UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K/A

 

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                    to                   

 

Commission File Number: 001-14895

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Oregon

 

93-0797222

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101, Bothell, Washington

 

98021

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (425) 354 5038

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Common Stock with $.0001 par value

(Title of Class)

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o  No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o  No x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o  No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller Reporting Company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o   No x

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2009 was approximately $128,954,972. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

The number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock as of the close of business on April 26, 2010 was 110,374,160.

 

 

 



 

Explanatory Note

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc. is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the “Form 10-K/A”) to amend its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (the “Form 10-K”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 16, 2010. The purpose of this Form 10-K/A is to file the financial statements in Part II and amend the Subsequent Event footnote, and to disclose the information required in Part III, Items 10 through 14 and Part IV, Item 15 of the Form 10-K. Accordingly, AVI BioPharma, Inc. hereby amends and replaces in their entirety Items 10 through 14 of the Form 10-K. Except as described above, this Form 10-K/A does not amend, update or change any other items or disclosures in the Form 10-K.

 

PART II

 

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The information required by this Item 8 begins on page F-1 in Item 15 of Part IV of this report on Form 10-K and is incorporated into this item by reference.

 

PART III

 

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

Executive Officers and Directors

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the current directors and executive officers of AVI:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position(4)

J. David Boyle II

 

56

 

Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, Senior Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.

 

54

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

Ryszard Kole, Ph.D.

 

63

 

Senior Vice President of Discovery Research

Paul Medeiros

 

48

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development, Chief Business Officer and Secretary

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.

 

53

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

Dwight D. Weller, Ph.D.

 

59

 

Senior Vice President of Chemistry and Manufacturing

Michael D. Casey(1)(3)

 

64

 

Group I Director, Chairman of the Board

William A. Goolsbee(1)(3)

 

56

 

Group I Director

John C. Hodgman(2)

 

55

 

Group II Director

Gil Price, M.D.(2)

 

54

 

Group I Director

M. Kathleen Behrens, Ph.D.(2)

 

57

 

Group II Director

Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D., D.Sc.(3)

 

69

 

Group I Director

Anthony Chase(3)

 

55

 

Group II Director

 


(1)                                  Member of the Compensation Committee.

 

(2)                                  Member of the Audit Committee.

 

(3)                                  Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

(4)                                  The terms of Group I Directors expire as of the date of the 2010 Annual Meeting, and the terms of Group II Directors expire as of the date of the 2011 Annual Meeting.

 

J. David Boyle II, has served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President since April 20, 2010, and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since August 18, 2008.  Mr. Boyle also previously served as the Company’s Secretary from September 29, 2008 to April 20, 2010. In the five years prior to his appointment as the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Boyle worked for both XOMA Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company in the field of therapeutic antibody discovery and development, and Polycom, Inc., a worldwide high technology communications company. Mr. Boyle served as Chief Financial Officer of XOMA Ltd. from July 2005 to August 2008. Prior to his position as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Boyle served as Vice President, Financial Operations of XOMA Ltd. from January 2005 to July 2005. Mr. Boyle joined XOMA Ltd. in January 2005 from Polycom, Inc. where he served from March 2002 to December 2004, most recently, as Vice President, Finance. Mr. Boyle also

 

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brings to the Company extensive global financial leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry through previous senior leadership positions. Prior to his employment with Polycom, Inc., Mr. Boyle worked for Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. in the US and for Ares Serono Group both in the US and Switzerland. Mr. Boyle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Catholic University.

 

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D., has served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances since April 10, 2008. From 1997 until April 10, 2008, Dr. Iversen previously served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Research and Development. He also served as a director of the Company from 1997 through May 2005. From 1987 through 1997, Dr. Iversen was on staff at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, most recently as a Professor in the College of Medicine. Dr. Iversen, who has published extensively on antisense research and development, additionally served as a consultant to various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including GLAXO Inc., Innovir Pharmaceuticals, Lynx Therapeutics, and Isis Pharmaceuticals, as well as to the Company. He is a former member of the Leukemia Society of America Board of Directors. Dr. Iversen holds a B.S. in Biology from Westminster College and a Ph.D. in Biochemical Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Utah, followed by post-doctoral work at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases. Current services activities include being a reviewer for the ONC-L and BST-S study sections of the National Institutes of Health.

 

Ryszard Kole, Ph.D., has served as Senior Vice President of Discovery Research since April 10, 2008. Prior to his appointment as Senior Vice President of Discovery Research, Dr. Kole had served as a consultant to the Company after the closing of the Company’s acquisition of Ercole Biotech, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation (“Ercole”), on March 20, 2008. Prior to his service as a consultant with the Company and Ercole’s acquisition by the Company, Dr. Kole served as President, Chief Scientific Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Ercole from the time he founded Ercole in 2001. He served as a compensated consultant to Ercole from September 2007 until its acquisition in March 2008. As a member of Ercole’s senior management, Dr. Kole had primary responsibility for managing Ercole’s internal and collaborative research activities. At the time of its acquisition, Ercole had six full-time employees and two part-time consultants, including Dr. Kole. In addition to his work with Ercole, Dr. Kole had also been employed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“UNC”) in the Department of Pharmacology as a Professor from 1996 until April 2008. Dr. Kole holds a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland.

 

Paul Medeiros, has served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer since May 19, 2009, and has served as Secretary since April 20, 2010. In the five years prior to his appointment as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer, Mr. Medeiros worked for Schering-Plough. Most recently, Mr. Medeiros served as Vice President, Global Licensing and Strategic Alliances for Schering-Plough, where he led worldwide specialty product licensing and strategic partnering initiatives. Mr. Medeiros joined Schering-Plough in 1996 as marketing planning director, and subsequently held senior positions of increasing responsibility in marketing and business development. Prior to Schering-Plough, Medeiros was employed by Merck & Company, where he held positions in Field Sales, New Product Planning and Worldwide Human Health Marketing. Medeiros holds an A.B. with honors from Brown University and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. He is a member of the Licensing Executives Society and is a Certified Licensing Professional™.

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D., has served as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs since January 26, 2009. In the five years prior to his appointment as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, Dr. Shrewsbury worked as a consultant to companies in the pharmaceutical industry from August 2008 to January 2009.  Prior to his work as a consultant, Dr. Shrewsbury served as Chief Medical Officer & Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Medical and Regulatory Affairs of Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc. from March 2008 to August 2008.  He joined Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc. in March 2008 from MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he served from February 2005 to March 2008 as Chief Medical Officer, Formerly Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs. Prior to his employment with MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Dr. Shrewsbury worked as Senior Director of Clinical Development of Chiron Corporation from July 2002 until February 2005. Prior to joining Chiron, Dr. Shrewsbury held several senior positions at GlaxoSmithKline both in the UK and U.S. from 1993 until 2002. Dr. Shrewsbury holds a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery degree from the University of Liverpool, UK.

 

Dwight D. Weller, Ph.D., has served as Senior Vice President of Chemistry and Manufacturing of the Company since 1997, as Vice President of Research and Development of the Company from 1992 to 1997, and as a director of the Company from 1991 through May 2006. Dr. Weller received a B.S. in Chemistry from Lafayette College and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, followed by postdoctoral work in Bio-Organic Chemistry at the University of Illinois.  Dr. Weller was on the faculty of Oregon State University from 1978 to 1992.

 

Michael D. Casey has served as a director of the Company since May 2006 and was appointed the Chairman effective March 10, 2008. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Casey also serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee.  Mr. Casey’s experience in leadership positions in public companies in the biopharmaceutical industry qualifies him for service as a member of the Board of Directors.  Since 2002, Mr. Casey has served as a director of several public biopharmaceutical companies. Previously, Mr. Casey served four years as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Matrix Pharmaceutical, Inc., a

 

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biopharmaceutical company, until Chiron Corporation acquired Matrix in 2002. Prior to joining Matrix, Mr. Casey was President of two divisions of Schein Pharmaceutical, Inc. from 1995 to 1997, and President and Chief Operating Officer of Genetic Therapy, Inc. from 1993 to 1995 until it was sold to Sandoz (Novartis). Mr. Casey also spent 25 years with Johnson & Johnson, including serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation and President of McNeil Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Casey is a director of Celgene Corp. and Durect Corporation.  In the past five years, Mr. Casey has also served as a director of Allos Therapeutics, Cholestech Corporation, Bone Care International, Inc., OrthoLogic Corporation, and Sicor, Inc.

