ANAPTYSBIO, INC
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)
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April 29, 2025
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of AnaptysBio, Inc. to be held at AnaptysBio’s corporate office at 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time).
The Securities and Exchange Commission rules allow companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the Internet. We have elected to do so, thus reducing the environmental impact and lowering the costs of printing and distributing proxy materials without impacting your timely access to this important information. On or about April 29, 2025, we expect to mail to stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement for our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 to stockholders. The Notice of Internet Availability or Proxy Materials also provides instructions on how to vote through the Internet or by telephone and includes instructions on how to receive paper copies of the proxy materials by mail, if desired.
The matters to be acted upon at the meeting are described in the accompanying notice of annual meeting and proxy statement.
Your vote is important.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, please vote on the Internet or by telephone, or request, sign and return a proxy card to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting.
| Sincerely, | ||
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| Daniel Faga | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
ANAPTYSBIO, INC.
10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210
San Diego, California 92121
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held Tuesday, June 17, 2025
To Our Stockholders:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of AnaptysBio, Inc. will be held at AnaptysBio’s corporate office at 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, California 92121, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time).
We are holding the meeting for the following purposes, which are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
1. To elect three Class II directors, each to serve three-year terms through the third annual meeting of stockholders following this meeting and until a successor has been elected and qualified or until earlier resignation or removal.
2. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
3. To conduct a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the accompanying materials.
4. To approve an amendment to our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan.
5. To conduct a non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of holding future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation.
In addition, stockholders may be asked to consider and vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2025 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and any adjournments thereof. For ten days prior to the meeting, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder for any purpose relating to the meeting during ordinary business hours at our headquarters.
Your vote as an AnaptysBio, Inc. stockholder is very important. Each share of stock that you own represents one vote.
Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, we encourage you to read the proxy statement and vote through the Internet or by telephone, or request, sign and return your proxy card as soon as possible, so that your shares may be represented at the meeting. For specific instructions on how to vote your shares, please refer to the section entitled “General Information About the Meeting” in the proxy statement and the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Only stockholders entitled to vote, or their duly authorized representatives, are entitled to attend the meeting. If you intend to attend the meeting in person, you must email info@anaptysbio.com no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 10, 2025 to confirm your attendance.
| By Order of the Board of Directors, | |||||
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| John Orwin | |||||
| Chairman of the Board of Directors | |||||
San Diego, California
April 29, 2025
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 17, 2025: The Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 are available at http://ir.anaptysbio.com.
ANAPTYSBIO, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ANAPTYSBIO, INC.
10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210
San Diego, California 92121
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held Tuesday, June 17, 2025
INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING
The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of AnaptysBio, Inc.’s board of directors (“Board”) for use at AnaptysBio’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) to be held at AnaptysBio’s corporate office at 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, California 92121, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time), and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
Under rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders primarily via the Internet, instead of mailing printed copies to each stockholder. On or about April 29, 2025, we expect to send to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials, including our proxy statement and our annual report on Form 10-K. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials also provides instructions on how to vote through the Internet or by telephone and includes instructions on how to receive paper copies of the proxy materials by mail or an electronic copy of the proxy materials by email.
This process is designed to reduce our environmental impact and lower the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials without impacting our stockholders’ timely access to this important information. However, if you would prefer to receive printed proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING
Purpose of the Meeting
At the meeting, stockholders will act upon the proposals described in this proxy statement. In addition, we will consider any other matters that are properly presented for a vote at the meeting. We are not aware of any other matters to be submitted for consideration at the meeting. If any other matters are properly presented for a vote at the meeting, the persons named in the proxy, who are officers of the company, have the authority in their discretion to vote the shares represented by the proxy.
Record Date; Quorum
Only holders of record of common stock at the close of business on April 21, 2025, the record date, will be entitled to vote at the meeting. At the close of business on April 21, 2025, 29,573,595 shares of common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum. Both abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.
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GENERAL PROXY INFORMATION
Voting Rights
Each holder of shares of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held as of the close of business on April 21, 2025, the record date. You may vote all shares owned by you at such date, including (i) shares held directly in your name as the stockholder of record and (ii) shares held for you as the beneficial owner in street name through a broker, bank, trustee or other nominee. Dissenters’ rights are not applicable to any of the matters being voted on.
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name.
If, on April 21, 2025, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, then you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As a stockholder of record, you may vote at the meeting, or vote in advance through the Internet or by telephone, or if you request to receive paper proxy materials by mail, by filling out and returning the proxy card.
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Nominee.
If on April 21, 2025, your shares were held in an account with a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of the shares held in street name. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker on how to vote the shares held in your account, and your broker has enclosed or provided voting instructions for you to use in directing it on how to vote your shares. Because the brokerage firm, bank or other nominee that holds your shares is the stockholder of record, if you wish to attend the meeting and vote your shares you must obtain a valid proxy from the firm that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares at the meeting.
Broker Non-Votes
For banks, brokers or other nominee accounts, they are entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on “routine” matters without instructions from the beneficial owner of those shares. For “non-routine” matters, the beneficial owner of such shares is required to provide instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee in order for them to be entitled to vote the shares held for the beneficial owner. If you hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker or other agent with voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes.” A “broker non-vote” occurs when shares held by a broker that are represented at the meeting are not voted with respect to a particular proposal because the broker has not received voting instructions from its client(s) with respect to such shares on how to vote and does not have or did not exercise discretionary authority to vote on the matter. Your broker, fiduciary or custodian will only be able to vote your shares with respect to proposals considered to be “routine.” Your broker, fiduciary or custodian is not entitled to vote your shares with respect to “non-routine” proposals, which we refer to as a “broker non-vote.” Whether a proposal is considered routine or non-routine is subject to stock exchange rules and final determination by the stock exchange. Even with respect to routine matters, some brokers are choosing not to exercise discretionary voting authority. If a stockholder does not return voting instructions to their broker on how to vote their shares of common stock, such broker may be prevented from voting, or may otherwise choose not to vote, such shares held by such broker, resulting in broker non-votes with respect to such shares. To make sure that your vote is counted, you should instruct your broker to vote your shares of common stock, following the procedures provided by your broker.
Required Vote
Proposal 1:
Each director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting. This means that the three individuals nominated for election to the Board at the meeting receiving the highest number of votes cast “FOR” that nominee will be elected. You may either vote “FOR” one or more of the nominees or “WITHHOLD” your vote with respect to any or all of nominees. You may not cumulate votes in the election of directors.
Proposal 2:
Approval of the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm will be obtained if the number of votes cast “FOR” the proposal at the meeting exceeds the number of votes cast “AGAINST” the proposal.
Proposal 3:
The advisory vote on named executive officer compensation will be obtained if the number of votes cast “FOR” the proposal at the meeting exceeds the number of votes cast “AGAINST” the proposal. This vote is advisory and non-binding in nature.
Proposal 4
: Approval of the amendment of our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan will be obtained if the number of votes cast “FOR” the proposal at the meeting exceeds the number of votes cast “AGAINST” the proposal.
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Proposal 5
: The advisory vote on the frequency of holding an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation will be the option of either “ONE YEAR,” “TWO YEARS,” or “THREE YEARS” that receives the highest number of votes. This vote is advisory and non-binding in nature.
A proxy submitted by a stockholder may indicate that the shares represented by the proxy are not being voted (stockholder withholding) with respect to a particular matter. In addition, a broker may not be permitted to vote on shares held in street name on a particular matter in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owner of the stock (broker non-vote). The shares subject to a proxy which are not being voted on a particular matter because of either stockholder withholding or abstaining or broker non-votes will count for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but are not treated as votes cast for or against a matter and, therefore, will have no effect on the election of directors, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP, the advisory vote on our named executive officer compensation, the amendment of our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan or the advisory vote on the frequency of holding an advisory vote on our named executive officer compensation. Proposal 2 is considered a routine proposal and is subject to the discretionary vote of the broker.
Recommendations of the Board on Each of the Proposals Scheduled to be Voted on at the Meeting
The Board recommends that you vote “
FOR
” the election of each of the Class II directors named in this proxy statement (Proposal 1), “
FOR
” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (Proposal 2), “
FOR
” the non-binding advisory vote on named executive officer compensation (Proposal 3), “
FOR
” the approval of the amendment of our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (Proposal 4), and “
ONE YEAR
” for the non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of holding an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation (Proposal 5).
Voting Instructions; Voting of Proxies
If you are a stockholder of record, you may:
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vote in person - we will provide a ballot to stockholders who attend the meeting and wish to vote in person;
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vote through the Internet or by telephone - in order to do so, please follow the instructions shown on your Notice of Internet Availability or proxy card; or
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vote by mail - if you request or receive a paper proxy card and voting instructions by mail, simply complete, sign and date the proxy card and return it as soon as possible before the meeting in the envelope provided.
Votes submitted through the Internet or by telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 16, 2025. Submitting your proxy, whether by telephone, through the Internet or by mail if you request or received a paper proxy card, will not affect your right to vote in person should you decide to attend the meeting. If you are not the stockholder of record, please refer to the voting instructions provided by your nominee to direct it how to vote your shares.
For Proposal 1, you may vote “FOR” each of the nominees to the Board or you may “WITHHOLD” your vote from any nominee you specify. A “WITHHOLD” vote will have the same effect as a vote to abstain.
For Proposal 2, Proposal 3, and Proposal 4, you may vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” from voting. For Proposal 5, you may vote “ONE YEAR,” “TWO YEARS,” “THREE YEARS” or “ABSTAIN”. Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure that your vote is counted.
All proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions specified on the proxy card. If you sign a physical proxy card and return it without instructions as to how your shares should be voted on a particular proposal at the meeting, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board stated above.
If you received a Notice of Internet Availability, please follow the instructions included on the notice on how to access your proxy card and vote by telephone or through the Internet. If you do not vote and you hold your shares in street name, and your broker does not have discretionary power to vote your shares, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes” (as described above) and will not be counted in determining the number of shares necessary for approval of the proposals. However, shares that constitute broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of establishing a quorum for the meeting.
If you receive more than one proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. To make certain all of your shares are voted, please follow the instructions included on the Notice of Internet Availability on how to access each proxy card and vote each proxy card by telephone or through
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the Internet. If you requested or received paper proxy materials by mail, please complete, sign and return each proxy card to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Expenses of Soliciting Proxies
We will pay the expenses associated with soliciting proxies. Following the original distribution and mailing of the solicitation materials, we or our agents may solicit proxies by mail, electronic mail, telephone, facsimile, by other similar means, or in person. Our directors, officers and other employees, without additional compensation, may solicit proxies personally or in writing, by telephone, e-mail or otherwise. Following the original distribution and mailing of the solicitation materials, we will request brokers, custodians, nominees and other record holders to forward copies of those materials to persons for whom they hold shares and to request authority for the exercise of proxies. In such cases, we, upon the request of the record holders, will reimburse such holders for their reasonable expenses. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote through the Internet, you are responsible for any Internet access charges you may incur.
Revocability of Proxies
A stockholder of record who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before the closing of the polls by the inspector of elections at the meeting by:
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delivering to our Corporate Secretary (by any means) a written notice stating that the proxy is revoked;
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signing and delivering a proxy bearing a later date;
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voting again through the Internet or by telephone; or
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attending and voting at the meeting (although attendance at the meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy).
Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee and you wish to revoke a proxy, you must contact that firm to revoke or change any prior voting instructions.
Electronic Access to the Proxy Materials
The Notice of Internet Availability will provide you with instructions regarding how to:
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view our proxy materials for the meeting through the Internet;
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instruct us to mail paper copies of our future proxy materials to you; and
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instruct us to send our future proxy materials to you electronically by email.
Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by email will reduce the impact of our annual meetings of stockholders on the environment and lower the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.
Voting Results
Voting results will be tabulated and certified by the inspector of elections appointed for the meeting. The preliminary voting results will be announced at the meeting. The final results will be tallied by the inspector of elections and filed with the SEC in a current report on Form 8-K within four business days of the meeting.
Implications of being a “Smaller Reporting Company”
We are a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and have elected to provide in this proxy statement certain scaled disclosures permitted under the Exchange Act for smaller reporting companies. We will remain a “smaller reporting company” until the fiscal year following the determination that our voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates is at least $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are at least $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates is at least $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. Accordingly, the information contained in this proxy statement and the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting may not be as extensive as the information and proxy proposals submitted by other public companies that are not smaller reporting companies.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STANDARDS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
We are committed to good corporate governance practices. These practices provide an important framework within which our Board and management pursue our strategic objectives for the benefit of our stockholders.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that set forth expectations for directors, director independence standards, board committee structure and functions and other policies for the governance of the company. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available without charge on the investor relations section of our website at http://ir.anaptysbio.com.
Board Composition and Leadership Structure
The positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board are held by two different individuals. Daniel Faga has served as our
President and Chief Executive Officer since August 3, 2023 and was our Interim President and Chief Executive Officer from March 21, 2022 through August 2, 2023.
John Orwin serves as Chairman of our Board. This separated structure allows our Chief Executive Officer to focus on our day-to-day business while our Chairman leads our Board in its fundamental role of providing advice to, and independent oversight of, management. Our Board believes such separation is appropriate, as it enhances the accountability of the Chief Executive Officer to the Board and strengthens the independence of the Board from management.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Our Board believes that open communication between management and the Board is essential for effective risk management and oversight. Our Board meets with our Chief Executive Officer and other members of the senior management team at quarterly Board meetings, where, among other topics, they discuss strategy and risks in the context of reports from the management team and evaluate the risks inherent in significant transactions. While our Board is ultimately responsible for risk oversight, our board committees assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in certain areas of risk. The audit committee assists our Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to risk management in the areas of cybersecurity assessment and internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. The compensation committee assists our Board in assessing risks created by the incentives inherent in our compensation policies. The nominating and corporate governance committee assists our Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of corporate, legal and regulatory risk.
Cybersecurity Risk Oversight
Securing the information of participants in our studies, medical professionals, team members, and other third parties is important to us. Moreover, our Board recognizes the critical importance of maintaining the trust and confidence of our investors, business partners and employees. We have adopted physical, technological, and administrative controls on data security, and have a defined procedure for data incident detection, containment, response, and remediation. While everyone at our company plays a part in managing these risks, oversight responsibility is shared by our Board, our audit committee, and management. Additional information relating to cybersecurity and information security is contained in the section titled “Cybersecurity” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Director Independence
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”). Under Nasdaq rules, independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s Board. In addition, Nasdaq rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees be independent. Under Nasdaq rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of that company’s Board, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the Board or any other board committee: (i) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee
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from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries; or (ii) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries. Additionally, compensation committee members must not have a relationship with the listed company that is material to the director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member.
Our Board has undertaken a review of the independence of each director and considered whether each director has a material relationship with us that could compromise his or her ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities. As a result of this review, our Board determined that Dennis Fenton, Ph.D., Rita Jain, M.D., Magda Marquet, Ph.D., Hollings Renton, John P. Schmid, John Orwin, Oleg Nodelman and J. Anthony Ware, M.D., representing eight of our nine directors, are “independent directors” as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and the listing requirements and rules of Nasdaq. Mr. Faga is not independent given his role as our
President and Chief Executive Officer.
In making these determinations, our Board reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director and the transactions involving them described in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related-Party Transactions.”
Committees of Our Board
Our Board has an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating and corporate governance committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our Board. Each committee operates under a charter approved by our Board. Copies of each committee’s charter are posted on the investor relations section of our website at http://ir.anaptysbio.com.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee is composed of Dr. Marquet, Mr. Schmid and Dr. Ware. Mr. Schmid is the chairperson of our audit committee. Dr. Marquet, Mr. Schmid and Dr. Ware each meet the requirements for independence under the current Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of our audit committee is financially literate. In addition, our Board has determined that Mr. Schmid is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act. This designation does not impose any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than are generally imposed on members of our audit committee and our Board. Our audit committee is responsible for, among other things:
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our accounting and financial reporting processes, including our financial statement audits and the integrity of our financial statements;
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our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
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reviewing and approving related person transactions;
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selecting and hiring our registered independent public accounting firm;
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overseeing our cybersecurity risk management process;
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assisting the Board with risk assessment and management;
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the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditors; and
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the preparation of the audit committee report to be included in our annual proxy statement.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee is composed of Dr. Fenton, Dr. Jain and Mr. Schmid. Dr. Fenton is the chairperson of our compensation committee. The composition of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under the current Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of this committee is (i) an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (ii) a non-employee director, as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Our compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:
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evaluating, recommending, approving and reviewing executive officer and director compensation arrangements, plans, policies and programs;
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administering our cash-based and equity-based compensation plans;
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making recommendations to our Board regarding any other board of director responsibilities relating to executive compensation;
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reviewing our compensation policies for elements of risk;
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reviewing and discussing with management the disclosures contained under the caption “Executive Compensation” for use in our annual proxy statement, if required; and
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performing the other responsibilities set forth in its charters as in effect from time to time.
Our compensation committee retained an independent compensation consultant, Compensia, Inc. (“Compensia”), a national compensation consulting firm, to assist in structuring our executive officer and director compensation on an ongoing basis. On September 12, 2024, our compensation committee ended its engagement with Compensia and engaged Alpine Rewards as the Company’s new independent compensation consultant effective as of September 12, 2024.
Compensia, and subsequently Alpine Rewards, provided our compensation committee with market data and analyses from a peer group of biotechnology companies with product candidates in a similar stage of development and similar financial and size characteristics. Neither Compensia nor Alpine Rewards have provided our company or our compensation committee with any other services that would compromise their independence or pose a conflict of interest.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee is composed of Mr. Nodelman, Mr. Renton, Mr. Orwin and Dr. Ware. Mr. Renton is the chairperson of our nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition of our nominating and corporate governance committee meets the requirements for independence under the current Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Our nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other things:
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identifying, considering and recommending candidates for membership on our Board;
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developing and recommending corporate governance guidelines and policies;
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overseeing the process of evaluating the performance of our Board; and
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advising our Board on other corporate governance matters.
Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Board has adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other executive and senior financial officers. The full text of our Code of Conduct is posted on the investor relations section of our website at http://ir.anaptysbio.com by clicking on “Governance.” Any amendments or waivers of our Code of Conduct pertaining to a member of our Board or one of our executive officers will be disclosed on our website at the above-referenced address.
We have adopted an Insider Trading Policy governing the purchase, sale, and other dispositions of our securities that applies to all of our personnel, including directors, officers, employees, and other covered persons. The Insider Trading Policy also provides that the Company will not transact in its own securities unless in compliance with U.S. federal and state securities laws. We believe that our Insider Trading Policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and listing standards applicable to the Company. A copy of the Insider Trading Policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 27, 2025.
Hedging and Pledging Prohibitions
Under our Insider Trading Policy, our employees, executive officers, and members of our Board are prohibited from engaging in certain speculative transactions including, among other things: (i) acquiring, selling, or trading in any interest or position relating to the future price of our securities, such as a put option, a call option, or a short sale (including a short sale “against the box”); (ii) engaging in hedging or monetization transactions, including prepaid variable forward contracts,
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equity swaps, collars and exchange funds; or (iii) purchasing our securities on margin, borrowing against any account in which our securities are held, or pledging our securities as collateral for a loan.
Timing of Equity Grants
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers has served as a member of the Board, or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers who served on our Board or compensation committee during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Board and Committee Meetings and Attendance
The Board and its committees meet regularly throughout the year and also hold special meetings and act by written consent from time to time. During 2024, the Board held eight meetings, including by videoconference, the audit committee held four meetings, our compensation committee held four meetings and the nominating and corporate governance committee held three meetings. During 2024, none of the directors attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings held by the Board during his or her tenure and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which such director served during his or her tenure. The independent members of the Board also meet separately without management directors on a regular basis to discuss such matters as the independent directors consider appropriate.
Board Attendance at Annual Stockholders’ Meeting
Nine directors were in attendance at our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. We invite and encourage each member of our Board to attend our annual meetings of stockholders; however, we do not have a formal policy regarding attendance of annual meetings by the members of our Board.
Communication with Directors
Stockholders and interested parties who wish to communicate with our Board, non-management members of our Board as a group, a committee of the Board or a specific member of our Board (including our Chairman) may do so by letters addressed to the attention of our Corporate Secretary, AnaptysBio, Inc., 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121.
All communications by letter addressed to the attention of our Corporate Secretary will be reviewed by the Corporate Secretary and provided to the members of the Board unless such communications are unsolicited items, sales materials and other routine items and items unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board.
