is earned, and the dividends or dividend equivalents shall not be paid if the underlying award does not become vested. No dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid with respect to stock options or stock appreciation rights.

Awards subject to forfeiture/clawback. Awards granted under the 2019 Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that we are required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which our securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In addition, we may impose other clawback, recovery, or recoupment provisions in an award agreement, including a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares or other cash or property upon the occurrence of cause.

No liberal change in control definition. The change in control definition in the 2019 Plan is not a “liberal” definition. A change in control transaction must actually occur in order for the change in control provisions in the 2019 Plan to be triggered.

No discounted stock options or stock appreciation rights. All stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2019 Plan must have an exercise or strike price equal to or greater than the fair market value of our common stock on the date the stock option or stock appreciation right is granted.

Administration by our board of directors or independent committee. The 2019 Plan will be administered by our board of directors, which may in turn delegate authority to administer the 2019 Plan to a committee with the members of such committee being “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and “independent” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards.

Material amendments require stockholder approval. Consistent with Nasdaq rules, the 2019 Plan requires stockholder approval of any material revisions to the 2019 Plan. In addition, certain other amendments to the 2019 Plan require stockholder approval.

No re-pricing of stock options or stock appreciation rights. The 2019 Plan does not permit the “repricing” of stock options and stock appreciation rights without stockholder approval. This includes a prohibition on cash buyouts of underwater options or stock appreciation rights.

Limit on non-employee director awards and other awards.  The maximum number of shares subject to stock awards granted during any calendar year to any of our non-employee directors, taken together with any cash fees paid by the Company to such non-employee director during such calendar year, may not exceed $600,000 in total value, or $750,000 in total value with respect to the calendar year in which the individual is first appointed or elected to our board of directors (calculating the value of any such stock awards based on the grant date fair value of the stock awards for financial reporting purposes).

Stockholder Approval

If this Proposal No. 3 is approved, the amendment and restatement of the 2019 Plan will become effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting.

Overhang

The following table provides certain additional information regarding our equity incentive plans.

AsofApril 11, 2022

(the Record Date)

Total number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options

13,228,647

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options

 $4.96

Weighted-average remaining term of outstanding stock options

8.73 years

Total number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding full value awards

245,625

Total number of shares of common stock available for grant under the 2019 Plan

2,294,093

Total number of shares of common stock available for grant under other equity incentive plans

As of Record Date

Total number of shares of common stock outstanding

126,405,811

Per-share closing price of common stock as reported on Nasdaq Capital Market

 $4.63

Burn Rate

The following table provides detailed information regarding the activity related to our 2019 Plan for 2019, 2020, and 2021:

  

2019

 

2020

 

2021

Total number of shares of common stock subject to stock options granted

 

1,791,030

 

5,579,800

 

5,178,438

Total number of shares of common stock subject to full value awards granted

 

 

 

Total number of shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31

 

48,254,994

 

110,271,093

 

125,594,393

Burn Rate

 

3.7%

 

5.1%

 

4.1%

_________________

      

Our burn rate is calculated as the total amount of equity granted in any year, divided by the number of common shares outstanding. For purposes of this calculation (i) stock options were counted in the year granted, and (ii) performance-based restricted share unit awards were counted in the year earned (and only to the extent earned). Our future burn rate will depend on a number of factors, including the number of participants in the 2019 Plan, our stock price, changes to our compensation strategy, changes in business practices or industry standards, changes in our capital structure due to stock splits or similar events, the compensation practices of our competitors or changes in compensation practices in the market generally, and the methodology used to establish the equity award mix.

Description of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan

The material features of the 2019 Plan are described below. The following description of the 2019 Plan is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2019 Plan, as amended and restated, which is attached as Exhibit B.

Purpose

The 2019 Plan is designed to secure and retain the services of our employees, directors and consultants, provide incentives for our employees, directors and consultants to exert maximum efforts for our success and our affiliates’ success, and provide a means by which our employees, directors and consultants may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in the value of our common stock.

Types of Awards

The terms of the 2019 Plan provide for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, other stock awards, and performance awards that may be settled in cash, stock, or other property.

Shares Available for Awards

Subject to adjustment for certain changes in our capitalization, the share reserve under the 2019 Plan, as amended and restated, will not exceed 28,900,000 shares.

The following shares of our common stock will become available again for issuance under the 2019 Plan: (i) any shares subject to a stock award that are not issued because such stock award expires or otherwise terminates without all of the shares covered by such stock award having been issued; (ii) any shares subject to a stock award that are not issued because such stock award is settled in cash; and (iii) any shares issued pursuant to a stock award that are forfeited back to or repurchased by us because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares.

The following shares of our common stock will not become available again for issuance under the 2019 Plan: (i) any shares that are reacquired or withheld (or not issued) by the Company to satisfy the exercise, strike or purchase price of an award (including any shares subject to such award that are not delivered because such stock award is exercised through a reduction of shares subject to such award (i.e., “net exercised”)); (ii) any shares that are reacquired or withheld (or not issued) by the Company to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with a stock award; (iii) any shares repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of the exercise, strike or purchase price of a stock award; and (iv) in the event that a stock appreciation right is settled in shares of common stock, the gross number of shares subject to such award.

Eligibility

All of our employees and six non-employee directors as of April 11, 2022, were eligible to participate in the 2019 Plan and may receive all types of awards other than incentive stock options. Incentive stock options may be granted under the 2019 Plan only to our employees (including officers) and employees of our affiliates.

Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit

Under the 2019 Plan, the maximum number of shares of our common stock subject to stock awards granted during any one calendar year to any of our non-employee directors, taken together with any cash fees paid by the Company to such non-employee director during such calendar year, will not exceed $600,000 in total value, or $750,000 with respect to the calendar year in which the individual is first appointed or elected to the board of directors (calculating the value of any such stock awards based on the grant date fair value of such stock awards for financial reporting purposes).

Administration

The 2019 Plan will be administered by our board of directors, which may in turn delegate authority to administer the 2019 Plan to a committee. Our board of directors has delegated concurrent authority to administer the 2019 Plan to our Compensation Committee, but may, at any time, revoke some or all of the power delegated to our Compensation Committee. Our board of directors and our Compensation Committee are each considered to be a Plan Administrator for purposes of this Proposal No. 3.

Subject to the terms of the 2019 Plan, the Plan Administrator may determine the recipients, the types of awards to be granted, the number of shares of our common stock subject to or the cash value of awards, and the terms and conditions of awards granted under the 2019 Plan, including the period of their exercisability and vesting. The Plan Administrator also has the authority to provide for accelerated exercisability and vesting of awards. Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Plan Administrator also determines the fair market value applicable to a stock award and the exercise or strike price of stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2019 Plan.

The Plan Administrator may also delegate to one or more of our officers with the authority to designate employees who are not officers to be recipients of certain stock awards and the number of shares of our common stock subject to such stock awards. Under any such delegation, the Plan Administrator will specify the total number of shares of our common stock that may be subject to the stock awards granted by such officer. The officer may not grant a stock award to himself or herself.

Stock Options

Stock options may be granted under the 2019 Plan pursuant to stock option agreements. The 2019 Plan permits the grant of stock options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options, or ISOs, and nonstatutory stock options, or NSOs.

The exercise price of a stock option granted under the 2019 Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock subject to the stock option on the date of grant and, in some cases (see “Limitations on Incentive Stock Options” below), may not be less than 110% of such fair market value. The closing price of a share as reported on the Nasdaq on April 11, 2022, was $4.63 per share.

The term of stock options granted under the 2019 Plan may not exceed ten years and, in some cases (see “Limitations on Incentive Stock Options” below), may not exceed five years. Except as otherwise provided in a participant’s stock option agreement or other written agreement with us or one of our affiliates, if a participant’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates (referred to in this Proposal No. 3 as “continuous service”) terminates (other than for cause and other than upon the participant’s death or disability), the participant may exercise any vested stock options for up to three months following the participant’s termination of continuous service. Except as otherwise provided in a participant’s stock option agreement or other written agreement with us or one of our affiliates, if a participant’s continuous service terminates due to the participant’s disability or death (or the participant dies within a specified period, if any, following termination of continuous service), the participant, or his or her beneficiary, as applicable, may exercise any vested stock options for up to 12 months following the participant’s termination due to the participant’s disability or for up to 18 months following the participant’s death.

Except as explicitly provided otherwise in a participant’s stock option agreement or other written agreement with us or one of our affiliates, if a participant’s continuous service is terminated for cause (as defined in the 2019 Plan), all stock options held by the participant will terminate upon the participant’s termination of continuous service and the participant will be prohibited from exercising any stock option from and after such termination date. Except as otherwise provided in a participant’s stock option agreement or other written agreement with us or one of our affiliates, the term of a stock option may be extended if the exercise of the stock option following the participant’s termination of continuous service (other than for cause and other than upon the participant’s death or disability) would be prohibited by applicable securities laws or if the sale of any common stock received upon exercise of the stock option following the participant’s termination of continuous service (other than for cause) would violate our insider trading policy. In no event, however, may a stock option be exercised after its original expiration date.

Acceptable forms of consideration for the purchase of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of a stock option under the 2019 Plan will be determined by the Plan Administrator and may include payment: (i) by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to us; (ii) pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board; (iii) by delivery to us of shares of our common stock (either by actual delivery or attestation); (iv) by a net exercise arrangement (for NSOs only); or (v) in other legal consideration approved by the Plan Administrator.

Stock options granted under the 2019 Plan may become exercisable in cumulative increments, or “vest,” as determined by the Plan Administrator at the rate specified in the stock option agreement. Shares covered by different stock options granted under the 2019 Plan may be subject to different vesting schedules as the Plan Administrator may determine.

Our board of directors may provide for limitations on the transferability of awards, in its sole discretion. Option awards are generally not transferable other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided under our 2019 Plan.

Limitations on Incentive Stock Options

The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of shares of our common stock with respect to ISOs that are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year under all of our stock plans may not exceed $100,000. The stock options or portions of stock options that exceed this limit or otherwise fail to qualify as ISOs are treated as NSOs. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time of grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10% of our total combined voting power or that of any affiliate unless the following conditions are satisfied:

the exercise price of the ISO must be at least 110% of the fair market value of the common stock subject to the ISO on the date of grant; and

the term of the ISO must not exceed five years from the date of grant.

The aggregate maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs under the 2019 Plan is a number of shares of common stock equal to three (3) multiplied by the total share reserve set forth above.

Stock Appreciation Rights

Stock appreciation rights may be granted under the 2019 Plan pursuant to stock appreciation right agreements. Each stock appreciation right is denominated in common stock share equivalents. The strike price of each stock appreciation right will be determined by the Plan Administrator, but will in no event be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock subject to the stock appreciation right on the date of grant. The Plan Administrator may also impose restrictions or conditions upon the vesting of stock appreciation rights that it deems appropriate. The appreciation distribution payable upon exercise of a stock appreciation right may be paid in shares of our common stock, in cash, in a combination of cash and stock, or in any other form of consideration determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the stock appreciation right agreement. Stock appreciation rights will be subject to the same conditions upon termination of continuous service and restrictions on transfer as stock options under the 2019 Plan.

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards may be granted under the 2019 Plan pursuant to restricted stock award agreements. A restricted stock award may be granted in consideration for cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to us, the participant’s services performed for us or any of our affiliates, or any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Plan Administrator. Shares of our common stock acquired under a restricted stock award may be subject to forfeiture to or repurchase by us in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Plan Administrator. Rights to acquire shares of our common stock under a restricted stock award may be transferred only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the restricted stock award agreement. A restricted stock award agreement shall provide that any dividends paid on restricted stock will be subject to the same vesting conditions as apply to the shares subject to the restricted stock award. Upon a participant’s termination of continuous service for any reason, any shares subject to restricted stock awards held by the participant that have not vested as of such termination date may be forfeited to or repurchased by us.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

Restricted stock unit awards may be granted under the 2019 Plan pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements. Payment of any purchase price may be made in any form of legal consideration acceptable to the Plan Administrator. A restricted stock unit award may be settled by the delivery of shares of our common stock, in cash, in a combination of cash and stock, or in any other form of consideration determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement. Restricted stock unit awards may be subject to vesting in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Plan Administrator. Dividend equivalents may be credited in cash or in respect of shares of our common stock covered by a restricted stock unit award, provided that any such dividend equivalents will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions of the underlying restricted stock unit award. Except as otherwise provided in a participant’s restricted stock unit award agreement or other written agreement with us or one of our affiliates, restricted stock units that have not vested will be forfeited upon the participant’s termination of continuous service for any reason.

Performance Awards

The 2019 Plan allows us to grant performance stock and cash awards.

A performance stock award is a stock award that is payable (including that may be granted, may vest, or may be exercised) contingent upon the attainment of pre-determined performance goals during a performance period. A performance stock award may require the completion of a specified period of continuous service. The length of any performance period, the performance goals to be achieved during the performance period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such performance goals have been attained will be determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the performance stock award agreement, the Plan Administrator may determine that cash may be used in payment of performance stock awards.

A performance cash award is a cash award that is payable contingent upon the attainment of pre-determined performance goals during a performance period. A performance cash award may require the completion of a specified period of continuous service. At the time of grant of a Performance Cash Award, the length of any performance period, the performance goals to be achieved during the performance period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such performance goals have been attained will be determined by our board of directors, except that the Plan Administrator also may make any such determinations. The Plan Administrator may specify the form of payment of performance cash awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a participant to have the option for his or her performance cash award to be paid in cash or other property. 

Performance goals could be based on any one or more of the following performance criteria: (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (4) total stockholder return; (5) return on equity or average stockholder’s notice. equity; (6) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (7) stock price; (8) margin (including gross margin); (9) income (before or after taxes); (10) operating income; (11) operating income after taxes; (12) pre-tax profit; (13) operating cash flow; (14) sales or revenue targets; (15) increases in revenue or product revenue; (16) expenses and cost reduction goals; (17) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (18) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (19) market share; (20) cash flow; (21) cash flow per share; (22) share price performance; (23) debt reduction; (24) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (25) subscriber satisfaction; (26) stockholders’ equity; (27) capital expenditures; (28) debt levels; (29) operating profit or net operating profit; (30) workforce diversity; (31) growth of net income or operating income; (32) billings; (33) the number of subscribers, including but not limited to unique subscribers; (34) employee retention; and (35) other measures of performance selected by the Plan Administrator.

Performance goals may be based on a company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, affiliates or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. The Plan Administrator is authorized to make appropriate adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of performance goals for a performance period as follows: (i) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (ii) to exclude exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales and operating earnings; (iii) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting standards required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (iv) to exclude the effects of any items that are “unusual” in nature or occur “infrequently” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (v) to exclude the effects to any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; and (vi) to make other appropriate adjustments selected by the Plan Administrator.

In addition, the Plan Administrator retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon the attainment of any performance goals and to define the manner of calculating the performance criteria it selects to use for a performance period.

Other Stock Awards

Other forms of stock awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, our common stock may be granted either alone or in addition to other stock awards under the 2019 Plan. Subject to the terms of the 2019 Plan, the Plan Administrator will have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such other stock awards will be granted, the number of shares of our common stock to be granted and all other terms and conditions of such other stock awards.

Clawback Policy

Awards granted under the 2019 Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that we are required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which our securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In addition, the Plan Administrator may impose other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an award agreement as the Plan Administrator determines necessary or appropriate, including a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of our common stock or other cash or property upon the occurrence of cause.

Changes to Capital Structure

In the event of certain capitalization adjustments, the Plan Administrator will appropriately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the 2019 Plan; (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs; and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding stock awards.

Corporate Transaction

In the event of a corporate transaction (as defined in the 2019 Plan and described below), the Plan Administrator may take one or more of the following actions with respect to stock awards, contingent upon the closing or consummation of the corporate transaction:

arrange for the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) to assume or continue the award or to substitute a similar stock award for the award (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to our stockholders pursuant to the transaction);

arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to the stock award to the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company);

accelerate the vesting (and, if applicable, the exercisability) of the stock award and provide for its termination prior to the effective time of the transaction;

arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to the award;

cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the stock award, to the extent not vested or exercised prior to the effective time of the transaction, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the board of directors may consider appropriate; and

make a payment, in such form as may be determined by the board of directors, equal to the excess, if any, of the value of the property the participant would have received upon exercise of the awards prior to the transaction over any exercise price payable by the participant in connection with the exercise. The plan administrator is not obligated to treat all stock awards or portions of stock awards, even those that are of the same type, in the same manner.

The Plan Administrator is not required to take the same action with respect to all stock awards or portions of stock awards or with respect to all participants. The Plan Administrator may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of a stock award.

For purposes of the 2019 Plan, a corporate transaction generally will be deemed to occur in the event of the consummation of: (i) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our consolidated assets; (ii) a sale or other disposition of more than 50% of our outstanding securities; (iii) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which we are not the surviving corporation; or (iv) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which we are the surviving corporation but the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the transaction are converted or exchanged into other property by virtue of the transaction.

Change in Control

In the event of a change in control, awards granted under the 2019 Plan will not receive automatic acceleration of vesting and exercisability, although this treatment may be provided for in an award agreement. Under the 2019 Plan, a change in control is defined to include (1) the acquisition of any person of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our then outstanding stock; (2) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which our stockholders immediately prior to the transaction do not own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity (or the parent of the surviving entity); (3) a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets to an entity that did not previously hold more than 50% of the voting power over our capital stock and (4) individuals who constitute our incumbent board of directors ceasing to constitute at least a majority of our board of directors.

