U.S.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
Proxy
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Definitive
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Definitive
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Soliciting
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VioQuest
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
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VIOQUEST
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
180
Mount
Airy Road, Suite 203,
Basking
Ridge, New Jersey 07920
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY
19, 2006
TO
OUR
STOCKHOLDERS:
You
are
invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of VioQuest
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The annual
meeting will be held at the Somerset Hills Hotel, 200 Liberty Corner Road,
Warren, New Jersey 07059, on May 19, 2006, at 12:00 Noon (EDT), or at any
adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purpose of considering and taking
appropriate action with respect to the following:
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1.
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To
elect seven directors;
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2.
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To
ratify and approve the Company’s 2003 Stock Option Plan, as
amended;
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3.
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To
ratify the appointment of J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006;
and
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4.
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To
transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any
adjournments thereof.
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Our
Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 31, 2006, as the record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at
the annual meeting and at any adjournments or postponement thereof.
All
stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete, date and sign
the enclosed proxy and return it in the enclosed envelope, as promptly as
possible. If you attend the meeting, you may withdraw the proxy and vote in
person.
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By Order of the Board
of
Directors, |
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VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS,
INC. |
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/s/
Brian Lenz |
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Brian
Lenz
Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary
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Basking Ridge, New Jersey |
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April 14, 2006 |
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PROXY
STATEMENT
OF
VIOQUEST
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD
MAY
19, 2006
The
enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (sometimes referred
to as “VioQuest,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), for use at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 19, 2006, at 12:00 Noon (EDT), or
at
any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein
and
in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. The annual meeting will be held
at
the Somerset Hills Hotel, 200 Liberty Corner Road, Warren, New Jersey 07059.
The
Company intends to mail this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card on
or
about April 14, 2006, to all stockholders entitled to vote at the annual
meeting.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING
Why
am I receiving these materials?
We
sent
you this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because our Board is
soliciting your proxy to vote at the annual meeting. You are invited to
attend the annual meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy
statement. The annual meeting will be held on Friday, May 19, 2006 at
12:00 Noon (EDT) at the Somerset Hills Hotel, 200 Liberty Corner Road, Warren,
New Jersey 07059. However, you do not need to attend the meeting to vote
your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the
enclosed proxy card.
Who
can vote at the annual meeting?
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2006, will be
entitled to vote at the annual meeting. On this date, there were
46,729,519 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
Stockholder
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If
on
March 31, 2006, your shares were registered directly in your name with our
transfer agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., then you are a stockholder of
record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting
or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge
you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card to ensure your vote is
counted.
Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or
Bank
If
on
March 31, 2006, your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an
account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then
you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy
materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization
holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for
purposes of voting at the annual meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have
the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in
your
account. You are also invited to attend the annual meeting. However,
since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in
person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your
broker or other agent.
What
am I voting on?
There
are
three matters scheduled for a vote:
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Election
of seven directors to hold office until the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders;
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Ratification
and approval of the 2003 Stock Option Plan, as amended;
and
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Ratification
and approval of the appointment of J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal
2006.
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How
do I vote?
You
may
either vote “For” all the nominees to the Board of Directors or you may
“Withhold” your vote for any nominee you specify. For the other matters to
be voted on, you may vote “For” or “Against” or abstain from voting. The
procedures for voting are as follows:
Stockholder
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If
you
are a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the annual meeting,
or
vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card. Whether or not you plan to
attend the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is
counted. You may still attend the meeting and vote in person if you have
already voted by proxy.
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To
vote in person, come to the annual meeting, where a ballot will be
made
available to you.
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To
vote using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the enclosed
proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you
return your signed proxy card to us before the annual meeting, we
will
vote your shares as you direct.
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Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or
Bank
If
you
are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank,
or
other agent, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions
with
these proxy materials from that organization rather than from VioQuest.
Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is
counted. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the Internet as
instructed by your broker or bank, if your broker or bank makes telephone or
Internet voting available. To vote in person at the annual meeting, you
must obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other agent. Follow
the instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy materials,
or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy form.
How
many votes do I have?
On
each
matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you
own as of the close of business on March 31, 2006.
What
if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?
If
you
return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections,
your
shares will be voted “For” the election of all seven nominees for director,
“For” the ratification and approval of the 2003 Stock Option Plan and “For” the
ratification and approval of the appointment of J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm. If any other matter is
properly presented at the meeting, your proxy (one of the individuals named
on
your proxy card) will vote your shares using his or her best
judgment.
Who
is paying for this proxy solicitation?
We
will
pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these mailed
proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person,
by telephone, or by other means of communication. Directors and employees
will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We
may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of
forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
What
does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
If
you
receive more than one proxy card, your shares are registered in more than one
name or are registered in different accounts. Please complete, sign and
return each proxy card to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Can
I change my vote after submitting my proxy?
Yes.
You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the
meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares, you may revoke your
proxy in any one of three ways:
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You
may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later
date.
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You
may send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our
Secretary at 180 Mount Airy Road, Suite 203, Basking Ridge, New Jersey,
07920.
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You
may attend the meeting and vote in person. Simply attending the
annual meeting will not, by itself, revoke your
proxy.
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If
your
shares are held by your broker or bank as a nominee or agent, you should follow
the instructions provided by your broker or bank.
When
are stockholder proposals due for next year’s annual
meeting?
To
be
considered for inclusion in next year’s proxy materials, your proposal must be
submitted in writing by the close of business on December 15, 2006 to our
Secretary at 180 Mount Airy Road, Suite 203, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.
If
you wish to bring a matter before the stockholders at next year’s annual meeting
and you do not notify us by February 28, 2007, our management will have
discretionary authority to vote all shares for which it has proxies in
opposition to the matter.
How
are votes counted?
Votes
will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who
will
separately count “For” and “Withhold” and, with respect to proposals other than
the election of directors, “Against” votes, abstentions and broker
non-votes. Abstentions will be counted towards the vote total for each
proposal and will have the same effect as “Against” votes. Broker
non-votes have no effect and will not be counted towards the vote total for
any
proposal.
If
your
shares are held by your broker as your nominee (that is, in “street name”), you
will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares
and
follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your
broker to vote your shares. If you do not give instructions to your broker,
your
broker can vote your shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but not with
respect to “non-discretionary” items. Discretionary items are proposals
considered routine under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on
which your broker may vote shares held in street name in the absence of your
voting instructions. On non-discretionary items for which you do not give your
broker instructions, the shares will be treated as broker
non-votes.
How
many votes are needed to approve each proposal?
For
the
election of directors to hold office until the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, the seven nominees receiving the most “For” votes (among votes
properly cast in person or by proxy) will be elected. Only votes “For” or
“Withheld” will affect the outcome.
To
be
approved, Proposals 2 and 3, the ratification and approval of our 2003 Stock
Option Plan, and the ratification and approval of the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm, each must receive a “For” vote from the
majority of shares present either in person or by proxy and entitled to
vote. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will have the same effect as an
“Against” vote. “Broker non-votes,” which occur when brokers are
prohibited from exercising discretionary voting authority for beneficial owners
who have not provided voting instructions, will not be counted for the purpose
of determining the number of shares present in person or by proxy on a voting
matter and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
What
is the quorum requirement?
A
quorum
of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be
present if at least a majority of the outstanding shares are represented by
stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy. On the record date, there
were 46,729,519 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to
vote.
Your
shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy
(or
one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if
you
vote in person at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will
be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, either
the chairman of the meeting or a majority of the votes present may adjourn
the meeting to another date.
How
can I find out the results of the voting at the annual
meeting?
Preliminary
voting results will be announced at the annual meeting. Final voting
results will be published in our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the second
quarter of 2006.
PROPOSAL
1:
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
The
number of directors comprising our Board of Directors is currently set at up
to
nine members and our Board is presently composed of seven members. Vacancies
on
our Board of Directors may be filled by persons elected by a majority of our
remaining directors. A director elected by our Board of Directors to fill a
vacancy (including any vacancy created by an increase in the number of
directors) shall serve until the next meeting of stockholders at which the
election of directors is considered and until such director’s successor is
elected and qualified.
None
of
our directors has previously been elected as such by our stockholders. Each
nominee is currently a director of the Company who was recommended for election
as a director by our Board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. If
elected at the annual meeting, each of the nominees below would serve until
our
2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and until his successor is elected and
has
qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. It is
our policy to invite directors to attend the annual meeting.
The
name
and age of each of the seven nominees, his position with the Company, his
principal occupation, and the period during which such person has served as
a
director of the Company are set forth below.
Biographical
Summaries of Nominees for the Board of Directors
Name
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Age
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Position
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Director
Since
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Daniel
Greenleaf
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41
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President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
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2005
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Vincent
Aita, Ph.D.
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32
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Director
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2003
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Johnson
Y.N. Lau
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45
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Director
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2005
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Stephen
C. Rocamboli
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34
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Director
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2003
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Stephen
A. Roth, Ph.D.
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63
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Director
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2003
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Michael
Weiser, M.D.
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43
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Director
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2003
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Xumu
Zhang, Ph.D.
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44
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Director
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2000
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Daniel
Greenleaf has
been
our President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors
since February 2005. He joined VioQuest from Celltech Biopharmaceuticals, a
European biotechnology company where he served as President of their U.S.
operations since 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Greenleaf served as Senior Vice
President of Operations for Nabi Biopharmaceuticals a biopharmaceutical
development company, from 2002 to 2003. From 1992 to 2002, Mr. Greenleaf held
a
series of positions of increasing responsibility at Schering-Plough Corporation,
an international pharmaceutical company, including its Vice President, Marketing
and Sales from 2000 to 2002. He holds an MBA from the University of Miami and
a
BA in Economics from Denison University.
Vincent
M. Aita, Ph.D. has
served as a member of the board of directors since February 2003. Dr. Aita
is a
partner at Kilkenny Capital Management, LLC, where he has worked from February
2004 to present. Prior to that, he was a research analyst for Paramount
BioCapital Asset Management, Inc. from November 2000 to January 2004. Prior
to
that, Dr. Aita completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of
Genetics and Development at Columbia University, and concurrently served as
a
scientific consultant for Research Assessment Associates, Inc. From August
1995
to December 1999, Dr. Aita attended Columbia University where he received a
Ph.D. in Genetics from the Columbia Genome Center.
Johnson
Y. N. Lau
has been
a member of our board of directors since November 2005. He currently serves
as
the Chairman of Kinex Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a position he has held since
December 2003. Prior to that, Dr. Lau was an independent contractor from January
2003 until December 2003 and served in various capacities at Ribapharm Inc.
from
August 2000 until January 2003, including Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer. Previously he was the Senior Vice President and Head of
Research and Development at ICN Pharmaceuticals and Senior Director of Antiviral
Therapy at Schering-Plough Research Institute. Since September 2004, Dr. Lau
has
been a director of Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. (OTCBB: CHTP),
a
North Carolina based biotechnology company. He has published over 200 scientific
papers and 40 reviews and editorials in leading academic journals and was
elected as a Fellow, Royal College of Physicians in 2004. Dr. Lau holds an
M.B.B.S. and M.D. from the University of Hong Kong and the degrees of M.R.C.P.
and F.R.C.P. from the Royal College of Physicians.
Stephen
C. Rocamboli has
served as our Interim Chairman since February 2003 and was our Secretary from
February 2003 to December 2003. Since September 2004, Mr. Rocamboli has been
general counsel of Paramount BioCapital, Inc. and Paramount BioCapital
Investments, LLC and served as deputy general counsel of those companies from
September 1999 to August 2004. From November 2002 to December 2003, Mr.
Rocamboli served as a director of Ottawa, Ontario based Adherex Technologies,
Inc. Mr. Rocamboli also serves as a member of the board of directors of several
privately held development stage biotechnology companies. Prior to joining
Paramount, Mr. Rocamboli practiced law in the health care field. He received
his
J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.
