Alkermes, Ins.
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. 1)
Filed by the Registrant þ
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 Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
ALKERMES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
NOT APPLICABLE
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
NOT APPLICABLE
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
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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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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Explanatory Note: The sole purpose of this amendment to the
original Definitive Proxy Statement filed July 29, 2005 is
to amend the Biographical Information of Mark Skaletsky to add
that he serves on the Board of Directors for three, not two
biotechnology companies, the third biotechnology company being
Immunogen, Inc. This information was inadvertently omitted from
the Definitive Proxy Statement filed July 29, 2005. There
are no other revisions or amendments to the Definitive Proxy
Statement filed by the Registrant.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held September 23, 2005
To the Shareholders:
The annual meeting of shareholders of Alkermes, Inc. (the
Company) will be held at the offices of the Company,
88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, on
September 23, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. for the following
purposes:
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1. |
To elect nine members of the Board of Directors, each to serve
until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or
her successor is duly elected and qualified. |
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2. |
To approve an amendment to the 1999 Stock Option Plan to
increase to 19,900,000 the number of shares issuable upon the
exercise of options granted thereunder, an increase of
3,000,000 shares. |
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3. |
To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
The Board of Directors has fixed July 26, 2005 as the
record date for determining the holders of Common Stock entitled
to notice of and to vote at the meeting. Consequently, only
holders of Common Stock of record on the transfer books of the
Company at the close of business on July 26, 2005 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote over the
Internet, by telephone, by mailing the enclosed proxy card in
the postage-prepaid envelope provided or by attending the
meeting and voting in person.
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Kathryn L. Biberstein
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Secretary |
July 29, 2005
YOU CAN VOTE IN ONE OF FOUR WAYS:
(1) Use the toll-free telephone number on your proxy
card to vote by phone;
(2) Visit the web site noted on your proxy card to vote
via the Internet;
(3) Sign, date and return your proxy card in the
enclosed envelope to vote by mail; or
(4) Vote in person at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
ALKERMES, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of
Alkermes, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (Alkermes
or the Company), in connection with its 2005 annual
meeting of shareholders to be held at the offices of the
Company, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, at
9:00 a.m., on September 23, 2005 (the
Meeting). Copies of this Proxy Statement and the
accompanying proxy were made available on or after July 29,
2005 to the holders of record of Common Stock on July 26,
2005 (the Record Date).
Unless specific instructions are given to the contrary, the
persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote:
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FOR the election of the nominees named herein to the
Companys Board of Directors; and |
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FOR the amendment to increase the number of shares
available under the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
With respect to all other matters, the persons named in the
accompanying proxy will vote as stated herein. See Other
Business.
Holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on
the Record Date will be entitled to cast one vote per share so
held of record on such date on all items of business properly
presented at the Meeting, except that the holders have
cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
Therefore, each shareholder is entitled to cast as many votes in
the election of directors as shall be equal to the number of
shares of Common Stock held by such shareholder on the Record
Date, multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. A
shareholder may cast all such votes for a single nominee or may
distribute votes among nominees as the shareholder sees fit. If
you choose to cumulate your votes, you will need to make an
explicit statement of your intent to cumulate your votes, either
by so indicating in writing on your proxy card or on your ballot
when voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Unless
contrary instructions are given, the persons named in the proxy
will have discretionary authority to accumulate votes in the
same manner.
The Company had 90,137,402 shares of Common Stock
outstanding on the Record Date. The presence at the Meeting, in
person or by proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast at least a
majority of the votes that all shareholders are entitled to cast
on a particular matter will constitute a quorum for the purposes
of consideration and action on such matter.
HOW TO VOTE
If you are a shareholder of record and your shares are
registered directly in your name, you may vote:
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By Internet. Access the website of our tabulator,
Computershare, at: http://www.eproxyvote.com/alks, using
the voter control number that we have printed on the enclosed
proxy card. Your shares will be voted in accordance with your
instructions. You must specify how you want your shares voted or
your Internet vote cannot be completed and you will receive an
error message. |
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By Telephone. Call 1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683)
toll-free from the U.S. and Canada and follow the instructions
on the enclosed proxy card. Your shares will be voted in
accordance with your instructions. You must specify how you want
your shares voted or your telephone vote cannot be completed. |
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By Mail. Complete and mail the enclosed proxy card in the
enclosed postage prepaid envelope to Computershare Your proxy
will be voted in accordance with your instructions. If you sign
and return the enclosed proxy but do not specify how you want
your shares voted (or unless discretionary authority to cumulate
votes is exercised), they will be voted FOR the nominees |
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named herein to the Companys Board of Directors and FOR
the amendment to increase the shares available under the
1999 Stock Option Plan and will be voted according to the
discretion of the proxy holder upon any other business that may
properly be brought before the meeting and at all adjournments
and postponements thereof. |
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In Person at the Meeting. If you attend the meeting, you
may deliver your completed proxy card in person or you may vote
by completing a ballot, which will be available at the meeting. |
If your shares of Common Stock are held in street
name (held for your account by a broker or other nominee):
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By Internet or By Telephone. You will receive
instructions from your broker or other nominee if you are
permitted to vote by Internet or telephone. |
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By Mail. You will receive instructions from your broker
or other nominee explaining how to vote your shares. |
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In Person at the Meeting. Contact the broker or other
nominee who holds your shares to obtain a brokers proxy
card and bring it with you to the meeting. |
How to Revoke Your Proxy
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised at
the meeting by taking any of the following actions:
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providing written notice to the Secretary of the Company by any
means, including facsimile, stating that the proxy is revoked; |
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signing and delivering a proxy relating to the same shares and
bearing a later date; |
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transmitting a subsequent vote over the Internet or by
telephone; or |
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attending the meeting and voting in person, although attendance
at the meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. |
Please note that if your shares are held of record by a broker
or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must
bring to the meeting a letter from such broker or other nominee
confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors currently consists of nine members: Floyd
E. Bloom, Robert A. Breyer, Gerri Henwood, Paul J. Mitchell,
Richard F. Pops, Alexander Rich, Paul Schimmel, Mark B.
Skaletsky, and Michael A. Wall. Nine directors are to be elected
at the Meeting to serve one-year terms until the 2006 annual
meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors
are elected and shall qualify. The persons named in the
accompanying proxy intend to vote for the election of Floyd E.
Bloom, Robert A. Breyer, Gerri Henwood, Paul J. Mitchell,
Richard F. Pops, Alexander Rich, Paul Schimmel, Mark B.
Skaletsky, and Michael A. Wall, unless authority to vote for one
or more of such nominees is specifically withheld in the proxy.
The persons named in the proxy will have the right to vote
cumulatively and to distribute their votes among such nominees
as they consider advisable. The Board of Directors is informed
that all the nominees are willing to serve as directors, but if
any of them should decline to serve or become unavailable for
election at the Meeting, an event which the Board of Directors
does not anticipate, the persons named in the proxy will vote
for such nominee or nominees as may be designated by the Board
of Directors, unless the Board of Directors reduces the number
of directors accordingly.
The nine nominees for directors receiving the highest number of
votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote thereon will be
elected to serve on the Board of Directors. Abstentions will be
counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum for purposes of this proposal, but will not be counted as
votes cast. Broker non-votes (shares held by a broker or nominee
as to which the broker or nominee does not have the authority to
vote on a particular matter) will be counted as present for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for purposes of
this proposal but will not be voted. Accordingly, while
abstentions and Broker non-votes will count towards establishing
a quorum, neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will effect
the outcome of the vote on this proposal
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the
election of the nominees named herein to the Companys
Board of Directors.
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth the director nominees recommended
to the Board by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee to be elected at the Meeting and the executive
officers of the Company, their ages, and the position currently
held by each such person within the Company as of July 26,
2005.
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Position |
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Mr. Richard F. Pops
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Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Mr. David A. Broecker
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Chief Operating Officer and President |
Ms. Kathryn L. Biberstein
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Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Mr. James M. Frates
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Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Mr. Michael J. Landine
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Vice President, Corporate Development |
Mr. Robert A. Breyer
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Director |
Dr. Floyd E. Bloom(2)(3)
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68 |
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Director |
Ms. Gerri Henwood
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52 |
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Director |
Mr. Paul J. Mitchell(1)(2)
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52 |
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Director |
Dr. Alexander Rich(2)(3)
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80 |
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Director |
Dr. Paul Schimmel(1)(3)
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64 |
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Director |
Mr. Mark B. Skaletsky(1)(2)
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57 |
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Director |
Mr. Michael A. Wall(4)
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76 |
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Director |
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Member of the Compensation Committee |
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Member of the Audit Committee |
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Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Mr. Pops has been a director and the Chief Executive
Officer of Alkermes since February 1991. Mr. Pops currently
serves on the Board of Directors of Neurocrine Biosciences,
Inc., a biotechnology company, the Biotechnology Industry
Organization (BIO), the New England Healthcare Institute, and
the Fessenden School Board of Trustees. He is also a member of
the Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows.
Mr. Broecker has been President since January 2002 and
Chief Operating Officer of Alkermes since February 2001. From
August 1985 to January 2001, he was employed at Eli Lilly and
Company. During his tenure at Eli Lilly, Mr. Broecker
managed Eli Lillys largest pharmaceutical manufacturing
facility outside of the U.S., located in Kinsale, Ireland, as
General Manager. He also worked as a General Manager in Eli
Lillys packaging and distribution operations in Germany,
and Director of Marketing for Advanced Cardiovascular Systems,
now a part of Guidant Corporation.
Ms. Biberstein has been Vice President and General Counsel
of Alkermes since March 2003. She held a position at
Crowell & Moring LLC as Of Counsel from February 2002
to February 2003 and performed legal consulting services for
various clients from March 2000 to February 2002. She was also
employed by Serono S.A. and was General Counsel from 1993 to
March 2000 and a member of the Executive Committee from 1998 to
March 2000.
Mr. Frates has been Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer of Alkermes since July 1998. From June 1996 to
July 1998, he was employed at Robertson, Stephens &
Company, most recently as a Vice President in Investment
Banking. Prior to that time he was employed at Morgan
Stanley & Co. Mr. Frates currently serves on the
Board of Directors of GPC Biotech AG, a biotechnology company,
and as a national chairperson of the Association of Bioscience
Financial Officers.
Mr. Landine has been Vice President, Corporate Development
of Alkermes since March 1999. From March 1988 until June 1998,
he was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Alkermes.
Mr. Landine is also currently an advisor to the Board of
Directors of Walker Magnetics Group, an international
manufacturer of industrial equipment and is a member of the
Board of Directors of Kopin Corporation, a developer and
manufacturer of compound semiconductor components and miniature
flat panel displays for use in wireless and consumer electronic
products, and GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company.
Dr. Bloom is a founder of Alkermes and has been a director
of Alkermes since 1987. Since its founding in 2000,
Dr. Bloom has served as the Chief Executive Officer of
Neurome, Inc., a biotechnology company. Dr. Bloom has been
active in neuropharmacology for more than 35 years, holding
positions at Yale University, the National Institute of Mental
Health and The Salk Institute. Since 1983, he has been at The
Scripps Research Institute where he was Chairman, Department of
Neuropharmacology until February 2005 and where he is currently
a Professor Emeritus. Dr. Bloom served as Editor-in-Chief
of Science from 1995 to May 2000. He is a member of the National
Academy of Science, the Institute of Medicine, the Royal Swedish
Academy of Science, and the Board of Trustees of Washington
University, as Chairman of National Council for the School of
Medicine.
Mr. Breyer has been a director of Alkermes since July 1994.
He served as the President of Alkermes from July 1994 until his
retirement in December 2001 and Chief Operating Officer from
July 1994 to February 2001. Mr. Breyer is currently a
part-time employee of Alkermes. From August 1991 to December
1993, Mr. Breyer was President and General Manager of Eli
Lilly Italy, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company. From
September 1987 to August 1991, he was Senior Vice President,
Marketing and Sales of IVAC Corporation, a medical device
company and a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company.
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Ms. Henwood has been a director of Alkermes since April
2003. She is the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company co-founded by
Ms. Henwood and specializing in urologic and male health.
Prior to founding Auxilium, Ms. Henwood founded, in 1985, a
contract research organization (CRO), IBAH, Inc., that became a
public company and was eventually sold to a large healthcare
company. Prior to founding IBAH, Ms. Henwood was employed
by SmithKline Beecham in various capacities including senior
medical and regulatory positions. Ms. Henwood serves on the
Board of Directors of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mr. Mitchell has been a director of Alkermes since April
2003. He has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
since April 2002 of Kenet, Inc., a company engaged in the
development and manufacture of analog and mixed signal
integrated circuits. Prior to joining Kenet, Mr. Mitchell
was the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Kopin
Corporation from April 1985 through September 1998. From
September 1998 through June 2001, Mr. Mitchell served in a
consulting role at Kopin as Director of Strategic Planning.