 

William A. Goolsbee has served as a director of the Company since October 2007. Mr. Goolsbee’s 30-year career in the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries qualifies him for service as a member of the Board of Directors.  Mr. Goolsbee was founder, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Medical Inc. from 1987 until its acquisition by a unit of UBS Private Equity in 2002. Mr. Goolsbee was a founding director of ImmunoTherapy Corporation in 1993, becoming chairman of the board in 1995, a position he held until overseeing the successful acquisition of the company by the Company in 1998. Experience prior to 1987 includes a series of increasingly responsible executive positions with CooperVision Inc. and Cooper Laboratories Inc. Mr. Goolsbee holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Mr. Goolsbee serves as chairman of privately held BMG Pharma LLC, a product development and licensing company.

 

John C. Hodgman has served as a director of the Company since March 2004. He also serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as the Audit Committee’s financial expert.  Mr. Hodgman’s significant executive-level experience as a finance executive with biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies qualifies him for service as a member of the Board of Directors.  He has served as the Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer of InterMune, Inc., a biotechnology company, since August 2006. He served as the Chairman of Cygnus, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 1999 to 2008, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of that company between 1998 and 2006. Mr. Hodgman joined Cygnus in 1994 as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer and between 1995 and 1998, he also served as President of Cygnus Diagnostics. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Aerogen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from June 2005 to October 2005 when the company was sold to Nektar, Inc. Mr. Hodgman holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from the University of Utah. Mr. Hodgman is a director of Immersion Corporation.  In the past five years, Mr. Hodgman has also served as a director of Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., Alpha Innotech Corporation, and Aerogen, Inc.

 

Gil Price, M.D., has served as a director of the Company since October 2007. Dr. Price’s experience in the clinical, research and commercial sectors in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals qualifies him for service as a member of the Board of Directors.  Dr. Price is a clinical physician trained in internal medicine with a long-standing interest in drug development, adverse drug reactions, drug utilization and regulation. Since 2002, he has been the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Drug Safety Solutions. From 1997 to 2002, Dr. Price was the director of clinical development for oncology at MedImmune Inc. Prior to joining MedImmune, Dr. Price worked in the CRO sector. Dr. Price began his pharmaceutical career at GlaxoSmithKline Inc., where he worked for nearly nine years on both the commercial and research sides of the company. Dr. Price is a member of the American Medical Association, the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and a past member of the American Society for Microbiology.

 

M. Kathleen Behrens, Ph.D., has served as a director of the Company since March 2009. Dr. Behrens’ significant experience in the financial services and biotechnology sectors, as well as in healthcare policy, qualifies her for service as a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Behrens served as a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) from 2001 to early 2009 and she was Chair of PCAST’s Subcommittee on Personalized Medicine. She has served as a public-market biotechnology securities analyst as well as venture capitalist focusing on healthcare, technology and related investments. She was instrumental in the founding of several biotechnology companies including Protein Design Labs, Inc. and COR Therapeutics, Inc. She worked for Robertson Stephens & Co. from 1983 through 1996, serving as a general partner and managing director. Dr. Behrens continued in her capacity as a General Partner for selected venture funds for RS Investments from 1996 through 2009, after management led a buyout of that firm from Bank of America. From 1997 to 2005, she was a director of the Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy (STEP) for the National Research Council, and from 1993 to 2000 she was a director, President, Chair and Past Chair of the National Venture Capital Association. Dr. Behrens holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California, Davis.  Dr. Behrens is a director of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  In the past five years, Dr. Behrens has also served as a director of Abgenix, Inc.

 

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Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D., D.Sc., has served as a director of the Company since March 2009. Dr. Henney’s significant executive-level and board experience at biotechnology companies qualifies him to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.  Dr. Henney co-founded three major publicly held U.S. biotechnology companies, Immunex Corporation, ICOS Corporation and Dendreon Corporation, and was a board member and held executive positions at each company.. From 1995 to January 2003, Dr. Henney was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dendreon Corporation. Dr. Henney also serves as Chairman of Oncothyreon Inc. Dr. Henney received a Ph.D. in experimental pathology from the University of Birmingham and a D.Sc. from the same university for contributions to the field of immunology. Dr. Henney serves as Chairman of Oncothyreon Inc., Chairman of Anthera Pharmaceuticals, and as Vice Chairman of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly Xcyte Therapies, Inc.  In the past five years, Dr. Henney also served as Chairman of SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

Anthony Chase, has served as a director of the Company April 20, 2010.  Mr. Chase’s experience in leadership positions in public companies qualifies him for service as a member of the Board of Directors.  Since January 2009, Mr. Chase has served as Executive Vice President of Crest Investment Company.  He is also Chairman of ChaseSource, L.P., a position he has held since October 2006, and ChaseSource Real Estate Services, L.P., a position he has held since January 2008.  Previously, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ChaseCom, L.P. from January 1997 to December 2007, when ChaseCom, L.P. was acquired by AT&T.  Mr. Chase is a tenured Professor at the University of Houston Law Center where he began teaching in 1990.  He graduated with honors from Harvard College, received a law degree from Harvard Law School, and received an MBA from Harvard Business School.  Mr. Chase is a member of the American Bar Association and State Bar of Texas.  Mr. Chase serves as lead director of the Cornell Companies and is a director of Western Gas Partners.   He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires AVI’s directors and officers, and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of a registered class of AVI’s equity securities, to file initial reports of ownership and report of changes in ownership with the Commission. Such persons also are required to furnish AVI with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

 

Based solely on its review of the copies of such reports received by it with respect to fiscal year 2009, or written representations from certain reporting persons, AVI believes that all filing requirements applicable to its directors, officers and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of a registered class of AVI’s equity securities have been complied with for fiscal 2009.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”). The Code applies to all directors and employees, including all officers, managers and supervisors, and is intended to better ensure full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosures in our public documents and reports, compliance with applicable laws, prompt internal reporting of violations of these standards and accountability for adherence to standards. The Company has contracted with Ethicspoint to provide a method for employees and others to report violations of the Code anonymously. A copy of the Code is posted on the Company’s website (www.avibio.com).

 

Audit Committee

 

The Board of Directors has a separately designated standing Audit Committee, established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  As of the date hereof, the members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Hodgman, Dr. Price, and Dr. Behrens.  Former director Dr. Fara also served on the Audit Committee during 2009.  Dr. Fara decided not to stand for reelection in March 2009, and ceased to be a member of the Audit Committee when his term as a director expired on May 19, 2009.

 

Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Mr. Hodgman serves as the Audit Committee’s Chairman and the Audit Committee’s designated financial expert.  All members of the Audit Committee, including Mr. Hodgman, are independent directors, as defined under applicable listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

Item 11.  Executive Compensation.

 

The Company is a biopharmaceutical company developing products in the growing field of RNA therapeutics. Current applications of the Company’s technology platform include clinical trials for genetic diseases (Duchenne muscular dystrophy), and earlier programs in infectious diseases (Ebola and Marburg viruses), H1N1 and other early discovery targets. We operate in a highly complex business environment and believe that a competitive compensation program is an important tool to help attract, retain, recognize and reward the talented employees we need to achieve our mission and deliver value to our shareholders.