Plan Amendments and Termination

Our board of directors has the authority to amend, suspend, or terminate our 2019 Plan, provided that such action does not materially impair the existing rights of any participant without such participant’s written consent. No incentive stock options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the date our board of directors adopted our 2019 Plan. No stock awards may be granted under our 2019 Plan while it is suspended or after it is terminated.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income tax consequences to participants and us with respect to participation in the 2019 Plan. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive and does not discuss the income tax laws of any local, state or foreign jurisdiction in which a participant may reside. The information is based upon current federal income tax rules and therefore is subject to change when those rules change. Because the tax consequences to any participant may depend on his or her particular situation, each participant should consult the participant’s tax adviser regarding the federal, state, local and other tax consequences of the grant or exercise of an award or the disposition of stock acquired the 2019 Plan. The 2019 Plan is not qualified under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and is not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Our ability to realize the benefit of any tax deductions described below depends on our generation of taxable income as well as the requirement of reasonableness and the satisfaction of our tax reporting obligations.

Nonstatutory Stock Options

Generally, there is no taxation upon the grant of an NSO if the stock option is granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date. Upon exercise, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of exercise of the stock option over the exercise price. If the participant is employed by us or one of our affiliates, that income will be subject to withholding taxes. The participant’s tax basis in those shares will be equal to his or her fair market value on the date of exercise of the stock option, and the participant’s capital gain holding period for those shares will begin on that date.

Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the participant.

Incentive Stock Options

The 2019 Plan provides for the grant of stock options that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options,” as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Under the Code, a participant generally is not subject to ordinary income tax upon the grant or exercise of an ISO. If the participant holds a share received upon exercise of an ISO for more than two years from the date the stock option was granted and more than one year from the date the stock option was exercised, which is referred to as the required holding period, the difference, if any, between the amount realized on a sale or other taxable disposition of that share and the participant’s tax basis in that share will be long-term capital gain or loss.

If, however, a participant disposes of a share acquired upon exercise of an ISO before the end of the required holding period, which is referred to as a disqualifying disposition, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of the disqualifying disposition equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise of the stock option over the exercise price. However, if the sales proceeds are less than the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise of the stock option, the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant will not exceed the gain, if any, realized on the sale. If the amount realized on a disqualifying disposition exceeds the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise of the stock option, that excess will be short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on whether the holding period for the share exceeds one year.

For purposes of the alternative minimum tax, the amount by which the fair market value of a share of stock acquired upon exercise of an ISO exceeds the exercise price of the stock option generally will be an adjustment included in the participant’s alternative minimum taxable income for the year in which the stock option is exercised. If, however, there is a disqualifying disposition of the share in the year in which the stock option is exercised, there will be no adjustment for alternative minimum tax purposes with respect to that share. In computing alternative minimum taxable income, the tax basis of a share acquired upon exercise of an ISO is increased by the amount of the adjustment taken into account with respect to that share for alternative minimum tax purposes in the year the stock option is exercised.

We are not allowed a tax deduction with respect to the grant or exercise of an ISO or the disposition of a share acquired upon exercise of an ISO after the required holding period. If there is a disqualifying disposition of a share, however, we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the participant, subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and provided that either the employee includes that amount in income or we timely satisfy our reporting requirements with respect to that amount.

Exercise of Stock Options

Acceptable forms of consideration for the purchase of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of a stock option under the 2019 Plan will be determined by the Plan Administrator and may include payment: (i) by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to us; (ii) pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board; or (iii) in other legal consideration approved by the Plan Administrator.

Restricted Stock Awards

Generally, the recipient of a restricted stock award will recognize ordinary income at the time the stock is received equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. If, however, the stock is not vested when it is received (for example, if the employee is required to work for a period of time in order to have the right to sell the stock), the recipient generally will not recognize income until the stock becomes vested, at which time the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date it becomes vested over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. A recipient may, however, file an election with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days following his or her receipt of the stock award, to recognize ordinary income, as of the date the recipient receives the award, equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date the award is granted over any amount paid by the recipient for the stock.

The recipient’s basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired from a restricted stock award will be the amount paid for such shares plus any ordinary income recognized either when the stock is received or when the stock becomes vested.

Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the restricted stock award.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

Generally, the recipient of a restricted stock unit award structured to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exception to Section 409A of the Code will recognize ordinary income at the time the stock is delivered equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. To comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the stock subject to a restricted stock unit award may generally only be delivered upon one of the following events: a fixed calendar date (or dates), separation from service, death, disability or a change in control. If delivery occurs on another date, unless the restricted stock unit award otherwise complies with or qualifies for an exception to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (including delivery upon achievement of a performance goal), in addition to the tax treatment described above, the recipient will owe an additional 20% federal tax and interest on any taxes owed.

The recipient’s basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired from a restricted stock unit award will be the amount paid for such shares plus any ordinary income recognized when the stock is delivered.

Subject to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the restricted stock unit award.

Stock Appreciation Rights

Stock appreciation rights are granted pursuant to stock appreciation grant agreements adopted by the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator determines the purchase price or strike price for a stock appreciation right, which generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of common stock on the date of grant. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, we will pay the participant an amount equal to the product of (1) the excess, if any, of the per share fair market value of common stock on the date of exercise over the purchase price or strike price and (2) the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised. This amount may be paid in shares of common stock, in cash, in any combination of cash and shares of common stock or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the award agreement. A stock appreciation right granted under the 2019 Plan vests at the rate specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the Plan Administrator.

The Plan Administrator determines the term of stock appreciation rights granted under the 2019 Plan, which may be up to a maximum of ten years. Unless the terms of a participant’s stock appreciation right agreement provides otherwise, if a participant’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases for any reason other than cause, disability or death, the participant may generally exercise any vested stock appreciation right for a period of three months following the cessation of service. The term of the stock appreciation right may be further extended in the event that exercise of the stock appreciation right following such a termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws or by our insider trading policy. If a participant’s service relationship with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases due to disability or death, or a participant dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the participant (or, if applicable, a beneficiary) may generally exercise any vested stock appreciation right for a period of 12 months (in the case of disability) or 18 months (in the case of death). Stock appreciation rights generally terminate immediately upon the occurrence of the event giving rise to the termination of the individual for cause. In no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.

New Plan Benefits

The Compensation Committee and the board of directors retain discretion under the 2019 Plan to determine which directors, officers, employees and consultants will receive awards and the amount and type of awards. Therefore, we are not able to determine the total number of individuals who will participate in the 2019 Plan or the total amount of awards granted thereunder.

Registration with the SEC

The Company intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of additional shares under the 2019 Plan with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act after approval of the amended and restated 2019 Plan by our stockholders.

Required Vote and Board of Directors Recommendation

Approval of this Proposal No. 3 requires that the proposal be approved by a majority of the votes cast on Proposal No. 3. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count towards a quorum and have no effect on the outcome of this Proposal No. 3.

The board of directors recommends that our stockholders adopt the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the amended and restated 2019 Equity Incentive Plan is hereby APPROVED.”

PROPOSAL NO. 4

APPROVAL OF THE 2022 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

What am I voting on?

Approval of the Company’s 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Vote recommendation:

“FOR” the approval of the Company’s 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Vote required:

A majority of the votes cast on the proposal.

Effect of abstentions:

None

Effect of broker non-votes:

None.

Background

We are asking stockholders to approve the Vaxart, Inc. 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2022 ESPP”), which the board of directors has approved subject to the approval of our stockholders.

We strongly believe in improving opportunities for our employees to reap the benefits of increases in our stock’s value. The ability to contribute a portion of earnings to purchase our shares would represent a key benefit for our employees. We believe that such a program improves our ability to attract, retain and incentivize our talent, and ultimately, better aligns the interests of our employees with those of our stockholders. As of April 11, 2022, we anticipate that approximately 160 Company employees will be eligible to participate in the 2022 ESPP.

The effectiveness of this Proposal No. 4 and the adoption of the 2022 ESPP is contingent on the approval of Proposal No. 2 to approve an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock. As a result, if the stockholders do not approve Proposal No. 2, then the 2022 ESPP cannot become operative even if the stockholders approve this Proposal No. 4.

Summary of the 2022 ESPP

The following general description of material features of the 2022 ESPP is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the 2022 ESPP set forth in Exhibit C.

Purpose and Eligibility

The 2022 ESPP is intended to assist our employees in acquiring share ownership interest in Vaxart, to encourage our employees to remain with Vaxart, and to better align their interests with those of our stockholders. The 2022 ESPP is intended to have two components: a component intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) (the “423 Component”) and a component that is not intended to so qualify (the “Non-423 Component”). Except as otherwise provided, the Non-423 Component will be operated and administered in the same manner as the 423 Component, except where prohibited by law.

Our executive officers and all of our other employees who have worked at Vaxart will be allowed to participate in the 2022 ESPP, provided that (a) they are customarily scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week; and (b) their customary employment is more than five months in a calendar year. The administrator may, in its discretion, exclude any or all of the following unless prohibited by applicable law, so long as, for offerings under the 423 Component, any such exclusion is applied uniformly to all employees: (i) any employee who is a highly compensated employee (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code) or any highly compensated employee with compensation above a specified level, who is an officer, or who is subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act; or (ii) any employee who is a citizen or resident of a jurisdiction outside the United States if the grant of the option is prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction governing such employee or compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction would cause the Section 423 Component or any offering or option granted thereunder to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any employee who, after the granting of the option, would possess 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of Vaxart shall not be eligible. In addition, no employee shall be granted an option under the Section 423 Component which permits the employee to purchase shares under all of our “employee stock purchase plans” that would accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of fair market value of our stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

Administration

The 2022 ESPP will be administered by the Compensation Committee or its delegates, subject to applicable laws. The administrator will have full and exclusive authority to interpret the terms of the 2022 ESPP and determine eligibility, subject to the conditions of the 2022 ESPP, as described below.

Share Reserve

The maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the 2022 ESPP will be equal to 1,800,000 shares, subject to equitable adjustments to reflect a share split, reverse share split, share dividend, combination, amalgamation, consolidation, reorganization, arrangement or reclassification of the shares, or any other increase or decrease in the number shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company. Shares made available for sale under the 2022 ESPP may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. If any right granted under the 2022 ESPP shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the shares not purchased under such right shall again become available for issuance under the 2022 ESPP.

Contributions and Purchases

The 2022 ESPP will permit participants to purchase common stock through contributions (in the form of payroll deductions or otherwise to the extent permitted by the administrator) of up to 15% of their eligible compensation, which includes a participant’s regular earnings or base salary, bonuses and commissions, but excludes equity compensation and other similar compensation. The 2022 ESPP initially will have purchase periods of approximately 6 months in duration commencing with the first trading day after one exercise date and ending with the next exercise date, as determined by the administrator. The offering periods will start on such trading days as determined by the administrator prior to each such offering period. The administrator may, in its discretion, modify the terms of future purchase periods and offering periods, provided that no offering period may be longer than 27 months.

Amounts contributed and accumulated by the participant during any offering period will be used to purchase shares of our common stock at the end of each six-month purchase period. The purchase price of the shares will be 85% of the lower of the fair market value of our common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or on the last trading day of the offering period. As of April 11, 2022, the closing market price of a share of our common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.63 per share.

Withdrawal and Termination of Participation

A participant may withdraw from the 2022 ESPP voluntarily at any time by filing a notice of withdrawal prior to the close of business on the date established by the administrator. A participant will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the plan upon the termination of the participant’s employment for any reason or in the event the participant is no longer eligible to participate in the 2022 ESPP.

Restriction on Transfers

A participant may not transfer rights granted under the 2022 ESPP other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided under the 2022 ESPP.

Adjustments

In the event of certain changes in our capitalization, to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under the 2022 ESPP, the administrator will make adjustments, as it may deem equitable, to the number and class of shares that may be delivered, the applicable purchase price for shares, and/or the numerical share limits, pursuant to the 2022 ESPP.

Dissolution or Liquidation

In the event of our proposed liquidation or dissolution, any offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new exercise date, and will terminate immediately prior to such liquidation or dissolution unless otherwise determined by the administrator. The administrator will notify participants of the new exercise date in writing or electronically, at which time any participant’s purchase rights will be automatically exercised, unless the participant has earlier withdrawn from the offering period.

Certain Transactions

In the event of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction, an acquiring or successor corporation may assume or substitute each outstanding option. If the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the outstanding option, the offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new exercise date. The administrator will notify each participant in writing or electronically that the exercise date has been changed and that the participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the new exercise date, unless the participant has already withdrawn from the offering period.

Effective Date

The 2022 ESPP was approved by the board of directors on April 18, 2022, subject to stockholder approval. If approved by our stockholders, the 2022 ESPP will be effective on September 1, 2022.

Amendment or Termination

The board of directors may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the 2022 ESPP at any time and from time to time. Unless earlier terminated by the board of directors, the 2022 ESPP shall automatically terminate at the end of the day immediately prior to the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2022 ESPP. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision), with respect to the Section 423 Component, or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the 2022 ESPP in such a manner and to such a degree as required by Section 423 of the Code or such other law, regulation or rule.

Summary of Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

Section 423 Component

The following summary is intended only as a general guide to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2022 ESPP under the 423 Component. The summary is based on existing U.S. laws and regulations, and there can be no assurance that those laws and regulations will not entertainchange in the future. The summary does not purport to be complete and does not discuss the tax consequences upon a participant’s death, or the provisions of the income tax laws of any proposalsmunicipality, state or nominationsforeign country in which the participant may reside. As a result, tax consequences for any particular participant may vary based on individual circumstances.

The rights of participants to make purchases under the 2022 ESPP are intended to qualify under the provisions of Section 423 of the Code. Assuming such qualification, no income will be taxable to a participant until the sale or other disposition of shares purchased under the 2022 ESPP. Upon such sale or disposition, the participant will generally be subject to tax in an amount that depends upon the holding period of such shares prior to disposing of them.

If the shares are sold or disposed of more than two years from the first day of the offering period during which the shares were purchased and more than one year from the date of purchase, or if the participant dies while holding the shares, the participant (or his or her estate) will recognize ordinary income generally measured as the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time such sale or disposition over the purchase price of such shares or (ii) an amount equal to 15% of the fair market value of the shares on the first day of the offering period. Any additional gain will be treated as long-term capital gain. If the shares are held for at least the holding periods described above but are sold for a price that is less than the purchase price, there will be no ordinary income and the difference will be a long-term capital loss. We will not be entitled to an income tax deduction with respect to the grant or exercise of a right to purchase our shares, or the sale of such shares by a participant, where such participant holds such shares for at least the holding periods described above.

Any sale or other disposition of shares before the expiration of the holding periods described above will be a “disqualifying disposition,” and the participant will recognize ordinary income generally measured as the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date the shares are purchased over the purchase price, and we will be entitled to an income tax deduction for such ordinary income. Any additional gain or loss on such sale or disposition will be a long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the holding period following the date the shares were purchased by the participant prior to such sale or disposition, and we will not be entitled to an income tax deduction for any such capital gain.

Non-423 Component

The following summary is intended only as a general guide to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2022 ESPP under the Non-423 Component. Rights granted under the Non- 423 Component are not intended to qualify for favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment associated with rights granted under an “employee stock purchase plan” that qualifies under provisions of Section 423 of the Code. Under this component, a participant will have compensation income equal to the value of the shares at the time of purchase, less the purchase price. When a participant sells shares purchased under the ESPP, he or she also will have a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sales proceeds and the value of shares at the time of purchase. Any capital gain or loss will be short-term or long-term, depending on how long the shares have been held.

Any compensation income that a participant receives upon sale of shares that he or she purchased under the Non-423 Component is subject to withholding for income, Medicare and social security taxes, as applicable.

New Plan Benefits

Participation in the 2022 ESPP is voluntary and each eligible employee will make his or her own decision whether and to what extent to participate in the 2022 ESPP. It is therefore not possible to determine the benefits or amounts that will be received in the future by individual employees or groups of employees under the 2022 ESPP.

Registration with the SEC

The Company intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of shares under the 2022 ESPP with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act after approval of the 2022 ESPP by our stockholders.

Required Vote and Board of Directors Recommendation

Approval of this Proposal No. 4 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on Proposal No. 4. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count towards a quorum and have no effect on the outcome of this Proposal No. 4.

The board of directors recommends that our stockholders adopt the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the 2022 ESPP is hereby APPROVED.”

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS

A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL NO. 4.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS AT DECEMBER 31, 2021

The following table provides certain information with respect to all equity compensation plans in effect as of December 31, 2021.

          Number of  
          Securities  
          Remaining  
          Available for  
         Future Issuance  
  Number of      Under Equity  
  Securities to     Compensation  
  Be Issued Upon  Weighted-Average  Plans (Excluding  
  Exercise of  Exercise Price of  Securities  
  Outstanding  Outstanding  Reflected in  
  Options  Options  Column (a))  
  (a)  (b)  (c)  
              
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders  10,216,106(1) $4.96   5,582,742(2) 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders    $     
Total  10,216,106  $4.96   5,582,742  

(1)     Reflects shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options granted under the 2019 Plan, Vaxart’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, Aviragen’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, and Aviragen’s 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan, all of which have been approved by security holders.

(2)      Reflects shares of common stock that are available for future issuance under the 2019 Plan.

PROPOSAL NO. 5

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

What am I voting on?

Ratification of the selection of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021.

Vote recommendation:

“FOR” the ratification of WithumSmith+Brown, PC.

Vote required:

A majority of the votes cast on the proposal.

Effect of abstentions:

None.