Stephen
A. Roth, Ph.D. has
served as a member of the board of directors since February 2003. Since January
2003, he has served as President, CEO, and director of Immune Control, Inc.,
a
privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing cancer treating
drugs. Prior to joining Immune Control, Dr. Roth co-founded Neose Technologies
in 1990, becoming its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman in 1994. Prior to
starting Neose, Dr. Roth was assistant and associate professor of biology at
The
Johns Hopkins University from 1970-1980. He moved to the University of
Pennsylvania as professor of biology in 1980, and was appointed Department
Chairman in 1982, serving in that role until 1987. At Penn, Dr. Roth helped
form
its Plant Science Institute. His scholarly interests centered on the roles
of
complex carbohydrates in embryonic morphogenesis and in malignancy, topics
on
which he authored or co-authored nearly 100 articles and one book. He has
received several research awards and prizes, and is an inventor on 18 patents
and six patent applications. Dr. Roth received an A.B. degree from Johns Hopkins
in 1964, a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1968, and did
postdoctoral work in carbohydrate chemistry at Hopkins from
1968-1970.
Michael
Weiser, M.D., Ph.D. has
served as a member of the board of directors since February 2003. Dr. Weiser
concurrently serves as the Director of Research of Paramount BioCapital, Inc.
Dr. Weiser completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Neurobiology at Cornell University
Medical College and received his M.D. from New York University School of
Medicine, where he also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department
of
Physiology and Neuroscience. Dr. Weiser currently serves on the board of
directors of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MHA), Hana Biosciences, Inc.
(HNAB), Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. (CHTP), Emisphere Technologies
Inc. (EMIS), Ziopharm Oncology (ZIOP), all publicly-held biotechnology
companies, as well as several other privately held biotechnology
companies.
Xumu
Zhang, Ph.D.,
co-founder
of our subsidiary Chiral Quest, Inc., has been a member of our board of
directors and has served as our Chief Technology Officer and as a consultant
since our inception in 2000. Since 1994, Dr. Zhang has been primarily employed
by Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania, most recently
as a Professor of Organic Chemistry, and prior to that was an Assistant and
Associate Professor of Chemistry. Dr. Zhang holds a Ph.D. in Organic and
Inorganic Chemistry from Stanford University, where he also conducted his
postdoctoral work.
Vote
Required
All
shares represented by proxies will be voted “FOR”
the
election of the foregoing nominees unless a contrary choice is specified. If
any
nominee should withdraw or otherwise become unavailable for reasons not
presently known, the proxies which would have otherwise been voted for such
nominee will be voted for such substitute nominee as may be selected by the
Board of Directors. In order to be elected as a director, each nominee must
receive the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes present in person
or
represented by proxy at the meeting.
THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
ALL OF
THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
INFORMATION
CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
Board
Committees and Meetings
The
Board
held eight meetings
(either in person or by conference call) in 2005 and took action by written
consent three times. All directors attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate
meetings of the Board and of the committees on which they served.
The
Board
of Directors has three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee, and a Governance and Nominating Committee. The following table
provides membership for each of the Board committees:
Name
of Committee
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Membership
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Audit
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Vincent
Aita, Johnson Lau (Chair) and Stephen Rocamboli
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Compensation
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Vincent
Aita, Stephen Roth and Michael Weiser (Chair)
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Governance
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Johnson
Lau, Stephen Rocamboli and Stephen Roth
(Chair)
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Audit
Committee
The
Audit
Committee oversees the Company’s accounting and financial reporting process. For
these purposes, the Audit Committee performs several functions. For example,
the
Committee evaluates and assesses the qualifications of the independent
registered public accounting firm; determines the engagement of the independent
registered public accounting firm; determines whether to retain or terminate
the
existing independent registered public accounting firm; reviews and approves
the
retention of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any
non-audit services; reviews the financial statements to be included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB; and discusses with management and the
independent registered public accounting firm the results of the annual audit
and the results of the Company’s quarterly financial statements. The Board of
Directors adopted a written Audit Committee Charter, a copy of which can be
found on our company website at www.vioquestpharm.com.
The
Audit Committee met four times in 2005.
Our
Board
of Directors has reviewed the definition of independence for Audit Committee
members and has determined that each of member of our Audit Committee is
independent, as independence for audit committee members is currently defined
by
Section 121 of the Listing Standards of the American Stock Exchange (although
not currently listed on the American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”), the Company has
elected to follow its guidelines for independence requirements pursuant to
an
SEC directive that the standard for audit committee independence be based upon
the listing guidelines of a national securities exchange or national securities
market). The Board has further determined that Dr. Lau qualifies as an “audit
committee financial expert,” as defined by applicable rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The Board’s determination was based on an assessment of
a number of items with regard to Dr. Lau’s background and experience, including
his prior service as the chief executive officer of a public reporting
company.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors oversees our compensation
policies, plans and programs. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves
corporate performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of
our
executive officers and other senior management; reviews and recommends to the
Board the compensation and other terms of employment of our Chief Executive
Officer and our other executive officers; administers our equity incentive
and
stock option plans; and makes recommendations to the Board concerning the
issuance of awards pursuant to those plans. All current members of the
Compensation Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined
under Section 121 of the American Stock Exchange listing standards). The
Compensation Committee met four times in 2005.
Governance
and Nominating Committee
In
February 2006, the Board established a Governance and Nominating Committee.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee provides assistance to the Board in the
areas of membership selection, committee selection and rotation practices,
evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the Board, and review and
consideration of developments in corporate governance practices. It considers
and recommends to the Board persons to be nominated for election by the
stockholders as directors. In addition to nominees recommended by directors,
the
Governance and Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by
stockholders if submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company at the
address of Company’s principal offices. The Board believes that any candidate
for director, whether recommended by stockholders or by the Board, should be
considered on the basis of all factors relevant to the needs of the Company
and
the credentials of the candidate at the time the candidate is proposed. Such
factors include relevant business and industry experience and demonstrated
character and judgment. The Board of Directors adopted a written charter of
the
Governance and Nominating Committee, a copy of which can be obtained without
charge by sending a written request to the Secretary of the Company at the
address of Company’s principal offices. The Governance and Nominating Committee
has met once since it was established.
Communication
with the Board of Directors
Although
we have not adopted a formal process for stockholder communications with our
Board of Directors, we believe stockholders should have the ability to
communicate directly with the Board so that their views can be heard by the
Board or individual directors, as applicable, and that appropriate and timely
responses be provided to stockholders. All communications regarding general
matters should be directed to the Secretary of the Company at the address below
and should prominently indicate on the outside of the envelope that it is
intended for the complete Board of Directors or for any particular director(s).
If no designation is made, the communication will be forwarded to the entire
board. Stockholder communications to the Board should be sent to:
Corporate
Secretary
Attention:
Board of Directors [or name(s) of particular directors]
VioQuest
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
180
Mount
Airy Road, Suite 203
Basking
Ridge, New Jersey 07920
Code
of Ethics
We
have
adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all officers,
directors and employees of our company. In addition, we have adopted a Code
of
Ethics specifically applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and Senior
Financial Officers. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and/or
our
Code of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers can
be
obtained without charge by sending a written request to the Secretary of the
Company at the address of Company’s principal offices. If we make any
substantive amendments to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or grant
any
waiver from a provision of the code to an executive officer or director, we
will
promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver by filing with the
SEC a
current report on Form 8-K.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE*
The
following is the report of our Audit Committee with respect to our audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005.
The
purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its general oversight
of our financial reporting, internal controls and audit functions. The Audit
Committee Charter describes in greater detail the full responsibilities of
the
Committee. The Audit Committee is comprised solely of independent
directors, as defined by the listing standards of American Stock
Exchange.
The
Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed the financial statements with management
and J.H. Cohn LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm. Management
is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of our financial
statements; accounting and financial reporting principles; establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act
Rule
13a-15(e)); establishing and maintaining internal control over financial
reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)); evaluating the
effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures; evaluating the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; and evaluating
any
change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over
financial reporting. J.H. Cohn LLP is responsible for performing an independent
audit of the financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity
of
those financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Our
Audit
Committee has also discussed with J.H. Cohn LLP the matters required to be
discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with
Audit Committees, which includes, among other items, matters related to the
conduct of the audit of our financial statements. Our Audit Committee has
also received written disclosures and the letter from J.H. Cohn LLP required
by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, which relates to the auditor’s
independence from us and our related entities, and has discussed with J.H.
Cohn
LLP their independence from us.
*
This
report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not
to be incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities
Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
whether
before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation
language in any such filing.
Based
on the review and discussions referred to
above, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that our
audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
Submitted
by:
Vincent
M. Aita
Johnson
Y.N. Lau (Chair)
Stephen
C. Rocamboli
COMPENSATION
OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Compensation
of Directors
Our
directors do not currently receive monetary fees for serving as directors.
Non-employee directors may be granted, at the discretion of the Board, options
to purchase shares of our common stock. Such options shall contain such terms
and provisions as the Board determines at the time of grant. On October 28,
2003, in consideration for their services as directors, each of Drs. Aita,
Roth
and Weiser and Messr. Rocamboli received ten-year options to purchase 12,900
shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.98 per share. In addition
, on January 12, 2006, Drs. Roth and Lau received ten-year options to purchase
120,000 and 170,000 shares of our common stock, respectively, at an exercise
price of $0.75 per share. All of these options vest in three equal installments
on each anniversary of the grant date until fully vested. Additionally, on
March
31, 2006, Dr. Lau received ten-year options to purchase 150,000 shares of our
common stock, at an exercise price of $0.85 per share. Members of the Board
who
are also employees or consultants of the Company receive no options for their
services as directors.
Biographical
Summaries of our Executive Officers
Our
executive officers and directors are described below. There are no family
relationships among our executive officers or directors.
Name
|
Age
|
Positions
|
Daniel
Greenleaf
|
41
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
Michael
Cannarsa, Ph.D.
|
48
|
General
Manager, Chiral Quest
|
Pamela
Harris, M.D.
|
54
|
Chief
Medical Officer
|
Yaping
Hong, Ph.D.
|
50
|
Vice
President of Process Research and Development
|
Brian
Lenz
|
34
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
|
Richard
J. Welter, Ph.D.
|
59
|
Vice
President, Corporate Business
Development
|
Daniel
Greenleaf has
been
our President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors
since February 2005. He joins VioQuest from Celltech Biopharmaceuticals, a
European biotechnology company where he served as President of their U.S.
operations since 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Greenleaf served as Senior Vice
President of Operations for Nabi Biopharmaceuticals a biopharmaceutical
development company, from 2002 to 2003. From 1992 to 2002, Mr. Greenleaf held
a
series of positions of increasing responsibility at Schering-Plough Corporation,
an international pharmaceutical company, including its Vice President, Marketing
and Sales from 2000 to 2002. He holds an MBA from the University of Miami and
a
BA in Economics from Denison University.
Michael
Cannarsa, Ph.D.,
currently serves as General Manager of Chiral Quest and joined our Company
in
January 2005. Mr. Cannarsa joins us from Chemi Pharma, where he served as
President and VP of Business Development since 2003. From 2001 to 2003, Dr.
Cannarsa was employed by Synthetech, Inc. serving as Director of Business
Development. Prior to Synthetech, Inc., Dr. Cannarsa served as Vice President,
Fine Chemicals Business Development at Symyx Technologies, Inc. from 1999 to
2001. From 1997 to 1999; Dr. Cannarsa was employed by PPG-Sipsy Pharmaceutical
Products as Commercial Development Manager. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell
University in Physical Organic Chemistry, and a BS in Chemistry from Georgetown
University.