Prior to joining Kopin, Mr. Mitchell worked for the
international accounting firm of Touche Ross & Co. from
1975 to 1984. Mr. Mitchell is also President of Mitchell
Financial Group, an investment and consulting firm with
activities in the technology, healthcare and financial services
industries. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
Dr. Rich is a founder of Alkermes and has been a director
of Alkermes since 1987. Dr. Rich has been a professor at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since 1958, and is the
William Thompson Sedgwick Professor of Biophysics and
Biochemistry. He is a member of the National Academy of
Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the
Institute of Medicine. Dr. Rich is Co-Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Repligen Corporation, a biopharmaceutical
company, and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of
U.S. Genomics, a company developing technology for genetic,
functional genomics and protein analyses.
Dr. Schimmel is a founder of Alkermes and has been a
director of Alkermes since 1987. Dr. Schimmel is the Ernest
and Jean Hahn Professor of Molecular Biology and Chemistry and a
member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at The
Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Schimmel was the John D.
and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Biophysics and
Biochemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where
he was employed from 1967 through 1997. Dr. Schimmel is a
member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Schimmel is Co-Chairman
of the Board of Directors of Repligen Corporation, a director
and scientific advisory board member of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., a biopharmaceutical company and is a member of the
Scientific Advisory Board of Illumina, Inc., a biotechnology
company.
Mr. Skaletsky has been a director of Alkermes since June
2004. He has been the President, Chief Executive Officer, and
Chairman of Trine Pharmaceuticals, Inc, (formerly Essential
Therapeutics, Inc.), a drug development company, since the
company was formed by the merger of The Althexis Company and
Microcide Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In May 2003, Essential
Therapeutics, Inc. filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition
which was favorably resolved in October 2003. From 2000 to 2001,
Mr. Skaletsky was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of The Althexis Company, a drug development company. From 1993
to 2000, he was the President and CEO of GelTex Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. until its acquisition by Genzyme, Inc. From 1988 to 1993,
Mr. Skaletsky was the Chief Executive Officer of Enzytech,
Inc., and its Chairman from 1989 to 1993. From 1981 to 1988,
Mr. Skaletsky held various positions at Biogen, Inc.
including President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial
Officer. Mr. Skaletsky serves on the Board of Directors for
three biotechnology companies Icoria, Inc. (formerly Paradigm
Genetics, Inc.), Advanced Magnetics, Inc., and Immunogen, Inc.
He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Bentley College
and is a member of the Board of Directors and a former Chairman
of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Mr. Wall is a founder of Alkermes and has been Chairman of
the Board of Alkermes since 1987. He is currently a part-time
employee of Alkermes. From April 1992 until June 1993, he was a
director and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Centocor,
Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From November 1987 to June
1993, he was Chairman Emeritus of Centocor. Mr. Wall is a
director of Kopin Corporation.
5
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
Independence of Members of the Board of Directors
The Company defines an independent director in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act),
the rules promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules of The
Nasdaq National Market, Inc. (Nasdaq). Because it is
not possible to anticipate or explicitly provide for all
potential situations that may affect independence, the Board
periodically reviews each directors status as an
independent director and whether any independent director has
any other relationship with the Company that, in the judgment of
the Board, would interfere with the directors exercise of
independent judgment in carrying out such directors
responsibilities as a director. The Board will make an annual
determination whether each director is independent
under the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules
promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules of Nasdaq.
The Board of Directors has determined that each of Floyd E.
Bloom, Gerri Henwood, Paul J. Mitchell, Paul Schimmel, Mark B.
Skaletsky and Alexander Rich are independent within the meaning
of the Companys director independence standards and the
director independence standards of the Exchange Act and Nasdaq.
Furthermore, the Board of Directors has determined that each
member of each of the committees of the Board of Directors is
independent within the meaning of the Companys, the
Exchange Act and Nasdaqs director independence standards.
Executive Sessions of Independent Directors
The Boards policy is to hold meetings of the independent
directors following each regularly scheduled in-person Board
Meeting (other than in connection with the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders). Independent director sessions do not include any
employee directors of the Company, and a majority of the
independent directors will determine who will assume the
responsibility of chairing such sessions. In February 2005,
Mr. Skaletsky was appointed the presiding director of the
executive sessions of the independent directors.
Policies Governing Director Nominations
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible
for reviewing with the Board, from time to time, the appropriate
qualities, skills and characteristics desired of Board members
in the context of the current make-up of the Board. This
assessment includes consideration of the following minimum
qualifications that the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee believes must be met by all directors:
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Directors must be of high ethical character and share the values
of the Company as reflected in the Companys Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all directors,
officers and employees; |
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Directors must have reputations, both personal and professional,
consistent with the image and reputation of the Company; |
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Directors must have the ability to exercise sound business
judgment; and |
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Directors must have substantial business or professional
experience and be able to offer advice and guidance to the
Companys management based on that experience. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers
numerous other qualities, skills and characteristics when
evaluating director nominees, such as:
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An understanding of and experience in biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industries; |
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An understanding of and experience in accounting oversight and
governance, finance and marketing; |
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Leadership experience with public companies or other significant
organizations; |
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International experience; and |
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Diversity of age, gender, culture and professional background. |
These factors and others are considered useful by the Board, and
are reviewed in the context of an assessment of the perceived
needs of the Board at a particular point in time.
Board members are expected to prepare for, attend, and
participate in all Board meetings, meetings of Committees on
which they serve and the Companys Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. In addition, directors should stay abreast of the
Companys business and markets. The General Counsel and the
Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for assuring the
orientation of new directors, and for periodically providing
materials or briefing sessions for all directors on subjects
that would assist them in discharging their duties.
Periodically, the Company will provide opportunities for
directors to visit Company facilities in order to provide
greater understanding of the Companys business and
operations. The Board, following review by the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, will determine whether other
educational measures are appropriate as part of the annual Board
evaluation.
Each Board member is expected to ensure that other existing and
planned future commitments do not materially interfere with the
members service as an outstanding director. Board members
should not hold more than six directorships (including such
members seat on the Companys Board of Directors),
but, excluding for this purpose, not-for-profit organizations,
trade organizations and related organizations or unless
otherwise agreed to by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. These other commitments will be considered by the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board when
reviewing Board candidates. Directors are expected to report
changes in their primary business or professional association,
including retirement, to the Chairperson of the Board and the
Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in
consultation with the Chairperson of the Board, will consider
any effects these changes may have on the effectiveness of the
directors contribution to the work of the Board.
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Process for Identifying and Evaluating Director
Nominees |
The Board is responsible for selecting its own members. The
Board delegates the selection and nomination process to the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with the
expectation that other members of the Board and management will
be requested to take part in the process as appropriate.
Once candidates have been identified, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee confirms that the candidates meet
all of the minimum qualifications for director nominees
established by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. Based on the results of the evaluation process, the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends
candidates for the Boards approval as director nominees
for election to the Board. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee also recommends candidates for the
Boards appointment to the committees of the Board.
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Procedure for Recommendation of Director Nominees by
Stockholders |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider
director candidates who are recommended by shareholders of the
Company. Shareholders, in submitting recommendations to the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for director
candidates, shall follow the following procedures:
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must receive
any such recommendation for nomination not later than the close
of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of
business on the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the
date of the proxy statement delivered to shareholders in
connection with the preceding years annual meeting.
Such recommendation for nomination must be in writing and
include the following:
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Name and address of the shareholder making the recommendation,
as they may appear on the Companys books and records, and
of such record holders beneficial owner; |
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Number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are owned
beneficially and held of record by such shareholder and such
beneficial owner; |
|
|
|
Name and address of the individual recommended for consideration
as a director nominee (a Director Nominee); |
|
|
|
The principal occupation of the Director Nominee; |
|
|
|
The total number of shares of capital stock of the Company that
will be voted for the Director Nominee by the shareholder making
the recommendation; |
|
|
|
All other information relating to the Director Nominee that
would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies
for the election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each
case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act
(including the Director Nominees written consent to being
named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a
director if approved by the Board and elected); and |
|
|
|
A written statement from the shareholder making the
recommendation stating why such recommended candidate would be
able to fulfill the duties of a director. |
Nominations must be sent to the attention of the Secretary of
the Company by one of the two methods listed below:
By U.S. Mail (including courier or expedited delivery
service):
|
|
|
Alkermes, Inc. |
|
88 Sidney Street |
|
Cambridge, MA 02139 |
|
Attn: Secretary of Alkermes, Inc. |
By facsimile to:
|
|
|
(617) 621-7856 |
|
Attn: Secretary of Alkermes, Inc. |
The Secretary of the Company will promptly forward any such
nominations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. Once the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee receives the nomination of a candidate, the candidate
will be evaluated and a recommendation with respect to such
candidate will be delivered to the Board. Nominations not made
in accordance with the foregoing policy shall be disregarded by
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and votes cast
for such nominee shall not be counted.
Composition and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
The Board size is currently set at nine members. The Board
periodically reviews the appropriate size of the Board and, in
accordance with the Companys By-laws, this number may be
adjusted from time to time.
It is the general policy of the Board that Board compensation
should be a mix of cash and equity based compensation. Full-time
employee directors will not be paid for Board membership in
addition to their regular employee compensation. Independent
directors may not receive consulting, advisory or other
compensatory fees from the Company if the receipt of such fees
would result in disqualifying the director as a
independent director in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules promulgated
thereunder and the applicable rules of Nasdaq. To the extent
practicable or required by applicable rule or regulation,
independent directors who are affiliated with the Companys
service providers
8
or partners or collaborators will undertake to ensure that their
compensation from such providers or partners or collaborators
does not include amounts connected to payments by the Company.
|
|
|
Operation of Board of Directors |
The Companys business, property and affairs are managed
under the direction of the Board of Directors. Members of the
Board are kept informed of the Companys business through
discussions with the Chief Executive Officer and other officers
of the Company, by reviewing materials provided to them, by
visiting the Companys offices and by participating in
meetings of the Board and its committees and the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders.
The Chief Executive Officer reviews succession planning and
management development with the Board of Directors on an annual
basis.
|
|
|
Scheduling and Selection of Agenda Items for Board
Meetings |
In-person Board meetings are scheduled in advance at least four
times a year. Furthermore, additional Board meetings may be
called upon appropriate notice at any time to address specific
needs of the Company. Each director may propose the inclusion of
items on the agenda, request the presence of or a report by any
member of the Companys management, or at any Board meeting
raise subjects that are not on the agenda for that meeting. The
Board may also take action from time to time by unanimous
written consent.
Typically, the meetings of the Board are held at the
Companys headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but
occasionally meetings may be held at other locations at the
discretion of the Board.
The annual cycle of agenda items for Board meetings is expected
to change on a periodic basis to reflect, e.g., Board requests,
changing business and legal issues and the work done by the
Board Committees.
The Company currently has three standing Committees: Audit,
Compensation, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committees. There will, from time to time, be occasions on which
the Board may form a new committee or disband a current
committee depending upon the circumstances. The Audit,
Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees
shall be composed entirely of independent directors.
During fiscal year 2005, the Board had three standing
Committees: Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate
Governance.
Each Committee has a written charter, approved by the Board,
which describes the Committees general authority and
responsibilities. Each Committee will undertake an annual review
of its charter, and will work with the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee and the Board to make such revisions as are
considered appropriate.
Each Committee has the authority to engage outside experts,
advisors and counsel to the extent it considers appropriate to
assist the Committee in its work.
Each Committee will regularly report to the Board concerning the
Committees activities.
9
|
|
|
Assignment and Term of Service of Committee Members |
The Board is responsible for the appointment of Committee
members.
|
|
|
Frequency and Length of Committee Meetings and Committee
Agenda |
The Committee Chairperson, in consultation with the Chairman of
the Board and appropriate members of management, will determine
the frequency and length of the Committee meetings and develop
the Committees agenda. The agendas and meeting minutes of
the Committees will be shared with the full Board, and other
Board members are welcome to attend Committee meetings, except
that non-independent directors are not permitted to attend the
executive sessions of any Committee.
