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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.  )

Filed by the Registrant ý

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 
 
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GRAPHIC

RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
1180 Veterans Boulevard
South San Francisco, California 94080


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held On May 20, 2014

DEAR STOCKHOLDER:

        Notice is hereby given that the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "Rigel"), will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. local time at our executive offices, located at 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, for the following purposes:

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

        The record date for the Annual Meeting is March 21, 2014. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date may vote at the meeting or any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof. We appreciate your continued confidence in Rigel and look forward to seeing you at the meeting on May 20, 2014.


IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR
THE STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2014		    

THIS PROXY STATEMENT, NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND FORM OF PROXY CARD AND THE 2013 ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AT HTTP://WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM.
 
 

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ACCESS AND REVIEW THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONTAINED IN ALL OF THE PROXY MATERIALS BEFORE VOTING.
 
 

    By Order of the Board of Directors,

 
 

GRAPHIC
    Dolly A. Vance
 Corporate Secretary

South San Francisco, California
April 8, 2014

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.    

WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY SO YOUR SHARES CAN BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. YOU CAN VOTE BY INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE, OR BY REQUESTING A PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC COPY OF A FULL SET OF THE PROXY MATERIALS AND COMPLETING, SIGNING AND RETURNING THE PROXY CARD AS INSTRUCTED IN THE MATERIALS.
 
 

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ACCESS THE PROXY MATERIALS OVER THE INTERNET, OR TO REQUEST THAT A PAPER OR ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE FULL SET OF PROXY MATERIALS BE SENT TO YOUR SPECIFIED POSTAL OR EMAIL ADDRESS, MAY BE FOUND IN THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS ON APRIL 8, 2014.
 
 

ANY PROXY THAT WILL NOT BE DELIVERED IN PERSON TO THE ANNUAL MEETING MUST BE RECEIVED BY US NO LATER THAN 11:59 P.M. PACIFIC TIME ON MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014. EVEN IF YOU HAVE VOTED BY PROXY, YOU MAY STILL VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING. PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD OF RECORD BY A BROKER, BANK OR OTHER AGENT AND YOU WISH TO VOTE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING, YOU MUST BRING WITH YOU A PROXY ISSUED IN YOUR NAME FROM THAT RECORD HOLDER CONFIRMING THAT YOU ARE THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THOSE SHARES.
 
 

GRAPHIC

RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
1180 Veterans Boulevard
South San Francisco, California 94080


PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

May 20, 2014



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING

WHY DID I RECEIVE A NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS ON THE INTERNET?

        Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), we have decided to provide access to our proxy materials to our stockholders via the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") to our stockholders of record and posting our proxy materials online at www.proxyvote.com. The Notice contains only an overview of the complete proxy materials available. Stockholders are encouraged to access and review all the proxy materials on the website or request a paper or electronic copy of the full set of proxy materials for review prior to voting. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a paper or electronic copy of the full set of the proxy materials may be found in the Notice.

        We intend to mail the Notice on or about April 8, 2014 to all stockholders of record as of March 21, 2014 who are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

WILL I RECEIVE ANY PROXY MATERIALS BY MAIL OTHER THAN THE NOTICE?

        No, you will not receive any other proxy materials by mail unless you request a paper copy of proxy materials. To request that a full set of the proxy materials be sent to your specified postal address, please go to www.proxyvote.com or call 1-800-579-1639. Please have your proxy card in hand when you access the website or call and follow the instructions provided.

HOW DO I ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING?

        The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. local time at our executive offices, located at 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080. Information on how to vote in person at the Annual Meeting is discussed below. Directions to the Annual Meeting may be found online at http://www.rigel.com/rigel/contact.

WHO CAN VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?

        Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2014 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On this record date, there were 87,531,317 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

        If, on March 21 2014, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Wells Fargo Bank, 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. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the proxy card or vote by proxy over the telephone or on the Internet as instructed below, to ensure your vote is counted. We must receive any proxy cards that will not be delivered in person at the Annual Meeting, or proxies submitted telephonically or over the internet, no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, May 19, 2014.

        If, on March 21, 2014, your shares were not held in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" and the Notice is being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent and bring the proxy with you to the Annual Meeting.

WHAT AM I VOTING ON?

        There are four matters scheduled for a vote at the Annual Meeting:

WHAT IF ANOTHER MATTER IS PROPERLY PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?

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

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HOW DO I VOTE?

        You may either vote "For" all the nominees to the Board or you may "Withhold" your vote for any nominee you specify. For the other matters to be voted on, you may vote "For" or "Against" or abstain from voting. The procedures for voting are fairly simple:

        If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote using one of the following methods:

        Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person even if you have already voted by proxy.

        If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, or other agent, you should have received the Notice containing voting instructions from that organization rather than from Rigel. Simply follow the voting instructions in the Notice to ensure that your vote is counted. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the Internet as instructed by your broker or bank. To vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other agent and bring this proxy with you to the Annual Meeting. Follow the instructions from your broker or bank included with the Notice, or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy form.

        Please see the Notice or the information your bank, broker, or other holder of record provided you for more information on these proxy voting options.

        We provide Internet voting to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your voting instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with accessing the Internet, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies.

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HOW MANY VOTES DO I HAVE?

        On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you owned as of March 21, 2014.

WHAT IF I RETURN A PROXY CARD BUT DO NOT MAKE SPECIFIC CHOICES?

        If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted: (a) "For" the election of Walter H. Moos, Ph.D. and Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D. to the Board to hold office until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; (b) "For" approval of an amendment to the Purchase Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Purchase Plan by 4,000,000 shares; (c) "For" the advisory approval of executive compensation; and (f) "For" ratification of the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxyholder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his or her best judgment. However, if you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, please see "How are the votes counted?" and "What are "Broker Non-Votes?" below.

WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS PROXY SOLICITATION?

        We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. We will also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE NOTICE?

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

CAN I CHANGE OR REVOKE MY VOTE AFTER SUBMITTING MY PROXY?

        Yes. You can change or revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares, you may change or revoke your proxy in any one of three ways:

        If your shares are held by your broker or bank as a nominee or agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or bank regarding how to change or revoke your proxy.

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HOW ARE VOTES COUNTED?

        Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count, for the proposal to elect directors, votes "For," "Withhold" and broker non-votes; and with respect to all other proposals, votes "For" and "Against," abstentions and, if applicable, broker non-votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as shares present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be counted towards the vote total for each proposal, and will have the same effect as "Against" votes for each proposal. Broker non-votes have no effect and will not be counted towards the vote total for any proposal.

WHAT ARE "BROKER NON-VOTES"?

        Broker non-votes occur when a beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" does not give instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares as to how to vote on matters deemed "non-routine." Generally, if shares are held in street name, the beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker or nominee can still vote the shares with respect to matters that are considered to be "routine," but not with respect to "non-routine" matters. Under the rules and interpretations of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), "non-routine" matters are matters that may substantially affect the rights or privileges of stockholders, such as mergers, stockholder proposals, elections of directors (even if not contested) and, under a recent amendment to the NYSE rules, executive compensation, including the advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation.

HOW MANY VOTES ARE NEEDED TO APPROVE EACH PROPOSAL?

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WHAT IS THE QUORUM REQUIREMENT?

        A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid Annual Meeting. A quorum will be present if stockholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares are present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy. On the record date, there were 87,531,317 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Thus, the holders of 43,765,659 shares must be present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting to have a quorum.

        Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman or the holders of a majority of shares present at the Annual Meeting in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting to another date.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF THE VOTING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?

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

WHEN ARE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS DUE FOR NEXT YEAR'S ANNUAL MEETING?

        To be considered for inclusion in next year's proxy materials, your proposal must be submitted in writing and must comply with all requirements of Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), by December 9, 2014 to Rigel's Secretary at 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080. However, if Rigel's 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is not held between April 20, 2015 and June 19, 2015, then the deadline will be a reasonable time prior to the time Rigel begins to print and mail its proxy materials. If you wish to submit a proposal or nominate a director, not to be included in next year's proxy materials, you must do so no earlier than the close of business on January 20, 2015 and no later than the close of business on February 19, 2015. However, if Rigel's 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is not held between April 20, 2015 and June 19, 2015, to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is first made. You are also advised to review our Bylaws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. The chair of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may determine, if the facts warrant, that a matter has not been properly brought before the meeting and, therefore, may not be considered at the meeting. In addition, the proxy solicited by the Board for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to (i) any proposal presented by a stockholder at that meeting for which Rigel has not been provided with timely notice and (ii) any proposal made in accordance with Rigel's Bylaws, if the 2015 proxy statement briefly describes the matter and how management's proxy holders intend to vote on it, if the stockholder does not comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

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 PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        Rigel's Board of Directors (the "Board") is divided into three classes. Each class has a three-year term. Vacancies on the Board may be filled only by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy in a class, including vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors, shall serve for the remainder of the full term of that class and until the director's successor is elected and qualified.

        The Board presently has seven members. There are two directors in the class whose term of office expires in 2014. Each of the nominees listed below is currently a director of the Company who was previously elected by the stockholders. If elected at the Annual Meeting, each of these nominees would serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting and until his successor is elected and has qualified, or sooner in the event of the director's death, resignation or removal. It is Rigel's policy to encourage directors and nominees for director to attend the Annual Meeting. Each of our directors attended the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

        In a contested election, which is an election in which the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, our directors will be elected by a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors at that Annual Meeting. In a non-contested election involving incumbent directors, our Bylaws provide that, if the votes cast "For" an incumbent director nominee do not exceed the number of votes "Withheld", the incumbent director will offer to tender his resignation to the Board. Broker non-votes are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether an incumbent director has been elected. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will review the circumstances surrounding the "Withheld" vote and promptly make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation or whether other action should be taken. In making its decision, the Board will evaluate the best interests of Rigel and our stockholders and will consider all factors and relevant information. The Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee's recommendation and publicly disclose its decision, as well as the rationale behind it, within 90 days from the date of certification of the stockholder vote. The director who tenders his resignation will not participate in the Board's or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee's decisions.

        In the event that any nominee should become unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, the proxies will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee or nominees proposed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. Each person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected, and the Board has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve.

        The following is a brief biography of each nominee and each director whose term will continue after the Annual Meeting and a discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each nominee that led the Board to nominate each director for the upcoming term. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to assemble a board that, as a whole, possesses the appropriate balance of professional and industry knowledge, financial expertise and high-level management experience necessary to oversee and direct the Company's business. To that end, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has identified and evaluated nominees in the broader context of the Board's overall composition, with the goal of recruiting members who complement and strengthen the skills of other members and who also exhibit integrity, collegiality, sound business judgment and other qualities that the Board views as critical to effective functioning of the Board. The brief biographies below include information, as of the date of this proxy statement, regarding the specific and particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each director or nominee that led the Board to believe that the nominee should continue to serve on the Board. However, each member of the Board may have a variety of reasons why he or she believes a particular person would be an appropriate nominee for the Board, and these views may differ from the views of other members of the Board.

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NOMINEES FOR ELECTION FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING

        Walter H. Moos, Ph.D., age 59, joined us as a director in March 1997. The Board concluded that Dr. Moos continues to be a valuable member of the Board in part due to his extensive leadership skills and operational expertise, as well as his expertise in the chemical sciences, which is particularly relevant to our business as we are a company focused on small molecules. In March 2005, Dr. Moos joined SRI International, an independent nonprofit research institute, as head of the biosciences division. From 1997 to 2004, Dr. Moos served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MitoKor, Inc., a biotechnology company. Prior to that, he served as a Vice President of Chiron Corporation, a biotechnology company, and as a Vice President at the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division of the Warner-Lambert Company. He has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, since 1992. He also has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan and at James Madison University. Dr. Moos served on the board of directors of MIGENIX Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2004 to 2008. He has also served on the boards of numerous private companies and several non-profit organizations. Dr. Moos has been an advisor to the National Academy of Sciences and venture capital firms. Dr. Moos holds an A.B. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

        Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D., age 65, joined us as a director in March 2000. As one of only two medical doctors on the Board, the Board concluded that Dr. Sherwin continues to be a valuable member of the Board due to his extensive clinical research and biotechnology industry experience, which is directly relevant to our business. Dr. Sherwin serves on the boards of directors of Neurocrine Biosciences, Biogen Idec, Verastem and Vical, each of which is a biotechnology company, and served on the board of BioSante Pharmaceuticals until it merged with ANI Pharmaceuticals in June, 2013. In addition, Dr. Sherwin has served on the board of the Biotechnology Industry Organization since 2002 and is currently its Chairman Emeritus. Until Cell Genesys merged with BioSante Pharmaceuticals in 2009, Dr. Sherwin served as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Genesys from the beginning of Cell Genesys' operations in 1990, and also served as Chairman of its board of directors from 1994. He was also co-founder and Chairman of the board of directors of Abgenix, Inc, an antibody company that was acquired by Amgen, Inc. in 2006, and co-founder and chairman of Ceregene, a gene therapy company, which was acquired by Sangamo Biosciences in 2013. From 1983 to 1990, Dr. Sherwin held various positions at Genentech, most recently as Vice President of Clinical Research. Prior to 1983, he was on the staff of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Sherwin holds a B.A. summa cum laude in Biology from Yale University and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology and is currently a Clinical Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco and a volunteer Attending Physician in the Hematology/Oncology Division at San Francisco General Hospital. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH NAMED NOMINEE.

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DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

        James M. Gower, age 65, joined us as our President, Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board in January 1997, and has been our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since October 2001. The Board concluded that Mr. Gower should continue to serve as a member of the Board in part due to his role as our Chief Executive Officer and his knowledge of the day-to-day operations of Rigel obtained as a result of that role. From 1992 to March 1996, Mr. Gower was President and Chief Executive Officer of Tularik Inc., a biotechnology company developing small-molecule drugs regulating gene expression. Prior to Tularik, Mr. Gower spent 10 years at Genentech, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President. During his 10 years at Genentech, Mr. Gower was responsible for business development and sales and marketing functions. In addition, he established and managed Genentech's foreign operations in Canada and Japan and served as President of Genentech Development Corporation. Mr. Gower served on the board of directors of Cell Genesys, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company that merged with BioSante Pharmaceuticals in 2009, from 1996 until 2009. He holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. in Operations Research from the University of Tennessee.

        Gary A. Lyons, age 63, joined us as a director in October 2005. The Board concluded that Mr. Lyons should continue to serve as a member of the Board in part due to his extensive experience negotiating and developing collaborative relationships, his sales expertise and his track record of assessing the market for pharmaceutical candidates, all of which are key to the success of our business. Mr. Lyons is also a member of the board of directors of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Lyons served as Neurocrine's Chief Executive Officer and member of its board of directors of from 1993 until 2008. Mr. Lyons also serves on the board of directors of Vical, Inc. and KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., each a biopharmaceutical company, and Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, and was Chairman of the board of directors of NeurogesX, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, until 2013. He served on the board of directors of PDL BioPharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from July 2008 until he resigned in December 2008 to join the board of directors of Facet Biotech Corporation following Facet's spin-off from PDL, and served on the board of directors there until Facet's acquisition by Abbot Laboratories in April 2010. Mr. Lyons also served on the board of directors of Poniard Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, from June 2009 to December 2011. From 1983 to 1993, he held a number of management positions at Genentech, including Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Sales, and also served as a member of Genentech's Executive Committee. Mr. Lyons was responsible for international licensing, acquisitions and partnering for Genentech's Corporate Venture Program and had operating responsibility for two subsidiaries, Genentech Canada, Inc. and Genentech Limited (Japan). He holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

        Donald G. Payan, M.D., age 65, one of our co-founders, has been a member of our Board since July 1996. In February 2008, Dr. Payan became our Executive Vice President, President of Discovery and Research. Prior to this role, he served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer since January 1997. From January 1997 to July 1998, he also served as our Chief Operating Officer. From July 1996 to January 1997, Dr. Payan served as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board concluded that Dr. Payan should continue to serve as a member of the Board in part due to the fact that he brings historic knowledge and continuity to the Board as one of our co-founders, as well as extensive research experience and demonstrated ability to grow new research programs. From December 1995 to May 1996, Dr. Payan was Vice President of AxyS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From September 1992 to December 1995, Dr. Payan was Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Khepri Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, which he founded and subsequently merged with AxyS Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Payan did his residency

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training in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and is a former Professor of the University of California, San Francisco and member of The Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

        Peter S. Ringrose, Ph.D., age 68, joined us as a director in February 2005. The Board concluded that Dr. Ringrose continues to be a valuable member of the Board in part due to his extensive research experience at large pharmaceutical companies, enabling the Board to benefit from his insight when negotiating partnership deals with large pharmaceutical companies, a core element of our business model. Dr. Ringrose's experience in the pharmaceutical industry spans more than 40 years and includes key leadership positions as Senior Vice President for Worldwide Drug Discovery and Medicinal R & D Europe at Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical company, and Division Director of Chemotherapy, Infectious Diseases and Molecular Sciences at the Sandoz Research Institute in Vienna, Austria. In 2002, Dr. Ringrose retired from Bristol-Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical company, where he served as Chief Scientific Officer from January 2000 to December 2002, as well as President of the Pharmaceutical Research Institute from January 1997 to December 2002. Dr. Ringrose served as chair of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK) from 2003 until 2009, and was a member of the UK Government's Technology Strategy Board. He is a Council member of the Foundation for Science and Technology in the United Kingdom and also chairs the Corporate Partnership Board at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he is a lifetime Honorary Pitt Fellow. Dr. Ringrose is also a non-executive director of Theravance Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, was a director of Astex Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, until September 2011 when it was acquired, was a director of Biotica Technology, Ltd. until December 2013, and served on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Schering-Plough Research Institute, Cempra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Accenture Inc. Dr. Ringrose also served on the board of governors for the New York Academy of Sciences from 1999 to 2005. He has served on the boards of Cambridge Antibody Technology Ltd., ImClone Systems, Inc. and Pfizer, Ltd. and on the Scientific Advisory Board at Merlin Biosciences Ltd. Dr. Ringrose received a B.S., an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.