Board Diversity
Due to the complex nature of our business, the Board believes it is important to consider diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, education, cultural background, and professional experiences in evaluating board candidates in order to provide practical insights and diverse perspectives. In addition, on our Board there are two directors who hold medical doctorates and two directors who hold doctorates in scientific fields.
Considerations in Evaluating Director Nominees
The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for identifying, evaluating and recommending candidates to the Board for board membership. A variety of methods are used to identify and evaluate director nominees, with the goal of maintaining and further developing a diverse, experienced and highly qualified Board. Candidates may come to our attention through current members of our Board, professional search firms, stockholders or other persons.
8
The nominating and corporate governance committee will recommend to the Board for selection all nominees to be proposed by the Board for election by the stockholders, including approval or recommendation of a slate of director nominees to be proposed by the Board for election at each annual meeting of stockholders, and will recommend all director nominees to be appointed by the Board to fill interim director vacancies.
Our Board encourages selection of directors who will contribute to the Company’s overall corporate goals. The nominating and corporate governance committee may from time to time review and recommend to the Board the desired qualifications, expertise and characteristics of directors, including such factors as business experience, diversity and personal skills in life sciences and biotechnology, finance, marketing, financial reporting and other areas that are expected to contribute to an effective Board. Exceptional candidates who do not meet all of these criteria may still be considered. In evaluating potential candidates for the Board, the nominating and corporate governance committee considers these factors in the light of the specific needs of the Board at that time.
In addition, under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a director is expected to spend the time and effort necessary to properly discharge such director’s responsibilities. Accordingly, a director is expected to regularly attend meetings of the Board and committees on which such director sits, and to review prior to meetings material distributed in advance for such meetings. Thus, the number of other public company boards and other boards (or comparable governing bodies) on which a prospective nominee is a member, as well as his or her other professional responsibilities, will be considered. Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, there are no limits on the number of three-year terms that may be served by a director. However, in connection with evaluating recommendations for nomination for reelection, the nominating and corporate governance committee considers director tenure. We value diversity on a company-wide basis, but have not adopted a specific policy regarding board diversity.
Stockholder Recommendations for Nominations to the Board
The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider properly submitted stockholder recommendations for candidates for our Board who meet the minimum qualifications as described above. The nominating and corporate 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. A stockholder of record can nominate a candidate for election to the Board by complying with the procedures in Article I, Section 1.12 of our Bylaws. Any eligible stockholder who wishes to submit a nomination should review the requirements in the Bylaws on nominations by stockholders. Any nomination should be sent in writing to our Corporate Secretary, AnaptysBio, Inc., 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121. Submissions must include the full name of the proposed nominee, complete biographical information, a description of the proposed nominee’s qualifications as a director, other information regarding the nominee and proposing stockholder as specified in our Bylaws, and certain representations regarding the nomination. 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. These candidates are evaluated at meetings of the nominating and corporate governance committee, and may be considered at any point during the year. If any materials are provided by a stockholder in connection with the recommendation of a director candidate, such materials are forwarded to the nominating and corporate governance committee.
All proposals of stockholders that are intended to be presented by such stockholder at an annual meeting of stockholders must be in writing and notice must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 75th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 105th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Stockholders are also advised to review our Bylaws, which contain additional requirements with respect to advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under the Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act.
9
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS
ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS
Our Board is divided into three classes. Each class serves for three years, with the terms of office of the respective classes expiring in successive years. Directors and director nominees in Class II will stand for election at this meeting. The terms of office of directors in Class III and Class I do not expire until the annual meetings of stockholders to be held in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Our Class II directors, whose terms will expire at this Annual Meeting, are Dr. Jain, Mr. Orwin and Dr. Ware.
At the recommendation of our nominating and corporate governance committee, our Board proposes that each of Dr. Jain, Mr. Orwin and Dr. Ware, each an incumbent Class II director, be elected as a Class II director for a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2028 and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier resignation or removal.
Each director will be elected by a plurality of the votes present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. This means that the three individuals nominated for election to the Board at the meeting receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected. You may either vote “FOR” one or more nominees or “WITHHOLD” your vote with respect to any or all of the individuals nominated for election to the Board. A “WITHHOLD” vote will have the same effect as an abstention. You may not cumulate votes in the election of directors. Shares represented by proxies will be voted “FOR” the election of each of the Class II nominees, unless the proxy is marked to withhold authority to so vote. If any nominee for any reason is unable to serve, the proxies may be voted for such substitute nominee as the proxy holders, who are officers of our company, determine. Each nominee has consented to being named in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. Proxies may not be voted for more than three directors.
Nominees to the Board
The nominees and their ages are provided in the table below. Additional biographical information for each nominee is set forth in the text below the table.
| Name | Age | Position and Class | ||||||
|
Rita Jain. M.D.
(1)
|
62 | Director, Class II | ||||||
|
John Orwin
(2)
|
63 | Chairman of the Board, Class II | ||||||
|
J. Anthony Ware, M.D.
(3)
|
72 | Director, Class II | ||||||
______________________
(1) Member of the compensation committee
(2) Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee
(3) Member of the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee
Rita Jain, M.D.
has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2023. Dr. Jain is currently a member of the board of directors of Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. and previously a board member of Provention Bio, Inc. until its acquisition by Sanofi in April 27, 2023. Dr. Jain was also a member of the supervisory board of AM-Pharma B.V. since 2020. She previously served on the board of directors of ChemoCentryx, Inc. from 2019 until its acquisition by Amgen in 2022. From 2021 to 2022, Dr. Jain served as Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of ChemoCentryx, Inc. and in 2021 served as Chief Medical Officer of Immunovant, Inc. Additionally, since August 2021, Dr. Jain has served as Chief Executive Officer of Heartwood Biopharma Group, a private consulting group, until September 2023 and currently serves as an independent consultant. From 2017 to 2019, Dr. Jain was Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. From 2013 to 2016, Dr. Jain was a Vice President in Clinical Development at AbbVie Inc., including Vice President of Men’s and Women’s Health and Metabolic Development. Dr. Jain also held various leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories from 2003 through 2012, including as Divisional Vice President of Pain, Respiratory and Metabolic Disease Development. Dr. Jain received her B.S. degree in biology from the Long Island University, and her M.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Jain’s extensive life sciences experience provides her with the qualifications and skills to serve on our board of directors.
John Orwin
has served as a member and Chairman of our board of directors since September 2023. Mr. Orwin has been a venture partner at Samsara BioCapital, L.P., a venture capital group, since 2024, and currently serves as the chair of the board of directors of Nested Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held company, serves on the board of directors of Ambrosia
10
Biosciences, Inc., a privately held company, and as executive chairman of the board of directors of Agni Bio, Inc., a privately held company. Mr. Orwin served as the President and Chief Executive of Officer of Atreca, Inc. from April 2018 to June 2024. He also has served as a member of the board of directors of CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. since August 2022, and Travere Therapeutics, Inc. since March 2017. He previously served as a member of the boards of directors of Seagen, Inc. from January 2014 until its acquisition by Pfizer Inc. in December 2023 and Array BioPharma, Inc. from November 2012 to July 2019. Mr. Orwin received a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and an M.B.A. from New York University. Our Board believes that Mr. Orwin’s extensive industry experience and executive positions at multiple biopharmaceutical companies qualify him to serve on our Board.
J. Anthony Ware, M.D.
has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2017. From 2001 to January 2018, Dr. Ware held numerous positions at Eli Lilly and Company, a global pharmaceutical company, including Senior Vice President of Product Development of Lilly Bio-Medicines from October 2009 to January 2018 and Interim President of Lilly Bio-Medicines from January 2017 to April 2017. Before joining Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Ware served as Professor of Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where he was also Chief of Cardiology at Montefiore Medical Center from 1996 to 2001. Before joining Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Ware was on the faculty of Harvard Medical School from 1984 to 1996 and served as a senior physician and Director of the Coronary Care Unit at Beth Israel Hospital. Dr. Ware received his B.S. from Washburn University, and his M.D. from the University of Kansas. He completed internships and residency at The University of Texas at Houston and Baylor College of Medicine, where he also served as Chief Resident. He completed fellowships both at Baylor and at Harvard Medical School, and is board certified both in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Ware’s extensive academic and industry experience and significant knowledge of scientific matters provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve on our board of directors.
Continuing Directors
The directors who are serving or who have been appointed for terms that end following the meeting, and their ages (as of the date of this Proxy Statement), occupations and length of board service are provided in the table below. Additional biographical information for each nominee is set forth in the text below the table.
| Name | Age | Position and Class | ||||||
|
Daniel Faga
(1)
|
45 | Director, Class I | ||||||
|
Dennis Fenton, Ph.D.
(2)
|
73 | Director, Class I | ||||||
|
Oleg Nodelman
(3)
|
48 | Director, Class I | ||||||
|
Magda Marquet, Ph.D.
(4)
|
66 | Director, Class III | ||||||
|
Hollings Renton
(3)
|
78 | Director, Class III | ||||||
|
John P. Schmid
(2)(4)
|
62 | Director, Class III | ||||||
(1) Mr. Faga is our President and Chief Executive Officer
(2) Member of the compensation committee
(3) Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee
(4) Member of the audit committee
Daniel Faga
has served as a member of our Board since November 2021, and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since August 2023. Mr. Faga previously served as our Interim President and Chief Executive Officer from March 2022 to August 2023. From January 2020 to November 2021, Mr. Faga served as Chief Operating Officer at Mirati Therapeutics, responsible for leading the company’s corporate strategy, finance, legal and other business operations. Prior to joining Mirati, Mr. Faga served as the Chief Business Officer for Spark Therapeutics, Inc. from May 2016 through December 2019, where he was responsible for leading the company’s corporate strategy, portfolio and new product planning, patient advocacy, business development, alliance management, asset program management and corporate communications functions. From July 2009 until April 2016, Mr. Faga was a Managing Director at Centerview Partners, an investment banking and advisory firm, where he served as a founding member of Centerview’s healthcare advisory practice. Prior to Centerview, Mr. Faga worked at Merrill Lynch in its healthcare investment banking group and as a management consultant in the Life Sciences Practice at PRTM. Mr. Faga earned a B.S. in Engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. in Health Care Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Our Board believes that Mr. Faga’s extensive industry experience and executive experience provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve on our Board.
11
Dennis Fenton, Ph.D
.
has served as a member of our board of directors since March 2018. From 1981 to 2008, Dr. Fenton held numerous positions at Amgen, Inc., a biotechnology company, including Executive Vice President from 2000 until 2008, Senior Vice President of Operations from 1995 until 2000 and Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Process Development from 1992 until 1995. Prior to his time at Amgen, Inc., Dr. Fenton served as Senior Research Scientist at Pfizer, Inc., and previously was a research associate and graduate student at Rutgers University. In the past five years, Dr. Fenton previously served on the boards of directors of Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfenex Inc., a publicly traded company. Dr. Fenton holds a B.S. in Biology from Manhattan College and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Rutgers University. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Fenton’s extensive experience in the life sciences industry provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve on our board of directors.
Oleg Nodelman
has served as a member of our Board since April 2021. Mr. Nodelman has served as the Founder and Portfolio Manager of EcoR1 Capital LLC, a biotech-focused investment advisory firm established in 2013, and one of our principal stockholders, since its inception. Previously, Mr. Nodelman served as a Portfolio Manager at BVF Partners from 2001 to 2012. Mr. Nodelman earned a B.S.F.S. in Science and Technology from Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service in 1999. Mr. Nodelman currently serves on the board of directors of both Galapagos NV and Zymeworks, and previously served on the board of directors of Prothena Corporation plc from 2019 to 2024, Nuvation Bio Inc. from February 2021 to December 2023 and Panacea Acquisition Corp. II from April 2020 to February 2021. Our Board believes that Mr. Nodelman’s extensive industry experience provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve on our Board.
Magda Marquet, Ph.D.
has served as a member of our Board since January 2021. As a former founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Marquet holds a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from INSA/University of Toulouse, France. She has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her career including the 2005 Regional Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Life Sciences category, the Athena Pinnacle award, the Director of the Year award (Corporate Governance) from the Corporate Directors Forum and has been inducted into the CONNECT Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Dr. Marquet currently serves on the boards of directors of Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., Transcode Therapeutics, Inc., and chairs its compensation committee and is a member of its audit committee, and Immix Biopharma, Inc., and serves as the chair of its compensation committee. In the last five years, Dr. Marquet also served on the board of directors of Pfenex, Inc., a publicly traded company, until its acquisition by Ligand Pharmaceuticals. Our Board believes Dr. Marquet’s broad operational, fundraising expertise including venture, private equity and venture debt, as well as her expertise in MA, global commercial development, regulatory strategies and building a winning culture of innovation and strategic growth provides her with the qualifications and skills to serve our Board.
Hollings Renton
has served as a member of our Board since June 2015. Mr. Renton previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 1993 to 2008 and as the chairperson of its board of directors from 2000 to 2008. Before joining Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Renton served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Chiron Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, from 1991 to 1993, following its acquisition of Cetus Corporation. Mr. Renton served as the President of Cetus Corporation from 1990 to 1991, as Chief Operating Officer from 1987 to 1990, and as Chief Financial Officer from 1983 to 1987. Mr. Renton previously served on the board of directors of Zymeworks, Inc., a publicly traded company from 2017 to 2024 and Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded company, from March 2010 to June 2020. Mr. Renton received his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan and his B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University. Our Board believes that Mr. Renton’s extensive industry experience and board memberships provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve on our Board.
John P. Schmid
has served as a member of our Board since June 2015. Mr. Schmid served as Chief Financial Officer of Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from September 2013 to June 2015. Before joining Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Schmid co-founded Trius Therapeutics, a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, where he served as the Chief Financial Officer from June 2004 until its merger with Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in September 2013. Before he joined Trius Therapeutics, Mr. Schmid served as the Chief Financial Officer at GeneFormatics, Inc., a private biotechnology company, from 1998 to 2003, and at Endonetics, a private medical device company, from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Schmid currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of the publicly traded companies Design Therapeutics Inc., and Xeris Pharmaceuticals, both pharmaceutical companies, as well as Helix Acquisition Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition company, and Bright Peak Therapeutics, a private biotechnology company. In the last five years, Mr. Schmid has previously served on the board of directors of Helix Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, Neos Therapeutics and Poseida Therapeutics, Inc, both pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Schmid received his M.B.A. from the University of San Diego and his B.A. from Wesleyan University. Our Board believes that Mr. Schmid’s extensive industry experience and executive positions at multiple biopharmaceutical companies qualify him to serve on our Board.
12
There are no familial relationships among any of our directors and executive officers.
Non-Employee Director Compensation
The following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our Board in the year ended December 31, 2024. Mr. Faga is not paid any fees or other compensation for services as a member of our Board. For Mr. Faga’s compensation as our President and Chief Executive Officer, see the section below entitled “Executive Compensation.”
|
Name
(1)
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash ($) |
Option Awards
(2)
($)
|
Stock Awards
(2)
($)
|
Total
($) |
||||||||||
| Dennis Fenton, Ph.D. | $ | 65,000 | $ | 248,918 | $ | 127,776 | $ | 441,694 | ||||||
| Rita Jain, M.D. | $ | 46,750 | $ | 248,918 | $ | 127,776 | $ | 423,444 | ||||||
| Magda Marquet, Ph.D. | $ | 50,000 | $ | 248,918 | $ | 127,776 | $ | 426,694 | ||||||
| Oleg Nodelman | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| John Orwin | $ | 80,000 | $ | 248,918 | $ | 127,776 | $ | 456,694 | ||||||
| Hollings Renton | $ | 50,000 | $ | 248,918 | $ | 127,776 | $ | 426,694 | ||||||
| John P. Schmid | $ | 66,750 | $ | 248,918 | $ | 127,776 | $ | 443,444 | ||||||
| J. Anthony Ware, M.D. | $ | 70,000 | $ | 248,918 | $ | 127,776 | $ | 446,694 | ||||||
_____________________
(1) As of December 31, 2024, Dr. Fenton held outstanding options to purchase 75,817 shares of common stock and 6,030 RSUs (as defined below); Dr. Jain held outstanding options to purchase 35,125 shares of common stock and 8,630 RSUs; Dr. Marquet held outstanding options to purchase 59,094 shares of common stock and 6,030 RSUs; Mr. Nodelman did not hold outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock or RSUs; Mr. Orwin held outstanding options to purchase 30,421 shares of common stock and 8,630 RSUs; Mr. Renton held outstanding options to purchase 116,466 shares of common stock and 6,030 RSUs; Mr. Schmid held outstanding options to purchase 127,647 shares of common stock and 6,030 RSUs; and Dr. Ware held outstanding options to purchase 109,575 shares of common stock and 6,030 RSUs.
(2) The amounts reported in the Option Awards and the Stock Awards columns represent the grant date fair value of such awards granted to the directors during the year ended December 31, 2024 as computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“ASC Topic 718”). The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the stock options reported in the Option Awards column are set forth in Note 8 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Note that the amounts reported in this column reflect the accounting cost for these stock options and RSUs, and do not correspond to the actual economic value that may be received by our directors from the options.
Our compensation arrangements for non-employee directors are reviewed periodically by our compensation committee and our Board of Directors. In addition, Compensia, the compensation committee’s independent compensation consultant until September 2024, provided a competitive analysis of director compensation levels, practices and design features as compared to the general market as well as to our compensation peer group. Based on this analysis, certain of the compensation terms described below were increased for 2024 from the prior year to better align with compensation paid by our peer group and market practices and to remain competitive.
Cash Compensation
Pursuant to our non-employee director compensation policy each of our non-employee directors is provided with an annual cash compensation. Cash compensation is paid quarterly in arrears, and is prorated for partial service during a quarter.
The table below summarizes the cash compensation of our non-employee directors for 2024 pursuant to our director compensation policy, as well as the changes from 2023.
13
| 2023 | 2024 | ||||||||||
|
Retainer
|
$40,000 | $40,000 | |||||||||
|
Audit Committee Chair
|
$20,000 | $20,000 | |||||||||
|
Audit Committee Member
|
$9,000 | $10,000 | |||||||||
|
Compensation Committee Chair
|
$12,500 | $15,000 | |||||||||
|
Compensation Committee Member
|
$6,000 | $6,750 | |||||||||
|
Nomination and Governance Committee Chair
|
$8,000 | $10,000 | |||||||||
|
Nomination and Governance Committee Member
|
$5,000 | $5,000 | |||||||||
|
RD Committee Chair
|
$15,000 | $15,000 | |||||||||
|
RD Committee Member
|
$10,000 | $10,000 | |||||||||
|
Non-Executive Chair
|
$32,500 | $35,000 | |||||||||
Equity Compensation
Each of our non-employee directors generally receives an annual stock option grant in January to purchase 16,510 shares of common stock and 6,030 restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The stock option vests in equal monthly installments over one year and the RSUs vest on the date of the next annual meeting, in each case subject to the director’s continued service.
Additionally, new non-employee directors receive a stock option to purchase 16,510 shares of common stock and 6,030 RSUs as well as a prorated annual equity grant. The new director stock option vests in equal monthly installments over three years and the new director RSUs award will vest in equal annual installments over three years, subject to the director’s continued service.
All equity awards held by our non-employee directors will accelerate in full upon a change in control.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE
“FOR”
THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINATED CLASS II DIRECTORS.
14
PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our audit committee has selected KPMG LLP as our principal independent registered public accounting firm to perform the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. KPMG LLP audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. We expect that representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, will be able to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders are being asked to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. Our audit committee is submitting the selection of KPMG LLP to our stockholders because we value our stockholders’ views on our independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate governance. If this proposal does not receive the affirmative approval of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal, the audit committee would reconsider the appointment. Notwithstanding its selection and even if our stockholders ratify the selection, our audit committee, in its discretion, may appoint another independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the audit committee believes that such a change would be in our best interests and the interests of our stockholders.
The following table presents fees for services rendered by KPMG LLP for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands).
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
| Fees Billed to AnaptysBio | Fiscal Year 2024 | Fiscal Year 2023 | ||||||||||||
|
Audit fees
(1)
|
$ | 867 | $ | 693 | ||||||||||
|
Tax fees
(2)
|
150 | 87 | ||||||||||||
| Total fees | $ | 1,017 | $ | 780 | ||||||||||
(1) “
Audit fees
” include fees for professional services provided by KPMG LLP in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements, review of our quarterly consolidated financial statements, and related services that are typically provided in connection with registration statements, including filing of our S-3 registration statement.