 

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The Company intends that total compensation and each of its components, including base salary, incentive cash compensation, equity compensation, benefits and perquisites be competitive in the marketplace for suitable talent and in accord with the Company’s short and long term goals.  We seek to attract, retain, develop and reward employees whose performance helps the Company to achieve such goals and to provide value to our shareholders.  While base compensation, benefits and perquisites are primarily a factor of being competitive in the marketplace for employees, incentive compensation is primarily merit based, with actual compensation a function of the achievement of defined and agreed corporate and individual goals.  Towards this end:

 

·                   We structure our total compensation to consist of both fixed (salary and benefits) and variable compensation (cash incentive, equity compensation and merit based annual adjustments). We believe that the variable compensation elements provide an appropriate percentage of overall compensation to motivate executives to focus on our performance, while the fixed element serves to provide an appropriate and fair compensation level that allows us to remain competitive in the market to obtain and retain the services of our employees while also not encouraging executives and non-executive employees to take unnecessary or excessive risks in the achievement of goals;

 

·                   We believe that our compensation program balances short and long-term performance and does not place inappropriate focus on achieving short-term results at the risk of long-term, sustained performance;

 

·                   Most incentive plans (including the plans covering our executive officers) include a threshold, target and maximum payment.  The threshold ensures that if goal achievement is not at a minimum level, no payments will be made.  The maximum ensure that payments do not exceed a certain level, keeping the compensation mix within certain ranges and limiting excessive payments under any one element;

 

·                   All incentive plan designs and specific elements are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee annually;

 

·                   Performance targets for the annual performance plan, which covers all named executives and most employees, are established annually by the Compensation Committee and the Board.  We have internal controls over the measurement and calculation of these performance metrics, designed to prevent manipulation of results by any employee, including our executives. Additionally, the Committee and Board monitor the corporate performance metrics formally no less than annually and periodically on a more informal basis during the year;

 

·                   The Compensation Committee has the discretion to increase or decrease any plan payment upwards or downwards, allowing the Committee to consider the circumstances surrounding corporate and/or individual performance and adjust payments accordingly;

 

·                   There are appropriate internal controls over the processing of payments;

 

·                   The Company’s existing governance and organizational structure incorporates a substantial risk management component through the review and actions of the Board and its standing committees; and

 

·                   The long-term component of compensation consists of restricted stock units and stock option grants.  Vesting requirements of typically three years encourage employees to take a long-term perspective on overall corporate performance, which ultimately influences share price appreciation.  We believe that long-term equity compensation balances the cash incentives in place to motivate short-term performance.

 

In mid-2009, the Committee retained the services of a compensation consultant, Frederick W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FW Cook”) to assist the Committee in its evaluation of certain aspects of executive compensation for 2009 and 2010 melding base compensation, incentive cash compensation and equity compensation. The Compensation Committee has the independent authority to approve the fees and other retention terms with respect to such a compensation consultant. The Compensation Committee also has the authority, as necessary and appropriate, to consult with other outside advisors to assist in its duties to the Company.

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Introduction

 

Throughout this section of the proxy statement, the individuals who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during fiscal year 2009, as well as the other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table included in this proxy statement, are referred to as the “named executive officers.”

 

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Overview

 

In 2008 and 2009, the Company had several significant changes to its management team. One result of these new recruits is that certain elements of the compensation package for certain of the named executive officers were established as a result of arms-length negotiations between the Company and the individuals the Company was recruiting to join the Company at its facility in Bothell, Washington. Thus, in some cases, the base compensation and benefits packages for our named executive officers reflect market forces rather than benchmarking and other tools often used by compensation consultants.  In the final analysis, however, there was no material difference between negotiated compensation packages and the benchmarks preferred by the compensation consultant.

 

Other noteworthy aspects of the Company’s compensation program include:

 

·                  Base salaries for all named executives have increased 2% - 3% in 2010 compared to 2009;

 

·                  The named executive officers, as a group, achieved approximately 63% of the 2009 Company-wide corporate performance goals and, on average 64% of the individual goals set for them in 2009; the bonuses for Mr. Medeiros were determined in accordance with the terms of his employment contract entered into upon the commencement of his employment in 2009;

 

·                  The 2009 bonuses, which were paid in 2010 represent in the aggregate approximately 13% of the total compensation paid to the named executive officers;

 

·                  The bonus for the Company’s Chief Executive officer is 100% dependent on achievement of Company-wide performance goals established by the Board and Compensation Committee and the bonus for the other named executive officers is 70% dependent on such Company-wide goals and 30% dependent on achievement of individual performance goals established by the Chief Executive officer in consultation with the Compensation Committee;

 

·                    The Compensation Committee and the Board has established Company-wide performance goals for the named executive officers, including the Chief Executive officer, for 2010 and the Chief Executive officer, in consultation with the Compensation Committee, has established individual performance goals for 2010 for the named executive officers. If achieved at the 100% level, these bonuses would represent in the aggregate approximately 36% of the anticipated total compensation in 2010 for the named executive officers;

 

·                  The Compensation Committee and the Board believe that the performance goals for 2010, like those for 2009, provide appropriate incentives to the named executive officers to align their personal financial interests with the short and long term goals of the Company without promoting inappropriate risk-taking behavior; and

 

·                  The Compensation Committee believes a mixture of base cash compensation, performance- based bonuses, equity incentive compensation in the form of options and restricted shares and a fair package of health care and similar benefits is appropriate for the Company and is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders.

 

Significant Management Changes in Fiscal Year 2009

 

In 2009, the Company underwent several senior management changes, including hiring Stephen B. Shrewsbury as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, and Paul Medeiros as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer.

 

The Compensation Committee

 

The Company’s executive compensation program is administered by the Company’s Compensation Committee. As of December 31, 2009, the Compensation Committee was composed of three directors: K. Michael Forrest, William Goolsbee, and Michael Casey (Chair). During 2009, all members of the Compensation Committee were “independent” for purposes of applicable securities and regulatory requirements. Although Mr. Forrest acted as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer until February 8, 2008, under applicable Nasdaq listing requirements he may be considered independent if the Board of Directors concludes that such former employment and any compensation received would not interfere with his exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his responsibilities as director. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Forrest is independent in accordance with these applicable listing requirements. Additionally, the Board feels that his presence on, and participation in the discussion of, the Committee is in the best interests of the Company due to his prior experience with the management of the Company and experience as a director in public and private companies.

 

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The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing, assessing, and approving all elements of compensation for our named executive officers. More specifically, the Compensation Committee is directly responsible for establishing annual Company-wide performance goals and objectives for our named executive officers and for working with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to establish individual performance goals for each of the other named executive officers. This responsibility includes, among other things: (a) evaluating the performance of our Chief Executive Officer and other executives as determined by the Compensation Committee in light of the approved performance goals and objectives; (b)  setting the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other executives based upon the evaluation of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and the other executives; (c) making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to new cash-based incentive compensation plans and equity-based compensation plans; and (d) preparing an annual report of the Compensation Committee.

 

The Compensation Committee has independent authority to make compensation decisions for our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee seeks ratification from the Company’s Board of Directors of its decisions regarding the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

 

The purpose of the Company’s executive compensation program is and has been to attract, motivate, recognize, reward and retain key executive employees in order to promote the success of the Company. The Company seeks, and has sought, to reward and to provide incentives to named executive officers,  including the Chief Executive Officer, for their performance and delivery against agreed goals. Over the past few years, the Company has seen significantly increased demand for executives with industry-specific skills and experience and a highly competitive market for such executives. Additionally, given the small size of the Company relative to certain other members of our industry sector and the fact that there was a significant doubt about the Company’s ability to secure the funding needed to continue our research and development programs at the time when certain changes in management were made, in 2009 we faced significant challenges in recruiting senior members of our management team. Therefore, in 2009 (and we expect in 2010 and beyond) the attraction and retention of executives was, and will be, one of the key purposes of the Company’s executive compensation program.

 

The Company’s executive compensation program also includes a pay-for-performance component. In that respect, the compensation program is designed to reward the named executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, for meeting specific goals that are established and reviewed by the Compensation Committee for each named executive officer and for the Company as a whole. In 2009, the Committee, Board and the Chief Executive Officer agreed and set performance goals for each named executive officer and the Company as a whole. Following the completion of such fiscal year, the Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee assessed the degree to which the corporate goals were met and how each named executive officer had performed with respect to these goals. The Compensation Committee made an independent assessment with respect to the Chief Executive Officer’s performance. The Compensation Committee has established similar goals for 2010.