        Bradford S. Goodwin, age 59, joined us as a director in January 2007. The Board concluded that Mr. Goodwin continues to be a valuable member of the Board in part due to his financial expertise and extensive public accounting and corporate governance experience, as well as his experience sitting on the audit committees of other public companies. Mr. Goodwin is currently CEO of CharlestonPharma, LLC, a biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Goodwin's prior public company board service includes NeurogesX from August 2009 to July 2013, Facet Biotech Corporation from December 2008 to April 2010, when Facet was acquired by Abbot Laboratories, PDL BioPharma from 2006 to 2008, CoTherix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2004 until 2007, when it was acquired by Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd., and Novacea, Inc., a publicly held biopharmaceutical company focused on in licensing, developing and commercializing novel therapies for cancer, from 2002 until 2006. From 2001 to 2006, he was Chief Executive Officer of Novacea. Prior to Novacea, Mr. Goodwin was President, Chief Operating Officer and Founder of Collabra Pharma, Inc., a company focused on pharmaceutical product licensing and development. Before founding Collabra, he held various senior executive positions with Genentech, including Vice President of Finance. After becoming a CPA while working as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he served on expert advisory committees of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board. Mr. Goodwin is also a co-founder and director of finance for The Rare Barrel, a craft brewery specializing in barrel aged sour beer, which commenced brewing operations in February 2013. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

10

INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Independence of the Board of Directors

        The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") listing standards require that a majority of the members of a listed company's Board of Directors qualify as "independent," as affirmatively determined by the Board. The Board consults with our counsel from time to time to ensure that the Board's determinations are consistent with relevant securities and other laws and regulations regarding the definition of "independent," including those set forth in pertinent listing standards of Nasdaq.

        Consistent with these considerations, after review of all relevant identified transactions and relationships between each director, or any of his family members, and Rigel, our senior management and our independent registered public accounting firm, the Board has affirmatively determined that all of our current directors are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards, except for James M. Gower, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Donald G. Payan, our Executive Vice President and President of Discovery and Research, who are not independent directors by virtue of their employment with the Company. In making this determination, the Board found that none of the directors or nominees for director determined to be independent by the Board had a material or other disqualifying relationship with Rigel.

Meetings of the Board of Directors

        The Board met four times during fiscal year 2013. All of our directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served that were held during the period for which they were directors or committee members, respectively. As required under applicable Nasdaq listing standards, in fiscal year 2013, Rigel's independent directors met in executive session, at which only independent directors were present, at every regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.

Board Leadership Structure

        Our Board of Directors is currently chaired by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Gower. We believe that combining the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair helps to ensure that the Board and management act with a common purpose and provides a single, clear chain of command to execute our strategic initiatives and business plans, particularly given our small size. In addition, we believe that a combined Chief Executive Officer/Board Chair is better positioned to act as a bridge between management and the Board, facilitating the regular flow of information. We also believe that it is advantageous to have a Board Chair with an extensive history with and knowledge of the Company (as is the case with our Chief Executive Officer) as compared to an independent Board Chair with less direct involvement in the Company's business, and thus less direct access to information. In 2013, Dr. Sherwin led the communications between the independent directors at the executive sessions of the Board. On February 4, 2014, the independent members of the Board appointed Gary Lyons Lead Independent Director, to lead the communications between the independent directors at the executive sessions of the Board, among other duties that the Board may deem necessary.

Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

        One of the Board's key functions is informed oversight of the Company's risk management process. The Board does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through various Board standing committees that address risks inherent to their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our Board is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure. Our Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management

11

has taken to monitor and control these exposures. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines, including whether they are successful in preventing illegal or improper liability-creating conduct. Our Compensation Committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. Both the Board as a whole and the various standing committees receive periodic reports, as well as incidental reports, as matters arise, from our General Counsel, who is also our Corporate Secretary and compliance officer. It is the responsibility of the committee chairs to report findings regarding material risk exposures to the Board as quickly as possible. The Board has delegated to the General Counsel the responsibility of coordinating between the Board and management with regard to the determination and implementation of responses to any problematic risk management issues.

INFORMATION REGARDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        The Board has four standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Finance Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The following table provides membership and meeting information for fiscal year 2013 for each of the Board committees:

Name
  Audit   Compensation   Finance   Nominating and Corporate Governance  

James M. Gower

                 X          

Donald G. Payan, M.D.

                          

Bradford S. Goodwin

     X*                    

Gary A. Lyons(1)

           X*     X          

Walter H. Moos, Ph.D. 

           X             X*  

Hollings C. Renton(2)

     X                      

Peter S. Ringrose, Ph.D. 

           X             X    

Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D. 

     X             X*     X    

Total meetings in fiscal year 2013:

     6       5       0       1    
*
Committee Chairperson

(1)
Mr. Lyons was appointed to the Audit Committee effective March 28, 2014.

(2)
Mr. Renton resigned from the Board effective March 30, 2014.

        Below is a description of each standing committee of the Board. Each of the committees has authority to engage legal counsel or other experts or consultants, as it deems appropriate, to carry out its responsibilities. The Board has determined that each member of each committee meets the applicable Nasdaq rules and regulations regarding "independence" and that each member is free of any relationship that would impair his or her individual exercise of independent judgment with regard to the Company.

Audit Committee

        The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors was established by the Board in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act to oversee Rigel's corporate accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of our financial statements. The Audit Committee: evaluates the performance of and assesses the qualifications of the independent registered public accounting firm; determines and approves the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm; determines whether to retain or terminate the existing independent registered public accounting firm or to appoint and engage a new independent public registered accounting firm; reviews and approves the retention of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any proposed audit, review

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and attest services and any permissible non-audit services; monitors the rotation of partners of the independent registered public accounting firm on Rigel's audit engagement team as required by law; reviews and assesses the objectivity and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm; reviews the financial statements to be included in Rigel's Annual Report on Form 10-K; discusses with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the annual audit and the results of Rigel's quarterly financial statements; reviews with management the disclosure under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC; confers with management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting; establishes procedures, as required under applicable law, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; reviews the results of management's efforts to monitor compliance with Rigel's programs and policies designed to ensure adherence to applicable laws and rules and Rigel's Code of Conduct, including reviewing and approving related-party transactions. In addition, our Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures.

        The following three directors were the members of the Audit Committee for all of fiscal year 2013: Messrs. Goodwin and Renton and Dr. Sherwin. Mr. Renton resigned from the Board effective March 30, 2014, and Mr. Lyons was appointed to the Audit Committee effective March 28, 2014. The Audit Committee met six times during fiscal year 2013. The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter that is available to stockholders on our website at http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/12/120936/Rigel_Audit_Committee_Charter.pdf.

        The Board reviews the Nasdaq listing standards definition of "independence" for Audit Committee members on an annual basis and has determined that all members of Rigel's Audit Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rules 5605(c)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Nasdaq listing standards). The Board has also determined that Messrs. Goodwin and Renton and Dr. Sherwin each qualify as an "audit committee financial expert," as defined in applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, and satisfies the financial sophistication requirements of the Nasdaq listing standards. For each of Messrs. Goodwin and Renton and Dr. Sherwin, the Board made a qualitative assessment of their individual levels of knowledge and experience, based on a number of factors, including their respective formal education and the fact that each is a former chief executive officer with financial oversight responsibilities, as well as Mr. Renton's experience as a principal financial officer for a public company, Mr. Goodwin's experience as a principal accounting officer for a public company, and Dr. Sherwin's extensive knowledge of accounting principles and controls and procedures for financial reporting and his experience with the functions of an audit committee.


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS(1)

        The Company's management has primary responsibility for preparing the Company's financial statements and establishing the financial reporting process. Rigel's independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the Company's financial statements and expressing an opinion as to the conformity of such financial statements with United States generally accepted accounting principles.

        The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with Rigel's management the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The Audit Committee discussed with the

   

(1)
The material in this Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is not "soliciting material," is not deemed "filed" with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

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independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, which superseded the Statement on Auditing Standards ("SAS") No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB"), in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accountants, as required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding independent accountants' communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with the independent registered public accountants their independence. Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in Rigel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Audit Committee
Bradford S. Goodwin
Gary A. Lyons
Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D.

Compensation Committee

        The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors acts on behalf of the Board to review, adopt and oversee Rigel's compensation strategy, policies, plans and programs. The Compensation Committee: reviews and approves corporate performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of Rigel's executive officers and other senior management; reviews and approves the compensation and other terms of employment of Rigel's Chief Executive Officer; reviews and approves the compensation and other terms of employment of the other members of senior management; reviews and approves the compensation for Board members; administers Rigel's stock option and stock purchase plans, bonus plans, deferred compensation plans and other similar programs; and reviews with management Rigel's Compensation Discussion and Analysis (the "CD&A") and considers whether to recommend that it be included in Rigel's proxy statements and other filings. In addition, our Compensation Committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking.

        The following three directors are the members of the Compensation Committee: Mr. Lyons, Dr. Moos and Dr. Ringrose, all of whom were on the Compensation Committee for all of fiscal year 2013. All members of Rigel's Compensation Committee in 2013 and as of the date of this proxy statement were independent (as "independence" is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards). The Compensation Committee met five times during fiscal year 2013. The Compensation Committee has adopted a written charter that is available to stockholders on our website at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTg2MjIxfENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1.

        Typically, the Compensation Committee meets at least quarterly and with greater frequency if necessary. The agenda for each meeting is usually developed by the Chair of the Compensation Committee, in consultation with a representative from management. Our General Counsel serves as the representative of management. In addition, from time to time, various members of management and other employees, as well as outside advisors or consultants, may be invited by the Compensation Committee to make presentations, provide financial or other background information or advice, or otherwise participate in Compensation Committee meetings. The Chief Executive Officer may not participate in, or be present during, any deliberations or determinations regarding his compensation or individual performance objectives. However, the Chief Executive Officer is consulted regarding any promotion or compensation decision affecting other members of management. The charter of the Compensation Committee grants the Compensation Committee full access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of Rigel, as well as authority to obtain, at the expense of the Company, advice and assistance from internal and external legal, accounting or other advisors and consultants and other

14

external resources that the Compensation Committee considers necessary or appropriate in the performance of its duties. In particular, the Compensation Committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants to assist in its evaluation of executive and director compensation, including the authority to approve the consultants' reasonable fees and other retention terms.

        In September 2011, the Compensation Committee engaged Barney & Barney to review and identify a new peer comparative group of companies in order to assess our 2012 executive compensation packages and to review and analyze our non-employee director compensation program for 2012. As compensation for these services, we paid Barney & Barney $10,000 ($5,000 in 2011 and $5,000 in 2012, after receiving its final report). This report was updated by management from publicly available information and used to guide compensation decisions for 2013 compensation. In November 2013, the Compensation Committee engaged Radford (an AON Hewitt Company) to make recommendations for updating Rigel's peer group and to review and make recommendations regarding Rigel's executive compensation. As compensation for these services, Radford was paid $4,170 in 2014 for work done in 2013. For more information regarding the market analysis used by the Compensation Committee to set executive compensation, please see "Competitive Market Review and Benchmarking" below.

        Historically, the Compensation Committee has made most of the significant adjustments to annual compensation, determined bonus and equity awards, and recommended new performance objectives to the Board at one or more meetings generally held during the first quarter of the year. The Compensation Committee also considers, at various meetings throughout the year, matters related to individual compensation, such as compensation for new executive hires, as well as high-level strategic issues, such as the efficacy of Rigel's compensation strategy, potential modifications to that strategy, and new trends, plans or approaches to compensation. Unanticipated circumstances can result in a promotion or a change to an individual's compensation package. Generally, the Compensation Committee's process comprises two related elements: the determination of compensation level and the establishment or recommendation of performance objectives for the current year. In the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the evaluation of his performance is conducted by the Compensation Committee and, based upon that evaluation, the Compensation Committee either approves any adjustments to his compensation or makes a recommendation to our Board regarding any such adjustments to his compensation, as well as awards to be granted. For all executive officers and directors, as part of its deliberations, the Compensation Committee may review and consider, as appropriate, materials such as financial reports and projections, operational data, tally sheets that set forth the total compensation that may become payable to executive officers in various hypothetical scenarios, executive and director stock ownership information, company stock performance data, analyses of historical executive compensation levels and current Company-wide compensation levels, and recommendations of the Compensation Committee's compensation consultant, including analyses of executive and director compensation paid at other companies identified by the consultant or public information. The Compensation Committee referenced the peer group identified in the report of Barney & Barney in setting executive compensation and considering director compensation for 2013, as well as publicly available data provided by management on the executive and director compensation of the peer group identified by Barney & Barney.

        In the first few weeks of 2013, prior to its determination of 2013 executive compensation, our management, at the direction of the Compensation Committee, communicated with a majority of our stockholders to garner comments and opinions and better understand any concerns they might have regarding our compensation practices and policies. The results of these outreach efforts were reported by management to the Compensation Committee and taken into consideration as executive compensation decisions were made for 2013 and 2014.

15

        The specific recommendations of the Compensation Committee with respect to executive and director compensation for fiscal years 2013 and 2014 are described in greater detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement.

Risk Assessment of Compensation Policies and Practices.

        Members of our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, with oversight by the Compensation Committee, conducted an assessment of our compensation programs and policies to determine whether the incentives provided by these programs and policies were appropriate or had the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking by employees.

        The assessment focused on the key terms of the Company's equity compensation and variable cash incentive compensation programs, such as the cash incentive plans. Our compensation programs were analyzed to determine whether they introduced or encouraged excessive risk-taking or other behaviors that could have an adverse impact on our business and whether existing risk mitigation features were sufficient in light of the overall structure and composition of our compensation programs. In particular, the assessment focused on the ability of participants to affect the level of the variable component of their compensation and the controls over participant action and variable compensation.

        Specific features of our compensation plans and programs identified during the assessment process as discouraging or potentially mitigating excessive risk-taking include:

        Our compensation programs are designed to encourage employees to remain focused on both short-term and long-term goals through the use of performance-based annual cash incentive awards, which focus on short-term performance goals, and equity awards, which typically vest over a number of years and, therefore, encourage employees to focus on long-term performance.

        The Compensation Committee determined that, for all employees, our compensation programs do not encourage excessive risk-taking or create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company and, instead, encourage behaviors that support sustainable value generation.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        No member of the Compensation Committee is currently, or ever has been, an officer or employee of Rigel. No executive officer of Rigel has served as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Compensation Committee.

        Rigel has entered into indemnity agreements with all of our board members, including the members of our Compensation Committee, which provide, among other things, that the Company will

16

indemnify each of them, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for therein, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he is or may be made a party by reason of his position as a director of Rigel, and otherwise to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and Rigel's Bylaws.


REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS(2)

        The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board 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, 2013.

Compensation Committee
Gary A. Lyons
Walter H. Moos, Ph.D.
Peter S. Ringrose, Ph.D.

Finance Committee

        The Finance Committee of the Board was formed in September 2004. The Finance Committee reviews and approves the overall strategy, plans, policies and actions related to adjustments to Rigel's capital structure, certain financing arrangements and strategic collaborations for the Company. The following three directors are the members of the Finance Committee: Messrs. Gower and Lyons and Dr. Sherwin, all of whom were on the Finance Committee for all of fiscal year 2013. Other than Mr. Gower, all members of Rigel's Finance Committee in 2013 and as of the date of this proxy statement were independent, as "independence" is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards. The Finance Committee did not meet during fiscal year 2013.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for identifying, reviewing and evaluating candidates to serve as directors of the Company (consistent with criteria approved by the Board), reviewing and evaluating incumbent directors, recommending candidates for election to the Board, making recommendations to the Board regarding the membership of the committees of the Board, assessing the performance of management and the Board, and developing a set of corporate governance guidelines for Rigel. In addition, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines, including whether they are successful in preventing illegal or improper liability-creating conduct.

        The following three directors are the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: Drs. Moos, Ringrose and Sherwin, all of whom were on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for all of fiscal year 2013. All members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent, as "independence" is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met one time during fiscal year 2013. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has adopted a written charter that is available to stockholders on our website at http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/12/120936/corpgov/NominatingCommitteeCharter.pdf.