Policies Governing Security Holder Communications with the
Board of Directors
The Board provides to every security holder the ability to
communicate with the Board, as a whole, and with individual
directors on the Board through an established process for
security holder communication (as that term is defined by the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission) as follows:
|
|
|
For communications directed to the Board as a whole, security
holders may send such communication to the attention of the
Chairperson of the Board via one of the two methods listed below: |
|
|
By U.S. Mail (including courier or expedited delivery
service): |
|
|
|
Alkermes, Inc. |
|
88 Sidney Street |
|
Cambridge, MA 02139 |
|
Attn: Chairperson of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
(617) 621-7856 |
|
Attn: Chairperson of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
For security holder communications directed to an individual
director in his or her capacity as a member of the Board,
security holders may send such communications to the attention
of the individual director via one of the two methods listed
below: |
|
|
By U.S. Mail (including courier or expedited delivery
service): |
|
|
|
Alkermes, Inc. |
|
88 Sidney Street |
|
Cambridge, MA 02139 |
|
Attn: [Name of Individual Director] |
|
|
|
(617) 621-7856 |
|
Attn: [Name of Individual Director] |
The Company will forward any such security holder communication
to the Chairperson of the Board, as a representative of the
Board, and/or to the director to whom the communication is
addressed on a periodic basis. The Company will forward such
communication by certified U.S. Mail to an address
specified by each director and the Chairperson of the Board for
such purposes or by secure electronic transmission.
10
Policy Governing Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of
Shareholders
In April of 2004, the Board adopted a policy that all directors
and all nominees for election as directors attend the
Companys Annual Meeting of Shareholders in person. All
directors and director nominees attended the 2004 Annual
Meetings of Shareholders.
Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a code of ethics as defined
by the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933
amended, and the Exchange Act that applies to all of the
Companys directors and employees, including principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar
functions. The Companys Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics also meets the requirements of a code of
conduct as defined by the rules of Nasdaq and is
applicable to all of the Companys officers, directors and
employees. A current copy of the Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics is available on the Corporate Governance page of the
Investor Relations section of the Companys website,
available at
http://www.alkermes.com/investor relations/index.html.
A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may also be
obtained, free of charge, from the Company upon request directed
to: Alkermes, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 88 Sidney
Street, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139.
Members of the Board of Directors shall act at all times in
accordance with the requirements of the Companys Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics, which shall be applicable to each
director in connection with his or her activities relating to
the Company. This obligation shall at all times include, without
limitation, adherence to the Companys policies with
respect to conflicts of interest, confidentiality, protection of
the Companys assets, ethical conduct in business dealings
and respect for and compliance with applicable law. Any waiver
of the requirements of the Code of Business Conduct with respect
to any individual director or any executive officer shall be
reported to, and be subject to the approval of, the Board of
Directors.
For more corporate governance information, you are invited to
access the Corporate Governance page of the Investor Relations
section of the Companys website, available at:
http://www.alkermes.com/investor relations/index.html.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors held five meetings during the last fiscal
year. Each of the Companys directors attended at least 75%
of the aggregate of all meetings held during the year of the
Board of Directors and of all committees of which the
director was a member. During fiscal year 2005, the Board had
four standing committees: Audit, Compensation, Nominating and
Compliance. In April 2004, the Board reconstituted the
Nominating and Compliance Committees into the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. Currently, the standing
committees of the Board are the Audit Committee, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation
Committee.
The Audit Committee consists of Mark Skaletsky (as of September
2004), Floyd E. Bloom, Alexander Rich and Paul J. Mitchell. In
compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the entire Board
determined, based on all available facts and circumstances, that
each of Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Skaletsky (as of July
2005) is an audit committee financial expert as
defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
independent of management. The Audit Committee met
five times during the last fiscal year and otherwise acted by
unanimous written consent. The Audit Committee operates under a
written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a current
copy can be found on the Corporate Governance page of the
Investor Relations section of the Companys website,
available at:
http://www.alkermes.com/investor relations/index.html.
Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent as
such term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(14) of the National
Association of Securities Dealers listing standards.
11
Under the terms of its current Charter, the Audit Committee is
responsible for (1) appointing, compensating and retaining
the Companys independent public accountants,
(2) overseeing the work performed by any independent public
accountants, (3) assisting the Board of Directors in
fulfilling its responsibilities by: (i) reviewing the
financial reports provided by the Company to the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), the Companys
shareholders or to the general public (ii) reviewing the
Companys internal financial and accounting controls, and
(iii) reviewing and approving all related party
transactions, (4) recommending, establishing and monitoring
procedures designed to improve the quality and reliability of
the disclosure of the Companys financial condition and
results of operations, and (5) establishing procedures
designed to facilitate: (i) the receipt, retention and
treatment of complaints relating to accounting, internal
accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the
receipt of confidential, anonymous submissions by employees of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
The committee will engage advisors as necessary, distribute
relevant funding provided by the Company, and serve as the
Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (the QLCC) in
accordance with Section 307 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC
thereunder.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, consisting of
Floyd E. Bloom, Alexander Rich, and Paul Schimmel. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for
(1) identifying individuals qualified to become members of
the Board and recommending that the Board select the director
nominees for election, (2) periodically reviewing the
Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to
all directors, officers and employees, and (3) monitoring
compliance with and periodically reviewing the Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics. Each of the members of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee is independent as such term is
defined in Rule 4200(a)(14) of the National Association of
Securities Dealers listing standards. During the last
fiscal year, the Nominating Committee met once and the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under
a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a current
copy of which is available on the Corporate Governance page of
the Investor Relations section of the Companys website,
available at
http://www.alkermes.com/investor relations/index.html.
The Compensation Committee, consisting of Michael A. Wall (until
April 2004), Paul Schimmel, Paul J. Mitchell, and Mark Skaletsky
(as of September 2004), met four times during the last fiscal
year and otherwise acted by unanimous written consent. Under the
terms of its current Charter, the Compensation Committee is
responsible for (1) discharging the Boards
responsibilities relating to the compensation of the
Corporations executives, (2) administering the
Companys incentive compensation and equity plans, and
(3) producing an annual report on executive compensation
for inclusion in the Companys proxy statement in
accordance with applicable rules and regulations. Each of the
members of the Compensation Committee is independent as such
term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(14) of the National
Association of Securities Dealers listing standards.
The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors, a current copy of which is
available on the Corporate Governance page of the Investor
Relations section of the Companys website, available at:
http://www.alkermes.com/investor relations/index.html.
The Limited Compensation Sub-Committee, consisting of Paul J.
Mitchell, acted by unanimous written consent during the fiscal
year 2005. The Limited Compensation Sub-Committee has the
authority to make individual grants of options under certain of
the Companys stock option plans to purchase no more than
5,000 shares of Common Stock to certain of the
Companys employees.
12
PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Companys 1999 Stock Option Plan (the 1999
Plan) currently authorizes the grant of options to
officers, employees and directors of, and consultants to, the
Company or any of its subsidiaries to purchase up to
16,900,000 shares of Common Stock. As of July 26,
2005, options to purchase 1,536,348 shares remained
available for grant under the 1999 Plan. In July 2005, the Board
of Directors amended the 1999 Plan, subject to shareholder
approval, to increase the aggregate number of shares authorized
for issuance upon exercise of options granted under the 1999
Plan to 19,900,000. This amendment was designed to enhance the
flexibility of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors in granting stock options to the Companys
officers, employees, directors and consultants and to ensure
that the Company can continue to grant stock options to such
persons at levels determined to be appropriate by the
Compensation Committee and the Limited Compensation
Sub-Committee based on comparable company and other market data.
The Company believes that stock options are a critical part of
the compensation package offered to new, existing and key
employees and is an important tool in the Companys ability
to attract and retain talented personnel. The resolution to be
presented to the shareholders approving the proposed amendment
to the 1999 Plan is attached as Appendix A to this
Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all
holders of Common Stock entitled to vote will be required to
approve the proposed amendment to the 1999 Plan. Abstentions
will be counted as present for purposes of determining the
presence of a quorum for purposes of this proposal, but will not
be counted as votes cast. Broker non-votes (shares held by a
broker or nominee as to which the broker or nominee does not
have the authority to vote on a particular matter) will be
counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum for purposes of this proposal but will not be voted.
Accordingly, while abstentions and Broker non-votes will count
towards establishing a quorum, neither abstentions nor broker
non-votes will effect the outcome of the vote on this proposal.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the
approval of the amendment to the 1999 Plan.
The following table sets forth information regarding options
which would have been granted to each of Alkermes Named
Executive Officers, all current executive officers as a group,
all current directors who are not executive officers as a group
and all employees other than executive officers as a group, had
the proposed amendment been in effect during the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2005. No grants have been made with respect
to the additional shares subject to the proposed amendment to
the 1999 Plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Options Granted | |
|
|
| |
Richard F. Pops
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
David A. Broecker
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
President and Chief Operating Officer |
|
|
|
|
Kathryn L. Biberstein
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
James M. Frates
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
Michael J. Landine
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
Vice President, Corporate Development |
|
|
|
|
Executive Group (5 persons)
|
|
|
1,115,000 |
|
Non-Executive Director Group (8 persons)
|
|
|
184,000 |
|
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group (569 persons)
|
|
|
2,218,034 |
|
13
Principal Features of the 1999 Plan
The purpose of the 1999 Plan is to enable the Company to offer
to certain officers, employees and directors of, and consultants
to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries options to acquire
equity interests in the Company, thereby helping to attract,
retain and reward such persons and strengthen the mutuality of
interests between such persons and the Companys
shareholders.
The 1999 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee by
delegation from the Board of Directors. The Compensation
Committee has delegated to the Limited Compensation
Sub-Committee the authority to make individual grants of options
to purchase no more than 5,000 shares of Common Stock to
employees who are not reporting persons (as defined
in the 1999 Plan). The total number of options to be granted in
any year under the 1999 Plan to participants, the selection and
number of participants to receive options, the type and number
of options granted to each participant and the other terms and
provisions of such options are wholly within the discretion of
the Compensation Committee and the Limited Compensation
Sub-Committee, subject to the limitations set forth in the 1999
Plan. Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be received
by participants under the 1999 Plan are not currently
determinable.
The 1999 Plan may not be amended without the approval of the
Companys shareholders if (a) such amendment would
materially increase the benefits to participants under the 1999
Plan or (b) shareholder approval is necessary to comply
with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), Federal or state securities laws, the rules
and regulations of any stock exchange or stock market on which
the Common Stock is listed or traded or any other applicable
rules or regulations. Additionally, no option previously granted
under the plan may be repriced, except for an
adjustment to the exercise prices as a result of a merger,
reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, dividend, stock
split or other change in corporate structure affecting the
Common Stock.
The Companys, and any of its subsidiaries, officers,
employees, directors and consultants are eligible to be granted
options, although only non-incentive options may be granted to
non-employee directors and consultants, under the 1999 Plan. The
Company estimates that there are currently approximately
550 officers, employees and directors who are eligible to
receive options under the 1999 Plan. No participant may be
granted options to purchase more than 4,000,000 shares
during any one fiscal year.
|
|
|
Number of Shares Subject to the 1999 Plan |
Up to 16,900,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under
the 1999 Plan. The proposed amendment, which has been
recommended by the Compensation Committee and adopted by the
Board of Directors, increases the number of shares that may be
issued upon exercise of options which may be granted under the
1999 Plan to 19,900,000. Such options may either be
incentive stock options as defined in
Section 422 of the Code, or may be non-qualified stock
options. Shares issued under the 1999 Plan may be authorized and
unissued shares or authorized and issued shares that have been
reacquired by the Company.
|
|
|
Adjustments for Certain Events |
In the event of a merger, reorganization, consolidation or
similar event affecting shares of the Companys common
stock, the Board of Directors will make appropriate adjustments
in the limits specified in the 1999 Plan and to outstanding
awards.
|
|
|
Change in Control Provisions |
The 1999 Plan provides that in the event of a change in
control (as defined in the 1999 Plan), all stock options
will automatically become fully exercisable. In addition, in the
event that the Company is succeeded by another company in a
reorganization, merger, acquisition or similar event, the
successor
14
company will assume all of the outstanding options under the
1999 Plan or shall substitute substantially similar new options
for shares of the successor company for such outstanding options.
|
|
|
Effective Date of 1999 Plan |
The Board of Directors of the Company originally adopted the
1999 Plan in 1999 and approved the proposed amendment to the
1999 Plan in July 2005. The 1999 Plan will terminate and no
options may be granted under the 1999 Plan after June 2,
2009, unless the 1999 Plan is sooner terminated by the Board of
Directors.