(2) “
Tax fees
” include fees related to tax compliance and advice. Tax advice fees encompass a variety of permissible services, including technical tax advice related to federal and state income tax matters; and assistance with tax audits.
The audit committee must pre-approve all services to be performed for us by KPMG LLP. Pre-approval is granted usually at regularly scheduled meetings of the audit committee. The audit committee also may approve the additional unanticipated services by either convening a special meeting of the audit committee or acting by unanimous written consent. During 2024, all services billed by KPMG LLP were pre-approved by the audit committee in accordance with this policy.
These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the audit committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date. Our audit committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. All of the services relating to the fees described in the table above were approved by our audit committee.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE
“FOR”
APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL NO. 2.
15
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The information contained in the following report of the audit committee is not considered to be “soliciting material,” “filed” or incorporated by reference in any past or future filing by us under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933 unless and only to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference.
The audit committee has reviewed and discussed with our management and KPMG LLP our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024. The audit committee has also discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required to be discussed by applicable standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
The audit committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence and has discussed with KPMG LLP its independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the audit committee recommended to our Board that the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Submitted by the Audit Committee
John P. Schmid (Chair)
Magda Marquet, Ph.D.
J. Anthony Ware, M.D.
16
PROPOSAL NO. 3
NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
We are seeking a non-binding, advisory stockholder vote on the compensation awarded to our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, known as a “Say-on-Pay” vote.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) enables our stockholders to vote to approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act. At our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, we asked our stockholders to express a preference for the frequency of our Say-on-Pay vote. The majority of our stockholders voted to hold the Say-on-Pay vote on an annual basis, and therefore, based on that vote, we present this vote every year.
As described in detail in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement, our compensation program is designed to reward our executive officers at a level consistent with our overall strategic and financial performance and to provide remuneration sufficient to attract, retain and motivate them to exert their best efforts and create a successful company. Our philosophy is to tie a greater percentage of an executive officer’s compensation to stockholder returns and to keep cash compensation at a competitive level while providing the opportunity to be well-rewarded through equity if we perform well over time. We believe that our executive compensation program, with its balance of short-term incentives (including base salary and annual cash incentives tied to performance measures) and long-term incentives (including equity awards) reward sustained performance, is aligned with long-term stockholder interests. Stockholders are encouraged to read the Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement.
Based on the above, we request that stockholders approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as described in this proxy statement pursuant to the following resolution:
RESOLVED
, that the compensation paid to AnaptysBio’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement, including the “Executive Compensation” section, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.
Vote Required
Approval of named executive officer compensation requires the approval of a majority of the votes present or represented by proxy and voted for or against the matter.
As an advisory vote, this proposal is non-binding. Although the vote is non-binding, our Board and compensation committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “
FOR
” APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL NO. 3.
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PROPOSAL NO. 4
APPROVE AMENDMENT TO OUR 2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan was adopted in connection with our initial public offering in 2017. On June 12, 2024, our stockholders approved the amendment and restatement of our 2017 Plan. We refer to our 2017 Plan as amended and restated as the “2017 Plan” in this proxy statement.
We are asking our stockholders to approve an amendment to our 2017 Plan (as amended, the “Amended Plan”). Our Board has approved the Amended Plan, subject to stockholder approval. If the Amended Plan is approved by our stockholders, it will become effective on the date of such stockholder approval (the “Amendment Effective Date”). If the Amended Plan is not approved, our current 2017 Plan will remain as-is.
Our Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders to seek approval of the Amended Plan, which increases the number of shares that may be issued by 1,650,000 shares.
Rationale For and Reasons Why the Board Recommends a Vote FOR the Amended Plan
Equity Compensation is a Critical Element of Our Compensation Program
The use of equity compensation, including the grant of options, RSUs, certain performance-based options and performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”), has historically been a significant part of our overall compensation philosophy and a cornerstone of our method for attracting and retaining top caliber employees. We believe that the adoption of the Amended Plan is in the best interests of the Company, most importantly for the following reasons:
•
Allow us to recruit, retain and motivate highly qualified talent in an intensely competitive industry. If the Amended Plan is not approved and we are not able to offer competitive equity grants to prospective and current employees, qualified talent may join other companies instead of joining or staying with us, and our ability to compete in our industry would be seriously and negatively impacted, which could affect our long-term success.
•
Support our continued growth. Our need for shares has grown with our employee population. Since our 2017 initial public offering, our employee population has grown by approximately 178%. This growth has been organic as we have expanded our workforce to scale our operations. We currently anticipate that our employee population will continue to grow over the next few years as we continue to develop and advance our clinical pipeline.
•
Incentivize performance. Providing employees with an ownership stake creates a strong incentive for our employees to work hard for our future growth and success.
•
Align employee interests with those of our stockholders. We believe that our equity incentive compensation program aligns the interests of employees and stockholders, and focuses employee grantees on achieving strong corporate performance and creating long-term stockholder value.
If the Amended Plan is not approved by our stockholders, our 2017 Plan will remain in effect, with, as of April 1, 2025, only 845,138 shares remaining available to be granted. This remaining pool is unlikely to be sufficient given our projected equity award needs through 2026. If we run out of shares, we may be forced to consider cash replacement alternatives to provide a market-competitive total compensation package necessary to attract, retain and motivate the employee talent critical to our future successes. These cash replacement alternatives could, among other things, reduce the cash available for investment in growth and development and cause a loss of motivation by employees to achieve superior performance over a longer period of time.
Current 2017 Plan Information
As of April 1, 2025:
•
There were 30,332,693 total shares of our common stock outstanding.
•
There were 845,138 shares available for grant under the 2017 Plan.
•
There were 7,633,612 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding time-vesting stock options and performance-vesting stock options (assuming maximum achievement) with a weighted-average exercise price of $23.06 and a weighted average remaining contractual term of 7.91 years.
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•
There were 1,516,708 shares subject to outstanding RSUs.
•
There were 498,000 shares subject to outstanding PSUs contingent on achieving a $50, $75, and $100 share price.
•
There were no shares available for grant under the Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) (the predecessor plan that terminated in connection with our 2017 Plan).
•
The closing market price of our common stock on April 1, 2025 was $18.40.
We Carefully Consider and Forecast Our Need for Shares
After carefully forecasting our anticipated growth rate for the next few years and considering our historical usage and forfeiture rates, we are requesting approval of 1,650,000 shares, or approximately 5.4% of the shares of our common stock outstanding, for the 2017 Plan to allow us to make anticipated grants of equity incentive awards as part of our total compensation program for the remainder of 2025 and 2026. However, a change in business conditions, Company strategy or market performance could alter this projection.
Our compensation committee thoughtfully administers our equity incentive programs to manage potential stockholder dilution and to this end our compensation committee considered both our “burn rate” and our “overhang” in evaluating the impact of the 2017 Plan on our stockholders.
Grant Practices
During the past three fiscal years, we granted equity awards under our 2017 Plan as summarized in the chart below. Our three-year average burn rate was approximately 9.32% for fiscal years 2022 through 2024 (see chart below for a calculation of our three-year burn rate).
We define “burn rate” as the number of time-based and performance-based equity awards granted during the year divided by the weighted average total number of shares of common stock outstanding.
The burn rate figures included below are based on equity awards granted under our 2017 Plan, and exclude potential dilution resulting from shares issued pursuant to our 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). As we continue to mature our compensation practices, we strive to achieve a burn rate and overhang at approximately the average rates of our peer group, and that are within the limits recommended by certain independent stockholder advisory groups.
| Fiscal Year |
Granted Appreciation Awards (Options)
(1)
|
Granted Full-Value Awards (RSUs
(2)
)
|
Granted Full-Value Awards (PSUs)
(3)
|
Weighted Common Stock Outstanding as of December 31st of the applicable year | Burn Rate | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 1,693,080 | 143,400 | — | 28,165,051 | 6.52% | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 1,579,331 | 568,574 | — | 26,923,798 | 7.98% | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2,423,788 | 882,385 | 511,000 | 28,381,729 |
11.65%
(4)
|
||||||||||||
(1) Includes time-based options granted during 2022, 2023 and 2024 and performance-based options granted during 2022 and 2023.
(2) Includes time-based RSUs granted during 2022, 2023 and 2024; however, excludes the one-time RSU grant (887,043) required to recruit a CEO in 2022.
(3) Includes PSUs granted during 2024.
(4) Excludes the PSUs granted in 2024 that will not vest unless we achieve $50, $75, and $100 share price targets. Including such PSUs our adjusted burn rate for 2024 would be 13.45%.
An additional metric that the Company uses to measure the cumulative impact of its equity incentive programs is “overhang.” We define overhang as: (i) the sum of: (a) the number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding, but not exercised or settled; and (b) the number of shares available for grant under the equity plans; divided by (ii) the sum of: (a) the total number of shares outstanding as of April 1, 2025; (b) the number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding, but not exercised or settled; and (c) the number of shares available for grant under the equity plans. If the proposed amendment to the 2017 Plan is approved, the Company’s overhang would be 28.6%, which we would expect to decline as awards are exercised and/or become vested.
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| Outstanding Appreciation Awards (Options and SARs) under all plans | Weighted-average exercise price of options | Weighted-average remaining term of options |
Full value RSU awards outstanding under all plans
|
Full value PSU awards outstanding under all plans
|
Number of shares available for grant under all plans
(2017 Plan Only)
|
||||||||||||
| 7,633,612 | $23.06 | 7.91 | 1,516,708 | 498,000 | 845,138 | ||||||||||||
The Company also evaluates and considers factors that may impact burn rate and overhang. The following factors that are beneficial to all stockholders have impacted our burn rate and overhang relative to peers:
•
In 2023, we repurchased $50.0 million of our common stock, resulting in the reduction of 2.1 million shares of stock outstanding, or approximately 7.4%.
•
In March 2025, we announced our intention to repurchase up to $75.0 million of our common stock. If we were to complete this repurchase at an average share purchase price of $18.40 (our closing per share price as of April 1, 2025), this would result in the reduction of 4.1 million shares of stock outstanding, or approximately 13.5%.
•
Our number of shares of common stock outstanding as of April 1, 2025, 30.3 million, is significantly lower than the 50th percentile of number of shares of common stock outstanding of our peer group 59.8 million.
•
We removed the automatic increase “evergreen” provision of our 2017 Plan in June 2024, that provided for an automatic 4% annual increase to the share pool, which would have been approximately 1.2 million shares in 2025.
Additional factors include stock price and out-of-cycle grants (which include significant new hires and special one-time retention grants).
Purpose of Proposed Amendment of the 2017 Plan
As discussed above, we are requesting approval of an increase of 1,650,000 shares for the 2017 Plan to cover anticipated equity awards, such as those for new hires, refresh awards, potential special retention needs, merger and acquisition activities and non-employee director grants. We are not proposing any other changes to the 2017 Plan.
If approved by our stockholders, the Amended Plan will be effective on the date of stockholder approval. We intend to register the additional shares authorized under the Amended Plan under the Securities Act. If our stockholders do not approve the Amended Plan, the 2017 Plan will continue without amendment.
Summary of the Amended Plan
The following is a summary of the principal features of the Amended Plan. This summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all of the provisions of the Amended Plan. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended Plan, as proposed to be amended, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A.
Background; Purpose
The 2017 Plan was adopted by our Board on January 12, 2017 and became effective on January 24, 2017 (the “Original Effective Date”). The Amended Plan will terminate 10 years after January 12, 2017 the date the 2017 Plan was originally approved by our Board. The purpose of the Amended Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to our success.
Eligibility
Employees, officers, directors, consultants, independent contractors and advisors of the Company or any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the Company are eligible to receive awards. As of April 1, 2025, we had four executive officers (as such term is defined under Rule 16a-1(f)), eight non-employee directors and approximately 135 other employees and other service providers who would be eligible to participate in the Amended Plan.
Administration
The Amended Plan will be administered by our compensation committee, all of the members of which are non-employee directors under applicable federal securities laws and outside directors as defined under applicable federal tax laws. Our compensation committee will act as the plan administrator and have the authority to construe and interpret the Amended Plan, grant awards, determine the terms and conditions of awards and make all other determinations necessary or advisable
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for the administration of the Amended Plan (subject to the limitations set forth in the Amended Plan). However, our Board establishes the terms for the grant of awards to non-employee directors as discussed above under “Proposal No. 1 Election of Class II Directors-Non-Employee Director Compensation”.
Share Reserve
If stockholders approve the Amended Plan, there will be a cumulative total of 14,136,075 shares authorized, which includes (i) the approved pool of 11,870,410 shares under the 2017 Plan,(ii) 308,343 reserved shares not issued or subject to outstanding grants under the 2006 Plan on the IPO date, (iii) 307,322 cancelled grants from the 2006 Plan since the IPO date through April 1, 2025 and (iv) the new 1,650,000 shares which stockholders are asked to approve under this Proposal No. 4. The Amended Plan does not include an “evergreen” provision, and there will be no automatic annual increases thereunder.
In addition, the following shares of our common stock will be available for grant and issuance under our Amended Plan:
With respect to awards granted under the Amended Plan (include prior to its amendment):
•
shares subject to issuance upon exercise of a stock option or stock appreciation right granted under the Amended Plan but which cease to be subject to the option or stock appreciation right for any reason other than exercise of the stock option or stock appreciation right;
•
shares subject to awards granted under the Amended Plan that are forfeited or are repurchased by the Company at the original issue price;
•
shares subject to awards granted under the Amended Plan that otherwise terminate without such shares being issued; and
•
shares surrendered pursuant to a stockholder-approved Exchange Program.
With respect to awards granted under the 2006 Plan:
•
shares that are subject to stock options or other awards granted under the 2006 Plan that cease to be subject to such stock options or other awards by forfeiture or otherwise after the Original Effective Date,
•
shares issued under the 2006 Plan before or after the Original Effective Date pursuant to the exercise of stock options that are, after the Original Effective Date, forfeited; and
•
shares issued under the 2006 Plan that are repurchased by the Company at the original issue price.
With respect to awards granted under the Amended Plan or the 2006 Plan:
•
shares that are used to pay the exercise price of an award or withheld to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an award.
Shares that otherwise become available for grant and issuance shall not include shares subject to awards that initially became available because of the Company’s substitution or assumption of awards granted by another company in connection with an acquisition of such company, or otherwise, as permitted under the Amended Plan.
Equitable Adjustments
In the event of a change in our common stock via a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or distribution (whether in cash, shares, or other property, other than a regular cash dividend), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, consolidation, reclassification, spin-off, or similar change in the capital structure of the company without consideration, proportionate adjustments will be made to (a) the number and class of shares reserved for issuance and future grant under the Amended Plan (including the maximum number and class of ISOs (as defined below)), (b) the exercise prices of and number and class of shares subject to outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, (c) the number and class of shares subject to outstanding awards (other than options and stock appreciation rights), and (d) the number and class of shares that may be granted as awards to non-employee directors, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company.
Equity Awards
The Amended Plan will permit us to grant the following types of awards:
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•
Stock Options. The Amended Plan provides for the grant of Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) and Non-qualified Stock Options (“NSOs”). ISOs may be granted only to our employees or employees of our parent, subsidiaries and affiliates. NSOs may be granted to eligible employees, consultants and directors of any of our parent, subsidiaries or affiliates. We are able to issue no more than 12,000,000 shares pursuant to the grant of ISOs under the Amended Plan. Our compensation committee determines the terms of each option award, provided that ISOs are subject to statutory limitations. Our compensation committee also determines the exercise price for a stock option, provided that the exercise price of an option may not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant (with certain additional requirements for certain ISOs). Options granted under the Amended Plan vest at the rate and/or subject to performance requirements specified by the compensation committee and such vesting schedule is set forth in the stock option agreement to which such stock option grant relates. The compensation committee determines the term of stock options granted under the Amended Plan, up to a term of ten years (with certain additional requirements for certain ISOs). After the option holder ceases to provide services to us, he or she is able to exercise his or her vested option for the period of time stated in the stock option agreement to which such option relates. Generally, the vested option will remain exercisable for three months after an optionee’s cessation of service, except in the case of termination due to death, disability or termination for cause. An option may not be exercised later than its expiration date.
•
Restricted Stock Units. RSUs represent the right to receive shares of our common stock at a specified date in the future or upon satisfaction of performance goals specified by the compensation committee, subject to forfeiture of such right due to termination of employment or failure to achieve specified performance goals. RSUs do not have exercise price. If the RSUs have not been forfeited, then on the date specified in the award agreement we will deliver to the holder of the RSUs shares of our common stock, cash or a combination of our common stock and cash as specified in the applicable award agreement. Our compensation committee determines the term of RSUs granted under the Amended Plan.
•
Restricted Stock Awards. A restricted stock award is an offer by us to sell shares of our common stock subject to restrictions that our compensation committee may impose. These restrictions may be based on completion of a specified period of service with us or upon the achievement of performance goals during a performance period. Our compensation committee determines the price of a restricted stock award. Unless otherwise set forth in the award agreement, vesting will cease on the date the participant no longer provides services to us, and at that time unvested shares will be forfeited to us or subject to repurchase by us.
•
Stock Bonus Awards. A stock bonus is an award of shares of our common stock for past or future services to us. Stock bonuses can be granted as additional compensation for performance and, therefore, are not issued in exchange for cash. Our compensation committee determines the number of shares to be issued as stock bonus and any restrictions on those shares. These restrictions may be based on completion of a specified period of service with us or upon the achievement of performance goals during a performance period. Unless otherwise set forth in the award agreement, vesting ceases on the date the participant no longer provides services to us, and at that time unvested shares will be forfeited to us or are subject to repurchase by us.
•
Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock appreciation rights provide for a payment, or payments, in cash or shares of our common stock to the holder based upon the difference between the fair market value of our common stock on the date of exercise and the stated exercise price of the stock appreciation right. Stock appreciation rights may vest based on time or achievement of performance goals. Our compensation committee determines the term of stock appreciation rights granted under the Amended Plan, up to a term of ten years.
•
Performance Awards. A performance award is an award of a cash bonus or a bonus denominated in shares or units that is subject to performance factors. The award of performance shares may be settled in cash or by issuance of those shares (which may consist of restricted stock). These awards are subject to forfeiture because of termination of employment or failure to achieve the performance conditions.
Performance Factors
The compensation committee may establish performance goals from the performance criteria set forth in the Amended Plan, which include the following: profit before tax; billings; revenue; net revenue; earnings (which may include earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, net earnings, stock-based compensation expenses, depreciation, and amortization); operating income; operating margin; operating profit; controllable operating profit or net operating profit; net profit; gross margin; operating expenses or operating expenses as a percentage of revenue; net income; earning per share; total stockholder return; market share; return on assets or net assets; the Company’s stock price; growth in stockholder
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value relative to a pre-determined index; return on equity; return on invested capital; cash flow (including free cash flow or operating cash flows); cash conversion cycle; economic value added; individual confidential business objectives; contract awards or backlog; overhead or other expense reduction; credit rating; strategic plan development and implementation; succession plan development and implementation; improvement in workforce diversity; customer indicators and/or satisfaction; new product invention or innovation; attainment of research and development milestones; improvements in productivity; bookings; attainment of objective operating goals and employee metrics; sales; expenses; balance of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities; completion of an identified special project; completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction; employee satisfaction and/or retention; research and development expenses; working capital targets and changes in working capital; and any other metric that is capable of measurement as determined by the compensation committee. The compensation committee may provide for one or more equitable adjustments to the performance criteria, including to preserve compensation committee’s original intent regarding such criteria at the time of the initial award grant, such as but not limited to, adjustments in recognition of unusual or non-recurring items such as acquisition related activities or changes in applicable accounting rules.
Stockholder Approval Required for Repricing, Exchange and Buyout
The compensation committee may not, without the approval of our stockholders, reprice options or stock appreciation rights, including pursuant to an exchange program whereby cash or new awards are issued in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any, or all, outstanding awards.
Insider Trading; Clawback Policy
Each participant who receives an award will comply with any policy adopted by the Company from time to time covering transactions in our securities by employees, officers and/or directors.
All awards will be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of the participant’s employment or other service, and in addition to any other remedies available under such policy and applicable law, we may require the cancellation of outstanding awards and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to awards.
Restrictions on Dividends and Dividend Equivalents
A participant will have no right to payment of stock dividends or stock distributions with respect to unvested shares, and any such dividends or stock distributions will be accrued and paid only at such time, if any, as such unvested shares become vested shares and are no longer subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture.