Pamela
Harris, M.D., F.A.C.P., joined
our company in March 2006 as its Chief Medical Officer. Prior to joining the
Company, Dr. Harris was the Chief Medical Officer of Callisto Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. since March 2005. From March 2004 to March 2005, she was Team Leader/Senior
Medical Director for Pfizer, Inc. From May 2003 to January 2004, Dr. Harris
was
a Clinical Science Team Leader/Consultant with Hoffman-La Roche Pharmaceuticals
and from December 2004 to April 2003, she was Interim Director of Clinical
Research for Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. From 1999 to 2002, Dr. Harris was
Director, Clinical Research for Wyeth.
Yaping
Hong, Ph.D.,
has
been our Director of Process Research and Development since May 2003. Prior
to
joining Chiral Quest, Dr. Hong was Director of Process Chemistry for Synthon
Chiragenics from August 2001 to May 2003. From April 1993 to August 2001, Dr.
Hong was employed by Sepracor Inc., eventually serving as Associate Research
Fellow from January 2001 to August 2001. Dr. Hong holds a Ph.D. in Synthetic
Organic Chemistry from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Hong conducted his
postdoctoral work from September 1991 to March 1993 at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, in Cambridge Massachusetts.
Brian
Lenz
has been
our Chief Financial Officer since April 2004 and our Secretary and Treasurer
since December 2003. From October 2003 to April 2004, he served as our
Controller. Prior to that he was Controller of Smiths Detection from July 2000
to September 2003. Previous to Smiths Detection, Mr. Lenz worked as a Senior
Auditor for KPMG LLP from October 1998 to June 2000. Mr. Lenz is a licensed
Certified Public Accountant, holds a Bachelors of Science in Business
Administration from Rider University in New Jersey, and an M.B.A. from Saint
Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania.
Richard
J. Welter, Ph.D., has
been
our Vice President of Corporate Business Development since July 2005. Prior
to
joining us, Dr. Welter was Vice President, Business Development at Vela
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from July 2003 to July 2005. From July 2000 to July 2003,
Dr. Welter served as Executive Director, Global Licensing at Pharmacia
Corporation.
Compensation
of Executive Officers
Summary
of Compensation
The
following table sets forth, for the last three fiscal years, the compensation
earned for services rendered in all capacities by our chief executive officer
and the other highest-paid executive officers serving as such at the end of
2005
whose compensation for that fiscal year was in excess of $100,000. The
individuals named in the table will be hereinafter referred to as the “Named
Executive Officers.”
|
|
|
|
Annual
Compensation
|
|
Long-Term
Compensation
Awards
|
|
|
|
Name
& Position
|
|
Fiscal
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Other
($)
|
|
Shares
Underlying
Options
(#)
|
|
All
Other Compensation ($)
|
|
Daniel
Greenleaf (1)
|
|
2005
|
|
|
330,000
|
(1)
|
|
305,000
(2
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
2,336,476
|
|
|
0
|
|
President
& CEO
|
|
2004
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronald
Brandt (3)
|
|
2005
|
|
|
50,000
|
(3)
|
|
--
|
|
|
105,000
|
(4)
|
|
--
|
|
|
0
|
|
Former
CEO, V.P.
|
|
2004
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
6,000
|
(5)
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
Business
Development
|
|
2003
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
4,800
|
(5)
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian
Lenz
|
|
2005
|
|
|
130,000
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
2004
|
|
|
94,000
|
|
|
17,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
Cannarsa
|
|
2005
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
4,800
|
(5)
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
G.M.
Chiral Quest, Inc.
|
|
2004
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yaping
Hong
|
|
2005
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
44,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
V.P.
of Process R&D
|
|
2004
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
145,000
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
Welter (6)
|
|
2005
|
|
|
100,833
|
(6)
|
|
47,000
|
(7)
|
|
0
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
V.P.
Corporate
|
|
2004
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Development
|
|
2003
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
______________
(1)
|
Mr.
Greenleaf’s compensation represents amounts received from his hiring on
February 1, 2005, which included the prorated amount of his $360,000
annual base salary.
|
(2)
|
Includes
a signing bonus of $50,000, guaranteed bonus of $100,000 and bonuses
received upon reaching certain Company
milestones.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Brandt served as the Company's Vice President of Business Development
from
October 2003 to April 2004. He was appointed interim President and
CEO in
April 2004 and held those positions until February 2005. Mr. Brandt’s
compensation represents amounts received up until April 4, 2005,
when he
resigned.
|
(4)
|
Represents
severance payment.
|
(5)
|
Represents
an automobile allowance.
|
(6)
|
Mr.
Welter’s compensation represents amounts received from his hiring on July
18, 2005, which included the prorated amount of his $220,000 annual
base
salary.
|
(7)
Includes a $22,000 signing bonus.
Stock Option
Grants in Last Fiscal Year
We
grant
options to our executive officers under our 2003 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”).
As of December 31, 2005, options to purchase a total of 4,975,853 shares
were outstanding under the Plan and options to purchase 1,524,147 shares
remained available for grant under the Plan.
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding options granted to
the
Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. Each
option grant described below vests in three equal annual installments commencing
on the first anniversary of the grant.
|
|
|
|
%
of Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Granted
to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
Employees
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
in
Fiscal
|
|
Price
|
|
Expiration
|
|
Name
|
|
Granted
(#)
|
|
|
|
($/Share)
|
|
Date
|
|
Daniel
Greenleaf
|
|
|
891,396
|
|
|
28.9
|
|
|
0.88
|
|
|
2/1/2015
|
|
|
|
|
1,445,080
|
|
|
46.9
|
|
|
0.89
|
|
|
10/19/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronald
Brandt
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian
Lenz
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
1.9
|
|
|
1.08
|
|
|
1/24/2015
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
|
1.03
|
|
|
11/29/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
Cannarsa
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
5.7
|
|
|
0.86
|
|
|
1/1/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yaping
Hong
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
0.8
|
|
|
1.08
|
|
|
1/24/2015
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
|
1.03
|
|
|
11/29/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
Welter
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
5.7
|
|
|
0.74
|
|
|
7/18/2015
|
|
(1)
|
Based
upon options to purchase a total of 3,079,476 shares of our common
stock
granted to employees in 2005.
|
Aggregated
Option Exercises in Last Fiscal year and Fiscal Year-End Option
Values
The
following table provides information concerning option exercises by the Named
Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2005 and the number and
value of unexercised options held by the Named Executive Officers at December
31, 2005. The value realized on option exercises is calculated based on
the fair market value per share of common stock on the date of exercise less
the
applicable exercise price.
The
value of unexercised in-the-money options held at December 31, 2005 represents
the total gain which the option holder would realize if he exercised all of
the
in-the-money options held at December 31, 2005, and is determined by multiplying
the number of shares of common stock underlying the options by the difference
between $0.75, which was the closing price per share of our common stock on
the
OTC BB on December 30, 2005 (the last trading day of 2005), and the applicable
per share option exercise price. An option is “in-the-money” if the fair market
value of the underlying shares exceeds the exercise price of the
option.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of Shares
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
at Fiscal Year End (#)
|
|
Value
of Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options
at
Fiscal Year End ($)(1)
|
Name
|
|
Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise
|
|
Value
Realized
($)
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
Daniel
Greenleaf
|
|
0
|
|
-
|
|
0
|
|
2,336,476
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronald
Brandt
|
|
0
|
|
-
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian
Lenz
|
|
0
|
|
-
|
|
18,334
|
|
181,666
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
Cannarsa
|
|
0
|
|
-
|
|
0
|
|
175,000
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
Yaping
Hong
|
|
|
0
|
|
-
|
|
37,667
|
|
187,333
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
Richard
Welter
|
|
|
0
|
|
-
|
|
0
|
|
175,000
|
|
0
|
|
1,750
|
Long
Term Incentive Plan Awards
No
long
term incentive plan awards were made to any Named Executive Officer during
the
last fiscal year.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table summarizes outstanding options under our 2003 Stock Option
Plan,
which has not been previously approved by our stockholders.
Plan
category
|
|
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
(a)
|
|
Weighted
average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(b)
|
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance (excluding
securities reflected in column (a)
(c)
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
|
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
-
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by stockholders - 2003
Plan
|
|
6,073,853
|
|
$
1.05
|
|
426,147
|
Employment,
Severance and Change of Control Agreements
Daniel
Greenleaf
The
Company entered into a written employment agreement dated as of February 1,
2005
with Daniel Greenleaf, its newly-appointed President and Chief Executive
Officer. The agreement provides for a 3-year term and an initial annual base
salary of $360,000, plus a guaranteed annual bonus of $100,000 during each
year
of the term of the agreement. In addition, Mr. Greenleaf is entitled to a
signing bonus in the amount of $50,000, of which one-half is payable following
the execution of the employment agreement and the remaining one-half is payable
on the 6-month anniversary of the agreement. Mr. Greenleaf is further entitled
to a “Discretionary Bonus” under the employment agreement of up to $250,000 per
year upon the attainment of certain performance criteria specified in the
employment agreement, and such other benefits generally made available to the
Company’s other senior management.
The
employment agreement also provides that Mr. Greenleaf is entitled to receive
an
option to purchase 891,396 shares of the Company’s common stock, which
represents 5 percent of the Company’s then currently outstanding common stock.
The option will vest in three equal annual installments, commencing February
2006. In addition, until the Company has raised $20 million through the sale
of
equity securities and has obtained the rights to one clinical stage human
therapeutic, Mr. Greenleaf shall be entitled to receive such additional options
to purchase common stock in order to maintain his beneficial ownership (assuming
the exercise of all stock options issued to Mr. Greenleaf) at 5 percent of
the
Company’s outstanding common stock. To the extent any additional stock options
are issued pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the options will vest in
installments over the term of the employment agreement as long as Mr. Greenleaf
remains employed by the Company and will be exercisable at the market value
of
the Company’s common stock at the time of issuance.
In
the
event Mr. Greenleaf’s employment is terminated by the Company during the term
upon a “change of control” (as defined in the employment agreement) and on the
date of such termination the Company’s aggregate market capitalization is less
than $38 million, he is entitled to receive his base salary for six months
thereafter and all of his stock options scheduled to vest in the calendar year
of such termination shall accelerate and be deemed vested upon termination
and
will remain exercisable for 12 months following such termination. In the event
the Company terminates Mr. Greenleaf’s employment during the term of the
agreement other than as a result of death, disability, cause or in connection
with a change of control where the Company’s aggregate market capitalization is
less than $38 million, then (i) Mr. Greenleaf is entitled to receive his base
salary for 12 months from such termination, his guaranteed bonus for the
calendar year in which such termination occurs, and the portion of any
discretionary bonus earned as of the termination, and (ii) the vesting of his
stock options shall accelerate and be deemed vested and will remain exercisable
for 12 months following such termination.
Pamela
Harris
On
February 14, 2006, we entered into an employment agreement with Pamela Harris,
M.D., F.A.C.P., our newly-appointed Chief Medical Officer. The agreement is
for
an indefinite term beginning on March 15, 2006 and provides for an initial
base
salary of $250,000, plus an annual target bonus of up to 20% of base salary
based upon personal performance and an additional amount of up to 10% of base
salary based upon Company performance. The agreement provides that for fiscal
year 2006, Dr. Harris will be guaranteed at least 50% of the target bonus.
The
employment agreement also provides that Dr. Harris is entitled to receive
options to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock. The options will vest
in
three equal annual installments, commencing in March 2007 and will be
exercisable at a price per share equal to the greater of i) $0.75, or ii) 105%
of the closing bid price of the common stock on the effective date of her
employment. In addition, Dr. Harris shall be entitled, based on performance,
to
receive options to purchase an additional 200,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock. These performance based options will be divided in to three separate
grants and are expected to vest in annual installments over a 3-year period.
Entitlement to the performance based options and the exact vesting schedule
will
be determined after consideration of the development timelines relating to
the
Company’s two product candidates. All terms of the options will be issued
pursuant to the Company’s 2003 Stock Option Plan and will be exercisable by Dr.