Under the terms of the 1999 Plan, the option exercise price may
not be less than 100% (or, with respect to incentive stock
options, 110% if the optionee owns more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company) of
the fair market value of the underlying stock at the time the
option is granted. Options granted under the 1999 Plan are
generally nontransferable, and expire upon the earlier of an
expiration date fixed by the Compensation Committee and set
forth in each individual option award certificate, ten years (or
with respect to incentive stock options, five years, if the
optionee owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company) from the date of grant,
and either three months after the date the optionee ceases to be
an officer, employee or director of, or consultant to, the
Company or its subsidiaries or one year after the optionee dies
or becomes disabled. Options which have expired or which have
been canceled unexercised will be available for future grant
under the 1999 Plan.
Under the 1999 Plan, the price payable upon exercise of options
may be paid in cash, by check payable to the Company, or in
shares of stock of the Company duly owned by the participant or,
in the case of non-incentive stock options, by reduction in the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise,
based, in each case, on the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of exercise.
Options Outstanding, Exercisable and Available for Future
Grant
As of July 26, 2005, options to
purchase 14,857,408 shares were outstanding under the
1999 Plan, of which 7,448,431 were exercisable. The exercise
prices for the outstanding options ranged from $4.02 to
$47.16 per share, with an average exercise price of $15.41.
On July 26, 2005, the average of the high and low sales
prices of a share of Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
National Market was $15.66. As of July 26, 2005, of all
options outstanding under the 1999 Plan, options to
purchase 9,619,755 shares had an exercise price of
$15.66 or below, of which 2,644,119 were exercisable. As of
July 26, 2005, options to
purchase 1,536,348 shares (plus any options that
expire unexercised or are cancelled in the future) were
available for future grant, exclusive of the additional shares
covered by the proposed amendment.
Tax Aspects Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax
consequences of transactions under the 1999 Plan. It does not
describe all federal tax consequences under the 1999 Plan, nor
does it describe state or local tax consequences.
No taxable income is generally realized by the optionee upon the
grant or exercise of an incentive option. If shares issued to an
optionee pursuant to the exercise of an incentive option are
sold or transferred after two years from the date of grant and
after one year from the date of exercise, then (i) upon
sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the option
price (the amount paid for the shares) will be taxed to the
optionee as a long-term capital gain, and any loss sustained
will be a long-term capital loss, and (ii) there will be no
deduction for the Company for federal income tax purposes. The
exercise of an incentive option will give rise to an item of tax
preference that may result in alternative minimum tax liability
for the optionee. An optionee will not have any additional FICA
(Social Security) taxes upon exercise of an incentive option.
15
If shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive option are
disposed of prior to the expiration of the two-year and one-year
holding periods described above (a disqualifying
disposition), generally (i) the optionee will realize
ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to
the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the shares at
exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on a sale of such
shares) over the option price thereof, and (ii) the Company
will be entitled to deduct such amount. Special rules will apply
where all or a portion of the exercise price of the incentive
option is paid by tendering shares.
If an incentive option is exercised at a time when it no longer
qualifies for the tax treatment described above, the option is
treated as a non-qualified option. Generally, an incentive
option will not be eligible for the tax treatment described
above if it is exercised more than three months following
termination of employment (or one year in the case of
termination of employment by reason of disability). In the case
of termination of employment by reason of death, the three-month
rule does not apply.
With respect to non-qualified options under the 1999 Plan, no
income is realized by the optionee at the time the option is
granted. Generally (i) at exercise, ordinary income is
realized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference
between the option price and the fair market value of the shares
on the date of exercise, and the Company receives a tax
deduction for the same amount, and (ii) at disposition,
appreciation or depreciation after the date of exercise is
treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss
depending on how long the shares have been held. Special rules
will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the
non-qualified option is paid by tendering shares. Upon exercise,
the optionee will also be subject to FICA taxes on the excess of
the fair market value over the exercise price of the option.
The vesting of any portion of an option or other award that is
accelerated due to the occurrence of a change in control may
cause a portion of the payments with respect to such accelerated
awards to be treated as parachute payments as
defined in the Code. Any such parachute payments may be
non-deductible to the Company, in whole or in part, and may
subject the recipient to a non-deductible 20% federal excise tax
on all or a portion of such payment (in addition to other taxes
ordinarily payable).
Equity Compensation Plan Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted | |
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
Average Exercise | |
|
|
|
|
Securities to be | |
|
Price of | |
|
|
|
|
Issued upon Exercise | |
|
Outstanding | |
|
|
|
|
of Outstanding | |
|
Options, | |
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
Options, Warrants | |
|
Warrants and | |
|
Remaining Available | |
Plan Category |
|
and Rights | |
|
Rights | |
|
for Future Issuance | |
| |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
16,865,626 |
|
|
$ |
15.39 |
|
|
|
2,346,107 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security
holders(1)
|
|
|
946,642 |
|
|
$ |
15.68 |
|
|
|
6,509 |
|
|
Total
|
|
|
17,812,268 |
|
|
$ |
15.41 |
|
|
|
2,352,616 |
|
The above share and share price information is as of
July 26, 2005 and there are no warrants or other rights
outstanding.
|
|
(1) |
The 1998 Equity Incentive Plan, which was adopted by Advanced
Inhalation Research, Inc. prior to its acquisition by the
Company is the only equity compensation plan not approved by the
Companys shareholders. |
16
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
This report is submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors. The Audit Committee currently consists of
Messrs. Bloom, Mitchell, Rich and Skaletsky. The Board of
Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee
meets the independence requirements promulgated by Nasdaq and
the SEC including Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act
and that Mr. Mitchell qualifies as an audit committee
financial expert under the rules of the SEC. In April
2004, the Audit Committee reviewed the adequacy of, and amended,
its charter. The Audit Committee has the responsibility and
authority described in the Audit Committee Charter which has
been approved by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Audit
Committee Charter is available on the Corporate Governance page
of the Investor Relations section of the Companys website,
available at:
http://www.alkermes.com/investo relations/index.html.
In accordance with law, the Audit Committee has ultimate
authority and responsibility to select, compensate, evaluate
and, when appropriate, replace the Companys independent
auditors. The Audit Committee has the authority to engage its
own outside advisors, including experts in particular areas of
accounting, as it determines appropriate, apart from counsel or
advisors hired by management.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, the
Companys independent registered public accountants were
Deloitte & Touche, LLP (D&T). D&T
is responsible for performing an independent audit of the
consolidated financial statements, and an independent audit of
the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting, as well as attesting to managements
assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal
control over financial reporting, each in accordance with the
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(PCAOB). D&T also performed audit-related
services, tax services and other permissible non-audit services
for the Company during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2005, as described more fully below.
The Audit Committee oversees the accounting and financial
reporting processes of the Company and the audits of the
financial statements of the Company on behalf of the Board of
Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the
financial statements and the reporting process, including the
Companys systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its
oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed the
audited consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report
with management, and discussed with management the quality, not
just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the
reasonableness of significant estimates and judgments, critical
accounting policies and accounting estimates resulting from the
application of these policies, and the substance and clarity of
disclosures in the financial statements, and reviewed the
Companys disclosure control process and internal control
over financial reporting. In addition, the Audit Committee
reviewed the rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that pertain to
the Audit Committee and the roles and responsibilities of Audit
Committee members. The Audit Committee reviewed with D&T,
who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity
of the Companys audited financial statements with
accounting principles generally acceptable in the United States,
the overall scope and plans for their audit, D&Ts
judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the
Companys accounting principles. The Committee met with
D&T, with and without management present, to discuss the
results of their examinations, their evaluations of the
Companys internal control over financial reporting, and
the overall quality of the Companys financial reporting.
The Audit Committee has reviewed the audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company at March 31, 2005 and
2004 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended
March 31, 2005, and has discussed them with both management
and D&T. In connection with the Companys
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005, the Audit
Committee discussed with management the results of the
Companys certification process relating to the
certification of financial statements under Sections 302
and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Audit Committee has also
discussed with D&T the matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90 (Communications with
Audit Committees), other standards of the PCAOB, the rules of
the SEC and other applicable regulations, as currently in
effect. This discussion included, among other things, a review
with management of the quality of the Companys accounting
principles, the reasonableness of significant estimates and
judgments, and the clarity of disclosure in the Companys
financial statements, including the disclosures related to
critical accounting policies and practices used by
17
the Company. The Audit Committee has received the written
disclosures and the letter from D&T required by Independent
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions
with Audit Committees), as currently in effect, and has
discussed with D&T the firms independence from
management and the Company, including the matters in the written
disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board, and
considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the
auditors independence. Based on its review of the
financial statements and these discussions, the Audit Committee
concluded that it would be reasonable to recommend, and on that
basis did recommend, to the Board of Directors that the audited
consolidated financial statements and managements
assessment of the Companys control over financial
reporting be included in the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 and
the Board of Directors approved such inclusion.
The Audit Committee also reviewed the Companys quarterly
financial statements during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2005 and discussed them with both the management of the Company
and D&T prior to including such interim financial statements
in the Companys quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. In
connection with the Companys quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q for its first, second and third fiscal quarters
of 2005, the Audit Committee discussed with management the
results of the Companys certification process relating to
the certification of financial statements under
Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
During the course of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005,
management completed the documentation, testing and evaluation
of Alkermes system of internal control over financial
reporting in response to the requirements set forth in
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related
regulations. At the conclusion of the process, management
provided the Committee with and the Committee reviewed a report
on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting. The Committee also reviewed the report of
management contained in the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005
filed with the SEC, as well as D&Ts Reports of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K related to its
audit of (i) the consolidated financial statements and
financial statement schedule, (ii) managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting and (iii) the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting. The Committee continues to
oversee the Companys efforts related to its internal
control over financial reporting and managements
preparations for the evaluation in the fiscal year ending
March 31, 2006.
The Audit Committee monitors the activity and performance of
D&T. All services to be provided by D&T are pre-approved
by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committees evaluation of
the performance of D&T included, among other things, the
amount of fees paid to D&T for audit and permissible
non-audit services in fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.
Information about D&Ts fees for fiscal year ended
March 31, 2005 is discussed below in this Proxy Statement
under Audit Fees Based on its evaluation, the Audit
Committee has retained D&T to serve as the Companys
auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
No portion of this Audit Committee Report shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, through any general statement incorporating by
reference in its entirety the Proxy Statement in which this
report appears, except to the extent that the Company
specifically incorporates this report or a portion of it by
reference. In addition, this report shall not be deemed filed
under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
|
|
|
Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee, |
|
|
Floyd E. Bloom |
|
Paul J. Mitchell |
|
Alexander Rich |
|
Mark Skaletsky (member as of September 2004) |
For more information about our Audit Committee and its charter,
you are invited to access the Corporate Governance page of the
Investor Relations section of the Companys website,
available at:
http://www.alkermes.com/investor relations/index.html.
18
AUDIT FEES
Aggregate fees for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004
This table shows the aggregate fees billed to the Company by
Deloitte & Touche LLP for the fiscal years ended
March 31, 2005 and 2004.