Change in Control
If we undergo a Corporate Transaction (as defined in the Amended Plan), any or all outstanding awards may be assumed or replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption or replacement shall be binding on all participants. In the alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent awards or provide substantially similar consideration to participants as was provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the awards). The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding shares of the Company held by the participant, substantially similar shares or other property subject to repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the participant. In the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, then notwithstanding any other provision in the Amended Plan to the contrary, such awards will expire on such transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Board will determine; the Board (or, the compensation committee, if so designated by the Board) may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of such awards in connection with a Corporate Transaction. In addition, in the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, the compensation committee will notify the participant in writing or electronically that such award will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the compensation committee in its sole discretion, and such award will terminate upon the expiration of such period. Awards need not be treated similarly in a Corporate Transaction and treatment may vary from award to award and/or from participant to participant.
In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the vesting of all awards granted to our non-employee directors will accelerate and such awards will become exercisable (as applicable) in full upon the consummation of such event at such times and on such conditions as the compensation committee determines.
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Foreign Award Recipients
In order to comply with the laws in other countries in which we and our subsidiaries and affiliates operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for awards, the compensation committee will have the power and authority to modify the terms and conditions of any award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws, establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, and take any action that the compensation committee determines to be necessary or advisable to comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals.
Transferability of Awards
Unless the compensation committee provides otherwise, the Amended Plan does not allow for the transfer of awards, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and generally only the recipient of an award may exercise it during his or her lifetime.
Grants to Non-Employee Directors
Grants to non-employee directors are eligible to receive any type of award offered under the Amended Plan except ISOs. Awards to non-employee directors under the Amended Plan may be automatically made pursuant to a policy adopted by the Board, or made from time to time as determined in the discretion of the Board. The aggregate number of shares subject to awards granted to a non-employee director under the Amended Plan in any calendar year shall not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000).
Amendment and Termination
The Board is permitted to amend or terminate the Amended Plan at any time, subject to stockholder approval where required. In any event, no termination or amendment of the Amended Plan or any outstanding award may adversely affect any then outstanding award without the consent of the participant, unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law, regulation or rule.
The 2017 Plan originally become effective on the Original Effective Date. Unless earlier terminated as provided in the Amended Plan, the Amended Plan will become effective on the Amended Effective Date and will terminate ten (10) years from January 12, 2017, the date the 2017 Plan, prior to its amendment and restatement, was originally adopted by the Board.
Federal Income Tax Consequences.
The following is a general summary under current law of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to participants who are citizens or individual residents of the United States relating to the types of equity awards that may be granted under the Amended Plan. This summary deals with the general tax principles and is provided only for general information. Certain kinds of taxes, such as foreign taxes, state and local income taxes, payroll taxes and the alternative minimum tax, are not discussed.
•
Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights. A recipient of an NSO or stock appreciation right will not recognize taxable income upon the grant of those awards. However, the participant will recognize ordinary income upon exercise in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares and the exercise price on the date of exercise. Any gain or loss recognized on a subsequent disposition of the shares of common stock generally will be short‐term or long‐term capital gain or loss, depending on the length of time the recipient holds the shares.
•
Incentive Stock Options. Neither the grant nor the exercise of an ISO will generally result in any taxable income to the recipient, except that the alternative minimum tax may apply at the time of exercise. The recipient will recognize a capital gain or loss on a later sale or other disposition of such shares provided the he or she does not dispose of such shares within two years from the date the option was granted or within one year after the shares were acquired by the recipient. If the shares are not held for holding period described above, the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the lesser of (i) the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and the exercise price, or (ii) the difference between the sales price and the exercise price. Any gain or loss recognized on a subsequent disposition of the shares of common stock generally will be short‐term or long‐term capital gain or loss, depending on the length of time the recipient holds the shares.
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•
Restricted Stock Units. A holder of RSUs does not recognize taxable income when the RSUs are granted. The recipient of the award generally will recognize ordinary income in each year in which the units vest in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock received. Any gain or loss recognized on a subsequent disposition of the shares of common stock generally will be short‐term or long‐term capital gain or loss, depending on the length of time the recipient holds the shares.
•
Other Awards. The grant of restricted stock awards, stock bonus awards and performance shares will generally not be a taxable event. Generally, the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value over the price paid, if any, in the first taxable year in which his or her interest in the shares underlying the award becomes either (i) freely transferable or (ii) no longer subject to substantial risk of forfeiture (unless, with respect to an award of restricted stock, the recipient elects to accelerate recognition as of the date of grant).
In each of the foregoing cases, we will generally have a corresponding deduction at the time the participant recognizes ordinary income, subject to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the relevant income tax regulations. Section 162(m) places a limit of $1 million on the amount of compensation that we may deduct as a business expense in any year with respect to certain of our most highly paid executive officers. We may from time to time pay compensation to our executives that may not be deductible if the compensation committee believes that doing so is in the best interests of our stockholders.
ERISA Information
. The Amended Plan is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
New Plan Benefits
Our named executive officers and members of our Board have an interest in this proposal by virtue of them being eligible to receive equity awards under the Amended Plan. No awards have been granted that are contingent on the approval of the Amended Plan. Future awards under the Amended Plan to executive officers, employees or other eligible participants are discretionary and cannot be determined at this time. Currently, our non-employee directors are entitled to receive cash and equity compensation for their service as directors as described above under “Proposal No. 1 Election of Class II Directors-Non-Employee Director Compensation”.
Historical Plan Benefits Table
The following table sets forth the number of shares subject to stock options or restricted or performance stock unit awards granted under the 2017 Plan from its Original Effective Date through December 31, 2024, excluding shares underlying options or awards that were granted under the 2017 Plan that expired unexercised or were canceled:
|
Name and Position
|
Number of Securities Underlying Awards
(#)
|
||||
|
Daniel Faga, Chief Executive Officer
|
1,854,194 | ||||
|
Paul Lizzul, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer
|
541,410 | ||||
|
Dennis Mulroy, Chief Financial Officer
|
464,790 | ||||
|
All current executive officers (including named executive officers)
(4 persons)
|
3,424,534 | ||||
|
All current non-employee directors as a group (8 persons)
|
648,924 | ||||
|
All current employees (excluding current executive officers and directors)
|
5,214,051 | ||||
Vote Required
The approval of the Amended Plan requires the approval of a majority of the votes present or represented by proxy and voted for or against the matter.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “
FOR
” APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL NO. 4.
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PROPOSAL NO. 5
NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF HOLDING FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES REGARDING NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
Under the Section 14A of the Exchange Act, at least every six years our stockholders are entitled to cast an advisory vote to indicate the frequency with which we should hold future non- binding votes to approve executive compensation, commonly known as a “say-when-on-pay” vote, or to abstain from voting.
We are requesting your non-binding vote to determine whether the frequency of the vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers should be every one year, two years or three years. Our board of directors and the compensation committee believe that annual votes will allow the compensation committee, management, and our stockholders to continue to engage in a timely, open and meaningful dialogue regarding our executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices.
Vote Required
The option of one year, two years or three years that receives the highest number of votes cast by the holders of shares represented in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon will be the frequency for the advisory vote on named executive officer compensation that has been selected by stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. As an advisory vote, the vote on this Proposal 5 is not binding on us. However, the board of directors and the compensation and nominating and governance committees of the Board value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when setting the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation.
Notwithstanding the Board’s recommendation and the outcome of the stockholder vote, the Board may, in the future, decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with stockholders and the adoption of material changes to compensation programs.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR A FREQUENCY OF EVERY YEAR (ONE YEAR) FOR HOLDING FUTURE NON- BINDING VOTES TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 1, 2025 for:
•
each of our directors;
•
each of our named executive officers;
•
all of our directors and executive officers as a group; and
•
each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares of common stock that they beneficially owned, subject to applicable community property laws.
Applicable percentage ownership is based on 30,332,693 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of April 1, 2025. In computing the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deemed to be outstanding all shares of common stock subject to options held by that person or entity that are currently exercisable or that will become exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table on the following page is c/o AnaptysBio, Inc., 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121.
| Beneficial Owner | Shares Beneficially Owned (#) | Shares Beneficially Owned (%) | ||||||
| Named Executive Officers and Directors | ||||||||
|
Daniel Faga
(1)
|
699,219 | 2.3% | ||||||
|
Paul Lizzul, M.D., Ph.D.
(2)
|
315,155 | 1.0% | ||||||
|
Dennis Mulroy
(3)
|
284,939 | * | ||||||
|
Dennis Fenton, Ph.D.
(4)
|
83,270 | * | ||||||
|
Magda Marquet, Ph.D.
(5)
|
68,497 | * | ||||||
|
Oleg Nodelman
(6)
|
7,880,094 | 26.0% | ||||||
|
Hollings Renton
(7)
|
123,919 | * | ||||||
|
John P. Schmid
(8)
|
148,118 | * | ||||||
|
J. Anthony Ware, M.D.
(9)
|
122,578 | * | ||||||
|
Rita Jain, M.D.
(10)
|
41,923 | * | ||||||
|
John Orwin
(11)
|
34,548 | * | ||||||
|
Total Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (12 people)
(12)
|
10,175,040 | 33.5% | ||||||
| 5% Stockholders | ||||||||
|
EcoR1 Capital LLC
(13)
|
7,880,094 | 26.0% | ||||||
|
First Light Asset Management, LLC.
(14)
|
4,653,068 | 15.3% | ||||||
|
FMR LLC
(15)
|
2,870,618 | 9.5% | ||||||
|
BlackRock, Inc.
(16)
|
2,548,468 | 8.4% | ||||||
|
Point72 Asset Management, L.P.
(17)
|
1,691,372 | 5.6% | ||||||
* Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent.
(1)
Consists of (a) 436,466 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Faga and (b) 262,753 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Faga upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable or restricted stock units that are vesting within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(2) Consists of (a) 25,643 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Lizzul and (b) 289,512 shares of common stock issuable to Dr. Lizzul upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(3) Consists of (a) 13,802 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Mulroy and (b) 271,137 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Mulroy upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
27
(4) Consists of (a) 1,950 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Fenton and (b) 81,320 shares of common stock issuable to Dr. Fenton upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(5) Consists of (a) 3,900 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Marquet and (b) 64,597 shares of common stock issuable to Dr. Marquet upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(6) Consists of the shares of common stock described in footnote 13 below. Mr. Nodelman joined our Board in April 2021, and disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(7) Consists of 1,950 shares of commons stock held directly by Mr. Renton and (b) 121,969 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Renton upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(8) Consists of (a) 46,237 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Schmid (b) 11,068 shares of common stock held indirectly related to his position as the trustee of the SpeakInc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and (c) 90,813 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Schmid upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(9) Consists of (a) 7,500 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Ware and (b) 115,078 shares of common stock issuable to Dr. Ware upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(10) Consists of 4,534 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Jain and (b) 37,389 issuable to Dr. Jain upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(11) Consists of (a) 3,335 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Orwin and (b) 31,213 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Orwin upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(12) Includes shares beneficially owned by our executive officers and directors. Consists of (a) 8,447,482 shares of common stock and (b) 1,727,558 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of April 1, 2025.
(13) Consists of 7,880,094 shares of common stock held directly by EcoR1 Capital Fund Qualified, L.P. Each of EcoR1 Capital Fund Qualified, L.P., EcoR1 Capital, LLC and Mr. Nodelman have shared voting and dispositive power over such shares. The address of each of EcoR1 Capital Fund Qualified, L.P., EcoR1 Capital, LLC and Mr. Nodelman is 357 Tehama Street #3, San Francisco, California 94103.
(14) Based on a Schedule 13-G filed by First Light Asset Management, LLC on February 28, 2025. Consists of 4,653,068 shares of common stock held by First Light Asset Management. First Light Asset Management’s address is 3300 Edinborough Way, Suite 201, Edina, MN 55435.
(15) Based on a Schedule 13-G filed by FMR, LLC. on July 9, 2024. Consists of 2,870,618 shares of common stock held by FMR, LLC. FMR’s address is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210.
(16) Based on a Schedule 13-G filed by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) on December 31, 2024. Consists of 2,548,468 shares of common stock held by certain business units of BlackRock. BlackRock’s address is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.
(17) Based on a Schedule 13-G filed by Point72 Asset Management, L.P. on February 14, 2025. Consists of 1,691,372 shares of common stock held by Point72 Associates, LLC, Point72 Capital Advisors, Inc. and Steven A. Cohen. The address of the principal business office of Point72 Asset Management, Point72 Capital Advisors Inc., and Mr. Cohen is 72 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, CT 06902.
28
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers as of March 31, 2025:
| Executive Officers: | ||||||||
| Name | Age | Position | ||||||
|
Daniel Faga
|
45 | President and Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||||
|
Eric Loumeau, J.D.
|
62 | Chief Legal Officer | ||||||
|
Paul Lizzul, M.D., Ph.D.
|
50 | Chief Medical Officer | ||||||
| Dennis Mulroy | 70 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
Mr. Faga’s biographical information is set forth above under the heading “Proposal No. 1 Election of Class II Directors-Nominees to the Board – Continuing Directors.”
Eric Loumeau, J.D.
has served as our Chief Legal Officer since May 2023. He previously served as our Chief Operating Officer from July 2020 to May 2023 and as our General Counsel from August 2018 to May 2023. Mr. Loumeau also served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer from September 2019 to July 2020. Mr. Loumeau previously served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Otonomy, Inc. from May 2015 through March 2018. Before joining Otonomy, Mr. Loumeau served as Chief Financial Officer of Rempex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from June 2011 to December 2013 and continued as Vice President of Legal Affairs from December 2013 until May 2015 following Rempex’s acquisition by The Medicines Company. He also previously functioned as General Counsel at Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for over seven years. Mr. Loumeau’s experience as outside corporate counsel at national law firms includes tenures at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom LLP, Cooley LLP, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC, and Bass, Berry Sims PLC. Mr. Loumeau received his J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and his B.S. in Finance from Brigham Young University.
Paul Lizzul M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.
has served as our Chief Medical Officer since July 2020. From January 2020 to July 2020, he served as Executive Medical Director of Amgen Inc. From January 2016 to December 2019, he served as Chief Medical Officer of Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Lizzul previously served as Senior Medical Director and Head of Safety at Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. from August 2012 until it was acquired by Allergan plc in October 2015. Prior to joining Kythera, Dr. Lizzul served as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Associate Director of Clinical Research at the Tufts University School of Medicine where he conducted investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials in inflammatory skin diseases (psoriasis). Dr. Lizzul has authored articles in academic journals on topics including inflammation, psoriasis, aesthetics (Kybella) and health care reform. Dr. Lizzul is a diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology and a faculty member of the American Academy of Dermatology and previously served on the FDA’s Dermatology and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee. Dr. Lizzul is a volunteer member of the teaching faculty in the Department of Dermatology at University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. Dr. Lizzul completed his post-graduate medical internship at Greenwich Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine and his dermatology residency at the University of California Davis, where he was appointed chief resident. Dr. Lizzul earned his B.S. in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an M.D., Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and M.P.H. in Epidemiology/Outcomes from the Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Lizzul also earned an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from the Rutgers Business School.
Dennis Mulroy
has served as our Chief Financial Officer since July 2020. From April 2015 to May 2020, Mr. Mulroy served as Chief Financial Officer of La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company. From 2005 to 2015, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc. From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Mulroy served as Chief Financial Officer of Molecular Imaging, Inc. Mr. Mulroy began his career at Ernst Young LLP. Mr. Mulroy received a B.B.A. degree in accounting from the University of San Diego and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of California.
Our executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our Board. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This overview and narrative (“Compensation Disclosure”) describes the key elements of our executive compensation program and compensation decisions for our named executive officers for 2024. This Compensation Disclosure is intended
29
to be read in conjunction with the tables that immediately follow this section, which provide additional compensation information for our named executive officers. As a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies.
However, we believe the additional narrative disclosure with respect to our executive compensation program will provide our stockholders with further information regarding our company and our executive compensation program and practices and therefore will assist in their consideration of Proposal No. 3, the non-binding advisory vote with respect to named executive officer compensation.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, our “named executive officers” or “NEOs” were:
•
Daniel Faga, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director;
•
Paul Lizzul, Chief Medical Officer; and
•
Dennis Mulroy, Chief Financial Officer
Business Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on delivering innovative immunology therapeutics for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Our pipeline includes our lead program, rosnilimab, a depleter and agonist targeting PD-1+ T cells, in a Phase 2b trial for the treatment of moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (“RA”) and a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (“UC”). We also have other antibodies in our portfolio, including ANB033, a CD122 antagonist in a Phase 1 trial and ANB101, a BDCA2 modulator, in a Phase 1 trial. We have also discovered multiple therapeutic antibodies licensed to GlaxoSmithKline, Inc. (“GSK”) in a financial collaboration for immuno-oncology, including a PD-1 antagonist (Jemperli (dostarlimab-gxly)) and a TIM-3 antagonist (cobolimab, GSK4069889). We currently recognize revenue from milestones and royalties achieved under our immuno-oncology collaboration with GSK and license and transition services revenue from our collaboration with Vanda Pharmaceuticals.
2024 Corporate Performance Summary
We made progress on several program and corporate milestones during 2024, including the following:
•
Advanced a global Phase 2b trial to treat RA with rosnilimab, with initial clinical data reported in February 2025 and full clinical data expected in the second quarter of 2025;
•
Advanced a global Phase 2 trial to treat UC with rosnilimab, initial clinical data expected second half of 2025;
•
Completed a global Phase 2b trial to treat AD with ANB032, our BTLA agonist;
•
Initiated a Phase 1 trial of ANB033;
•
Advanced preclinical development of ANB101, with a Phase 1 trial initiated in the first quarter of 2025;
•
Out-licensed imsidolimab for $15 million to Vanda Pharmaceuticals in January 2025; and
•
Raised approximately $100 million in gross proceeds in an underwritten equity offering at $36.50 per share.
Executive Compensation Policies and Practices
We endeavor to maintain sound compensation governance standards consistent with our executive compensation policies and practices. Our compensation committee evaluates our executive compensation program on a regular basis (and no less than annually) to ensure that it is consistent with our short-term and long-term goals given the dynamic nature of our business and the market in which we compete for executive talent. The following summarizes our executive compensation and related policies and practices:
What We Do
•
Maintain an Independent Compensation Committee.
Our compensation committee consists solely of independent directors who establish our compensation practices.
•
Retain an Independent Compensation Advisor.
Our compensation committee has engaged its own compensation consultant to provide information, analysis, and other advice on executive compensation independent of management. In September 2024, the compensation committee’s engagement with Compensia
30
ended and the compensation committee retained Alpine Rewards as its new independent compensation consultant. Neither Compensia nor Alpine Rewards performed other consulting or other services for us in 2024.
•
Annual Executive Compensation Review.
Our compensation committee conducts an annual review and approval of our compensation strategy, including a review and determination of our compensation peer group used for comparative purposes and a review of our compensation-related risk profile to ensure that our compensation programs do not encourage excessive or inappropriate risk-taking and that the level of risk that they do encourage is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.
•
Compensation At-Risk.
Our executive compensation program is designed so that a significant portion of each of our named executive officer’s compensation is “at-risk” based on corporate performance against pre-specified annual goals, as well as equity-based, to align the interests of our executive officers and stockholders.
•
Use a “Pay-for-Performance” Philosophy.
The majority of our named executive officers’ compensation is directly linked to corporate performance through short-term performance-based annual bonuses and long-term equity awards, including certain corporate performance-based equity awards; we also structure their target total direct compensation opportunities with a strong emphasis on the long-term equity component, thereby making a substantial portion of each named executive officer’s target total direct compensation dependent upon our stock price performance.
•
Succession Planning.
On an as-needed basis, our Board, with input from the nominating and corporate governance committee reviews the risks associated with our named executive officer positions to ensure adequate succession plans are in place.
•
Clawback Policy.
Our executive officers are subject to a compensation recovery “clawback” policy that provides for the recovery of excess incentive-based compensation in the event we are required to restate our financial statements.
What We Do Not Do
•
No Guaranteed Bonuses.
We do not provide guaranteed bonuses to our named executive officers.
•
No Executive Retirement Plans.
We do not currently offer defined benefit pension plans or any non-qualified deferred compensation plans or arrangements to our named executive officers other than the plans and arrangements that are available to employees generally.
•
No Hedging or Pledging.
We prohibit our employees (including our named executive officers) and the non-employee members of our Board from hedging or pledging our securities.
•
No Special Welfare or Health Benefits.
