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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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
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ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
April 24, 2008
Dear Arena Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation. The Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, at our offices located at 6150 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121. I look forward to meeting with as many of our stockholders as possible.
At the Annual Meeting, we will discuss each item of business described in the Notice of Annual Meeting and proxy statement and report on Arena's business. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions.
If you would like directions to our offices, please visit our website at www.arenapharm.com, where you will find directions and a map locator under "Contact Us." For further information about the Annual Meeting, please call 858.453.7200 and ask for Investor Relations.
On behalf of our employees and Board of Directors, I would like to express our appreciation for your continued interest in Arena.
Sincerely, | ||
Jack Lief President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To be held on June 11, 2008
ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
6166 Nancy Ridge Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
April 24, 2008
To the Stockholders of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, at our offices located at 6150 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121, for the following purposes, which are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice:
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 14, 2008, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Whether or not you expect to attend in person, we urge you to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience. This will ensure the presence of a quorum at the meeting. Promptly signing, dating and returning the proxy card will save us the expense and extra work of additional solicitation. You may return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope, which does not require postage if mailed in the United States. You may also vote by telephone or the Internet pursuant to the instructions that accompanied your proxy card. Sending in your proxy card or voting by telephone or the Internet will not prevent you from voting at the Annual Meeting if you desire to do so, as your proxy may be cancelled at your option. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a bank, broker or other agent and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder.
By Order of our Board of Directors
Steven
W. Spector
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting | 1 | |||
General | 1 | |||
Questions and Answers About these Proxy Materials and Voting | 1 | |||
Election of Directors (Proposal 1) | 5 | |||
Nominees and Election Process | 5 | |||
Business Experience of Directors | 5 | |||
Director Independence | 7 | |||
Annual Performance Evaluations and Assessment of Charters | 8 | |||
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics | 8 | |||
Non-employee Director Meetings | 8 | |||
Director Meeting Attendance | 8 | |||
Board Standing Committees | 9 | |||
Stockholder Director Recommendations | 11 | |||
Stockholder Communications with our Board of Directors | 12 | |||
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation | 12 | |||
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions | 12 | |||
Compensation and Other Information Concerning Executive Officers, Directors and Certain Stockholders | 13 | |||
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management | 13 | |||
Executive Officers | 16 | |||
Compensation Discussion and Analysis | 17 | |||
Introduction | 17 | |||
Executive Officer Compensation Philosophy, Objectives and Development | 17 | |||
Elements of Our Compensation Program | 19 | |||
Tax Considerations | 24 | |||
Compensation Committee Report | 24 | |||
Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 | 25 | |||
Grants of Plan-Based Awards During Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 | 27 | |||
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 | 29 | |||
Option Exercises and Stock Vested During Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 | 30 | |||
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 | 30 | |||
Potential Post-Employment Payments Table as of Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 | 31 | |||
Director Compensation | 33 | |||
2007 Fiscal Year | 33 | |||
Director Compensation Table for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 | 35 | |||
2008 Fiscal Year | 37 | |||
Audit Committee | 38 | |||
Audit Committee Report | 38 | |||
Independent Auditors' Fees | 39 | |||
Pre-approval Policies and Procedures | 39 | |||
Ratification of Independent Auditors (Proposal 2) | 39 | |||
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance | 40 | |||
Stockholder Proposals for the 2009 Annual Meeting | 40 | |||
Annual Report | 40 | |||
Annual Report on Form 10-K | 40 | |||
Householding of Proxy Materials | 41 | |||
Other Matters | 41 |
ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
6166 Nancy Ridge Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting
In this proxy statement, "Arena Pharmaceuticals," "Arena," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise provides.
General
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of our Board of Directors for use at our 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is to be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in this proxy statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our 2008 Annual Meeting will be held at our offices located at 6150 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California.
This proxy statement, together with the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the form of proxy and our Annual Report to Stockholders, are first being mailed on or about April 24, 2008 to all stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date, which is April 14, 2008 (the "Record Date").
Questions and Answers About these Proxy Materials and Voting
Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the Record Date your shares of common stock were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting or vote by proxy.
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Bank, Broker or Other Agent. If on the Record Date your shares of common stock were held in an account by a bank, broker or other agent, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the meeting. As
a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank, broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other agent.
BY MAIL: Please complete and sign your proxy card and mail it in the enclosed pre-addressed envelope, which does not require postage if mailed in the United States. If you mark your voting instructions on the proxy card, your shares will be voted as you instruct, or in the best judgment of Mr. Lief or Mr. Spector if a proposal comes up for a vote at the meeting that is not on the proxy card.
If you do not mark your voting instructions on the proxy card, your shares will be voted as follows: FOR the 10 named nominees as directors, FOR the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, and according to the best judgment of Mr. Lief or Mr. Spector if a proposal that is not on the proxy card comes up for a vote at the meeting.
BY TELEPHONE: Please follow the vote by telephone instructions that are on your proxy card. If you vote by telephone, you do not have to mail in your proxy card.
BY INTERNET: Please follow the vote by Internet instructions that are on your proxy card. If you vote by Internet, you do not have to mail in your proxy card.
IN PERSON: We will pass out written ballots to anyone who wants to vote in person at the meeting. However, if you hold your shares in street name, you must request a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other agent in order to vote at the meeting.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of a bank, broker or other agent, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy
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materials from that organization rather than from us. Simply follow the instructions you received from that organization to ensure that your vote is counted. Please contact that organization if you did not receive a proxy card or voting instructions.
To vote in person at the meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other agent. Follow the instructions from your bank, broker or other agent included with these proxy materials, or contact such agent to request a proxy form.
A stockholder's shares are counted towards a quorum if the stockholder either:
Both abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Broker non-votes occur when a broker who holds shares for a stockholder in street name submits a proxy for those shares but does not vote. In general, this occurs when the broker has not received voting instructions from the stockholder, and the broker lacks discretionary voting power under the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or otherwise to vote the shares.
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Voting results are tabulated and certified by our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
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Election of Directors (Proposal 1)
Nominees and Election Process
The persons named below are nominees for director to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Our Bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors shall be determined by a resolution of our Board of Directors.
Each nominee listed below other than Messrs. Schneider and Woods was elected at our 2007 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Schneider was identified by one of our non-employee directors, and Mr. Woods was identified by a third-party search firm. We retained the third-party search firm at the direction of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and the search firm assisted such committee in identifying and evaluating potential nominees. All of the nominees were recommended for election to our Board of Directors by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Directors are elected by a plurality of votes present in person or represented by proxy at the annual meeting of stockholders and entitled to vote. Unless otherwise instructed to withhold a vote for a particular nominee or all of the nominees, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for the nominees named below. In the event that any of these nominees is unavailable to serve as a director at the time of our 2008 Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any substitute nominee who shall be designated by our Board of Directors, unless our Board reduces the number of directors. We have no reason to believe that any nominee will be unavailable to serve.
The following table sets forth information regarding the nominees as of March 31, 2008.
Name |
Positions and Offices Held |
Year First Elected or Appointed Director |
Age |
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Jack Lief | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | 1997 | 62 | |||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer and Director | 2000 | 44 | |||
Donald D. Belcher | Director | 2003 | 69 | |||
Scott H. Bice | Director | 2003 | 65 | |||
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D. | Director | 2004 | 69 | |||
J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D. | Director | 2002 | 79 | |||
Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D. | Director | 2004 | 54 | |||
Phillip M. Schneider | Director | 2007 | 51 | |||
Christine A. White, M.D. | Director | 2006 | 56 | |||
Randall E. Woods | Director | 2007 | 56 |
Business Experience of Directors
Jack Lief is a co-founder of Arena and has served as a director and our President and Chief Executive Officer since April 1997. Mr. Lief has also served as the Chairman of our Board of Directors since October 2007. From 1995 to April 1997, Mr. Lief served as an advisor and consultant to numerous biopharmaceutical organizations. From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Lief served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Secretary of Cephalon, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 1983 to 1989, Mr. Lief served as Director of Business Development and Strategic Planning for Alpha Therapeutic Corporation, a manufacturer of biological products. Mr. Lief joined Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company, in 1972, where he served until 1983, most recently as the head of International Marketing Research. Mr. Lief serves as a member of the board of directors of Adventrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a research and development company focused on pharmaceuticals for cancer and infectious disease. Mr. Lief is also an Executive Board Member of BIOCOM, a life science industry association representing more than 550 member companies in Southern California, and was
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the Chairman of the board of directors of BIOCOM from March 2005 to March 2006. Mr. Lief holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and an M.S. in Psychology (Experimental and Neurobiology) from Lehigh University.
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D., is a co-founder of Arena and has served as a director since April 2000, and as our Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer since June 2004. Dr. Behan served as our Vice President, Research from April 1997 to June 2004. From 1993 to January 1997, Dr. Behan directed various research programs at Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 1990 to 1993, Dr. Behan was engaged in research at the Salk Institute. Dr. Behan holds a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Leeds University, England, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Reading University, England.