   

(2)
The material in this Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board is not "soliciting material," is not deemed "filed" with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

17

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will generally consider such factors as possessing relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management, demonstrating the ability to read and understand basic financial statements, having sufficient time to devote to the affairs of Rigel, possessing a reputation for personal integrity and ethics, having demonstrated excellence in his or her field, exhibiting the ability to exercise sound business judgment and having the commitment to rigorously represent the long-term interests of Rigel's stockholders. However, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee retains the right to modify these qualifications from time to time. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also values diversity as a factor in selecting nominees to serve on the Board. Although there is no specific policy on diversity, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the criteria noted above in selecting nominees for directors as well as the combined background, spectrum of experience and expertise of a nominee as enhancing the diversity of the Board. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the context of the current composition of the Board, the operating requirements of Rigel and the long-term interests of stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers all factors, as it deems appropriate, given the current needs of the Board and Rigel, to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience and capability. In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews these directors' overall service to Rigel during their terms, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance, and any other relationships and transactions that might impair the directors' independence. In the case of new director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also determines whether the nominee is independent for Nasdaq purposes, which determination is based upon applicable Nasdaq listing standards, applicable SEC rules and regulations and the advice of counsel, if necessary. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee then uses its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems appropriate, a professional search firm. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducts any appropriate and necessary inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates, after considering the function and needs of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets to discuss and consider the candidates' qualifications and then selects a nominee for recommendation to the Board.

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not intend to alter the manner in which it evaluates candidates, including the minimum criteria set forth above, based on whether or not the candidate was recommended by a stockholder. Stockholders who wish to recommend individuals for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to become nominees for election to the Board may do so by delivering a written recommendation to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at least 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of Rigel's proxy statement for the preceding annual meeting of stockholders, addressed to the Legal Department, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080. The deadline for nominating a director for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is December 9, 2014. Submissions must include the full name of the proposed nominee, a description of the proposed nominee's business experience for at least the previous five years, complete biographical information, a description of the proposed nominee's qualifications as a director and a representation that the nominating stockholder is a beneficial or record holder of the Company's stock and has been a holder for at least one year. Any such submission must be accompanied by the written consent of the proposed nominee to be named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.

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Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

        To date, Rigel has not adopted a formal process related to stockholder communications with the Board. Nevertheless, every effort has been made to ensure that the views of stockholders are heard by the Board or individual directors, as applicable, and that appropriate and timely responses are provided to stockholders. We believe our responsiveness to stockholder communications to the Board has been excellent. If a formal process for stockholder communications with the Board is adopted, we will publish it promptly and post it on Rigel's website.

        Persons interested in communicating with the independent directors regarding their concerns or issues may address correspondence to a particular director, or to the independent directors generally, in care of Legal Department, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080. If no particular director is named, letters will be forwarded, depending on the subject matter, to the Chair of the Audit, Compensation, Finance or Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

CODE OF CONDUCT

        We have adopted the Rigel Pharmaceuticals Code of Conduct that applies to all officers, directors and employees. If Rigel makes any amendments to the Code of Conduct or grants any waiver from a provision of the Code of Conduct to any executive officer or director, we intend to promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website. The Code of Conduct is available on our website at http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/12/120936/corpgov/codeofconduct.pdf.

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 PROPOSAL 2

AMENDMENT OF THE 2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

        In August 2000, our Board of Directors adopted, and our stockholders subsequently approved, Rigel's 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"). Prior to stockholder approval of the amendment subject to this Proposal 2, an aggregate of 2,052,950 shares of common stock were authorized for issuance under the Purchase Plan.

        In February 2014, our Board approved an amendment to the Purchase Plan, subject to stockholder approval, to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Purchase Plan by 4,000,000 shares, among other administrative amendments. Our Board adopted this amendment in order to ensure that we can continue to grant purchase rights at levels determined appropriate by our Board and Compensation Committee.

        During the last fiscal year, shares of Common Stock were purchased in the amounts and at the weighted average prices per share under the Purchase Plan as follows: James M. Gower—3,489 shares ($2.61), Raul R. Rodriguez—3,580 shares ($2.61), all current executive officers as a group—7,069 shares ($2.61), and all employees (excluding executive officers) as a group 376,489 shares ($2.74).

        As of March 7, 2014, an aggregate of 1,968,920 shares of our common stock had been purchased under the Purchase Plan. Only 84,030 shares of common stock (plus any shares that might in the future be returned to the Purchase Plan as a result of cancellations or expiration of purchase rights) remained available for future purchase under the Purchase Plan.

        The essential features of the Purchase Plan are outlined below:

PURPOSE

        The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide a means by which employees of Rigel (and any of our affiliates designated by our Board of Directors to participate in the Purchase Plan) may be given an opportunity to purchase our common stock through payroll deductions, to assist Rigel in retaining the services of our employees, to secure and retain the services of new employees and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of Rigel. All of our 133 employees, full and part time, are eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan.

        The rights to purchase common stock granted under the Purchase Plan are intended to qualify as options issued under an "employee stock purchase plan" as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.

ADMINISTRATION

        Our Board of Directors administers the Purchase Plan and has the final power to construe and interpret both the Purchase Plan and the rights granted under it. The board has the power, subject to the provisions of the Purchase Plan, to determine when and how rights to purchase Rigel common stock will be granted and the provisions of each offering of such rights (which need not be identical).

        Our Board has the power to delegate administration of the Purchase Plan to a committee composed of not fewer than two members of the board. The board has delegated administration of the Purchase Plan to the Compensation Committee of the Board. As used herein with respect to the Purchase Plan, the "Board" refers to any committee the Board appoints and to the Board.

STOCK SUBJECT TO PURCHASE PLAN

        The Purchase Plan currently has 84,030 shares of common stock available for future purchase thereunder. Subject to this Proposal 2, an additional 4,000,000 shares of common stock will be made

20

available for future purchases under the Purchase Plan beginning with the first date of the first offering of 2014.

OFFERINGS

        The Purchase Plan is implemented by offerings of rights to all eligible employees from time to time by our Board of Directors. The maximum length for an offering under the Purchase Plan is 27 months. Currently, under the Purchase Plan, each offering is 24 months long and is divided into four shorter "purchase periods" approximately six months long.

ELIGIBILITY

        Any person who is customarily employed at least 20 hours per week and five months per calendar year by Rigel (or by any parent or subsidiary of Rigel designated by the Board) on the first day of an offering is eligible to participate in that offering, provided such employee has been continuously employed by Rigel or the designated parent or subsidiary corporation for such period preceding the grant as the Board or Compensation Committee may require, but in no event will the required period of continuous employment be greater than two years. Officers of Rigel who are "highly compensated," as defined in the Code, may be eligible to participate in the offerings, unless the Board provides otherwise.

        However, no employee is eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan if, immediately after the grant of purchase rights, the employee would own, directly or indirectly, stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of Rigel or of any parent or subsidiary of Rigel (including any stock which such employee may purchase under all outstanding rights and options). In addition, no employee may accrue the right to purchase more than $25,000 worth of common stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time such rights are granted) under all employee stock purchase plans of Rigel and our parent and subsidiary corporations in any calendar year. In addition to the preceding limitation, under the current offering, no employee may purchase more than 5,000 shares of common stock on any purchase date during the offering.

PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN

        Eligible employees enroll in the Purchase Plan by delivering to Rigel, prior to the date selected by the Board as the offering date for the offering, an agreement authorizing payroll deductions of up to 15% of each such employees' total compensation during the offering.

PURCHASE PRICE

        The purchase price per share at which shares of common stock are sold in an offering under the Purchase Plan is the lower of (i) 85% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on first day of the offering or (ii) 85% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the purchase date, as set by the Board.

PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE; PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

        The purchase price of the shares is accumulated by payroll deductions over the offering. At any time during the offering, a participant may reduce or terminate his or her payroll deductions as the board provides in the offering. A participant may increase or begin such payroll deductions after the beginning of the offering only as provided for in the offering. All payroll deductions made for a participant are credited to his or her account under the Purchase Plan and deposited with the general funds of Rigel. A participant may make additional payments into such account only if specifically provided for in the offering and only if the participant has not had the maximum amount withheld during the offering.

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PURCHASE OF STOCK

        By executing an agreement to participate in the Purchase Plan, the employee is entitled to purchase shares under the Purchase Plan. In connection with offerings made under the Purchase Plan, the Board specifies a maximum number of shares of common stock an employee may be granted the right to purchase and the maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be purchased pursuant to such offering by all participants. If the aggregate number of shares to be purchased upon exercise of rights granted in the offering would exceed the maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock available, the board would make a pro rata allocation of available shares in a uniform and equitable manner. Unless the employee's participation is discontinued, his or her right to purchase shares is exercised automatically on the purchase date, as set by the Board, at the applicable price. See "Withdrawal" below.

WITHDRAWAL

        While each participant in the Purchase Plan is required to sign an agreement authorizing payroll deductions, the participant may withdraw from a given offering by terminating his or her payroll deductions and by delivering to Rigel a notice of withdrawal from the Purchase Plan. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time during the offering except as provided by the board in the offering.

        Upon any withdrawal from an offering by the employee, Rigel will distribute to the employee his or her accumulated payroll deductions without interest, less any accumulated deductions previously applied to the purchase of shares of common stock on the employee's behalf during such offering, and such employee's interest in the offering will be automatically terminated. The employee is not entitled to again participate in that offering. However, an employee's withdrawal from an offering will not have any effect upon such employee's eligibility to participate in subsequent offerings under the Purchase Plan.

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

        Rights granted pursuant to any offering under the Purchase Plan terminate immediately upon cessation of an employee's employment for any reason, and Rigel will distribute to such employee all of his or her accumulated payroll deductions, without interest.

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER

        Rights granted under the Purchase Plan are not transferable and may be exercised only by the person to whom such rights are granted. A participant may designate a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account under the Purchase Plan in the event of such participant's death after the offering but prior to delivery to the participant of the shares and cash, or who is to receive the cash from the participant's account in the event of such participant's death during an offering.

ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS

        Transactions not involving receipt of consideration by Rigel, such as a reincorporation, combination, reclassification, stock dividend or stock split, may change the type(s), class(es) and number of shares of common stock subject to the Purchase Plan and to outstanding purchase rights. In that event, the Purchase Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the type(s), class(es) and maximum number of shares subject to the Purchase Plan and the outstanding purchase rights granted under the Purchase Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the type(s), class(es), number of shares and purchase limits of such purchase rights.

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EFFECT OF CERTAIN CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS

        In the event of (i) a dissolution, liquidation or sale of all or substantially all of the securities or assets of Rigel, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which Rigel is not the surviving corporation or (iii) a reverse merger in which Rigel is the surviving corporation but the shares of common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, any surviving corporation may continue or assume rights outstanding under the Purchase Plan or may substitute similar rights. If any surviving corporation does not assume such rights or substitute similar rights, then the participants' accumulated payroll deductions will be used to purchase shares of common stock immediately prior to the corporate transaction under the ongoing offering and the participants' rights under the ongoing offering will terminate immediately after such purchase.

DURATION, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

        Our Board of Directors may suspend or terminate the Purchase Plan at any time. Unless terminated earlier, the Purchase Plan will terminate on December 3, 2020.

        Our Board of Directors may amend the Purchase Plan at any time. Any amendment of the Purchase Plan must be approved by the stockholders within 12 months of its adoption by the board if the amendment would (i) increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan, (ii) modify the requirements relating to eligibility for participation in the Purchase Plan (to the extent such modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Purchase Plan to obtain employee stock purchase plan treatment under Section 423 of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or "Rule 16b-3"); or (iii) modify the Purchase Plan in any other way if such modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Purchase Plan to obtain employee stock purchase plan treatment under Section 423 of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

        Rights granted before amendment or termination of the Purchase Plan will not be altered or impaired by any amendment or termination of the Purchase Plan without consent of the employee to whom such rights were granted.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION

        Rights granted under the Purchase Plan are intended to qualify for favorable federal income tax treatment associated with rights granted under an employee stock purchase plan which qualifies under provisions of Section 423 of the Code.

        A participant will be taxed on amounts withheld for the purchase of shares of common stock as if such amounts were actually received. Otherwise, no income will be taxable to a participant until disposition of the acquired shares, and the method of taxation will depend upon the holding period of the acquired shares.

        If the stock is disposed of more than two years after the beginning of the offering period and more than one year after the stock is transferred to the participant, then the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the stock at the time of such disposition over the purchase price or (ii) the excess of the fair market value of the stock as of the beginning of the offering period over the purchase price (determined as of the beginning of the offering period) will be treated as ordinary income. Any further gain or any loss will be taxed as a long-term capital gain or loss. At present, such capital gains generally are subject to lower tax rates than ordinary income.

        If the stock is sold or disposed of before the expiration of either of the holding periods described above, then the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the purchase date over the purchase price will be treated as ordinary income at the time of such disposition. The balance of any gain will be

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treated as capital gain. Even if the stock is later disposed of for less than its fair market value on the exercise date, the same amount of ordinary income is attributed to the participant, and a capital loss is recognized equal to the difference between the sales price and the fair market value of the stock on such purchase date. Any capital gain or loss will be short-term or long-term, depending on how long the stock has been held.

        There are no federal income tax consequences to Rigel by reason of the grant or exercise of rights under the Purchase Plan. Rigel is entitled to a deduction to the extent amounts are taxed as ordinary income to a participant (subject to the requirement of reasonableness and the satisfaction of tax reporting obligations).

REQUIRED VOTE

        Stockholders are requested in this Proposal 2 to approve the Purchase Plan, as amended. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be required to approve the Purchase Plan, as amended. 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. A copy of the Purchase Plan, as amended, is appended to this proxy statement as Appendix A.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2.


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 PROPOSAL 3

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        At the 2011 Annual Meeting, our stockholders indicated their preference that the Company solicit a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of the named executive officers, commonly referred to as a "say-on-pay vote," every year. The Board has adopted a policy that is consistent with that preference. In accordance with that policy, this year, the Board is again asking the shareholders to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules.

        This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. The compensation of our Named Executive Officers subject to the vote is disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the compensation tables and the related narrative disclosure contained in this proxy statement.

        As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement, we believe that our compensation policies and decisions are designed to motivate our management team to create long-term value for our stockholders by achieving strategic business objectives while effectively managing the risks and challenges inherent in a clinical stage biotechnology company. Further, we believe that our long-term success depends in large measure on the talents of our employees. Our compensation system plays a significant role in our ability to attract, retain and motivate the highest quality workforce and experienced executives to lead us successfully in a competitive environment. We believe that our current executive compensation program directly links executive compensation to performance, aligning the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders. We encourage you to review carefully the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 34 of this proxy statement and the tabular and other disclosures on executive compensation beginning on page 49 of this proxy statement.

        Accordingly, our Board is asking our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as described in this proxy statement by casting a non-binding advisory vote "For" the following resolution:

        "RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company's Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED."

        Because the vote is advisory, it is not binding on the Board or us. Nevertheless, the views expressed by the stockholders, whether through this vote or otherwise, are important to management and the Board and, accordingly, the Board and the Compensation Committee intend to consider the results of this vote in making determinations in the future regarding executive compensation arrangements. The Compensation Discussion and Analysis, beginning on page 34, describes some of this feedback and reflects response to this outreach effort.

        Advisory approval of this proposal requires the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. 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.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 3.


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 PROPOSAL 4

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The Audit Committee of the Board has selected Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 and has further directed that management submit the selection of independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Ernst & Young LLP has audited the Company's financial statements since its inception in 1996. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

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

        The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be required to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on this proposal 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 proposal has been approved.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES AND SERVICES

        In connection with the audit of the 2013 financial statements, the Company entered into an engagement agreement with Ernst & Young LLP that sets forth the terms by which Ernst & Young LLP will perform audit and interim review services for the Company, which engagement agreement is subject to alternative dispute resolution procedures.

        The following table represents aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 by Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.

 
   Fiscal Year Ended  
 
   2013   2012  
 
   (in thousands)
  

Audit fees

   $ 516   $ 697  

Audit-related fees

     —     —  

Tax fees

     —     —  

All other fees

     —     —  
           
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total fees

   $ 516   $ 697  
           
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
           

        "Audit fees" consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our financial statements and review of the interim financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by Ernst & Young LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. Audit fees in 2012 included $125,000 fees related to comfort letters associated with our public offering in 2012.

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        "Audit-related fees" consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements and are not reported under "Audit Fees." No such fees were billed during either fiscal year 2013 or 2012.

        "Tax fees" include fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. No tax fees were billed in 2013 or 2012.

        "All other fees" consist of fees for products and services other than the services described above. No such fees were billed during either fiscal year 2013 or 2012.

        All fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee.

PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

        The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval may be given as part of the Audit Committee's approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm, or on an individual, explicit case-by-case basis, before the independent registered public accounting firm is engaged to provide each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee's members, but the decision must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

        The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of the services other than audit services by Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 4.


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 MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        Set forth below is the name, age, position and a brief summary of the business experience of each of our executive officers as of March 7, 2014.