We do not provide our named executive officers with any welfare or health benefit programs, other than participation in our broad-based employee programs.
Stockholder Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
At our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we conducted a non-binding stockholder advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers (commonly known as a “Say-on-Pay” vote). Our Board and our compensation committee consider the results of the Say-on-Pay vote in determining the compensation of our executive officers, including our named executive officers. At our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 87% of the votes cast approved our executive compensation program. We take our Say-on-Pay vote results seriously and engaged with our stockholders to seek feedback on the results of our 2024 Say-on-Pay vote and the design of our executive compensation program and have continued this practice in 2025.
We value the opinion of our stockholders. Our Board and our compensation committee will continue to consider the result of the Say-on-Pay vote, as well as feedback received throughout the year, when making compensation decisions for our executive officers.
In addition, consistent with the recommendation of our Board and the preference of our stockholders as reflected in the non-binding stockholder advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes held at our 2019 Annual Meeting of
31
Stockholders, we continue to hold future Say-on-Pay votes on an annual basis. Accordingly, subject to the results of the say-when-on-pay at our 2025 Annual Meeting to which this Proxy Statement relates, we expect our next Say-on-Pay vote will be conducted at our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Executive Compensation Philosophy Objectives
The principal objectives of our executive compensation program, policies, and practices are to:
•
offer competitive compensation which enables us to attract and retain high-caliber executives;
•
reward the achievement of our business objectives by directly linking annual bonuses to the achievement of objectives that build long-term stockholder value;
•
recognize both corporate and individual performance by providing opportunities for career advancement and opportunities for above-median short-term and long-term compensation based on measurable corporate and individual performance; and
•
align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders by incentivizing and rewarding the creation of stockholder value.
Our compensation committee believes an appropriate, well-designed compensation program should align executive interests with the drivers of growth and stockholder returns by supporting the achievement of our primary business goals. Further, the compensation program must enable us to attract and retain employees whose talents, expertise and leadership can drive our success and sustained growth in long-term stockholder value.
Our executive compensation program has reflected, and we expect that it will continue to reflect, our industry and life-cycle stage, including the fact that we are a biotechnology company whose product candidates are in pre-clinical and clinical development and remain subject to regulatory approval. As a result, our revenues have been and will continue to be limited, and we expect to continue to incur net losses for at least the next several years. Our historical compensation programs have focused on long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity awards relative to cash compensation. This approach seeks to place a substantial portion of executive compensation at risk by rewarding our named executive officers, in a manner comparable to our stockholders, for achieving our business and financial objectives.
In addition, we have a performance-oriented compensation philosophy focused on creating long-term value. Our executive compensation program is heavily weighted toward variable, at-risk performance based bonuses, long-term equity awards, and performance based equity awards.
We maintain an annual performance-based cash bonus plan for our named executive officers. Payments under this cash bonus plan are based primarily on our level of achievement of pre-established corporate performance goals to tie compensation of our named executive officers to achievement of key corporate objectives, which will ultimately create stockholder value. We also provide long-term equity awards to motivate our named executive officers in a manner that directly aligns their interest with our long-term strategic direction and the interests of our stockholders, as well as providing our executive officers with an incentive to remain with us as their equity awards vest.
When considering the total variable pay-mix for our executive officers, we seek to design and implement a competitive executive compensation program that combines both cash and incentive elements based on annual performance objectives and long-term equity elements that will be flexible and complementary to meet our compensation objectives. Our compensation committee has not adopted any formal policies or guidelines for allocating compensation between current and long-term compensation, between cash and non-cash compensation, or among different forms of non-cash compensation. The factors taken into account by our compensation committee in setting the level of fixed and variable cash compensation and non-cash compensation are described in greater detail below in “
Compensation Setting Process
”, “
Setting Target Total Direct Compensation
” and “
Compensation Elements
.”
Compensation-Setting Process
Our compensation committee has overall responsibility for overseeing our compensation and benefits policies generally, and overseeing and evaluating the compensation plans, policies and practices applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers.
32
In carrying out its responsibilities, our compensation committee evaluates our compensation policies and practices with a focus on the degree to which these policies and practices reflect our executive compensation philosophy, develops strategies and makes decisions that it believes further our philosophy or align with developments in best compensation practices, and reviews the performance of our named executive officers when making decisions with respect to their compensation.
In discharging its responsibilities, our compensation committee engages an external compensation consultant to assist it by providing information, analysis and other advice relating to our executive compensation program. Our compensation committee also takes into consideration input from our Chief Executive Officer (other than with respect to himself) and other members of our management team.
Our compensation committee’s authority, duties, and responsibilities are further described in its charter, which is reviewed annually and revised and updated as warranted. The charter is available on our company website. Our compensation committee also retains an independent compensation consultant (as described below) to provide support in its review and assessment of our executive compensation program.
Updated Competitive Positioning
During 2023, our compensation committee directed Compensia to refresh our compensation peer group. In evaluating the companies to comprise the compensation peer group at that time, Compensia considered the following criteria: (i) biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies with therapeutic similarity in inflammation, immune-oncology, and other antibody-based therapies; (ii) with lead drugs in phase II or III or pending approval; (iii) ~50 - ~250 employees (~0.5 to ~2.5 of our current headcount); and (iv) a market capitalization of 0.33x to 3.0x our market capitalization.
Based on a review of the analysis prepared by Compensia, in September 2023 our compensation committee approved an updated compensation peer group, referred to as the 2024 peer group, consisting of the following companies:
|
Allakos
|
Gossamer Bio | RAPT Therapeutics | ||||||
| Alector | IGM Biosciences | Sangamo Therapeutics | ||||||
|
ALX Oncology Holding
|
iTeos Therapeutics | Syndax Pharmaceuticals | ||||||
| Atara Biotherapeutics |
Kodiak Sciences
|
Xencor | ||||||
| Avidity Biosciences | Kura Oncology | |||||||
| Crinetics Pharmaceuticals | Mersana Therapeutics | |||||||
|
Celldex Therapeutics
|
NGM Biopharmaceuticals | |||||||
Our compensation committee used this compensation peer group as a reference for its compensation decisions in December 2023.
The compensation practices of the peer group was the primary guide used by our compensation committee to compare the competitiveness of each compensation element and overall compensation levels (base salary, target annual cash bonus opportunities, and long-term incentive compensation) for purposes of decisions relating to compensation.
Our compensation committee reviews our compensation peer group each year (or more frequently if there have been significant changes to either our business model or market capitalization) and makes adjustments to its composition if warranted, taking into account changes in both our business and the businesses of the companies in the peer group.
Compensation Elements
In 2024, the principal elements of our executive compensation program, and the objective for each element, were as follows:
33
|
Element
|
Type
|
Objective
|
||||||
| Base Salary | Fixed | Provide a secure, fixed compensation amount that reflects executive’s scope of responsibility, skill-level and performance and is competitive with the market. | ||||||
| Annual Cash Bonus Awards | Variable | Designed to motivate our executives to achieve annual business objectives and provide financial incentives when we meet or exceed these annual corporate objectives. | ||||||
| Long-Term Incentive Compensation | Variable | Designed to align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders by motivating them to create sustainable long-term stockholder value. | ||||||
Base Salary
Base salary represents the fixed portion of the compensation of our named executive officers and is an important element of compensation intended to attract and retain highly-talented individuals by providing an amount of fixed pay that compensates executives for their scope of responsibility, skill-level and performance.
In December 2023, our compensation committee reviewed the base salaries of our named executive officers, taking into consideration a competitive market analysis prepared by its compensation consultant using the then-current peer group and the other factors described in “-
Compensation-Setting Process - Setting Target Total Direct
Compensation
” above. Following this review, our compensation committee approved base salary increases for each of our named executive officers, effective January 1,
2024, to bring their base salaries to levels that were comparable to those of similarly-situated executives at the companies in our compensation peer group.
The base salaries paid to our named executive officers during 2024 are set forth in the “Executive Compensation Tables -2024 Summary Compensation Table” below.
Annual Performance-Based Cash Bonuses
We use an annual performance-based cash bonus plan to motivate our employees, including our named executive officers, to achieve our key annual corporate business objectives. In December 2023, our compensation committee and Board of Directors adopted an annual cash bonus plan for 2024 (the “2024 Cash Bonus Plan”) to provide financial incentives related to the achievement of principal goals set forth in our 2024 annual operating plan. The 2024 Cash Bonus Plan provided for bonus payments to be funded based on our level of achievement with respect to corporate performance goals (as described below).
For purposes of the 2024 Cash Bonus Plan, cash bonus payments were based upon a specific percentage of each participant’s base salary. In December 2023, our compensation committee reviewed the target annual cash bonus opportunities of our named executive officers, taking into consideration the factors described in “Compensation-Setting Process - Setting Target Total Direct Compensation” above and approved the target annual cash bonus opportunities for each of the named executive officers. Following this review, our compensation committee approved an increase to Mr. Faga’s target annual cash bonus opportunity, to better align it to those of similarly-situated executives at the companies in our compensation peer group.
The table below shows the 2024 target annual cash bonus opportunities for our named executive officers, expressed as a percentage of base salary:
| Named Executive Officer |
2024 Target Annual Cash Bonus Opportunity
(as a percentage of base salary)
|
||||
| Daniel Faga | 60% | ||||
| Paul Lizzul M.D., Ph.D. | 40% | ||||
| Dennis Mulroy | 40% | ||||
Corporate Performance Goals
Participants in the 2024 Cash Bonus Plan were eligible to receive a bonus payment based upon the attainment of one or more corporate performance goals that were selected and approved by our compensation committee and which related to
34
financial and operational metrics that were important to us. The corporate performance component of the 2024 Cash Bonus Plan was to be funded based on our actual results for the year as evaluated against these performance goals and account for 100% of the Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) total bonus opportunity.
In December 2023, our compensation committee and Board of Directors approved corporate performance goals in each of the following categories for purposes of the 2024 Cash Bonus Plan:
i.
Rosnilimab Program
- Advance Phase 2 trial in RA to be on track for top-line results by Q2 2025 and advance Phase 2 trial in UC to read out top-line results by Q1 2026;
ii.
ANB032 Program
- Read out results from Phase 2 trial in AD in 2024;
iii.
Rosnilimab and ANB032 Advancement
- Align on next steps for additional Phase 2 trials and align on Phase 3 development plan;
iv.
Early Portfolio
- ANB033 initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2024; ANB101: file an IND in 2024;
v.
Finance
-
manage operating expenses within approved budget, extend cash runway, conduct certain business development activities; and
vi.
Organizational Talent and Culture
- Retain, develop and recruit leadership to support future growth expectations and ensure consistent company culture, vision and values.
Each corporate performance goal was evaluated and selected according to our compensation committee’s assessment of its relative importance to the execution of our annual business plan. Our primary focus was on our clinical development and research programs, as they are key drivers of our business. We allocated the remainder of the bonus opportunity to managing operations such as finance, retaining, developing and recruiting leadership to support future growth, and ensuring consistent company culture, which are also necessary for the execution of our business plan.
For purposes of the 2024 Cash Bonus Plan, our compensation committee reserved the discretion to consider the level of achievement of a particular performance goal, or other corporate achievements during 2024 when determining the actual funding level for this component of the plan. This discretion enables our executive officers to focus on the pre-established corporate goals, while also providing flexibility for our executive officers to be nimble in responding to new developments and setbacks, which is necessary for the execution of our business plan.
In December 2024, our compensation committee reviewed performance against the corporate goals. Our compensation committee recognized the effective execution and significant progress made on certain critical business goals, including the advancement of our clinical programs and the achievement of our internal research goals and those related to our partnered programs; however, the compensation committee also acknowledged that our AD trial results missed achieving statistical significance and lack of positive stockholder return in 2024. Accordingly, our compensation committee recommended and our Board determined that our corporate goals were achieved at 75% of target.
The 2024 bonuses earned by our named executive officers are set forth in “Executive Compensation Tables - 2024 Summary Compensation Table” below.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Our long-term, equity-based incentive awards are designed to align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. Because vesting is generally subject to continued service over a period of several years following the date of grant, our equity-based incentives also serve as a retention device for our named executive officers. We generally provide initial equity-based incentive awards in connection with the commencement of employment of our named executive officers as an inducement to commencement of employment. We award annual equity-based incentive awards at or shortly following the end of each year. Awards are subject to vesting over a period of multiple years to provide long-term incentives to deliver sustained stockholder value and to facilitate retention. From time to time, we may also grant awards with performance-based metrics to incentivize and reward targeted corporate goals.
The compensation committee believes that a combination of stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”), each with multi-year vesting, provide a balance of incentive and retention and, accordingly, are the most effective compensation strategy for us at this time. The compensation committee views stock options as inherently performance-based compensation that provides a direct link between executive pay and stockholder return, as the value realized, if any, by the
35
executive, is dependent upon, and directly proportionate to, appreciation in stock price over the exercise period and throughout the remaining term prior to exercise. Additionally, stock options will not provide value to the holder if the value of our stock price does not increase after the award is granted. RSUs are a common incentive used by many of our talent competitors, and provide retentive value to executives, particularly during any periods of stock price volatility.
For our 2024 executive long-term incentive mix, the compensation committee determined, in consultation with its compensation consultant, to again include stock options and RSUs, and to introduce performance-based RSUs (“PSUs”). The PSUs are designed to drive achievement of our strategic objectives and are tied to sustained, long-term stockholder value creation over a four-year performance period, with vesting only occurring upon achievement of three increasingly difficult stock price targets, subject to the executive’s continued employment.
Typically, we have granted equity based awards of our common stock to our named executive officers as part of our compensation committee’s annual review of executive compensation. To date, our compensation committee has not applied a rigid formula in determining the size of these equity awards. Instead, our compensation committee determines the amount of the equity award for each named executive officer after taking into consideration a compensation analysis performed by its compensation consultant using market data, the equity award recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer (except with respect to his own award), the amount of equity compensation held by the named executive officer (including the current economic value of his or her unvested equity and the ability of these unvested holdings to satisfy our retention objectives), and the factors described in “Compensation Setting Process - Setting Target Total Direct Compensation” above.
2024 “Refresh” Equity Awards
In January 2024, based upon the considerations and analysis described above, our compensation committee determined to grant options to purchase shares of our common stock and RSUs to our named executive officers in amounts that it considered to be consistent with our compensation philosophy and its desired market positioning and which also recognized the performance of each of our named executive officers. The stock options and RSUs granted to our named executive officers in January 2024 were as follows:
| Named Executive Officer |
Number of Shares Underlying Stock Options
(1)
(#)
|
Number of RSUs
(2)
(#)
|
||||||
| Daniel Faga | 379,620 | 138,710 | ||||||
| Paul Lizzul M.D., Ph.D. | 115,540 | 42,220 | ||||||
| Dennis Mulroy | 90,780 | 33,170 | ||||||
(1) The options to purchase shares of our common stock vest and become exercisable over a four-year period, with 25% of the shares of our common stock subject to the options vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 1/48th of the shares of our common stock subject to the options vesting in equal monthly installments thereafter, contingent upon the named executive officer remaining continuously employed by us through each applicable vesting date.
(2) The RSUs vest in annual equal installments over four years, contingent upon the named executive officer remaining continuously employed by us through each applicable vesting date.
Share Price-Based Performance RSUs
. In July 2024, after undertaking a comprehensive review and analysis with Compensia, our compensation committee determined to grant contingent Performance Stock Units (the “2024 PSUs”) to our named executive officers, with each PSU representing a contingent right to receive one share of common stock upon the achievement of $50, $75, and $100 share price, which is approximately a 100%, 200% and 300% price increase above the share price at time of grant. At the time of grant, our 30-day average closing price was $26.29 per share. The 2024 PSUs have the potential to provide meaningful compensation to our executives, but only if they deliver exceptional performance that creates significant returns for the stockholders. The 2024 PSUs were designed to incentivize significant and sustained out performance, with vesting only occurring at stock price targets significantly above our historical stock price and such targets must be satisfied over a 60-trading day average. Moreover, 2024 PSUs were designed to drive our strategic direction and value creation over the long-term by encouraging leadership continuity and collaboration and motivating the executives with equity that rewards them for providing sustained meaningful increases in stockholder value.
The PSUs granted to our named executive officers in July 2024 were as follows:
36
| Named Executive Officer |
Number of PSUs
(#)
|
||||
| Daniel Faga | 160,000 | ||||
| Paul Lizzul M.D., Ph.D. | 50,000 | ||||
| Dennis Mulroy | 20,000 | ||||
The PSUs have a four-year performance period and are divided in three equal tranches, with each tranche eligible to vest based on the achievement, within the performance period, of certain share price targets. If a share price target is achieved, the PSUs allocated to such share price target shall become eligible to vest (the “Eligible PSUs”) with (i) 50% of the Eligible PSUs vesting on the one-year anniversary of the later to occur of the date our compensation committee determines achievement of a share price target and July 1, 2025 (such later date the “Service Vesting Commencement Date”) and the remaining 50% of the Eligible PSUs vesting on the two-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date. As of April 1, 2025, none of the share price targets have been achieved and none of the PSUs are eligible to vest.
Welfare and Health Benefits
Our named executive officers participate in our company-sponsored benefit programs on generally the same basis as other salaried employees, including with respect to our 401(k) plan and health and welfare benefits.
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
Currently, we do not view perquisites or other personal benefits as a significant component of our executive compensation program. Accordingly, we do not provide significant perquisites or other personal benefits to our named executive officers, except as generally made available to our employees, or in situations where we believe it is appropriate to assist an individual in the performance of his or her duties, to make him or her more efficient and effective, and for recruitment and retention purposes. During 2024, none of our named executive officers received perquisites or other personal benefits that were, in the aggregate, $10,000 or more for each individual.
In the future, we may provide perquisites or other personal benefits in limited circumstances, such as those described in the preceding paragraph. All future practices with respect to perquisites or other personal benefits will be approved and subject to periodic review by our compensation committee.
37
Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents summary information regarding the total compensation that was awarded to, earned by or paid to our named executive officers for services rendered during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| Name and Principal Position | Year |
Salary
($) |
Stock Awards
(1)
($)
|
Option Awards
(1)
($)
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
($)
|
All Other Compensation
($) |
Total
($) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Daniel Faga
(2)
|
2024 | 685,448 |
6,889,127
(3)
|
5,723,455 | 308,452 |
23,810
(4)
|
13,630,292 | ||||||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer and Director | 2023 | 640,605 | 1,658,622 | 3,287,320 | 352,333 |
1,523,040
(4)(5)
|
7,461,920 | ||||||||||||||||
| Paul Lizzul | 2024 | 529,859 |
2,128,976
(6)
|
1,741,973 | 158,958 |
23,742
(7)
|
4,583,508 | ||||||||||||||||
| Chief Medical Officer | 2023 | 509,479 | 570,993 | 1,131,250 | 203,792 |
25,603
(7)
|
2,441,117 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Dennis Mulroy
(8)
|
2024 | 495,213 |
1,196,600
(9)
|
1,368,672 | 148,564 |
29,858
(10)
|
3,238,907 | ||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | 2023 | 479,393 | 487,365 | 965,787 | 191,757 |
31,651
(10)
|
2,155,954 | ||||||||||||||||
_____________________
(1) The amounts reported in the Option Awards and Stock Awards columns represent the grant date fair value of the stock options, RSUs, and PSUs granted to the named executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 as computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The grant date fair value of the 2024 PSUs is estimated based upon the expected achievement of the performance metric specified in the PSU Agreement, using a Monte Carlo simulation. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the stock options reported in the Option Awards column are set forth in Note 8 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Note that the amounts reported in these columns reflect the accounting cost for these stock options, RSUs, and PSUs, and do not correspond to the actual economic value that may be received by our named executive officers from such awards.
(2) Mr. Faga was appointed Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 21, 2022 and President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 3, 2023.
(3) In addition to time-vesting RSUs, includes $3,949,862 related to PSUs granted to Mr. Faga during the year ended December 31, 2024, contingent on achieving a $50, $75, and $100 share price.
(4) Includes 401(k) matching contributions and group term life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of Mr. Faga.
(5) Includes a one-time $1,500,000 transition bonus paid to Mr. Faga in connection with his transition from Interim President and Chief Executive Officer to President and Chief Executive Officer. In the event that Mr. Faga’s employment is terminated by the Company due to “cause” or by Mr. Faga without “good reason” prior to August 4, 2025, Mr. Faga will be required to re-pay a prorated amount of his transition bonus if his employment is terminated with “cause” or he resigns without “good reason” before August 4, 2025.