 

The at-risk component of the compensation package for each named executive officer, which includes a targeted cash bonus and stock options/restricted stock, is determined in large part on the basis of how that named executive officer performed in meeting his or her goals and recommendations from the Committee’s compensation consultant. Compensation decisions are also based on market factors that require the Company to remain competitive in its compensation package in order to attract and retain qualified individuals.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the following executive compensation principles guided the Compensation Committee during 2009 in fulfilling its roles and responsibilities:

 

·                  Compensation levels and opportunities should be sufficiently competitive to facilitate recruitment and retention of experienced executives in the Company’s highly competitive talent market;

 

·                  Compensation should reinforce the Company’s business strategy by integrating and communicating key metrics and operational performance objectives and by emphasizing incentives in the total compensation mix;

 

·                  Compensation programs should align executives’ long-term financial interests with those of the shareholders by providing equity-based incentives without incentivizing the executives to take inappropriate risks to the Company in order to enhance their individual compensation;

 

·                  Compensation programs should be flexible, giving the Compensation Committee and our Board of Directors discretion to make adjustments on an as-needed basis;

 

·                  Similarly situated executives should be compensated similarly; and

 

8



 

·                  Compensation should be transparent and easily understandable to both our executives and our shareholders.

 

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

 

Our Chief Executive Officer plays a pivotal role in determining executive compensation. No less than annually, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer assesses the performance of the named executive officers. He then recommends to the Compensation Committee a base salary, performance-based cash bonus, and a grant of stock options for each named executive officer based on that assessment. The Compensation Committee considers the information provided by the Chief Executive Officer, together with other information available to the Compensation Committee and determines the compensation for each named executive officer other than the Chief Executive Officer. With respect to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee meets without the Chief Executive Officer to discuss its recommendation and makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors.

 

Use of Compensation Consultants and Reports

 

In establishing compensation for 2010, the Compensation Committee did retain a compensation consultant,  In August 2009 FW Cook presented its assessment and recommendations to the Compensation Committee. Based in part on such assessment and recommendations, the Compensation Committee established for the named executive officer and with respect to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer recommended to the Board of Directors that each of the Chief Executive Officer and the named executive officers receive an increase in base salary and be granted additional options to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock.  The bonuses for Mr. Medeiros were established and paid in accordance with the terms of his contract entered into when he was hired in 2009 and the increase in his base compensation for 2010 took effect on January 1, 2010.

 

Setting Executive Compensation

 

As a general proposition, in setting compensation for the named executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, and in developing its recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee considers a number of factors, including analyses of compensation in similarly-sized companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, analyses of compensation levels in similar companies in the Company’s local geographic area, the satisfaction of (or failure to satisfy) previously-developed performance measurements for the named executive officer and the Company, and the total vested and unvested equity grants owned by the executive. The Company competes for executive talent across a broad range of business sectors.

 

The Compensation Committee believes it is important when making its compensation-related decisions to be informed as to current practices of similarly situated companies in the biotechnology industry. In addition to the report of its compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee has historically taken into account input from other sources, including input from members of the Compensation Committee based on their roles as executive officers and directors of other public companies, as well as other members of the Board of Directors.

 

The Compensation Committee believes that the total compensation package provided to the Company’s named executive officers, combining both short-term and long-term incentives, some of which are at risk based on individual and Company performance, is competitive without being excessive and is at an appropriate level to assure the retention and motivation of this highly skilled and experienced segment of the Company’s workforce, and at the same time would be attractive to any additional talent that might be needed in the changing workplace without creating incentives for inappropriate risk-taking by the named executive officers that might be in their own self-interests, but might not necessarily be in the best long and short term interests of the Company’s shareholders.

 

Performance Factors in 2009

 

The Compensation Committee, together with the Chief Executive Officer and full Board of Directors, establishes performance criteria for the named executive officers (other than Paul Medeiros), both in terms of individual performance and the performance of the Company as a whole, and generally assigns a weight to the performance goals.  Mr. Medeiros ‘ bonus was determined in accordance with his employment agreement, which did not establish any performance goals for 2009.

 

The following corporate goals, along with the weighting assigned to each of the goals, including the weight achieved, drove the Compensation Committee’s executive compensation decisions for fiscal year 2009:

 

9



 

Goal

 

Assigned Weight

 

Achieved Weight

 

 

 

 

 

Develop approved operational and other administrative plans and budget for 2009

 

20%

 

16.5%

(included within goal was to manage expense and revenue goals to achieve an overall 2009 cash burn not to exceed $11.5 million; actual cash burn was $10.8 million)

 

 

 

 

 

Attain certain preclinical and clinical development milestones

 

40%

 

23.5%

 

 

 

 

 

Complete certain key business development partnerships, including partnerships relating to collaboration on drug research and development and to commercialization of certain products under development

 

15%

 

6.5%

 

 

 

 

 

Advance core discovery research projects

 

5%

 

2.5%

 

 

 

 

 

Reorganize certain elements of the Company’s business

 

20%

 

5%

 

 

 

 

 

Additional significant value adding accomplishments relating to obtaining additional financing for the Company and to securing the award of certain government contracts to the Company

 

0%

 

9%

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

63%

 

Dr. Hudson’s performance bonus was based entirely on the Company’s achievement of the corporate goals outlined above.  The performance bonus of each other named executive officer was based on the Company’s achievement of the corporate goals (70%), with the remainder of the performance bonus (30%) for such named executive officers based on the achievement of individual goals.

 

The goals for each individual officer, along with the weighting assigned to each of the goals, were as follows:

 

J. David Boyle II, Chief Financial Officer

 

Goal

 

Assigned Weight

 

Achieved weight

 

 

 

 

 

Secure funding through to NDA for at least two biodefense projects

 

35%

 

5%

 

 

 

 

 

Manage expense, revenue and budget goals to achieve prescribed financial targets (including achievement of overall cash burn of not more than $11.5 million)

 

10%

 

8%

 

 

 

 

 

Restructure certain elements of the Company’s agreement with a key business partner, including restructuring certain financial components of the agreement

 

25%

 

23%

 

 

 

 

 

Enhance general and administrative support for AVI, including establishing the Company’s new headquarters

 

30%

 

25%

 

 

 

 

 

Additional significant value adding accomplishments, including leadership in connection with efforts to obtain additional financing for the Company

 

0%

 

5%

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

66%

 

10



 

Stephen Shrewsbury, Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

Goal

 

Assigned Weight

 

Achieved weight

 

 

 

 

 

Achieve certain goals with respect to clinical development and regulatory affairs, including analyzing and submitting certain data for publication in a peer reviewed journal and completing certain two phase 1 drug trials

 

70%

 

43%

 

 

 

 

 

Achieve certain goals with respect to preclinical development

 

30%

 

22.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100%

 

65.5%

 

Patrick L. Iversen, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

 

Goal

 

Assigned Weight

 

Achieved weight

 

 

 

 

 

Secure funding through to NDA for at least two biodefense projects

 

25%

 

5%

 

 

 

 

 

Complete animal studies for certain drug candidates

 

20%

 

20%

 

 

 

 

 

Achieve prescribed goals with respect to preclinical development

 

45%

 

30%

 

 

 

 

 

Achieve prescribed goals with respect to ongoing drug research projects

 

10%

 

5%

 

 

 

 

 

Additional significant value adding accomplishments relating to internal strategic reviews

 

0%

 

5%

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

65%

 

Paul Medeiros, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

The bonuses paid to Mr. Medeiros were according to provisions in his employment agreement and were not performance based.

 

Determining the Total Mix of Compensation

 

Our compensation-setting process consists of establishing a targeted overall compensation for each executive and then allocating that compensation between base salary and incentive compensation (annual performance-based cash bonuses and equity incentive awards), based appropriately on publicly available industry and salary survey data. The Compensation Committee does not have a pre-established policy for allocating total compensation between cash and non-cash compensation, between long-term and

 

11



 

currently paid-out compensation, or between fixed and variable compensation. Rather, based on the competitive market assessments and benchmarks, as well as the Compensation Committee’s review of existing outstanding equity incentives on an individual named executive officer basis, the Compensation Committee determines the appropriate level and mix of total compensation, keeping in mind the Company’s compensation philosophy.