Donald D. Belcher has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2003. Mr. Belcher served as Chairman of the board of directors of Banta Corporation, a printing and supply-chain management company, from May 1995 to April 2004, Chief Executive Officer from January 1995 to October 2002 and President from September 1994 to January 2001. Mr. Belcher holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Scott H. Bice has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2003. Since June 2000, Mr. Bice has been the Robert C. Packard Professor at the University of Southern California Law School, where he served as Dean from 1980 to June 2000. Mr. Bice has experience on several corporate boards, including Imagine Films, from 1992 to 1994, Western and Residence Mutual Insurance Companies, from 1996 to 2003, and Jenny Craig, from 1996 to 2002. Mr. Bice holds a B.S. in finance and a J.D. from the University of Southern California.
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2004. Dr. Hixson has served as Chairman of the board of directors of BrainCells Inc., a neurogenesis-based drug discovery and development company, since December 2003. Dr. Hixson served as Chief Executive Officer of BrainCells Inc. from July 2004 to September 2005 and as Chief Executive Officer of Elitra Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, from February 1998 to May 2003. Dr. Hixson held various management positions with Amgen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 1985 to 1991, most recently as President and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Hixson serves as a member of the board of directors of Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a cancer drug discovery and development company, and as the Chairman of the board of directors of Sequenom, Inc., a genomics company. Dr. Hixson holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Physical Biochemistry from Purdue University.
J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since October 2002. Dr. La Force served as a professor of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1962 to 1978, and served as Dean of the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles from July 1978 to June 1993. From 1969 to 1978, Dr. La Force served as the Chairman of the Economics Department at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. La Force currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the following registered investment companies: Payden Funds, Metzler Payden, and Advisors Series Trust. Dr. La Force holds an A.B. in Economics from San Diego State College and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2004. Dr. Nova Bennett is a co-founder of Genoptix, Inc., a provider of personalized medicine services, and has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of its board of directors since March 2000. Dr. Nova Bennett was a co-founder of Nanogen, Inc., a provider of molecular diagnostic tests, where she served as Chief Operating Officer and President from 1994 to January 2000. From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Nova Bennett served as Chief Operating Officer of Selective Genetics, a targeted therapy, biotechnology company. From 1988 to 1992, Dr. Nova Bennett held various director-
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level positions with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a drug discovery and development company, most recently serving as Executive Director of New Leads Discovery. Dr. Nova Bennett has also held various research and management positions with Hybritech, Inc., a former subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company, a pharmaceutical company. Dr. Nova Bennett serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Cypress Biosciences, Inc., a company focused on developing drugs for functional somatic syndromes. Dr. Nova Bennett is the life science sector representative to the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee overseeing the implementation of the California stem cell initiative, Proposition 71. Dr. Nova Bennett holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside.
Phillip M. Schneider has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2007. From 1987 to 2002, Mr. Schneider held various positions with IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, most recently as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to his association with IDEC, Mr. Schneider held various management positions at Syntex Pharmaceuticals Corporation and was previously with KPMG, LLP. Mr. Schneider is a member of the board of directors of Gen-Probe, Inc., a medical diagnostics company. Mr. Schneider holds an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis.
Christine A. White, M.D., has served as a member of our Board of Directors since August 2006. Dr. White was with Biogen Idec Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 1996 to 2005, where she held several senior positions, most recently as Senior Vice President, Global Medical Affairs. From 1994 to 1996, Dr. White served as the Director of Clinical Oncology Research at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in San Diego and from 1984 to 1994, Dr. White was on the clinical staff and held various positions in the Department of Medicine at Scripps Memorial Hospitals in La Jolla and Encinitas, California, most recently as Chairman, Department of Medicine. Dr. White serves as a member of the board of directors at Pharmacyclics, Inc, a pharmaceutical company developing products to treat cancer and other diseases. Dr. White holds a B.A. in Biology and an M.D. from the University of Chicago and is Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.
Randall E. Woods has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2007. Mr. Woods is the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Sequel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From April 2004 to September 2007, Mr. Woods was the President and Chief Executive Officer of NovaCardia, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, prior to its acquisition by Merck & Co. Previously, Mr. Woods served approximately eight years as the Chief Executive Officer of Corvas International, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. He was also President of Boehringer Mannheim's U.S. pharmaceutical operations and spent more than 20 years at Eli Lilly & Company in sales and marketing positions. Mr. Woods serves as the chairman of the advisory board of the University of California, San Diego's Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center, and is an Executive Board Member, and the incoming chair of the board of directors, of BIOCOM. Mr. Woods holds an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University and a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Ball State University.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" EACH NAMED NOMINEE.
Director Independence
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, which requires that a majority of a listed company's board of directors qualify as "independent" under the applicable NASDAQ listing standards. The board of directors must affirmatively make this determination.
Our Board of Directors consults with our General Counsel to ensure that our Board's independence determinations comply with all applicable securities and other laws and regulations
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regarding the definition of "independent," including but not limited to those set forth in pertinent listing standards of NASDAQ, as in effect from time to time. Consistent with these considerations, our Board of Directors has reviewed relevant transactions and relationships between each non-employee director and Arena, our senior management and our independent auditors and has affirmatively determined that all of our non-employee directors are independent directors under the applicable NASDAQ listing standards. Our Board of Directors also determined that Louis J. Lavigne, Jr., who served as one of our directors from January 2005 to February 2007, was an independent director.
Annual Performance Evaluations and Assessment of Charters
Our Board of Directors, as well as each of its standing committees, conducts an annual self-evaluation, which includes a review of its performance and, in the case of each of the committees, an assessment of the adequacy and appropriateness of its charter. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for overseeing this evaluation process, evaluating all standing committees and their charters and recommending to our Board of Directors any changes to the authority, charters, compositions and chairs of such committees.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our directors and employees (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller), and we have posted the text of the policy on our website (www.arenapharm.com) under the "Corporate Governance" section. To facilitate compliance with this policy, we periodically conduct a program of awareness, training and review. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics complies with the applicable NASDAQ listing standards and the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, rules and regulations and includes procedures for (i) the filing, receipt and treatment of complaints regarding suspected improper conduct by our employees, directors, collaborators, vendors and others associated with us and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding any matter covered by the policy. In addition, we intend to promptly disclose (i) the nature of any amendment to the policy that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and (ii) the nature of any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the policy that is granted to one of these specified individuals, the name of such person who is granted the waiver and the date of the waiver on our website and, as applicable, in filings on Form 8-K in the future.
Non-employee Director Meetings
Our independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present. These executive sessions occur in conjunction with regularly scheduled meetings of our Board of Directors and its standing committees and otherwise as needed.
Director Meeting Attendance
Our Board of Directors held eight meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of our Board of Directors and the total number of meetings held by all committees of our Board on which such director served, in each case during the periods in which he or she served. In addition to regularly scheduled meetings, the directors participate in a considerable number of telephone interactions, including regular telephone calls among the independent directors and Mr. Lief, and other communications with each other and our executive officers, as well as with our independent auditors and external advisors, such as legal counsel, consultants and investment bankers.
It is our policy to encourage directors to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. Seven of eight of our then directors attended our 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.
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Board Standing Committees
The standing committees of our Board of Directors are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. All of the standing committees of our Board of Directors are comprised entirely of independent directors. The chairs of the standing committees are appointed by our Board of Directors and may change in the future. Pursuant to their charters, each of the committees is authorized to access, at our expense, such internal and external resources as the particular committee deems necessary or appropriate to fulfill its defined responsibilities. Each committee has sole authority to approve fees, costs and other terms of engagement of such outside resources.
Below is a chart showing the structure and membership of the standing committees of our Board of Directors as of March 31, 2008.
Member |
Audit Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donald D. Belcher | ||||||
Scott H. Bice | ||||||
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D. | ||||||
J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D. | ||||||
Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D. | ||||||
Phillip M. Schneider | ||||||
Christine A. White, M.D. | ||||||
Randall E. Woods | ||||||
= | Committee member | |||
= |
Committee chair |
Immediately following the filing of this proxy statement with the SEC, we expect the structure and membership of the standing committees of our Board of Directors to change as set forth below.
Member |
Audit Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donald D. Belcher | ||||||
Scott H. Bice | ||||||
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D. | ||||||
J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D. | ||||||
Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D. | ||||||
Phillip M. Schneider | ||||||
Christine A. White, M.D. | ||||||
Randall E. Woods | ||||||
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The Audit Committee's responsibilities include:
Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the Audit Committee members meets the independence and experience requirements included in the applicable NASDAQ listing standards and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Our Board of Directors has also determined that Mr. Belcher, the Chair of the Audit Committee, is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined in Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K.
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which is available on our website at www.arenapharm.com. The Audit Committee held nine meetings in 2007. The Audit Committee's report is set forth below under "Audit Committee Report."