(6) In addition to time-vesting RSUs, includes $1,234,334 related to PSUs granted to Dr. Lizzul during the year ended December 31, 2024, contingent on achieving a $50, $75, and $100 share price.
(7) Reflects 401(k) matching contributions and group term life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of Dr. Lizzul.
(8) Mr. Mulroy was not a named executive officer for the year ended December 31, 2023.
(9) In addition to time-vesting RSUs, includes $493,728 related to PSUs granted to Mr. Mulroy during the year ended December 31, 2024, contingent on achieving a $50, $75, and $100 share price.
(10) Reflects 401(k) matching contributions and group term life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of Mr. Mulroy.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
The following table presents, for each of the named executive officers, information regarding outstanding stock options, RSUs, and PSUs held as of December 31, 2024.
38
| Option Awards |
Stock Awards
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name |
Grant Date
(1)
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#) Unexercisable |
Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)
(2)
|
Equity incentive plan awards: number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested
(#)
|
Equity incentive plan awards: market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested
($)
(2)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Daniel Faga
(3)
|
11/26/2021 | 2,321 | — | 31.12 | 11/25/2031 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11/26/2021 | 11,000 | — | 31.12 | 11/25/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2022 | 9,200 | — | 30.44 | 02/09/2032 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/06/2023 | 53,550 | 709,002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/06/2023 | 93,390 | 101,510 | 23.23 | 01/05/2033 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/03/2024 | — | 379,620 | 21.19 | 1/02/2034 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/03/2024 | 138,710 | 1,836,520 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07/22/2024 | 160,000 | 2,118,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Paul Lizzul
(4)
|
07/30/2020 | 85,000 | — | 18.50 | 07/29/2030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2021 | 43,125 | 1,875 | 29.70 | 02/09/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2021 | 10,000 | — | 29.70 | 02/09/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2022 | 49,583 | 20,417 | 30.44 | 02/09/2032 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/15/2022 | 15,000 | — | 28.64 | 12/14/2032 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/06/2023 | 18,435 | 244,079 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/06/2023 | 32,137 | 34,933 | 23.23 | 01/05/2033 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/03/2024 | — | 115,540 | 21.19 | 01/02/2034 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/03/2024 | 42,220 | 558,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07/22/2024 | 50,000 | 662,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Dennis Mulroy
(5)
|
07/13/2020 | 80,600 | — | 20.16 | 07/12/2030 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2021 | 43,125 | 1,875 | 29.70 | 02/09/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2021 | 10,000 | — | 29.70 | 02/09/2031 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2022 | 49,583 | 20,417 | 30.44 | 02/09/2032 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/15/2022 | 15,000 | — | 28.64 | 12/14/2032 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/06/2023 | 27,437 | 29,823 | 23.23 | 01/05/2033 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/06/2023 | 23.23 | 15,735 | 208,331 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/03/2024 | — | 90,780 | 21.19 | 01/02/2034 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/03/2024 | 33,170 | 439,171 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07/22/2024 | 20,000 | 264,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
______________________
(1) Except where otherwise noted, the underlying shares of each option vest over four years, with 1/4 of the underlying shares vesting on the first calendar anniversary of the grant date and, thereafter, 1/48 of the underlying shares vest on the same day of each succeeding calendar month, subject to the optionee’s employment through each applicable vesting date, such that 100% of the underlying shares will have vested on the fourth calendar anniversary of the grant date.
(2) Based on the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2024, the last trading date of 2024, of $13.24.
(3) The options vest as to their underlying shares as follows: (i) the shares underlying the 2,321 options granted on November 26, 2021 have fully vested; (ii) the 11,000 shares underlying the option granted on November 26, 2021 have fully vested (iii) the 9,200 shares underlying the option granted on February 10, 2022 have fully vested; (iv) of the 194,900 shares underlying the option granted on January 6, 2023, 1/4 vested on January 6, 2024, and 1/48 vest on the sixth of each succeeding calendar month, starting February 6, 2024; and (v) of the shares underlying the 71,400 RSUs granted on January 6, 2023, 1/4 vested on January 6, 2024 and 1/4 will vest annually beginning on January 6, 2025; (vi) of the 379,620 shares underlying the option granted on January 3, 2024, 1/4 vested on January 3, 2025 and 1/48 vest on the third of each succeeding calendar month, starting February 3, 2025; (vii) of the shares underlying the 138,710 RSUs granted on January 3, 2024, 1/4 will vest annually beginning on January 3, 2025; (viii) of the shares underlying the 160,000 PSUs granted on July 22, 2024, 50% will vest on the later of the 1-year anniversary of the achievement of the applicable performance metric or July 1, 2026 and 50% will vest on the 2-year anniversary of the achievement of the applicable performance metric (but no later than July 1, 2028). If we experience a change in control and Mr. Faga experiences a qualifying
39
termination, Mr. Faga is eligible for certain accelerated vesting as described below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”.
(4)
The options vest as to their underlying shares as follows: (i) the shares underlying the 10,000 options granted on February 10, 2021 have fully vested; (ii) the 85,000 shares underlying the option granted on July 30, 2020 have fully vested; (iii) of the 45,000 shares underlying one of the options granted on February 10, 2021, 1/4 vested on February 10, 2022, and 1/48 vest on the tenth day of each succeeding calendar month, starting March 10, 2022; (iv) of the 70,000 shares underlying the options granted on February 10, 2022, 1/4 vested on February 10, 2023, and 1/48 vest on the tenth day of each succeeding calendar month, starting March 10, 2023; (v) 15,000 shares underlying one of the options granted on December 15, 2022 vested upon achievement of certain performance conditions; (vi) of the 67,070 shares underlying the option granted on January 6, 2023, 1/4 vested on January 6, 2024, and 1/48 vest on the sixth of each succeeding calendar month, starting February 6, 2024; (vii) of the of the shares underlying the 24,580 RSUs granted on January 6, 2023, 1/4 vested on January 6, 2024 and 1/4 will vest annually beginning on January 6, 2025; (viii) of the 115,540 shares underlying the option granted on January 3, 2024, 1/4 vested on January 3, 2025 and 1/48 will vest on the third day of each succeeding calendar month, starting February 6, 2025; (ix) of the shares underlying the 42,220 RSUs granted on January 3, 2024, 1/4 will vest annually beginning on January 3, 2025; and (x) the shares underlying the 50,000 PSUs granted on July 22, 2024, 50% will vest on the later of the 1-year anniversary of the achievement of the applicable performance metric or July 1, 2026 and 50% will vest on the 2-year anniversary of the achievement of the applicable performance metric (but no later than July 1, 2028). If we experience a change in control and Dr. Lizzul experiences a qualifying termination, Dr. Lizzul is eligible for certain accelerated vesting as described below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”.
(5)
The options vest as to their underlying shares as follows: (i) the shares underlying the 80,600 options granted on August 13, 2020 have fully vested; (ii) the 45,000 shares underlying one of the options granted on February 10, 2021, 1/4 vested on February 10, 2022, and 1/48 vest on the tenth day of each succeeding calendar month, starting on March 10, 2022; (iii) the shares underlying the 10,000 options granted on February 10, 2021 have fully vested; (iv) of the 70,000 shares underlying the options granted on February 10, 2022, 1/4 vested on February 10, 2023, and 1/48 vest on the tenth day of each succeeding calendar month, starting March 10, 2023; (v) 15,000 shares underlying one of the options granted on December 15, 2022 vested upon achievement of certain performance conditions; (vi) of the 57,260 shares underlying the option granted on January 6, 2023, 1/4 vested on January 6, 2024, and 1/48 vest on the sixth of each succeeding calendar month, starting February 6, 2024; (vii) of the shares underlying the 20,980 RSUs granted on January 3, 2024, 1/4 will vest annually beginning on January 3, 2025; (viii) of the 90,780 shares underlying the option granted on January 3, 2024, 1/4 vested on January 3, 2025 and 1/48 will vest on the third day of each succeeding calendar month, starting February 6, 2025; (ix) of the shares underlying the 33,170 RSUs granted on January 3, 2024, 1/4 will vest annually beginning on January 3, 2025; and (x) the shares underlying the 20,000 PSUs granted on July 22, 2024, 50% will vest on the later of the 1-year anniversary of the achievement of the applicable performance metric or July 1, 2026 and 50% will vest on the 2-year anniversary of the achievement of the applicable performance metric (but no later than July 1, 2028). If we experience a change in control and Mr. Mulroy experiences a qualifying termination, Mr. Mulroy is eligible for certain accelerated vesting as described below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”.
Pay-Versus-Performance
As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following disclosure regarding executive compensation our NEOs our total shareholder return and our net income. Those rules require amounts included in the “compensation actually paid” columns of the table to be calculated according to a particular formula intended to demonstrate the relationship between executive compensation actually paid to a company’s NEOs and the company’s performance. The formula reflects a number of fair value adjustments to equity awards intended to show the change in value of those awards from one year to another. They do not reflect, however, the precise amounts actually earned by or paid to our executives during the years shown in the table.
The Compensation Committee approves and administers our executive compensation program to align executive compensation with stockholder interests by linking pay to performance. Our overall compensation program includes a mix of short-term and long-term components through our annual incentive plan and equity awards.
In 2022, there was a change to our executive management team with the separation of our tenured Chief Executive Officer, Hamza Suria (“PEO 2”), from the company on March 20, 2022. Upon the separation, Daniel Faga (“PEO 1”) was appointed our interim Chief Executive Officer. On August 3, 2023, Mr. Faga transitioned from interim Chief Executive Officer to Chief Executive Officer. We provide the compensation actually paid during 2022 for both individuals providing service as Chief Executive Officer during 2022 in the following table.
40
| Pay-Versus-Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year
(1)
(a)
|
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 1
(Faga)
(2)
(b)
|
Compensation Actually Paid for PEO 1 (Faga)
(3)
(c)
|
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 2 (Suria)
(2)
(b)
|
Compensation Actually Paid for PEO 2 (Suria)
(3)
(c)
|
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs
(2)
(d)
|
Average Compensation Actually Paid for Non-PEO NEOs
(3)
(e)
|
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return
(4)
(f)
|
Net Income
(g) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 |
$
|
$
|
N/A | N/A |
$
|
$
|
$
|
$(
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 |
$
|
$(
|
N/A | N/A |
$
|
$
|
$
|
$(
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 |
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$
|
$(
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)
The Company’s PEOs and NEOs for the applicable fiscal years were as follows:
| Year | PEO 1 | PEO 2 | Non-PEO NEOs | ||||||||
| 2024 |
|
N/A | Dennis Mulroy, Paul Lizzul | ||||||||
| 2023 |
|
N/A | Eric Loumeau, Paul Lizzul | ||||||||
| 2022 |
|
|
Eric Loumeau, Paul Lizzul | ||||||||
(2)
The dollar amounts reported in these columns represent (i) the amount of total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable fiscal year for each of our PEOs and (ii) the average dollar amounts of total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable fiscal year for our others NEOs as a group (excluding our PEOs).
–
2022 Summary Compensation Table total for Mr. Faga includes fees paid for service as a non-employee director during 2022 ($
10,000
cash retainer and $
200,618
stock option grant).
(3)
The dollar amounts reported in these columns represent (i) the “compensation actually paid” to our PEOs and (ii) the average “compensation actually paid” to our other NEOs as a group (excluding our PEOs), based on their total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable fiscal years and adjusted in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts reported in this column for the latest fiscal year are adjusted as shown in the table below:
|
2024
(PEO 1) |
2024
(NEO Average) |
||||||||||||||||
| Summary Compensation Table - Total Compensation | $ |
|
$ |
|
|||||||||||||
| - | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ |
(
|
$ |
(
|
||||||||||||
| + | Fair Value at Fiscal Year End of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ |
|
$ |
|
||||||||||||
| + | Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | $ |
(
|
$ |
(
|
||||||||||||
| + | Fair Value at Vesting of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year That Vested During Fiscal Year | $ |
|
$ |
|
||||||||||||
| + | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years For Which Applicable Vesting Conditions Were Satisfied During Fiscal Year | $ |
|
$ |
|
||||||||||||
| - | Fair Value as of Prior Fiscal Year End of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years That Failed to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Fiscal Year | $ |
|
$ |
(
|
||||||||||||
| = | Compensation Actually Paid | $ |
|
$ |
|
||||||||||||
The fair value or change in fair value, as applicable, of equity awards in the “Compensation Actually Paid” columns has been estimated pursuant to the guidance in ASC Topic 718, and the valuation assumptions used to calculate fair values did not materially differ from those disclosed at the time of the grant.
(4)
Pursuant to Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2021 in our common stock. Historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
41
Compensation Actually Paid and Company TSR
1
The following graph displays our compensation actually paid (CAP) vs. our cumulative TSR. The CAP to our PEOs in 2022 was non-standard as it reflects a new hire compensation package for Mr. Faga and partial year employment for Hamza Suria, our former President and Chief Executive Officer.
1. Cumulative TSR is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between the Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by the Company’s share price at the beginning of the measurement period.
42
Compensation Actually Paid and Net Income
1
The following graph displays our compensation actually paid vs. Net Income. As a pre-commercial biotechnology company, we do not believe Net Income is yet a reasonable metric to measure our financial performance.
Employment Agreements
The terms and conditions of employment of each of Mr. Faga, Dr. Lizzul and Mr. Mulroy are set forth in written employment agreements. Each of these arrangements was approved by our Board. We believed these employment agreements were necessary to induce these individuals to forego other employment opportunities or leave their current employer for the uncertainty of a demanding position in a new and unfamiliar organization.
Mr. Faga’s Employment Agreement
Pursuant to an employment agreement, effective as of August 3, 2023 (the “Faga Employment Agreement”, which amends, restates and supersedes Mr. Faga’s previous employment agreement dated March 21, 2022). Mr. Faga serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The Faga Employment Agreement sets forth the principal terms and conditions of his employment as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, including his initial annual base salary and initial annual target cash bonus opportunity, which bonus may be earned based upon the achievement of specified performance goals (and which will be prorated for his partial year of service). Mr. Faga also received a one-time cash transition bonus of $1,500,000 in connection with his transition from Interim President and Chief Executive Officer to President and Chief Executive Officer. In the event that Mr. Faga’s employment is terminated by the Company due to “cause” or by Mr. Faga without “good reason” after August 4, 2024 but before August 4, 2025, Mr. Faga will be required to re-pay a pro rata portion of the transition bonus. As of March 21, 2024, Mr. Faga ceased to be eligible for any payments related to excise taxes. Mr. Faga’s employment is at-will and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause. However, pursuant to the terms of the Faga Employment Agreement, Mr. Faga will be entitled to severance benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment as described in “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
Dr. Lizzul’s Employment Agreement
Pursuant to an employment agreement effective as of July 31, 2020, as amended and restated on April 25, 2022 (the “Lizzul Employment Agreement”), Dr. Lizzul serves as our Chief Medical Officer. The Lizzul Employment Agreement sets forth the principal terms and conditions of his employment, including his annual base salary, subject to periodic review and an
43
initial annual target cash bonus opportunity, which bonus may be earned based upon the achievement of specified performance goals. Dr. Lizzul’s employment is at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause. However, pursuant to the terms of the Lizzul Employment Agreement, Dr. Lizzul will be entitled to severance benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment as described in “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
Mr. Mulroy’s Employment Agreement
Pursuant to an employment agreement effective as of July 13, 2020, as amended on April 25, 2022 (the “Mulroy Employment Agreement”), Mr. Mulroy serves as our Chief Financial Officer. The Mulroy Employment Agreement set forth the principal terms and conditions of his employment, including his annual base salary, subject to periodic review and an initial annual target cash bonus opportunity, which bonus may be earned based upon the achievement of specified performance goals. Mr. Mulroy’s employment is at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause. However, pursuant to the terms of the Mulroy Employment Agreement, Mr. Mulroy will be entitled to severance benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment as described in “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Termination
Pursuant to the Faga Employment Agreement, the Lizzul Employment Agreement and the Mulroy Employment Agreement, in the event that Mr. Faga, Dr. Lizzul or Mr. Mulroy is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” (each as defined in the applicable employment agreement), provided that each delivers a signed settlement and general release in favor of us and satisfies all conditions to make such release effective, (i) in the case of Mr. Faga, he will receive continued severance payments for twelve months, and in the case of Dr. Lizzul and Mr. Mulroy, nine months, (ii) and if each elects continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), we will pay directly to the insurance provider of our group health plans, the monthly premium for such continuation coverage for each officer and his family, for twelve months, in the case of Mr. Faga, and nine months, in the case of Dr. Lizzul and Mr. Mulroy, or such earlier date on which coverage with a new employer is obtained and (iii) in the case of Mr. Faga, 12 months’ accelerated vesting of his equity awards (other than the 2024 PSUs, for which only 50% of Eligible PSUs shall vest).
Change in Control
Pursuant to the Faga Employment Agreement, if we experience a change of control and Mr. Faga is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” (each as defined in the Faga Employment Agreement) upon the occurrence of, or within 13 months following, such change of control, and provided that Mr. Faga delivers a signed settlement and general release in favor of us and satisfies all conditions to make such release effective, (i) Mr. Faga will receive the continued severance payments and COBRA premiums described above for eighteen months, (ii) a bonus payment equal to his target bonus payment for the year, (iii) a prorated bonus based on actual achievement by the Company of goals for the year, and (iv) all of Mr. Faga’s outstanding equity awards will vest in full (other than the 2024 PSUs, for which the Board shall determine the number of Eligible PSUs based on the achievement of the share price targets on the date of the change of control and such Eligible PSUs shall fully vest).
Pursuant to each of the Lizzul Employment Agreement and the Mulroy Employment Agreement, if we experience a change in control and Dr. Lizzul or Mr. Mulroy, as applicable, is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” (each as defined in each of the Lizzul Employment Agreement and the Mulroy Employment Agreement) upon the occurrence of, or within 13 months following, such change of control, and provided that Dr. Lizzul or Mr. Mulroy, as applicable, delivers a signed settlement and general release in favor of us and satisfies all conditions to make such release effective, (i) Dr. Lizzul or Mr. Mulroy, as applicable, will receive the severance payments and COBRA premiums described above for twelve months, (ii) Dr. Lizzul’s or Mr. Mulroy’s, as applicable, currently outstanding equity awards will vest in full (other than the 2024 PSUs, for which the Board shall determine the number of Eligible PSUs based on the achievement of the share price targets on the date of the change of control and such Eligible PSUs shall fully vest) and (iii) Dr. Lizzul or Mr. Mulroy, as applicable, will receive the full payment of his target bonus and a prorated payment of his actual bonus for the applicable year of termination.
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Each of the Faga Employment Agreement (post-March 21, 2024), the Lizzul Employment Agreement and the Mulroy Employment Agreement contains a “better after-tax” provision, which provides that if any of the payments to Mr. Faga, Dr. Lizzul or Mr. Mulroy, respectively, constitutes a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code, the payments will either be (i) reduced or (ii) provided in full to the executive, whichever results in the executive receiving the greater amount after taking into consideration the payment of all taxes, including the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, in each case based upon the highest marginal rate for the applicable tax.
Executive Benefits
Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our employee benefit plans on the same basis as our other employees, including our health and welfare plans.
Clawback Policy
In September 2023, our Board adopted a clawback policy providing for the recovery of all or any portion of an executive officer’s incentive-based compensation in the event that we restate our financial results in compliance with the final rules promulgated by the SEC under Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Act, Rule 10D-1 and Nasdaq. The policy applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other executive officers, including each of our named executive officers. The recovery period extends up to three most recently-completed fiscal years prior to the date of the restatement, with respect to incentive-based compensation granted or received after the effective date of the SEC rules.
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EQUITY PLAN COMPENSATION INFORMATION
The following table presents information as of December 31, 2024 with respect to compensation plans under which shares of our common stock may be issued.
| Plan category |
Number of
securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, vesting of restricted stock units, warrants and rights(#) |
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, restricted stock units, warrants and rights($) |
Number of securities
remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column(a)) (#) |
|||||||||||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
(1)(2)
|
7,818,466 | 19.62 | 4,800,069 | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 7,818,466 | 19.62 | 4,800,069 | |||||||||||||||||
________________________
(1) Includes our 2006 Plan, 2017 Plan and our ESPP, and excludes purchase rights accruing under our ESPP.