Harris as long as she remains employed by the Company; provided, however, if
a
“change of control” (as defined in the 2003 Plan) occurs during Dr. Harris’
employment, the vesting of the stock options shall accelerate and be deemed
vested. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, Dr. Harris is
entitled to a housing allowance of up to $10,000 and relocation assistance
for
up to an additional $10,000. In the event that the Company terminates Dr.
Harris’ employment without cause, Dr. Harris is entitled to receive her then
annualized base salary for a period of six months from such
termination.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
There
were no interlocks or other relationships with other entities among our
executive officers and directors that are required to be disclosed under
applicable SEC regulations relating to compensation committee interlocks and
insider participation.
PROPOSAL
2:
APPROVAL
OF 2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Stockholders
are requested in this Proposal 2 to ratify and approve the Company’s 2003 Stock
Option Plan (the “2003 Plan”) and all stock option grants made pursuant to the
2003 Plan. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting
will be required to ratify and approve the 2003 Plan. Abstentions will be
counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the
stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes
are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining
whether this matter has been approved.
The
brief
summary of the 2003 Plan which follows is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the complete text, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as
Appendix
A.
General
In
June 2003, the Board approved and adopted the 2003 Plan in the form attached
hereto as Appendix
A.
The
Board approved an amendment to the 2003 Plan in August 2005
to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance. The
2003
Plan, as amended, authorizes a total of 6,500,000 shares of Common Stock for
issuance, which represents approximately 14 percent of the outstanding shares
of
Common Stock. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, stock options relating
to
an aggregate of 6,073,853 shares of Common Stock had been granted at exercise
prices ranging from $0.85 to $11.20, leaving a total of 426,147 shares available
for issuance.
The
purpose of the Plan is to increase shareholder value and to advance the
interests of the Company by furnishing a variety of economic incentives
(“Incentives”) designed to attract, retain and motivate employees of and
consultants to the Company.
The
Plan provides that a committee (the “Committee”) composed of at least two
disinterested members of the board of directors of the Company may grant
Incentives in the following forms: (a) stock options; (b) stock appreciation
rights (“SARs”); (c) stock awards; (d) restricted stock; (e) performance shares;
and (f) cash awards. Incentives may be granted to participants who are employees
of or consultants to the Company (including officers and directors of the
Company who are also employees of or consultants to the Company) selected from
time to time by the Committee. In the event there is no Committee, then the
entire Board shall have responsibility for administering the 2003 Plan.
Types
of Incentives
Stock
Options
Under
the
2003 Plan, the Committee may grant non-qualified and incentive stock options
to
eligible participants to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company.
The
2003 Plan confers on the Committee discretion, with respect to any such stock
option, to determine the number and purchase price of the shares subject to
the
option, the term of each option and the time or times during its term when
the
option becomes exercisable. The purchase price for incentive stock options
may
not be less than the fair market value of the shares subject to the option
on
the date of grant. The number of shares subject to an option will be reduced
proportionately to the extent that the optionee exercises a related SAR. The
term of a non-qualified option may not exceed 10 years from the date of grant
and the term of an incentive stock option may not exceed 10 years from the
date
of grant. Any option shall become immediately exercisable in the event of
specified changes in corporate ownership or control. The Committee may
accelerate the exercisability of any option. The Committee may approve the
purchase by the Company of an unexercised stock option for the difference
between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares covered
by
such option.
The
option price may be paid in cash, check, bank draft or by delivery of shares
of
Common Stock valued at their fair market value at the time of purchase or by
withholding from the shares issuable upon exercise of the option shares of
Common Stock valued at their fair market value or as otherwise authorized by
the
Committee.
In
the event that an optionee ceases to be an employee of or consultant to the
Company for any reason, including death, any stock option or unexercised portion
thereof which was otherwise exercisable on the date of termination of employment
shall expire at the time or times established by the Committee.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
A
stock
appreciation right or a “SAR” is a right to receive, without payment to the
Company, a number of shares, cash or any combination thereof, the amount of
which is determined pursuant to the formula described below. A SAR may be
granted with respect to any stock option granted under the Plan, or alone,
without reference to any stock option. A SAR granted with respect to any stock
option may be granted concurrently with the grant of such option or at such
later time as determined by the Committee and as to all or any portion of the
shares subject to the option.
The
2003 Plan confers on the Committee discretion to determine the number of shares
as to which a SAR will relate as well as the duration and exercisability of
a
SAR. In the case of a SAR granted with respect to a stock option, the number
of
shares of Common Stock to which the SAR pertains will be reduced in the same
proportion that the holder exercises the related option. The term of a SAR
may
not exceed ten years and one day from the date of grant. Unless otherwise
provided by the Committee, a SAR will be exercisable for the same time period
as
the stock option to which it relates is exercisable. Any SAR shall become
immediately exercisable in the event of specified changes in corporate ownership
or control. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any
SAR.
Upon
exercise of a SAR, the holder is entitled to receive an amount which is equal
to
the aggregate amount of the appreciation in the shares of Common Stock as to
which the SAR is exercised. For this purpose, the "appreciation" in the shares
consists of the amount by which the fair market value of the shares of Common
Stock on the exercise date exceeds (a) in the case of a SAR related to a stock
option, the purchase price of the shares under the option or (b) in the case
of
a SAR granted alone, without reference to a related stock option, an amount
determined by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee may pay the
amount of this appreciation to the holder of the SAR by the delivery of Common
Stock, cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash.
Restricted
Stock
Restricted
stock consists of the sale or transfer by the Company to an eligible participant
of one or more shares of Common Stock which are subject to restrictions on
their
sale or other transfer by the employee. The price at which restricted stock
will
be sold will be determined by the Committee, and it may vary from time to time
and among employees and may be less than the fair market value of the shares
at
the date of sale. All shares of restricted stock will be subject to such
restrictions as the Committee may determine. Subject to these restrictions
and
the other requirements of the 2003 Plan, a participant receiving restricted
stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder as to those shares,
including, for example, the right to vote such shares.
Stock
Awards
Stock
awards consist of the transfer by the Company to an eligible participant of
shares of Common Stock, without payment, as additional compensation for services
to the Company. The number of shares transferred pursuant to any stock award
will be determined by the Committee.
Performance
Shares
Performance
shares consist of the grant by the Company to an eligible participant of a
contingent right to receive cash or payment of shares of Common Stock. The
performance shares shall be paid in shares of Common Stock to the extent
performance objectives set forth in the grant are achieved. The number of shares
granted and the performance criteria will be determined by the
Committee.
Non-Transferability
of Most Incentives
No
stock
option, SAR, performance share or restricted stock granted under the Plan is
transferable by its holder, except in the event of the holder's death, by will
or the laws of descent and distribution. During an employee's lifetime, an
Incentive may be exercised only by him or her or by his or her guardian or
legal
representative.
Amendment
to the Plan
The
Board
of Directors may amend or discontinue the 2003 Plan at any time. However, no
such amendment or discontinuance may, subject to adjustment in the event of
a
merger, recapitalization, or other corporate restructuring, (a) change or
impair, without the consent of the recipient thereof, an Incentive previously
granted, (b) materially increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock
which may be issued to all participants under the 2003 Plan, (c) materially
change or expand the types of Incentives that may be granted under the 2003
Plan, (d) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation
in the 2003 Plan, or (e) materially increase the benefits accruing to
participants. Certain 2003 Plan amendments require shareholder approval,
including amendments which would materially increase benefits accruing to
participants, increase the number of securities issuable under the 2003 Plan,
or
change the requirements for eligibility under the 2003 Plan.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
The
following discussion sets forth certain United States income tax considerations
concerning the ownership of Common Stock. These tax considerations are stated
in
general terms and are based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
regulations thereunder and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof.
This discussion does not address state or local tax considerations with respect
to the ownership of Common Stock. Moreover, the tax considerations relevant
to
ownership of Common Stock may vary depending on a holder's particular
status.
Long-term
capital gains currently are generally subject to lower tax rates than ordinary
income or short-term capital gains. The maximum long-term capital gains rate
for
federal income tax purposes is currently 15 percent while the maximum ordinary
income rate and short-term capital gains rate is effectively 35 percent.
Incentive
Stock Options. Incentive
stock options under the 2003 Plan are intended to be eligible for the favorable
federal income tax treatment accorded “incentive stock options” under the Code.
There
generally are no federal income tax consequences to the option holder or the
Company by reason of the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option.
However, the exercise of an incentive stock option may increase the option
holder’s alternative minimum tax liability, if any.
If
an
option holder holds stock acquired through exercise of an incentive stock option
for at least two years from the date on which the option is granted and at
least
one year from the date on which the shares are transferred to the option holder
upon exercise of the option, any gain or loss on a disposition of such stock
will be a long-term capital gain or loss.
Generally,
if the option holder disposes of the stock before the expiration of either
of
these holding periods (a “disqualifying disposition”), then at the time of
disposition the option holder will realize taxable ordinary income equal to
the
lesser of (i) the excess of the stock’s fair market value on the date of
exercise over the exercise price, or (ii) the option holder’s actual gain,
if any, on the purchase and sale. The option holder’s additional gain or any
loss upon the disqualifying disposition will be a capital gain or loss, which
will be long-term or short-term depending on whether the stock was held for
more
than one year.
To
the
extent the option holder recognizes ordinary income by reason of a disqualifying
disposition, the Company will generally be entitled (subject to the requirement
of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation) to a corresponding business expense
deduction in the tax year in which the disqualifying disposition occurs.
Non-statutory
Stock Options. Non-statutory
stock options granted under the 2003 Plan generally have the following federal
income tax consequences:
There
are
no tax consequences to the option holder or the Company by reason of the grant
of a non-statutory stock option. Upon exercise of a non-statutory stock option,
the option holder normally will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to
the
excess, if any, of the stock’s fair market value on the date of exercise over
the option exercise price. However, to the extent the stock is subject to
certain types of vesting restrictions, the taxable event will be delayed until
the vesting restrictions lapse unless the participant elects to be taxed on
receipt of the stock. With respect to employees, the Company is generally
required to withhold from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an amount
based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the requirement of
reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation, the Company will generally be
entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income
realized by the option holder.
Upon
disposition of the stock, the option holder will recognize a capital gain or
loss equal to the difference between the selling price and the sum of the amount
paid for such stock plus any amount recognized as ordinary income upon exercise
of the option (or vesting of the stock). Such gain or loss will be long-term
or
short-term depending on whether the stock was held for more than one year.
Potential
Limitation on Company Deductions. Section 162(m)
of the Code denies a deduction to any publicly held corporation for compensation
paid to certain “covered employees” in a taxable year to the extent that
compensation to such covered employee exceeds $1 million. It is possible
that compensation attributable to stock options, when combined with all other
types of compensation received by a covered employee from the Company, may
cause
this limitation to be exceeded in any particular year.
Certain
kinds of compensation, including qualified “performance-based compensation,” are
disregarded for purposes of the deduction limitation. In accordance with
Department of Treasury regulations issued under Section 162(m),
compensation attributable to stock options will qualify as performance-based
compensation if the option is granted by a compensation committee comprised
solely of “outside directors” and either (i) the plan contains a
per-employee limitation on the number of shares for which options may be granted
during a specified period, the per-employee limitation is approved by the
stockholders, and the exercise price of the option is no less than the fair
market value of the stock on the date of grant, or (ii) the option is
granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement (as certified in writing
by
the compensation committee) of an objective performance goal established in
writing by the compensation committee while the outcome is substantially
uncertain, and the option is approved by stockholders. The 2003 Plan limits
the
number of shares relating to stock option grants awarded to an individual in
any
year to 900,000.
Option
Grants Currently Outstanding
The
following tables summarizes the recipients of outstanding stock option awards
that have been granted under the 2003 Plan to each Named Executive Officer,
the
Named Executive Officers as a group, each non-executive director and to all
current and former employees as a group and to all non-employee consultants
and
advisors. Other than stock options, we have not awarded any other type of
Incentive permitted under the 2003 Plan.