Effect of broker non-votes:

Because this is a routine proposal, there are no broker non-votes.       

The Audit Committee of the board of directors has selected WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2022 and has further directed that management submit the selection of its independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Our lead audit partner at WithumSmith+Brown, PC serves no more than five consecutive years in that role. Representatives of WithumSmith+Brown, PC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Neither our Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification of the selection of WithumSmith+Brown, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee is submitting the selection of WithumSmith+Brown, PC to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter at the Annual Meeting will be required to ratify the selection of WithumSmith+Brown, PC.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

On July 15, 2021, Vaxart was notified that OUM & Co. LLP (“OUM”), an independent registered public accounting firm, had combined its practice with that of WithumSmith+Brown, PC and that the name of the combined practice would be “WithumSmith+Brown.” On July 16, 2021, OUM resigned as the auditors of the Company and the Audit Committee engaged WithumSmith+Brown, PC to serve as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm.

The following table represents aggregate fees billed to Vaxart for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, by WithumSmith+Brown, PC and OUM.

  

WithumSmith+Brown, PC for the Year

Ended December 31, 2021

  

OUM for the Year

Ended December 31, 2021

  

OUM for the Year

Ended December 31, 2020

 

Audit Fees (1)

 $428,419  $37,054  $448,704 

Audit-Related Fees

  158,000   69,923   178,979 

Tax Fees

         

All Other Fees

         

Total Fees

 $586,419  $106,977  $627,683 

(1)         Audit Fees consisted of fees for professional services rendered for the audits of our financial statements, including the audits of our annual financial statements and reviews of our interim quarterly reports, and services provided in connection with SEC filings, including consents and comfort letters.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy and procedures for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm, WithumSmith+Brown, PC. The policy generally pre-approves specified services in the defined categories of audit services, audit-related services and tax services up to specified amounts. Pre-approval may also be given as part of the Audit Committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent auditor or on an individual, explicit, case-by-case basis before the independent auditor is engaged to provide each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee’s members, but the decision must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of services other than audit services by WithumSmith+Brown, PC is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

All services rendered by WithumSmith+Brown, PC and OUM for the year ended December 31, 2021 were pre-approved in accordance with the policies set forth above.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS

A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL NO. 5.

PROPOSAL NO. 6

TO APPROVE, ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY BASIS, THE COMPENSATION
OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT

What am I voting on?

A non-binding vote, known as “say-on-pay,” to approve the 2021 compensation of our named executive officers.

Vote recommendation:

“FOR” the approval of our 2021 named executive officer compensation.

Vote required:

A majority of the votes cast on the proposal.

Effect of abstentions:

None.

Effect of broker non-votes:

None.       

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are asking our stockholders to vote on a non-binding advisory basis, commonly referred to as “say-on-pay”, to approve the compensation paid to our named executive officers as disclosed in the compensation tables and the related narrative disclosure contained in this proxy statement. In response to our stockholders’ preference, the board of directors has adopted a policy of providing for annual “say-on-pay” votes. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement.

This non-binding, advisory proposal is not binding on the board of directors or us. Nevertheless, the views expressed by the stockholders, whether through this vote or otherwise, are important to management and the board of directors and, accordingly, the board of directors and the Compensation Committee intend to consider the results of this vote in making determinations in the future regarding named executive officer compensation arrangements.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

The board of directors recommends that our stockholders adopt the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation, and the accompanying narrative disclosure and related material, set forth in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting, is hereby APPROVED.”

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of the record date.

Name

Age

Position(s)

Andrei Floroiu, M.B.A.

49

President and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

Sean Tucker, Ph.D.

54

Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer

Margaret A. Echerd

62

Senior Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer

Edward B. Berg

58

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

James Cummings, M.D.

56

Chief Medical Officer

The following is biographical information regarding our executive officers, with the exception of Mr. Floroiu, as of the record date. The biographical information of Mr. Floroiu is set forth above under Proposal 1.

Sean Tucker, Ph.D. has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since February 2010 and as Senior Vice President since March 2021. From March 2004 to February 2010, Dr. Tucker served as our Vice President of Research and Director of Immunology. Prior to these roles, Dr. Tucker held numerous scientific and engineering roles at various biotechnology companies. Dr. Tucker received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Washington, an M.S. in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Washington.

Margaret A. Echerd has served as our Senior Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer since March 2021. Previously, Ms. Echerd served as our Corporate Controller from April 2018 until March 2021, and as Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer from January 2019 until March 2021. From November 2016 to April 2018, Ms. Echerd was the Controller of Autonomic Technologies, Inc., a medical device company. From December 2015 to July 2016, Ms. Echerd served as Vice President, Corporate Controller of Quotient Technology, Inc., a digital marketing company. From June 2010 to December 2014, Ms. Echerd held various accounting positions at Extreme Networks, Inc., a networking technology company, including Assistant Corporate Controller (from June 2010 to September 2011) and Vice President, Corporate Controller, Chief Accounting Officer (September 2011 to December 2014). Ms. Echerd, who is a certified public accountant in California, received a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University and an M.B.A. in Corporate Finance from Golden Gate University. 

On March 28, 2022, Ms. Echerd notified Vaxart that she intends to retire as Senior Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer, effective as of May 5, 2022. Ms. Echerd has agreed to provide certain transition services to Vaxart following her retirement, and Vaxart intends to enter into an advisory services agreement with Ms. Echerd upon her retirement.

Edward B. Berg has served as our Senior Vice President and General Counsel since February 2022. Mr. Berg has served in senior legal positions at prominent healthcare companies for most of his more than 30-year career and has represented Fortune 500 and mid-cap companies in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. Prior to Vaxart, he served as VP, Deputy General Counsel for BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. from July 2018 to January 2022. Mr. Berg previously served as VP Legal and the head attorney supporting Novartis AG’s biosimilar / generic subsidiary, Sandoz US, from June 2016 to June 2018. Mr. Berg’s previous roles include Deputy General Counsel, Pharmaceutical Operations for Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC and Sanofi NA Pharmaceuticals, and Senior Corporate Counsel, Research & Development at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc. He began his career in healthcare as Senior Attorney / Associate Counsel for Merck & Co, Inc. Mr. Berg received a B.A. from Washington University in economics and political science and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

James Cummings, M.D. has served as our Chief Medical Officer since August 2021. Preceding his role at Vaxart, Dr. Cummings served as President of ICON Government and Public Health Solutions, Inc., a global clinical research organization, from January 2018 until September 2021, providing clinical trial and functional services to government and commercial customers, in support of global health. Prior to joining ICON, Dr. Cummings served as Vice President of Clinical Development and Translational Medicine at Novavax, Inc. from September 2015 until January 2018. There he led the development programs for all Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases to provide a timely, broad response across the spectrum of emerging infectious diseases. Colonel (Retired) Cummings enjoyed a 26-year career in the U.S. Army with a proven track record in vaccine, drug and diagnostics development, most recently as Director of the Department of Defense (DoD) Global Emerging Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Response Systems (DoD GEIS) leading Biosurveillance for the US DoD with laboratories and partners in 71 countries, along with serving as the Consultant to the Surgeon General for all medical research and development. A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Medicine, Dr. Cummings trained in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Fellowships at Walter Reed and the National Capital Consortium and has been elected to fellow in the American College of Physicians (FACP), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (FIDSA) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (FASTMH).

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (this “CD&A”) describes the 2021 compensation program established by the Compensation Committee for our named executive officers. Our named executive officers for 2021 include:

Name

Position

Andrei Floroiu, M.B.A.

President and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

James Cummings, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer

Sean Tucker, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer

Margaret A. Echerd

Senior Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer

Compensation Objectives

Our mission is the promotion of global health through the development of effective vaccines that can be administered by tablet rather than by injection, providing for the simple and efficient distribution and administration of safe vaccines in any setting. We operate in a highly competitive and rapidly changing industry and continue to evolve our businesses. Our compensation objectives for 2021 are outlined below.

Compensation Objective

Description

Pay-For-Performance

●     Emphasize performance-based compensation to motivate executives to achieve strong financial, operational and individual performance in a manner that balances short-term and long-term results

Talent Retention

●     Attract and retain high-caliber executives who can effectively manage our complex global business.

Alignment with Stockholder Interests         

●     Align our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders by making stock-based incentives a core element of our executives’ compensation.

Pay-for-Performance

The guiding principle of our compensation philosophy is that pay should be linked to performance and that the interests of executives and stockholders should be aligned. That principle is embedded in our compensation program, which is designed to optimize alignment between executive pay and actual results.

As described below, the variable components of our compensation program for 2021 were short-term incentives (“STI”) and long-term incentives (“LTI”). Our STI opportunities were provided under an annual cash bonus plan, the payout of which was dependent on corporate and individual performance. Our LTI opportunities were provided through stock options.

Named Executive Officer Pay Mix

The following charts illustrate the allocation of 2021 total direct compensation among base salary, STI opportunities (at target) and LTI opportunities (at the accounting value) for (i) the CEO and (ii) the other named executive officers as a group.

image01.jpg

image02.jpg

Say-on-Pay

The Compensation Committee has considered the results of the most recent stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation in determining compensation policies and decisions. The Company received strong support from our stockholders for our executive compensation program in 2021, with a favorable “say-on-pay” vote at our 2021 annual meeting exceeding 82% of the votes cast. The Compensation Committee viewed this strong result as confirmation that our compensation program is appropriately structured to support our strategic initiatives and our pay-for-performance commitment.

Market Practices

Competitive Compensation Levels

We believe that each element of our compensation program should remain competitive in order to retain, and, if necessary, attract experienced, high-caliber executives.

When setting 2021 compensation levels for the named executive officers, the Compensation Committee retained Aon Consulting, Inc. (“Aon”) as its independent compensation consultant, reporting directly to the Compensation Committee and serving at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. During its engagement, Aon was asked to review competitive compensation data, including pay mix and compensation levels. The compensation data was derived from several sources, including the companies in a compensation peer group established by the Compensation Committee, upon advice of Aon, and select compensation surveys. Each of these sources is described below.

For 2021, the Compensation Committee generally attempted to structure base salary for named executive officers at approximately the 25th to 50th percentile of the market data, STI opportunities at approximately the 40th percentile of the market data, and LTI opportunities at approximately the 50th to 75th percentile of the market data. The Compensation Committee, however, retained discretion to adjustment specific compensation elements and levels above or below these guidelines in order to respond to market conditions, promotions, new hires, individual performance or other circumstances.

Compensation Peer Group

Our compensation peer group consisted of 18 public life science companies that have the following characteristics:

U.S.-based, publicly traded, early-stage pre-commercial biopharma companies

Headcount generally below 200 employees

Market capitalization generally between $300 million and $3 billion

The members of the compensation peer group are as follows:

Compensation Peer Group

Altimmune

KalVista Pharmaceuticals

AnaptysBio

Kezar Life Sciences

Arcturus Therapeutics

NGM Biopharmaceuticals

Harpoon Therapeutics

RAPT Therapeutics

IDEAYA Biosciences

Rubius Therapeutics

Inhibrx

Scholar Rock

Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Selecta Biosciences

Iteos Therapeutics

Sutro Biopharma

Kaleido Biosciences

Syndax Pharmaceuticals

The Compensation Committee also reviews market data from a special cut of the Radford Global Life Sciences Survey, focusing on public life science companies with headcount of fewer than 50 employees.

Elements of Total Direct Compensation

A brief summary of our total direct compensation — consisting of base salary, STI opportunities and LTI opportunities — for our named executive officers is set forth below.

Annual Base Salaries

We provide a base salary to retain and attract key executive talent and to align our compensation with market practices. Base salaries are reviewed and established by the Compensation Committee on a competitive basis each year to align with market levels.

During the annual performance review process in 2021, the base salaries for our named executive officers were increased, as set forth below. The adjustments during the annual review process generally were intended to align with the market data and reflect internal pay equity considerations. The Compensation Committee approved an initial base salary for Dr. Cummings of $400,000, which was negotiated at the time he was hired. The 2020 and 2021 base salary levels for our named executive officer were as follows:

Named Executive Officer

 

2020 Annual Base Salary

 

2021 Annual Base Salary

Mr. Floroiu

 

$400,000

 

$480,000

Dr. Cummings

 

N/A

 

$400,000

Dr. Tucker

 

$348,000

 

$365,000

Ms. Echerd

 

$278,250

 

$350,000

For more information about the 2021 base salaries for each of our named executive officers, please refer to the “Salary” column of the 2021 Summary Compensation Table on page 44 of this proxy statement.

Short-Term Incentive Compensation

The STI program is designed to motivate our named executive officers to achieve annual business plan objectives and individual goals.

Each year the Compensation Committee establishes a STI award opportunity for our officers. During the annual performance review process in 2021, the Compensation Committee established the short-term incentive opportunity for each of the named executive officers listed below, which were as follows:

Named Executive Officer

 

2020 STI Opportunity (expressed as a % of base salary)

 

2021 STI Opportunity (expressed as a % of base salary)

Mr. Floroiu

 

50%

 

50%

Dr. Tucker

 

30%

 

40%

Ms. Echerd

 

30%

 

40%

For 2021, the Compensation Committee approved a STI award opportunity for Dr. Cummings of 40% of his annual base salary, which was pro-rated for the fiscal year and negotiated at the time of his hire.

The 2021 STI payout levels were determined by the Compensation Committee based on an overall assessment of corporate performance and individual contributions. The goals and objectives were established at the beginning of the year and generally focused on deliverables with regard to six primary areas: the COVID program, the norovirus program, the manufacturing process, the platform, the strength of our balance sheet and operational excellence. The Company, however, faced a number of unexpected external challenges during the year, including supply chain issues with respect to manufacturing operations. At the same time, the Company was fortunate to have a resilient and resourceful management team that navigated these challenges and produced strong results in certain other areas. Based on its assessment of overall corporate performance and the individual contributions of each participating executive, and its desire to retain the current management team who is essential to our continued success, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the board of directors approved, an overall achievement level of 85% for the 2021 STI program.

The amount of the 2021 STI award payable to each named executive officer is set forth in the “Bonus” column of the 2021 Summary Compensation Table of this proxy statement at page 44.

Long-Term Incentives

The Compensation Committee believes that a competitive LTI program is an important component of total direct compensation because it: (i) enhances the retentive value of our compensation; (ii) rewards executives for increasing our stock price and developing long-term value; and (iii) provides executives with an opportunity for stock ownership to align their interests with those of our stockholders.

During the annual performance review process in 2021, the Compensation Committee, with the help of Aon, its independent compensation consultant, conducted a review of the LTI award opportunities for our officers. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee and board of directors approved the following stock option grants to each of the named executive officers listed below, effective March 25, 2021:

Named Executive Officer

2021 Stock Option Grants

Mr. Floroiu

250,000 shares

Dr. Tucker

100,000 shares

Ms. Echerd

100,000 shares

The Compensation Committee granted a stock option to Dr. Cummings to purchase 300,000 shares when he commenced performing his consulting services for the Company on August 16, 2021, as described below. This grant level was negotiated at the time of his hire. Dr. Cummings performed consulting services for the Company through September 26, 2021, and then become employed with us on September 27, 2021.

In order to enhance retention incentives, the stock options granted to our named executive officers vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the option shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over the three-year period commencing on such first anniversary. In addition, the stock options granted to the named executive officers other than Dr. Cummings were not exercisable until the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the common stock reserved thereunder by 8,900,000 shares at the 2021 Annual Meeting. Our stockholders approved the plan amendment on June 16, 2021.

Additional Compensation Arrangements

Severance Benefit Plan

Each of the current named executive officers participates in the Severance Benefit Plan (the “Severance Plan”). Under the Severance Plan, a participating individual is entitled to receive severance benefits upon a qualified termination of employment, with enhanced benefits if the termination occurs in connection with a change in control. The Severance Plan does not provide tax gross‐ups for named executive officers or any other employees in the event they are subject to golden parachute excise taxes on severance or other payments received in connection with a change in control. The Severance Plan promotes retention incentives for our executives by establishing severance protections for participants that are consistent with market levels, while eliminating the need to negotiate individual severance agreements in connection with an executive’s termination or at the time of hire. The enhanced benefits available upon a change in control increase our retention incentives by reducing the personal uncertainty that arises from the possibility of a future business combination and promoting objectivity in the evaluation of transactions that are in the best interests of our stockholders.

More information on the Severance Plan, including the estimated payments and benefits payable to the named executive officers, is provided under the “Executive Compensation — Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section beginning on page 47 of this proxy statement.

Mr. Floroiu

In connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Floroiu entered into a letter agreement with the Company, dated as of June 14, 2020. The letter agreement provided for an initial base salary of $400,000 per year, an initial “target” bonus opportunity of 50% of his annual base salary and coverage under the Severance Plan, with his “Non-CiC Severance Period”, as defined in the Severance Plan, set at three months and his “CiC Severance Period”, as defined in the Severance Plan, set at six months. Mr. Floroiu will not receive any non-employee director cash retainers or other compensation under the Company’s director compensation program for his services as a director while he is serving as Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the letter agreement provides that during the period of his employment with the Company and for a period of two years thereafter, Mr. Floroiu will not compete anywhere in the world outside the State of California with the Company to develop, sell, market, or offer to sell products that are competitive with any products being developed or sold by the Company.