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee's responsibilities include:
The primary purpose of the Compensation Committee is to act on behalf of our Board of Directors in fulfilling our Board's responsibilities to oversee our compensation policies, plans and programs. Specific functions of the Compensation Committee under its charter are to review, modify and approve our overall compensation strategy and policies, review and determine the compensation of our executive officers and non-employee directors, administer our equity compensation plans (including reviewing and approving equity grants to our executive officers and directors), and to approve the adoption, amendment and termination of our benefit plans.
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which is available on our website at www.arenapharm.com. Dr. La Force is the Chair of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Belcher served as the Chair of the Compensation Committee in 2007 until
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Dr. La Force became the Chair of such committee in February of 2007. The Compensation Committee held seven meetings in 2007. The Compensation Committee's report is set forth below under "Compensation Committee Report."
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee's responsibilities include:
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee uses many sources to identify potential director candidates, including the network of contacts among our directors, officers and other employees, and may engage outside consultants and recruiters in this process. As set forth below under "Stockholder Director Recommendations," the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by our stockholders. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including being able to understand basic financial statements. In considering candidates for director, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider all relevant factors, which may include among others the candidate's experience and accomplishments, the relevance of such experience to our business, the availability of the candidate to devote sufficient time and attention to Arena, the candidate's reputation for integrity and ethics and the candidate's ability to exercise sound business judgment. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee retains the right to modify these qualifications from time to time, and candidates for director are reviewed in the context of the composition of the then current Board of Directors, our requirements and the interests of our stockholders. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommended the nominations of each of the directors nominated for election at our 2008 Annual Meeting.
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which is available on our website at www.arenapharm.com. Mr. Bice is the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held five meetings in 2007.
Stockholder Director Recommendations
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by our stockholders. A candidate must be highly qualified and be willing and expressly interested in serving on our Board of Directors. To be considered by the Corporate Governance and
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Nominating Committee, a stockholder recommendation for director candidates for an annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the committee by December 31 of the year before such annual meeting. A stockholder who wishes to recommend a candidate for the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee's consideration should forward the candidate's name and information about the candidate's qualifications to Corporate Secretary, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121. Submissions must include a representation that the nominating stockholder is a beneficial or record owner of our stock. 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. This procedure does not affect the deadline for submitting other stockholder proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement, nor does it apply to questions a stockholder may wish to ask at an annual meeting. Additional information regarding submitting stockholder proposals is set forth in our Bylaws. Stockholders may request a copy of the bylaw provisions relating to stockholder proposals from our Corporate Secretary.
Stockholder Communications with our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors has a formal process by which stockholders may communicate with our Board or any of our directors or officers. Stockholders who wish to communicate with our Board of Directors or any of our directors or officers may do so by sending written communications addressed to such person or persons in care of Corporate Secretary, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121. All such communications to our directors will be compiled by our Corporate Secretary and submitted to the addressees on a periodic basis. If our Board of Directors modifies this process, we will post the revised process on our website.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Mr. Belcher and Drs. Hixson, La Force, Nova Bennett and White served on the Compensation Committee for at least part of 2007, and the committee currently consists of Drs. Hixson, La Force and White. No director serving on the Compensation Committee during any part of 2007 was, at any time during or before such fiscal year, one of our employees. None of our executive officers served during any part of 2007 as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that had one or more of its executive officers serving as members of our Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Except for the relationships between us and our executive officers and directors described below under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," since January 1, 2007 we have not been a party to any transactions involving more than $120,000 and in which any director, nominee for director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our common stock or any immediate family member of the foregoing has a direct or indirect material interest.
The Audit Committee's charter requires that it reviews and approves any related-person transactions. In considering related-person transactions, the Audit Committee considers the relevant available facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to, (i) the risks, costs and benefits to us, (ii) the impact on a director's independence in the event the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated, (iii) the terms of the transaction, (iv) the availability of other sources for comparable services or products and (v) the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally. In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself from the deliberations and approval. In determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related-person transaction, the Audit Committee evaluates whether, in light of known circumstances, the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests and those of our stockholders.
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Compensation and Other Information
Concerning Executive Officers, Directors and Certain Stockholders
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth certain information known to us with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 21, 2008 by:
Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, the address for the beneficial owners listed in this table is in care of Corporate Secretary, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121. This table is based on information supplied by executive officers, directors and principal stockholders and Schedules 13D, 13G and other filings made with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe that the stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned. Applicable percentages are based on 73,759,776 shares of common stock outstanding on March 21, 2008, including 31,000 restricted shares of common stock, and as adjusted as required by the rules promulgated by the SEC. This table includes shares issuable pursuant to stock options and other rights to purchase shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 21, 2008.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Total |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wellington Management Company, LLP(1) | 9,758,683 | 13.2 | % | ||
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation(2) | 7,517,844 | 10.2 | % | ||
Entities affiliated with Deerfield Capital, L.P.(3) | 5,950,643 | 8.1 | % | ||
Mainfield Enterprises, Inc.(4)(5) | 5,284,202 | 6.8 | % | ||
Federated Investors, Inc.(6) | 4,137,500 | 5.6 | % | ||
TCW Business Unit(7) | 3,907,696 | 5.3 | % | ||
Smithfield Fiduciary LLC(5)(8) | 3,963,647 | 5.2 | % | ||
Jack Lief(9) | 1,143,285 | 1.5 | % | ||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D.(10) | 681,948 | * | |||
Steven W. Spector, J.D.(11) | 241,500 | * | |||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A.(12) | 190,294 | * | |||
J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D.(13) | 152,502 | * | |||
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D.(14) | 141,250 | * | |||
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D.(15) | 104,916 | * | |||
Donald D. Belcher(16) | 99,906 | * | |||
Scott H. Bice(17) | 61,568 | * | |||
Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D.(18) | 59,000 | * | |||
Christine A. White, M.D.(19) | 32,374 | * | |||
Phillip M. Schneider(20) | 1,596 | * | |||
Randall E. Woods(21) | 1,596 | * | |||
All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)(22) | 3,096,299 | 4.1 | % |
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Executive Officers
Our executive officers are appointed by our Board of Directors and serve at the discretion of our Board. Set forth below are the names and certain biographical information regarding our executive officers as of March 31, 2008.
Name |
Age |
Position |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Lief | 62 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | ||
K.A. Ajit-Simh | 55 | Vice President, Quality Systems | ||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | 44 | Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer | ||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. | 42 | Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Louis J. Scotti | 52 | Vice President, Marketing and Business Development | ||
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. | 59 | Vice President and Chief Medical Officer | ||
Steven W. Spector, J.D. | 43 | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
See "Election of Directors (Proposal 1)" for biographical information regarding Mr. Lief and Dr. Behan, who are also directors.
K.A. Ajit-Simh has served as our Vice President, Quality Systems since January 2004. Mr. Ajit-Simh provided regulatory compliance services to several companies in the United States and internationally from 1999 to the end of 2003. Mr. Ajit-Simh held various positions of increasing responsibility at Mallinckrodt Inc. from 1975 to 1985, Baxter Healthcare from 1986 to 1989, Abbott BioTech from 1989 to 1992, and Cytel Corporation from 1992 to 1999. In addition, he has been an instructor at the University of California, San Diego since 1994, teaching classes in regulatory compliance and quality control/assurance. He also teaches courses in Good Manufacturing Practices and Advanced Quality Control and Assurance at San Diego State University as part of the graduate program in Regulatory Affairs. Mr. Ajit-Simh received a B.Sc. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Bangalore University and an M.S. in Cell Biology from St. Louis University.
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A., has served as our Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer since December 2005. Mr. Hoffman served as our Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer from June 2004 to December 2005, as our Vice President, Finance from April 2000 to June 2004, and as our Controller from August 1997 to April 2000. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Hoffman served as Assistant Controller for Document Sciences Corporation, a software company. Mr. Hoffman serves as a member of the steering committee of the Association of Bioscience Financial Officers and as a supervisory committee member of the San Diego County Credit Union. He is also a director and the immediate-past President of the San Diego chapter of Financial Executives International. Mr. Hoffman holds a B.B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and is licensed as a C.P.A. in the State of California.
Louis J. Scotti has served as our Vice President, Marketing and Business Development since September 2002. He previously served as our Vice President, Business Development from August 1999 to September 2002. From June 1998 to July 1999, Mr. Scotti served as President and Chief Executive Officer for ProtoMed, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From April 1996 to June 1998, Mr. Scotti served as Executive Director of Licensing for Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a drug discovery and development company. From 1986 to 1995, Mr. Scotti served in various positions at Reed & Carnrick Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company, most recently as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. Mr. Scotti holds a B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D., has served as our Vice President and Chief Medical Officer since March 2004. From August 2000 to March 2004, Dr. Shanahan served as Chief Medical Officer for Tanox, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From October 1994 to August 2000, Dr. Shanahan held
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various positions at Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, most recently as Vice President, Drug Development. From 1989 to 1994, Dr. Shanahan served as Director, Clinical Research for Pfizer Central Research, a pharmaceutical company. From 1986 to 1989, Dr. Shanahan held various positions at Searle Research & Development, a pharmaceutical company subsequently acquired by Pfizer, most recently as Director, Clinical Research. Dr. Shanahan holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College, an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco and a J.D. from Loyola University, Chicago.