Name
|
Shares
Underlying Option (#)
|
Percent
of
Total
Shares Authorized Under 2003 Plan (%)
|
Michael
Cannarsa
|
225,000
|
3.46
|
Daniel
Greenleaf
|
2,336,476
|
35.95
|
Yaping
Hong
|
300,000
|
4.62
|
Brian
Lenz
|
300,000
|
4.62
|
Richard
Welter
|
275,000
|
4.23
|
Pamela
Harris
|
200,000
|
3.08
|
|
|
|
Named
Executive Officers as a group
|
3,636,476
|
55.95
|
Non-executive
directors
|
541,600
|
8.33
|
Non-executive
current and former employees
|
1,101,425
|
16.95
|
Non-employee
consultants and advisors
|
794,352
|
12.22
|
|
|
|
Vote
Required
Ratification
and approval of the 2003 Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders
of a
majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Common and Preferred
Stock, voting together as one class, present and entitled to vote at the annual
meeting. A stockholder who abstains with respect to this proposal is considered
to be present and entitled to vote on he proposal at the Meeting, and is in
effect casting a negative vote, but a stockholder (including a broker) who
does
not give authority to a proxy vote, or withholds authority to vote in this
proposal, shall not be considered present and entitled to vote on this proposal.
THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
APPROVAL
AND RATIFICATION OF THE 2003 PLAN.
PROPOSAL
3:
TO
RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Subject
to ratification by the stockholders, the Board of Directors has appointed J.H.
Cohn LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for
fiscal year 2006. J.H. Cohn has performed this function for the Company
commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. The Company expects
that representatives of J.H. Cohn will be in attendance at the annual meeting,
will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
Fees
Billed to the Company by Its Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
The
following is a summary of the fees billed to us by J.H. Cohn LLP, our
independent registered public accounting firm for professional services rendered
for fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004:
Fee
Category
|
|
2005
Fees
|
|
2004
Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
$113,280
|
|
$102,512
|
Audit-Related
Fees (1)
|
|
$50,512
|
|
$4,966
|
Tax
Fees (2)
|
|
$31,219
|
|
$20,310
|
All
Other Fees (3)
|
|
--
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Fees
|
|
$195,011
|
|
$127,788
|
______________
(1)
|
Audit-Related
Fees consist principally of assurance and related services that are
reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the
Company’s financial statements but not reported under the caption “Audit
Fees.” These fees include review of registration statements and other
filings made with the SEC, review of SEC comment letters and related
responses, and acquisition-related
services.
|
(2)
|
Tax
Fees consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax
planning.
|
(3)
|
All
Other Fees consist of aggregate fees billed for products and services
provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, other
than
those disclosed above.
|
Policy
on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services
of
Independent Auditors
At
present, the audit committee approves each engagement for audit or non-audit
services before the Company engages its independent public accountants to
provide those services. The audit committee has not established any pre-approval
policies or procedures that would allow the Company’s management to engage its
independent auditor to provide any specified services with only an obligation
to
notify the audit committee of the engagement for those services. None of the
services provided by the Company’s independent auditors for fiscal 2005 was
obtained in reliance on the waiver of the pre-approval requirement afforded
in
SEC regulations.
Vote
Required
Ratification
of J.H. Cohn LLP’s appointment as the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Company for the fiscal year 2006 requires the affirmative vote
of
the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, present and entitled to vote at the Meeting. A stockholder who
abstains with respect to this proposal is considered to be present and entitled
to vote on this proposal at the Meeting, and is in effect casting a negative
vote, but a stockholder (including a broker) who does not give authority to
a
proxy to vote, or withholds authority to vote on this proposal, shall not be
considered present and entitled to vote on this proposal.
THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR”
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF J.H. COHN LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2006.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of our
common stock as of March 31, 2006 by: (i) each director and nominee for
director; (ii) each of our current executive officers; (iii) all of our
directors and executive officers as a group; and (iv) all those known by us
to
be beneficial owners of at least five percent of our common stock. Beneficial
ownership is determined under rules promulgated by the SEC. Under those rules,
beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual has sole
or
shared voting power or investment power and also any shares which the individual
has the right to acquire within 60 days of the date hereof, through the exercise
or conversion of any stock option, convertible security, warrant or other right.
Inclusion of shares in the table does not, however, constitute an admission
that
the named stockholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of those shares.
Unless otherwise indicated, each person or entity named in the table has sole
voting power and investment power (or shares that power with that person’s
spouse) with respect to all shares of capital stock listed as owned by that
person or entity. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the
following persons is 180 Mount Airy Road, Suite 203, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
07920.
Name
and Address
|
|
Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned (1)
|
|
Percentage
of
Class
|
Daniel
Greenleaf
|
|
818,825(2)
|
|
1.7
|
Michael
Cannarsa
|
|
58,334(3)
|
|
*
|
Yaping
Hong, Ph.D.
|
|
74,667(4)
|
|
*
|
Brian
Lenz
|
|
51,667(5)
|
|
*
|
Vincent
M. Aita, Ph.D.
|
|
238,074(6)
|
|
*
|
Stephen
C. Rocamboli
|
|
876,935(7)
|
|
1.9
|
Stephen
A. Roth, Ph.D.
|
|
63,600(8)
|
|
*
|
Michael
Weiser, M.D., Ph.D.
|
|
1,900,668(9)
|
|
4.0
|
Xumu
Zhang, Ph.D.
|
|
3,268,314(10)
|
|
6.9
|
Pamela
Harris, M.D.
|
|
0
|
|
--
|
Johnson
Y.N. Lau, M.D., Ph.D.
|
|
0
|
|
--
|
All
Executive Officers and Directors as a group (11 persons)
|
|
7,351,084
|
|
15.9
|
Lester
Lipschutz
1650
Arch Street - 22nd
Floor
Philadelphia,
PA 19103
|
|
10,541,367
(11)
|
|
21.8
|
Lindsay
A. Rosenwald
787
7th
Avenue, 48th
Floor
New
York, NY 10019
|
|
3,425,999
(12)
|
|
7.2
|
________________
*
Less
than 1%.
(1)
|
Assumes
in each case that the stockholder exercised all options available
to the
person that have vested or will vest within 60 days of 31,
2006.
|
(2)
|
Includes
shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $0.88 per share) of
an
option, 297,132 shares of which vested on February 1, 2006 and shares
issuable upon exercise (at a price of $0.89 per share) of an option
481,693 shares of which vested on February 1, 2006.
|
(3)
|
Includes
shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $0.86 per share) of
an
option, 58,334 shares of which vested on January 1,
2006.
|
(4)
|
Represents:
i) shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.50 per share)
of an
option, 10,000 shares of which vested on April 21, 2004, 11,000 of
which
vested on April 21, 2005 and 12,000 of which will vest on April 21,
2006;
ii) shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.40 per share)
of an
option, 16,667 of which vested on April 19, 2005 and 16,667 which
will
vest on April 21, 2006; and iii) shares issuable upon exercise (at
a price
of $1.08 per share) of an option, 8,333 shares of which vested on
January
24, 2006.
|
(5)
|
Represents:
i) shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.67 per share)
of an
option, 5,000 shares of which vested on each of October 6, 2004 and
October 6, 2005; ii) shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of
$1.40
per share) of an option, 8,333 of which vested on April 19, 2005
and 8,334
shares of which will vest on April 19, 2006; and iii) shares issuable
upon
exercise (at a price of $1.08 per share) of an option, 20,000 shares
of
which vested on January 24, 2006.
|
(6)
|
Includes
8,600 shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.96 per share)
of an
option, 4,300 shares of which vested on each of October 28, 2004
and
October 28, 2005.
|
(7)
|
Includes
719,335 shares owned by, and 149,000 shares issuable upon the exercise
of
two warrants held by, Stephen C. Rocamboli as Trustee for The Stephen
C.
Rocamboli April 2005 Trust u/a/d April 7, 2005; and 8,600 shares
issuable
upon exercise (at a price of $1.96 per share) of an option, 4,300
shares
of which vested on each of October 28, 2004 and 2005.
|
(8)
|
Represents
i) 50,000 shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.70 per
share) of
an option, 16,667 shares of which vested on each of February 14,
2004 and
February 14, 2005 and 16,666 of which vested on February 14, 2006;
and ii)
8,600 shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.96 per share)
of an
option, 4,300 shares of which vested on each of October 28, 2004
and
October 28, 2005.
|
(9)
|
Includes
i) 280,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of a warrant; and ii)
8,600
shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.96 per share) of
an
option, 4,300 shares of which vested on each of October 28, 2004
and
October 28, 2005.
|
(10)
|
Includes
487, 539 shares issuable upon exercise (at a price of $1.49 per share)
of
an option 162,513 shares of which vested on each of May 15, 2004,
May 15,
2005 and May 15, 2006.
|
(11)
|
Based
on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on October 27, 2005. Represents
shares
owned equally by several trusts established for the benefit of Dr.
Lindsay
A. Rosenwald or members of his immediate family, for which Mr. Lipschutz
is the trustee/investment manager, and over which he has voting control
and investment power. Includes 1,633,000 shares issuable upon the
exercise
of warrants.
|
(12)
|
Based
on a Schedule 13G/A filed December 31, 2005. Includes (i) 989,169
shares
issuable upon the exercise of warrants and (ii) 392,830 shares held
by
Paramount BioCapital Investments, LLC of which Dr. Rosenwald is the
managing member.
|
OTHER
MATTERS
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Mr.
Rocamboli and Dr. Weiser, both of whom are directors of our company, are former
stockholders of Greenwich Therapeutics, Inc., which company we acquired in
October 2005. Mr. Rocamboli owned 144,000 shares of Greenwich common stock
and
Dr. Weiser owned 280,000 shares of Greenwich common stock. Accordingly, upon
completion of the merger, Mr. Rocamboli received approximately 616,320 shares
of
our common stock and 144,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants,
and
now beneficially owns approximately 1.8 percent of our outstanding common stock.
Dr. Weiser received approximately 1,198,400 shares of our common stock and
280,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and now beneficially
owns
approximately 4.0 percent of our outstanding common stock. Mr. Rocamboli’s and
Dr. Weiser’s interests in Greenwich were made known to our board of directors at
the outset of the negotiating process between the companies and neither attended
or otherwise participated in any meeting and other discussion of the board
in
all matters relating to the merger with Greenwich.
Dr.
Weiser and Mr. Rocamboli are also employees of Paramount BioCapital, Inc. or
its
affiliates, a corporation of which Dr. Lindsay A. Rosenwald is the chairman
and
sole shareholder. Together with various trusts for the benefit of Dr. Rosenwald
or members of his immediate family, Dr. Rosenwald owned approximately 48 percent
of Greenwich’s outstanding common stock. Upon completion of the merger with
Greenwich, Dr. Rosenwald and the trusts now beneficially own approximately
29
percent of our outstanding common stock.
On
February 25, 2004, the Company completed the sale of its securities in a private
placement to accredited investors for gross proceeds of approximately $7.2
million. Paramount BioCapital, Inc. participated as one of three placement
agents for this transaction, for which it received approximately $300,000 in
commissions.
On
October 18, 2005, the Company completed the sales of its securities in a private
placement to accredited investor for gross proceeds of approximately $8.4
million. Paramount BioCapital, Inc., which served as the placement agent for
this transaction, for which it received approximately $587,000 in commissions,
together with an accountable expense allowance of $50,000, and issued 5-year
warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,117,997 shares of common stock at a
price
of $1.00 per share. Net proceeds to the Company after deducting placement agent
fees and other expenses relating to the private placement, were approximately
$7.5 million.