(2) We have ceased issuing awards under our 2006 Plan as of the effective date of our 2017 Plan. Any shares of common stock that are subject to outstanding awards under the 2006 Plan that are issuable upon the exercise of stock options that expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full will generally be available for future grant and issuance under our 2017 Plan. We waived the automatic increase in shares under our ESPP for 2025. The number of shares available under our ESPP will increase automatically by 1% on the first day of January of each of 2026 and 2027 by the number of shares equal to 1% of the total outstanding shares of our common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31 or a lower number approved by our Board or compensation committee.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
From January 1, 2023 to the present, there have been no transactions, and there are currently no proposed transactions, in which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of (i) $120,000 or (ii) 1% of the average of the Company’s total assets at year-end for the prior two completed fiscal years and to which we or any of our subsidiaries was (or is to be) a party and in which any director, director nominee, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any immediate family member of or person sharing the household with any of these individuals, had (or will have) a direct or indirect material interest, except for payments set forth under “Proposal One” and “Executive Compensation” above.
Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions
We adopted a written related person transactions policy providing that our executive officers, directors, nominees for election as a director, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock, and any members of the immediate family of and any entity affiliated with any of the foregoing persons, are not permitted to enter into a transaction with us in which the amount involved exceeds (i) $120,000 or (ii) 1% of the average of the Company’s total assets at year-end for the prior two completed fiscal years without the review and approval of our audit committee, or a committee composed solely of independent directors in the event it is inappropriate for our audit committee to review such transaction due to a conflict of interest. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, our audit committee will consider the relevant facts and circumstances available and deemed relevant to the audit committee, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Stockholder Proposals to be Presented at the Next Annual Meeting
Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to be Brought Before an Annual Meeting.
Our Bylaws provide that for stockholder nominations to our Board or other proposals to be considered at an annual meeting, the stockholder must give timely notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary at AnaptysBio, Inc., 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121.
To be timely for our company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices not earlier than the close of business on March 4, 2026 and not later than the close of business on April 3, 2026. A stockholder’s notice to the Corporate Secretary must set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting the information required by applicable law and our Bylaws. In no event will the public announcement of an adjournment or a postponement of our annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as provided above.
Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in our Proxy Materials.
Stockholder proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and intended to be presented at our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders must be received by us not later than December 30, 2025 in order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for that meeting. A stockholder’s notice to the Corporate Secretary must set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting the information required by applicable law and our Bylaws.
Available Information
We will mail without charge, upon written request, a copy of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, including the financial statements and list of exhibits, and any exhibit specifically requested. Requests should be sent to:
10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210
San Diego, CA 92121
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 is also available at http://ir.anaptysbio.com.
“Householding” - Stockholders Sharing the Same Address
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (such as brokers) to implement a delivery procedure called “householding.” Under this procedure, multiple stockholders who reside at the same address may receive a single copy of our annual report on Form 10-K and proxy materials, including the Notice of Internet Availability, unless the affected stockholder has provided other instructions. This procedure reduces printing costs and postage fees and helps protect the environment as well.
We expect that a number of brokers with account holders who are our stockholders will be “householding” our annual report on Form 10-K and proxy materials, including the Notice of Internet Availability. A single Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, a single set of our annual report on Form 10-K and other proxy materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from one or more of the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that it will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. You may revoke your consent at any time by contacting your broker.
Upon written or oral request, we will undertake to promptly deliver a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, our annual report on Form 10-K and other proxy materials to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of any of those documents was delivered. To receive a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, annual report on Form 10-K and other proxy materials, you may write our Corporate Secretary at 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121, or call 1 (858) 362-6348.
Any stockholders who share the same address and currently receive multiple copies of our Notice of Internet Availability or our annual report on Form 10-K and other proxy materials who wish to receive only one copy in the future can contact their
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bank, broker or other holder of record to request information about “householding” or our Corporate Secretary at the address or telephone number listed above.
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OTHER MATTERS
Our Board does not presently intend to bring any other business before the meeting and, so far as is known to the Board, no matters are to be brought before the meeting except as specified in the notice of the meeting. As to any business that may arise and properly come before the meeting, however, it is intended that proxies, in the form enclosed, will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.
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ANNEX A
ANAPTYSBIO, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED [___], 2025)
1.
PURPOSE
. The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company, and any Parents and Subsidiaries that exist now or in the future, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through the grant of Awards. Capitalized terms not defined elsewhere in the text are defined in
Section 28
.
2.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
.
2.1.
Number of Shares Available
. Subject to
Sections 2.5
and
Section 21
and any other applicable provisions hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan, as of the Effective Date, is 13,520,410 Shares,
plus
(a) 308,343 reserved shares not issued or subject to outstanding grants under the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, (the “
Prior Plan
”) on the Original Effective Date (as defined below), (b) shares that are subject to stock options or other awards granted under the Prior Plan that cease to be subject to such stock options or other awards by forfeiture or otherwise after the Original Effective Date, (c) shares issued under the Prior Plan before or after the Original Effective Date pursuant to the exercise of stock options that are, after the Original Effective Date, forfeited, (d) shares issued under the Prior Plan that are repurchased by the Company at the original issue price and (e) shares that are subject to stock options or other awards under the Prior Plan that are used to pay the Exercise Price of an option or withheld to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any award.
2.2.
Lapsed, Returned Awards
. Shares subject to Awards, and Shares issued under the Plan under any Award, will again be available for grant and issuance in connection with subsequent Awards under this Plan to the extent such Shares: (a) are subject to issuance upon exercise of an Option or SAR granted under this Plan but which cease to be subject to the Option or SAR for any reason other than exercise of the Option or SAR; (b) are subject to Awards granted under this Plan that are forfeited or are repurchased by the Company at the original issue price; (c) are subject to Awards granted under this Plan that otherwise terminate without such Shares being issued; or (d) are surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash or other property rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Shares used to pay the Exercise Price of an Award or withheld to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, Shares that otherwise become available for grant and issuance because of the provisions of this
Section 2.2
shall not include Shares subject to Awards that initially became available because of the substitution clause in
Section 21.2
hereof.
2.3.
Minimum Share Reserve
. At all times the Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as shall be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Awards granted under this Plan.
2.4.
Limitations
. No more than Twelve Million (12,000,000) Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs.
2.5.
Adjustment of Shares
. If the number of outstanding Shares is changed by a stock dividend, extraordinary dividends or distributions (whether in cash, shares or other property, other than a regular cash dividend) recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination,
51
consolidation, reclassification, spin-off or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, without consideration, then (a) the number and class of Shares reserved for issuance and future grant under the Plan set forth in
Section 2.1
, including shares reserved under sub-clauses (a)-(e) of
Section 2.1
, (b) the Exercise Prices of and number and class of Shares subject to outstanding Options and SARs, (c) the number and class of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards, (d) the maximum number and class of Shares that may be issued as ISOs set forth in
Section 2.4
and (e) the number and class of Shares that may be granted as Awards to Non-Employee Directors as set forth in
Section 12
shall be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company and in compliance with applicable securities laws; provided that fractions of a Share will not be issued.
3.
ELIGIBILITY
. ISOs may be granted only to Employees. All other Awards may be granted to Employees, Consultants, Directors and Non-Employee Directors;
provided
such Consultants, Directors and Non-Employee Directors render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction.
4.
ADMINISTRATION
.
4.1.
Committee Composition; Authority
. This Plan will be administered by the Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan, except, however, the Board shall establish the terms for the grant of an Award to Non-Employee Directors. The Committee will have the authority to:
(a)
construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan;
(b)
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan or any Award;
(c)
select persons to receive Awards;
(d)
determine the form and terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the Exercise Price, the time or times when Awards may vest and be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria) or settled, any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, the method to satisfy tax withholding obligations or any other tax liability legally due and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Committee will determine;
(e)
determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to Awards;
(f)
determine the Fair Market Value in good faith and interpret the applicable provisions of this Plan and the definition of Fair Market Value in connection with circumstances that impact the Fair Market Value, if necessary;
(g)
determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, other Awards under this Plan or any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company;
(h)
grant waivers of Plan or Award conditions;
(i)
determine the vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards;
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(j)
correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;
(k)
determine whether an Award has been earned;
(l)
determine the terms and conditions of any, and to institute any Exchange Program;
(m)
reduce or waive any criteria with respect to Performance Factors;
(n)
adjust Performance Factors, including, but not limited to, to take into account changes in law and accounting or tax rules as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the impact of extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances to avoid windfalls or inequitable results;
(o)
adopt rules and/or procedures (including the adoption of any subplan under this Plan) relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate requirements of local law and procedures outside of the United States;
(p)
make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan;
(q)
delegate any of the foregoing to a subcommittee or to one or more executive officers pursuant to a specific delegation as permitted by applicable law, including Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; and
(r)
to exercise negative discretion on Performance Awards, reducing or eliminating the amount to be paid to Participants.
4.2.
Committee Interpretation and Discretion
. Any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award shall be made in its sole discretion at the time of grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan or Award, at any later time, and such determination shall be final and binding on the Company and all persons having an interest in any Award under the Plan. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be submitted by the Participant or Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participant. The Committee may delegate to a subcommittee or to one or more executive officers the authority to review and resolve disputes with respect to Awards held by Participants who are not Insiders, and such resolution shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participant.
4.3.
Section 16 of the Exchange Act
. Awards granted to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act must be approved by two or more “non-employee directors” (as defined in the regulations promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act).
4.4.
Documentation
. The Award Agreement for a given Award, the Plan and any other documents may be delivered to, and accepted by, a Participant or any other person in any manner (including electronic distribution or posting) that meets applicable legal requirements.
4.5.
Foreign Award Recipients
. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws and practices in other countries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Subsidiaries and Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan, which may include individuals who provide services to the Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate under an
53
agreement with a foreign nation or agency; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States or foreign nationals to comply with applicable foreign laws, policies, customs and practices; (d) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Committee determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the Share limitations contained in
Section 2.1
hereof; and (e) take any action, before or after
an Award is made, that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act or any other applicable United States securities law, the Code, or any other applicable United States governing statute or law.
5.
OPTIONS
. An Option is the right but not the obligation to purchase a Share, subject to certain conditions, if applicable. The Committee may grant Options to eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors and will determine whether such Options will be Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of the Code (“
ISOs
”) or Nonqualified Stock Options (“
NSOs
”), the number of Shares subject to the Option, the Exercise Price of the Option, the period during which the Option may vest and be exercised, and all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the following terms of this section.
5.1.
Option Grant
. Each Option granted under this Plan will identify the Option as an ISO or an NSO. An Option may be, but need not be, awarded upon satisfaction of such Performance Factors during any Performance Period as are set out in advance in the Participant’s individual Award Agreement. If the Option is being earned upon the satisfaction of Performance Factors, then the Committee will: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for each Option; and (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Options that are subject to different performance goals and other criteria.
5.2.
Date of Grant
. The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option, or a specified future date. The Award Agreement and a copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time after the granting of the Option.
5.3.
Exercise Period
. Options may be vested and exercisable within the times or upon the conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement governing such Option;
provided
,
however
, that no Option will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted; and
provided further
that no ISO granted to a person who, at the time the ISO is granted, directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company (“
Ten Percent Stockholder
”) will be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted. The Committee also may provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines.
5.4.
Exercise Price
. The Exercise Price of an Option will be determined by the Committee when the Option is granted; provided that: (a) the Exercise Price of an Option will be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant and (b) the Exercise Price of any ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for the Shares purchased may be made in accordance with
Section 11
and the Award Agreement and in accordance with any procedures established by the Company.
5.5.
Method of Exercise
. Any Option granted hereunder will be vested and exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a
54
Share. An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (a) notice of exercise (in such form as the Committee may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option (and/or via electronic execution through the authorized third party administrator), and (b) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable withholding taxes). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Committee and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in
Section 2.5
of the Plan. Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
5.6.
Termination of Service
. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except for Cause or the Participant’s death or Disability, then the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by the Participant on the
date Participant’s Service terminates no later than three (3) months after the date Participant’s Service terminates (or such shorter or longer time period as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond three (3) months after the date Participant’s employment terminates deemed to be the exercise of an NSO), but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options.
(a)
Death
. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Participant’s death (or the Participant dies within three (3) months after Participant’s Service terminates other than for Cause or because of the Participant’s Disability), then the Participant’s Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by the Participant on the date Participant’s Service terminates and must be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative, or authorized assignee, no later than twelve (12) months after the date Participant’s Service terminates (or such shorter time period or longer time period as may be determined by the Committee), but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options.
(b)
Disability
. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Participant’s Disability, then the Participant’s Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by the Participant on the date Participant’s Service terminates and must be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or authorized assignee) no later than twelve (12) months after the date Participant’s Service terminates (or such shorter or longer time period as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond (a) three (3) months after the date Participant’s Service terminates when the termination of Service is for a Disability that is not a “permanent and total disability” as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, or (b) twelve (12) months after the date Participant’s Service terminates when the termination of Service is for a Disability that is a “permanent and total disability” as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, deemed to be an exercise of an NSO), but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options.
(c)
Cause
.
If the Participant is terminated for Cause, then Participant’s Options shall expire on such Participant’s date of termination of Service, or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee, but in no event later than the expiration date of the Options. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, an employment agreement or other applicable agreement, Cause shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.
5.7.
Limitations on Exercise
. The Committee may specify a minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent any Participant from exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable.
55
5.8.
Limitations on ISOs
. With respect to Awards granted as ISOs, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which such ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such Options will be treated as NSOs. For purposes of this
Section 5.8
, ISOs will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted. In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the Effective Date to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to ISOs, such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.
5.9.
Modification, Extension or Renewal
. The Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant’s rights under any Option previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended, renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code. Subject to
Section 18
of this Plan, by written notice to affected Participants, the Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options without the consent of such Participants;
provided
,
however
, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the Fair Market Value on the date the action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price.
5.10.
No Disqualification
. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs will be interpreted, amended or altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify this Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the Participant affected, to disqualify any ISO under Section 422 of the Code.
6.
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
. A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company to sell to an eligible Employee, Consultant, or Director of Shares that are subject to restrictions (“
Restricted Stock
”). The Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares the Participant may purchase, the Purchase Price, the restrictions under which the Shares will be subject and all other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the Plan.
6.1.
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement
. All purchases under a Restricted Stock Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Except as may otherwise be provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant accepts a Restricted Stock Award by signing and delivering to the Company an Award Agreement with full payment of the Purchase Price, within thirty (30) days from the date the Award Agreement was delivered to the Participant. If the Participant does not accept such Award within thirty (30) days, then the offer of such Restricted Stock Award will terminate, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
6.2.
Purchase Price
. The Purchase Price for a Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee and may be less than Fair Market Value on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted. Payment of the Purchase Price must be made in accordance with
Section 11
of this Plan, and the Award Agreement and in accordance with any procedures established by the Company.
6.3.
Terms of Restricted Stock Awards
. Restricted Stock Awards will be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose or are required by law. These restrictions may be based on completion of a specified number of years of service with the Company or upon completion of Performance Factors, if any, during any Performance Period as set out in advance in the Participant’s Award Agreement. Prior to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee shall: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for the Restricted Stock Award; (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure performance goals, if any; and (c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Performance Periods may overlap and a
56
Participant may participate simultaneously with respect to Restricted Stock Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and having different performance goals and other criteria.
6.4.
Termination of Service
. Except as may be set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participant’s Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
7.
STOCK BONUS AWARDS
. A Stock Bonus Award is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant, or Director of Shares for Services to be rendered or for past Services already rendered to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. All Stock Bonus Awards shall be made pursuant to an Award Agreement. No payment from the Participant will be required for Shares awarded pursuant to a Stock Bonus Award.
7.1.
Terms of Stock Bonus Awards
. The Committee will determine the number of Shares to be awarded to the Participant under a Stock Bonus Award and any restrictions thereon. These restrictions may be based upon completion of a specified number of years of service with the Company or upon satisfaction of performance goals based on Performance Factors during any Performance Period as set out in advance in the Participant’s Stock Bonus Agreement. Prior to the grant of any Stock Bonus Award the Committee shall: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for the Stock Bonus Award; (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure performance goals; and (c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Performance Periods may overlap and a Participant may participate simultaneously with respect to Stock Bonus Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria.
7.2.
Form of Payment to Participant
. Payment may be made in the form of cash, whole Shares, or a combination thereof, based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares earned under a Stock Bonus Award on the date of payment, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
7.3.
Termination of Service
. Except as may be set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participant’s Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
8.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
. A Stock Appreciation Right (“
SAR
”) is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant, or Director that may be settled in cash, or Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock), having a value equal to (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price multiplied by (b) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is being settled (subject to any maximum number of Shares that may be issuable as specified in an Award Agreement). All SARs shall be made pursuant to an Award Agreement.
8.1.
Terms of SARs
. The Committee will determine the terms of each SAR including, without limitation: (a) the number of Shares subject to the SAR; (b) the Exercise Price and the time or times during which the SAR may be settled; (c) the consideration to be distributed on settlement of the SAR; and (d) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on each SAR. The Exercise Price of the SAR will be determined by the Committee when the SAR is granted, and may not be less than Fair Market Value. A SAR may be awarded upon satisfaction of Performance Factors, if any, during any Performance Period as are set out in advance in the Participant’s individual Award Agreement. If the SAR is being earned upon the satisfaction of Performance Factors, then the Committee will: (x) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for each SAR; and (y) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to SARs that are subject to different Performance Factors and other criteria.
57
8.2.
Exercise Period and Expiration Date
. A SAR will be exercisable within the times or upon the occurrence of events determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement governing such SAR. The SAR Agreement shall set forth the expiration date; provided that no SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the SAR is granted. The Committee may also provide for SARs to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise (including, without limitation, upon the attainment during a Performance Period of performance goals based on Performance Factors), in such number of Shares or percentage of the Shares subject to the SAR as the Committee determines. Except as may be set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, vesting ceases on the date Participant’s Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of
Section 5.6
also will apply to SARs.
8.3.
Form of Settlement
. Upon exercise of a SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price; times (b) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee, the payment from the Company for the SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof. The portion of a SAR being settled may be paid currently or on a deferred basis with such interest or dividend equivalent, if any, as the Committee determines, provided that the terms of the SAR and any deferral satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
8.4.
Termination of Service
. Except as may be set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participant’s Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
9.
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
. A Restricted Stock Unit (“
RSU
”) is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant, or Director covering a number of Shares that may be settled in cash, or by issuance of those Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock). All RSUs shall be made pursuant to an Award Agreement.
9.1.
Terms of RSUs
. The Committee will determine the terms of an RSU including, without limitation: (a) the number of Shares subject to the RSU; (b) the time or times during which the RSU may be settled; (c) the consideration to be distributed on settlement; and (d) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on each RSU. An RSU may be awarded upon satisfaction of such performance goals based on Performance Factors during any Performance Period as are set out in advance in the Participant’s Award Agreement. If the RSU is being earned upon satisfaction of Performance Factors, then the Committee will: (x) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for the RSU; (y) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any; and (z) determine the number of Shares deemed subject to the RSU. Performance Periods may overlap and participants may participate simultaneously with respect to RSUs that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria.
9.2.
Form and Timing of Settlement
. Payment of earned RSUs shall be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may settle earned RSUs in cash, Shares, or a combination of both. The Committee may also permit a Participant to defer payment under a RSU to a date or dates after the RSU is earned provided that the terms of the RSU and any deferral satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
9.3.
Termination of Service
. Except as may be set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participant’s Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
10.
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
. A Performance Award is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant, or Director of a cash bonus or an award of Performance Shares or Performance Units
58
denominated in Shares that may be settled in cash, or by issuance of those Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock). Grants of Performance Awards shall be made pursuant to an Award Agreement.
10.1.
Types of Performance Awards
. Performance Awards shall include Performance Shares, Performance Units, and cash-based Awards as set forth in
Sections 10.1(a)
,
10.1(b)
, and
10.1(c)
below.
(a)
Performance Shares
. The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Shares, designate the Participants to whom Performance Shares are to be awarded and determine the number of Performance Shares and the terms and conditions of each such Award. Performance Shares shall consist of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of Shares, the value of which may be paid to the Participant by delivery of Shares or, if set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon the attainment of performance goals, as established by the Committee, and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee. The amount to be paid under an Award of Performance Shares may be adjusted on the basis of such further consideration as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.
(b)
Performance Units
. The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Units, designate the Participants to whom Performance Units are to be awarded and determine the number of Performance Units and the terms and conditions of each such Award. Performance Units shall consist of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon the attainment of performance goals, as established by the Committee, and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee.