Dr. Cummings

In connection with his appointment as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the Company, Dr. Cummings entered into a letter agreement with the Company, dated as of August 16, 2021. The letter agreement provides for an initial base salary of $400,000 per year, an initial “target” bonus opportunity of 40% of his annual base salary and an initial grant of a stock option covering 300,000 shares (effective when he commenced the consulting services described below). In addition, the letter agreement provided that, prior to his start date, Dr. Cummings would provide certain consulting services to the Company at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer with respect to clinical and regulatory matters (including clinical trial design and regulatory strategies both in the U.S. and abroad), interactions with pan-governmental organizations such as WHO and CEPI, and business development activities. Dr. Cummings received a consulting fee at the rate of $100 per hour for these services and entered into a standard consulting agreement with the Company, which terminated on September 26, 2021, the day prior to the date he commenced employment.

Retirement Plan

We maintain a tax-qualified retirement plan that provides eligible employees, including our named executive officers, with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax advantaged basis. Eligible employees may defer eligible compensation up to certain tax code limits, which are updated annually. Employees are immediately and fully vested in their own contributions. We make matching contributions to participants in the 401(k) plan annually in arrears in an amount equal to the employee’s deferral up to a maximum of 3% of the employee’s annual eligible earnings, which are immediately and fully vested. As a tax-qualified retirement plan, contributions to the 401(k) plan are deductible by us when made, and contributions and earnings on those amounts are not taxable to the employees until withdrawn or distributed from the 401(k) plan. The named executive officers did not participate in, or otherwise receive any benefits under any pension plan or nonqualified deferred compensation plan.

CEO Pay Ratio

Pursuant to SEC requirements, we are disclosing the ratio of the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer), who as of December 31, 2021, was Andrei Floroiu, to the annual total compensation of our median employee.

To identify our median employee, we examined our payroll records for 2021 for all individuals other than our CEO that were employed at December 31, 2021. We determined that our employee population consisted of 109 other individuals. Using that employee population, we collected and compared annualized base salary and bonuses at actual achievement by all employees during 2021.

The 2021 annual total compensation for our median employee as determined based on SEC rules was $341,394. The 2021 annual total compensation for our Chief Executive Officer as determined based on SEC rules was $2,410,175. Based on this information, the ratio of our Chief Executive Officer’s annual total compensation to our median employee’s annual total compensation for fiscal year 2021 is 7.1 to 1.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides information regarding the total compensation for services rendered in all capacities that was earned by our named executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.

Name and Principal Position

 

Fiscal Year

 

Salary

  

Bonus

(1)
  

Stock Awards

(2)
   Option Awards (3)  

All Other 

Compensation (4)
  

Total

 

Andrei Floroiu

 

2021

 $466,667  $198,333  $  $1,735,950  $9,225  $2,410,175 

President and Chief Executive Officer (5)

 

2020

 $227,595  $126,668  $  $2,008,479  $  $2,362,742 
  

2019

 $  $  $  $  $  $ 

James Cummings, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer (6)

 

2021

 $112,154  $36,092  $  $2,228,040  $3,707  $2,379,993 

Sean N. Tucker, Ph.D.

 

2021

 $362,232  $123,159  $  $694,380  $9,379  $1,189,150 

Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer

 

2020

 $348,390  $173,780  $125,800  $693,288  $8,550  $1,224,008 
  

2019

 $331,800  $21,567  $  $82,541  $8,790  $444,698 

Margaret A. Echerd

 

2021

 $338,042  $114,934  $  $694,380  $11,010  $1,158,366 

Senior Vice President and

 

2020

 $278,250  $236,268  $42,500  $606,627  $8,550  $1,129,695 

Principal Accounting Officer

 

2019

 $265,000  $17,225  $  $38,777  $7,950  $328,952 

__________

(1)         Represents the bonuses awarded to the named executive officers for the applicable year under the STI program. The amount listed for Dr. Tucker for 2020 includes a retention bonus of $43,134. The amount listed for Ms. Echerd for 2020 includes retention bonuses in the amounts of $34,450 and $70,000.

(2)         For 2020, represents the grant date fair value of performance-based restricted stock unit awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 718. See Note 13 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2021, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating value pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718. These awards were forfeited as of December 31, 2020, because the applicable performance goals were not achieved.

(3)          Represents the grant date fair value of stock option awards for the applicable year computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. See Note 12 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2022, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating value pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718. As required by SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Our named executive officers will only realize compensation to the extent the trading price of our common stock is greater than the exercise price of such stock options. For 2020, this column also  includes the grant date fair value of stock options received by Mr. Floroiu as a non-employee director, covering 54,720 shares. For 2021, this column also includes the grant date fair value of the stock option received by Dr. Cummings when he commenced service as a consultant for the Company.

(4)         Amount shown consists of a 401(k) match and a Group-term life insurance income inclusion.

(5)         Mr. Floroiu was elected Chief Executive Officer of the Company on June 15, 2020. From April 13, 2020, until June 15, 2020, he served as a non-employee director. The cash fees earned by Mr. Floroiu in 2020 as a non-employee director are included in the “Salary” column.

(6)         Dr. Cummings performed consulting services for the Company from August 16, 2021, through September 26, 2021, and then commenced employment with us on September 27, 2021. The cash consulting fees earned by Dr. Cummings in 2021 are included in the “Salary” column.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table sets forth information regarding our grants of plan-based awards to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

      

Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)

  

All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) (2)

  

Exercise Price of Option Awards ($/Sh)

  

Grant Date Fair Value of Option Awards ($) (3)

 

Name and Award Type

 

Grant Date

   

Target ($)

       

Andrei Floroiu

                    

Stock Option

 

3/25/2021

 (4)       250,000  $6.27  $1,735,950 

STI Opportunity

   $233,333             
                     

James Cummings, M.D.

                    

Stock Option

 

8/16/2021

 (5)       300,000  $8.44  $2,228,040 

STI Opportunity

   $42,462             
                     

Sean N. Tucker, Ph.D.

                    

Stock Option

 

3/25/2021

 (4)       100,000  $6.27  $694,380 

STI Opportunity

   $144,893             
                     

Margaret A. Echerd

                    

Stock Option

 

3/25/2021

 (4)       100,000  $6.27  $694,380 

STI Opportunity

   $135,217             

(1)          The amounts shown in this column reflect the target STI opportunity for the named executive officers under the discretionary 2021 STI program. The amounts we actually paid to each named executive officer under the program are reported in the “Bonus” column of the Summary Compensation Table. See the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Total Direct Compensation — Short-Term Incentive Compensation,” for additional information regarding the annual incentive awards.

(2)          The amounts shown in this column reflect the number of shares of our common stock underlying options we granted to each named executive officer in 2021.

(3)          The values shown reflect the grant date fair value of the stock option awards computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. See Note 12 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2022, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating value pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718.

(4)          The option grant was approved by the board of directors on March 25, 2021. The stock options vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the option shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over the three-year period commencing on such first anniversary. In addition, the stock options were not exercisable until the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the common stock reserved thereunder by 8,900,000 shares. Our stockholders approved the plan amendment on June 16, 2021 at the 2021 Annual Meeting.

(5)         The option grant was approved by the board of directors on August 16, 2021, the date that Dr. Cummings commenced service as a consultant for the Company. The stock options vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the option shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over the three-year period commencing on such first anniversary.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2021

The following table presents, for each of our named executive officers, information regarding outstanding stock options held as of December 31, 2021.

  

Option Awards

Name

 

Grant Date of Option Award

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable

 

Options Exercise Price ($)

 

Option Expiration Date

Andrei Floroiu

 

4/13/2020 (6)

  

18,240

  

36,480

 

$

1.71

 

4/12/2030

  

6/15/2020 (7)

  

316,980

  

528,300

 

$

2.46

 

6/14/2030

  

6/15/2020 (1)

  

900,000

  

 

$

2.46

 

6/14/2030

  

3/25/2021 (8)

  

  

250,000

 

$

6.27

 

3/24/2031

James Cummings, M.D.

 

8/16/2021 (9)

  

  

300,000

 

$

  8.44

 

8/15/2031

Margaret Echerd

 

5/25/2018 (4)

  

334

  

1,333

 

$

5.17

 

5/24/2028

  

5/12/2019 (5)

  

1,467

  

24,949

 

$

0.77

 

5/11/2029

  

3/24/2020 (3)

  

275,625

  

39,375

 

$

1.70

 

3/23/2030

  

3/25/2021 (8)

  

  

100,000

 

$

6.27

 

3/24/2031

Sean N. Tucker, Ph.D.

 

4/13/2012 (1)

  

3,020

  

 

$

8.03

 

4/12/2022

  

8/8/2013 (1)

  

10,523

  

 

$

6.49

 

8/7/2023

  

5/8/2014 (1)

  

11,604

  

 

$

8.03

 

5/7/2024

  

7/23/2015 (1)

  

10,067

  

 

$

17.49

 

7/22/2025

  

3/25/2016 (1)

  

7,731

  

 

$

12.98

 

3/24/2026

  

6/24/2017 (1)

  

9,060

  

 

$

4.07

 

6/23/2027

  

5/25/2018 (2)

  

13,417

  

583

 

$

5.17

 

5/24/2028

  

5/12/2019 (5)

  

80,123

  

43,938

 

$

0.77

 

5/11/2029

  

3/24/2020 (3)

  

315,000

  

45,000

 

$

1.70

 

3/23/2030

  

3/25/2021 (8)

  

  

100,000

 

$

 6.27

 

3/24/2031

(1)

The shares subject to this option are fully vested.

(2)

The unvested shares vest in equal monthly installments through February 13, 2022, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date.

(3)

The unvested shares vest in equal monthly installments through April 1, 2022, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date.

(4)

The unvested shares vest in equal monthly installments through April 9, 2022, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date.

(5)

The unvested shares vest in equal annual installments through May 10, 2023, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date.

(6)

The unvested shares vest in equal monthly installments through April 13, 2024, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date.

(7)

The unvested shares vest in equal monthly installments through June 15, 2024, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date. The option is subject to accelerated vesting with respect to 50% of any then-unvested option shares upon a substantial strategic agreement, as determined by the board of directors, and to accelerated vesting in full in the event of a “Change in Control” (as defined under the Plan).

(8)

The unvested shares vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting on March 25, 2022, and the remaining shares subject to the option vesting in equal monthly installments over the subsequent 36 months, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date.

(9)

The unvested shares vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting on August 16, 2022, and the remaining shares subject to the option vesting in equal monthly installments over the subsequent 36 months, subject to the executive officer’s continued service with us through each relevant vesting date.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2021

The following table sets forth information with respect to stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2021.

  

Option Awards (1)

 

Name

 

Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)

  

Value Realized on Exercise ($)

 

Andrei Floroiu

    $ 

James Cummings, M.D.

    $ 

Margaret Echerd

  58,361  $346,304 

Sean N. Tucker, Ph.D.

  1,006  $579 

(1)          Represents the dollar amount realized upon exercise determined by the difference between the market price of the underlying securities at exercise and the exercise price of the options.

Pension Benefits

We do not meetmaintain defined benefit or supplemental retirement plans.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

We do not maintain nonqualified deferred compensation plans.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

We have entered into agreements and maintain plans and arrangements that may require us to pay or provide compensation and benefits to our named executive officers in the event of certain terminations of employment or a change in control.

The estimates set forth below of the amounts payable to our named executive officers upon termination of employment or in connection with a change in control generally are based on the assumption that the various triggering events occurred on the last day of 2021, along with other material assumptions noted below. The actual amounts that would be paid to a named executive officer upon termination or a change in control can only be determined at the time the actual triggering event occurs.

The estimated amount of compensation and benefits described below for our named executive officers generally does not take into account compensation and benefits that were already earned at the time of the applicable triggering event, such as equity awards that have previously vested in accordance with their terms or vested benefits otherwise payable under our compensation programs.

Severance Plan

Under the Severance Plan, if a participating named executive officer is terminated other than for cause, death or disability, or resigns for good reason, other than in connection with a change in control, he or she shall be entitled to receive (i) continued payment of base salary for six months for Dr. Cummings and Dr. Tucker and three months for each of Mr. Floroiu and Ms. Echerd, and (ii) the portion of health insurance premiums paid by the Company, prior to the termination, under our group health insurance plans as provided under COBRA, until the end of the applicable salary continuation period (or, if earlier, such time as the named executive officer is eligible for health insurance coverage with a subsequent employer).

If a participating named executive officer is terminated other than for cause, death or disability, or resigns for good reason, either during the three months before or in the 12 months after a change in control, then he or she will be entitled to receive (i) lump sum cash severance equal 12 months of base salary for Dr. Cummings and Dr. Tucker and six months of base salary for each of Mr. Floroiu and Ms. Echerd, (ii) the portion of health insurance premiums paid by the Company, prior to the termination, under our group health insurance plans as provided under COBRA, until the end of the applicable salary continuation period (or, if earlier, such time as the named executive officer is eligible for health insurance coverage with a subsequent employer), (iii) full vesting of any unvested time-based equity awards, and (iv) a pro-rated target annual bonus for the year of termination.

In exchange for the severance benefits, the participating named executive officers must agree to comply with the Company’s standard employee invention assignment and confidentiality agreement, return all company property, and sign a release of claims in favor of the Company.

Mr. Floroiu’s time-based stock options granted on June 15, 2020, would vest in full upon a change in control.

For purposes of the Severance Plan, the term “cause” means (i) engaging in willful or gross misconduct or willful or gross neglect; (ii) the commission of a felony or a crime involving any of the following: moral turpitude, dishonesty, breach of trust or unethical business conduct; or the commission of any crime involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement; or (iv) the abuse of illegal drugs or other controlled substances or habitual intoxication while providing services for the Company or any of its affiliates.

The term “good reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events without the participant’s consent; (i) a material diminution in base salary or target bonus; (ii) a material diminution in authority, duties, or responsibilities; or (iii) a relocation of the principal place of employment or service to a location that increases his or her one-way commute distance by more than 35 miles, subject to applicable notice and cure provisions.

Table of Potential Payments

Name and Trigger Event

 

Cash Severance Payment ($) (1)

  

Welfare and Other Benefits ($) (2)

  

Stock Option

Awards ($) (3)

  

Total ($) (4)

 

Andrei Floroiu

                

● Voluntary termination

  -   -   -   - 

● Involuntary or good reason termination prior to a CIC

  120,000   9,158   -   129,158 

● Change in Control

  -   -   2,012,823   2,012,823 

● Involuntary or good reason termination after a CIC

  240,000   9,158   166,349   415,507 

● Death

  -   400,000   -   400,000 

● Disability

  -   900,000   -   900,000 
                 

James Cummings, M.D.

                

● Voluntary termination

  -   -   -   - 

● Involuntary or good reason termination prior to a CIC

  200,000   -   -   200,000 

● Change in Control

  -   -   -   - 

● Involuntary or good reason termination after a CIC

  400,000   -   -   400,000 

● Death

  -   400,000       400,000 

● Disability

  -   900,000   -   900,000 
                 

Sean N. Tucker, Ph.D.

                

● Voluntary termination

  -   -   -   - 

● Involuntary or good reason termination prior to a CIC

  182,500   -   -   182,500 

● Change in Control

  -   -   -   - 

● Involuntary or good reason termination after a CIC

  365,000   -   447,950   812,950 

● Death

  -   400,000   -   400,000 

● Disability

  -   900,000   -   900,000 
                 

Margaret Echerd

                

● Voluntary termination

  -   -   -   - 

● Involuntary or good reason termination prior to a CIC

  87,500   5,416   -   92,916 

● Change in Control

  -   -   -   - 

● Involuntary or good reason termination after a CIC

  175,000   5,416   318,630   499,046 

● Death

  -   400,000   -   400,000 

● Disability

  -   900,000   -   900,000 

(1)          Amounts listed under “Cash Severance Payment” are payable under the terms of the Severance Plan.

(2)         Amounts listed under “Welfare and Other Benefits” include premiums for continued medical, dental and vision insurance in the event of an involuntary termination or a resignation for good reason. In the event of death or disability, the amount equals proceeds from insurance policies covering death or disability of the executive.

(3)          Represents (a) the product of (i) the number of shares underlying the applicable stock option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2021, multiplied by (ii) $6.27 (i.e., the closing market price on December 31, 2021), less (b) the aggregate exercise price of portion of the shares that are subject to acceleration of vesting under the applicable stock option awards. Please refer to the “Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2021” table for more detail.

(4)         Represents the total payout under each termination category.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

During 2021, our non-employee directors were compensated in the following manner under our director compensation program.

The Company’s director compensation program is designed to enhance its ability to attract and retain highly qualified directors and to align their interests with the long-term interests of its stockholders. The program includes a cash component, which is intended to compensate non-employee directors for their service on our board of directors and an equity component, which is intended to align the interests of non-employee directors and stockholders. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for their service on our board of directors.

The Compensation Committee annually reviews compensation paid to our non-employee directors and makes recommendations for adjustments, as appropriate, to the full board of directors. 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 our board of directors 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, benchmarks our director compensation program against those maintained by the peer group we use to evaluate our executive compensation program.

Annual and Meeting Fees

During 2021, our non-employee directors received the following cash compensation for their service on our board of directors and its committees:

$40,000 annual cash retainer;

$28,000 for the Chairman of the board of directors;

$15,000 for the chair of the Audit Committee and $7,500 for each of its other members; and

$10,000 for the chairs of the Compensation Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Science and Technology Committee, and $5,000 for each of their other members.

Equity Awards

On March 25, 2021, the board of directors approved a stock option grant to each non-employee director who (i) was serving on the board of directors as of the 2021 Annual Meeting and had been serving as a non-employee director for at least six months as of the date of such meeting, and (ii) continued to serve as a non-employee director immediately following such meeting. The stock option had a fair value of $103,000 and was effective as of the conclusion of the 2021 Annual Meeting. The stock options granted to the non-employee directors vests in full on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of grant or the 2022 Annual Meeting. In addition, the stock options granted to the non-employee directors were not exercisable until the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the common stock reserved thereunder by 8,900,000 shares. Our stockholders approved the plan amendment on June 16, 2021 at the 2021 Annual Meeting.