Name
  Age   Position

James M. Gower

     65   Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Director

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

     65   Executive Vice President and President of Discovery and Research and Director

Ryan D. Maynard

     44   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Raul R. Rodriguez

     53   President and Chief Operating Officer

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

     66   Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Dolly A. Vance

     49   Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

        James M. Gower has been our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since October 2001. Mr. Gower joined us as President, Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board in January 1997. From 1992 to March 1996, Mr. Gower was President and Chief Executive Officer of Tularik Inc., a biotechnology company developing small-molecule drugs regulating gene expression. Prior to Tularik, Mr. Gower spent 10 years at Genentech, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President. During his 10 years at Genentech, Mr. Gower was responsible for business development and sales and marketing functions. In addition, he established and managed Genentech's foreign operations in Canada and Japan and served as President of Genentech Development Corporation. Mr. Gower served on the Board of Directors of Cell Genesys, Inc. from 1996 until 2009. He holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. in Operations Research from the University of Tennessee.

        Donald G. Payan, M.D., one of our co-founders, has been a member of our Board since July 1996. In February 2008, Dr. Payan became our Executive Vice President and President of Discovery and Research. Prior to this, he had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer since January 1997. From January 1997 to July 1998, he also served as our Chief Operating Officer. From July 1996 to January 1997, Dr. Payan served as our President and Chief Executive Officer. From December 1995 to May 1996, Dr. Payan was Vice President of AxyS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From September 1992 to December 1995, Dr. Payan was Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Khepri Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which he founded and subsequently merged with AxyS Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Payan did his residency training in Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and is a former Professor at the University of California, San Francisco and member of The Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

        Ryan Maynard has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since March 2010. He joined Rigel in September 2001 as Corporate Controller and was appointed as an Assistant Secretary in October 2001. In June 2006 he became Vice President of Finance and Acting Chief Financial Officer and became our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in January 2007. Prior to joining Rigel, Mr. Maynard was Corporate Controller and Director of Finance and Accounting for Personify, Inc., an e-commerce software company, from November 1999 to April 2001. From July 1998 to October 1999 he served as Controller of General Magic, Inc. and from July 1994 to June 1998 he held various positions at Siliconix, Inc., most recently as Senior Finance Manager. He previously worked at Ernst & Young, LLP, where he became a certified public accountant. Mr. Maynard holds a B.S. in Commerce—Accounting from Santa Clara University.

        Raul R. Rodriguez has served as our President and Chief Operating Officer since March 2010. He joined us as Vice President, Business Development in April 2000, became our Senior Vice President, Business Development and Commercial Operations in December 2002 and became our Executive Vice

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President and Chief Operating Officer in June 2004. From 1997 to March 2000, he served as Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations for Ontogeny, Inc., a biotechnology company. From 1994 to 1997, he served as the Executive Director, Business Development and Market Planning for Scios, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Rodriguez held various positions at G.D. Searle & Company, a pharmaceutical company. In these companies, Mr. Rodriguez held positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of business development and planning. After earning his Bachelor's degree from Harvard College, Mr. Rodriguez went on to earn his Masters of Public Health at the University of Illinois and subsequently received his M.B.A. at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

        Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D., has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer since February 2008. He joined Rigel in 2002 as our Senior Vice President of Medical Development. Prior to joining Rigel, Dr. Grossbard was Vice President, Clinical Affairs for Avigen Inc., an Alameda-based gene therapy products company. Before that, Dr. Grossbard served as Senior Vice President of Development and Vice President of Medical and Regulatory Affairs at Scios, Inc. During his tenure there, he oversaw several operational areas, including pharmacology/toxicology, quality control/quality and manufacturing/process sciences. He was also integral in the clinical development of Scios' lead compound Natrecor® ("nesiritide"), which was approved by the FDA in 2001 for the treatment of acute heart failure, and the preclinical development of a variety of proteins, peptides and small molecules. From 1982 through 1990, Dr. Grossbard held the positions of Associate Director, Clinical Research, and Director, Clinical Research at Genentech Inc. At Genentech, he directed the development of the thrombolytic agent Activase® tissue plasminogen activator ("TPA") from the earliest preclinical studies through clinical trials, NDA filing and FDA approval. Dr. Grossbard joined Genentech from Hoffman-LaRoche where he held various positions in clinical research. Dr. Grossbard's primary research focus at Roche was on the interferon-alpha (Roferon®) program. Prior to joining the corporate sector, Dr. Grossbard held numerous academic appointments at such leading research institutions as Memorial Sloan-Kettering and Cornell University Medical Center, including Director of the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Dr. Grossbard received his B.A. from Columbia College in 1969 and his M.D. from Columbia University in 1973. In addition, he received a M.S. in Law from Yale University School of Law in 1981. He trained in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and in Hematology at Columbia University and Sloan-Kettering.

        Dolly A. Vance has served as our Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since March 2010. Ms. Vance had been serving as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since January 2007 and Vice President and General Counsel since January 2003. She joined Rigel in September 2000 as Rigel's first in-house counsel. Until September 2000, she was at the law firm of Flehr Hohbach Test Albritton & Herbert LLP (now Dorsey & Whitney LLP), where she was a partner. Prior to law school she worked in various research laboratories, including the laboratory of Norman Davidson at California Institute of Technology. She holds a Bachelor's degree from University of California, San Diego and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.

        Our executive officers are appointed by our Board and serve until their successors are elected or appointed. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.


SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

        As of March 7, 2014, stock options covering an aggregate of 17,346,014 shares of common stock were outstanding under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2011 Plan"), the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2000 Plan") and the 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Plan (the "Directors' Plan") (6,414,040 under the 2011 Plan, 10,245,155 under the 2000 Plan and 686,819 under the Directors' Plan), and 7,229,357 shares of common stock (plus any shares that might in the future be returned to the 2011 Plan, the 2000 Plan and the Directors' Plan as a result of the repurchase of shares or the cancellation

29

or expiration of options) remained available for future grant under the 2011 Plan, the 2000 Plan and the Directors' Plan (4,673,474 shares under the 2011 Plan, 2,054,520 shares under the 2000 Plan and 501,363 shares under the Directors' Plan). The weighted average exercise price of all options outstanding as of March 7, 2014 was approximately $9.50 ($5.49 for shares under the 2011 Plan, $11.96 for shares under the 2000 Plan and $5.54 for shares under the Directors' Plan), and the weighted average remaining term of such options was approximately 6.19 years (8.88 years under the 2011 Plan, 4.55 years under the 2000 Plan and 5.54 years under the Directors' Plan). Except as set forth above, as of March 7, 2014, 200,000 shares of common stock were subject to issuance upon the exercise of outstanding non-compensatory warrants and no other shares were subject to issuance upon the conversion of any convertible securities. A total of 87,531,317 shares of common stock were outstanding as of the record date.

        The following table provides certain information with respect to all of the Company's equity compensation plans in effect as of December 31, 2013.


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Plan Category
  Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a) 		  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b) 		  Number of securities remaining
available for issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected
in column (a))
(c) 		 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     15,732,202   $ 10.50     9,129,791 (1)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

     —     —     —  
               
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total

     15,732,202   $ 10.50     9,129,791 (1)
               
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
               
(1)
Includes 84,030 shares of common stock authorized for future issuance under the Purchase Plan.

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 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the Company's common stock as of March 7, 2014 by: (i) each director and nominee for director; (ii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; (iii) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group; and (iv) all those known by the Company to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of its common stock. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner listed below is: c/o Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1180 Veteran Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080.

 
   Beneficial Ownership(1)  
Beneficial Owner
  Number of Shares   Percent of Total  

Five percent stockholders

              

Entities Affiliated with FMR LLC(2)
245 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02109

     8,919,654     10.19 %

Entities Affiliated with Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P.(3)
900 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60611

     7,943,215     9.08 %

Entities Affiliated with BlackRock, Inc.(4)
40 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022

     6,999,802     8.00 %

Palo Alto Investors, LLC(5)
470 University Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301

     5,217,001     5.96 %

Entities Affiliated with Oppenheimer Funds, Inc.(6)
Two World Financial Center
New York, NY 10022

     5,000,000     5.71 %

Wellington Management Company, LLP(7)
248 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210`

     4,537,178     5.18 %

Entities Affiliated with Broadfin Capital LLC(8)
237 Paul Avenue, Suite 900
New York, New York 10017

     4,455,119     5.09 %

Directors and executive officers

              

James M. Gower(9)

     1,680,942     1.89 %

Donald G. Payan, MD (10)

     1,248,415     1.41 %

Raul Rodriguez (11)

     1,237,473     1.39 %

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D.(12)

     993,079     1.12 %

Ryan D. Maynard(13)

     941,227     1.06 %

Walter H. Moos, Ph.D.(14)

     122,084     *  

Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D.(15)

     122,789     *  

Hollings C. Renton(16)

     118,750     *  

Peter S. Ringrose, Ph.D.(17)

     128,750     *  

Bradford S. Goodwin(18)

     118,750     *  

Gary A. Lyons(19)

     114,294     *  

All executive officers and directors as a group (12 persons)(20)

     7,839,860     8.25 %
*
Less than one percent.

(1)
This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and principal stockholders and Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where applicable, the Company believes that each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned. Applicable percentages are based on 87,526,941 shares of the common stock of the Company outstanding on March 7, 2014, adjusted as required by rules.

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(2)
Fidelity Management & Research Company ("Fidelity"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC ("FMR") and an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is the beneficial owner of 8,851,731 shares of the common stock as a result of acting as investment adviser to various investment companies ("Fidelity Funds") registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). Edward C. Johnson 3d and FMR, through its control of Fidelity and the Fidelity Funds, each has sole power to dispose of the 8,851,731 shares owned by the Fidelity Funds. Fidelity SelectCo, LLC ("SeclectCo"), a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR and an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Company Act, is the beneficial owner of 17,123 shares of the Common Stock of the Company as a result of acting as investment adviser to various investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act (the "SelectCo Funds"). Edward C. Johnson 3d and FMR, through its control of SelectCo and the SelectCo Funds, each has sole power to dispose of 17,123 shares owned by the SelectCo Funds. The ownership of one investment company, Fidelity Growth Company Fund, amounted to 5,879,895 shares of the common stock outstanding. Members of the family of Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR, are the predominant owners, directly or through trusts, of shares of Series B voting common stock of FMR, representing approximately 49% of the voting power of FMR. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders have entered into a shareholders' voting agreement under which all shares of Series B voting common stock will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of shares of Series B voting common stock. Accordingly, through their ownership of voting common stock and the execution of the shareholders' voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the Investment Company Act, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR. Neither FMR nor Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR, has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the Fidelity Funds, which power resides with the Funds' Boards of Trustees. Fidelity carries out the voting of the shares under written guidelines established by the Funds' Boards of Trustees. Pyramis Global Advisors Trust Company ("PGATC"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC and a bank as defined in Section 3(a) (6) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, is the beneficial owner of 50,800 shares of the Company as a result of serving as investment manager of institutional accounts owning shares. Edward C. Johnson 3d and FMR, through its control of PGATC, each has sole dispositive power over 50,800 shares of Common stock owned by the institutional accounts managed by PGATC.

(3)
These shares of common stock of the Company are held as follows: Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. ("BVF") beneficially owns 526,233 shares; Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P. ("BVF2") beneficially owns 308,838 shares, BVF Investments LLC ("BVLLC") beneficially owns 6,962,123 shares; and Investment 10, L.L.C. ("ILL10") beneficially owns 146,031 shares. BVF Partners, L.P. ("Partners") as the general partner of BVF and BVF2, the manager of BVLLC and the investment advisor of ILL10, may be deemed to beneficially own 7,943,215 shares of common stock beneficially owned in the aggregate by BVF, BVF2, BVLLC and ILL10. BVF Inc. as the general partner of Partners, may be deemed to beneficially own the 7,943,215 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Partners. Mark N. Lampert ("Mr. Lampert") as director and officer of BVF, Inc. may be deemed to beneficially own 7,943,215 shares of common stock beneficially held by BVF, Inc. Each of the Partners, BVF Inc., and Mr. Lampert disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by BVF, BVF2, BVLLC and ILL10.

(4)
Some of the shares of common stock were previously held by Barclays Global Investors, NA and Barclays Global Fund Advisors. As a result of the acquisition by BlackRock, Inc. of Barclays Global Investors from Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Global Investors, NA is included as a subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc.

(5)
Palo Alto Investors, LLC is a registered investment advisor and is the general partner and investment advisor of investment limited partnerships, and is the investment advisor to other investment funds. PAI's clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from or the proceeds from the sale of, the Stock. No individual client separately holds more than five percent of the outstanding Stock. Patrick Lee, MD and Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, MD co-manage PAI. Dr. Lee and Dr. Youn expressly disclaim membership in a group and disclaim beneficial ownership of the stock except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

(6)
Oppenheimer Funds, Inc., an investment advisor in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E) promulgated under the Exchange Act, beneficially owns 5,000,000 shares of the common stock of the Company, 5,000,000 shares of which are beneficially owned by Oppenheimer Global Opportunities Fund, an investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities.

(7)
Wellington Management Company, LLP ("Wellington Management"), an investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E) promulgate under the Exchange Act, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of 5,717,356 shares of the common stock of the Company that are held of record by clients of Wellington Management. Those clients have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of,

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(8)
Each of Broadfin Capital, LLC, Broadfin Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd. and Kevin Kotler has shared power to vote or to direct the vote of, and shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of, all 4,455,119 shares of common stock. The address of Broadfin Capital, LLC and Kevin Kotler is listed above and and the address of Broadfin Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd. is 20 Genesis Close, Ansbacher House, Second Floor, P.O. Box 1344, Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands.

(9)
Includes 1,490,832 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(10)
Includes 1,140,081 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(11)
Includes 1,198,888 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(12)
Includes 987,499 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(13)
Includes 941,227 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(14)
Includes 119,862 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(15)
Includes 122,789 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(16)
Includes 118,750 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(17)
Includes 128,750 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(18)
Includes 108,750 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(19)
Includes 114,294 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days.

(20)
Includes shares owned by and granted to executive officers and directors. Includes 7,487,926 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable within 60 days, as described in the notes above.


SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

        Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity securities of our company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

        To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with.

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 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

        Our Compensation Committee reviews and approves our executive compensation philosophy, objectives and methods, evaluates our performance and the performance of our executive officers, and either approves executive compensation or makes recommendations for ratification by our independent Board members. Between Board meetings, our Compensation Committee consults with various members of management, other committees of the Board or other members of the Board and independent third party consultants, where appropriate, and reviews management's compensation recommendations. The members of our Compensation Committee are appointed by our Board, and each member is an independent director (as "independence" is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards). The members of our Compensation Committee are Mr. Gary A. Lyons, Dr. Walter H. Moos and Dr. Peter S. Ringrose. Mr. Lyons is the Chair of the Compensation Committee.

Background

        This Compensation Discussion and Analysis explains our compensation philosophy, policies and practices for the following executives, who are referred to in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and in the subsequent tables as our "Named Executive Officers":

Executive Summary

        Our executive compensation and benefits program is designed to retain key executive talent and to motivate our management team to create long-term value for our stockholders by achieving our strategic business objectives while effectively managing the risks and challenges inherent in a clinical stage biotechnology company. We try to ensure that a material portion of executive compensation is tied to company performance—including the achievement of strategic business objectives, product development and financial performance and cash position. Our compensation packages combine short and long-term compensation components, cash and equity components, and fixed and contingent components, in proportions that our Compensation Committee believes are optimized to most effectively attract and retain exceptional senior management while motivating them to achieve maximum stockholder value. Our executive officers' base salaries, target annual cash incentive compensation and annual equity incentive award amounts are set at levels that are designed to promote achievement of challenging short-term and long-term corporate goals and to be competitive with companies that the Compensation Committee considers to be peers in our industry, while also encouraging our executive officers to work for our long-term prosperity and stockholder value, without taking unnecessary or excessive risks.

        The following key governance features underlie our compensation program:

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2013 Changes in Rights to Fostamatinib

        In April and June of 2013, AstraZeneca ("AZ") announced top-line results of OSKIRA-1, 2 and 3, a Phase 3 program to assess the efficacy and safety of fostamatinib, our partnered lead product candidate and the first oral SYK inhibitor in development for rheumatoid arthritis ("RA"). Based on the totality of the results of the OSKIRA Phase 3 program in patients with RA, in June 2013, AZ informed us that it would not proceed with regulatory filings and, instead would return the rights to the compound to us. In September 2013, we announced that we would not continue further development of fostamatinib for the treatment of RA or lymphoma due to insufficient efficacy findings from recent clinical trials and the competitive landscape in those indications.

        As a result of resuming the rights to fostamatinib, among other activities, we performed the following activities:

2013 Compensation Program Highlights

        We believe the compensation awarded to our Named Executive Officers for the 2013 performance period reflected our pay-for-performance philosophy. In particular, our Named Executive Officers were able, following the re-assumption of rights to fostamatinib, to evaluate options and progress the program into Phase 3 clinical development for ITP, which we expect to enter in the first half of 2014. In addition, our Named Executive Officers continued broadening our pipeline in 2013, including initiating a Phase 2 clinical trial for chronic dry eye, and filing an Investigational New Drug application ("IND") for R118, an AMPK activator, for the treatment of intermittent claudication. For 2013, our Named Executive Officers were given a 3.5% cost-of-living salary increase, but were not given a pay-out under the performance-based cash incentive plan for 2013, despite the fact that a portion of the performance goals were achieved. Additionally, given the totality of events in 2013, executives were not given a salary increase in 2014. Finally, for the stock options granted in 2014, 50% of such options were granted with four-year vesting periods, which is longer than the vesting periods for options granted in prior years, and 50% of such options were granted subject to vesting based on corporate performance metrics.