(a) Audit fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Annual audit and review of quarterly financial statements(1)
|
|
|
384,570 |
|
|
|
186,335 |
|
Other accounting consultations
|
|
|
5,755 |
|
|
|
4,531 |
|
Accounting Consultations related to offering of 7% Secured Notes
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Registration of 2.5% Notes on Form S-1 and Amendments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
118,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
395,325 |
|
|
|
309,506 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) Audit related fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Employee benefit plan audit
|
|
|
15,500 |
|
|
|
8,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,500 |
|
|
|
8,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Tax fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Tax preparation and review
|
|
|
60,775 |
|
|
|
58,177 |
|
Tax consultations
|
|
|
57,740 |
|
|
|
65,048 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
118,515 |
|
|
|
123,225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
529,340 |
|
|
|
441,131 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d) All Other Fees:
|
|
|
There were no other fees paid to Deloitte & Touche LLP
for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. |
|
|
(1) |
Audit fees consist of audit work performed on the consolidated
financial statements and the audit of internal control over
financial reporting. |
19
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation
paid by the Company during its last three fiscal years to its
Chief Executive Officer, to each of the four other most highly
compensated executive officers of the Company whose total annual
salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 during the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2005 (collectively, the Named Executive
Officers).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Compensation |
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Restricted |
|
|
|
|
Fiscal |
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Stock Awards |
|
All Other |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary ($) |
|
Bonus ($) |
|
Options (#) |
|
($)(1) |
|
Compensation ($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard F. Pops
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
533,149 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,069 |
(2) |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
505,311 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
480,298 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
475,000 |
|
|
|
195,653 |
(3) |
|
|
5,719 |
(2) |
David A. Broecker
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
364,786 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
92,388 |
(2)(4) |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
345,739 |
|
|
|
160,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
111,828 |
(2)(5) |
|
Operating Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
328,625 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
117,396 |
(3) |
|
|
112,335 |
(2)(6) |
Kathryn L. Biberstein
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
247,115 |
|
|
|
70,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,150 |
(2) |
|
Vice President, General |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
233,289 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
7,096 |
(2)(7) |
|
Counsel and Secretary |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
17,692 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
(8) |
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
James M. Frates
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
321,573 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,023 |
(2) |
|
Vice President, Chief |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
304,782 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
(2) |
|
Financial Officer and |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
289,696 |
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
78,264 |
(3) |
|
|
5,708 |
(2) |
|
Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael J. Landine
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
288,924 |
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,150 |
(2) |
|
Vice President, Corporate |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
273,852 |
|
|
|
95,000 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
(2) |
|
Development |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
258,413 |
|
|
|
27,500 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
93,917 |
(3) |
|
|
5,620 |
(2) |
|
|
(1) |
At March 31, 2005, the number and value of the aggregate
restricted stock holdings of the named executive officers are
set forth below. The value was calculated based on the closing
price of Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on
March 31, 2005, which was $10.38. Holders of restricted
shares are not entitled to receive dividends declared on such
shares. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Number of Shares Held |
|
Value($) |
|
|
|
|
|
Richard F. Pops
|
|
|
32,000 |
|
|
|
332,160 |
|
David A. Broecker
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kathryn L. Biberstein
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James M. Frates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael J. Landine
|
|
|
19,200 |
|
|
|
199,296 |
|
|
|
(2) |
Includes 401(k) match. |
|
(3) |
Restricted Stock Award of Common Stock. The closing price of
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on December 12,
2002, the date of the award, was $7.20. The award vests in equal
installments annually over two years and is vested. |
|
(4) |
Includes $86,238 as a result of Alkermes forgiveness of
one-fifth of a loan made on June 13, 2001, pursuant to the
employment letter to Mr. Broecker and related taxes. |
|
(5) |
Includes $105,828 as a result of Alkermes forgiveness of
one-fifth of a loan made on June 13, 2001, pursuant to the
employment letter to Mr. Broecker and related taxes. |
|
(6) |
Includes $106,719 as a result of Alkermes forgiveness of
one-fifth of a loan made on June 13, 2001, pursuant to the
employment letter to Mr. Broecker and related taxes. |
|
(7) |
Includes a payment of $1,096 to Ms. Biberstein for opting
out of Alkermes health insurance plan. |
20
|
|
(8) |
Ms. Biberstein became Vice President and General Counsel of
Alkermes in February 2003 and received a sign-on bonus at that
time. |
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The following table sets forth information concerning stock
options granted during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005
to each of the Named Executive Officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Grants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential Realizable Value |
|
|
Number of |
|
Percent of Total |
|
|
|
at Assumed Annual Rates of |
|
|
Securities |
|
Options |
|
|
|
Stock Price Appreciation for |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Granted to |
|
Exercise or |
|
|
|
Option Term |
|
|
Options |
|
Employees in |
|
Base Price |
|
Expiration |
|
|
Name |
|
Granted (#)(1) |
|
Fiscal Year (%) |
|
($/Share) |
|
Date |
|
5% ($) |
|
10% ($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard F. Pops
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
3.24 |
|
|
|
12.30 |
|
|
|
7/12/14 |
|
|
|
1,160,311 |
|
|
|
2,940,455 |
|
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
7.56 |
|
|
|
14.90 |
|
|
|
12/17/14 |
|
|
|
3,279,685 |
|
|
|
8,311,367 |
|
David A. Broecker
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
1.94 |
|
|
|
12.30 |
|
|
|
7/12/14 |
|
|
|
696,186 |
|
|
|
1,764,273 |
|
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
4.53 |
|
|
|
14.90 |
|
|
|
12/17/14 |
|
|
|
1,967,811 |
|
|
|
4,986,820 |
|
Kathryn L. Biberstein
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
12.30 |
|
|
|
7/12/14 |
|
|
|
174,047 |
|
|
|
441,068 |
|
|
|
|
52,500 |
|
|
|
1.13 |
|
|
|
14.90 |
|
|
|
12/17/14 |
|
|
|
491,953 |
|
|
|
1,246,705 |
|
James M. Frates
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
12.30 |
|
|
|
7/12/14 |
|
|
|
348,093 |
|
|
|
882,136 |
|
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
|
|
2.27 |
|
|
|
14.90 |
|
|
|
12/17/14 |
|
|
|
983,906 |
|
|
|
2,493,410 |
|
Michael J. Landine
|
|
|
27,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
12.30 |
|
|
|
7/12/14 |
|
|
|
208,856 |
|
|
|
529,282 |
|
|
|
|
63,000 |
|
|
|
1.36 |
|
|
|
14.90 |
|
|
|
12/17/14 |
|
|
|
590,343 |
|
|
|
1,496,046 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Options granted vest in equal installments over a four year
period on the anniversary date of the grant. |
|
|
|
|
* |
Represents less than one percent (1%) |
Aggregated Option/ SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and
FY-End Option/ SAR Values
The following table sets forth the number of shares acquired
upon exercise of options exercised by the Named Executive
Officers during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, the
value realized upon exercise of such options, the number of
shares issuable on exercise of options held by such persons at
the end of the last fiscal year and the value of such
unexercised options as of such date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised Options/SARs at |
|
In-the-Money Options/SARs |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
FY-End (#) |
|
at FY-End ($)(1) |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Exercise (#) |
|
Realized ($) |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard F. Pops
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
722,413 |
|
|
|
1,859,856 |
|
|
|
1,174,998 |
|
|
|
2,018,542 |
|
|
|
930,247 |
|
David A. Broecker
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
762,501 |
|
|
|
737,499 |
|
|
|
638,181 |
|
|
|
663,294 |
|
Kathryn L. Biberstein
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
131,250 |
|
|
|
243,750 |
|
|
|
303,701 |
|
|
|
305,854 |
|
James M. Frates
|
|
|
2,525 |
|
|
|
21,993 |
|
|
|
469,558 |
|
|
|
327,500 |
|
|
|
448,005 |
|
|
|
200,613 |
|
Michael J. Landine
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
320,500 |
|
|
|
220,000 |
|
|
|
334,583 |
|
|
|
194,138 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Value is measured by the difference between the closing price of
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on March 31,
2005, $10.38, and the exercise price of the options. |
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and
Change-in-Control Agreements
Under agreements between the Company and Messrs. Pops,
Broecker and Frates and Ms. Biberstein in the event their
employment with the Company is terminated for any reason other
than as a result of their taking certain actions against, or
that have a significant deleterious effect on, the Company,
Mr. Pops shall be entitled to receive a payment equal to
two-thirds of his then-current annual base salary.
Messrs. Broecker and Frates and Ms. Biberstein shall
each be entitled to receive payments at the monthly
21
rate of his or her then current annual base salary for up to
nine months or until he or she finds other employment, whichever
occurs first. Under an agreement between the Company and
Mr. Landine, in the event his employment with the Company
is terminated for any reason other than as a result of his
taking certain actions against, or that have a significant
deleterious effect on, the Company, Mr. Landine shall be
entitled to receive a payment equal to his then-current base
salary for a period of six months.
Mr. Pops was granted Long-Term Stock Appreciation Rights
(LSARs) in connection with a portion of the stock
options previously granted to him. Each LSAR provided that after
the occurrence of one of several triggering events, including a
reorganization or merger of the Company, a sale of the assets of
the Company or the acquisition by a person or group of more than
51% of the common stock, Mr. Pops would have received an
amount in cash equal to the amount by which the fair market
value per share of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
option on the date such a triggering event occurs exceeded the
exercise price per share of the option to which the LSAR
related. A triggering event was deemed to have occurred only
when the fair market value of the shares subject to the
underlying option exceeded the exercise price of such option.
When a triggering event occurs, the related option ceased to be
exercisable. During fiscal year 2005, all options relating to
the LSARs were exercised by Mr. Pops and therefore, as of
March 31, 2005, no LSARs remain outstanding.
The Company has entered into change-in-control agreements with
each of Messrs. Pops, Broecker, Frates and Landine and
Ms. Biberstein. Under the terms of these agreements, each
of the aforementioned executives are entitled to receive certain
compensation and benefits in the event of a
change-in-control of the Company, which, in summary,
is defined as: the acquisition by a person, entity or group
(with certain exceptions) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more
of the Common Stock; a change in a majority of the incumbent
directors on the Board of Directors; a reorganization, merger or
consolidation of the Company; or a liquidation, dissolution or
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
In the event of a change-in-control, each of Messrs. Pops,
Broecker, Frates and Landine and Ms. Biberstein will be
entitled to continue their employment with the Company for a
period of two years following the change-in-control at a monthly
base salary at least equal to the highest monthly base salary
paid to him or her by the Company in the twelve-month period
immediately preceding the change-in-control, an annual cash
bonus at least equal to the annual bonus paid to him or her for
the last calendar year prior to the change-in-control and
continued participation in the Companys welfare and
benefit plans.
In the event the Company terminates any of these executives
without cause during such two-year period or if any of these
executives terminates his or her employment for good
reason (e.g., material diminution in the executives
responsibilities, assignment to the executive of
responsibilities not consistent with his or her position or
transfer of the executive to a location more than 40 miles
from his or her then current place of employment) each is
entitled to receive a prorated bonus (based upon the prior
years annual bonus) for the year in which the date of
termination occurs. Additionally, each of Messrs. Broecker,
Frates and Landine and Ms. Biberstein will receive a lump
sum payment equal to the executives base salary plus his
or her annual bonus for the last calendar year before the date
of termination and continued participation in the Alkermes
welfare and benefit plans (or reimbursement therefor) for one
year following the date of termination; Mr. Pops will
receive a lump sum payment equal to two times his base salary
plus his annual bonus for the last calendar year before the date
of termination and continued participation in the Alkermes
welfare and benefit plans (or reimbursement therefor) for two
years following the date of termination. Each executive is also
entitled to a gross-up payment equal to the excise
tax imposed upon the severance payments under the
change-in-control agreement in the event any payment or benefit
to the executive, whether pursuant to the change-in-control
agreement or otherwise, is considered an excess parachute
payment and subject to an excise tax under the Internal
Revenue Code.
In July 2005, the Compensation Committee determined that 50% of
the equity incentives received by Mr. Pops will have a
direct performance criteria associated with the grant of such
awards during fiscal year 2006. In order for Mr. Pops to
receive an equity award a minimum of 25% of the corporate
objectives set forth in the January 1, 2005 to
March 31, 2006 Named Executive Bonus Plan must be met, and
a maximum award would require the Committee to determine, in its
discretion, that substantial achievement
22
of a majority of such corporate objectives had occurred. The
award will only be granted if these criteria are met. In
addition, there will be a time vesting component to the stock
awards. The stock options will be prorated to cover January 2005
through March 2006 as the Company changed from a calendar year
basis to a fiscal year basis compensation period.
Compensation of Directors
Annually, on or about the date of the Companys annual
meeting of shareholders, each non-employee director, currently
consisting of Floyd E. Bloom, Gerri Henwood, Paul J. Mitchell,
Alexander Rich, Paul Schimmel and Mark B. Skaletsky; as
well as Michael A. Wall and Robert A. Breyer, part-time
employees of the Company, receive an annual retainer fee of
$30,000 paid quarterly, in advance, and an option to
purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock.
Also, each non-employee and part-time employee director receives
an attendance fee of $1,500 per Board of Directors
meeting and $750 for each telephonic Board of Directors
meeting and an attendance fee of $500 for each committee
meeting, if such meeting is held on a date other than a date on
which a Board of Directors meeting is held and $250 for
each telephonic committee meeting. Such payments are made on a
quarterly basis.
Each non-employee and part-time employee director also receives,
on a periodic basis, reimbursement for reasonable travel
expenses incurred in connection with Board of Directors
meetings and meetings of committees of the Board of Directors.