On April 21, 2021, David Wheadon, M.D. was appointed to serve on the board of directors. In connection with his appointment, he received a stock option grant covering 65,700 shares, which shall vest in three equal annual installments over three years. On August 20, 2021, Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D. was appointed to serve on the board of directors. In connection with her appointment, she received a stock option grant covering 65,700 shares, which shall vest in three equal annual installments over three years.

Dr. Latour’s term as director and Chairman of the board of directors expired at the 2021 Annual Meeting, and he did not stand for re-election. In recognition of Dr. Latour’s service on the board of directors, and in exchange for his release of claims against the Company and agreement to cooperate in certain matters, the board of directors agreed to (i) accelerate the vesting of 100,000 option shares granted to Dr. Latour on May 12, 2019, and (ii) provide that each vested stock option held by Dr. Latour on the date of the 2021 Annual Meeting will remain outstanding and exercisable for two years or until the earlier expiration of its 10-year term.

2021 Compensation

The following table provides director compensation information for each of the non-employee directors of the board of directors who served between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021:

Name

  

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash

   

Option Awards (1)

   

Total

 

Steven Boyd (2)

 

$

 

$

 

  

$

 

Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D. (3)

 

$

17,366

 

$

 

482,159

  

$

499,525

 

Todd C. Davis

 

$

68,000

 

$

 

103,001

  

$

171,001

 

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.

 

$

49,403

 

$

 

103,001

  

$

152,404

 

Wouter W. Latour, M.D. (4)

 

$

 

$

 

1,320,321

  

$

1,320,321

 

Keith Maher, M.D. (2)

 

$

 

$

 

  

$

 

David Wheadon, M.D. (5)

 

$

31,030

 

$

 

454,907

  

$

485,937

 

Karen J. Wilson

 

$

55,000

 

$

 

103,001

  

$

158,001

 

Robert A. Yedid

 

$

55,000

 

$

 

103,001

  

$

158,001

 

(1)

The values shown reflect the grant date fair value of the stock option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC, Topic 718. See Note 12 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2022, for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating value pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718. As required by SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. Our non-employee directors will only realize compensation to the extent the trading price of our common stock is greater than the exercise price of such stock options.

As of December 31, 2021, our non-employee directors held the following stock options:

Name

Number of Shares

Underlying Stock Options

Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D.

  65,700

Todd C. Davis

135,517

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.

  80,797

David Wheadon

  65,700

Karen J. Wilson

  80,797

Robert A. Yedid

117,277

(2)

On January 28, 2021, Steven J. Boyd and Keith Maher, M.D. each resigned from the board of directors.

(3)

Dr. Cherrington was appointed to the board of directors on August 20, 2021.

(4)

Dr. Latour’s term as director and Chairman of the board of directors expired at the 2021 Annual Meeting, and he did not stand for re-election. For Dr. Latour, the sum recorded under the Option Awards column represents the incremental fair value related to the modification of options to accelerate vesting and extend the exercise period.

(5)

Dr. Wheadon was appointed to the board of directors on April 21, 2021.

On April 18, 2022, and after consulting with its independent compensation consultant, the board of directors approved a new non-employee director compensation program, effective as of April 1, 2022. The board generally attempts to structure the cash compensation for non-employee directors at approximately the 25th to 50th percentile of the market data of the Company’s compensation peer group and equity awards at approximately the 50th to 75th percentile of the market data. The board, however, retains discretion to adjust specific compensation elements and levels above or below these requirements.guidelines to respond to market conditions, change in time commitments or other circumstances.

 

Under the new program, our non-employee directors will receive the following cash compensation for their service on our board of directors and its committees, effective April 1, 2022:

$40,000 annual cash retainer;

$30,000 for the Chairman of the board of directors;

$15,000 for the chair of the Audit Committee and $7,500 for each of its other members; and

$10,000 for the chairs of the Compensation Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Science and Technology Committee, and $5,000 for each of their other members.

In addition, each non-employee director who is initially elected or appointed to the board after the effective date of the new program shall automatically be granted on the day of such first election or appointment: (i) a stock option to purchase 88,448 shares of our shares of common stock, and (ii) a restricted stock unit award covering 14,750 shares of our common stock (the “Initial Award”). A non-employee director who is serving on the board as of the date of any annual meeting after the effective date of the new program, and who will continue to serve as a non-employee director immediately following such meeting, shall automatically be granted on the date of such annual meeting: (i) a stock option to purchase 44,224 shares of our common stock, and (ii) a restricted stock unit award covering 7,375 shares of our common stock (the “Annual Award”), which amounts are pro-rated for new directors to reflect their service since the last annual meeting. Each Initial Award shall vest and become exercisable in substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the non-employee director continuing in service on the board through each such vesting date. Each Annual Award shall vest and become exercisable on the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant, or (ii) the date immediately prior to the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders following the date of grant, subject to the non-employee director continuing in service on the board through such vesting date. Upon a change in control, all outstanding equity awards that are held by a non-employee director shall become fully vested and exercisable.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of our common stock as of April 11, 2022, by:

each nominee for director;

each current executive officer

all current executive officers and nominees for director as a group; and

all those known by us to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of our outstanding common stock.

This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and principal stockholders and Schedules 13G filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe that each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned. Applicable percentages are based on 126,405,811 shares outstanding on April 11, 2022, adjusted as required by rules promulgated by the SEC.

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o Vaxart, Inc., 170 Harbor Way, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080.

  

Beneficial Ownership

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Shares

 

%

Greater than 5% Stockholders:

    

State Street Corporation (1)

 

13,072,021

 

10.3%

BlackRock, Inc. (2)

 

8,452,420

 

6.7%

Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominee:

    

Edward Berg

 

 

*

Julie Cherrington

 

 

*

James Cummings

 

 

*

Todd C. Davis (3)

 

235,807

 

*

Margaret Echerd (4)

 

356,107

 

*

Michael J. Finney (5)

 

736,887

 

*

Andrei Floroiu (6)

 

1,414,427

 

1.1%

Sean Tucker (7)

 

682,481

 

*

David Wheadon, M.D. (8)

 

21,900

 

*

Karen J. Wilson (9)

 

36,997

 

*

Robert A. Yedid (10)

 

104,277

 

*

All executive officers, directors and director nominee as a group (11 persons)

 

3,588,883

 

2.8%

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent.

(1)

Consists of 13,072,021 shares of common stock beneficially owned by State Street Corporation, whose address is State Street Financial Center, 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111. This information has been obtained from the Schedule 13G/A filed by State Street on March 10, 2022.

(2)

Consists of 8,452,420 shares of common stock beneficially owned by BlackRock, Inc., whose address is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. This information has been obtained from the Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock on February 7, 2022.

(3)

Consists of (i) 118,530 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Davis, and (ii) 117,277 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022.

(4)

Consists of 356,107 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022.

(5)

Consists of (i) 656,090 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Finney, and (ii) 80,797 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022.

(6)

Consists of 1,414,427 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 23, 2021.

(7)

Consists of (i) 43,811 shares held directly by Dr. Tucker, (ii) 51,465 shares held jointly by Frances Chang and Dr. Tucker, (iii) 9,060 shares held by Dr. Tucker’s spouse, (iv) 27,273 shares issuable pursuant to warrants held jointly by Frances Chang and Dr. Tucker, exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022, and (v) 550,802 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022.

(8)

Consists of 21,900 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022.

(9)

Consists of 36,997 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022.

(10)

Consists of (i) 3,740 shares held directly by Mr. Yedid, (ii) 1,500 shares held by Mr. Yedid’s spouse, and (iii) 99,037 shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 11, 2022.

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity securities of Vaxart. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required, during the year ended December 31, 2021, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

Related-Party Transaction Policy and Procedures

We have adopted a written Related Party Transaction Policy that sets forth our policies and procedures regarding the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of “related party transactions.” For purposes of our policy only, a “related party transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (including indebtedness or a guarantee of indebtedness) or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which we and any “related party” are, were or will be participants involving an amount that exceeds $120,000 and in which any “related party” has a direct or indirect material interest. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee, director, consultant or similar capacity by a related party are not covered by this policy. A related party is any executive officer, director, nominee to become a director or more than 5% stockholder of us, including any of their immediate family members, and any entity owned or controlled by such persons. We describe below such transactions or series of similar transactions to which we have been or were a party since January 1, 2021.

Under the policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related party transaction, management must present information regarding the proposed related party transaction to the Audit Committee (or, where Audit Committee approval would be inappropriate, to another independent body of the board of directors) for consideration and approval or ratification. The presentation must include a description of, among other things, the material facts, the interests, direct and indirect, of the related parties, the benefits to us of the transaction and whether any alternative transactions were available. To identify related party transactions in advance, we rely on information supplied by our executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related party transactions, the Audit Committee takes into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to (a) the risks, costs and benefits to us, (b) the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related  party is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated, (c) the terms of the transaction, (d) the availability of other sources for comparable services or products and (e) the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally. In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself from the deliberations and approval. The policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related party transaction, the Audit Committee consider, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests of us and our stockholders, as the Audit Committee determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion. 

Certain Related-Person Transactions

Indemnity Agreements

We have entered into indemnity agreements with certain officers and directors which provide, among other things, that we will indemnify and advance expenses incurred in connection with certain actions, suits or proceedings to such officer or director, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for therein, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he or she may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he or she is or may be made a party by reason of his or her position as a director, officer or other agent of ours, and otherwise to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and our Bylaws.

Offer Letters

We have entered into offer letters, employment agreements and change in control arrangements with our executive officers. For more information regarding these agreements, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Additional Compensation Arrangements” on page 42.

Equity Grants

We have granted stock options to our executive officers and certain members of our board of directors. For a description of our executive officers’ options, see “Executive Compensation — Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2021” on page 46.

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

This year, a number of brokers with account holders who are Vaxart stockholders will be “householding” our proxy materials. A single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders.  Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, please notify your broker. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials at their addresses and would like to request “householding” of their communications should contact their brokers.

OTHER MATTERS

The board of directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.

As part of our precautions regarding COVID-19, we are planning for the possibility that the meeting may be held completely virtually over the Internet. If we take this step, we will announce the decision to do so via a press release and posting details on our website that will also be filed with the SEC as proxy material. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Annual Meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

/s/ Todd C. Davis

 

Todd C. Davis

James Fox, Ph.D.

Chairman of the Board

_________, 2022

We file annual and quarterly reports and other reports and information with the SEC. These reports and other information can be read over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or at our website at www.vaxart.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this proxy statement. We have included our website address in this proxy statement solely as an inactive textual reference.

A copy of Vaxart’s Annual Report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, is available without charge upon written request to: Secretary, Vaxart, Inc., 170 Harbor Way, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080.

 

 

Appendix

EXHIBIT A

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

 

AMENDED AND CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF
RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
VAXART, INC.

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

BIOTA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

The undersigned, Russell H. Plumb, hereby certifies that:

1.     He is the duly elected and acting President and Chief Executive Officer of Biota Pharmaceuticals,Vaxart, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

2.     The Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation was originally filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 14, 1969, under the name North American Biologicals, Inc., as thereafter amended. The Amendedorganized and Restated Certificate of Incorporation reflected herein has been duly authorized and adopted by the corporation’s Board of Directors and stockholders in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

3.     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as previously amended, of this corporation shall be amended and restated to read in full as follows:

FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

SECOND: The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1013 Centre Road, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is United States Corporation Company.

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organizedexisting under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.Delaware (the “Corporation”),

 

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: The name of Corporation is Vaxart, Inc.

SECOND: The Board of Directors of the Corporation, acting in accordance with the provisions of Sections 141 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, adopted resolutions amending its Restated Certificate of Incorporation as follows:

The first sentence in Article FOURTH shall be deleted and the following paragraphs shall be inserted in lieu thereof:

FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 75,000,000255,000,000 shares consisting of (a)

a)     5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.10$0.0001 per share, (the “Preferred Stock”), and (b) 70,000,000

b)     250,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.10$0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”)share.”

THIRD: Thereafter pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, this Certificate of Amendment was submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for their approval, and was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

[Remainder of the Page Intentionally Left Blank]

A-1

EXHIBIT B

2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED

Adopted by the Board of Directors: February 26, 2019
Approved by the Stockholders: April 23, 2019

1st Amendment Approved by the Stockholders: June 8, 2020

2nd Amendment Approved by the Stockholders: June 16, 2021
3rd Amendment Approved by the Stockholders: June [], 2022

1.    General.

(a)    Eligible Award Recipients. Employees, Directors and Consultants are eligible to receive Awards.

(b)    Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights (iv) Restricted Stock Awards, (v) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, (vi) Performance Stock Awards, (vii) Performance Cash Awards, and (viii) Other Stock Awards.

(c)    Purpose. The Plan, through the grant of Awards, is intended to help the Company secure and retain the services of eligible award recipients, provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate, and provide a means by which the eligible recipients may benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock.

2.    Administration.

(a)    Administration by Board. The Board will administer the Plan. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).

 

(b)    Powers of Board. The Board will have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

(i)    To determine: (A) who will be granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award will be granted; (C) what type of Award will be granted; (D) the provisions of each Award (which need not be identical), including when a person will be permitted to exercise or otherwise receive cash or Common Stock under the Award; (E) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to, or the cash value of, an Award; and (F) the Fair Market Value applicable to a Stock Award.

(ii)    To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for administration of the Plan and Awards. The Board, in the exercise of these powers, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Agreement or in the written terms of a Performance Cash Award, in a manner and to the extent it will deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan or Award fully effective.

(iii)    To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it.

(iv)    To accelerate, in whole or in part, the time at which an Award may be exercised or vest (or the time at which cash or shares of Common Stock may be issued in settlement thereof).

(v)    To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, suspension or termination of the Plan will not impair a Participant’s rights under the Participant’s then-outstanding Award without the Participant’s written consent, except as provided in subsection (viii) below.

(vi)    To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, by adopting amendments relating to Incentive Stock Options and certain nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and/or to make the Plan or Awards granted under the Plan compliant with the requirements for Incentive Stock Options or exempt from, or compliant with, the requirements for nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law. If required by applicable law or listing requirements, and except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the Company will seek stockholder approval of any amendment of the Plan that (A) materially increases the number of shares of stockCommon Stock available for issuance under the Plan, (B) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Corporation, regardlessPlan, (C) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (D) materially reduces the price at which shares of class, may be issued by the Corporation from time to time in such amounts, for such consideration and for such corporate purposes as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine.

Shares of PreferredCommon Stock may be issued from timeor purchased under the Plan, (E) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (F) materially expands the types of Awards available for issuance under the Plan. Except as provided in the Plan (including subsection (viii) below) or an Award Agreement, no amendment of the Plan will impair a Participant’s rights under an outstanding Award unless (1) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (2) such Participant consents in writing.

(vii)    To submit any amendment to time inthe Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of (A) Section 422 of the Code regarding “incentive stock options” or (B) Rule 16b-3.

(viii)    To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more seriesAwards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the Participant than previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided, however, that a Participant’s rights under any Award will not be impaired by any such amendment unless (A) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (B) such Participant consents in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Participant’s rights will not be deemed to have been impaired by any such amendment if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant’s rights, and (2) subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, the Board may amend the terms of any numberone or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent (A) to maintain the qualified status of sharesthe Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (B) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option, if such change results in impairment of the Award solely because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (C) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with, Section 409A of the Code; or (D) to comply with other applicable laws or listing requirements.

(ix)    Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards.

(x)    To adopt such rules, procedures and sub-plans related to the operation and administration of the Plan as are necessary or appropriate under local laws and regulations to permit participation in the Plan by Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States (provided that Board approval will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or any Award Agreement made to ensure or facilitate compliance with the laws or regulations of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).

(c)    Delegation to Committee.

(i)    General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee will have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board will thereafter be determinedto the Committee or subcommittee, as applicable). Any delegation of administrative powers will be reflected in resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, adopted from time to time by the Board or Committee (as applicable). The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.

(ii)    Rule 16b-3 Compliance. The Committee may consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, provided thatin accordance with Rule 16b-3.

(d)    Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one (1) or more Officers the aggregateauthority to do one or both of the following (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Options and SARs (and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other Stock Awards) and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the terms of such Awards, and (ii) determine the number of shares issued and not cancelled of any and allCommon Stock to be subject to such series shall not exceedStock Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however,that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation will specify the total number of shares of PreferredCommon Stock authorizedthat may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by this Amendedsuch Officer and Restated Certificatethat such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Any such Stock Awards will be granted on the form of Incorporation. Each seriesStock Award Agreement most recently approved for use by the Committee or the Board, unless otherwise provided in the resolutions approving the delegation authority. The Board may not delegate authority to an Officer who is acting solely in the capacity of Preferred Stock shall be distinctly designated. Except in respectan Officer (and not also as a Director) to determine the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 13(x)(iii) below.

(e)    Effect of the particulars fixed for seriesBoards Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith will not be subject to review by any person and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

(f)    Cancellation and Re-Grant of DirectorsStock Awards. Except as permitted hereby, allotherwise provided in Section 9 below, neither the Board nor any Committee will have the authority to: (i) reduce the exercise price or strike price of any outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, or (ii) cancel any outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that have an exercise price or strike price greater than the current Fair Market Value of the Common Stock in exchange for cash or other Stock Awards under the Plan, unless the stockholders of the Company have approved such an action within twelve months prior to such an event.