 

The total amount and mix of compensation payable to our named executive officers is premised upon, among other items, the degree to which the executive has a role in determining the strategic direction of the Company, the mix of compensation payable to executives in similar roles by companies of a similar size and in our business sector, geographic location, and industry, as well as the quantity and value of unvested equity awards held by each named executive officer and the vesting date of such awards. As one of the Company’s primary priorities is to retain its executives, the Company seeks to ensure its named executive officers receive a base salary reflective of the Company’s size and the marketplace in which it competes.

 

During its evaluation of the appropriate mix of compensation, the Compensation Committee typically determines what portion of each executive’s compensation will be “at risk,” with the at risk portion increasing as the Company gives executives greater levels of responsibility. As the Company believes that many of its named executive officers could command higher salaries in similar roles with larger companies, including with the Company’s competitors, the Company’s combined cash-based and equity-based bonuses have historically been large relative to base salaries, with the goal of ensuring compensation serves the dual purpose of retention and rewarding exceptional performance.

 

Analysis of Executive Compensation Components

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the principal components of compensation for named executive officers were identical to the components in the prior fiscal year, and included:

 

·                  Base salary;

 

·                  Performance-based cash bonuses;

 

·                  Equity Incentive Plan;

 

·                  Employee Stock Purchase Plan;

 

·                  401(k) Plan; and

 

·                  Other benefits.

 

Base Salaries.  As a general proposition, the base salaries of the Company’s executive officers are established as part of an annual compensation adjustment cycle, and we also assess salaries at the time of hire, promotion or other change in responsibilities. In establishing those salaries, the Compensation Committee considers information about base salaries paid by companies of comparable size in the biopharmaceutical industry (including data from the Committee’s compensation consultant), individual performance, position and tenure of the executive officer, how the salary compares to the salaries of other executives in the Company, and internal comparability considerations. As noted above, however, in 2009 some of the initial compensation packages for our named executive officers were determined far more as a result of negotiations between the Company and these individuals in connection with their recruitment to the Company rather than abstract compensation data.

 

As noted previously, the Chief Executive Officer and each of the named executive officer received a 3% (annualized) increase in base compensation for 2010.

 

Consistent with the philosophy and events discussed above, the base salary levels for fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009 for our named executive officers were as follows:

 

12



 

Name

 

Title

 

2009 Base
Salary

 

2008 Base
Salary

 

% Change
2008 to
2009 Base
Salary

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

$

480,000

 

$

480,000

 

0

%

J. David Boyle II

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

$

324,000

 

$

324,000

 

0

%

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

 

$

265,000

 

$

265,000

 

0

%

Paul Medeiros

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

$

315,000

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

$

310,000

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

Performance-Based Cash Bonuses/Equity Awards.  The Company typically grants cash bonuses to executive officers as part of their annual overall compensation. In 2009, the bonuses for executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer were targeted to be between 0% and 30% of the executive’s base compensation.  For the Chief Executive Officer, the target was 60% of his base compensation.  Such cash bonuses are in recognition of achievement of performance milestones for the individual named executive officers and of milestones achieved by the Company as a whole. The Compensation Committee takes into account the Company’s cash resources and the need of the Company to deploy those resources to advance its business plan, and assesses this objective against the need to maintain compensation levels that are competitive within the biotechnology industry.

 

As noted above, the Compensation Committee and the Board, in consultation with Dr. Hudson, established corporate performance and individual performance goals for the named executive officers in early 2009. In early 2010, the Compensation Committee and the Board determined that 63% of the corporate goals had been obtained and Dr. Hudson determined that the other named executive officers had achieved the percentage of individual goals identified above. In 2009, the Compensation Committee and the Board accepted the offer of the named executive officers, including Dr. Hudson, to have their 2008 bonuses paid in the form of shares of stock issued under the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan rather than cash, taking into account the tax impact of accepting stock rather than cash as payment of such bonuses. The following table shows for each of our named executive officers the aggregate dollar value of the stock awards for fiscal year 2008 granted in February 2009 and the cash bonuses awarded for fiscal year 2009 in February 2010:

 

Name

 

Title

 

2009 Bonus

 

2008 Bonus

 

% Change
(2008 to
2009)

 

2009 Bonus
 as a
% of 2009 Base
Salary

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

$

181,440

 

$

196,020

(1)

-7

%

38

%

J. David Boyle II

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

$

62,111

 

$

72,973

(2)

-15

%

19

%

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

 

$

42,135

 

$

49,737

(3)

-15

%

16

%

Paul Medeiros

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

$

150,000

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

$

59,288

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 


(1)                                  Represents the aggregate value of 213,065 shares at $0.92 per share, which was the closing price for the Company’s Common Stock on February 10, 2009, the date which such bonus was paid.

 

(2)                                  Represents the aggregate value of 79,318 shares at $0.92 per share, which was the closing price for the Company’s Common Stock on February 10, 2009, the date which such bonus was paid.

 

(3)                                  Represents the aggregate value of 54,062 shares at $0.92 per share, which was the closing price for the Company’s Common Stock on February 10, 2009, the date which such bonus was paid.

 

Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.  The long-term compensation of named executive officers takes the form of stock option awards under the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan, or “2002 Plan.” The 2002 Plan is designed to align a significant portion of the executive compensation program with long-term shareholder interests. The 2002 Plan permits the granting of several different types of stock-based awards. The Compensation Committee believes that equity-based compensation helps ensure that the Company’s named executive officers have a continuing stake in the long-term success of the Company, and preserves the Company’s

 

13



 

cash resources. The 2002 Plan provides incentives to continue in the service of the Company and to create in such executives a more direct interest in the future success of the operations of the Company by relating incentive compensation to the achievement of long-term corporate economic objectives. All options granted by the Company have been granted with an exercise price equal to the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant and, accordingly, will only have value if the Company’s stock price increases subsequent to the date of grant. In granting options under the 2002 Plan, the Compensation Committee generally takes into account each named executive officer’s responsibilities, relative position in the Company, past grants, the total number of vested and unvested equity incentives held by each named executive officer, and approximate grants to individuals in similar positions for companies of comparable size in the biopharmaceutical industry. The 2002 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee.

 

The following table shows the stock options granted to named executive officers in fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009:

 

Name

 

Title

 

FY 2009 Shares
Subject to Option
Grant

 

FY 2008 Shares
Subject to Option
Grant

 

% Increase /
(Decrease) 2008
to 2009

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

350,000

 

667,000

 

(48

)%

J. David Boyle II

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

150,000

 

500,000

 

(70

)%

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

 

100,000

 

75,000

 

33

%

Paul Medeiros

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

400,000

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

450.000

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  The purpose of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or “ESPP,” is to attract and retain qualified employees essential to the success of the Company and, like the 2002 Plan, to provide such persons with an incentive to perform in the best interests of the Company. The ESPP is administered by the Compensation Committee, which has the power to make and interpret all rules and regulations it deems necessary to administer the ESPP and has broad authority to amend the ESPP, subject to certain amendments requiring shareholder approval. All employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Company’s named executive officers, may participate in the ESPP if they: (i) are employed in a position with regular hours of 20 or more hours a week and (ii) are employed more than five months in any calendar year. Eligible employees may elect to contribute from 1% to 10% of their cash compensation during each pay period. The ESPP provides for two annual six-month offering periods, beginning on May 1 and November 1 each year (the “Enrollment Dates”). During the offering periods, participants accumulate funds in an account through payroll deduction. At the end of each six-month offering period, the purchase price is determined and the accumulated funds are used to automatically purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company. The purchase price per share is equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Common Stock (i) on the beginning date of the offering period or (ii) the end of the Offering Period. Unless a participant files a withdrawal notice before the beginning of the next offering period, such participant will automatically be re-enrolled for the next offering period. Beginning on January 1, 2006, the Company began accounting for stock issued under the ESPP in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 718.

 

In 2009, 124,213 shares of Common Stock were purchased under the ESPP, all of which were purchased by persons other than our named executive officers.  In November 2009, all shares of common stock available under the ESPP were issued and the Compensation Committee decided not to renew the ESPP.