(c)
Cash-Settled Performance Awards
. The Committee may also grant cash-settled Performance Awards to Participants under the terms of this Plan. Such awards will be based on the attainment of performance goals using the Performance Factors within this Plan that are established by the Committee for the relevant performance period.
10.2.
Terms of Performance Shares
. The Committee will determine, and each Award Agreement shall set forth, the terms of each Performance Award including, without limitation: (a) the amount of any cash bonus, (b) the number of Shares deemed subject to an award of Performance Shares; (c) the Performance Factors and Performance Period that shall determine the time and extent to which each award of Performance Shares shall be settled; (d) the consideration to be distributed on settlement, and (e) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on each Performance Award. In establishing Performance Factors and the Performance Period the Committee will: (x) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period; (y) select from among the Performance Factors to be used; and (z) determine the number of Shares deemed subject to the award of Performance Shares. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. Prior to settlement the Committee shall determine the extent to which Performance Awards have been earned. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria.
10.3.
Termination of Service
. Except as may be set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, vesting ceases on the date Participant’s Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
11.
PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES
. Payment from a Participant for Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan may be made in cash or by check or, where expressly approved for the Participant by the Committee and where permitted by law (and to the extent not otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement):
59
(a)
by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Participant;
(b)
by surrender of Shares of the Company held by the Participant that have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares as to which said Award will be exercised or settled;
(c)
by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant for services rendered or to be rendered to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company;
(d)
by consideration received by the Company pursuant to a broker-assisted or other form of cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan;
(e)
by any combination of the foregoing; or
(f)
by any other method of payment as is permitted by applicable law.
12.
GRANTS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
. Non-Employee Directors are eligible to receive any type of Award offered under this Plan except ISOs. Awards pursuant to this
Section 12
may be automatically made pursuant to policy adopted by the Board, or made from time to time as determined in the discretion of the Board. The aggregate number of Shares subject to Awards granted to a Non-Employee Director pursuant to this Section 12 in any calendar year shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand (100,000).
12.1.
Eligibility
. Awards pursuant to this
Section 12
shall be granted only to Non-Employee Directors. A Non-Employee Director who is elected or re-elected as a member of the Board will be eligible to receive an Award under this
Section 12
.
12.2.
Vesting, Exercisability and Settlement
. Except as set forth in
Section 21
, Awards shall vest, become exercisable and be settled as determined by the Board. With respect to Options and SARs, the Exercise Price granted to Non-Employee Directors shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time that such Option or SAR is granted.
12.3.
Election to receive Awards in Lieu of Cash
. A Non-Employee Director may elect to receive his or her annual retainer payments and/or meeting fees from the Company in the form of cash or Awards or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Such Awards shall be issued under the Plan. An election under this
Section 12.3
shall be filed with the Company on the form prescribed by the Company.
13.
WITHHOLDING TAXES
.
13.1.
Withholding Generally
. Whenever Shares are to be issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan or a tax event occurs, the Company may require the Participant to remit to the Company, or to the Parent or Subsidiary employing the Participant, an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable U.S. federal, state, local and international withholding tax requirements or any other tax or social insurance liability (the “
Tax–Related Items
”) legally due from the Participant prior to the delivery of Shares pursuant to exercise or settlement of any Award. Whenever payments in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan are to be made in cash, such payment will be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable Tax-Related Items legally due from the Participant. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld and such Shares will be valued based on the value of the actual trade or, if there is none, the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the previous trading day.
13.2.
Stock Withholding
. The Committee, or its delegate(s), as permitted by applicable law, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time and to limitations
60
of local law, may require or permit a Participant to satisfy such Tax-Related Items legally due from the Participant, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (a) paying cash, (b) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the Tax-Related Items to be withheld, (c) delivering to the Company already-owned shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the Tax-Related Items to be withheld or (d) withholding from the proceeds of the sale of otherwise deliverable Shares acquired pursuant to an Award either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company. The Company may withhold or account for these Tax-Related Items by considering applicable statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including up to the maximum statutory tax rate for the applicable tax jurisdiction, to the extent consistent with applicable laws.
14.
TRANSFERABILITY
.
14.1.
Transfer Generally
. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee or pursuant to
Section 14.2
, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. If the Committee makes an Award transferable, including, without limitation, by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the Awards are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (settlor) or by gift or by domestic relations order to a Permitted Transferee, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. All Awards shall be exercisable: (a) during the Participant’s lifetime only by (i) the Participant, or (ii) the Participant’s guardian or legal representative; (b) after the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s heirs or legatees; and (c) in the case of all awards except ISOs, by a Permitted Transferee.
15.
PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP; RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES
.
15.1.
Voting and Dividends
. No Participant will have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to the Participant, except for any Dividend Equivalent Rights permitted by an applicable Award Agreement. Any Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be subject to the same vesting or performance conditions as the underlying Award. In addition, the Committee may provide that any Dividend Equivalent Rights permitted by an applicable Award Agreement shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the Participant will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares;
provided
, that if such Shares are Restricted Stock, then any new, additional or different securities the Participant may become entitled to receive with respect to such Shares by virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock;
provided
,
further
, that the Participant will have no right to retain such stock dividends or stock distributions with respect to Shares that are repurchased at the Participant’s Purchase Price or Exercise Price, as the case may be, pursuant to
Section 15.2
.
15.2.
Restrictions on Shares
. At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) a right to repurchase (a “
Right of Repurchase
”) a portion of any or all Unvested Shares held by a Participant following such Participant’s termination of Service at any time within ninety (90) days (or such longer or shorter time determined by the Committee) after the later of the date Participant’s Service terminates and the date the Participant purchases Shares under this Plan, for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, at the Participant’s Purchase Price or Exercise Price, as the case may be.
16.
CERTIFICATES
. All Shares or other securities whether or not certificated, delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable, including restrictions under any applicable U.S. federal, state or foreign securities law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange or
61
automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed or quoted and any non-U.S. exchange controls or securities law restrictions to which the Shares are subject.
17.
ESCROW; PLEDGE OF SHARES
. To enforce any restrictions on a Participant’s Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificates. Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of the Participant’s obligation to the Company under the promissory note;
provided
,
however
, that the Committee may require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of the Participant’s Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of the Shares, the Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.
18.
REPRICING; EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF AWARDS
. The repricing of Options or SARs, including pursuant to an Exchange Program, is not permitted without prior stockholder approval. Provided that stockholder approval is first obtained, the Committee may (a) reprice Options or SARs (and where such repricing is a reduction in the Exercise Price of outstanding Options or SARs, the consent of the affected Participants is not required provided written notice is provided to them, notwithstanding any adverse tax consequences to them arising from the repricing), and (b) with the consent of the respective Participants (unless not required pursuant to
Section 5.9
of the Plan), pay cash or issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any, or all, outstanding Awards, including pursuant to an Exchange Program.
19.
SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
. An Award will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable U.S. and foreign federal and state securities and exchange control laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to: (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and/or (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any foreign or state securities laws, exchange control laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.
20.
NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY
. Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time.
21.
CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS
.
21.1.
Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor
. In the event of a Corporate Transaction any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed or replaced by the successor corporation,
62
which assumption or replacement shall be binding on all Participants. In the alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards). The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the Company held by the Participant, substantially similar Shares or other property subject to repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Participant. In the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, then notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, such Awards will expire on such transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Board will determine; the Board (or, the Committee, if so designated by the Board) may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of such Awards in connection with a Corporate Transaction. In addition, in the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, the Committee will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that such Award will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and such Award will terminate upon the expiration of such period. Awards need not be treated similarly in a Corporate Transaction.
21.2.
Assumption of Awards by the Company
. The Company, from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company or otherwise, by either; (a) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution of such other company’s award; or (b) assuming such award as if it had been granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under this Plan. Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes an award granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such award will remain unchanged (
except
that the Purchase Price or the Exercise Price, as the case may be, and the number and nature of Shares issuable upon exercise or settlement of any such Award will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event the Company elects to grant a new Option in substitution rather than assuming an existing option, such new Option may be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price. Substitute Awards shall not reduce the number of Shares authorized for grant under the Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in a calendar year.
21.3.
Non-Employee Directors’ Awards
. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, the vesting of all Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall accelerate and such Awards shall become exercisable (as applicable) in full prior to the consummation of such event at such times and on such conditions as the Committee determines.
22.
ADOPTION AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL
. This Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders, consistent with applicable laws, within twelve (12) months before or after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.
23.
TERM OF PLAN/GOVERNING LAW
. This Plan originally become effective on the Original Effective Date. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, this Plan will become effective on the Effective Date and will terminate ten (10) years from January 12, 2017, the date this Plan, prior to its amendment and restatement, was originally adopted by the Board. This Plan and all Awards granted hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding its conflict of law rules).
24.
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN
. The Board may at any time terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including, without limitation, amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to this Plan;
provided
,
however
, that the Board will not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend this Plan in any manner that requires such stockholder approval;
provided further
, that a Participant’s Award shall be governed by the version
63
of this Plan then in effect at the time such Award was granted. No termination or amendment of the Plan shall affect any then-outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee. In any event, no termination or amendment of the Plan or any outstanding Award may adversely affect any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant, unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law, regulation or rule.
25.
NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN
. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board, the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock awards and bonuses otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
26.
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
. Each Participant who receives an Award shall comply with any policy adopted by the Company from time to time covering transactions in the Company’s securities by Employees, officers and/or directors of the Company.
27.
ALL AWARDS SUBJECT TO COMPANY CLAWBACK OR RECOUPMENT POLICY
. All Awards, subject to applicable law, shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of Participant’s employment or other service with the Company that is applicable to executive officers, employees, directors or other service providers of the Company, and in addition to any other remedies available under such policy and applicable law, may require the cancellation of outstanding Awards and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to Awards.
28.
DEFINITIONS
. As used in this Plan, and except as elsewhere defined herein, the following terms will have the following meanings:
28.1.
“
Affiliate
” means (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee, whether now or hereafter existing.
28.2.
“
Award
” means any award under the Plan, including any Option, Restricted Stock, Stock Bonus, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Unit or award of Performance Shares.
28.3.
“
Award Agreement
” means, with respect to each Award, the written or electronic agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award, and country-specific appendix thereto for grants to non-U.S. Participants, which shall be in substantially a form (which need not be the same for each Participant) that the Committee (or in the case of Award Agreements that are not used for Insiders, the Committee's delegate(s)) has from time to time approved, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
28.4.
“
Board
” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
28.5.
“
Cause
” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) Participant’s commission of any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (ii) Participant’s attempted commission of or participation in a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company that results in (or might have reasonably resulted in) material harm to the business of the Company; (iii) Participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between Participant and the Company or any statutory duty Participant owes to the Company; or (iv) Participant’s conduct that constitutes gross insubordination, incompetence or habitual neglect of duties that results in (or might have reasonably resulted in) material harm to the business of the Company; provided, however, that the action or conduct described in clauses (iii) and (iv) above will constitute “Cause” only if such action or conduct continues after the Company has provided Participant with written notice thereof and thirty (30) days to cure the
64
same. The determination as to whether a Participant is being terminated for Cause shall be made in good faith by the Company and shall be final and binding on the Participant. The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Company’s ability to terminate a Participant’s employment or consulting relationship at any time as provided in
Section 20
above, and the term “Company” will be interpreted to include any Subsidiary or Parent, as appropriate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the foregoing definition of “Cause” may, in part or in whole, be modified or replaced in each individual employment agreement or Award Agreement with any Participant, provided that such document supersedes the definition provided in this
Section 28.6
.
28.6.
“
Code
” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
28.7.
“
Committee
” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or those persons to whom administration of the Plan, or part of the Plan, has been delegated as permitted by law.
28.8.
“
Common Stock
” means the common stock of the Company.
28.9.
“
Company
” means AnaptysBio, Inc. or any successor corporation.
28.10.
“
Consultant
” means any natural person, including an advisor or independent contractor, engaged by the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to render services to such entity.
28.11.
“
Corporate Transaction
” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) any “Person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this subclause (a) the acquisition of additional securities by any one Person who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the securities of the Company will not be considered a Corporate Transaction; (b) the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; (c) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; (d) any other transaction which qualifies as a “corporate transaction” under Section 424(a) of the Code wherein the stockholders of the Company give up all of their equity interest in the Company (except for the acquisition, sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company) or (e) a change in the effective control of the Company that occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by members of the Board whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purpose of this subclause (e), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Corporate Transaction. For purposes of this definition, Persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any amount constituting deferred compensation (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Corporate Transaction, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Corporate Transaction would also qualify as a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, each as defined within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final
65
Treasury Regulations and IRS guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.
28.12.
“
Director
” means a member of the Board.
28.13.
“
Disability
” means in the case of incentive stock options, total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and in the case of other Awards, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
28.14.
“
Dividend Equivalent Right”
means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash, stock or other property dividends in amounts equal equivalent to cash, stock or other property dividends for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant.
28.15.
“
Effective Date
” means the date this Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company (which shall be within twelve (12) months of the approval of this Plan by the Board).
28.16.
“
Employee
” means any person, including Officers and Directors, providing services as an employee to the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
28.17.
“
Exchange Act
” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
28.18.
“
Exchange Program
” means a program pursuant to which (a) outstanding Awards are surrendered, cancelled or exchanged for cash, the same type of Award or a different Award (or combination thereof) or (b) the Exercise Price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced.
28.19.
“
Exercise Price
” means, with respect to an Option, the price at which a holder may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of an Option and with respect to a SAR, the price at which the SAR is granted to the holder thereof.
28.20.
“
Fair Market Value
” means, as of any date, the value of a Share of the Company’s Common Stock determined as follows:
(a)
if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in
The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
(b)
if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is neither listed nor admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported in
The Wall Street Journal
or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or
(c)
by the Board or the Committee in good faith.
28.21.
“
Insider
” means an officer or Director of the Company or any other person whose transactions in the Company’s Common Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
28.22.
“
IRS
” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
66
28.23.
“
Non-Employee Director
” means a Director who is not an Employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
28.24.
“
Option
” means an Award of an option to purchase Shares pursuant to
Section 5
.
28.25.
“
Original Effective Date
” means January 24, 2017, the day immediately prior to the date of the underwritten initial public offering of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement that is declared effective by the SEC.
28.26.
“
Parent
” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
28.27.
“
Participant
” means a person who holds an Award under this Plan.
28.28.
“
Performance Award
”
means cash or Shares granted pursuant to
Section 10
or
Section 12
of the Plan.
28.29.
“Performance Factors”
means any of the factors selected by the Committee and specified in an Award Agreement, from among the following objective or subjective measures, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to the Company as a whole or any business unit or Subsidiary, either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, on a GAAP or non-GAAP basis, and measured, to the extent applicable on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to determine whether the performance goals established by the Committee with respect to applicable Awards have been satisfied:
(a)
Profit Before Tax;
(b)
Billings;
(c)
Revenue;
(d)
Net revenue;
(e)
Earnings (which may include earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, net earnings, stock-based compensation expenses, depreciation and amortization);
(f)
Operating income;
(g)
Operating margin;
(h)
Operating profit;
(i)
Controllable operating profit, or net operating profit;
(j)
Net Profit;
(k)
Gross margin;
(l)
Operating expenses or operating expenses as a percentage of revenue;
(m)
Net income;
67
(n)
Earnings per share;
(o)
Total stockholder return;
(p)
Market share;
(q)
Return on assets or net assets;
(r)
The Company’s stock price;
(s)
Growth in stockholder value relative to a pre-determined index;
(t)
Return on equity;
(u)
Return on invested capital;
(v)
Cash Flow (including free cash flow or operating cash flows)
(w)
Cash conversion cycle;
(x)
Economic value added;
(y)
Individual confidential business objectives;
(z)
Contract awards or backlog;
(aa)
Overhead or other expense reduction;
(bb)
Credit rating;
(cc)
Strategic plan development and implementation;
(dd)
Succession plan development and implementation;
(ee)
Improvement in workforce diversity;
(ff)
Customer indicators and/or satisfaction;
(gg)
New product invention or innovation;
(hh)
Attainment of research and development milestones;
(ii)
Improvements in productivity;
(jj)
Bookings;
(kk)
Attainment of objective operating goals and employee metrics;
(ll)
Sales;
(mm)
Expenses;
(nn)
Balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities;
68
(oo)
Completion of an identified special project;
(pp)
Completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction;
(qq)
Employee satisfaction and/or retention;
(rr)
Research and development expenses;
(ss)
Working capital targets and changes in working capital; and
(tt)
(Any other metric that is capable of measurement as determined by the Committee.
The Committee may, in recognition of unusual or non-recurring items such as acquisition-related activities or changes in applicable accounting rules, provide for one or more equitable adjustments (based on objective standards) to the Performance Factors to preserve the Committee’s original intent regarding the Performance Factors at the time of the initial award grant. It is within the sole discretion of the Committee to make or not make any such equitable adjustments.
28.30.
“
Performance Period
” means one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Factors will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance Award.
28.31.
“
Performance Share
” means an Award granted pursuant to
Section 10
or
Section 12
of the Plan, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals established by the Committee.
28.32.
“
Performance Unit”
means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to
Section 10
or
Section 12
, to receive Shares, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals established by the Committee.
28.33.
“
Permitted Transferee
” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law (including adoptive relationships) of the Employee, any person sharing the Employee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons (or the Employee) have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Employee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Employee) own more than 50% of the voting interests.
28.34.
“
Plan
” means this AnaptysBio, Inc.
Amended and Restated
2017 Equity Incentive Plan.
28.35.
“
Purchase Price
” means the price to be paid for Shares acquired under the Plan, other than Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option or SAR.
28.36.
“
Restricted Stock Award
” means an award of Shares pursuant to
Section 6
or
Section 12
of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
28.37.
“
Restricted Stock Unit
” means an Award granted pursuant to
Section 9
or
Section 12
of the Plan.
28.38.
“
SEC
” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
69
28.39.
“
Securities Act
” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
28.40.
“
Service
” shall mean service as an Employee, Consultant, Director or Non-Employee Director, to the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate, subject to such further limitations as may be set forth in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement. An Employee will not be deemed to have ceased to provide Service in the case of (a) sick leave, (b) military leave, or (c) any other leave of absence approved by the Company;
provided
, that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days (x) unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or (y) unless provided otherwise pursuant to formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company and issued and promulgated to employees in writing. In the case of any Employee on a leave of absence or a reduction in hours worked (for illustrative purposes only, a change in schedule from that of full-time to part-time), the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension of or modification of vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate or during such change in working hours as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In the event of military or other protected leave, if required by applicable laws, vesting shall continue for the longest period that vesting continues under any other statutory or Company approved leave of absence and, upon a Participant’s returning from military leave, he or she shall be given vesting credit with respect to Awards to the same extent as would have applied had the Participant continued to provide services to the Company throughout the leave on the same terms as he or she was providing services immediately prior to such leave. An employee shall have terminated employment as of the date he or she ceases provide services (regardless of whether the termination is in breach of local employment laws or is later found to be invalid) and employment shall not be extended by any notice period or garden leave mandated by local law,
provided however
, that a change in status from an employee to a consultant or advisor shall not terminate the service provider’s Service, unless determined by the Committee, in its discretion. The Committee will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to provide Services and the effective date on which the Participant ceased to provide Services.
28.41.
“
Shares
” means shares of the Company’s Common Stock and the common stock of any successor entity.
28.42.
“
Stock Appreciation Right
” means an Award granted pursuant to
Section 8
or
Section 12
of the Plan.
28.43.
“
Stock Bonus
” means an Award granted pursuant to
Section 7
or
Section 12
of the Plan.
28.44.
“
Subsidiary
” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
28.45.
“
Treasury Regulations
” means regulations promulgated by the United States Treasury Department.
28.46.
“
Unvested Shares
” means Shares that have not yet vested or are subject to a right of repurchase in favor of the Company (or any successor thereto).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTINGINTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALSGENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETINGGENERAL PROXY INFORMATIONCORPORATE GOVERNANCE STANDARDS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCEPROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORSPROPOSAL NO. 2 RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMREPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEEPROPOSAL NO. 3 NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERSPROPOSAL NO. 4 APPROVE AMENDMENT TO OUR 2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANPROPOSAL NO.5 NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF HOLDING FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES REGARDING NEO COMPENSATIONSECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENTEXECUTIVE OFFICERSEXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLESEQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATIONCERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONSADDITIONAL INFORMATIONOTHER MATTERSANNEX A