(g)    Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. Dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid or credited, as applicable, with respect to any shares of PreferredCommon Stock shallsubject to an Award (other than Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights), as determined by the Board and contained in the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that (i) no dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid with respect to any such shares before the date such shares have vested under the terms of equal ranksuch Award Agreement, (ii) any dividends or dividend equivalents that are credited with respect to any such shares will be subject to all of the terms and shallconditions applicable to such shares under the terms of such Award Agreement (including, but not limited to, any vesting conditions), and (iii) any dividends or dividend equivalents that are credited with respect to any such shares will be identical. All shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular, except that shares of any one series issued at different times may differ asforfeited to the dates from which dividends thereon shall be cumulative. The voting powers,Company on the date, if any, such shares are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to a failure to meet any vesting conditions under the terms of each such series and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding; and the Board of Directors is hereby expressly granted authority to fix, in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of stock of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers, if any, of each such series and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the laws of the State of Delaware.Award Agreement.

 

 

3.    Shares Subject to the Plan.

(a)    Share Reserve.

(i)    Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, and the following sentence regarding the annual increase, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards will not exceed 28,900,000 shares (the “Share Reserve”).

(ii)    For clarity, the Share Reserve in this Section 3(a) is a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan. As a single share may be subject to grant more than once (e.g., if a share subject to a Stock Award is forfeited, it may be made subject to grant again as provided in Section 3(b) below), the Share Reserve is not a limit on the number of Stock Awards that can be granted.

(iii)    Shares may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c) or other applicable rule, and such issuance will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan.

(b)    Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve.

(i)    Shares Available for Subsequent Issuance. The following shares of Common Stock will become available again for issuance under the Plan: (A) any shares subject to a Stock Award that are not issued because such Stock Award or any portion thereof expires or otherwise terminates without all of the shares covered by such Stock Award having been issued; (B) any shares subject to a Stock Award that are not issued because such Stock Award or any portion thereof is settled in cash; and (C) any shares issued pursuant to a Stock Award that are forfeited back to or repurchased by the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares.

(ii)    Shares Not Available for Subsequent Issuance. The following shares of Common Stock will not become available again for issuance under the Plan: (A) any shares that are reacquired or withheld (or not issued) by the Company to satisfy the exercise, strike or purchase price of a Stock Award (including any shares subject to such award that are not delivered because such award is exercised through a reduction of shares subject to such award (i.e., “net exercised”)); (B) any shares that are reacquired or withheld (or not issued) by the Company to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with a Stock Award; (C) any shares repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of the exercise, strike or purchase price of a Stock Award; and (D) in the event that a Stock Appreciation Right is settled in shares of Common Stock, the gross number of shares of Common Stock subject to such award.

(c)    Incentive Stock Option Limit. Subject to the provisions of any applicable law, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or ofSection 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the By-Laws with respect to the closing of the transfer books or the fixing of a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote, and except as otherwise provided by law or herein or by the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Stock, the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess the voting power for the election of directors and for all other purposes, each holder of recordaggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock beingthat may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be will be a number of shares of Common Stock equal to three (3) multiplied by the Share Reserve.

(d)    Limitation on Compensation of Non-Employee Directors. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Stock Awards granted under this Plan or otherwise during any one year to any Non-Employee Director, taken together with any cash fees paid by the Company to such Non-Employee Director during such year for service on the Board, will not exceed U.S. $600,000 in total value (calculating the value of any such Stock Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Stock Awards for financial reporting purposes), or, with respect to the calendar year in which a Non-Employee Director is first appointed or elected to the Board, $750,000.

(e)    Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise.

4.    Eligibility.

(a)    Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code). Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants; provided, however, that Stock Awards may not be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants who are providing Continuous Service only to any “parent” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, unless (i) the stock underlying such Stock Awards is treated as “service recipient stock” under Section 409A of the Code (for example, because the Stock Awards are granted pursuant to a corporate transaction such as a spin off transaction), (ii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that such Stock Awards are otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code, or (iii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that such Stock Awards comply with the distribution requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(b)    Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder will not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.

5.    Provisions Relating to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.

Each Option or SAR will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board deems appropriate. All Options will be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, or if an Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but some portion or all of the Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the applicable rules, then the Option (or portion thereof) will be a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options or SARs need not be identical; provided, however, that each Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(a)    Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option or SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Award Agreement.

(b)    Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise or strike price of each Option or SAR will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR on the date the Award is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Award if such Award is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for another option or stock appreciation right pursuant to a Corporate Transaction and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code. Each SAR will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents.

(c)    Purchase Price for Options. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment set forth below. The Board will have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to use a particular method of payment. The permitted methods of payment are as follows:

(i)    by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;

(ii)    pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;

(iii)    by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;

(iv)    if an Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company will accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be subject to an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares issuable upon exercise are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or

(v)    in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board and specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

(d)    Exercise and Payment of a SAR. To exercise any outstanding SAR, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such SAR. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a SAR will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the SAR) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such SAR, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date, over (B) the aggregate strike price of the number of Common Stock equivalents with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date. The appreciation distribution may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR.

(e)    Transferability of Options and SARs. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options and SARs as the Board will determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options and SARs will apply:

(i)    Restrictions on Transfer. An Option or SAR will not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or pursuant to subsections (ii) and (iii) below), and will be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant. The Board may permit transfer of the Option or SAR in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable laws or regulations. Except as explicitly provided in the Plan, neither an Option nor a SAR may be transferred for consideration.

(ii)    Domestic Relations Orders. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, an Option or SAR may be transferred pursuant to the terms of a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument as permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.421-1(b)(2) or comparable non-U.S. law. If an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.

(iii)    Beneficiary Designation. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, a Participant may, by delivering written notice to the Company or to any third party designated by the Company, in a form approved by the Company (or the designated broker), designate a third party who, upon the death of the Participant, will thereafter be entitled to one voteexercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, upon the death of the Participant, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate or the Participant’s legal heirs will be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. However, the Company may prohibit designation of a beneficiary at any time, including due to any conclusion by the Company that such designation would be inconsistent with the provisions of applicable laws.

(f)    Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR may vest and become exercisable in periodic installments that may or may not be equal. The Option or SAR may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options or SARs may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(f) are subject to any Option or SAR provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option or SAR may be exercised.

(g)    Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability), the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Award as of the date of termination of Continuous Service) within the period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date which occurs three (3) months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the applicable Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR (as applicable) within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR will terminate.

(h)    Extension of Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if the exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a total period of time (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post termination exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of such registration requirements, and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, if the sale of any Common Stock received upon exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would violate the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the period of months (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post-termination exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(i)    Disability of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of termination of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date which occurs 12 months following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable) will terminate.

(j)    Death of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if (i) a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the Participant dies within the period (if any) specified in the Award Agreement for exercisability after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option or SAR may be exercised (to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of death) by the Participant’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option or SAR upon the Participant’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date 18 months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after the Participant’s death, the Option or SAR is not exercised within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable) will terminate.

(k)    Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Option or SAR will terminate immediately upon such Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and the Participant will be prohibited from exercising his or her Option or SAR from and after the date of such termination of Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service is suspended pending an investigation of the existence of Cause, all of the Participant’s rights under the Option or SAR will also be suspended during the investigation period.

(l)    Non-Exempt Employees. If an Option or SAR is granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, the Option or SAR will not be first exercisable for any shares of Common Stock until at least six months following the date of grant of the Option or SAR (although the Award may vest prior to such date). Consistent with the provisions of the U.S. Worker Economic Opportunity Act, (i) if such non-exempt Employee dies or suffers a Disability, (ii) upon a Corporate Transaction in which such Option or SAR is not assumed, continued, or substituted, (iii) upon a Change in Control, or (iv) upon the Participant’s retirement (as such term may be defined in the Participant’s Award Agreement in another agreement between the Participant and the Company, or, if no such definition, in accordance with the Company's then current employment policies and guidelines), the vested portion of any Options and SARs may be exercised earlier than six months following the date of grant. The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option or SAR will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay. To the extent permitted and/or required for compliance with the U.S. Worker Economic Opportunity Act to ensure that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise, vesting or issuance of any shares under any other Stock Award will be exempt from the employee’s regular rate of pay, the provisions of this Section 5(l) will apply to all Stock Awards and are hereby incorporated by reference into such Stock Award Agreements.

6.    Provisions of Stock Awards other than Options and SARs.

(a)    Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board will deem appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s bylaws, at the Board’s election, shares of Common Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock Award lapse; or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate will be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(i)    Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company, (B) past services to the Company or an Affiliate, or (C) any other form of legal consideration (including future services) that may be acceptable to the Board, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.

(ii)    Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.

(iii)    Termination of Participants Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

(iv)    Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as the Board will determine in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

(b)    Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board will deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

(i)    Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock standingsubject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in his name onany form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the booksBoard, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.

(ii)    Vesting. At the time of the Corporation.grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

FIFTH: The Board(iii)    Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of Directorsshares of the Corporation shall consistCommon Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of seven members or such other numberconsideration, as shall be designateddetermined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend and repeal By-Laws, subject tocontained in the powerRestricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.

(iv)    Additional Restrictions. At the time of the stockholders to amend or repeal any By-Law made bygrant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board, of Directors.

SIXTH: Unless and except toas it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the extent that the By-Laws shall so require, the election of the directors need not be by written ballot.

SEVENTH: (a) Except as set forth in Part (b) of this Article Seventh the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of 75%delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.

(v)    Termination of Participants Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, such portion of the Corporation entitledRestricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

(c)    Performance Awards.

(i)    Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award that is payable (including that may be granted, may vest or may be exercised) contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award may but need not require the Participant’s completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to votebe achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Board or Committee, in its sole discretion. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance Stock Awards.

(ii)    Performance Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award that is payable contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Cash Award may also require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. At the time of grant of a Performance Cash Award, the length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Board or Committee, in its sole discretion. The Board may specify the form of payment of Performance Cash Awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Performance Cash Award, or such portion thereof as the Board may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property.

(iii)    Board Discretion. The Board retains the discretion to adjust or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for a Performance Period.

(d)    Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including the appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or stock rights with an exercise price or strike price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant) may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock Awards provided for under Section 5 and the preceding provisions of this Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board will have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock Awards.

7.    Covenants of the Company.

(a)    Availability of Shares. The Company will keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock reasonably required to satisfy then-outstanding Stock Awards.

(b)    Compliance with Law. The Company will seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency, as necessary, such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise or vesting of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking will not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan or other securities or applicable laws, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts and at a reasonable cost, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the electionCompany deems necessary or advisable for the lawful issuance and sale of directors shallCommon Stock under the Plan, the Company will be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise or vesting of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant will not be eligible for the grant of an Award or the subsequent issuance of cash or Common Stock pursuant to the Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation of any applicable law.

(c)    No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes. The Company will have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner or tax treatment of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company will have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award.

8.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards will constitute general funds of the Company.

(b)    Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Board consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement or related grant documents as a result of a clerical error in the papering of the Award Agreement or related grant documents, the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement or related grant documents.

(c)    Stockholder Rights. No Participant will be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award unless and until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of, or the issuance of shares of Common Stock under, the Award pursuant to its terms, and (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award has been entered into the books and records of the Company.

(d)    No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award granted pursuant thereto will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or will affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state or foreign jurisdiction in which the Company or the Affiliate is domiciled or incorporated, as the case may be. Furthermore, to the extent the Company is not the employer of a Participant, the grant of an Award will be not establish an employment or other service relationship between the Company and the Participant.

(e)    Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the Company and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee or takes an extended leave of absence) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Board has the right in its sole discretion to (x) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares or cash amount subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (y) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.

(f)    Incentive Stock Option Limitations. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Affiliates) exceeds U.S. $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code) or otherwise does not comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) or otherwise do not comply with such rules will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).

(g)    Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that such Participant is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, will be inoperative if (A) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (B) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.

(h)    Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of an Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to an Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Stock Award; provided, however, that (A) no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the maximum amount of tax that may be required to be withheld by law (or such other amount as may be permitted while still avoiding classification of the Stock Award as a liability for financial accounting purposes) ), and (B) with respect to an Award held by any Participant who is subject to the filing requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any such share withholding must be specifically approved by the Compensation Committee as the applicable method that must be used to satisfy the tax withholding obligation or such share withholding procedure must otherwise satisfy the requirements for an exempt transaction under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; (iii) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash; (iv) withholding payment from any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant; (v) by means of a “cashless exercise” pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, or (vi) by such other method as may be set forth in the Award Agreement.

(i)    Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access).

(j)    Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Board may provide for distributions while a Participant is still an employee or otherwise providing services to the Company. The Board is authorized to make deferrals of Awards and determine when, and in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan and in accordance with applicable law.

(k)    Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in an Award Agreement, the Plan and Award Agreements will be interpreted to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and, to the extent not so exempt, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. If the Board determines that any Award granted hereunder is not exempt from and is therefore subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the extent an Award Agreement is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such terms are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan (and unless the Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise), if the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded, and if a Participant holding an Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount that is due because of a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six months following the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day after such six month period elapses, with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule.

(l)    Clawback/Recovery. All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In addition, the Board may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Board determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock or other cash or property upon the occurrence of an event constituting Cause. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or an Affiliate.

9.    Adjustments upon Changes in Common Stock; Other Corporate Events.

(a)    Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board will appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c), and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board will make such adjustments, and its determination will be final, binding and conclusive.

(b)    Dissolution or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to a forfeiture condition or the Company’s right of repurchase) will terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase rights or subject to a forfeiture condition may be repurchased or reacquired by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous Service; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion.

(c)    Corporate Transaction. The following provisions will apply to Stock Awards in the event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise provided in the Stock Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board may take one or more of the following actions with respect to Stock Awards, contingent upon the closing or completion of the Corporate Transaction:

(i)    arrange for the adoptionsurviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) to assume or continue the Stock Award or to substitute a similar stock award for the Stock Award (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Corporate Transaction);

(ii)    arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Stock Award to the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company);

(iii)    accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the Stock Award (and, if applicable, the time at which the Stock Award may be exercised) to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board determines (or, if the Board does not determine such a date, to the date that is five days prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction), which exercise is contingent upon the effectiveness of such Corporate Transaction with such Stock Award terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction; provided, however, that the Board may require Participants to complete and deliver to the Company a notice of exercise before the effective date of a Corporate Transaction

(iv)    arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Stock Award;

(v)    cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Stock Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the Board, in its sole discretion, may consider appropriate; and

(vi)    make a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the per share amount (or value of property per share) payable to holders of Common Stock in connection with the Transaction, over (B) the per share exercise price under the applicable Stock Award, multiplied by the number of shares subject to the Stock Award. For clarity, this payment may be zero (U.S. $0) if the amount per share (or value of property per share) payable to the holders of the Common Stock is equal to or less than the exercise price of the Stock Award. In addition, any escrow, holdback, earnout or similar provisions in the definitive agreement for the merger or consolidationTransaction may apply to such payment to the holder of the CorporationStock Award to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the holders of Common Stock.

The Board need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Stock Awards or intoportions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Board may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of a Stock Award.

(d)    Change in Control. A Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any Other Corporation (as hereinafter defined),other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will occur.

10.    Termination or Suspension of the Plan.

The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (i) the Adoption Date, or (ii) the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

11.    Existence of the Plan.

The Plan will become effective on the Effective Date.

12.    Choice of Law.

The law of the State of Delaware will govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to authorizethat state’s conflict of laws rules.

13.    Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following definitions will apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:

(a)Adoption Date” means the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

(b)Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

(c)Award” means a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award.

(d)Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an Award.

(e)Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(f)Capital Stockmeans each and every class of common stock of the Company, regardless of the number of votes per share.

(g)Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.

(h)Causewill have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or any applicable foreign jurisdiction; (ii) such Participant’s attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or any Affiliate; (iii) such Participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate or of any statutory duty owed to the Company or any Affiliate; (iv)  such Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s or any Affiliate’s confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Participant’s gross misconduct. The determination that a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause shall be made by the Company in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated by reason of dismissal without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Stock Awards held by such Participant shall have no effect upon any determination of the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.

(i)Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(i)    any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company directly from the Company, (B) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person that acquires the Company’s securities in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities, or (C) solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control will be deemed to occur;

(ii)    there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;

(iii)    there is consummated a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledgeexclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the CorporationCompany and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) having a then net worthother disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in excesssubstantially the same proportions as their Ownership of $250,000 (as hereinafter defined) to any Other Corporation, or (iii) to authorize the issuance or transfer by the Corporation of any Substantial Amount (as hereinafter defined) ofoutstanding voting securities of the Corporation in exchange for the securitiesCompany immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or assets of any Other Corporation. Such affirmative voteother disposition; or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of the stock of the Corporation otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation or any agreement or contract to which the Corporation is a party.

 

(b) The provisions of Part (a) of this Article Seventh shall not be applicable to any transaction described therein if such transaction(iv)    individuals who, on the date the Plan is approvedadopted by resolutionthe Board, are members of the Board of Directors, provided that(the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of Directors voting for the approval of such transaction were duly elected and acting members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member will, for purposes of Directors priorthis Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of the Plan, the term Change in Control will not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company and the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant will supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition will apply. To the extent required for compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if such transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder). The Board may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s consent, amend the definition of “Change in Control” to conform to the timedefinition of “Change in Control” under Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations thereunder.

(j)Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.

(k)Committee” means a committee of one or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(c).