 

401(k) Plan.  The Company’s 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing plan with a 401(k) option. The plan year is January 1 to December 31, and was created on November 1, 1992. Employees who are at least twenty-one years of age and who have provided at least thirty days of service are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Employees who are union employees, non-resident alien employees with no U.S.-source income and non-common law employees are not eligible to participate. Participants may defer up to the maximum allowed by law. At the discretion of the Company, participants may receive a match on the first 4% of compensation that the participant contributes to the 401(k) Plan. As of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the named executive officers received a 401(k) contribution match of up to 4% of their 401(k) Plan contribution subject to the maximum amount permitted by law.

 

Tax and Accounting Implications of the Executive Compensation Program

 

A significant portion of the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers is considered “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, is fully deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes. In addition, the long-term incentive compensation awarded to the named executive officers is based on a fixed value at grant and therefore is not subject to variable accounting treatment under FASB ASC Topic 718. The Company views preserving tax deductibility as an important objective, but not the sole objective, in establishing executive compensation. In specific instances the Company has and in the future will authorize compensation arrangements that are not fully tax deductible but which promote other important objectives of the Company.

 

14


 


 

Repricing of Stock Options

 

The Company did not reprice any stock options in 2009.

 

Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers Entered into by the Company in 2009

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury—Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

On January 26, 2009, the Company hired Stephen Bevan Shrewsbury, M.D., as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer. In connection with his hiring, the Company and Dr. Shrewsbury entered into an Employment Agreement dated January 26, 2009 providing for Dr. Shrewsbury’s at will employment by the Company. Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Dr. Shrewsbury is entitled to an initial annual salary of $310,000, which amount is subject to review for potential increase, but not decrease, on an annual basis. In addition to his base salary, Dr. Shrewsbury is eligible for an annual bonus of up to 25% of his base salary, based upon Dr. Shrewsbury’s achievement of performance objectives established by mutual agreement among Dr. Shrewsbury, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and the Compensation Committee.

 

In connection with his employment as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, the Company granted to Dr. Shrewsbury options to purchase 450,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2002 Plan, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on January 26, 2009, which was $1.36 per share. Subject to certain exceptions, the options vest in equal annual installments over a period of three years. In addition, on that same date the Company granted to Dr. Shrewsbury 60,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock.  The shares became fully vested as of July 27, 2009.  The Company is also required to reimburse Dr. Shrewsbury for all expenses reasonably incurred by him in discharging his duties for the Company.

 

In addition to the compensation described above, under the Employment Agreement Dr. Shrewsbury is entitled to receive (i) reimbursement of up to $100,000 for reasonable expenses incurred in 2008 for reasonable expenses incurred in 2008 to relocate Dr. Shrewsbury to the city of the Company’s headquarters, including the reasonable and customary costs associated with purchasing a new residence and moving expenses, (ii) reimbursement of up to $3,000 for reasonable legal fees incurred by Dr. Shrewsbury in connection with the negotiation of the Employment Agreement, (iii) a monthly living allowance of $2,500 for a period of up to six months, (iv) four weeks of paid vacation per year, as well as paid holidays generally available to senior executives, and (v) subject to eligibility requirements, participation in benefits and programs generally available to all employees or executives. The Employment Agreement further provides that Dr. Shrewsbury is entitled to receive certain tax gross-up payments.

 

The Employment Agreement provides that, following Dr. Shrewsbury’s termination of employment with the Company, Dr. Shrewsbury may not engage in certain activities in competition with the Company’s business activities for a period between one year and two years, depending on the nature of Dr. Shrewsbury’s termination.  Dr. Shrewsbury is further prohibited for a period of two years following termination of employment with the Company from recruiting, hiring, or assisting a third party in hiring any person then employed by the Company.

 

Dr. Shrewsbury may voluntarily terminate his employment after giving the Company 60 days’ notice. The Company may terminate Dr. Shrewsbury’s employment without “Cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) upon 30 days’ written notice. Dr. Shrewsbury’s employment is also terminated upon death, disability, or upon the effective date of a notice sent by the Company to Dr. Shrewsbury terminating him for Cause.

 

Paul Medeiros—Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

Effective May 19, 2009, the Company hired Paul Medeiros as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer.  In connection with his hiring, the Company and Mr. Medeiros entered into an Employment Agreement dated May 19, 2009 providing for Mr. Medeiros’s at will employment by the Company.  Under the terms of his Employment Agreement, Mr. Medeiros is entitled to an initial annual salary of $315,000 per year, which amount is subject to review for potential increase, but not decrease, on an annual basis.  In addition to his base compensation, Mr. Medeiros is eligible for an annual bonus up to 25% of his annual basis compensation amount, subject to achievement and satisfaction of goals and objectives established upon mutual agreement of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Company’s Compensation Committee and Mr. Medeiros.  Mr. Medeiros’s Employment Agreement provided for a guaranteed bonus of at least $50,000 for fiscal year 2009.

 

In connection with his employment as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer, the Company granted to Mr. Medeiros options to purchase 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2002 Plan, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on May 19, 2009, which was $1.10 per share.  Subject to certain exceptions, the options vest in equal annual installments over a period of three years. In addition, on that same date the Company granted to Mr. Medeiros 100,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, which

 

15



 

will vest on a pro rata basis through the first anniversary of Mr. Medeiros’s employment, subject to certain performance-based criteria.  As of the date hereof, the performance criterion has not been achieved and the Company believes the achievement thereof is unlikely.

 

In addition to his base compensation for 2009, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Medeiros a $100,000 sign-on bonus.  In the event that Mr. Medeiros separates from the Company prior to his one-year anniversary with the Company for reasons of (i) termination of Mr. Medeiros by the Company for “Cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or (ii) voluntary termination by Mr. Medeiros other than for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the sign-on bonus is completely refundable to the Company. The Company is also required to reimburse Mr. Medeiros for all expenses reasonably incurred by him in discharging his duties for the Company.

 

In addition to the compensation described above, under the Employment Agreement Mr. Medeiros is entitled to receive (i) reimbursement of up to $120,000 in 2010 for reasonable expenses incurred in 2009 and 2010 to relocate Mr. Medeiros to the location of the Company’s headquarters, including the reasonable and customary costs associated with purchasing a new residence and moving expenses, (ii) reimbursement of up to $5,000 for reasonable legal fees incurred by Mr. Medeiros in connection with the negotiation of the Employment Agreement, (iii) a monthly living allowance of $2,500 for a period of up to six months, (iv) four weeks of paid vacation per year, as well as paid holidays generally available to senior executives, and (v) subject to eligibility requirements, participation in benefits and programs generally available to all employees or executives.

 

The Employment Agreement provides that, following Mr. Medeiros’s termination of employment with the Company, Mr. Medeiros may not engage in certain activities in competition with the Company’s business activities for a period between one year and two years, depending on the nature of Mr. Medeiros’s termination. Mr. Medeiros is further prohibited for a period of two years following termination of employment with the Company from recruiting, hiring, or assisting a third party in hiring any person then employed by the Company.

 

Mr. Medeiros may voluntarily terminate his employment after giving the Company 60 days’ notice. The Company may terminate Mr. Medeiros’s employment without “Cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) upon 30 days’ written notice.  Mr. Medeiros’s employment is also terminated upon death, disability, or upon the effective date of a notice sent by the Company to Mr. Medeiros terminating him for Cause.

 

Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers Entered into by the Company in 2008

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.—Chief Executive Officer

 

On February 8, 2008, the Board of Directors appointed Leslie Hudson, Ph.D. as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. In connection with his appointment, the Company and Dr. Hudson entered into an Employment Agreement providing for Dr. Hudson’s at will employment by the Company. Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Dr. Hudson is entitled to an initial annual salary of $480,000, which amount is subject to review for potential increase, but not decrease, on an annual basis. In addition to his base salary, Dr. Hudson is entitled to an annual bonus based upon the Company’s and Dr. Hudson’s achievement of performance objectives established by the Company’s Board of Directors, with the target bonus level being equal to 60% of Dr. Hudson’s base salary. Dr. Hudson’s compensation package was extensively negotiated, and Dr. Hudson’s compensation is high relative to the compensation payable to other executive officers of the Company, including the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer who served between March 2007 and February 2008. The Radford Survey showed that Dr. Hudson’s base compensation was in excess of the Company’s targeted 60th percentile. In determining Dr. Hudson’s compensation, the Board of Directors took into account, among other things, the fact that Dr. Hudson would be required to relocate from his home in New Jersey, Dr. Hudson’s extensive experience in the Company’s industry, and the salaries and potential bonuses commanded by principal executive officers at other companies in the Company’s industry.