Focus on Performance:

        For 2013, approximately 67% of the target total direct compensation for Mr. Gower, and an average of approximately 66% of the target total direct compensation of all of our Named Executive

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Officers, was performance-based, either in the form of cash compensation that is subject to the achievement of corporate performance goals or stock options that require an increase in our stock price to result in gain to our executives. Base salaries, the only component of our direct compensation mix that is not "at-risk," represented an average of approximately 33% of the total direct compensation of our Named Executive Officers in 2013.

        Performance and contributions of the Named Executive Officers in serving our long-term goals were the primary considerations in determining executive compensation in early 2013. Stock option grants are generally given very early in the year and better reflect the performance of the executives in the prior year than in the year in which they are granted.

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        The table below illustrates the components of compensation and the percent of target compensation that is at-risk, performance based compensation for each named executive officer for 2013:

 
   2013 Base Salary   Target Bonus   Equity %
of TDC 		  % of TDC
at-risk
(target bonus +
 equity) 		 

James M. Gower

   $ 695,118   $ 417,071     47.2 %   66.9 %

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

   $ 559,571   $ 279,786     51.3 %   67.3 %

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

   $ 521,339   $ 260,670     45.8 %   63.7 %

Raul R. Rodriguez

   $ 551,720   $ 331,032     43.1 %   64.4 %

Ryan D. Maynard

   $ 441,345   $ 220,673     50.3 %   66.8 %

Change of Control Arrangements:

Perquisites and Other Benefits:

        We do not typically provide any perquisites to our executive officers. We provide general employment benefits to our executive officers on the same basis as the benefits provided to all of our employees, including health, vision and dental insurance, term life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

Response to 2013 Say-on-Pay Vote Resulted in 2014 Changes, Including Performance-Based Equity Compensation

        We held an advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation at our annual stockholder meeting in 2013. Our stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, our say-on-pay proposal, with approximately 53% of stockholders voting on such matter voting in favor of the proposal. While we received a positive vote, the Compensation Committee strives to receive as high a vote as possible from the stockholders with respect to advisory approval of executive compensation. Furthering the steps taken in response to the primary concerns of our stockholders in 2012 and 2013, the Compensation Committee, for 2014, both increased the vesting term of time-vesting stock option grants and have tied performance metrics to the vesting of certain equity grants, as further discussed below.

        During discussions in 2013, several stockholders noted that they would like to see more alignment of executive compensation with corporate performance. Our Compensation Committee believes that our progress with respect to our development programs, including both clinical and pre-clinical activities, as well and having a healthy cash position to support our continued development, are the most important factors, and are reflected in the corporate performance metrics which are at the core of our executive compensation program. Development of a drug candidate can take 10 to 15 years in many instances, and we closely track the progress of each program and new programs within our

37

pipeline to monitor our success as a company over that development period. Long-term stockholder value will ultimately be depend on successfully bringing the products we develop to market, or partnering them with collaborators to bring them to market, and our Compensation Committee strives to incentivize our senior management to create that value through a robust and attractive pipeline of drug candidates.

        As a result of the low approval percentage of our executive compensation at the annual meeting of our stockholders in 2013 and feedback from our investors in our discussions, our Compensation Committee continues to weigh executive compensation heavily towards performance-driven compensation and intends to approve annual corporate performance goals that it believes will ultimately drive an increase in stockholder value over time. Consequently, the Compensation Committee determined to grant options to senior management in 2014, 50% of which vest over four years and 50% of which are subject to vesting upon the achievement of certain performance metrics, to better tie the executive compensation underlying such options to our corporate performance.

Process for Setting Executive Compensation and Role of Our Compensation Committee

        We seek to foster a performance-oriented culture, where individual performance is aligned with organizational objectives. In order to achieve this, we evaluate and reward our executive officers based on their contributions to the achievement of annual goals and objectives set early in the year. Performance is reviewed at least annually through processes discussed further below, with a focus on our research, clinical, regulatory, financial and operational performance, and in view of economic and financial conditions affecting the performance period.

        Our Compensation Committee typically meets at least quarterly, and with greater frequency if necessary, to evaluate the performance of our executive officers and the impact that performance had on the achievement of our corporate strategies, business objectives and the long-term interests of our stockholders by:

        Typically, such evaluations are made throughout the year, with compensation packages awarded by the Compensation Committee or Board at quarterly meetings planned in advance. Awards of performance-based compensation for the previous year are typically made at the first-scheduled Compensation Committee meeting of the year, although circumstances may warrant a later determination if events of the previous year's work have not fully unfolded. Adjustments to base salary, if any, are also typically made in the first quarter of a calendar year.

        For executive compensation decisions, our Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer, James Gower. Mr. Gower participated in our Compensation Committee's deliberations concerning executive compensation matters in 2013 and was consulted on these matters in January and February of 2014. Mr. Gower did not, however, participate in the deliberations or determination of his own compensation. Our Chief Executive Officer also annually leads the development of our corporate objectives and goals, which are typically reviewed and recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board. Alternatively, the Compensation Committee may set the corporate objectives and goals pursuant to the powers delegated

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under the charter of the Compensation Committee. In 2013 and 2014, Dolly Vance, our General Counsel, also provided our Compensation Committee with general and company-specific information regarding compensation matters, as well as updates on compensation of our peer companies, as public information became available. Raul Rodriguez, our President and Chief Operating Officer, provided the Company's business and operations perspective for the Compensation Committee's final review of progress made on the goals set for 2013. Other than as described above, no other executive officers participate in the determination or recommendation of the amount or form of executive officer compensation. Our Compensation Committee does not delegate any of its functions to others in determining or recommending executive officer compensation and, except as described below, we have not engaged any consultants with respect to executive compensation matters.

        From time to time, our Compensation Committee engages a well-established consulting firm to analyze our executive officers' compensation packages against the compensation packages of executive officers at comparable companies to ensure that our compensation packages are competitive with our peers, with the goal of retaining and adequately motivating our senior management. In September 2011, the Compensation Committee engaged Barney & Barney to review and identify a new peer comparative group of companies in order to assess our 2012 executive compensation packages and to review and analyze our non-employee director compensation program for 2012. This peer group was used to guide compensation decisions in 2013. In November 2013, the Compensation Committee engaged Radford (an AON Hewitt Company) to make recommendations for updating our peer group and to review and make recommendations regarding our executive compensation for 2014, as well as to give recommendations related to our director compensation program. Based on the recommendations from Radford, the Compensation Committee established a new peer group, described below in the section entitled "Competitive Market Review and Benchmarking." Radford also did a comprehensive executive compensation review and a representative of Radford was invited to attend a Compensation Committee meeting to present and discuss their analysis and findings.

Executive Compensation Program

        We believe that the most effective compensation and benefits program is one that provides competitive base pay to recruit and retain high-level employees, rewards the achievement of established annual goals and objectives with appropriate non-equity incentive awards, and promotes long-term employment of key members of management with time-vesting equity compensation whose value is commensurate with company performance and the creation of value for our stockholders.

        Our performance driven compensation program consists of three components: base salary, short-term cash incentive compensation, and long-term equity incentive compensation. The Compensation Committee has determined that these three components, with a portion of total compensation allocated to "at-risk" performance-based incentives through the use of short-term cash incentive compensation, best align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee does not have any formal policies for allocating compensation among the three components. The Compensation Committee reviews relevant market compensation data and uses its judgment to determine the appropriate level and mix of compensation on an annual basis to ensure that compensation is competitive and that we are able to attract and retain capable executive officers. In view of the continuing economic and financial environment, the Compensation Committee has reviewed the design and operation of our compensation programs, including the performance objectives and target levels used in connection with cash incentive awards, and determined that these arrangements remain in line with our corporate objectives.

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        Base Salary.    The base salaries that we pay to our executive officers and other employees are designed to compensate them for day-to-day services rendered during the fiscal year. Appropriate base salaries are used to recognize the experience, skills, knowledge and responsibilities required of each executive officer and to allow us to attract and retain officers capable of leading us to achieve our business goals in competitive market conditions. The base salaries of our Named Executive Officers are reviewed on at least an annual basis and adjustments are made to reflect performance-based factors, for the Company as well as the individual, and competitive market conditions, as discussed under "Competitive Market Review and Benchmarking" below. The Compensation Committee also takes into account subjective performance criteria, such as an executive officer's ability to lead, organize and motivate others, develop the skills necessary to mature with the Company, set realistic goals to be achieved in his or her respective area, and recognize and pursue new business opportunities that enhance our growth and success. The Compensation Committee does not apply specific formulas to determine increases, but instead makes an evaluation of each executive officer's contribution to our long-term success. Annual adjustments to salaries are effective as of January 1 of each year, with mid-year adjustments to salaries made under special circumstances, such as promotions or increased responsibilities, or in order to align certain salaries with those of individuals in peer companies.

        Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation.    Annual cash incentive compensation is designed both to reward our executive officers for their contributions to the achievement of company goals and objectives, and to motivate our executive officers with respect to future performance. The goals and objectives on which the cash incentive compensation is based are designed to reflect progress towards achieving long-term value for the Company and its stockholders and, as a result, may fluctuate from year to year to reflect the Compensation Committee's determination of the progress made in that year. Therefore, our Compensation Committee views cash incentive compensation as an important component of both our short-term and long-term compensation packages. Awards under the cash incentive program are based on a thorough quantitative and qualitative review of facts and circumstances related to company, department, function and individual performance, as compared to the corporate goals approved by the Compensation Committee or the Board during the first part of the performance year. When establishing awards, the Compensation Committee also considers, among other things, general market and industry conditions and economic changes during the relevant performance year. The Compensation Committee reviews the cash incentive program on a regular basis to consider whether, and to what extent, an individual is eligible to receive an award pursuant to the applicable cash incentive plan. Each year, the Compensation Committee establishes a target bonus payout based on a percentage of the applicable individual's base salary. The target bonus payout for an individual varies depending on the individual's position and responsibilities. The corporate goals established by the Compensation Committee, or recommended by the Compensation Committee for approval by the Board, are designed to be aggressive, but are goals that the Compensation Committee believes can be attained if the Company performs according to plan. In the event the Company or an individual displays exemplary performance for the year, the Compensation Committee, in exercising its discretion, may grant or recommend bonuses in excess of the target bonus levels, up to a maximum of 120% of the individual's base salary. Alternatively, in the event the Company or an individual displays inadequate performance for the year, the Compensation Committee, in exercising its discretion, may grant or recommend cash bonuses that are less than the target bonus levels or no bonuses at all. Generally, in order to be eligible to receive the maximum bonus payout, the Company's performance must not only exceed the targets established by the Compensation Committee, but the individual's contribution to that achievement must exceed the contribution expected of that individual in the course of performing his or her duties at the level expected of someone in that individual's position.

        Long-Term Incentive Compensation.    Our long-term incentive compensation is in the form of stock option awards and is designed to align a component of our executives' compensation packages with the interests of our stockholders to create long-term value in the Company, as demonstrated through stock price performance. Our Compensation Committee grants time-vesting options to purchase our common

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stock to executive officers in order to tie this element of our compensation program to the long-term appreciation of our stock value, which is dependent on us achieving our corporate goals. The Compensation Committee has also granted stock options with performance-based vesting to executive management, to provide further incentive to achieve important business goals for the Company. Employees in more senior roles have an increasing proportion of their compensation tied to long-term performance, because they are in a position to have greater influence on longer-term results. The value of these options is contingent on company performance and the resulting increase in our stock's value over time.

        We believe that granting equity awards as a significant component of the compensation of our executive officers not only provides a retention incentive during the applicable vesting periods but also aligns the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders. While we have not adopted formal stock ownership or holding guidelines, our executive officers generally have held a substantial portion of the equity awards they have received, even long after the awards have vested, which shows the executives' confidence in our long-term prospects and maintains the alignment between the interests of our executive officers and those of our stockholders over the longer term.

        In general, stock options are granted periodically to existing employees, including our executive officers, and upon a new hire or promotion, and are subject to vesting over time, based on the individual's continued employment. Generally, options granted to an executive officer who became an officer for the first time will vest monthly over a four year period and are not available for exercise until after the first full year of employment, in any position. Options granted to officers who were already executive officers at the start of the year have, until 2013, vested monthly over a one-year period, but options granted in 2013 vest monthly over a two-year period. Beginning this year, we have granted options to our executive officers that vest monthly over a four-year period, and which include a performance vesting condition with respect to 50% of the shares underlying such options. The exercise price of an option is equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, which is equal to the closing price of our stock on the date immediately preceding the grant date. Typically, stock option grants are made to our existing executive officers during the first quarter of each fiscal year, but grants may be made by the Board or the Compensation Committee at other times if, for example, outstanding grants expire unexercised, a mid-year promotion is made or additional responsibilities are taken on or objectives achieved, meriting a supplemental grant, or an equity plan that is low in available shares at the time of grant is replenished later in the year, making available shares to which the individual would otherwise have been entitled.

        The factors considered in determining the size of option grants include the executive officer's position within the Company, the percentage ownership of the Company that the options represent on a fully-diluted basis, the executive officer's percentage ownership in the Company as compared to the executive officer's peers both internally and externally at other comparable companies in the biotechnology industry, the vesting status of options already held by the executive officer, if any, and the executive officer's contributions to both the creation of value and the long-term success of the Company. The Board and Compensation Committee also consider the total option pool available in a given year and the total number of options that may be granted to all employees, including the executive officers.

        We grant stock options under our 2000 Plan and 2011 Plan. The 2000 Plan and 2011 Plan prohibit the repricing, exchange or cashing out of stock awards, including stock options, without stockholder approval within 12 months prior to such repricing. We did not reprice any stock options in 2012 or 2013, despite the fact that our executives hold a significant amount of stock options that are underwater. This reflects our commitment to our pay-for-performance philosophy.

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Perquisites and Other Benefits

        We provide general employment benefits to our executive officers on the same basis as the benefits provided to all of our employees, including health, vision and dental insurance, term life insurance, and short-and long-term disability insurance. We do not have programs in place to provide personal perquisites for any employee.

Total Compensation

        We believe that our 2013 executive compensation packages were reasonable and consistent with our financial performance, the individual performance of each of our Named Executive Officers and the overall achievement of the goals that we believe create and enhance stockholder value. The competitive posture of our total annual direct compensation versus the market benchmarks is expected to vary year-to-year, based on company and individual performance, as well as the performance of our peer group companies and their respective levels of annual performance bonus awards made to their executive officers. In light of our compensation philosophy, we believe that the total compensation package for our executive officers should continue to consist of base salary, annual cash incentive awards and long-term equity-based incentive compensation in the form of time-based and performance-based stock options.

2013 Executive Compensation

        Base Salary.    As discussed under "Competitive Market Review and Benchmarking" below, when establishing base salaries of our Named Executive Officers, our Compensation Committee primarily reviews the base salaries of similarly-situated executive officers at companies that we consider to be our peers. In addition to competitive market conditions, our Compensation Committee also took into account a number of performance-based factors in establishing the 2013 base salaries of the Named Executive Officers, including: each executive officer's experience, position and functional role, level of responsibility, uniqueness of applicable skills, and the demand and competitiveness for attracting and retaining an individual with each Named Executive Officer's specific expertise and experience in the biotechnology industry. The Compensation Committee also assessed each Named Executive Officer's contributions to the achievement of our 2013 corporate goals, as well as the individual's 2013 personal performance.

        The Compensation Committee did not establish individual 2013 personal performance criteria for any of our Named Executive Officer, but considered subjective performance-based factors, including: an executive officer's ability to lead, organize and motivate teams and instill loyalty, develop the skills necessary to mature with the Company, set realistic goals to be achieved in his or her respective area, and recognize and pursue new business opportunities that enhance our growth and success. The Compensation Committee also considered turnover trends within a group, meeting deadlines and the results of certain projects. In establishing the 2013 base salaries of our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee assessed each Named Executive Officer's individual performance against these subjective performance-based factors and determined that each Named Executive Officer performed at or above expectations during 2012.

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        The 2012 and 2013 base salaries for our Named Executive Officers, along with the percentage increases from 2012 to 2013, are set forth in the table below.

Named Executive Officer
  2012 Base
Salary 		  2013 Base
Salary 		  % Increase
from
Final 2012
Base Salary 		 

James M. Gower

   $ 671,612   $ 695,118     3.5 %

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

   $ 540,648   $ 559,571     3.5 %

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

   $ 503,709   $ 521,339     3.5 %

Raul R. Rodriguez

   $ 533,063   $ 551,720     3.5 %

Ryan D. Maynard

   $ 426,420   $ 441,345     3.5 %

        In determining the 2013 base salary for each of our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee did an analysis of competitive market salaries of similarly-situated executive officers at companies within our peer group, as well as the base salaries of the Named Executive Officers relative to each other. Having determined that each of the Named Executive Officers' base salaries were in line with those of similarly-situated executives at our peer companies, increases to annual base salaries were limited to 3.5%, which was the market rate of increases in the biotechnology industry.

        Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation.    For 2013, we proposed only performance-based bonuses. The Compensation Committee decided that all of our Named Executive Officers' variable cash incentive compensation for 2013 should be dependent upon the achievement of specific and objective company and individual performance goals. These goals focus on creating incentives for management to achieve specific annual financial goals as well as strategically important operational goals designed to translate into longer-term financial performance.

        For performance in fiscal year 2013, an individual was eligible to receive a cash incentive award equal to a percentage of his or her 2013 base salary based on the achievement of specific corporate goals recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board at the beginning of fiscal year 2013, pursuant to our 2013 Cash Incentive Plan (which was attached as an exhibit to our current report on Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2013). Under the 2013 Cash Incentive Plan, target bonus levels for our executive officers, if we performed at plan, range from 40% to 60% of such executive officer's 2013 base salary, based on position and responsibilities of the executive. The maximum bonus that an executive officer would be eligible to receive is 120% of the executive officer's 2013 base salary. The corporate goals established under the 2013 Cash Incentive Plan include: initiating clinical development of product candidates (weighted at 20%); advancing the development of product candidates already in the clinic (weighted at 35%); initiation of the approval process of a drug candidate for commercial sale (weighted at 35%); and maintaining a viable cash position at December 31, 2013 (weighted at 10%), as well as other business performance goals to be determined by the Compensation Committee. Pursuant to its discretionary authority, the Compensation Committee also considered other performance goals, current economic conditions and exceptional and/or inadequate performances by each executive officer when evaluating whether and to what extent to award bonuses.

        One of our overall strategic goals is to build a deep pipeline of early stage candidates in the clinic. With respect to the corporate performance goal of initiating clinical development of product candidates (weighted at 20%), the Compensation Committee considered that the IND application for R118 was filed in preparation for the initiation of Phase 1 clinical trials in the first half of 2014 and determined that we achieved a portion of this component.

        A significant corporate performance component of our 2013 short-term cash compensation program was to advance the development of product candidates already in the clinic (weighted at 35%). The Compensation Committee considered that we initiated our Phase 2 DROPS study in

43

approximately 210 patients with dry eye disease. Results of this Phase 2 study are expected in the second half of 2014. In contrast, due to the overall findings of our completed Phase 2 clinical studies for R333 as a potential therapeutic for active skin lesions in patients with DLE and R343 as a potential therapeutic for patients with allergic asthma, we decided in 2013 not to pursue either indication further. Considering the positive progress of one program and termination of the other two programs, the Compensation Committee determined that a small portion of this component was achieved.

        Another significant corporate performance component of our 2013 short-term cash compensation program was the initiation of the approval process of a drug candidate for commercial sale (weighted at 35%). The Compensation Committee considered that, based on the totality of the results of the OSKIRA Phase 3 program in patients with RA, in June 2013, AZ informed us that it would not proceed with regulatory filings and, instead would return the rights to the compound to us and that we have not otherwise initiated any regulatory approval process for a drug candidate in 2013. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee determined that this performance goal had not been met in 2013, even while taking into consideration that our representatives met with the FDA for an end-of-Phase 2 meeting for fostamatinib for patients with ITP and that we expect to enter a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study in the first half of 2014.

        The Compensation Committee also considered the extent of success in meeting our cash position goal (weighted at 10%). We finished 2013 with a cash position of approximately $212 million, which exceeded our originally anticipated year-ending cash position. Consequently, the Compensation Committee determined that the goal had been met in full.

        Finally, the Compensation Committee assessed the extent to which each executive officer contributed to our achievement of our corporate goals. Ultimately, however, after considering all of these components together and the impact that these results will have on the near-term prospects of bringing a product candidate to market, the Compensation Committee determined that no payment should be made to any of the Named Executive Officers.

        The following table sets forth the bonus levels, target and actual (paid in 2014), for our Named Executive Officers for 2013 (each expressed as a percentage of base salary):

Named Executive Officer
  Target Bonus
Level 		  Max. Bonus
Level 		  Bonus Payout as
% of Target—
Bonus Level 		  Bonus Payout as
% of 2013 Base
Salary 		 

James M. Gower

     60 %   120 %   0 %   0 %

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

     50 %   120 %   0 %   0 %

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

     50 %   120 %   0 %   0 %

Raul R. Rodriguez

     60 %   120 %   0 %   0 %

Ryan D. Maynard

     50 %   120 %   0 %   0 %

        Long-Term Incentive Compensation.    We emphasize stock options as key elements of our executive compensation program. We believe that stock options are fundamental to our pay for performance philosophy because the value of these options is contingent on company performance and the resulting increase in our stock's value over time.

        We carefully consider the appropriate amount of stock options to grant our executive officers, based on each executive's individual contributions and past performance, percentage ownership of the Company, position with the Company and comparison to the equity ownership of the corresponding executives of our peer companies. We typically grant stock options in January of each year, based on these considerations in light of the preceding year. Thus, the stock options granted to our Named Executive Officers in January 2013 reflect these considerations, as well as their individual contribution towards achievement of 2012 corporate goals. After considering the then-current percentage ownership of both stock and stock options by each of the executive officers, as well as individual contributions and

44

past performance of each of the executive officers, the Compensation Committee determined in January 2013 to grant stock options as set forth below. These option grants vest monthly over two years.

        In 2013, the Compensation Committee granted the following options to purchase shares of our common stock to our executive officers:

Named Executive Officer
  Number of Stock
Options Awarded 		 

James M. Gower

     225,000  

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

     200,000  

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

     150,000  

Raul R. Rodriguez

     150,000  

Ryan D. Maynard

     150,000  

        In addition to stock options, our executive officers are eligible to participate in our 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). The ESPP is available to all of our employees and generally permits participants to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount at set dates during the year. In 2013, our Named Executive Officers purchased 7,069 shares pursuant to the ESPP, consisting of 3,489 shares of our common stock purchased by Mr. Gower and 3,580 shares of our common stock purchased by Mr. Rodriguez.

        Total Compensation.    For further information regarding the 2013 compensation for our Named Executive Officers, see the "Summary Compensation Table" and the "Grants of Plan-Based Awards" table below.

2014 Executive Compensation

        Base Salary.    The 2013 and 2014 base salaries for our Named Executive Officers, along with the percentage increases from 2013 to 2014, are set forth in the table below.

Named Executive Officer
  2013
Base Salary 		  2014
Base Salary 		  Percentage
Increase from
Prior Year 		 

James M. Gower

   $ 695,118   $ 695,118     0 %

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

   $ 559,571   $ 559,571     0 %

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

   $ 521,339   $ 521,339     0 %

Raul R. Rodriguez

   $ 551,720   $ 551,720     0 %

Ryan D. Maynard

   $ 441,345   $ 441,345     0 %

        In determining the 2014 base salary for each of our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee considered an analysis by Radford of competitive market salaries of similarly-situated executive officers at companies within the our peer group, as well as the base salaries of the Named Executive Officers relative to each other. In addition to competitive market conditions, our Compensation Committee also took into account a number of performance-based factors in establishing the 2014 base salaries of the Named Executive Officers, including: each executive officer's experience, position and functional role, level of responsibility, uniqueness of applicable skills, and the demand and competitiveness for attracting and retaining an individual with each Named Executive Officer's specific expertise and experience in the biotechnology industry. The Compensation Committee also assessed each Named Executive Officer's contributions to achievement of our 2013 corporate goals, as discussed in detail for each individual above under "2013 Executive Compensation—Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation," as well as the individual's 2013 personal performance. Based on this analysis, the Compensation Committee believed that the base salaries of our executive officers were in line with those of similarly situated executive officers at companies within our peer group and did not need to be adjusted.

45

        Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation.    In February 2014, the Board determined that the Compensation Committee should establish the corporate goals and incentive bonus targets for the 2014 performance year by the planned May meeting of the Board, after considering the adjustment in our objectives and plans as a result of the return of the fostamatinib program by AZ. Consistent with prior practice, we expect that cash incentive awards made pursuant to the 2014 Cash Incentive Plan, if any, will be paid in the first quarter of 2015.

        Long-Term Incentive Compensation.    The Compensation Committee also granted options to purchase shares of our common stock to our executive officers at its meeting in February 2014, to vest monthly over a four-year period for half of each such options and upon the achievement of certain performance milestones for the other half of the option.

Named Executive Officer
  Number of Stock
Options Awarded 		 

James M. Gower

     500,000  

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

     300,000  

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

     300,000  

Raul R. Rodriguez

     300,000  

Ryan D. Maynard

     250,000  

        In setting the number of shares subject to the stock option awards granted to each of our Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee took into account recommendations from Radford, as well as the responsibilities of each Named Executive Officer in the upcoming years and, in particular, to provide further incentive to continue building long-term value for the company, as well as to keep the relative ownership interests of our Named Executive Officers consistent with that held in prior years. To better tie the compensation of our executive officers to our corporate goals and objectives, 50% of the shares underlying each of the stock option awards granted vest only upon the achievement of certain corporate performance milestones related to the progress and success of the Phase 3 program of fostamatinib for ITP. In addition, stock options, by their nature, are performance-based compensation because they will not provide any return to an individual unless there is appreciation in stock price. The actual economic value of stock options will depend directly on the performance of our stock price over the period during which the options can be exercised. The value realized by an executive for options could be as little as zero if our stock price was less than the exercise price of options pursuant to which the stock was issued.

        Our Named Executive Officers continue to be eligible to participate in our ESPP.

Competitive Market Review and Benchmarking

        When considering compensation packages, our Compensation Committee reviews the compensation packages of similarly-situated executive officers at companies that we consider to be our peers when such information is available and determined to be meaningful, taking into consideration the experience, position and functional role, level of responsibility and uniqueness of applicable skills of both our executives and those of our peers, and the demand and competitiveness for attracting and retaining an individual with each Named Executive Officer's specific expertise and experience in the biotechnology industry. While benchmarking analysis is helpful in determining market-competitive compensation for senior management, leading to better attraction and retention of top-quality executive officers, it is only one factor in determining our executive officers' compensation, and the Compensation Committee has discretion in determining the nature and extent of its use.

        In September 2011, after interviewing three compensation consulting firms, the Compensation Committee engaged Barney & Barney to review and identify a new peer comparative group of companies in order to assess our 2012 executive compensation packages, and to review and analyze our

46

non-employee director compensation program. Based on that review, and after taking into consideration such factors as product range, product development stage, market capitalization, number of employees and public status, the following companies were identified by our Compensation Committee as our peer group for 2012 and 2013 compensation determinations:

•

Affymax,  Inc.

  

•

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

  

•

Arena Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

•

Exelixis,  Inc.

  

•

ImmunoGen,  Inc.

  

•

Incyte Corporation

•

InterMune Inc.

  

•

ISIS Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

  

•

MannKind Corporation

•

MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  

•

Nektar Therapeutics

  

•

Theravance Inc.

        In November 2013, after considering various firms, the Compensation Committee engaged Radford to review and identify a new peer group of companies, to assess our 2014 executive compensation packages, and to review and analyze our non-employee director compensation program. Based on that review, and after taking into consideration such factors as product range, product development stage, market capitalization, number of employees and public status, the following companies were identified by our Compensation Committee as our peer group for 2014 compensation determinations:

•

Achillion Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

  

•

Anacor Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

  

•

ArQule, Inc.

•

Array Biopharma Inc.

  

•

Cytokinetics,  Inc.

  

•

Dynavax Technologies Corporation

•

Geron Corporation

  

•

Infinity Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

  

•

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

•

Neurocrine Biosciences,  Inc.

  

•

Novavax,  Inc.

  

•

Orexigen Therapeutics,  Inc.

•

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

  

•

PTC Therapeutics,  Inc.

  

•

Sangamo Biosciences,  Inc.

•

Sarepta Therapeutics,  Inc.

  

•

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp.

  

•

Threshold Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.

•

XOMA Corporation

  

•

ZIOPHARM Oncology,  Inc.

    

        In 2013, the Compensation Committee analyzed whether the work of Barney & Barney as a compensation consultant has raised any conflict of interest, taking into consideration the following factors: (i) the provision of other services to our company by Barney & Barney; (ii) the amount of fees from our company paid to Barney & Barney as a percentage of the firm's total revenue; (iii) Barney & Barney's policies and procedures that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of Barney & Barney or the individual compensation advisors employed by the firm with an executive officer of our company; (v) any business or personal relationship of the individual compensation advisors with any member of the Compensation Committee; and (vi) any stock of our company owned by the individual compensation advisors employed by Barney & Barney. The Compensation Committee determined, based on its analysis of the above factors, that the work of Barney & Barney and the individual compensation advisors employed by Barney & Barney as compensation consultants has not created any conflict of interest and the Compensation Committee is satisfied with the independence of Barney & Barney. In 2014, the Compensation Committee did a similar analysis of Radford, and is also satisfied with the independence of Radford. Going forward, the Compensation Committee intends to assess the independence of any of our compensation advisers by reference to the foregoing factors, consistent with applicable NASDAQ listing standards.

Change of Control Severance Plan and Employment Agreement

        In December 2007, we adopted our Severance Plan in which our executive officers participate, and entered into an employment agreement with our Executive Vice President, President of Discovery & Research, the terms of each of which are described in the section of this proxy statement entitled "Employment, Severance and Change of Control Agreements".

        The Severance Plan was adopted following a review of practices at comparable companies and was implemented, in part, to maintain the competitiveness and effectiveness of our total compensation package. The Compensation Committee believes that having such an arrangement in place can help us attract and retain key employees in a marketplace where these types of arrangements are commonly offered by our peer companies. We also believe that such arrangements in connection with terminations arising in conjunction

47

with a change of control allow our executive officers to assess a potential change of control objectively, without regard to the potential impact of the transaction on their own job security. We sought to implement a plan with terms consistent with those offered at peer companies. Among its key provisions, the plan provides for a double trigger for the payment of benefits, because it was considered to be industry standard and appropriately protects our executive officers in the event of termination of employment following a change of control, but not solely as a result of a change of control. In November 2008, our Compensation Committee approved, and we adopted, amendments to the Severance Plan to reflect the requirements of the final regulations of Section 409A of the Code. Among the changes were revised definitions of "qualifying termination," elimination of the participants' discretion to choose the order of reduction of benefits if a reduction is necessary under the parachute payment provisions, and addressing the timing of payments in connection with the execution and effectiveness of a general waiver and release. In December 2010, the Compensation Committee approved, and we adopted, an amendment and restatement, effective January 1, 2011, of the Severance Plan to, among other things, (i) replace the Plan's parachute payment gross-up provision with a best-after tax provision, (ii) extend the term of the Severance Plan so that it automatically renews on January 1, 2012 and each subsequent January 1 thereafter and (iii) revise the Plan's COBRA premium benefit provision.

        We entered into the employment agreement with Dr. Payan in December 2007, as an amendment and restatement of a previous agreement with Dr. Payan, in order to synchronize the terms of Dr. Payan's employment agreement with the terms of the Severance Plan and to otherwise update the prior agreement to reflect changes in law and general practice. In November 2008, our Compensation Committee approved, and we adopted, amendments to Dr. Payan's employment agreement to reflect the requirements of the final regulations of Section 409A of the Code. Among the changes were revised definitions of "qualifying termination," revisions to provide for direct payment of COBRA premiums to an insurer, and addressing the timing of payments in connection with the execution and effectiveness of a general waiver and release. In December 2010, the Compensation Committee approved, and we adopted, an amendment and restatement, effective January 1, 2011, of Dr. Payan's employment agreement to (i) extend the term of the agreement such that it automatically renews on January 1, 2012 and each subsequent January 1 thereafter and (ii) revise the agreement's COBRA premium benefit provision.

Tax and Accounting Impact on Compensation

        The accounting and tax consequences to the Company of certain compensation elements are important considerations for the Compensation Committee when evaluating and recommending compensation packages for our executive officers. Generally, the Compensation Committee seeks to balance its objective to create an effective compensation program that attracts, retains and rewards executives in order to maximize the return to stockholders with the need for appropriate accounting and tax consequences of such compensation.

        We believe it is in our best interest, to the extent practical, to have executive officer compensation be fully deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code, which generally provides that a publicly-held company may not deduct compensation paid to certain of its top executive officers to the extent that such compensation exceeds $1 million per officer in a calendar year. Compensation that is "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of the Code does not count toward the $1 million deduction limit.

        We have taken steps to structure payments to executive officers to meet the Section 162(m) requirements, where feasible. Executive compensation at the Company has historically met the annual compensation limit of Section 162(m). Our Compensation Committee, nevertheless, retains the discretion to provide compensation that potentially may not be fully deductible to reward performance or enhance retention. Accordingly, we may grant awards and/or enter into compensation arrangements under which payments are not deductible under Section 162(m).

48


 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE(1)

        The following table shows, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, compensation awarded to or paid to or earned by our Named Executive Officers.