Steven W. Spector, J.D., has served as our Senior Vice President and General Counsel since June 2004. Mr. Spector served as our Vice President and General Counsel from October 2001 to June 2004. Mr. Spector has also served as our Secretary since November 2001. Mr. Spector is a member of the board of directors and the immediate-past President of the Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego. Prior to joining Arena, Mr. Spector was a partner with the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where he worked from 1991 to October 2001. Mr. Spector was a member of the Morgan Lewis Technology Steering Committee. Mr. Spector was our outside corporate counsel from 1998 to October 2001. Mr. Spector holds a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Introduction
This section provides an overview and analysis of our executive officer compensation program and policies, material compensation decisions we have made under such program and policies, and material factors that we considered in making those decisions. Later in this proxy statement, you will find a series of tables containing specific information about the compensation earned or paid in 2007 to the following individuals, whom we refer to as our Named Executive Officers: Messrs. Lief, Hoffman and Spector and Drs. Behan and Shanahan. The below discussion is intended to help you understand the detailed information provided in those tables and to put that information into context with our overall executive officer compensation program.
Executive Officer Compensation Philosophy, Objectives and Development
We believe that the performance of our executive officers has the potential to significantly impact our ability to achieve our corporate goals. We, therefore, place considerable importance on the design and administration of our executive officer compensation program. This program is intended to enhance stockholder value by attracting, motivating and retaining qualified individuals to perform at the highest of professional levels and to contribute to our growth and success. Accordingly, our executive officer compensation program is designed to provide executive officers with compensation opportunities that are tied to their individual performance, as well as our overall corporate performance. Each executive officer's compensation package is comprised of three key elements: (i) base salary, (ii) performance-based cash incentives and (iii) stock-based compensation. Our executive officers are also entitled to health and welfare benefits, and, as discussed below, certain of them may be entitled to receive additional benefits upon termination of their employment. These additional elements of executive compensation, together with the three key elements, are intended to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders.
Our compensation packages are also designed to be competitive in our industry. The Compensation Committee consults with compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisors in designing our compensation program, including in relation to our corporate goals and in evaluating the competitiveness of individual compensation packages. In such evaluation, the Compensation Committee periodically reviews and analyzes executive officer compensation provided by other companies in our industry.
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Our overall compensation philosophy is to pay our executive officers cash compensation that is at approximately the median level relative to a selected peer group of companies and to provide opportunities, through incentives, to attain above-market total compensation if we satisfy certain key performance goals. The main principles of our compensation strategy include the following:
As part of the process for setting executive compensation, our Chief Executive Officer provides the Compensation Committee with his performance assessments of the company and our executive officers. He also recommends to the Compensation Committee salaries, cash incentive opportunities, cash incentive awards and equity grants for executive officers other than himself. The Compensation Committee can accept, reject or modify such recommendations in its discretion. The Compensation Committee also considers the recommendations of its independent consultant, peer company data, San Diego and national industry compensation surveys, and factors such as the past, current and expected contributions of each executive officer, our corporate performance, the mix of compensation that would be most appropriate for each executive officer and the executive officer's particular responsibilities, experience, level of accountability and decision authority.
While the Compensation Committee meets regularly in executive session, various members of management, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, and other employees as well as outside advisors or consultants may be invited by the Compensation Committee to make presentations, provide financial or other background information or advice or otherwise participate in Compensation Committee meetings. Our General Counsel attends meetings of the Compensation Committee as the Secretary. Our Chief Executive Officer is not present during any deliberations or determinations of the Compensation Committee regarding his compensation.
In determining our executive officers' cash incentive awards for 2007 and developing the 2008 executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee considered what it viewed as our strong corporate performance in 2007, including our success in meeting preset goals, and the importance of keeping our executive officers focused on corporate and individual goals that are set for future achievement.
The Compensation Committee retained Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. as its independent compensation consultant to advise it regarding executive compensation and other compensation matters in 2007. For 2007, the compensation consultant (i) helped develop long-term incentives for executive officers and other employees, including our performance-based restricted stock unit awards, (ii) reviewed and made recommendations about our non-employee director compensation program and (iii) reviewed and made recommendations about our equity granting practices and procedures.
The compensation consultant's findings and recommendations were based in part on market data for a "peer" group of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies, which changes from time to time based on corporate developments, including clinical and commercial progress, affecting us and other companies in our industry. The Compensation Committee selects the peer group in consultation with its compensation consultant and other members of the Board, including our Chief Executive Officer.
2007 Peer Group. In determining the number and type of equity awards to grant to executive officers in 2007, around the end of 2006, the Compensation Committee updated our peer group taking into account our and the selected companies' development stages, market capitalizations, revenues and earnings. This 2007 peer group consisted of the following companies: Cell Genesys, Inc., Connetics Corporation, Dendreon Corporation, Enzo Biochem, Inc., Exelixis, Inc., Human Genome Sciences, Inc.,
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InterMune, Inc., Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medarex, Inc., The Medicines Company, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Nuvelo, Inc., Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Senomyx, Inc., Telik, Inc., and Trimeris, Inc. The Compensation Committee also looked at the 2007 peer group in modifying the compensation of our non-employee directors in 2007.
Elements of Our Compensation Program
1. Base Salary
We generally target base annual salaries to be at approximately the market median of our peer group for executive officers having similar responsibilities, but the salary for any particular executive officer may be higher or lower than the market median depending on such factors as the individual's overall mix of base salary, performance-based cash incentives and stock-based compensation, the individual's historical base salary, the individual's experience and background, the individual's past performance and expected future contribution, the movement of salaries in the marketplace, and our corporate performance during the prior year. The purpose of base salary is to provide fixed compensation to attract and retain an employee with the qualifications desired for the particular position. The Compensation Committee's philosophy in recent years has been to make what it views as modest increases in salary for executive officers, except where an individual's salary was found to be significantly below market when compared to the selected peer group, and to use equity and performance-based cash compensation to motivate and retain our executive officers. The Compensation Committee did not engage its compensation consultant to review annual salaries for executive officers in 2007 as it had in 2006, but rather relied on its consultant's 2006 report, its consultant's view that the Committee could continue to rely on such report, and more recent industry surveys. The consultant's 2006 report was based on a peer group that consisted of the following companies: Antigenics Inc., Arqule, Inc., CancerVax Corporation, Cell Genesys, Inc., Cell Therapeutics, Inc., Connetics Corporation, Curagen Corporation, Dendreon Corporation, Enzo Biochem, Inc., Exelixis, Inc., Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Inc., InterMune, Inc., Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medarex, Inc., Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Trimeris, Inc., and XOMA Ltd.
2. Performance-based cash incentives
In early 2007, the Compensation Committee approved the 2007 Annual Incentive Plan for our executive officers. Under this cash incentive plan, each participant was assigned an incentive target that was expressed as a percentage of annual base salary, and the participant's incentive award was based on the achievement of preestablished corporate and individual goals. All participants had the same corporate goals, which we believed would align the interests of our executive officers with one another and with our stockholders. The corporate and individual goals were approved by the Compensation Committee after taking into account the views and recommendations of other members of our Board of Directors (including our Chief Executive Officer), which also approved the goals.
The corporate goals for 2007 related to the following categories: (i) progress in internal clinical programs, (ii) progress in partnered programs, (iii) progress in research programs and (iv) finance. Individual goals were tailored for each executive officer based on our business plan and budget for the coming year, the Chief Executive Officer's recommendations for each executive officer other than himself, the executive officer's responsibilities and the Compensation Committee's view about the corporate benefits of achieving each goal. The individual goals for 2007 related to the following categories: (i) progress and milestones in internal and partnered programs, (ii) budget and finance, (iii) compliance and risk mitigation, (iv) corporate governance, (v) corporate planning, (vi) strategic opportunities, (vii) intellectual property and (viii) investor and analyst relations. Corporate and individual goals were intended to reflect a mix of short- and long-term performance objectives.
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All of our executive officers participated in the 2007 Annual Incentive Plan. The following table lists our Named Executive Officers, their incentive target under the plan expressed as a percentage of their annual base salary, and the relative weighting assigned to corporate and individual goals:
|
|
Relative Weighting |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Named Executive Officer |
Incentive Target |
Corporate Goals |
Individual Goals |
||||
Jack Lief | 50 | % | 75 | % | 25 | % | |
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. | 35 | % | 60 | % | 40 | % | |
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | 35 | % | 60 | % | 40 | % | |
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. | 30 | % | 50 | % | 50 | % | |
Steven W. Spector, J.D. | 35 | % | 60 | % | 40 | % |
The Compensation Committee took into account market data and individual performance and contribution in determining the incentive targets and relative weightings. The weighting of corporate versus individual goals was intended to reflect the participants' responsibilities for their individual areas and the company-wide functions. Mr. Lief's goals were weighted more heavily to the corporate goals than any other of our Named Executive Officers due to his role in overseeing our company-wide functions as our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Shanahan's goals were weighted more to his individual goals than the other Named Executive Officers due to his significant role in the development of our drug candidates as our Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Our other Named Executive Officers' goals were weighted more heavily to the corporate goals as their responsibilities involved company-wide functions more than any individual area and to tie their compensation to corporate achievements.