 

In connection with his employment as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Company granted to Dr. Hudson options to purchase 667,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2002 Plan, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on February 8, 2008, which was $1.09 per share. Subject to certain exceptions, the options vest in equal annual installments over a period of four years. In addition, on that same date the Company granted to Dr. Hudson 333,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock. A portion of the shares of common stock are subject to forfeiture, with 100,000 shares vesting on February 8, 2008 and 233,000 shares vesting in equal annual installments over four years commencing on February 8, 2008. The Company is also required to reimburse Dr. Hudson for all expenses reasonably incurred by him in discharging his duties for the Company.

 

In addition to the compensation described above, under the Employment Agreement Dr. Hudson is entitled to receive (i) health care benefits for him and his spouse, (ii) reimbursement of up to $25,000 in legal fees incurred by Dr. Hudson in connection with the negotiation of the Employment Agreement, (iii) a monthly living allowance of up to $4,500 until October 1, 2010, (iv) a car

 

16



 

allowance of $1,000 per month and airfare for one round trip per week between his home and the Company’s headquarters, (v) reimbursement of actual travel and other business expenses, (v) reimbursement of moving expenses and reasonable and customary costs of selling a residence in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as two round-trip economy fare airplane tickets for relocation purposes for each of Dr. Hudson and his spouse, (vi) during the first year of employment, reimbursement for up to four round trip economy airplane tickets per month for travel actually incurred between Portland, Oregon and his home in Bend, Oregon, (vii) four weeks of paid vacation per year, as well as paid holidays generally available to senior executives, (viii) $9,500 per year for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with Dr. Hudson’s federal and state income tax returns and investment advice, and (ix) subject to eligibility requirements, participation in benefits and programs generally available to all employees or executives. In addition, the Company is required to provide Dr. Hudson with the Company’s standard directors and officers insurance policy, and indemnify and hold Dr. Hudson harmless from liability arising out of his services to the fullest extent permitted by Oregon law. The Employment Agreement further provides that Dr. Hudson is entitled to receive certain tax gross-up payments.  In 2008-09, in accordance with his Employment Agreement, he received reimbursement of moving expenses and reasonable and customary costs of selling a residence in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as two round-trip economy fare airplane tickets for relocation purposes for each of Dr. Hudson and his spouse and reimbursement of $25,000 in legal fees incurred by Dr. Hudson in connection with the negotiation of the Employment Agreement.

 

The Employment Agreement provides that, for a period of two years following Dr. Hudson’s termination of employment with the Company, Dr. Hudson may not engage in certain activities in competition with the Company’s business activities, to the extent those competitive activities relate to five competitors specified by the Company prior to Dr. Hudson’s termination. Dr. Hudson is further prohibited, for a period of two years following termination of employment with the Company, from recruiting, hiring, or assisting a third party in hiring any person then employed by the Company.

 

After 2009, Dr. Hudson’s Employment Agreement provides that Dr. Hudson may voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company, with or without “Good Reason” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), upon not less than 30 days. The Company may terminate Dr. Hudson’s employment without “Cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and other than in connection with a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) upon 30 days’ written notice. Dr. Hudson’s employment is terminated upon death, disability, or upon the effective date of a notice sent by the Company to Dr. Hudson terminating him for Cause.  Effective April 20, 2010, Dr. Hudson resigned at the request of the Board of Directors, which resignation is being treated as a termination without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement).  See note 12 (Subsequent Events) to the financial statements filed with this Form 10-K/A.

 

J. David Boyle II—Chief Financial Officer

 

On August 18, 2008, the Company hired J. David Boyle II as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. In connection with his appointment, the Company and Mr. Boyle entered into an Employment Agreement dated July 24, 2008 providing for Mr. Boyle’s at will employment by the Company. Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Boyle is entitled to an initial annual salary of $324,000, which amount is subject to review for potential increase, but not decrease, on an annual basis. In addition to his base salary, Mr. Boyle is eligible for an annual bonus of up to 30% of his base salary, based upon Mr. Boyle’s achievement of performance objectives established by mutual agreement among Mr. Boyle, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and the Compensation Committee. As noted above, Mr. Boyle received a bonus of $62,111 (or approximately 20%) for his total cash compensation in connection with his services in 2009.

 

In connection with his employment as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, the Company granted to Mr. Boyle options to purchase 350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2002 Plan, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on August 18, 2008, which was $1.21 per share. Subject to certain exceptions, the options vest in equal annual installments over a period of three years. In addition, on that same date the Company granted to Mr. Boyle options to purchase an additional 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2002 Plan, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on August 18, 2008, which was $1.21 per share. The vesting of these 150,000 shares is subject to the Company’s achievement of certain milestones, which the Company has not achieved and will not achieve. The Company is also required to reimburse Mr. Boyle for all expenses reasonably incurred by him in discharging his duties for the Company.

 

In addition to the compensation described above, under the Employment Agreement Mr. Boyle is entitled to receive (i) reimbursement of up to $100,000 for reasonable expenses incurred in 2008 for reasonable expenses incurred to relocate Mr. Boyle, his spouse and certain members of his family to the city of the Company’s headquarters, including the reasonable and customary costs associated with selling his prior residence, moving expenses, and costs associated with purchasing a new residence (ii) reimbursement of up to $5,000 for reasonable legal fees incurred by Mr. Boyle in connection with the negotiation of the Employment Agreement, (iii) a monthly living allowance of $2,000 for a period of up to six months, (iv) four weeks of paid vacation per year, as well as paid holidays generally available to senior executives, and (v) subject to eligibility requirements, participation in benefits and programs

 

17



 

generally available to all employees or executives. The Employment Agreement further provides that Mr. Boyle is entitled to receive certain tax gross-up payments.

 

The Employment Agreement provides that, following Mr. Boyle’s termination of employment with the Company, Mr. Boyle may not engage in certain activities in competition with the Company’s business activities for a period between one year and two years, depending on the nature of Mr. Boyle’s termination, Mr. Boyle is further prohibited for a period of two years following termination of employment with the Company from recruiting, hiring, or assisting a third party in hiring any person then employed by the Company.

 

Mr. Boyle may voluntarily terminate his employment after giving the Company sixty days’ notice, and the Company may terminate Mr. Boyle’s employment without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) upon thirty days’ written notice. Mr. Boyle’s employment is also terminated upon death, disability, or upon the effective date of a notice sent by the Company to Mr. Boyle terminating him for Cause.

 

Effective April 20, 2010, Mr. Boyle was appointed the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and President.  As a result of this interim appointment, Mr. Boyle’s salary has been increased by $3,000 per month while serving as the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, his bonus target percentage for 2010 has been increased to forty percent (40%), and he has been granted a fully vested option on April 20, 2010 to acquire 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.24.

 

Employment Agreements with Other Named Executive Officers in Prior Years

 

The Company has entered into employment contracts with each of its other named executive officers that provide for a base annual compensation. The employment contracts are cancelable by the employee on sixty days’ notice and by the Company on thirty days’ notice or for Cause. Cause is defined in the employment agreement as the named executive officer’s willful or repeated failure to comply with the Company’s policies, standards or regulations, or the named executive officer engages in conduct that is dishonest, fraudulent or detrimental to the Company. The employment agreements provide that the named executive officers may not compete with the Company or solicit the employment of other individuals employed by the Company during their employment and for a period of two years thereafter. Under the employment agreements, the named executive officers may not disclose the Company’s confidential information to outsiders during employment and for a period of two years thereafter and must assign inventions conceived by them to the Company. The respective employment agreements provide that each named executive officer is entitled to severance benefits and change in control payments in certain circumstances, as discussed below under “Post-Employment Benefits and Change in Control Arrangements.”