As
a
result of its acquisition of Greenwich Therapeutics, on October 18, 2005, the
Company assumed outstanding indebtedness of Greenwich of $823,869, all of which
is payable to Paramount BioCapital Investments, Inc. pursuant to a
promissory note dated October 17, 2005, referred to as the (“Note”). At the
closing of the merger, the Note was amended to provide that one-third would
be
converted into securities of the Company on the same terms as the Company’s
October 2005 private placement, one-third of the outstanding indebtedness under
the Note would be repaid upon the completion by the Company of a financing
resulting in gross proceeds of at least $5 million, and the final one-third
would be payable upon completion by the Company of one or more financings
resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of at least $10 million (inclusive of
the
amounts raised in a previous $5 million financing ). Accordingly, on October
18,
2005, upon completion of the private placement, the Company satisfied a
portion of the total indebtedness outstanding under the Note by making a
cash payment of $264,623 and another portion by issuing to Paramount
BioCapital Investments, Inc. 392,830 shares valued at the $.75 offering price
of
the October 2005 private placement, the equivalent of $294,623 of the Company’s
common stock. In the event the Company does not complete the financing(s)
resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of at least $10 million prior to the
Note’s maturity date, the Company will be required to satisfy the
final portion in October 2006. Dr. Lindsay A. Rosenwald and certain trusts
established for the benefit of Dr. Rosenwald and his family collectively held
approximately 48% of Greenwich’s capital stock prior to completion of the
merger. Together, Dr. Rosenwald and such trusts also owned approximately 16%
of
the Company’s common stock prior to the completion of the merger. In addition to
Dr. Rosenwald’s relationship with Greenwich, as described above, two directors
of the Company, Stephen C. Rocamboli and Michael Weiser, M.D., Ph.D., owned
approximately 3.6% and 7%, respectively, of Greenwich’s outstanding common
stock. Mr. Rocamboli and Dr. Weiser are also employees of Paramount BioCapital,
Inc.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our officers,
directors and persons who are the beneficial owners of more than 10% of our
common stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports
of
changes in ownership of our common stock. Officers, directors and beneficial
owners of more than 10% of our common stock are required by SEC regulations
to
furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on
a
review of the copies of the Forms 3, 4 and 5 and amendments that we received
with respect to transactions during 2005, we believe that all such forms were
filed on a timely basis, except for those items listed in the table
below.
Name
of Filer
|
Description
of Transaction
|
Transaction
Date
|
Filing
Date
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
J. Cannarsa
|
Option
Grant
|
1/3/05
|
12/05/05
|
Daniel
Greenleaf
|
Option
Grant
Purchase
Option
Grant
|
2/1/05
2/17/05
10/19/05
|
2/14/05
2/22/05
11/15/05
|
Richard
J. Welter
|
Initial
Form 3
Option
Grant
|
7/18/05
7/18/05
|
7/29/05
12/05/05
|
Johnson
Yiu Nam Lau
|
Initial
Form 3
|
11/29/05
|
2/17/06
|
The
Board
of Directors does not intend to present to the meeting any other matter not
referred to above and does not presently know of any matters that may be
presented to the meeting by others. However, if other matters come before the
meeting, it is the intent of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote
the
proxy in accordance with their best judgment.
|
|
|
|
By Order of the Board
of
Directors, |
|
|
|
|
|
VIOQUEST
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Brian Lenz |
|
|
|
|
Brian
Lenz, Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appendix
A
VIOQUEST
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
2003
Stock Option Plan
1. Purpose.
The
purpose of the 2003 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”)
of
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (f/k/a Chiral Quest, Inc., the “Company”)
is to
increase shareholder value and to advance the interests of the Company by
furnishing a variety of economic incentives (“Incentives”)
designed to attract, retain and motivate employees, directors and consultants.
Incentives may consist of opportunities to purchase or receive shares of Common
Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company (“Common
Stock”),
monetary payments or both on terms determined under this Plan.
2. Administration.
2.1 The
Plan
shall be administered by a committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the “Committee”).
The
Committee shall consist of not less than two directors of the Company who shall
be appointed from time to time by the board of directors of the Company. Each
member of the Committee shall be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with the rules
and
regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange
Act”),
and
an “outside director” as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
The
Committee shall have complete authority to determine all provisions of all
Incentives awarded under the Plan (as consistent with the terms of the Plan),
to
interpret the Plan, and to make any other determination which it believes
necessary and advisable for the proper administration of the Plan. The
Committee’s decisions and matters relating to the Plan shall be final and
conclusive on the Company and its participants. No member of the Committee
will
be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to
the
Plan or any Incentives granted under the Plan. The Committee will also have
the
authority under the Plan to amend or modify the terms of any outstanding
Incentives in any manner; provided, however, that the amended or modified terms
are permitted by the Plan as then in effect and that any recipient on an
Incentive adversely affected by such amended or modified terms has consented
to
such amendment or modification. No amendment or modification to an Incentive,
however, whether pursuant to this Section 2 or any other provisions of the
Plan,
will be deemed to be a re-grant of such Incentive for purposes of this Plan.
If
at any time there is no Committee, then for purposes of the Plan the term
“Committee” shall mean the Company’s Board of Directors.
2.2 In
the
event of (i) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares, rights offering, extraordinary dividend or divestiture (including a
spin-off) or any other similar change in corporate structure or shares,
(ii) any purchase, acquisition, sale or disposition of a significant amount
of assets or a significant business, (iii) any change in accounting
principles or practices, or (iv) any other similar change, in each case
with respect to the Company or any other entity whose performance is relevant
to
the grant or vesting of an Incentive, the Committee (or, if the Company is
not
the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of
the
surviving corporation) may, without the consent of any affected participant,
amend or modify the vesting criteria of any outstanding Incentive that is based
in whole or in part on the financial performance of the Company (or any
subsidiary or division thereof) or such other entity so as equitably to reflect
such event, with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating such
financial performance of the Company or such other entity will be substantially
the same (in the sole discretion of the Committee or the board of directors
of
the surviving corporation) following such event as prior to such event;
provided, however, that the amended or modified terms are permitted by the
Plan
as then in effect.
3. Eligible
Participants.
Employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (including officers and employees
of the Company or its subsidiaries), directors and consultants, advisors or
other independent contractors who provide services to the Company or its
subsidiaries (including members of the Company’s scientific advisory board)
shall become eligible to receive Incentives under the Plan when designated
by
the Committee. Participants may be designated individually or by groups or
categories (for example, by pay grade) as the Committee deems appropriate.
Participation by officers of the Company or its subsidiaries and any performance
objectives relating to such officers must be approved by the Committee.
Participation by others and any performance objectives relating to others may
be
approved by groups or categories (for example, by pay grade) and authority
to
designate participants who are not officers and to set or modify such targets
may be delegated.
4. Types
of Incentives.
Incentives under the Plan may be granted in any one or a combination of the
following forms: (a) incentive stock options and non-statutory stock options
(Section 6); (b) stock appreciation rights (“SARs”)
(Section 7); (c) stock awards (Section 8); (d) restricted stock (Section 8);
and
(e) performance shares (Section 9).
5. Shares
Subject to the Plan.
5.1. Number
of Shares.
Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 11.6, the number of shares of Common Stock
which may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed 6,500,000 shares of Common
Stock. Shares of Common Stock that are issued under the Plan or that are subject
to outstanding Incentives will be applied to reduce the maximum number of shares
of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under the Plan.
5.2. Cancellation.
To the
extent that cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock is delivered upon the
exercise of an SAR pursuant to Section 7.4, the Company shall be deemed, for
purposes of applying the limitation on the number of shares, to have issued
the
greater of the number of shares of Common Stock which it was entitled to issue
upon such exercise or on the exercise of any related option. In the event that
a
stock option or SAR granted hereunder expires or is terminated or canceled
unexercised or unvested as to any shares of Common Stock, such shares may again
be issued under the Plan either pursuant to stock options, SARs or otherwise.
In
the event that shares of Common Stock are issued as restricted stock or pursuant
to a stock award and thereafter are forfeited or reacquired by the Company
pursuant to rights reserved upon issuance thereof, such forfeited and reacquired
shares may again be issued under the Plan, either as restricted stock, pursuant
to stock awards or otherwise. The Committee may also determine to cancel, and
agree to the cancellation of, stock options in order to make a participant
eligible for the grant of a stock option at a lower price than the option to
be
canceled.
6. Stock
Options.
A stock
option is a right to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company. The
Committee may designate whether an option is to be considered an incentive
stock
option or a non-statutory stock option. To the extent that any incentive stock
option granted under the Plan ceases for any reason to qualify as an “incentive
stock option” for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, such incentive stock
option will continue to be outstanding for purposes of the Plan but will
thereafter be deemed to be a non-statutory stock option. Each stock option
granted by the Committee under this Plan shall be subject to the following
terms
and conditions:
6.1. Price.
The
option price per share shall be determined by the Committee, subject to
adjustment under Section 11.6.
6.2. Number.
The
number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option shall be determined
by
the Committee, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11.6. The number
of
shares of Common Stock subject to a stock option shall be reduced in the same
proportion that the holder thereof exercises a SAR if any SAR is granted in
conjunction with or related to the stock option. No individual may receive
options to purchase more than 900,000 shares in any year.
6.3. Duration
and Time for Exercise.
Subject
to earlier termination as provided in Section 11.4, the term of each stock
option shall be determined by the Committee but shall not exceed ten years
and
one day from the date of grant. Each stock option shall become exercisable
at
such time or times during its term as shall be determined by the Committee
at
the time of grant. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any stock
option. Subject to the foregoing and with the approval of the Committee, all
or
any part of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the right to
purchase has accrued may be purchased by the Company at the time of such accrual
or at any time or times thereafter during the term of the option.
6.4. Manner
of Exercise.
Subject
to the conditions contained in this Plan and in the agreement with the recipient
evidencing such option, a stock option may be exercised, in whole or in part,
by
giving written notice to the Company, specifying the number of shares of Common
Stock to be purchased and accompanied by the full purchase price for such
shares. The exercise price shall be payable (a) in United States dollars upon
exercise of the option and may be paid by cash; uncertified or certified check;
bank draft; (b) at the discretion of the Committee, by delivery of shares of
Common Stock that are already owned by the participant in payment of all or
any
part of the exercise price, which shares shall be valued for this purpose at
the
Fair Market Value on the date such option is exercised; or (c) at the discretion
of the Committee, by instructing the Company to withhold from the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the stock option shares of Common Stock
in payment of all or any part of the exercise price and/or any related
withholding tax obligations, which shares shall be valued for this purpose
at
the Fair Market Value or in such other manner as may be authorized from time
to
time by the Committee. The shares of Common Stock delivered by the participant
pursuant to Section 6.4(b) must have been held by the participant for a period
of not less than six months prior to the exercise of the option, unless
otherwise determined by the Committee. Prior to the issuance of shares of Common
Stock upon the exercise of a stock option, a participant shall have no rights
as
a shareholder. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no adjustment will
be
made for dividends or distributions with respect to such stock options as to
which there is a record date preceding the date the participant becomes the
holder of record of such shares, except as the Committee may determine in its
discretion.
6.5. Incentive
Stock Options.
Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the following additional
provisions shall apply to the grant of stock options which are intended to
qualify as Incentive Stock Options (as such term is defined in Section 422
of
the Code):
(a) The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted)
of
the shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any participant during any calendar year
(under the Plan and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company or
any
subsidiary or parent corporation of the Company) shall not exceed $100,000.
The
determination will be made by taking incentive stock options into account in
the
order in which they were granted.
(b) Any
Incentive Stock Option certificate authorized under the Plan shall contain
such
other provisions as the Committee shall deem advisable, but shall in all events
be consistent with and contain all provisions required in order to qualify
the
options as Incentive Stock Options.
(c) All
Incentive Stock Options must be granted within ten years from the earlier of
the
date on which this Plan was adopted by board of directors or the date this
Plan
was approved by the Company’s shareholders.
(d) Unless
sooner exercised, all Incentive Stock Options shall expire no later than 10
years after the date of grant. No Incentive Stock Option may be exercisable
after ten (10) years from its date of grant (five (5) years from its date of
grant if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Participant
owns, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation
of the Company).