The threshold level of goal achievement under the 2007 Annual Incentive Plan was 50%, below which no incentive award would be paid to an executive officer. This threshold was established to ensure that no awards would be paid if the results achieved were significantly below the target. The Compensation Committee sets goals that it believes will be difficult for our executive officers to fully achieve. Consequently, achieving the target was only expected to occur if both corporate and individual performances were high. Executive officers are eligible to receive incentive awards of up to 125% of the target amount, which allows the Compensation Committee discretion to award more than the target award for extraordinary performance.
The below "Grants of Plan-Based Awards" table shows the incentives that could have been earned under this incentive plan, and the awards earned are included in the below "Summary Compensation Table." All executive officers achieved more than the threshold percentage of goals, but, with the exception of Messrs. Lief and Spector, received less than the target incentive award. The Compensation Committee determined that 80% of the weighted value of the 2007 corporate goals was achieved, and that, with regard to the 2007 individual goals, Messrs. Lief and Spector and Dr. Shanahan achieved 100% of the weighted value, Dr. Behan achieved 90% of the weighted value and Mr. Hoffman achieved 80% of the weighted value. Based only on such achievement, the awards under the plan to our Named Executive Officers would be as follows: Mr. Lief, $272,000; Mr. Hoffman, $79,800; Dr. Behan, $109,074; Dr. Shanahan, $89,910; and Mr. Spector, $104,720. The Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to grant awards that were higher than such formulaic amounts based on the quality of achievement of goals and what it viewed as extraordinary efforts and contributions on activities that were important to the company, but not included as goals under the plan.
In early 2008, the Compensation Committee approved corporate and individual goals and a similar annual incentive plan for all of our executive officers for use in determining cash incentive awards for 2008.
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3. Stock-based compensation
We believe that equity grants provide our executive officers with the opportunity to share in increases, if any, in the value of our common stock and encourage their ownership in our company. We believe that equity grants reinforce a long-term interest in our corporate performance and directly motivate our executive officers to maximize long-term stockholder value. The equity grants also utilize vesting and, in the case of stock options, exercisability periods that encourage executive officers to continue working for us.
In determining the size and types of equity grants to executive officers, the Compensation Committee considered similar awards to individuals holding comparable jobs in our 2007 Peer Group, our corporate performance against our plan, the individual's performance against his goals, each executive officer's ownership in Arena, the overall share usage under our equity compensation plans for grants to our executive officers, the consequences of granting equity in light of the requirements to expense the value of equity grants and the tax efficiency of various award types.
For 2007, the Compensation Committee granted two forms of equity incentives to executive officers: stock options and performance-based restricted stock units. While both of these incentives are intended to foster the long-term perspective we believe is necessary for continued success, the performance-based restricted stock unit awards are designed to encourage, and compensate our executive officers and other employees for achieving, extraordinary results and to ensure that our executive officers are properly focused on specific drug development and commercialization initiatives that we believe will enhance long-term stockholder value.
In determining the equity grants to executive officers in 2007, the Compensation Committee's overall objective was to grant stock options that were within the broad middle range of the long-term equity grants in our 2007 peer group, but also to take into account the factors specified above for determining equity grants. In 2007, the Compensation Committee granted performance-based restricted stock units to provide greater executive officer equity ownership if we achieve extraordinary drug development and commercialization results embodied by four specific performance goals.
Stock Options
Stock options provide for financial gain derived from stock prices that are higher in the future than the closing market price on the date the options were granted. Under our 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, or LTIP, the exercise price of stock option grants is set at the fair market value of our common stock, which is the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the date the options are granted (or if there is no closing price on such date, on the last preceding date on which a closing price was reported). Under the LTIP, we are not permitted to grant stock options at a discount to fair market value. Stock options granted to employees vest 25% per year over four years from the date of grant and are exercisable for up to 10 years from the date of grant. We believe that the vesting restrictions help retain executive officers and that the 10-year exercise period provides incentive for our executive officers to execute on our long-term business plan. We generally make stock option grants to continuing employees, including executive officers, on an annual basis. Our policy is to make such grants three trading days after our announcement of financial results for the prior year. In addition, we generally make an initial stock option grant to all new employees on a preset day in the month following the employee's date of hire.
All grants to executive officers require the approval of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may delegate to (i) a committee of one or more members of our Board of Directors the authority to take action on behalf of the Compensation Committee under the LTIP, including the right to grant, cancel, suspend or amend awards and (ii) one or more of our executive officers the right to grant awards to non-executive employees, advisors and consultants. The Compensation Committee has delegated to Mr. Lief the ability to grant up to an aggregate of 120,000
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stock options to non-executive employees and consultants each quarter. It is the Compensation Committee's policy for Mr. Lief to report to it any such stock option grants at its next regularly scheduled committee meeting.
2007 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards
In 2007, the Compensation Committee added performance-based restricted stock unit awards to the mix of compensation for our executive officers. These awards provide executive officers and other employees until February 26, 2012 to achieve four specific drug development and strategic performance goals. A fixed number of awards will be earned for each milestone that is successfully achieved. Once earned, the awards will remain unvested until the performance period is complete. The awards that have been earned at February 26, 2012 will vest and be settled in shares of our common stock, with the holder receiving one share of common stock for each award earned and vested. Termination of employment prior to vesting will result in the forfeiture of any earned (as well as unearned) awards, except for limited circumstances such as termination due to death, disability or a change in control.
The performance goals were established to require significant efforts and results that are expected to drive significant stockholder value, if achieved, thereby further aligning employee and stockholder interests. Each of the performance goals is designed to be a significant milestone for us, the attainment of which is not assured.
Depending on whether we have achieved one, two, three or all four of the performance goals on or before February 26, 2012 and if the particular executive officer is still employed on such date, then the performance stock unit awards would vest as follows: 25% if one goal is achieved, 50% if two goals are achieved, 87.5% if three goals are achieved and 100% if all four goals are achieved.
Below are the number of performance-based restricted stock unit awards our Compensation Committee granted to our Named Executive Officers in February 2007.
Named Executive Officer |
Performance-based Restricted Stock Unit Awards(1) |
|
---|---|---|
Jack Lief | 300,000 | |
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. | 100,000 | |
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | 100,000 | |
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. | 80,000 | |
Steven W. Spector, J.D. | 100,000 |
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
We also have adopted the 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, or ESPP, as a further benefit to executive officers, as well as other employees, and to encourage employee ownership. Under the ESPP, participants may elect to have a portion of their cash compensation withheld for purchases of our common stock on certain dates set forth in the plan. The price of our common stock purchased under the ESPP is equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of enrollment or the exercise date of the purchase period.
4. Other Benefits and Post-Termination Compensation
All of our executive officers, as well as our other regular, full-time employees, are eligible for a variety of health and welfare and paid time-off benefits. We believe that reliable and competitive health and welfare and paid time-off benefits help ensure that we have a productive and focused workforce.
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401(k) Plan and Company Match
Employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan beginning on their hire date. Employees may make pre-tax or after tax (Roth) contributions of up to 50% of gross cash compensation into the plan, up to the annual limit established by the IRS. Subject to limits established by the IRS, we match 100% of each of the participant's voluntary contributions, subject to a maximum match of 6% of the participant's gross cash compensation. This match vests over a five-year period from the individual's date of hire.
Life and Disability Coverage
We provide all regular, full-time employees with a life insurance policy equal to four times the employee's annual salary, up to a maximum coverage of $500,000. Such employees are also covered by short- and long-term disability plans that coordinate with the California State Disability plan.
Perquisites and Other Benefits
We did not provide any of our Named Executive Officers or other senior members of management with perquisites in 2007 that exceeded $10,000 in the aggregate for any person, and do not expect to do so in 2008.
Post-Termination Compensation
We have entered into Termination Protection Agreements and have a Severance Benefit Plan that may require us to provide compensation and benefits to certain of our executive officers. The agreements and the plan are summarized below and more detail regarding potential payouts is provided below under "Potential Post-Employment Payments Table."
Termination Protection Agreements. In 2002, we entered into Termination Protection Agreements because we determined that it was appropriate to provide certain of our executive officers severance compensation if there is a change in control and the executive officer's employment is terminated under certain circumstances. We did this to promote the ability of our executive officers to keep focused on corporate interests and to act in the best interests of our stockholders even though their employment could be terminated as a result of the change in control. These agreements were put into place after one of our stockholders acquired approximately 28% of our outstanding common stock. In addition, as part of our normal course of business, we engage in discussions with other companies about possible collaborations and other ways in which we may work together to further our respective long-term objectives and many larger, more established companies consider companies at similar stages of development to ours as potential acquisition targets. In certain scenarios, the potential for merger or being acquired may be in the best interests of our stockholders. Our Termination Protection Agreements reflect our views regarding which executive officers are more likely to be terminated in a change-in-control transaction and which executive officers would likely require more time to get a new job.