The 20,000 share option is granted automatically under the
Alkermes Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors each year
on the date of the Companys annual meeting of shareholders
for non-employee directors. For part-time employee directors,
the Company grants an option for 20,000 shares, under the
1999 Stock Option Plan, each year on the date of the
Companys annual meeting of shareholders. All of such
options are exercisable at the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date such options are granted and vest in full six
(6) months following their grant. Non-employee and
part-time employee directors do not receive any options to
purchase shares of Common Stock except for the yearly grant of
options to purchase 20,000 shares of the
Companys Common Stock and a one-time grant of an option to
purchase 20,000 shares of the Companys Common
Stock upon joining the Board of Directors. The initial grant of
options are made to non-employee directors under the Alkermes
Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors and are made to
part-time employee directors under the 1999 Stock Option Plan.
Effective January 1, 2004, Mr. Wall became a part-time
employee of Alkermes. During the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2005 Mr. Wall received compensation of
$85,000 for the work that he performed for Alkermes outside of
his capacity as a director. Alkermes believes that
Mr. Walls part-time employee status is no less
favorable to the Company than obtaining services from an
independent third party.
Since Mr. Breyers retirement as President, he has
received compensation of $13,000 per year as a part-time
employee of Alkermes for the work that he performs for Alkermes
outside of his capacity as a director. Alkermes believes that
Mr. Breyers part-time employee status is no less
favorable to the Company than obtaining services from an
independent third party.
Upon Mr. Skaletskys election to the Board of
Directors in June 2004, Mr. Skaletsky received $3,750 in
cash as a pro-rated portion of the annual retainer fees, which
at the time was $15,000, and was granted options to
purchase 24,000 shares of Common Stock, consisting of
an initial grant of an option to
purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock and an option
to purchase 4,000 shares of Common Stock, such amount
being a pro-rated portion of the annual grant for non-employee
directors outlined above.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
During the last fiscal year, the Compensation Committee
consisted of Mark Skaletsky (as of September 2004), Paul
Schimmel and Paul J. Mitchell.
During the last fiscal year, no executive officer of the Company
served as (i) a member of the compensation committee (or
other committee of the board of directors performing equivalent
functions or,
23
in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of
directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers
served on the Compensation Committee of the Company; (ii) a
director of another entity, one of whose executive officers
served on the Compensation Committee of the Company; or
(iii) a member of the compensation committee (or other
committee of the board of directors performing equivalent
functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire
board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive
officers served as a director of the Company.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee (the Committee) was
responsible for reviewing and establishing the cash compensation
of the Companys executive officers. The Compensation
Sub-Committee was responsible, until April 2004, for reviewing
and establishing compensation in the form of stock options and
restricted common stock awards to the Companys executive
officers, at which point the Sub-Committee was disbanded and the
Committee took over this responsibility.
Executive Compensation Policies
The Companys executive compensation program is designed to
attract, retain and motivate experienced and well-qualified
executive officers who will promote the Companys research
and product development and commercialization efforts. In
establishing executive compensation levels, the Committee is
guided by a number of considerations. Because the Company is
still in the process of developing its portfolio of product
candidates, and because of the volatile nature of biotechnology
stocks, the Committee believes that traditional performance
criteria, such as net income, profit margins and share price are
inappropriate for evaluating and rewarding the efforts of the
Companys executive officers. Rather, the Committee bases
executive compensation on the achievement of certain product
development, corporate partnering, financial, strategic planning
and other goals of the Company and the executive officers. In
establishing compensation levels, the Committee also evaluates
each officers individual performance using certain
subjective criteria, including an evaluation of each
officers initiative, contribution to overall corporate
performance and managerial ability. No specific numerical weight
is given to any of the above-noted subjective or objective
performance criteria. In making its evaluations, the Committee
consults on an informal basis with other members of the Board of
Directors and, with respect to officers other than the Chief
Executive Officer, reviews the recommendations of the Chief
Executive Officer.
Another consideration which affects the Committees
decisions regarding executive compensation is the high demand
for well-qualified personnel. Given such demand, the Committee
strives to maintain compensation levels which are competitive
with the compensation of other executives in the industry. To
that end, the Committee reviews data obtained from a generally
available outside survey of compensation and benefits in the
biotechnology industry, an internally prepared survey based on
peer biotechnology companies proxy statements and personal
knowledge regarding executive compensation at comparable
companies.
A third factor which affects compensation levels is the
Committees belief that stock ownership by management is
beneficial in aligning managements and shareholders
interests in the enhancement of shareholder value. In accordance
with such belief, the Committee to date has sought to provide a
significant portion of executive compensation in the form of
stock options. The Committee has not, however, targeted a range
or specific number of options for each executive position.
Rather, it makes its decisions based on the above-mentioned
surveys and the general experience of the Committee members.
Compensation Mix
The Companys executive compensation packages generally
include three components: base salary; a discretionary annual
cash bonus; and stock options and restricted common stock
awards. The Committee generally reviews and establishes the base
salary and bonus of each executive officer as of the end of each
calendar year.
24
The Committee seeks to establish base salaries which are
competitive for each position and level of responsibility with
those of executive officers at various other biotechnology
companies of comparable size and stage of development.
The Committee believes that discretionary cash bonuses are
useful on a case by case basis to motivate and reward executive
officers. Bonuses for executive officers are not guaranteed, but
to date have been awarded from time to time, generally annually,
only in the discretion of the Committee; cash bonuses are used
to bring annual cash compensation into a competitive range with
comparable positions at comparable companies. In the past,
criteria for bonuses for executive officers range from success
in attracting capital to success in conducting clinical trials,
entering into new and expanded collaborations and establishing
and expanding the Companys manufacturing capabilities. In
July 2005 the Committee adopted the Alkermes January 1,
2005 to March 31, 2006 Named Executive Bonus Plan which
sets forth the terms under which certain named executive
officers are eligible to receive cash bonuses for the period
January 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 (the plan is for a
one time fifteen month period in order to allow the Company to
match its bonus period with its fiscal year end). The plan sets
forth corporate objectives. The size of the bonus pool is based
on the achievement of such objectives and the bonus pool will be
allocated amongst the named executive officers based on
individual performance.
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Stock Options and Restricted Common Stock Awards |
Grants of stock options and awards of restricted common stock
under the Companys equity compensation plans are designed
to promote the identity of the long-term interests between the
Companys executives and its shareholders and to assist in
the retention of executives. Since stock options granted by the
Company generally become exercisable over a four-year period and
forfeiture provisions with respect to restricted common stock
awards lapse over a two-year period, their ultimate value is
dependent upon the long-term appreciation of the Companys
stock price and the executives continued employment with
the Company. In addition, grants of stock options and awards of
restricted common stock may result in an increase in executive
officers equity interests in the Company, thereby
providing such persons with the opportunity to share in the
future value they are responsible for creating.
When granting stock options and awarding restricted common
stock, the Committee considers the relative performance and
contributions of each officer compared to that of other officers
within the Company with similar levels of responsibility. The
number of options and awards granted to each executive officer
is generally determined by the Committee on the basis of data
obtained from a generally available outside survey of stock
option grants and restricted common stock awards in the
biotechnology industry, an internally prepared survey of peer
biotechnology companies proxy statements and personal
knowledge of the Committee members regarding executive stock
options and restricted common stock awards at comparable
companies.
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Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation. |
In general, under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), the Company
cannot deduct, for federal income tax purposes, compensation in
excess of $1,000,000 paid to certain executive officers. This
deduction limitation does not apply, however, to compensation
that constitutes qualified performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company
has considered the limitations on deductions imposed by
Section 162(m) of the Code and it is the Companys
present intention, for so long as it is consistent with its
overall compensation objective, to structure executive
compensation to minimize application of the deduction
limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.
25
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
In establishing Mr. Pops compensation package, the
Committee seeks to maintain a level of total current
compensation that is competitive with that of chief executives
of other companies in the biotechnology industry at comparable
stages of development. In addition, in order to align
Mr. Pops interests with the long-term interests of
the Companys shareholders, the Committee attempts to make
a significant portion of the value of his total compensation
dependent on the long-term appreciation of the Companys
stock price. By using stock options with an exercise price equal
to the current value of our equity, the Committee has sought to
ensure that Mr. Pops recognizes value only if the stock
appreciates. The Committee annually reviews all the elements of
Mr. Pops compensation, including perquisites and
other benefits, and all these benefits are disclosed in the
Companys proxy statement.
In setting Mr. Pops compensation, the Committee
evaluates Mr. Pops performance as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company based on the progress of the
Companys development programs and the specific corporate
and financial targets established by the Board of Directors. The
Committee used specific criteria in 2004 that included:
production levels of Risperdal Consta®, development
progress with Vivitrex®(naltrexone long-acting injection),
including progress with the commercial program and partnership,
development progress in the Companys pulmonary insulin and
exenatide LAR programs, as well as financial performance with
regard to revenues, expenses and gross margins. The Committee
also included subjective criteria such as the Committees
evaluation of the Companys progress in attracting and
retaining senior management, the Companys relationships
with its corporate partners and its research and corporate
partnering activity.
In evaluating and establishing Mr. Pops current
compensation package, the Committee considered the following
accomplishments of the Company during calendar 2004:
In March 2004, Alkermes presented positive clinical data from a
Phase I trial of AIR® Epinephrine, the Companys
proprietary, inhaled formulation of epinephrine, at the Annual
Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology meeting. The
Phase I trial of AIR Epinephrine demonstrated rapid
systemic delivery associated with a clinically meaningful
pharmacodynamic response in healthy volunteers, in addition to
confirming the safety profile.
In April 2004, Alkermes completed patient enrollment for its
long-term Phase III safety study of Vivitrex. This study is
designed to evaluate the long-term safety of Vivitrex
administered intramuscularly once-monthly in adults with opioid
and alcohol dependence. Phase III efficacy data for Vivtrex
were published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, presented at the 2005 American Psychiatric
Association Annual Meeting and formed the basis for the NDA
submission to the FDA, which was filed in March 2005. Throughout
the year the Company made substantial progress on its Vivitrex
development goals, including the goal of filing the NDA for
Vivitrex in the first half of 2005.
In June 2004, Alkermes added Mark Skaletsky, Chairman, CEO and
President of Trine Pharmaceuticals, to the Companys Board
of Directors. Mr. Skaletsky qualifies as an independent
director and financial expert as defined under the Sarbanes
Oxley Act of 2002 and the Nasdaq stock exchange regulations.
In August 2004, Alkermes announced that Eli Lilly and Company
(Lilly) decided to move forward with a significant
investment in the further development of an inhaled formulation
of insulin using Alkermes proprietary AIR pulmonary
delivery system. This decision followed the completion of a
successful Phase II clinical trial which showed that
patients with type 1 diabetes using Alkermes AIR®
insulin achieved glycemic control levels similar to injected
insulin. The Phase II clinical data were presented at the
American Diabetes Association meeting in June 2005.
In November 2004, Amylin Pharmaceuticals (Amylin),
Lilly and Alkermes announced plans to initiate a Phase II
multi-dose study for exenatide LAR in patients with type 2
diabetes, based on data from a Phase II single-dose study
demonstrating sustained release of exanatide with no
dose-limiting side effects.
26
During calendar year 2004 the Company met its production targets
for Risperdal Consta, the Companys lead product, and
increased the volume of production by 158%. Revenue from the
Companys lead product increased over 110% to
$48 million, and total revenue increased over 96% to
$69 million. The gross margins attained in the production
of Risperdal Consta® also improved in 2004. Meanwhile,
excluding extraordinary expenses, overall expenses remained
essentially flat. During the year, Alkermes also advanced the
development of its product candidates (proprietary and
partnered) and initiated feasibility programs with partners and
on internal programs that were not publicly disclosed.
Given the significant role Mr. Pops played in each of the
above-noted accomplishments, the Committee increased
Mr. Pops annual base salary effective January 1,
2005 from $528,675 to $549,822, an increase of 4.0%. This
increase was within the range of increases given to all the
employees at the Company and maintained Mr. Pops
salary within the range of other comparable CEOs. The
Committee also granted Mr. Pops a cash bonus of $325,000 as
recognition for the substantial progress the Company made on the
predetermined business goals set by Company management for the
year, including production levels of Risperdal Consta, progress
on development programs and financial criteria considered by the
Committee for 2004. As additional recognition of
Mr. Pops efforts in calendar 2004, and in furtherance
of the Committees belief that a significant portion of
Mr. Pops total compensation should be dependent on
the long-term appreciation of the Companys stock price,
the Committee granted Mr. Pops options to
purchase 500,000 shares of Common Stock. Mr. Pops
receives no perquisites in addition to his salary and bonus,
other than participation in the Companys 401(k) match and
participation in the Companys health and welfare plans
generally available to all employees. The Company has entered
into an employment agreement with Mr. Pops, as well as a
Change in Control Agreement, which are outlined on page 16.