(e) The
exercise price for Incentive Stock Options shall be not less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant with respect
to an Incentive Stock Option; provided that the exercise price shall be 110%
of
the Fair Market Value if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted,
the
participant owns, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary
corporation of the Company.
7. Stock
Appreciation Rights.
An SAR
is a right to receive, without payment to the Company, a number of shares of
Common Stock, cash or any combination thereof, the amount of which is determined
pursuant to the formula set forth in Section 7.4. An SAR may be granted (a)
with
respect to any stock option granted under this Plan, either concurrently with
the grant of such stock option or at such later time as determined by the
Committee (as to all or any portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to
the
stock option), or (b) alone, without reference to any related stock option.
Each
SAR granted by the Committee under this Plan shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions:
7.1. Number;
Exercise Price.
Each
SAR granted to any participant shall relate to such number of shares of Common
Stock as shall be determined by the Committee, subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 11.6. In the case of an SAR granted with respect to a stock option,
the number of shares of Common Stock to which the SAR pertains shall be reduced
in the same proportion that the holder of the option exercises the related
stock
option. The exercise price of an SAR will be determined by the Committee, in
its
discretion, at the date of grant but may not be less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
7.2. Duration.
Subject
to earlier termination as provided in Section 11.4, the term of each SAR shall
be determined by the Committee but shall not exceed ten years and one day from
the date of grant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, each SAR shall
become exercisable at such time or times, to such extent and upon such
conditions as the stock option, if any, to which it relates is exercisable.
The
Committee may in its discretion accelerate the exercisability of any
SAR.
7.3. Exercise.
An SAR
may be exercised, in whole or in part, by giving written notice to the Company,
specifying the number of SARs which the holder wishes to exercise. Upon receipt
of such written notice, the Company shall, within 90 days thereafter, deliver
to
the exercising holder certificates for the shares of Common Stock or cash or
both, as determined by the Committee, to which the holder is entitled pursuant
to Section 7.4.
7.4. Payment.
Subject
to the right of the Committee to deliver cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock
(which, as it pertains to officers and directors of the Company, shall comply
with all requirements of the Exchange Act), the number of shares of Common
Stock
which shall be issuable upon the exercise of an SAR shall be determined by
dividing:
(a) the
number of shares of Common Stock as to which the SAR is exercised multiplied
by
the amount of the appreciation in such shares (for this purpose, the
“appreciation” shall be the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the shares
of Common Stock subject to the SAR on the exercise date exceeds (1) in the
case
of an SAR related to a stock option, the exercise price of the shares of Common
Stock under the stock option or (2) in the case of an SAR granted alone, without
reference to a related stock option, an amount which shall be determined by
the
Committee at the time of grant, subject to adjustment under Section 11.6);
by
(b) the
Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date.
In
lieu
of issuing shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of a SAR, the Committee
may
elect to pay the holder of the SAR cash equal to the Fair Market Value on the
exercise date of any or all of the shares which would otherwise be issuable.
No
fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon the exercise of an SAR;
instead, the holder of the SAR shall be entitled to receive a cash adjustment
equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
on the exercise date or to purchase the portion necessary to make a whole share
at its Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.
8. Stock
Awards and Restricted Stock.
A stock
award consists of the transfer by the Company to a participant of shares of
Common Stock, without other payment therefor, as additional compensation for
services to the Company. The participant receiving a stock award will have
all
voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights with respect to the shares of
Common Stock issued to a participant as a stock award under this Section 8
upon
the participant becoming the holder of record of such shares. A share of
restricted stock consists of shares of Common Stock which are sold or
transferred by the Company to a participant at a price determined by the
Committee (which price shall be at least equal to the minimum price required
by
applicable law for the issuance of a share of Common Stock) and subject to
restrictions on their sale or other transfer by the participant, which
restrictions and conditions may be determined by the Committee as long as such
restrictions and conditions are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
The
transfer of Common Stock pursuant to stock awards and the transfer and sale
of
restricted stock shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
8.1. Number
of Shares.
The
number of shares to be transferred or sold by the Company to a participant
pursuant to a stock award or as restricted stock shall be determined by the
Committee.
8.2. Sale
Price.
The
Committee shall determine the price, if any, at which shares of restricted
stock
shall be sold or granted to a participant, which may vary from time to time
and
among participants and which may be below the Fair Market Value of such shares
of Common Stock at the date of sale.
8.3. Restrictions.
All
shares of restricted stock transferred or sold hereunder shall be subject to
such restrictions as the Committee may determine, including, without limitation
any or all of the following:
(a) a
prohibition against the sale, transfer, pledge or other encumbrance of the
shares of restricted stock, such prohibition to lapse at such time or times
as
the Committee shall determine (whether in annual or more frequent installments,
at the time of the death, disability or retirement of the holder of such shares,
or otherwise);
(b) a
requirement that the holder of shares of restricted stock forfeit, or (in the
case of shares sold to a participant) resell back to the Company at his or
her
cost, all or a part of such shares in the event of termination of his or her
employment or consulting engagement during any period in which such shares
are
subject to restrictions; or
(c) such
other conditions or restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable.
8.4. Escrow.
In
order to enforce the restrictions imposed by the Committee pursuant to Section
8.3, the participant receiving restricted stock shall enter into an agreement
with the Company setting forth the conditions of the grant. Shares of restricted
stock shall be registered in the name of the participant and deposited, together
with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company. Each such certificate
shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
The
transferability of this certificate and the shares of Common Stock
represented by it are subject to the terms and conditions (including
conditions of forfeiture) contained in the 2003 Stock Option Plan
of
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (the “Company”), and an agreement entered
into between the registered owner and the Company. A copy of the
2003
Stock Option Plan and the agreement is on file in the office of the
secretary of the Company.
|
8.5. End
of
Restrictions.
Subject
to Section 11.5, at the end of any time period during which the shares of
restricted stock are subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transfer, such
shares will be delivered free of all restrictions to the participant or to
the
participant’s legal representative, beneficiary or heir.
8.6. Shareholder.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan, each participant receiving restricted
stock shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to shares of
stock
during any period in which such shares are subject to forfeiture and
restrictions on transfer, including without limitation, the right to vote such
shares. Dividends paid in cash or property other than Common Stock with respect
to shares of restricted stock shall be paid to the participant currently. Unless
the Committee determines otherwise in its sole discretion, any dividends or
distributions (including regular quarterly cash dividends) paid with respect
to
shares of Common Stock subject to the restrictions set forth above will be
subject to the same restrictions as the shares to which such dividends or
distributions relate. In the event the Committee determines not to pay dividends
or distributions currently, the Committee will determine in its sole discretion
whether any interest will be paid on such dividends or distributions. In
addition, the Committee in its sole discretion may require such dividends and
distributions to be reinvested (and in such case the participant consents to
such reinvestment) in shares of Common Stock that will be subject to the same
restrictions as the shares to which such dividends or distributions
relate.
9. Performance
Shares.
A
performance share consists of an award which shall be paid in shares of Common
Stock, as described below. The grant of a performance share shall be subject
to
such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, including the
following:
9.1. Performance
Objectives.
Each
performance share will be subject to performance objectives for the Company
or
one of its operating units to be achieved by the participant before the end
of a
specified period. The number of performance shares granted shall be determined
by the Committee and may be subject to such terms and conditions, as the
Committee shall determine. If the performance objectives are achieved, each
participant will be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash as determined by
the
Committee. If such objectives are not met, each grant of performance shares
may
provide for lesser payments in accordance with formulas established in the
award.
9.2. Not
Shareholder.
The
grant of performance shares to a participant shall not create any rights in
such
participant as a shareholder of the Company, until the payment of shares of
Common Stock with respect to an award.
9.3. No
Adjustments.
No
adjustment shall be made in performance shares granted on account of cash
dividends which may be paid or other rights which may be issued to the holders
of Common Stock prior to the end of any period for which performance objectives
were established.
9.4. Expiration
of Performance Share.
If any
participant’s employment or consulting engagement with the Company is terminated
for any reason other than normal retirement, death or disability prior to the
achievement of the participant’s stated performance objectives, all the
participant’s rights on the performance shares shall expire and terminate unless
otherwise determined by the Committee. In the event of termination of employment
or consulting by reason of death, disability, or normal retirement, the
Committee, in its own discretion may determine what portions, if any, of the
performance shares should be paid to the participant.
10. Change
of Control.
10.1 Change
in Control.
For
purposes of this Section 10, a “Change
in Control”
of
the
Company will mean the following:
(a) the
sale,
lease, exchange or other transfer, directly or indirectly, of substantially
all
of the assets of the Company (in one transaction or in a series of related
transactions) to a person or entity that is not controlled by the Company;
(b) the
approval by the shareholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(c) any
person becomes after the effective date of the Plan the “beneficial owner” (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of (i)
20% or more, but not 50% or more, of the combined voting power of the Company’s
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of
directors, unless the transaction resulting in such ownership has been approved
in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below), or (ii) 50% or more
of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities ordinarily
having the right to vote at elections of directors (regardless of any approval
by the Continuing Directors); provided that a traditional institution or venture
capital financing transaction shall be excluded from this
definition;
(d) a
merger
or consolidation to which the Company is a party if the shareholders of the
Company immediately prior to effective date of such merger or consolidation
have
“beneficial ownership” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
immediately following the effective date of such merger or consolidation, of
securities of the surviving corporation representing (i) 50% or more, but less
than 80%, of the combined voting power of the surviving corporation’s then
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of
directors, unless such merger or consolidation has been approved in advance
by
the Continuing Directors, or (ii) less than 50% of the combined voting
power of the surviving corporation’s then outstanding securities ordinarily
having the right to vote at elections of directors (regardless of any approval
by the Continuing Directors); or
(e) after
the
date the Company’s securities are first sold in a registered public offering,
the Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
of the Board.
10.2 Continuing
Directors.
For
purposes of this Section 10, “Continuing Directors” of the Company will mean any
individuals who are members of the Board on the effective date of the Plan
and
any individual who subsequently becomes a member of the Board whose election,
or
nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the Continuing Directors (either by specific vote or
by
approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such individual is named as a
nominee for director without objection to such nomination).
10.3 Acceleration
of Incentives.
Without
limiting the authority of the Committee under the Plan, if a Change in Control
of the Company occurs whereby the acquiring entity or successor to the Company
does not assume the Incentives or replace them with substantially equivalent
incentive awards, then, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its sole
discretion in the agreement evidencing an Incentive at the time of grant, then
as of the date of the Change of Control (a) all outstanding options and SARs
will vest and will become immediately exercisable in full and will remain
exercisable for the remainder of their terms, regardless of whether the
participant to whom such options or SARs have been granted remains in the employ
or service of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any acquiring
entity or successor to the Company; (b) the restrictions on all shares of
restricted stock awards shall lapse immediately; and (c) all performance shares
shall be deemed to be met and payment made immediately.
10.4 Cash
Payment for Options.
If a
Change in Control of the Company occurs, then the Committee, if approved by
the
Committee in its sole discretion either in an agreement evidencing an option
at
the time of grant or at any time after the grant of an option, and without
the
consent of any participant affected thereby, may determine that:
(a) some
or
all participants holding outstanding options will receive, with respect to
some
or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to such options, as of the
effective date of any such Change in Control of the Company, cash in an amount
equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such shares immediately prior
to
the effective date of such Change in Control of the Company over the exercise
price per share of such options; and
(b) any
options as to which, as of the effective date of any such Change in Control,
the
Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such options is
less
than or equal to the exercise price per share of such options, shall terminate
as of the effective date of any such Change in Control.
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If
the Committee makes a determination as set forth in subparagraph
(a) of
this Section 10.4, then as of the effective date of any such Change
in
Control of the Company such options will terminate as to such shares
and
the participants formerly holding such options will only have the
right to
receive such cash payment(s). If the Committee makes a determination
as
set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Section 10.4, then as of the
effective date of any such Change in Control of the Company such
options
will terminate, become void and expire as to all unexercised shares
of
Common Stock subject to such options on such date, and the participants
formerly holding such options will have no further rights with respect
to
such options.