(l)Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, having one vote per share.

(m)Company” means Vaxart, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(n)Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such Other Corporationservices, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, will not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan.Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is treated as a Consultant under this Plan only if a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act is available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such person.

(o)Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, will not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided, however,that if the Entity for which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, such Participant’s Continuous Service will be considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or to a Director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may have becomedetermine whether Continuous Service will be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or chief executive officer, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an Affiliate, or their successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined)leave of 5%absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in an Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law. In addition, to the extent required for exemption from or compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the determination of whether there has been a termination of Continuous Service will be made, and such term will be construed, in a manner that is consistent with the definition of “separation from service” as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).

(p)Corporate Transaction” means the consummation, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the sharesfollowing events:

(i)    a saleor other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, of the stockconsolidated assets of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors.Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(c) For the purposes of Part (b) of this Article Seventh, the Board of Directors shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article Seventh, on the basis of information known to such Board, if and when any Other Corporation is the Beneficial Owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Article Seventh.

(d) As used in this Article Seventh the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

“Other Corporation” means any person, firm, corporation,(ii)    a sale or other entity, other than a Subsidiarydisposition of the Corporation.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Corporation owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting securities.

“Substantial Amount” means anyoutstanding securities of the Corporation having a then fair market value of more than $250,000.Company;

 

An Other Corporation (as defined above) shall(iii)    a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or

(iv)    a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.

If required for compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Corporate Transaction be deemed to be the “Beneficial Owner” of stockhave occurred if such Other Corporationtransaction is not also a “change in the ownership or “affiliate”effective control of” the Company or “associate”“a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).

(q)     “Director” means a member of the Board.

(r)Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Other Corporation (as those terms are definedParticipant to engage in Rule 12b-2 promulgatedany substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances.

(s) Effective Date” means the effective date of this Plan document, which is the date of the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company held in 2019, provided this Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders at such meeting.

(t)     “Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.

(u)Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.

(v)Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (15 U.S.C. 78 aaa et seq.)), as amended, from timeand the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(w)Exchange Act Personmeans any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” will not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to time,a registered public offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, controlsby the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Effective Date, is the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of conversion or other rights to acquire such stock.the Company’s then outstanding securities.

(x)Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(e) This Article Seventh may(i)    If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock will be, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported in a source the Board deems reliable.

(ii)    Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then the Fair Market Value will be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

(iii)    In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Board in good faith and in a manner that complies with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.

(y)Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan that is intended to be, and qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(z)     “Non-Employee Directormeans a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be amended, revisedrequired under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or revoked,(ii) is otherwise considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

(aa)Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(bb)Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(cc)Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan.

(dd)Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(ee)Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

(ff)Other Stock Award” means an award based in whole or in part exceptby reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d).

(gg)Other Stock Award Agreementmeans a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(hh)     “Own,Owned,Owner,Ownershipmeans a person or Entity will be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.

(ii)Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

(jj)Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock Award.

(kk)Performance Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(c)(ii).

(ll)Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board or Committee (as applicable) will select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish such Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following as determined by the affirmative voteBoard or consentCommittee (as applicable): (1) earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (4) total stockholder return; (5) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (6) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (7) stock price; (8) margin (including gross margin); (9) income (before or after taxes); (10) operating income; (11) operating income after taxes; (12) pre-tax profit; (13) operating cash flow; (14) sales or revenue targets; (15) increases in revenue or product revenue; (16) expenses and cost reduction goals; (17) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (18) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (19) market share; (20) cash flow; (21) cash flow per share; (22) share price performance; (23) debt reduction; (24) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (25) subscriber satisfaction; (26) stockholders’ equity; (27) capital expenditures; (28) debt levels; (29) operating profit or net operating profit; (30) workforce diversity; (31) growth of net income or operating income; (32) billings; (33) the number of subscribers, including but not limited to unique subscribers; (34) employee retention; and (35) other measures of performance selected by the Board.

(mm)Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board or Committee (as applicable) for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise by the Board or Committee (as applicable) (i) in the Award Agreement at the time the Award is granted or (ii) in such other document setting forth the Performance Goals at the time the Performance Goals are established, the Board or Committee (as applicable) will appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of Performance Goals for a Performance Period as follows: (1) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of items that are “unusual” in nature or occur “infrequently” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume that any business divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the holdersCompany by reason of 75%any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under the Company’s bonus plans; (10) to exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting principles; and (11) to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Board or Committee (as applicable) retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement or the written terms of a Performance Cash Award.

(nn)Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Board or Committee (as applicable) over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Board or Committee (as applicable).

(oo)Performance Stock Award” means a Stock Award granted under the terms and conditions of Section 6(c)(i).

(pp)Plan” means this Vaxart, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended.

(qq)Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors.Section 6(a).

 

EIGHTH: (rr)Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(ss)Restricted Stock Unit Awardmeans a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b).

(tt)Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreementmeans a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(uu)Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.

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

(ww)Stock Appreciation Right” or “SARmeans a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 5.

(xx)Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(yy)Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance Stock Award or any Other Stock Award.

(zz)Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(aaa)Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than 50%.

(bbb)Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.

EXHIBIT C

2022 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE

The Plan’s purpose is to assist employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries in acquiring a share ownership interest in the Company, and to help such employees provide for their future security and to encourage them to remain in the employment of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

The Plan consists of two components: The Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component. The Section 423 Component is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code and shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. In addition, this Plan authorizes the grant of Options under the Non-Section 423 Component, which need not qualify as Options granted pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code; such Options granted under the Non-Section 423 Component shall be granted pursuant to separate Offerings containing such sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures as may be adopted by the Administrator and designed to achieve tax, securities laws or other objectives for Eligible Employees and the Designated Subsidiaries in locations outside of the United States. Except as otherwise provided herein or determined by the Administrator, the Non-Section 423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the Section 423 Component. Offerings intended to be made under the Non-Section 423 Component will be designated as such by the Administrator at or prior to the time of such Offering.

For purposes of this Plan, the Administrator may designate separate Offerings under the Plan, the terms of which need not be identical, in which Eligible Employees will participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Period(s) in each such Offering is identical, provided that the terms of participation are the same within each separate Offering under the Section 423 Component as determined under Section 423 of the Code. Solely by way of example and without limiting the foregoing, the Company could, but shall not be required to, provide for simultaneous Offerings under the Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component of the Plan.

ARTICLE II
PARTICIPATION

2.1Eligibility.

(a)         Any Eligible Employee who is employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on a given Enrollment Date for an Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of Articles III and IV hereof, and, for the Section 423 Component, the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

(b)         No Eligible Employee shall be granted an Option under the Section 423 Component which permits the Participant’s rights to purchase Shares under the Plan, and to purchase shares under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary subject to Section 423 of the Code, to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of fair market value of such shares (determined at the time such Option is granted) for each calendar year in which such Option is outstanding at any time. The limitation under this Section 2.1(b) shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

2.2Election to Participate; Payroll Deductions.

(a)         Each individual who is an Eligible Employee as of an Offering Period’s Enrollment Date may elect to participate in such Offering Period and the Plan by delivering to the Company or an Agent designated by the Company an enrollment form including a payroll deduction authorization (which enrollment form and payroll deduction authorization shall be in a form established by the Administrator, shall set forth the terms of the Offering, and may be in an electronic format or such other method as determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s practices) (a “Participation Election”) no later than the period of time prior to the applicable Enrollment Date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Except as provided in Section 2.2(e) hereof, an Eligible Employee may participate in the Plan only by means of payroll deduction.

(b)         Subject to Section 2.1(b) hereof and except as may otherwise be determined by the Administrator, payroll deductions (i) shall equal at least 1% of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday of the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date, but not more than 15% of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday of the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date; and (ii) shall be expressed as a whole number percentage. Subject to Section 2.2(e) hereof, amounts deducted from a Participant’s Compensation with respect to an Offering Period pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall be deducted each Payday through payroll deduction and credited to the Participant’s Plan Account.

(c)         Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, following at least one payroll deduction, a Participant may increase or decrease the percentage of Compensation designated in his or her enrollment form, subject to the limits of this Section 2.2, or may suspend his or her payroll deductions, at any time during an Offering Period; provided, however, that the Administrator may limit the number of changes a Participant may make to his or her payroll deduction elections during each Offering Period in the applicable Offering (and in the absence of any specific designation by the Administrator, a Participant shall only be allowed to decrease his or her payroll deduction election one time during each Offering Period and shall not be permitted to increase his or her payroll deduction at any time during an Offering Period). Any such change or suspension of payroll deductions shall be effective with the first full payroll period following ten business days after the Company’s receipt of the new enrollment form (or such shorter or longer period as may be specified by the Administrator in the applicable Offering). In the event a Participant suspends his or her payroll deductions, such Participant’s cumulative payroll deductions prior to the suspension shall remain in his or her account and shall be applied to the purchase of Shares on the next occurring Exercise Date and shall not be paid to such Participant unless he or she withdraws from participation in the Plan pursuant to Section 5.1.

(d)         Upon the completion of an Offering Period, each Participant in such Offering Period shall automatically participate in the immediately following Offering Period at the same payroll deduction percentage as in effect at the termination of such Offering Period, unless such Participant delivers to the Company or an Agent designated by the Company a different Participation Election with respect to the successive Offering Period in accordance with Section 2.2(a) hereof, or unless such Participant becomes ineligible or otherwise modifies the Participant’s election for participation in the Plan.

(e)         Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, in non-U.S. jurisdictions where participation in the Plan through payroll deductions is prohibited or otherwise problematic under applicable local laws (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion), the Administrator may provide that an Eligible Employee may elect to participate through contributions to the Participant’s Plan Account in a form acceptable to the Administrator in lieu of or in addition to payroll deductions; provided, however, that, for any Offering under the Section 423 Component, the Administrator must determine that any alternative method of contribution is applied on an equal and uniform basis to all Eligible Employees in the Offering. Any reference to “payroll deductions” in this Section 2.2 (or in any other section of the Plan) will similarly cover contributions by other means made pursuant to this Section 2.2(e).

ARTICLE III
PURCHASE OF SHARES

3.1Gant of Option. The Company may make one or more Offerings under the Plan, which may be successive or overlapping with one another, until the earlier of: (i) the date on which all Shares available under the Plan have been purchased or (ii) the date on which the Plan is suspended or terminates. No Offering shall commence prior to the date on which the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 is filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of the Plan. The Administrator shall designate the terms and conditions of each Offering in writing in the Participation Election, including without limitation, the Offering Period and the Purchase Periods. Each Participant shall be granted an Option with respect to an Offering Period on the applicable Grant Date. Subject to the limitations of Section 2.1(b) hereof, the number of Shares subject to a Participant’s Option shall be determined by dividing (a) such Participant’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to an Exercise Date and retained in the Participant’s Plan Account on such Exercise Date by (b) the applicable Option Price. The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of Shares that a Participant may purchase during any Purchase Periods under such future Offering Periods. Each Option shall expire on the last Exercise Date for the applicable Offering Period immediately after the automatic exercise of the Option in accordance with Section 3.3 hereof, unless such Option terminates earlier in accordance with Article III hereof.

3.2Option Price. The Option Price shall equal 85% of the lesser of the Fair Market Value of a Share on (a) the applicable Grant Date, and (b) the applicable Exercise Date, or such other price designated by the Administrator; provided that no Option Price shall be designated by the Administrator that would cause the Section 423 Component to fail to meet the requirements under Section 423 of the Code.

3.3Purchase of Shares.

(a)         On each Exercise Date for an Offering Period, each Participant shall automatically and without any action on such Participant’s part be deemed to have exercised the Participant’s Option to purchase at the applicable Option Price the largest number of whole Shares which can be purchased with the amount in the Participant’s Plan Account, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan. No fractional Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of the Participant’s Option with respect to an Offering Period, unless the Participation Election for the applicable Offering Period specifically provides otherwise. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in advance of an Offering or in accordance with applicable law, any balance that is remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account (after exercise of such Participant’s Option) as of the Exercise Date shall be carried forward into the next Offering Period, unless the Participant has properly elected to withdraw from the Plan, has ceased to be an Eligible Employee or with respect to the maximum limitations set forth in Section 2.1(b) and Section 3.1. Any balance not carried forward to the next Offering Period in accordance with the prior sentence shall promptly be refunded as soon as administratively practicable to the applicable Participant.

(b)         As soon as practicable following each Exercise Date, the number of Shares purchased by such Participant pursuant to Section 3.3(a) hereof shall be delivered (either in share certificate or book entry form), in the Company’s sole discretion, to either (i) the Participant or (ii) an account established in the Participant’s name at a stock brokerage or other financial services firm designated by the Company. The Company may require that shares be retained with such brokerage or firm for a designated period of time and/or may establish procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions of such shares.

3.4Transferability of Rights. An Option granted under the Plan shall not be transferable, other than by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution and is exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant. No option or interest or right to the Option shall be available to pay off any debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or the Participant’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempt at disposition of the Option shall have no effect.

ARTICLE IV
PROVISIONS RELATING TO COMMON STOCK

4.1Shares Reserved. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2 hereof, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to rights granted under the Plan shall be 1,800,000 shares. Shares made available for sale under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury Shares. If any right granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such right shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

4.2Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale.

(a)         Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under Option, as well as the price per share and the number of Shares covered by each Option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a share split, reverse share split, share dividend, combination, amalgamation, consolidation, reorganization, arrangement or reclassification of the Shares, or any other increase or decrease in the number Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Shares subject to an Option.

(b)         Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”), and shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 5.1 hereof or the Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee as provided in Section 5.2 hereof.

(c)         Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent Option substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, any Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date and any Offering Periods then in progress shall end on the New Exercise Date. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed sale or merger. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 5.1 hereof or the Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee as provided in Section 5.2 hereof.

4.3Insufficient Shares. If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of Shares with respect to which Options are to be exercised may exceed the number of Shares remaining available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for issuance on such Exercise Date in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants exercising Options to purchase Shares on such Exercise Date, and unless additional shares are authorized for issuance under the Plan, no further Offering Periods shall take place and the Plan shall terminate pursuant to Section 6.5 hereof. If an Offering Period is so terminated, then the balance of the amount credited to the Participant’s Plan Account which has not been applied to the purchase of Shares shall be paid to such Participant in one lump sum in cash within 30 days after such Exercise Date, without any interest thereon (except as may be required by applicable local laws).

4.4Rights as Stockholders. With respect to Shares subject to an Option, a Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company and shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder. A Participant shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company when, but not until, the Shares have been deposited in the designated brokerage account following exercise of the Participant’s Option.

ARTICLE V
TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION

5.1Cessation of Contributions; Voluntary Withdrawal.

(a)         A Participant may cease payroll deductions during an Offering Period and elect to withdraw from the Plan by delivering written notice of such election to the Company or an Agent designated by the Company in such form and at such time prior to the Exercise Date for such Offering Period as may be established by the Administrator (a “Withdrawal Election”). In the event a Participant elects to withdraw from the Plan, amounts then credited to such Participant’s Plan Account shall be returned to the Participant in one lump-sum payment in cash within 30 days after such election is received by the Company, without any interest thereon (except as may be required by applicable local laws), and the Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan and the Participant’s Option for such Offering Period shall terminate upon receipt of the Withdrawal Election.

(b)         A Participant’s withdrawal from the Plan shall not have any effect upon the Participant’s eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

(c)         A Participant who ceases contributions to the Plan during any Offering Period shall not be permitted to resume contributions to the Plan during that Offering Period.

5.2Termination of Eligibility. Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, such Participant’s Option for the applicable Offering Period shall automatically terminate, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan, and any balance on such Participant’s Plan Account shall be paid to such Participant or, in the case of the Participant’s death, to the person or persons entitled thereto pursuant to applicable law, within 30 days after such cessation of being an Eligible Employee, without any interest thereon (except as may be required by applicable local laws). If a Participant transfers employment from the Company or any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Section 423 Component to any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Non-Section 423 Component, such transfer shall not be treated as a termination of employment, but the Participant shall immediately cease to participate in the Section 423 Component; however, any contributions made for the Offering Period in which such transfer occurs shall be transferred to the Non-Section 423 Component, and such Participant shall immediately join the then-current Offering under the Non-Section 423 Component upon the same terms and conditions in effect for the Participant’s participation in the Section 423 Component, except for such modifications otherwise applicable for Participants in such Offering. A Participant who transfers employment from any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Non-Section 423 Component to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Section 423 Component shall not be treated as terminating the Participant’s employment and shall remain a Participant in the Non-Section 423 Component until the earlier of (i) the end of the current Offering Period under the Non-Section 423 Component, or (ii) the Enrollment Date of the first Offering Period in which the Participant is eligible to participate following such transfer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may establish different rules to govern transfers of employment between companies participating in the Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component, consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS

6.1Administration.

(a)         The CorporationPlan shall indemnifybe administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of members of the Board. The Committee may delegate administrative tasks under the Plan to the services of an Agent or Employees to assist in the administration of the Plan, including without limitation, determining the Designated Subsidiaries participating in the Plan, establishing and maintaining an individual securities account under the Plan for each Participant, determining enrollment and withdrawal deadlines and determining exchange rates. In its officers, directors, employeesabsolute discretion, the Board may at any time and agents againstfrom time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Administrator under the Plan.

(b)         It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Administrator shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

(i)         To establish and terminate Offerings;

(ii)         To determine when and how Options shall be granted and the provisions and terms of each Offering (which need not be identical);

(iii)         To select Designated Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 6.2 hereof; and

(iv)         To construe and interpret the Plan, the terms of any Offering and the terms of the Options and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The Administrator, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, any Offering or any Option, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to administer the Plan, subject to Section 423 of the Code for the Section 423 Component.