Name and Principal Position
  Year   Salary
($) 		  Bonus
($) 		  Option
Awards
($)(2) 		  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) 		  All Other
Compensation
($) 		  Total
($) 		 

James M. Gower

     2013     695,118     —     1,004,850     —     9,906     1,709,874  

Chief Executive Officer,

     2012     671,612     —     1,240,695     382,819     5,148     2,300,274  

Chairman of the Board and

     2011     648,900     —     322,082     467,208     5,148     1,443,338  

Director

                                            

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

    
2013		    
559,571		    
—		    
893,200		    
—		    
9,906		    
1,462,677		  

Executive Vice President,

     2012     540,648     —     1,102,840     256,808     5,148     1,905,444  

President of Discovery and

     2011     522,365     —     322,082     313,419     5,148     1,163,014  

Research

                                            

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

    
2013		    
521,339		    
—		    
669,900		    
—		    
9,906		    
1,201,145		  

Executive Vice President,

     2012     503,709     —     827,130     239,262     5,148     1,575,249  

Chief Medical Officer

     2011     486,675     —     322,082     292,005     5,148     1,105,910  

Raul R. Rodriguez

    
2013		    
551,720		    
—		    
669,900		    
—		    
1,794		    
1,223,414		  

President and

     2012     533,063     —     827,130     303,846     1,794     1,665,833  

Chief Operating Officer

     2011     515,037     —     322,082     370,827     2,194     1,210,140  

Ryan D. Maynard

    
2013		    
441,345		    
—		    
669,900		    
—		    
780		    
1,112,025		  

Executive Vice President,

     2012     426,420     —     827,130     202,550     780     1,456,880  

Chief Financial Officer

     2011     412,000     —     322,082     247,200     780     982,062  
(1)
See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" above for complete description of compensation plans pursuant to which the amounts listed under the Summary Compensation Table were paid or awarded and the criteria for such payment, including payment of annual incentives, as well as performance criteria on which such payments were based.

(2)
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards, computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, for option awards granted in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeiture related to service-based vesting conditions. For additional information on the valuation assumptions with respect to these grants, refer to Note 4 "Stock-Based Compensation" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

49


 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

        The following table shows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, certain information regarding grants of plan-based awards to the Named Executive Officers:

 
    
    
    
    
   All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#) 		   
    
    
  
 
    
   Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1) 		  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)(2) 		  Closing
Market
Price on
Grant
Date
($/Sh) 		  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)(3) 		 
Name
  Grant
Date 		  Threshold
($) 		  Target
($) 		  Maximum
($) 		 

James M. Gower,

                                                  

2000 Plan

     1/30/13     —     —     —     225,000     6.51     6.39     1,004,850  

2013 Cash Incentive Plan

           —     417,071     834,142     —     —     —     —  

Donald G. Payan, M.D.

    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		  

2011 Plan

     1/30/13     —     —     —     200,000     6.51     6.39     893,200  

2013 Cash Incentive Plan

           —     279,786     671,485     —     —     —     —  

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D.

    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		  

2011 Plan

     1/30/13     —     —     —     150,000     6.51     6.39     669,900  

2013 Cash Incentive Plan

           —     260,670     625,607     —     —     —     —  

Raul R. Rodriguez,

    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		  

2011 Plan

     1/30/13     —     —     —     150,000     6.51     6.39     669,900  

2013 Cash Incentive Plan

           —     331,032     662,064     —     —     —     —  

Ryan D. Maynard,

    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		  

2011 Plan

     1/30/13     —     —     —     150,000     6.51     6.39     669,900  

2013 Cash Incentive Plan

           —     220,673     529,614     —     —     —     —  
(1)
The amounts shown reflect estimated payouts for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 under the 2013 Cash Incentive Plan based on the Company's performance. See "2013 Executive Compensation—Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation" for a complete description of the 2013 Cash Incentive Plan and the related performance criteria. There are no set thresholds (or equivalent items) with respect to payouts under the 2013 Cash Incentive Plan. Maximum amounts represent the maximum range of discretion of the Compensation Committee to grant bonuses in excess of the target bonus levels.

(2)
The exercise price of options under our 2000 Plan and 2011 Plan, pursuant to which option grants were made to our Named Executive Officers in 2013, is set at the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, which is defined as the closing price of our common stock on the date immediately preceding the grant date.

(3)
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards, computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. We calculated the estimated fair value of each stock award using the fair value of our common stock on the date of the grant. For additional information on the valuation assumptions with respect to these grants, refer to Note 4 "Stock-Based Compensation" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

50


 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

        The following table shows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, certain information regarding outstanding equity awards at fiscal year end for the Named Executive Officers.

 
   Option Awards  
Name
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable 		  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable 		  Option
Exercise
Price
($) 		  Option
Expiration
Date 		 

James M. Gower

     80,000     —     17.66     06/03/14  

    15,000     —     22.17     01/20/15  

    200,000     —     24.56     10/04/15  

    60,000     —     7.40     01/25/16  

    100,000     —     11.73     01/31/17  

    165,000     —     26.45     01/31/18  

    190,000     —     6.49     03/30/19  

    220,000     —     9.62     01/20/20  

    65,000     —     6.73     02/01/21  

    225,000     —     8.15     01/25/22  

    103,125     121,875 (1)   6.51     01/30/23  

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

    
40,000		    
—		    
17.66		    
06/03/14		  

    11,250     —     22.17     01/20/15  

    93,000     —     24.56     10/04/15  

    55,000     —     7.40     01/25/16  

    80,000     —     11.73     01/31/17  

    140,000     —     26.45     01/31/18  

    145,000     —     6.49     03/30/19  

    165,000     —     9.62     01/20/20  

    65,000     —     6.73     02/01/21  

    200,000     —     8.15     01/25/22  

    91,666     108,334 (1)   6.51     01/30/23  

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

    
35,000		    
—		    
17.66		    
06/03/14		  

    32,222     —     22.17     01/20/15  

    65,000     —     24.56     10/04/15  

    60,000     —     7.40     01/25/16  

    27,778     —     9.56     08/07/16  

    80,000     —     11.73     01/31/17  

    130,000     —     26.45     01/31/18  

    115,000     —     6.49     03/30/19  

    115,000     —     9.62     01/20/20  

    65,000     —     6.73     02/01/21  

    150,000     —     8.15     01/25/22  

    68,750     81,250 (1)   6.51     01/30/23  

51

 
   Option Awards  
Name
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable 		  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable 		  Option
Exercise
Price
($) 		  Option
Expiration
Date 		 

Raul R. Rodriguez

     75,000     —     17.66     06/03/14  

    12,500     —     22.17     01/20/15  

    55,000     —     24.56     10/04/15  

    65,000     —     7.40     01/25/16  

    43,889     —     9.56     08/07/16  

    80,000     —     11.73     01/31/17  

    125,000           26.45     01/31/18  

    115,000     —     6.49     03/30/19  

    125,000     —     9.62     01/20/20  

    175,000     —     6.55     05/27/20  

    65,000     —     6.73     02/01/21  

    150,000     —     8.15     01/25/22  

    68,750     81,250 (1)   6.51     01/30/23  

Ryan D. Maynard

    
11,895		    
—		    
23.00		    
01/26/14		  

    60,000     —     23,32     09/28/15  

    4,600     —     7.88     01/18/16  

    90,000     —     10.20     05/30/16  

    1,000     —     9.56     08/07/16  

    106,911     —     11.73     01/31/17  

    75,000     —     26,45     01/31/18  

    73,300     —     6.49     03/30/19  

    85,000     —     9.62     01/20/20  

    120,000     —     6.55     05/27/20  

    65,000     —     6.73     02/01/21  

    150,000     —     8.15     01/25/22  

    68,750     81,250 (1)   6.51     01/30/23  
(1)
Vests monthly over two (2) years from January 1, 2013.

52


 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

        The following table shows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, certain information regarding option exercises and stock vested during the last fiscal year with respect to the Named Executive Officers:

 
   Option Awards   Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise(#) 		  Value Realized
on
Exercise($) 		  Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting(#) 		  Value Realized
on
Vesting($) 		 

James M. Gower

     —     —     —     —  

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

     —     —     —     —  

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

     —     —     —     —  

Raul R. Rodriguez

     —     —     —     —  

Ryan D. Maynard

     —     —     —     —  


EMPLOYMENT, SEVERANCE AND CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS

        On December 17, 2007, our Board approved our Severance Plan. The Severance Plan provides for the payment of certain benefits to certain eligible employees serving as an executive officer at the time of termination, which includes the Named Executive Officers, in exchange for an effective release of claims if such officer's employment with us is involuntarily terminated by us or our successor without Cause (as defined in the Severance Plan) or due to a Resignation for Good Reason (as defined in the Severance Plan), in either case, on or within 18 months following the effective date of a Change of Control (as defined in the Severance Plan). The severance compensation includes a lump sum cash severance payment calculated using a multiple of the aggregate amount of the eligible employee's base salary (which is equal to the greater of such eligible employees base salary in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or the termination) and the average percentage of the target bonus earned over the last two years applied to the current target bonus (referred to as the Eligible Bonus). The multiple ranges from 2.0 for senior vice presidents and vice presidents to 2.5 for any executive vice presidents, President and the Chief Executive Officer. If the plan had been triggered in 2013, each of our Named Executive Officers would have each received a lump sum cash payment equal to 2.5 times the sum of his or her base salary and Eligible Bonus. In November 2008, our Compensation Committee approved and we adopted amendments to the Severance Plan to reflect the requirements of the final regulations of Section 409A of the Code. Among the changes were revised definitions of "qualifying termination," elimination of the participants' discretion to choose the order of reduction of benefits if a reduction is necessary under the parachute payment provisions, and addressing the timing of payments in connection with the execution and effectiveness of a general waiver and release. In December 2010, the Compensation Committee approved, and we adopted, an amendment and restatement of the Severance Plan, effective January 1, 2011, to, among other things, (i) replace the Severance Plan's parachute payment gross-up provision with a best-after-tax provision, (ii) extend the term of the Severance Plan so that it automatically renews on January 1, 2012 and each subsequent January 1 thereafter and (iii) revise the Severance Plan's COBRA premium benefit provision. As revised, the Severance Plan provides for continued health benefit eligibility, taxed payment to the executive for COBRA premiums for continuation coverage (including coverage for his or her eligible dependents) for up to 18 months, full accelerated vesting and exercisability of all of his or her then-outstanding equity awards, and an extended period of one-year from termination to exercise his or her non-expired stock options.

        In November 2008, we entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with our Executive Vice President and President of Discovery and Research, Dr. Donald Payan, which provides for severance compensation to be paid in exchange for an effective release of claims if Dr. Payan's

53

employment is terminated by Rigel without Cause (as defined in the employment agreement) or by Dr. Payan due to a Resignation for Good Reason (as defined in the employment agreement), in either case, other than on or within 18 months following a Change of Control (as defined in the employment agreement). Also included in Dr. Payan's employment agreement are changes approved by our Compensation Committee in November 2008 reflecting the requirements of the final regulations of Section 409A of the Code, including revised definitions of "qualifying termination," revisions to provide for direct payment of COBRA premiums to an insurer, and addressing the timing of payments in connection with the execution and effectiveness of a general waiver and release. In December 2010, the Compensation Committee approved an amendment and restatement of Dr. Payan's employment agreement, effective January 1, 2011, to (i) extend the term of the employment agreement such that it automatically renews on January 1, 2012 and each subsequent January 1 thereafter and (ii) revise the COBRA premium benefit provision set forth in the employment agreement. The severance payment to Dr. Payan under his employment agreement includes a lump sum cash severance payment equal to 2.0 times the aggregate amount of his then-current base salary and his Eligible Bonus, taxed payment to the executive for COBRA premiums for continued health benefits (including coverage for his eligible dependents) for up to 18 months, full accelerated vesting and exercisability of all of his then-outstanding equity awards, and an extended period of one-year from termination to exercise his non-expired stock options. Dr. Payan is eligible to participate in the Severance Plan in the event his employment is terminated as specified in the Severance Plan in connection with a Change of Control (as defined in the Severance Plan).


2013 POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL TABLE

        The following table provides information on severance benefits that would have become payable under the existing employment, severance and change in control agreements if the employment of any of our named executive officers had terminated on December 31, 2013.

 
   Voluntary Termination for Good Reason or
Involuntary Termination Without Cause After a
Change of Control 		  Voluntary Termination for Good
Reason or Involuntary Termination
Without Cause other than after a
Change of Control 		 
Name and Principal Position
  Health
Care
Benefits
($)(1) 		  Salary
and
Bonus
($) 		  Equity
Acceleration
($)(2) 		  Estimated
Excise Tax
Gross-Up
($)(3) 		  Health
Care
Benefits
($)(1) 		  Salary
and
Bonus
($) 		  Equity
Acceleration
($)(2) 		 

James M. Gower

     14,476     2,858,673 (4)   —     —     —     —     —  

Donald G. Payan, M.D. 

     32,959     2,150,851 (4)   —     —     32,959     1,720,681 (5)   —  

Elliott B. Grossbard, M.D. 

     32,959     2,003,897 (4)   —     —     —     —     —  

Raul R. Rodriguez

     14,470     2,268,949 (4)   —     —     —     —     —  

Ryan D. Maynard

     51,451     1,696,420 (4)   —     —     —     —     —  
(1)
Represents the full amount of premiums for continued coverage under our group health plans for each executive office and his eligible dependents for 18 months following termination of service, provided the executive officer timely elects continued coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA").

(2)
Represents the spread value of the outstanding unvested options with accelerated vesting benefits that were in the money on December 31, 2013, calculated based on the closing price of our common stock of $2.85 on December 31, 2013, the last trading day of fiscal 2013, over the exercise price of such unvested options subject to vesting acceleration.

(3)
Effective January 1, 2011, we replaced the Severance Plan's parachute payment gross-up provision with a best-after-tax provision, pursuant to an amendment and restatement of the Severance Plan, as further described in this section above. Accordingly, no gross-up amounts would have been paid as of December 31, 2013.

54

(4)
Represents the lump sum cash severance benefit equal to 2.5 × (2013 base salary + an amount equivalent to the Expected Percentage of 2013 target bonus, where Expected Percentage equals the average percentage such officer actually received of his or her target bonus for the previous two years).

(5)
Represents the lump sum cash severance benefit equal to 2.0 × (2013 base salary + an amount equivalent to the Expected Percentage of 2013 target bonus, where Expected Percentage equals the average percentage such officer actually received of his or her target bonus for the previous two years).


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

        For services provided in 2013, each non-employee director received a yearly retainer of $45,000, the Audit Committee chair received an additional yearly retainer of $22,000, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee chair received an additional yearly retainer of $10,000, the Compensation Committee chair received an additional yearly retainer of $15,000, the Finance Committee chair received an additional yearly retainer of $10,000. Each non-chair member of the Audit Committee received an additional yearly retainer of $12,000. Each non-chair member of the Compensation Committee received an additional yearly retainer of $10,000. Each non-chair member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and Finance Committee received an additional yearly retainer of $5,000. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the total cash compensation earned by non-employee directors was $396,000. Of the amount earned by the non-employee directors in 2013, $98,250 was paid in 2014. In 2013, each non-employee director who continued to serve as a non-employee director automatically received, under the Directors' Plan, an annual option grant to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock, as further described below. In addition, each person elected or appointed for the first time to be a non-employee director automatically was eligible to receive, upon the date of his or her initial election or appointment to be a non-employee director by the Board or our stockholders, an initial grant to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock on the terms and conditions set forth in the Directors' Plan; however, in 2013, there were no first time non-employee directors.

        In February 2014, the Board approved the position of lead independent director. Later that month, the Compensation Committee approved an annual retainer of $20,000 for the position of lead independent director and approved payment of such retainer for the newly appointed lead independent director to commence on January 1, 2014. Mr. Lyons, appointed as the lead independent director by the Board earlier that month, abstained from the voting on these matters.

        In February 2014, the Compensation Committee, taking into consideration the recommendations of Radford regarding director compensation benchmarks, as well as considering the practices and policies of our peer company group with respect to director equity compensation, approved amending the Directors' Plan to increase the number of shares automatically granted to each person elected or appointed for the first time to be a non-employee director to 60,000 and to increase the number of shares automatically granted to continuing non-employee directors to 30,000 shares. A copy of the Directors' Plan, as amended, will be filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014. Members of the Board are also eligible for reimbursement for their expenses incurred in attending Board meetings in accordance with company policy. Non-employee members of the Board are not entitled to perquisites or retirement benefits.

        Each of our non-employee directors receives stock option grants under our Directors' Plan. Only non-employee directors are eligible to receive options under the Directors' Plan. Options granted under the Directors' Plan are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options under the Code. Option grants under the Directors' Plan are non-discretionary. No other options may be granted at any time under the Directors' Plan. The exercise price of options granted under the Directors' Plan is 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of the option grant. The Board administers the Directors' Plan such that (a) initial option grants vest in equal monthly installments over the shorter of three years from the date of grant or the period beginning on the date the director is appointed to the

55

Board and ending on the date of the annual meeting at which the director is first considered for election by the stockholders, provided that the non-employee director continues to provide services to us and (b) annual option grants vest in equal monthly installments over three years from the date of grant. Beginning in 2009, annual grants vested over one year. The term of options granted under the Directors' Plan is 10 years. In the event of a merger of Rigel with or into another corporation or a consolidation, acquisition of assets or other change of control transaction involving us, each option either will continue in effect, if we are the surviving entity, or, if neither assumed nor substituted, will accelerate and the option will terminate if not exercised prior to the consummation of the transaction.