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11. General.
11.1. Effective
Date.
The
Plan will become effective upon approval by the Company’s board of directors.
11.2. Duration.
The
Plan shall remain in effect until all Incentives granted under the Plan have
either been satisfied by the issuance of shares of Common Stock or the payment
of cash or been terminated under the terms of the Plan and all restrictions
imposed on shares of Common Stock in connection with their issuance under the
Plan have lapsed. No Incentives may be granted under the Plan after the tenth
anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the
Company.
11.3. Non-transferability
of Incentives.
Except,
in the event of the holder’s death, by will or the laws of descent and
distribution to the limited extent provided in the Plan or the Incentive, unless
approved by the Committee, no stock option, SAR, restricted stock or performance
award may be transferred, pledged or assigned by the holder thereof, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or
otherwise, and the Company shall not be required to recognize any attempted
assignment of such rights by any participant. During a participant’s lifetime,
an Incentive may be exercised only by him or her or by his or her guardian
or
legal representative.
11.4. Effect
of Termination or Death.
In the
event that a participant ceases to be an employee of or consultant to the
Company, or the participants other service with the Company is terminated,
for
any reason, including death, any Incentives may be exercised or shall expire
at
such times as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion in
the
agreement evidencing an Incentive. Notwithstanding the other provisions of
this
Section 10.4, upon a participant’s termination of employment or other
service with the Company and all subsidiaries, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion (which may be exercised at any time on or after the date of grant,
including following such termination), cause options and SARs (or any part
thereof) then held by such participant to become or continue to become
exercisable and/or remain exercisable following such termination of employment
or service and Restricted Stock Awards, Performance Shares and Stock Awards
then
held by such participant to vest and/or continue to vest or become free of
transfer restrictions, as the case may be, following such termination of
employment or service, in each case in the manner determined by the Committee;
provided, however, that no Incentive may remain exercisable or continue to
vest
beyond its expiration date. Any Incentive Stock Option that remains unexercised
more than one (1) year following termination of employment by reason of death
or
disability or more than three (3) months following termination for any reason
other than death or disability will thereafter be deemed to be a Non-Statutory
Stock Option.
11.5. Additional
Conditions.
Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary: (a) the Company may,
if
it shall determine it necessary or desirable for any reason, at the time of
award of any Incentive or the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant
to
any Incentive, require the recipient of the Incentive, as a condition to the
receipt thereof or to the receipt of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant
thereto, to deliver to the Company a written representation of present intention
to acquire the Incentive or the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant thereto
for his or her own account for investment and not for distribution; and (b)
if
at any time the Company further determines, in its sole discretion, that the
listing, registration or qualification (or any updating of any such document)
of
any Incentive or the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant thereto is
necessary on any securities exchange or under any federal or state securities
or
blue sky law, or that the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory
body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with the
award of any Incentive, the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto,
or the removal of any restrictions imposed on such shares, such Incentive shall
not be awarded or such shares of Common Stock shall not be issued or such
restrictions shall not be removed, as the case may be, in whole or in part,
unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall
have
been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreements entered into
pursuant to the Plan, the Company will not be required to issue any shares
of
Common Stock under this Plan, and a participant may not sell, assign, transfer
or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any Incentives
granted under the Plan, unless (a) there is in effect with respect to such
shares a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities
Act”),
and
any applicable state or foreign securities laws or an exemption from such
registration under the Securities Act and applicable state or foreign securities
laws, and (b) there has been obtained any other consent, approval or permit
from any other regulatory body which the Committee, in its sole discretion,
deems necessary or advisable. The Company may condition such issuance, sale
or
transfer upon the receipt of any representations or agreements from the parties
involved, and the placement of any legends on certificates representing shares
of Common Stock, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the Company in
order
to comply with such securities law or other restrictions.
11.6. Adjustment.
In the
event of any merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company with any
other corporation or corporations, there shall be substituted for each of the
shares of Common Stock then subject to the Plan, including shares subject to
restrictions, options, or achievement of performance share objectives, the
number and kind of shares of stock or other securities to which the holders
of
the shares of Common Stock will be entitled pursuant to the transaction. In
the
event of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split,
combination of shares or other similar change in the corporate structure of
the
Company or shares of the Company, the exercise price of an outstanding Incentive
and the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to the Plan, including
shares subject to restrictions, options or achievements of performance shares,
shall be adjusted in proportion to the change in outstanding shares of Common
Stock in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of the
participants. In the event of any such adjustments, the purchase price of any
option, the performance objectives of any Incentive, and the shares of Common
Stock issuable pursuant to any Incentive shall be adjusted as and to the extent
appropriate, in the discretion of the Committee, to provide participants with
the same relative rights before and after such adjustment.
11.7. Incentive
Plans and Agreements.
Except
in the case of stock awards or cash awards, the terms of each Incentive shall
be
stated in a plan or agreement approved by the Committee. The Committee may
also
determine to enter into agreements with holders of options to reclassify or
convert certain outstanding options, within the terms of the Plan, as Incentive
Stock Options or as non-statutory stock options and in order to eliminate SARs
with respect to all or part of such options and any other previously issued
options.
11.8. Withholding.
(a) The
Company shall have the right to (i) withhold and deduct from any payments made
under the Plan or from future wages of the participant (or from other amounts
that may be due and owing to the participant from the Company or a subsidiary
of
the Company), or make other arrangements for the collection of, all legally
required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all foreign, federal, state and
local withholding and employment-related tax requirements attributable to an
Incentive, or (ii) require the participant promptly to remit the amount of
such
withholding to the Company before taking any action, including issuing any
shares of Common Stock, with respect to an Incentive. At any time when a
participant is required to pay to the Company an amount required to be withheld
under applicable income tax laws in connection with a distribution of Common
Stock or upon exercise of an option or SAR, the participant may satisfy this
obligation in whole or in part by electing (the “Election”)
to
have the Company withhold from the distribution shares of Common Stock having
a
value up to the amount required to be withheld. The value of the shares to
be
withheld shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the
date
that the amount of tax to be withheld shall be determined (“Tax
Date”).
(b) Each
Election must be made prior to the Tax Date. The Committee may disapprove of
any
Election, may suspend or terminate the right to make Elections, or may provide
with respect to any Incentive that the right to make Elections shall not apply
to such Incentive. An Election is irrevocable.
(c) If
a
participant is an officer or director of the Company within the meaning of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then an Election is subject to the following
additional restrictions:
(1) No
Election shall be effective for a Tax Date which occurs within six months of
the
grant or exercise of the award, except that this limitation shall not apply
in
the event death or disability of the participant occurs prior to the expiration
of the six-month period.
(2) The
Election must be made either six months prior to the Tax Date or must be made
during a period beginning on the third business day following the date of
release for publication of the Company’s quarterly or annual summary statements
of sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day following such
date.
11.9. No
Continued Employment, Engagement or Right to Corporate Assets.
No
participant under the Plan shall have any right, because of his or her
participation, to continue in the employ of the Company for any period of time
or to any right to continue his or her present or any other rate of
compensation. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed as giving an
employee, a consultant, such persons’ beneficiaries or any other person any
equity or interests of any kind in the assets of the Company or creating a
trust
of any kind or a fiduciary relationship of any kind between the Company and
any
such person.
11.10. Deferral
Permitted.
Payment
of cash or distribution of any shares of Common Stock to which a participant
is
entitled under any Incentive shall be made as provided in the Incentive. Payment
may be deferred at the option of the participant if provided in the
Incentive.
11.11. Amendment
of the Plan.
The
Board may amend, suspend or discontinue the Plan at any time; provided, however,
that no amendments to the Plan will be effective without approval of the
shareholders of the Company if shareholder approval of the amendment is then
required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code or the rules of any stock exchange
or Nasdaq or similar regulatory body. No termination, suspension or amendment
of
the Plan may adversely affect any outstanding Incentive without the consent
of
the affected participant; provided, however, that this sentence will not impair
the right of the Committee to take whatever action it deems appropriate under
Section 11.6 of the Plan.
11.12. Definition
of Fair Market Value.
For
purposes of this Plan, the “Fair
Market Value”
of
a
share of Common Stock at a specified date shall, unless otherwise expressly
provided in this Plan, be the amount which the Committee or the board of
directors of the Company determines in good faith in the exercise of its
reasonable discretion to be 100% of the fair market value of such a share
as of
the date in question; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing,
if
such shares are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or are quoted on the
Nasdaq
National Market System or Nasdaq SmallCap Stock Market (“Nasdaq”),
then
Fair Market Value shall be determined by reference to the last sale price
of a
share of Common Stock on such U.S. securities exchange or Nasdaq on the
applicable date. If such U.S. securities exchange or Nasdaq is closed for
trading on such date, or if the Common Stock does not trade on such date,
then
the last sale price used shall be the one on the date the Common Stock last
traded on such U.S. securities exchange or Nasdaq.
11.13 Breach
of Confidentiality, Assignment of Inventions, or Non-Compete
Agreements.
Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, in the event that a
participant materially breaches the terms of any confidentiality, assignment
of
inventions, or non-compete agreement entered into with the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company, whether such breach occurs before or after
termination of such participant’s employment or other service with the Company
or any subsidiary, the Committee in its sole discretion may immediately
terminate all rights of the participant under the Plan and any agreements
evidencing an Incentive then held by the participant without notice of any
kind.
11.13 Governing
Law.
The
validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan
and any rules, regulations and actions relating to the Plan will be governed
by
and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota,
notwithstanding the conflicts of laws principles of any
jurisdictions.
11.14 Successors
and Assigns.
The
Plan will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and
permitted assigns of the Company and the participants in the Plan.
VIOQUEST
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Friday,
May 19, 2006
12:00
Noon (EDT)
Somerset
Hills Hotel
200
Liberty Corner Road
Warren,
New Jersey 07059
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This
proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting
on
May 19, 2006.
If
no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted “FOR” Proposals 1, 2 and
3.
The
undersigned, a stockholder of VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., hereby appoints
Daniel E. Greenleaf and Brian Lenz, and each of them, as proxies, with full
power of substitution, to vote on behalf of the undersigned the number of shares
which the undersigned is then entitled to vote, at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to be held on May 19, 2006 at
12:00 Noon (EDT) at the Somerset Hills Hotel, 200 Liberty Corner Road, Warren,
New Jersey 07059, and at any and all adjournments thereof, with all the powers
which the undersigned would possess if personally present.
The
undersigned hereby revokes all previous proxies relating to the shares covered
hereby and acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement
relating to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
See
reverse for voting instructions.
Please
detach here
The
Board of Directors recommends a FOR
Proposals 1, 2 and 3.
1.
Election of Directors:
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01
Vincent M. Aita
02
Daniel E. Greenleaf
03
Johnson Y. N. Lau
04
Stephen C. Rocamboli
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05
Stephen A. Roth
06
Michael Weiser
07
Xumu Zhang
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o Vote
FOR all nominees (except as indicated below)
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o Vote
WITHHELD from all nominees
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(Instructions:
To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, write
the
number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the
right.)
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2.
To
ratify and approve the Company’s 2003 Stock Option Plan (as
amended).
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o FOR
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o AGAINST
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o ABSTAIN
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3. To
ratify and approve the selection of J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal
2006.
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o FOR
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o AGAINST
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o ABSTAIN
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4. In
their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
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WHEN
PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO
DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR
EACH PROPOSAL DESCRIBED ABOVE.
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Address
Change? Mark Box o Indicate
changes below
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Date:
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Signature(s)
in Box
Please
sign exactly as your name(s) appear on Proxy. If held in joint tenancy,
all persons must sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include
title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation
and title of authorized officer signing
proxy.
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