(c)         The Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures, provided that, the adoption and implementation of any such rules and/or procedures would not cause the Section 423 Component to be in noncompliance with Section 423 of the Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of Participation Elections, Withdrawal Elections, payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of share certificates which vary with local requirements.

(d)         The Administrator may adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code. The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 4.1 hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan.

(e)         All expenses and liabilities damages, settlements and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Administrator in connection with the Corporation’s affairsadministration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Administrator may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Administrator, the Company and its officers and directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Board or Administrator shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the full extent permitted by law,Plan or the Options, and as more particularly set forth in the Corporation’s By-laws. Such indemnification provisionsall members of the Corporation’s By-laws mayBoard or Administrator shall be enactedfully protected by the Company in respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation. Any and modifiedall risks resulting from any market fluctuations or conditions of any nature and affecting the price of Shares are assumed by the Participant.

6.2Designation of Subsidiaries. The Administrator shall designate from time to time by resolutionthe Subsidiaries that shall constitute Designated Subsidiaries and determine whether such Designated Subsidiaries shall participate in the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component. The Administrator may designate a Subsidiary, or terminate the designation of a Subsidiary, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

6.3Reports. Individual accounts shall be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of Plan Accounts shall be given to Participants at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Option Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

6.4No Right to Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any Participant) the right to remain in the employ of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary or to affect the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any person (including any Participant) at any time, with or without cause, which right is expressly reserved.

6.5Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

(a)         The Board may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the Plan shall automatically terminate at the end of Directors.the day immediately prior to the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision), with respect to the Section 423 Component, or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any such amendment to the Plan in such a manner and to such a degree as required by Section 423 of the Code or such other law, regulation or rule.

 

 

(b)         If the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may in its discretion modify or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

(i)         altering the Option Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Option Price;

(ii)         shortening any Offering Period so that the Offering Period ends on a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator action; and

(iii)         allocating Shares.

Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Participant.

(c)         Upon termination of the Plan, the balance in each Participant’s Plan Account shall be refunded as soon as practicable after such termination, without any interest thereon (except as may be required by applicable local laws).

6.6Use of Funds; No Interest Paid. All funds received by the Company by reason of purchase of shares of Shares under the Plan shall be included in the general funds of the Company free of any trust or other restriction and may be used for any corporate purpose (except as may be required by applicable local laws). No interest shall be paid to any Participant or credited under the Plan (except as may be required by applicable local laws).

6.7Term; Approval by Stockholders. No Option may be granted during any period of suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within 12 months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Options may be granted prior to such stockholder approval; provided, however, that such Options shall not be exercisable prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the stockholders; provided, further that if such approval has not been obtained by the end of the 12-month period, all Options previously granted under the Plan shall thereupon terminate and be canceled and become null and void without being exercised.

6.8Effect Upon Other Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for employees of the Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume Options otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, amalgamation, combination, arrangement, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, shares or assets of any corporation, firm or association.

6.9Conformity to Securities Laws. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article Eighth, a directorthe Plan, the Plan and the participation in the Plan by any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the CorporationExchange Act shall not be personally liablesubject to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breachadditional limitations set forth in any applicable exemption rule under Section 16 of the director’s duty of loyaltyExchange Act (including any amendment to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174Rule 16b-3 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv)Exchange Act) that are requirements for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. Ifapplication of such exemptive rule. To the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this provision to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

(c) Any repeal or modification6.10Notice of Disposition of Shares. Each Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any provisiondisposition or other transfer of this Article Eighth byany Shares, acquired pursuant to the stockholdersexercise of an Option granted under the Corporation shall not adversely affectSection 423 Component, if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two years after the applicable Grant Date or (b) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to such Participant upon exercise of such Option. The Company may direct that any rightcertificates evidencing shares acquired pursuant to protection of a director of the Corporation existing atPlan refer to such requirement.

6.11Tax Withholding. At the time of such repealany taxable event that creates a withholding obligation for the Company or modification.any Parent or Subsidiary, the Participant will make adequate provision for any Tax-Related Items. In their sole discretion, and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Company or the Designated Subsidiary that employs or employed the Participant may satisfy their obligations to withhold Tax-Related Items by (a) withholding from the Participant’s wages or other compensation, (b) withholding a sufficient whole number of Shares otherwise issuable following exercise of the Option having an aggregate value sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the Option and/or shares, or (c) withholding from proceeds from the sale of Shares issued upon exercise of the Option, either through a voluntary sale or a mandatory sale arranged by the Company.

 

NINTH: From time to time any

6.12Governing Law. The Plan and Restated Certificate of Incorporation mayall rights, agreements and obligations hereunder shall be amended, altered or repealed,administered, interpreted and other provisions authorized byenforced under the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

6.13Notices. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

6.14Conditions to Issuance of Shares.

(a)         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option by a Participant, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed or traded, and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.

(b)         All certificates for Shares delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with U.S. and non-U.S. federal, provincial, state or local securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any certificate or book entry evidencing Shares to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.

(c)         The Administrator shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Option, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.

(d)         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company may, in lieu of delivering to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Option, record the issuance of Shares in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or share plan administrator).

If, pursuant to this Section 6.14, the Administrator determines that Shares will not be issued to any Participant, the Company is relieved from liability to any Participant except to refund to the Participant such Participant’s Plan Account balance, without interest thereon (except as may be required by applicable local laws).

6.15Equal Rights and Privileges. All Eligible Employees granted Options pursuant to an Offering under the Section 423 Component shall have equal rights and privileges under this Plan to the extent required under Section 423 of the Code so that the Section 423 Component qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code. Any provision of the Section 423 Component that is inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Board, be reformed to comply with the equal rights and privileges requirement of Section 423 of the Code. Eligible Employees participating in the Non-Section 423 Component need not have the same rights and privileges as each other, or as Eligible Employees participating in the Section 423 Component.

6.16Rules Particular to Specific Countries. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the terms and conditions of the Plan with respect to Participants who are tax residents of a particular non-U.S. country or who are non-U.S. nationals or employed in non-U.S. jurisdictions may be subject to an addendum to the Plan in the form of an appendix or sub-plan (which appendix or sub-plan may be designed to govern Offerings under the Section 423 Component or the Non-Section 423 Component, as determined by the Administrator). To the extent that the terms and conditions set forth in an appendix or sub-plan conflict with any provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the appendix or sub-plan shall govern. The adoption of any such appendix or sub-plan shall be pursuant to Section 6.1 above. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures, with respect to Participants who are non-U.S. nationals or employed in non-U.S. jurisdictions, regarding the exclusion of particular Subsidiaries from participation in the Plan, eligibility to participate, the definition of Compensation, handling of payroll deductions or other contributions by Participants, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, data privacy security, payroll tax, withholding procedures, establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold payroll deductions or contributions, provided that the adoption and implementation of any such rules and/or procedures would not cause the Section 423 Component to be in noncompliance with Section 423 of the Code.

6.17Section 409A. The Section 423 Component of the Plan and the Options granted pursuant to Offerings thereunder are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A. Neither the Non-Section 423 Component nor any Option granted pursuant to an Offering thereunder is intended to constitute or provide for “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that any Option granted under the Plan may be or become subject to Section 409A or that any provision of the Plan may cause an Option granted under the Plan to be or become subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and/or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A, either through compliance with the requirements of Section 409A or with an available exemption therefrom.

ARTICLE VII
DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Administrator” means the Committee, or such individuals to which authority to administer the Plan has been delegated under Section 6.1 hereof.

“Agent” means the brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution, entity or person(s), if any, engaged, retained, appointed or authorized to act as the agent of the Company or an Employee with regard to the Plan.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any guidance and treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, no par value per share, of the Company.

“Company” means Vaxart, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors by operation of law.

“Compensation” of an Employee means the regular earnings or base salary, bonuses and commissions paid to the Employee from the Company on each Payday as compensation for services to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, before deduction for any salary deferral contributions made by the Employee to any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan, including overtime, shift differentials, vacation pay, salaried production schedule premiums, holiday pay, jury duty pay, funeral leave pay, paid time off, military pay, prior week adjustments and weekly bonus, but excluding education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group insurance or benefit program, travel expenses, business and moving reimbursements, including tax gross ups and taxable mileage allowance, income received in connection with any stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other compensatory equity awards and all contributions made by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary for the Employee’s benefit under any employee benefit plan now or hereafter established. Such Compensation shall be calculated before deduction of any income or employment tax withholdings, but shall be withheld from the Employee’s net income. The Administrator, in its discretion, may establish a different definition of Compensation for an Offering, which for the Section 423 Component shall apply on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis. Further, the Administrator will have discretion to determine the application of this definition to Eligible Employees outside the United States.

“Designated Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary, including any Subsidiary in existence on the Effective Date and any Subsidiary formed or acquired following the Effective Date, that has been designated by the Administrator from time to time in forceits sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan, in accordance with Section 6.2 hereof, such designation to specify whether such participation is in the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component. A Designated Subsidiary may participate in either the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component, but not both.

“Effective Date” means the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders.

“Eligible Employee” means, except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, any Employee: (a) who is customarily scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week; (b) whose customary employment is more than five months in a calendar year; and (c) who, after the granting of the Option, would not be deemed for purposes of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code to possess 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary. For purposes of clause (c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock ownership shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an individual, and stock which an Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may exclude from participation in the Section 423 Component as an Eligible Employee: (x) any Employee that is a “highly compensated employee” of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code), or that is such a “highly compensated employee” (A) with compensation above a specified level, (B) who is an officer or (C) who is subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act; or (y) any Employee who is a citizen or resident of a foreign jurisdiction (without regard to whether they are also a citizen of the United States or a resident alien (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the Code)) if either (A) the grant of the Option is prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction governing such Employee, or (B) compliance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction would cause the Section 423 Component, any Offering thereunder or an Option granted thereunder to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code; provided that any exclusion in clauses (x) or (y) shall be applied in an identical manner under each Offering to all Employees of the Company and all Designated Subsidiaries, in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.423-2(e). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Non-Section 423 Component, the first sentence in this definition shall apply in determining who is an “Eligible Employee,” except (a) the Administrator may limit eligibility further within the Company or a Designated Subsidiary so as to only designate some Employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary as Eligible Employees, and (b) to the extent the restrictions in the first sentence in this definition are not consistent with applicable local laws, the applicable local laws shall control.

“Employee” means any person who renders services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. “Employee” shall not include any director of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who does not render services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary and meeting the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three months, or such other period specified in Treas. Reg. §1.421-1(h)(2), and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three-month period, or such other period specified in Treas. Reg. §1.421-1(h)(2).

“Enrollment Date” means the first date of each Offering Period.

“Exercise Date” means the last day of each Purchase Period, except as provided in Section 4.2 hereof.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows: (a) If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Stock Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; (b) If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or (c) If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

“Grant Date” means the first day of an Offering Period.

“New Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b) hereof.

“Non-Section 423 Component” means those Offerings under the Plan, together with the sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures, if any, adopted by the Administrator as a part of this Plan, in each case, pursuant to which Options may be added or insertedgranted to Eligible Employees that need not satisfy the requirements for Options granted pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” that are set forth under Section 423 of the Code.

“Offering” means an offer under the Plan of an Option that may be exercised during an Offering Period as further described in Article III hereof. Unless otherwise specified by the mannerAdministrator, each Offering to the Eligible Employees shall be deemed a separate Offering, even if the dates and atother terms of the time prescribed orapplicable Purchase Periods of each such Offering are identical and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering. To the extent permitted by said lawsTreas. Reg. § 1.423-2(a)(1), the terms of each separate Offering under the Section 423 Component need not be identical, provided that the terms of the Section 423 Component and an Offering thereunder together satisfy Treas. Reg. § 1.423-2(a)(2) and (a)(3).

“Offering Period” means the periods of approximately six (6) months during which Options shall be granted to Participants, commencing on such Trading Day as designated by this Amendedthe Administrator and Restated Certificateterminating on a Trading Day approximately six (6) months later, each as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. The duration and timing of Incorporation; and all rightsOffering Periods may be established or changed by the Administrator at any time, conferred uponin its sole discretion and may consist of one or more Purchase Periods. Notwithstanding the stockholdersforegoing, in no event may an Offering Period exceed 27 months.

“Option” means the right to purchase Shares pursuant to the Plan during each Offering Period.

“Option Price” means the purchase price of a Share hereunder as provided in Section 3.2 hereof.

“Parent” means any entity that is a parent corporation of the CorporationCompany within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code.

“Participant” means any Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan.

“Participation Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) hereof.

“Payday” means the regular and recurring established day for payment of Compensation to an Employee.

“Plan” means this 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, including both the Section 423 Component and Non-Section 423 Component and any other sub-plans or appendices hereto, as amended from time to time.

“Plan Account” means a bookkeeping account established and maintained by this Amendedthe Company in the name of each Participant.

“Purchase Period” means the period commencing on the first Trading Day of each Offering Period and Restated Certificateterminating on the last Trading Day of Incorporationeach Offering Period, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. The duration and timing of Purchase Periods may be established or changed by the Administrator at any time, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may a Purchase Period exceed the duration of the Offering Period under which it is established.

“Section 409A” means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations and other official guidance thereunder.

“Section 423 Component” means those Offerings under the Plan that are granted subjectintended to meet the provisionsrequirements under Section 423(b) of this Article Ninth.the Code.

“Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

“Tax-Related Items” means any U.S. and non-U.S. federal, provincial, state and/or local taxes (including, without limitation, income tax, social insurance contributions, fringe benefit tax, employment tax, stamp tax and any employer tax liability which has been transferred to a Participant) for which a Participant is liable in connection with his or her participation in the Plan.

“Trading Day” means a day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading.

“Treas. Reg.” means U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations.

“Withdrawal Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a) hereof.

 

* * *

The foregoing Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted by this Corporation’s Board of Directors and stockholders in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its President and Chief Executive Officer this ____ day of ___________, 2013. * *

 

 

/s/ Russell H. Plumb                            

Russell H. Plumb
President and Chief Executive Officer

C-10

 

 


 

Appendix B 

a01.jpg

 

Amendment No. 1 to the 

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals 

2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan

WHEREAS, Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is the sponsor of the Nabi Biopharmaceuticals 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18(e) of the Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) may amend the Plan, provided that certain amendments will only be effective upon receipt of stockholder approval of such amendments; and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to adopt the foregoing Resolutions amending the Plan (subject in some cases to stockholder approval of such amendments, as provided under applicable law and as provided in Section 18(e) of the Plan).

RESOLVED, that the Plan shall be amended effective as of the date of approval of these Resolutions as follows:

1.

The name of the Plan shall be changed to the “Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan” and corresponding changes shall be made to the Plan, including, but not limited to Section 1 of the Plan, and to the forms of agreement previously approved for issuance of awards under the Plan.

2.

Subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders, as provided in Section 18(e) of the Plan, Section 5(b) of the Plan shall be amended by adding an additional three million (3,000,000) shares of the Company’s Common Stock to the share reserve under the Plan.

3.

Subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders, as provided in Section 18(e) of the Plan, Section 6(b) shall be deleted in its entirety, and the following substituted in its place (with such share numbers reflecting all corporate transactions within the meaning of Section 16(a) of the Plan since the date of its last approval by the stockholders of the Company.

(b)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the following limitations shall apply to the following types of Awards made hereunder, other than Substitute Awards:

(i)  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be covered by Awards granted to any one individual in any Fiscal Year which are intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance Award shall not exceed the following:

a02.jpg

 


(A)  1,000,000 shares in the case of Options and SARs;
(B)  500,000 shares in the case of Restricted Stock and Stock Units having vesting based upon the attainment of one or more of the performance goals specified in Section 9; and
(C)  500,000 shares of Common Stock for each full Fiscal Year contained in the Performance Cycle of a Performance Award denominated in shares of Common Stock.

(ii)  The aggregate dollar value of Cash Awards that may be paid to any one individual in any Fiscal Year with respect to any Award intended to be a Qualified Performance Award shall not exceed the following:

(A)  1,000,000 for each full Fiscal Year contained in the performance period of a Performance Award denominated in dollars.
4.

A new Section 6(e) shall be added to the Plan as follows:

(e)

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 16(a), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award awarded to a non-employee director in his or her capacity as a non-employee director in any one fiscal year shall be limited to one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that with respect to the fiscal year in which an individual is first elected or appointed as an non-employee director, this limitation shall be three hundred thousand (300,000) shares of Common Stock.

5.

Section 8(e) of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety.

6.

Subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders, as provided in Section 18(e) of the Plan, the performance measures in Section 11(d)(i) shall be resubmitted to the stockholders for approval in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the provisions set forth above which are subject to stockholder approval shall be, or have been, submitted for such approval in accordance with the provisions of Section 18(a) of the Plan.

 

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Board hereby authorizes and directs the proper officers of the Company, and any of them, to take such actions and to execute and file, or cause to be executed and filed, one or more registration statements or such other applications and other documents as are necessary or appropriate for compliance with the securities laws of the United States of America and such other states or other jurisdictions, including foreign countries, in which reside persons to whom securities may be offered and sold pursuant to the Plan, and as are necessary or appropriate to list such additional shares of common stock for trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the proper officers of the Company, and each of them, are hereby authorized and directed in the name of and on behalf of the Company to make all such arrangements, to do and perform all such acts, to execute and deliver all such certificates and other instruments and documents, and to do everything that he or they may deem to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate in order to fully implement the foregoing resolutions.