Severance Benefit Plan. In 2006, the Compensation Committee approved the Severance Benefit Plan for certain executive officers. Separation benefits are payable if the executive officer's employment is terminated under certain circumstances and are intended to keep our executive officers focused on corporate interests while employed and to ease the consequences to an executive officer of a termination of employment. The advantage to us includes our receipt of a waiver and release of claims, which the separated executive officer must provide to us as a condition to receiving benefits.
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Any payments payable under the Severance Benefit Plan are reduced by severance benefits payable by us under the Termination Protection Agreements or any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement.
Tax Considerations
We intend that all incentive payments be deductible for tax purposes unless it would undermine our ability to meet our primary compensation objectives. We also take into account the tax effects of various forms of compensation and the potential for excise taxes to be imposed on our executive officers. There are various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, which we consider in determining compensation, including the following:
Section 162(m). We consider the potential impact of Section 162(m) of the Code, which denies a Federal income tax deduction for any individual compensation exceeding $1,000,000 in any taxable year for the chief executive officer and the four highest compensated employees other than the chief executive officer. This limitation does not, however, apply to compensation that is performance-based under a plan that is approved by the stockholders and that meets other requirements. Based on these requirements, we attempt to limit the impact Section 162(m) will have on our ability to deduct compensation, but in appropriate circumstances we will pay compensation that is not deductible under Section 162(m) if necessary and in the best interests of our stockholders.
Sections 280G and 4999. Any payment or benefit provided under our Termination Protection Agreements or our Severance Benefit Plan in connection with a change-in-control transaction may be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code. These payments also may not be eligible for a company tax deduction pursuant to Section 280G of the Code. If any of these payments or benefits are subject to the excise tax, they may be reduced to provide the individual with the best after-tax result. Specifically, the individual will receive either a reduced amount so that the excise tax is not triggered, or the individual will receive the full amount of the payments and benefits and then be liable for any excise tax.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee, comprised of independent directors, reviewed and discussed the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis with our management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D. J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D. Christine A. White, M.D. |
24
Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
In 2007, the Compensation Committee approved increases in annual base salary for each of our Named Executive Officers, such that Mr. Lief's annual base salary was increased from $620,000 to $640,000; Mr. Hoffman's annual base salary was increased from $275,000 to $285,000; Dr. Behan's annual base salary was increased from $358,800 to $371,000; Dr. Shanahan's annual base salary was increased from $321,400 to $333,000; and Mr. Spector's annual base salary was increased from $327,600 to $340,000. The following table summarizes the total compensation of our Named Executive Officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary ($)(1) |
Stock Awards ($)(2) |
Option Awards ($)(3) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(4) |
All Other Compensation ($)(5) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Lief President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
2007 2006 |
$ |
638,889 619,431 |
$ |
219,461 399,133 |
$ |
1,968,705 404,907 |
(6) |
$ |
325,000 260,000 |
$ |
14,034 13,734 |
$ |
3,166,089 1,697,205 |
||||||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
2007 2006 |
284,444 273,056 |
84,000 77,000 |
218,461 153,170 |
90,000 82,000 |
30,476 24,309 |
(7) (7) |
707,381 609,535 |
||||||||||||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer and Director |
2007 2006 |
370,323 358,033 |
92,931 184,167 |
300,749 190,804 |
125,000 97,000 |
14,034 13,734 |
903,037 843,738 |
|||||||||||||
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. Vice President and Chief Medical Officer |
2007 2006 |
332,356 320,878 |
|
229,571 149,386 |
90,000 75,000 |
14,034 13,734 |
665,961 558,998 |
|||||||||||||
Steven W. Spector, J.D. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
2007 2006 |
339,312 326,900 |
84,000 77,000 |
297,509 179,832 |
125,000 97,000 |
33,649 26,333 |
(8) (8) |
879,470 707,065 |
25
Discussion and Analysis." For both years presented, cash awards earned were paid in the subsequent fiscal year.
In January 2008, the Compensation Committee approved increases in annual base salaries for our Named Executive Officers, such that Mr. Lief's annual base salary was increased to $670,000; Mr. Hoffman's annual base salary was increased to $300,000; Dr. Behan's annual base salary was increased to $389,000; Dr. Shanahan's annual base salary was increased to $346,000; and Mr. Spector's annual base salary was increased to $365,000.
26
Grants of Plan-Based Awards During Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
The following table provides information on estimated future payouts under non-equity incentive plans and stock awards and stock options granted to our Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)(3) |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2)(3) |
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/sh) (5) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)(6) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Grant Date |
Approval Date(4) |
Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Jack Lief | 2/26/07 2/26/07 |
1/22/07 2/26/07 |
$ |
160,000 |
$ |
320,000 |
$ |
400,000 |
75,000 |
300,000 |
300,000 |
180,000 |
$ |
13.50 |
$ |
1,457,568 4,050,000 |
|||||||||||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. | 2/26/07 2/26/07 |
1/22/07 2/26/07 |
49,875 |
99,750 |
124,688 |
25,000 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
35,000 |
13.50 |
283,416 1,350,000 |
||||||||||||||||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | 2/26/07 2/26/07 |
1/22/07 2/26/07 |
64,925 |
129,850 |
162,313 |
25,000 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
60,000 |
13.50 |
485,856 1,350,000 |
||||||||||||||||
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. | 2/26/07 2/26/07 |
1/22/07 2/26/07 |
49,950 |
99,900 |
124,875 |
20,000 |
80,000 |
80,000 |
45,000 |
13.50 |
364,392 1,080,000 |
||||||||||||||||
Steven W. Spector, J.D. | 2/26/07 2/26/07 |
1/22/07 2/26/07 |
59,500 |
119,000 |
148,750 |
25,000 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
60,000 |
13.50 |
485,856 1,350,000 |
27
See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" above for additional information regarding targets for payment of cash incentives, performance criteria on which cash incentives and the number of stock and option awards were based and for additional information regarding our grant timing, dating and pricing policies.
Individual cash incentive awards under our 2007 Annual Incentive Plan were determined in early 2008 based upon the extent to which goals were achieved, the quality of achievement, the weighting of each goal and what the Compensation Committee viewed as extraordinary efforts and contributions on activities that were important to the company, but not included as goals under the plan.
All stock options granted to our Named Executive Officers are incentive stock options to the extent permissible under the Internal Revenue Code. All such stock options vest 25% per year over four years from the date of grant and are exercisable for up to 10 years from the date of grant. All stock options granted prior to the approval of our LTIP on June 12, 2006 were granted pursuant to stock option plans that allowed them to be exercised prior to vesting, subject to repurchase at the original exercise price in the event of termination. Our LTIP does not allow stock options to be exercised prior to vesting.
28
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
The following table provides information on all stock options and any unvested stock awards held by our Named Executive Officers on December 31, 2007.
|
Option Awards |
Stock Awards |
|||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable(1) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable(1) |
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 (#)(3) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(2) |
|||||||||||
Jack Lief | 70,000 170,000 100,000 124,350 89,000 5,250 |
15,750 180,000 |
$ |
16.00 12.25 6.00 6.16 16.80 10.52 13.50 |
1/16/11 1/15/12 1/18/14 1/17/15 1/20/16 7/28/16 2/26/17 |
24,000 |
(4) |
$ |
187, 920 |
75,000 |
$ |
587,250 |
|||||||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. |
5,000 40,000 30,000 40,000 |
35,000 |
12.25 6.00 6.16 16.80 13.50 |
1/15/12 1/18/14 1/17/15 1/20/16 2/26/17 |
10,000 |
(4) |
78,300 |
25,000 |
195,750 |
||||||||||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. |
87,500 50,000 85,000 33,332 33,116 40,000 2,500 |
7,500 60,000 |
0.60 24.23 12.25 6.00 6.16 16.80 10.52 13.50 |
3/3/10 8/22/10 1/15/12 1/18/14 1/17/15 1/20/16 7/28/16 2/26/17 |
10,000 |
(4) |
78,300 |
25,000 |
195,750 |
||||||||||
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. |
60,000 45,000 25,000 |
45,000 |
6.30 6.16 16.80 13.50 |
4/18/14 1/17/15 1/20/16 2/26/17 |
|
|
20,000 |
156,600 |
|||||||||||
Steven W. Spector, J.D. |
35,000 50,000 45,000 40,000 2,500 |
7,500 60,000 |
9.05 6.00 6.16 16.80 10.52 13.50 |
9/26/11 1/18/14 1/17/15 1/20/16 7/28/16 2/26/17 |
10,000 |
(4) |
78,300 |
25,000 |
195,750 |
29
prior to vesting, subject to repurchase at the original exercise price in the event of termination. Our LTIP does not allow stock options to be exercised prior to vesting.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested During Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
The following table provides information on stock option exercises and stock awards vested during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
Stock Awards |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Option Awards |
|||||||||
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
|
||||||||
Name |
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on Exercise ($)(1) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($)(2) |
|||||||
Jack Lief | | $ | | 20,333 | $ | 267,786 | ||||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. | | | 5,000 | 65,850 | ||||||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | 58,552 | 443,058 | 9,166 | 120,716 | ||||||
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. | | | | | ||||||
Steven W. Spector, J.D. | | | 5,000 | 65,850 |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
In 2003, we established a deferred compensation plan for our executive officers, whereby they may elect to defer the shares of restricted stock we have awarded them. Shares deferred in the plan become
30
restricted stock units. This deferral opportunity was established in part to encourage the participants to continue to hold rights to own common stock in the future that may otherwise be sold to satisfy the participant's tax withholding or other financial obligations upon vesting, and for the purpose of rewarding and incentivizing the participants. Participants can choose to receive distributions under the plan as a lump sum distribution or in installments. A participant's election to defer restricted stock under the plan is irrevocable, but the participant may modify their election to provide for a later distribution date, add additional shares under the plan or to provide for a different form of distribution. In addition, the plan allows for hardship withdrawals, early withdrawals with a penalty, and withdrawals by beneficiaries following the death of a participant. Also, unless in connection with a change in control, no distributions are permitted under the plan to a participant in any taxable year to the extent such distribution would result in the participant receiving an amount of compensation that cannot be deducted by us pursuant to the limitations imposed on the deduction of certain compensation payments under Section 162(m) of the Code. At December 31, 2007, 107,919 shares of restricted stock were held in the deferred compensation plan, and the following table provides information about the activity in the deferred compensation plan as of December 31, 2007.