        As noted above, on May 15, 2013, pursuant to the Directors' Plan, we granted options to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock to each of Bradford S. Goodwin, Gary A. Lyons, Walter H. Moos, Hollings C. Renton, Peter S. Ringrose and Stephen A. Sherwin, each at an exercise price of $4.87 per share. These options vest in 12 equal monthly installments beginning on the grant date.


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013

        The following table shows the compensation of all non-employee directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013:

Name
  Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($) 		  Option
Awards
($)(1) 		  Total($)  

Bradford S. Goodwin

     67,000     51,477     118,477  

Gary A. Lyons

     65,000     51,477     116,477  

Walter H. Moos, Ph.D. 

     65,000     51,477     116,477  

Hollings C. Renton

     57,000     51,477     108,477  

Peter S. Ringrose, Ph.D. 

     70,000     51,477     121,477  

Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D. 

     72,000     51,477     123,477  
               
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total

     396,000     308,862     704,862  
               
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
               
(1)
Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards, computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation . For additional information on the valuation assumptions with respect to these grants, refer to Note 4 "Stock-Based Compensation" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

56


 TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Related-Person Transactions Policy and Procedures

        The Company has adopted a written Related-Person Transactions Policy that sets forth the Company's policies and procedures regarding the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of "related-person transactions." For purposes of the Company's policy only, a "related-person transaction" is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the Company and any "related person" are participants involving an amount that exceeds $120,000. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to the Company as an employee, consultant or director by a related person are not covered by this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director, nominee to become a director or more than 5% stockholder of the Company, including any of their immediate family members, and any entity in which such persons have a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest.

        Under the policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related-person transaction, management must present information regarding the proposed related-person transaction to the Audit Committee (or, where Audit Committee approval would be inappropriate, to another independent body of the Board) for consideration and approval or ratification. The presentation must include, to the extent reasonably available, a description of, among other things, the parties to the transaction, the interests, direct and indirect, of the related persons, a description of the purpose of the transaction, all of the material facts of the proposed transaction, the benefits to the Company of the transaction and whether any alternative transactions were available, whether the proposed transaction is on terms comparable to terms available to or from an unrelated third party and management's recommendation regarding the proposed transaction.

        To identify related-person transactions in advance, the Company relies on information supplied by its executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related-person transactions, the Committee takes into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to (a) the risks, costs and benefits to the Company, (b) 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, (c) the terms of the transaction, (d) the availability of other sources for comparable services or products and (e) the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally. In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself from the deliberations and approval. The policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related-person transaction, the Committee considers, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, as the Committee determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

Certain Transactions

        The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with certain officers and directors which provide, among other things, that the Company will indemnify such officer or director, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for therein, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he or she may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he or she is or may be made a party by reason of his or her position as a director, officer or other agent of the Company, and otherwise to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and the Company's Bylaws.

57


 HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

        The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as "householding," potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

        This year, a number of brokers with account holders who are Rigel stockholders will be "householding" our proxy materials. A single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and/or other Annual Meeting materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be "householding" communications to your address, "householding" will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in "householding" and would prefer to receive a separate Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials, please notify your broker, or, if you are currently receiving multiple copies of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or other Annual Meeting materials at your address and would like to request "householding" of their communications, please contact your broker(s).


OTHER MATTERS

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

    By Order of the Board of Directors

 
 

GRAPHIC
    Dolly A. Vance
 Corporate Secretary

April 8, 2014

        A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013 IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO: INVESTOR RELATIONS, RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 1180 VETERANS BOULEVARD, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080.

58


 Appendix A

RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUGUST 18, 2000
APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
AMENDED AND RESTATED APRIL 24, 2003
APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS JUNE 20, 2003
AMENDED JANUARY 31, 2007
APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY 31, 2007
AMENDED BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 13, 2008
AMENDED BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE JANUARY 20, 2010
AMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEBRUARY 4, 2014
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS [PENDING]

1.     PURPOSE.

        (a)   The purpose of this 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is to provide a means by which employees of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") and its Affiliates, as defined in subparagraph 1(b), that are designated as provided in subparagraph 2(b), may be given an opportunity to purchase common stock of the Company (the "Common Stock").

        (b)   The word "Affiliate" as used in the Plan means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

        (c)   The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of its employees, to secure and retain the services of new employees, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company.

        (d)   The Company intends that the rights to purchase stock of the Company granted under the Plan be considered options issued under an "employee stock purchase plan" as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.

2.     ADMINISTRATION.

        (a)   The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in subparagraph 2(c). Whether or not the Board has delegated administration, the Board shall have the final power to determine all questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the administration of the Plan.

        (b)   The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

A-1

        (c)   The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee composed of not fewer than two (2) members of the Board (the "Committee"). If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.

3.     SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

        (a)   Subject to the provisions of paragraph 12 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, the Common Stock that may be sold pursuant to rights granted under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 2,052,950 shares of Common Stock, plus an additional 4,000,000 shares shall be made available under the Plan beginning on the first date of the first Offering of 2014. If any right granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the Common Stock not purchased under such right shall again become available for the Plan.

        (b)   The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

4.     GRANT OF RIGHTS; OFFERING.

        The Board or the Committee may from time to time grant or provide for the grant of rights to purchase Common Stock of the Company under the Plan to eligible employees (an "Offering") on a date or dates (the "Offering Date(s)") selected by the Board or the Committee. Each Offering shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the Committee shall deem appropriate, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code that all employees granted rights to purchase stock under the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges. The terms and conditions of an Offering shall be incorporated by reference into the Plan and treated as part of the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings need not be identical, but each Offering shall include (through incorporation of the provisions of this Plan by reference in the document comprising the Offering or otherwise) the period during which the Offering shall be effective, which period shall not exceed twenty-seven (27) months beginning with the Offering Date, and the substance of the provisions contained in paragraphs 5 through 8, inclusive.

5.     ELIGIBILITY.

        (a)   Rights may be granted only to employees of the Company or, as the Board or the Committee may designate as provided in subparagraph 2(b), to employees of any Affiliate of the Company. Except as provided in subparagraph 5(b), an employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall not be eligible to be granted rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such employee has been in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate for such continuous period preceding such grant as the Board or the Committee may require, but in no event shall the required period of continuous employment be greater than two (2) years. In addition, unless otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee and set forth in the terms of the applicable Offering, no employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall be eligible to be granted rights under the Plan, unless, on the Offering Date, such employee's customary

A-2

employment with the Company or such Affiliate is for at least twenty (20) hours per week and at least five (5) months per calendar year.

        (b)   The Board or the Committee may provide that each person who, during the course of an Offering, first becomes an eligible employee of the Company or designated Affiliate will, on a date or dates specified in the Offering which coincides with the day on which such person becomes an eligible employee or occurs thereafter, receive a right under that Offering, which right shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of that Offering. Such right shall have the same characteristics as any rights originally granted under that Offering, as described herein, except that:

        (c)   No employee shall be eligible for the grant of any rights under the Plan if, immediately after any such rights are granted, such employee owns stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate. For purposes of this subparagraph 5(c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining the stock ownership of any employee, and stock which such employee may purchase under all outstanding rights and options shall be treated as stock owned by such employee.

        (d)   An eligible employee may be granted rights under the Plan only if such rights, together with any other rights granted under "employee stock purchase plans" of the Company and any Affiliates, as specified by Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, do not permit such employee's rights to purchase stock of the Company or any Affiliate to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time such rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such rights are outstanding at any time.

        (e)   Officers of the Company and any designated Affiliate shall be eligible to participate in Offerings under the Plan; provided, however, that the Board may provide in an Offering that certain employees who are highly compensated employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code shall not be eligible to participate.

6.     RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE.

        (a)   On each Offering Date, each eligible employee, pursuant to an Offering made under the Plan, shall be granted the right to purchase up to the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company purchasable with a percentage designated by the Board or the Committee not exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of such employee's Earnings (as defined in subparagraph 7(a)) during the period which begins on the Offering Date (or such later date as the Board or the Committee determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the date stated in the Offering, which date shall be no later than the end of the Offering. The Board or the Committee shall establish one or more dates during an Offering (the "Purchase Date(s)") on which rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised and purchases of Common Stock carried out in accordance with such Offering.

        (b)   In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Board or the Committee may specify a maximum number of shares that may be purchased by any employee as well as a maximum aggregate number of shares that may be purchased by all eligible employees pursuant to such Offering. In addition, in connection with each Offering that contains more than one Purchase Date, the Board or

A-3

the Committee may specify a maximum aggregate number of shares which may be purchased by all eligible employees on any given Purchase Date under the Offering. If the aggregate purchase of shares upon exercise of rights granted under the Offering would exceed any such maximum aggregate number, the Board or the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares available in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it shall deem to be equitable.

        (c)   The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to rights granted under the Plan shall be not less than the lesser of:

7.     PARTICIPATION; WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION.

        (a)   An eligible employee may become a participant in the Plan pursuant to an Offering by delivering a participation agreement to the Company within the time specified in the Offering, in such form as the Company provides. Each such agreement shall authorize payroll deductions of up to the maximum percentage specified by the Board or the Committee of such employee's Earnings during the Offering. "Earnings" is defined as an employee's wages (including amounts thereof elected to be deferred by the employee, that would otherwise have been paid, under any arrangement established by the Company that is intended to comply with Section 125, Section 401(k), Section 402(h) or Section 403(b) of the Code or that provides non-qualified deferred compensation), which shall include overtime pay, but shall exclude profit sharing, bonuses, incentive pay, commissions or other remuneration paid directly to the employee, the cost of employee benefits paid for by the Company or an Affiliate, education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group insurance or benefit program, traveling expenses, business and moving expense reimbursements, income received in connection with stock options, contributions made by the Company or an Affiliate under any employee benefit plan, and similar items of compensation, as determined by the Board or the Committee. The payroll deductions made for each participant shall be credited to an account for such participant under the Plan and shall be deposited with the general funds of the Company. A participant may reduce (including to zero) or increase such payroll deductions, and an eligible employee may begin such payroll deductions, after the beginning of any Offering only as provided for in the Offering. A participant may make additional payments into his or her account only if specifically provided for in the Offering and only if the participant has not had the maximum amount withheld during the Offering.

        (b)   At any time during an Offering, a participant may terminate his or her payroll deductions under the Plan and withdraw from the Offering by delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal in such form as the Company provides. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the Offering except as provided by the Board or the Committee in the Offering. Upon such withdrawal from the Offering by a participant, the Company shall distribute to such participant all of his or her accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock for the participant) under the Offering, without interest, and such participant's interest in that Offering shall be automatically terminated. A participant's withdrawal from an Offering will have no effect upon such participant's eligibility to participate in any other Offerings under the Plan but such participant will be required to deliver a new participation agreement in order to participate in subsequent Offerings under the Plan.

        (c)   Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan shall terminate immediately upon cessation of any participating employee's employment with the Company and any designated Affiliate, for any reason, and the Company shall distribute to such terminated employee all of his or her

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accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock for the terminated employee), under the Offering, without interest.

        (d)   Rights granted under the Plan shall not be transferable by a participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or by a beneficiary designation as provided in paragraph 14 and, otherwise during his or her lifetime, shall be exercisable only by the person to whom such rights are granted.

8.     EXERCISE.

        (a)   On each Purchase Date specified therefor in the relevant Offering, each participant's accumulated payroll deductions and other additional payments specifically provided for in the Offering (without any increase for interest) will be applied to the purchase of whole shares of stock of the Company, up to the maximum number of shares permitted pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Offering, at the purchase price specified in the Offering. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of rights granted under the Plan. The amount, if any, of accumulated payroll deductions remaining in each participant's account after the purchase of shares which is less than the amount required to purchase one share of stock on the final Purchase Date of an Offering shall be held in each such participant's account for the purchase of shares under the next Offering under the Plan, unless such participant withdraws from such next Offering, as provided in subparagraph 7(b), or is no longer eligible to be granted rights under the Plan, as provided in paragraph 5, in which case such amount shall be distributed to the participant after such final Purchase Date, without interest. The amount, if any, of accumulated payroll deductions remaining in any participant's account after the purchase of shares which is equal to the amount required to purchase whole shares of stock on the final Purchase Date of an Offering shall be distributed in full to the participant after such Purchase Date, without interest.

        (b)   No rights granted under the Plan may be exercised to any extent unless the shares to be issued upon such exercise under the Plan (including rights granted thereunder) are covered by an effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and the Plan is in material compliance with all applicable state, foreign and other securities and other laws applicable to the Plan. If on a Purchase Date in any Offering hereunder the Plan is not so registered or in such compliance, no rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised on such Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date shall be delayed until the Plan is subject to such an effective registration statement and such compliance, except that the Purchase Date shall not be delayed more than twelve (12) months and the Purchase Date shall in no event be more than twenty-seven (27) months from the Offering Date. If on the Purchase Date of any Offering hereunder, as delayed to the maximum extent permissible, the Plan is not registered and in such compliance, no rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised and all payroll deductions accumulated during the Offering (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock) shall be distributed to the participants, without interest.

9.     COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

        The Company shall seek to obtain from each federal, state, foreign or other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the rights granted under the Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such rights unless and until such authority is obtained.

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10.   USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

        Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to rights granted under the Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.

11.   RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

        A participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to rights granted under the Plan unless and until the participant's shareholdings acquired upon exercise of rights under the Plan are recorded in the books of the Company.

12.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

        (a)   If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any rights granted under the Plan, due to a change in corporate capitalization and without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through reincorporation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination or reclassification of shares), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection 3(a), and the outstanding rights will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding rights. Such adjustments shall be made by the Board, the determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive.

        (b)   In the event of: (1) a dissolution, liquidation or sale of all or substantially all of the securities or assets of the Company, (2) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (3) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, then any surviving corporation may assume outstanding rights or substitute similar rights for those under the Plan. In the event that no surviving corporation assumes outstanding rights or substitutes similar rights therefor, participants' accumulated payroll deductions shall be used to purchase Common Stock immediately prior to the transaction described above and the participants' rights under the ongoing Offering shall terminate immediately following such purchase.

13.   AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.

        (a)   The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in paragraph 12 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the adoption of the amendment, where the amendment will:

It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be

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provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to employee stock purchase plans and/or to bring the Plan and/or rights granted under it into compliance therewith.

        (b)   Rights and obligations under any rights granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan, except with the consent of the person to whom such rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply with any laws or governmental regulations, or except as necessary to ensure that the Plan and/or rights granted under the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

14.   DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

        (a)   A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account under the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to the end of an Offering but prior to delivery to the participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the participant's account under the Plan in the event of such participant's death during an Offering.

        (b)   Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

15.   TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

        (a)   The Board in its discretion, may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No rights may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

        (b)   Rights and obligations under any rights granted while the Plan is in effect shall not be altered or impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except as expressly provided in the Plan or with the consent of the person to whom such rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply with any laws or governmental regulation, or except as necessary to ensure that the Plan and/or rights granted under the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

        (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan shall terminate and no rights may be granted under the Plan after December 31, 2020.

16.   EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

        The Plan shall become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Company's registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the initial public offering of shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Effective Date"), but no rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, which date may be prior to the Effective Date.

17.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

        (a)   The Plan and Offering do not constitute an employment contract. Nothing in the Plan or in the Offering shall in any way alter the at will nature of a participant's employment or be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on the part of any participant to continue in the employ of

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the Company or any Affiliate, or on the part of the Company or any Affiliate to continue the employment of a participant.

        (b)   The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without resort to that state's conflicts of laws rules.

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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: Signature (Joint Owners) Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Date To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000200140_1 R1.0.0.51160 For Withhold For All All All Except The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: 1. Election of Directors Nominees 01 Walter H. Moos, PhD 02 Stephen A. Sherwin, MD RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. ATTN: INVESTOR RELATIONS 1180 VETERANS BLVD. SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on May 19, 2014. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on May 19, 2014. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2, 3, and 4. For Against Abstain 2. Approval of Amendments to the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 3. Advisory vote on executive compensation. 4. Ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name, by authorized officer.

 

0000200140_2 R1.0.0.51160 Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice & Proxy Statement, Form 10-K is/are available at www.proxyvote.com . RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2014 The undersigned stockholder hereby appoints James M. Gower and Dolly A. Vance, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his/her substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of common stock of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that the stockholder is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 11:00 a.m., Pacific Time on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, and any continuation, adjournment or postponement thereof. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER. IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3, AND 4. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE. Continued and to be signed on reverse side

 

 



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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH NAMED NOMINEE.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS(1)
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS(2)
PROPOSAL 2 AMENDMENT OF THE 2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2.
PROPOSAL 3 ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 3.
PROPOSAL 4 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE(1)
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
EMPLOYMENT, SEVERANCE AND CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS
2013 POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL TABLE
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
OTHER MATTERS