These agreements were entered into upon advice of outside
counsel and were drafted by outside counsel at the direction of
the Board of Directors. These agreements have been filed as
exhibits to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company
believes the terms of these agreements are comparable to
industry standards and that such agreements ensure that
Mr. Pops places the interests of the shareholders before
his own financial interests in any strategic discussions that
may arise at Alkermes.
The Committee believes that each of these actions was
particularly appropriate given Mr. Pops performance
during calendar 2004 and in order to maintain his compensation
at a competitive level compared to that of the chief executive
officers of other similarly sized and positioned biotechnology
companies.
Current Compensation Guidelines
As part of the Board of Directors annual governance
review, the Committee has begun an ongoing process to more
closely tie executive pay to performance, and to continue to
improve the alignment of the interests of the management team
with the interests of Company shareholders. In March 2005, the
Committee established a search process to engage an independent
compensation consultant. In June 2005, the Committee established
a relationship with a nationally recognized compensation
consultant with expertise in the biotechnology industry. The
Committee has engaged the independent consultant to review and
recommend action on specific matters, including:
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Overall CEO compensation, including specific pay for performance
metrics; |
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Overall use of equity instruments, and specifically targets and
structures to allow for the use of performance-based equity
incentives; |
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The use of equity ownership targets for the Board of Directors
and senior management; and, |
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A review of employment, change in control and severance
agreements for senior management. |
All these areas will be reviewed in the context of best
practices for corporations in general, and specifically with
regard to companies that are comparable to Alkermes in terms of
size and stage of development.
The Committee, in its sole authority, has the right to hire or
fire outside compensation consultants.
27
Already this year, the Committee established specific corporate
objectives for named executive officers, including the CEO,
which form the basis for the cash bonus to be paid under the
Alkermes January 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 Named
Executive Bonus Plan. The Committee has established that these
same corporate objectives shall be used as the basis for the
grant of equity awards for the CEO for this period. These
objectives, which are the same overall corporate goals
established by the Committee for the Company as a whole, are:
1) production levels for Risperdal Consta,
2) commercialization and business goals around the approval
and commercialization of Vivitrex, 3) the attainment of
development goals on other development programs including AIR
insulin and exenatide LAR, and 4) the attainment of
financial targets. Mr. Pops annual cash compensation
will be reviewed versus CEOs of comparable companies and
any increase will be tied to his performance versus the
pre-established targets, consistent with the market and with
other annual salary increases at Alkermes. In addition, the
Committee established minimum and maximum criteria for a cash
bonus for Mr. Pops, in a range of 25% to 100% of his salary
depending on the corporate objectives the Company and
Mr. Pops achieve during fiscal year 2006. In order for
Mr. Pops to receive a cash bonus, a minimum of 25% of the
corporate objectives must be met, and a maximum bonus would
require the Committee to determine, in its discretion, that
substantial achievement of a majority of the corporate
objectives had occurred.
In July 2005, the Compensation Committee determined that 50% of
the equity incentives received by Mr. Pops will have a
direct performance criteria associated with the grant of such
awards during fiscal year 2006. In order for Mr. Pops to
receive an equity award a minimum of 25% of the corporate
objectives set forth in the January 1, 2005 to
March 31, 2006 Named Executive Bonus Plan must be met, and
a maximum award would require the Committee to determine, in its
discretion, that substantial achievement of a majority of such
corporate objectives had occurred. The award will only be
granted if these criteria are met. In addition, there will be a
time vesting component to the stock awards. The stock options
will be prorated to cover January 2005 through March 2006 as the
Company changed from a calendar year basis to a fiscal year
basis compensation period.
Mr. Pops is a party to an Employment Agreement and a Change
in Control Agreement, each of which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The total value of
compensation due Mr. Pops if his employment with the
Company had terminated on March 31, 2005 under several
scenarios are described and summarized below, including
previously granted stock options and restricted stock (using the
closing price of Alkermes Common Stock on the Nasdaq National
Market on March 31, 2005, $10.38). In addition, in all
instances Mr. Pops would be entitled to receive all
compensation earned through the date of termination but not
paid, such as accrued salary and unused vacation time. He would
also retain the then-existing balance in his 401(k) Plan and he
would be entitled to retain his vested stock options and vested
restricted stock.
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Death or Disability: If Mr. Pops died or became
disabled, certain unvested stock options and unvested restricted
stock would become fully vested and exercisable on such death or
disability and valued at approximately $1,262,407. |
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Involuntary-Without Cause: If Mr. Pops was
terminated by the Company without cause (other than in
connection with a change in control), Mr. Pops would be
entitled to receive an amount equal to two-thirds of his
then-current annual base salary and his unvested restricted
stock would vest upon the occurrence of such termination. The
total value of the compensation in this scenario is estimated to
be approximately $687,593. |
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Involuntary-For Cause: If Mr. Pops was terminated by
the Company for cause, Mr. Pops would not be entitled to
any additional compensation. |
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Change in Control: If Mr. Pops was terminated by the
Company without cause in connection with a change in control or
if Mr. Pops voluntarily terminated his employment for good
reason, all unvested stock options and unvested restricted stock
would become fully vested and exercisable on the occurrence of
such termination of employment. In addition, Mr. Pops is
entitled to receive (i) a |
28
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bonus equal to the number of days employed during the year
multiplied by his annual bonus for the prior year, (ii) an
amount equal to two times his base salary plus his annual bonus
for the prior year, and (iii) and certain health and
welfare and tax benefits for a period of two years from
termination. The total value of the compensation in this
scenario is estimated to be approximately $2,978,704. |
March 31, 2005 Termination Scenarios
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Voluntary | |
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Involuntary |
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Change in Control | |
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Involuntarily Terminated | |
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Without Cause or Voluntarily | |
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Death or Disability | |
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Without Cause | |
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For Cause |
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Terminated For Good Reason | |
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|
| |
Accelerated Vesting of Stock Options
|
|
|
930,247 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
930,247 |
|
Vesting of Restricted Stock Awards
|
|
|
332,160 |
|
|
|
332,160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
332,160 |
|
Salary and Bonus
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
355,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,716,298 |
|
Post employment health and welfare and tax benefits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Compensation
|
|
$ |
1,262,407 |
|
|
$ |
687,593 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
2,978,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Post employment health and benefits are de minimis in relation
to total compensation and are therefore not included in total
compensation. Tax benefits are dependent on the tax status of
Mr. Pops and the taxability of the elements of
compensation. These uncertainties prevent Alkermes from making
reasonable estimates for inclusion in total compensation. |
The Committees and the Board of Directors, goals
remain consistent: fair and reasonable pay based on performance
against the Companys goals and consistent with the pay of
executives at comparable companies within our industry. The
Committee will continue to work to improve our compensation
structure and to align the interests of the senior management
team with our shareholders.
No portion of this Compensation Committee Report shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, through any general statement
incorporating by reference in its entirety the Proxy Statement
in which this report appears, except to the extent that the
Company specifically incorporates this report or a portion of it
by reference. In addition, this report shall not be deemed filed
under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
|
|
|
Respectfully submitted by the |
|
Compensation Committee, |
|
|
Paul Schimmel |
|
Paul J. Mitchell |
|
Mark Skaletsky (as of September 2004) |
29
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Securities and Exchange Commission rules require this proxy
statement to contain a graph comparing, over a five-year period
(or such shorter period as may apply), the performance of the
Companys common stock performance against a broad equity
market index and against either a published industry or
line-of-business index or a peer group index.
The broad equity market is represented by the Nasdaq Stock
Market Index and the peer group index is represented by the
Nasdaq Pharmaceutical Index and the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index.
The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index has been added as a comparative
index for the first time with this proxy statement and will
replace the Nasdaq Pharmaceutical Index as the peer group index
in future proxy statement filings. The Company believes that the
Nasdaq Biotechnology Index provides a better comparison of the
Companys stock price performance in relation to its peer
group.
The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index is comprised of group of
companies primarily engaged in Biotechnology activities and is
more focused than the broader Nasdaq Pharmaceutical Index, which
is a broader composition of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical
companies, including generic drug manufacturers and other
companies engaged in technologies, activities and markets not
similar to those of the Company.
The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the
cumulative total shareholder return on the Common Stock for the
last five fiscal years, with the cumulative total return on the
Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.) Index, the Nasdaq Pharmaceutical
Index and the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index. The comparison assumes
$100 was invested on March 31, 2000, in the Common Stock
and in each of the foregoing indices and further assumes
reinvestment of any dividends. The Company did not declare or
pay any dividends on its Common Stock during the comparison
period.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nasdaq Stock Market | |
|
Nasdaq | |
|
Nasdaq Biotechnology | |
|
|
Alkermes, Inc. | |
|
(U.S.) Index | |
|
Pharmaceutical Index | |
|
Index | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
2000
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
2001
|
|
|
47.00 |
|
|
|
40.00 |
|
|
|
75.00 |
|
|
|
64.00 |
|
2002
|
|
|
56.00 |
|
|
|
40.00 |
|
|
|
78.00 |
|
|
|
64.00 |
|
2003
|
|
|
20.00 |
|
|
|
30.00 |
|
|
|
61.00 |
|
|
|
42.00 |
|
2004
|
|
|
35.00 |
|
|
|
44.00 |
|
|
|
86.00 |
|
|
|
65.00 |
|
2005
|
|
|
22.00 |
|
|
|
44.00 |
|
|
|
77.00 |
|
|
|
54.00 |
|
30
OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANYS COMMON STOCK
On July 26, 2005, the Company had 90,137,402 shares of
common stock issued and outstanding. This table shows certain
information about the beneficial ownership of Alkermes
common stock, as of that date, by:
|
|
|
|
|
each of the Companys current directors; |
|
|
|
the Companys Chief Executive Officer; |
|
|
|
each of the Companys four other most highly compensated
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation
Table; and |
|
|
|
all of the Companys current directors and executive
officers as a group. |
According to SEC rules, the Company has included in the column
Number of Issued Shares all shares over which the
person has sole or shared voting or investment power, and the
Company has included in the column Number of Shares
Issuable all shares that the person has the right to
acquire within 60 days after July 26, 2005 through the
exercise of any stock option or other right. All shares that a
person has a right to acquire within 60 days of
July 26, 2005 are deemed outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage beneficially owned by the person, but
are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the
percentage beneficially owned by any other person.
Unless otherwise indicated, each person has the sole power
(except to the extent authority is shared by spouses under
applicable law) to invest and vote the shares listed opposite
the persons name. The Companys inclusion of shares
in this table as beneficially owned is not an admission of
beneficial ownership of those shares by the person listed in the
table.