Name |
Aggregate Earnings in Last FY ($)(1) |
Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) |
Aggregate Balance at Last FYE ($)(2) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Lief | | | | ||||||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A.(3) | $ | (95,250 | ) | $ | (87,813 | ) | $ | 146,813 | |
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | (402,179 | ) | | 619,893 | |||||
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. | | | | ||||||
Steven W. Spector, J.D. | | | |
Potential Post-Employment Payments Table as of Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
Messrs. Lief, Hoffman and Spector and Dr. Behan, who are all of our Named Executive Officers that were employed by us in 2002, are each a party to a Termination Protection Agreement, dated December 20, 2002, which provides for a payment equal to the executive officer's annual compensation, continuation of coverage under our health plans and accelerated vesting of all outstanding unvested stock options and restricted shares if the executive officer is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (as defined in the agreement) within two years following a change in control or if the executive officer is terminated within one year prior to a change in control in anticipation of the change in control. Within five days of termination (or the change in control if a qualifying termination occurs before the change in control), we are required to pay the executive officer a lump sum equal to (i) the executive officer's base salary in effect on the date of the change in control or the termination date, whichever is higher, and (ii) any bonus paid or payable to the executive officer for the year preceding the change in control or the termination date, whichever is higher.
31
In early 2006, the Compensation Committee approved a Severance Benefit Plan that provides Messrs. Lief, Hoffman and Spector and Drs. Behan and Shanahan severance benefits upon involuntary termination without cause or voluntary termination with good reason (as defined in the agreement). The benefits include cash severance benefits, continuation of coverage under our health plans, acceleration of stock options and awards that would otherwise have vested through the end of the severance period, and continued stock option exercisability. The cash severance benefits are equal to the number of months in the executive officer's severance period multiplied by the executive officer's monthly base salary at the time of termination plus one-twelfth of the greater of (i) the average of the three annual bonuses paid to the executive officer prior to his termination and (ii) the last annual bonus paid to the executive officer prior to termination. The cash severance benefits are required to be paid in a lump sum within 15 days following our receipt of an effective waiver and release of claims and return of company property. The severance period is 18 months for Mr. Lief and 12 months for the other included executive officers.
Any payments payable under the Severance Benefit Plan are reduced by severance benefits payable by us under the Termination Protection Agreements or any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement.
In accordance with SEC rules, the below table provides information on the amounts payable upon termination of our Named Executive Officers assuming the triggering event (which would be their separation) took place on December 31, 2007. Information on certain tax implications of post-termination payments is included above under "Tax Considerations."
Name and Benefit |
Termination Protection Agreement (Change in Control Required) |
Severance Benefit Plan (No Change in Control Required) |
Total Potential Payable Upon Termination(1) |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Lief | |||||||||||
Salary | $ | 640,000 | $ | 960,000 | $ | 960,000 | |||||
Bonus | 325,000 | 390,000 | 390,000 | ||||||||
Benefit continuation | 25,493 | 19,119 | 25,493 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of restricted stock(2) | 187,920 | 187,920 | 187,920 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of stock options(3) | 129,248 | 129,248 | 129,248 | ||||||||
Total | 1,307,661 | 1,686,287 | 1,692,661 | ||||||||
Robert E. Hoffman, C.P.A. | |||||||||||
Salary | 285,000 | 285,000 | 285,000 | ||||||||
Bonus | 90,000 | 82,000 | 90,000 | ||||||||
Benefit continuation | 35,057 | 17,528 | 35,057 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of restricted stock(2) | 78,300 | 39,150 | 78,300 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of stock options(3) | 43,348 | 30,823 | 43,348 | ||||||||
Total | 531,705 | 454,501 | 531,705 | ||||||||
Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | |||||||||||
Salary | 371,000 | 371,000 | 371,000 | ||||||||
Bonus | 125,000 | 97,000 | 125,000 | ||||||||
Benefit continuation | 35,057 | 17,528 | 35,057 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of restricted stock(2) | 78,300 | 39,150 | 78,300 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of stock options(3) | 64,623 | 43,748 | 64,623 | ||||||||
Total | 673,980 | 568,426 | 673,980 | ||||||||
32
William R. Shanahan, Jr., M.D., J.D. | |||||||||||
Salary | | 333,000 | 333,000 | ||||||||
Bonus | | 75,000 | 75,000 | ||||||||
Benefit continuation | | 17,528 | 17,528 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of restricted stock(2) | | | | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of stock options(3) | | 41,738 | 41,738 | ||||||||
Total | | 467,266 | 467,266 | ||||||||
Steven W. Spector, J.D. | |||||||||||
Salary | 340,000 | 340,000 | 340,000 | ||||||||
Bonus | 125,000 | 97,000 | 125,000 | ||||||||
Benefit continuation | 35,057 | 17,528 | 35,057 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of restricted stock(2) | 78,300 | 39,150 | 78,300 | ||||||||
Accelerated vesting of stock options(3) | 60,448 | 41,661 | 60,448 | ||||||||
Total | 638,805 | 535,339 | 638,805 | ||||||||
Director Compensation
The compensation for our non-employee directors is set forth below. Directors who are also employees do not receive additional compensation for serving as a director.
2007 Fiscal Year
For fiscal year 2007, each of our non-employee directors was eligible to earn the following compensation for their participation on our Board of Directors and its committees:
Equity:
33
New director grants are made in connection with the new director's appointment to the Board and the annual grants are made to ongoing directors three trading days after our announcement of our prior year's financial results. For directors that did not serve for the full fiscal year preceding an annual grant, the grant is pro-rated based on the number of months such director served as a director in the prior year, if any.
Except in the case of a director's death or disability, unvested stock options under the LTIP terminate when the director ceases to be a director. Unless earlier terminated, vested stock options terminate three years after the director ceases to be a director (or, if applicable, an employee) for any reason other than the director's death or disability. In the event of a director's death or disability, the director's stock options become fully vested and exercisable and may be exercised within the earlier of three years after the date of the director's death or disability, as applicable, or the end of the 10-year term of the stock options.
Cash:
If a director joins the Board of Directors after the first quarter of a calendar year, such directors' retainer for that calendar year is reduced pro rata on a quarterly basis.
In addition, our Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee may authorize additional fees for significant work in informal meetings or for other service to us in the recipient's capacity as a director or committee member. Each non-employee director is also entitled to reimbursement for all of such director's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with performing Board business.
34
Director Compensation Table for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
As described more fully above, the following table summarizes the annual compensation for our non-employee directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) |
Option Awards ($)(2) |
Total ($) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donald D. Belcher(3) | $ | 57,500 | $ | 157,029 | $ | 214,529 | |||
Scott H. Bice(4) | 47,500 | 124,645 | 172,145 | ||||||
Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D.(5) | 44,000 | 157,029 | 201,029 | ||||||
J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D.(6) | 45,000 | 157,029 | 202,029 | ||||||
Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D.(7) | 40,000 | 121,263 | 161,263 | ||||||
Phillip M. Schneider(8) | 6,000 | | 6,000 | ||||||
Christine A. White, M.D.(9) | 43,000 | 179,294 | 222,294 | ||||||
Randall E. Woods(10) | 6,000 | | 6,000 |
35
All stock options granted to non-employee directors in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 are 10-year options with an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant, vesting in approximately equal monthly installments over one year.