Ownership by Directors and Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issued Shares |
|
Issuable(1) |
|
Total |
|
Percent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Katherine L. Biberstein
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
139,500 |
|
|
|
139,500 |
|
|
|
* |
|
David Broecker
|
|
|
26,305 |
|
|
|
834,376 |
|
|
|
860,681 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Jim Frates
|
|
|
43,464 |
|
|
|
497,058 |
|
|
|
540,522 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Michael Landine
|
|
|
106,300 |
|
|
|
342,250 |
|
|
|
448,550 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Richard Pops
|
|
|
316,602 |
|
|
|
1,970,168 |
|
|
|
2,286,770 |
|
|
|
2.54 |
% |
Floyd Bloom(2)
|
|
|
210,375 |
|
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
345,375 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Robert Breyer
|
|
|
116,116 |
|
|
|
502,909 |
|
|
|
619,025 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Geraldine Henwood
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
78,000 |
|
|
|
78,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Paul Mitchell
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
68,000 |
|
|
|
76,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Alexander Rich
|
|
|
348,400 |
|
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
483,400 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Paul Schimmel
|
|
|
355,600 |
|
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
490,600 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Mark Skaletsky
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Michael Wall
|
|
|
713,450 |
|
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
848,450 |
|
|
|
* |
|
All Directors and Executive officers as a group (13 persons)
|
|
|
2,244,612 |
|
|
|
5,016,261 |
|
|
|
7,260,873 |
|
|
|
8.06 |
% |
|
|
* |
Represents less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares
of common stock. |
|
(1) |
Shares that can be acquired through stock option exercisable by
September 26, 2005, which is 60 days from the Record
Date. |
|
(2) |
Includes 210,375 shares of common stock held by The Corey
Bloom Family Trust, of which Dr. Bloom is a Trustee. |
31
Ownership By Principal Stockholders
This table shows certain information, based on filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, about the beneficial
ownership of our common stock as of the date indicated below by
each person known to us owning beneficially more than 5% of our
common stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Percent |
|
|
|
|
|
FMR Corporation(1)
|
|
13,451,187 |
|
14.99% |
|
82 Devonshire Street |
|
|
|
|
|
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
|
|
|
Wellington Management Company, LLP(2)
|
|
9,878,148 |
|
10.97% |
|
75 State Street |
|
|
|
|
|
Boston, MA 02109 |
|
|
|
|
Citigroup Inc.(3)
|
|
9,410,501 |
|
10.5% |
|
399 Park Avenue |
|
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10043 |
|
|
|
|
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(4)
|
|
9,169,340 |
|
10.2% |
|
100 E. Pratt Street |
|
|
|
|
|
Baltimore, MD 21202 |
|
|
|
|
Sectoral Asset Management Inc.(5)
|
|
5,036,521 |
|
5.6% |
|
2120-1000 Sherbrooke St. West |
|
|
|
|
|
Montreal PQ H3A 3G4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/ A dated February 14,
2005, FMR Corp. has sole voting power over 675,400 shares
of common stock of Alkermes and sole dispositive power over
13,451,187 shares of common stock of Alkermes. Fidelity
Growth Company Fund owned 7,069,920 shares of those
reported by FMR Corp. Due to their ownership of 12.0% and 24.5%,
respectively, of FMR Corp., and of Fidelity Management Trust
Company and Fidelity International Limited, Edward C. Johnson 3d
and Abigail Johnson (collectively with FMR Corp.,
Fidelity) may be deemed to beneficially own the
shares reported as beneficially owned by FMR Corp. Due to the
voting and dispositive power over the shares of Alkermes common
stock, Fidelity may be deemed to beneficially own such shares,
which are held of record by the Fidelity Funds and certain
institutional accounts. The percentage of class beneficially
owned is as reported in such 13G/ A and is as of
December 31, 2004. |
|
(2) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/ A dated July 8, 2005,
Wellington Management Company, LLP (Wellington
Management), in its capacity as investment advisor, may be
deemed to beneficially own 9,878,148 shares of common stock
of Alkermes which are held of record by clients of Wellington
Management. With its clients, Wellington Management shares
voting power over 8,438,728 shares of common stock of
Alkermes and shares dispositive power over 9,862,648 shares
of common stock of Alkermes. The percentage of class
beneficially owned is as reported in such 13G/ A and is as of
June 30, 2005. |
|
(3) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/ A dated February 7,
2005, Citigroup Inc. (Citigroup) shares voting and
dispositive power over 9,410,501 shares of Alkermes common
stock with the entities listed below. The following entities
share voting and dispositive power with Citigroup over the
number of shares of Alkermes common stock listed below: |
|
|
|
|
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 7,377,091 shares; |
|
|
|
Citigroup Financial Products Inc. 7,380,564 shares; and |
|
|
|
Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. 3,190,495 shares. |
|
|
|
Due to the voting and dispositive power over the shares of
common stock of Alkermes, Citigroup, Inc. may be deemed to
beneficially own such shares. Citigroup disclaims beneficial
ownership of certain shares. The percentage of class
beneficially owned is as reported in such 13G/ A and is as of
December 31, 2004. |
32
|
|
(4) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/ A dated February 14,
2005, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe)
has sole voting power over 2,540,570 shares of the common
stock of Alkermes and sole dispositive power over
9,169,340 shares of common stock of Alkermes. Due to the
voting and dispositive power over the shares of common stock of
Alkermes, T. Rowe may be deemed to beneficially own such shares,
which are held of record by the institutional clients and/or the
T. Rowe Price Funds. The percentage of class beneficially owned
is as reported in such 13G/A and is as of December 31, 2004. |
|
(5) |
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/ A dated January 28,
2005, Sectoral Asset Management Inc., Jerome G. Pfund, and
Michael L. Sjostrom each have sole voting power over
1,010 shares of the common stock of Alkermes and sole
dispositive power over 5,036,521 shares of common stock of
Alkermes. Sectoral Asset Management Inc., in its capacity as an
investment adviser, has the sole right to dispose of or vote the
number of shares of common stock of Alkermes set forth above.
Jerome G. Pfund and Michael L. Sjostrom are the sole
shareholders of Sectoral Asset Management Inc. Sectoral Asset
Management, Inc. and Messrs. Pfund and Sjostrom disclaim
beneficial ownership of Alkermes common stock held by
Sectoral Asset Management Inc. Due to the voting and dispositive
power over the shares of common stock of Alkermes, Sectoral
Asset Management Inc., Jerome G. Pfund, and Michael L. Sjostrom
may be deemed to beneficially own such shares, which are held of
record by the investment advisory clients of Sectoral Asset
Management Inc. The percentage of class beneficially owned is as
reported in such 13G/ A and is as of December 31, 2004. |
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Stock Options
During the last fiscal year, executive officers, part-time
employee directors and non-employee directors were granted
options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to
Alkermes 1999 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Equity Incentive
Plan and Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
Executive Officer Loans
In the calendar year 2001, Alkermes made two loans to David A.
Broecker in connection with his employment as its new Chief
Operating Officer. The first loan, made in February 2001 in the
principal amount of $300,000, was amended to extend its maturity
date to May 31, 2003 or, if earlier, upon termination of
Mr. Broeckers employment. The first loan did not bear
interest and was paid in full in May 2003. The second loan, made
in June 2001 in the principal amount of $300,000, bears interest
at the prime rate. Twenty percent of the principal of and
accrued interest on the second loan will be forgiven annually on
Mr. Broeckers employment anniversary, or in full upon
a change-in-control of Alkermes, so long as he continues to be
employed by Alkermes. Any balance of the second loan remaining
upon the termination of Mr. Broeckers employment must
be paid in full.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors does not intend to present to the Meeting
any business other than the election of directors and to approve
an amendment to the 1999 Stock Option Plan. If any other matter
is presented to the Meeting which under applicable proxy
regulations need not be included in this Proxy Statement or
which the Board of Directors did not know a reasonable time
before this solicitation would be presented, the persons named
in the accompanying proxy will have discretionary authority to
vote proxies with respect to such matter in accordance with
their best judgment.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, audited the consolidated financial statements
of the Company for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.
Representatives of
33
Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to attend the
Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions. The Board of Directors has selected
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered
public accounting firm to audit the Companys consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31,
2006.
DEADLINE FOR SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Company must receive any proposal which a shareholder wishes
to submit at the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders before
March 31, 2006 if the proposal is to be considered by the
Board of Directors for inclusion in the proxy material for that
meeting. If any shareholder wishes to present a proposal to the
2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders that is not included in the
Companys proxy statement for that meeting and fails to
submit such proposal to the Secretary of the Company on or
before March 31, 2006, then the persons named in the proxy
will be allowed to use their discretionary voting authority when
the proposal is raised at the Annual Meeting, without any
discussion of the matter in the Companys proxy statement.
In addition, in accordance with the Companys bylaws, any
nominee for election as a director of the Company at the 2006
Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be submitted in writing to
the Chairman of the Board on or before April 30, 2006,
which is ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of
the date of this years proxy statement.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the
Companys directors and executive officers, and persons who
beneficially own more than ten percent of the Common Stock, to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) initial reports of ownership and reports of
changes in ownership of Common Stock.
Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent
shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the Companys knowledge, based solely on review of the
copies of such reports furnished to the Company for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2005, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors,
officers and greater than ten percent shareholders were complied
with.
EXPENSES AND SOLICITATION
The cost of solicitation will be borne by Alkermes, and in
addition to directly soliciting shareholders by mail, Alkermes
may request banks and brokers to solicit their customers who
have stock of Alkermes registered in the name of the nominee
and, if so, will reimburse such banks and brokers for their
reasonable out-of-pocket costs. Solicitation by officers and
employees of Alkermes may also be made of some shareholders in
person or by mail or telephone following the original
solicitation. In addition, Alkermes has retained the services of
The Altman Group to solicit proxies, at an estimated cost of
$5,500 plus such firms expenses.
HOUSEHOLDING
Our Annual Report, including audited financial statements for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, is being mailed to
you along with this Proxy Statement. In order to reduce printing
and postage costs, ADP Investor Communication Services has
undertaken an effort to deliver only one Annual Report and one
Proxy Statement to multiple shareholders sharing an address.
This delivery method, called householding, is not
being used, however, if ADP has received contrary instructions
from one or more of the stockholders sharing an address. If your
household has received only one Annual Report and one Proxy
Statement, Alkermes will deliver promptly a separate copy of the
Annual Report and the Proxy Statement to any shareholder who
sends a written request to Alkermes, Inc., 88 Sidney Street,
Cambridge, MA, 02139, Attention: Secretary. If your household is
receiving multiple copies of Alkermes Annual Reports or
Proxy Statements and you wish to request delivery of a single
copy, you may send a written request to Alkermes, Inc., 88
Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, Attention: Secretary.
34
APPENDIX A
1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
RESOLVED, that the first sentence of Section 4.1 of the
1999 Stock Option Plan be, and hereby is, amended to read in
full as follows:
|
|
|
The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
that may be issued under the Plan is Nineteen Million Nine
Hundred Thousand (19,900,000) (subject to increase or decrease
pursuant to Section 4.2), which may be either authorized
and unissued shares of Common Stock or authorized and issued
shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company. |
35
PROXY
ALKERMES, INC.
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY FOR
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 23, 2005
The undersigned shareholder of Alkermes, Inc. hereby appoints James M. Frates and lain
Brown, and each of them, attorneys and proxies, with power of substitution in each of them, to
vote and act for and on behalf of the undersigned at the annual meeting of shareholders of the
Company to be held at the offices of Alkermes, 88 Sidney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139,
at 9:00 a.m., Friday, September 23, 2005, and at all adjournments and postponements thereof,
according to the number of shares which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then
personally present, as indicated hereon (including discretionary authority to cumulate votes with
respect to the election of directors) and in their discretion upon such other business as may come
before the meeting, all as set forth in the notice of the meeting and in the proxy statement
furnished herewith, copies of which have been received by the undersigned; hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and proxies may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The
undersigned hereby revokes all other previous proxies appointed and delivered in connection with
the annual meeting of shareholders to be held at 9:00 a.m., Friday, September 23, 2005, and at all
adjournments and postponements thereof.
It is agreed that unless otherwise marked on the other side, said attorneys and proxies are
appointed with authority to vote FOR the directors and the proposals listed on the other side
hereof.
(PLEASE FILL IN, SIGN AND DATE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE)
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
ALKERMES, INC.
C/O COMPUTERSHARE
P.O. BOX 8694
EDISON, NJ 08818-8694
Your vote is important. Please vote immediately.
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Vote-by-lnternet
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|
Log on to the Internet and go to
http://www.eproxyvote.com/alks |
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|
Vote-by-Telephone
|
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|
Call toll-free
1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683) |
|
|
If you vote over the Internet or by telephone, please do not mail your card.
Please mark
votes as in
this example.
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1. |
|
To elect nine members of the Board of Directors, each to serve until the next annual
meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. |
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|
Nominees:
|
|
(01) Floyd E. Bloom, (02) Robert A. Breyer, (03) Gerri Henwood, |
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|
|
(04) Paul J. Mitchell, (05) Richard F. Pops, (06) Alexander Rich, |
|
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|
(07) Paul Schimmel, (08) Mark B. Skaletsky and (09) Michael A. Wall. |
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FOR
ALL
NOMINEES
|
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o
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o
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WITHHELD
FROM ALL
NOMINEES
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o
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For all nominees except as noted above |
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
|
ABSTAIN |
2.
|
|
To approve an amendment to the 1999 Stock Option Plan to increase to 19,900,000 the number of
shares issuable upon exercise of options granted thereunder, an increase of 3,000,000 shares.
|
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o
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o
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o |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
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MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT |
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If this proxy is properly executed and
returned, the shares represented hereby
will be voted, if not otherwise specified
(or unless discretionary authority to
cumulate votes is exercised), FOR Items 1
and 2 and will be voted according to the
discretion of the proxy holders upon any
other business as may properly be brought
before the meeting and at all adjournments
and postponements thereof.
Please sign exactly as your name(s)
appear(s) hereon. All holders must sign.
When signing in a fiduciary capacity,
please indicate full title as such. If a
corporation or partnership, please sign in
full corporate or partnership name by
authorized person.
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Signature: |
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Date: |
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Signature: |
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Date: |
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