36
See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" above for additional information regarding our grant timing, dating and pricing policies and the discussion above under "2007 Fiscal Year" regarding the 2007 compensation for our non-employee directors.
2008 Fiscal Year
We expect our 2008 compensation for non-employee directors will be substantially similar to the compensation granted during 2007.
37
Audit Committee Report
This report of our Audit Committee is not deemed to be "soliciting material," or to be "filed" with the SEC or subject to the SEC's proxy rules (other than as provided in Item 407 of Regulation S-K) or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and, irrespective of any general incorporation language, this report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into any such filing.
Our management has the primary responsibility for our financial reporting process, accounting principles and internal controls as well as the preparation of our financial statements. The Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting process on behalf of our Board of Directors.
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee appointed Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent auditors for the 2007 fiscal year. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with the independent auditors the overall scope and specific plans for their audit. The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with the independent auditors and with management our audited consolidated financial statements and the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee met with the independent auditors, without management present, to discuss the results of the independent auditors' audit, the independent auditors' evaluations of our internal control over financial reporting, and the overall quality of our financial reporting. The meetings were also designed to facilitate any desired private communication between the Audit Committee and the independent auditors.
The Audit Committee monitored the independence and performance of the independent auditors. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (Communication with Audit Committees), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as adopted by the PCAOB in Rule 3600T and discussed with the independent auditors the independent auditors' independence. The Audit Committee concluded that the provision of non-audit professional services was compatible with maintaining the independent auditors' independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the SEC. The Audit Committee has also appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
The foregoing report is provided by the following directors, who constitute the Audit Committee:
Donald D. Belcher Scott H. Bice Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D. Phillip M. Schneider |
38
Independent Auditors' Fees
The following presents aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 by Ernst & Young LLP, our independent auditors and principal outside accountants.
Audit Fees. Audit fees were $514,000 and $495,929 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees were $25,758 and $22,033 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The fees in 2007 were primarily related to consultations regarding performance-based restricted stock unit awards, Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, or FIN 48, and the sale and leaseback of certain of our real property. The fees in 2006 were primarily related to the implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment."
Tax Fees. Tax fees were $58,727 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The fees in 2007 were related to consultations relating to Internal Revenue Code Section 382, FIN 48 and international tax matters, including our Swiss subsidiary's (Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH) acquisition of certain drug product facility assets.
All Other Fees. There were no fees billed in either of the years ended December 31, 2007 or 2006 for products or services provided by our independent auditors other than those disclosed above in this section.
Pre-approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy and procedures for pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors. The policy requires pre-approval of all services rendered by our independent auditors either as part of the Audit Committee's approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent auditors or on a case-by-case basis. The Audit Committee has authorized its Chair to pre-approve individual expenditures of audit and non-audit services. Any pre-approval decision must be reported to the Audit Committee at the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. The Audit Committee approved all audit, audit-related and tax fees for 2007 and 2006.
Ratification of Independent Auditors (Proposal 2)
The Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. Ernst & Young LLP has audited our financial statements since our inception in 1997. Our Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice.
In connection with the audit of the 2007 financial statements, we entered into an engagement letter with Ernst & Young LLP that sets forth the terms by which Ernst & Young LLP will perform audit services for us. The agreement is subject to alternative dispute resolution procedures and an exclusion of punitive damages.
Stockholders are requested in this Proposal 2 to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock (determined as if our Preferred Stock was converted into common stock) present at the meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote will be required to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved.
39
In the event that the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection of our independent auditors, but may decide not to change its selection. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee may appoint different independent auditors at any time if it determines that such a change would be in the stockholders' best interest.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at our 2008 Annual Meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP TO SERVE AS OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2008.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and our 10% or greater stockholders to file reports of ownership of our equity securities and changes in such ownership with the SEC and NASDAQ and to furnish us with copies of such reports.
To our knowledge, based on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our directors, executive officers and our 10% or greater stockholders were complied with during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, except as discussed below.
Dr. Behan filed a Form 5 in 2007 to report a sale he completed in April 2001 pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan he had adopted. The sale had not been previously reported.
Stockholder Proposals for the 2009 Annual Meeting
To be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for next year's annual meeting, stockholder proposals must be in writing, addressed to our Corporate Secretary, and be received at our executive offices at 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121, no later than the close of business on December 26, 2008. In addition, notice of any stockholder proposal to be presented at next year's annual meeting of stockholders must be received at our executive offices no later than the close of business on February 13, 2009, and no earlier than January 24, 2009. The above dates in this section may change under circumstances set forth in our Bylaws. Stockholders may request a copy of the bylaw provisions relating to stockholder proposals from our Corporate Secretary at the same address.
Notices of intention to present proposals at the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders should be addressed to our Corporate Secretary, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121. We reserve the right to reject, rule out of order, or take appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these and any other applicable requirements.
A copy of our Annual Report for the 2007 fiscal year has been mailed concurrently with this proxy statement to all stockholders entitled to notice of and vote at our 2008 Annual Meeting. The Annual Report is not incorporated into this proxy statement and is not considered proxy solicitation material.
WE WILL MAIL WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND LIST OF EXHIBITS. WE WILL FURNISH A COPY OF ANY EXHIBIT TO
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SUCH REPORT UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND PAYMENT OF OUR REASONABLE EXPENSES IN FURNISHING SUCH EXHIBIT. REQUESTS SHOULD BE SENT TO INVESTOR RELATIONS, ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 6166 NANCY RIDGE DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121. OUR SEC FILINGS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.ARENAPHARM.COM.
Householding of Proxy Materials
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (such as brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as "householding," potentially results in a reduced usage of natural resources and cost savings for companies.
A number of brokers with account holders who are our stockholders will be "householding" our proxy materials. A single proxy statement and one annual report will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be "householding" communications to your address, "householding" will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. Any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered and who wishes to receive a separate copy of the documents can request a copy of the documents by sending a written request to Corporate Secretary, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121, or contact our Corporate Secretary at 858.453.7200. Also, if, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in "householding" and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report in the future, please notify your broker or direct your written request to Corporate Secretary, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 6166 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121, or contact our Corporate Secretary at 858.453.7200. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the proxy statement at their address and would like to request "householding" of their communications should contact their broker.
Our Board of Directors knows of no other business that will be presented for consideration at our 2008 Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly brought before our 2008 Annual Meeting, however, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote the shares represented thereby on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
Dated: April 24, 2008 | ||
By Order of our Board of Directors | ||
Steven W. Spector Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
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IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
ProxyArena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR
THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
6150 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121
The undersigned stockholder of ARENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated April 24, 2008, and the Annual Report to Stockholders, and hereby appoints Jack Lief and Steven W. Spector, the President and the Secretary, respectively, of the Company, or each of them, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with all powers of substitution, to represent and vote, as set forth on the reverse side, the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of the Company held of record by the undersigned at the close of business on April 14, 2008, at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which is being held at the offices of the Company at 6150 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California 92121, on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and at any adjournments or postponements of such meeting, with all powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present at such meeting or at any such postponement or adjournment, and, in their discretion, to vote such shares upon any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" PROPOSALS 1 AND 2 AND WILL BE VOTED BY THE PROXYHOLDERS AT THEIR DISCRETION UPON ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF.
(Items to be voted appear on reverse side.)
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Electronic Voting Instructions | ||||||
You can vote by Internet or telephone! Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! |
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Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. |
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VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. |
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Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time on June 10, 2008. |
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Vote by Internet |
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| Log on to the Internet and go to www.investorvote.com/ARNA | |||||
| Follow the steps outlined on the secured website. | |||||
Vote by telephone |
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| Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call. | |||||
Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. |
ý | | Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message. |
Annual Meeting Proxy CardCommon and Preferred Stock |
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
A ProposalsThe Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposal 2.
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1. | Election of Directors: | For | Withhold | For | Withhold | For | Withhold | ||||||||
01Jack Lief | o | o | 02Dominic P. Behan, Ph.D. | o | o | 03Donald D. Belcher | o | o | |||||||
04Scott H. Bice | o | o | 05Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D. | o | o | 06J. Clayburn La Force, Jr., Ph.D. | o | o | |||||||
07Tina Nova Bennett, Ph.D. | o | o | 08Phillip M. Schneider | o | o | 09Christine A. White, M.D. | o | o | |||||||
10Randall E. Woods | o | o |
For | Against | Abstain | |||||||
2. | Ratification of appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors. | o | o | o |
B Non-Voting Items
Change of AddressPlease print new address below. | Meeting Attendance | |||
Mark box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. |
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C Authorized SignaturesThis section must be completed for your vote to be counted.Date and Sign Below
NOTE: Please sign your name(s) EXACTLY as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy. All joint holders must sign. When signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian or corporate officer, please provide your FULL title.
Date (mm/dd/yyyy)Please print date below. | Signature 1Please keep signature within the box. | Signature 2Please keep signature within the box. | ||
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