 

Post-Employment Benefits and Change in Control Arrangements for the Company’s Named Executive Officers

 

The Company does not generally provide special post-employment benefits to its named executive officers, other than those available to its employees generally. However, the Company has entered into agreements with certain named executive officers relating to post-employment benefits and change in control arrangements.

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

Upon Dr. Hudson’s voluntary termination of employment (other than with Good Reason) or termination of his employment for Cause, the Company must pay to him all base compensation, unpaid reimbursements, gross-up payments, and other unpaid expenses due through the effective date of termination, and any unused vacation accrued according to the Company’s policies. However, Dr. Hudson would not be entitled to any other compensation, including the right to receive any bonus relating to the year in which such termination is effective.

 

Upon Dr. Hudson’s death or “Disability” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company must pay to his estate all base compensation, earned but unpaid bonuses, unpaid reimbursements, gross-up payments and other unpaid expenses due at the date of death, plus a continuation of base compensation and benefits at the rate set forth in the Employment Agreement for six months following the end of the month in which the death occurs. Dr. Hudson’s estate will also have six months to exercise all vested stock options.

 

Upon termination of Dr. Hudson’s employment by the Company without Cause or by Dr. Hudson for Good Reason where no Change of Control has occurred, the Company is required to pay to Dr. Hudson (i) all base compensation and earned but unpaid bonuses, and unpaid reimbursements, gross-up payments and other unpaid expenses due at the effective date of termination, (ii) the sum of (x) two years of base compensation, (y) two years of bonus compensation based on the average of the past two years’ bonuses actually paid or, if only one year’s bonus has been paid, such bonus, or if no bonus has been paid, 50% of the target bonus for the current year, and (z) two times the then current annual cost of health benefits. If termination occurs before February 8, 2010, fifty percent of unvested options and fifty percent of unvested shares of common stock granted pursuant to the Employment Agreement

 

18



 

will immediately become fully vested and exercisable. If termination occurs on or after February 8, 2010, all unvested options and all shares of common stock will immediately become fully vested and exercisable. The exercise period of all vested options granted to Dr. Hudson pursuant to the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan will be the earlier of their original expiration date or six months from the effective date of termination.

 

Upon a termination of Dr. Hudson’s employment by the Company without Cause or by Dr. Hudson for Good Reason that occurs within twelve months of a Change of Control, the Company is required to pay to Dr. Hudson (i) all base compensation, earned but unpaid bonuses, and unpaid reimbursements, gross-up payments and other unpaid expenses due at the effective date of termination, (ii) the sum of (x) two years of base compensation, (y) two times the target annual bonus at the effective time of termination, and (z) two times the then current annual cost of health benefits, car allowance, expenses incurred in connection with tax preparation and investment advice, and continued participation in benefits available to other senior executives generally, as well as the amount of remaining living allowance payments. In addition, all unvested options and all shares of common stock granted pursuant to the Employment Agreement would immediately become fully vested and exercisable and all options exercisable for a period of the earlier of their original expiration date or six months from the effective day of termination.

 

Effective April 20, 2010, Dr. Hudson resigned at the request of the Board of Directors, which resignation is being treated as a termination without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement).  Accordingly, Dr. Hudson received in substantial measure the severance benefits set forth above.  See note 12 (Subsequent Events) to the financial statements filed with this Form 10-K/A.

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Upon Mr. Boyle’s voluntary termination of employment (other than with Good Reason), the Company must pay to him all compensation due through the date of termination, but otherwise has no further obligation to him in respect of any period following such termination. Upon Mr. Boyle’s death, the Company must pay to his estate all compensation due at the date of death, plus a continuation of base compensation at the rate set forth in the Employment Agreement or Mr. Boyle’s then-current rate, whichever is greater, from the date of death to the final day of the month following the month in which the death occurs.

 

Under the terms of the Employment Agreement for Mr. Boyle, Mr. Boyle is entitled to receive severance pay of one year’s base salary following termination of his employment by the Company other than for Cause and other than in connection with a Change in Control (as those terms are defined in Mr. Boyle’s Employment Agreement). Mr. Boyle is entitled to receive severance pay of two years’ base salary if he is terminated by the Company without Cause in connection with a Change in Control or if he voluntary terminates his employment for Good Reason (as that term is defined in Mr. Boyle’s Employment Agreement). Further, upon termination other than for Cause, Mr. Boyle’s Employment Agreement provides for full vesting of all outstanding stock options, which are exercisable for a period of 180 days following the effective date of termination.

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

Upon Mr. Medeiros’s voluntary termination of employment (other than with Good Reason), the Company must pay to him all compensation due through the date of termination, but otherwise has no further obligation to him in respect of any period following such termination. Upon Mr. Medeiros’s death, the Company must pay to his estate all compensation due at the date of death, plus a continuation of base compensation at the rate set forth in the Employment Agreement or Mr. Medeiros’s then-current rate, whichever is greater, from the date of death to the final day of the month following the month in which the death occurs.

 

Under the terms of the Employment Agreement for Mr. Medeiros, Mr. Medeiros is entitled to receive severance pay of one year’s base salary following termination of his employment by the Company other than for Cause and other than in connection with a Change in Control (as those terms are defined in Mr. Medeiros’s Employment Agreement). Mr. Medeiros is entitled to receive severance pay of two year’s base salary if he is terminated by the Company without Cause in connection with a Change in Control or if he voluntary terminates his employment for Good Reason (as that term is defined in Mr. Medeiros’s Employment Agreement) in connection with a Change in Control. Further, upon termination other than for Cause, Mr. Medeiros’s Employment Agreement provides for full vesting of all outstanding stock options, which are exercisable for a period of 180 days following the effective date of termination.

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

Upon Dr. Shrewsbury’s voluntary termination of employment (other than with Good Reason), the Company must pay to him all compensation due through the date of termination, but otherwise has no further obligation to him in respect of any period following such termination. Upon Dr. Shrewsbury’s death, the Company must pay to his estate all compensation due at the date of death, plus a continuation of base compensation at the rate set forth in the Employment Agreement or Dr. Shrewsbury’s then-current rate, whichever is greater, from the date of death to the final day of the month following the month in which the death occurs.

 

19



 

Under the terms of the Employment Agreement for Dr. Shrewsbury, Dr. Shrewsbury is entitled to receive severance pay of one year’s base salary following termination of his employment by the Company other than for Cause and other than in connection with a Change in Control (as those terms are defined in Dr. Shrewsbury’s Employment Agreement). Dr. Shrewsbury is entitled to receive severance pay of two year’s base salary if he is terminated by the Company without Cause in connection with a Change in Control or if he voluntary terminates his employment for Good Reason (as that term is defined in Dr. Shrewsbury’s Employment Agreement) in connection with a Change in Control. Further, upon termination other than for Cause, Dr. Shrewsbury’s Employment Agreement provides for full vesting of all outstanding stock options, which are exercisable for a period of 180 days following the effective date of termination.

 

Other Named Executive Officers

 

Under the employment agreement for Dr. Iversen, upon voluntary termination of employment (other than voluntary termination after a Change of Control) or termination of employment for Cause, the Company must pay to Dr. Iversen all compensation due through the date of termination, but otherwise has no further obligation to him in respect of any period following such termination. Upon the death of Dr. Iversen, the Company must pay to his estate all compensation due at the date of death, plus a continuation of base compensation at the rate set forth in each such executive officer’s employment agreement from the date of death to the final day of the month following the month in which the death occurs.

 

Under his employment agreement for Dr. Iversen,  is entitled to receive severance pay of one year’s base salary following either termination of the executive officer without Cause or a voluntary termination by Dr. Iversen following a Change of Control (as those terms are defined in such employment agreements). Further, upon termination other than for Cause, the employment agreement provides for full vesting of all outstanding stock options, other than performance-based options.

 

Payment of Post-Employment Benefits for the Company’s Terminated Named Executive Officers

 

Senior Vice President for Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs

 

Effective October 27, 2008, the Company entered into a Severance and Release Agreement with Dr. Peter O’Hanley, the Company’s Senior Vice President for Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs. Under the terms of the Severance and Release Agreement, Dr. O’Hanley resigned his position effective January 9, 2009, and he received all wages, including accrued but unused vacation, earned through such date.

 

Dr. O’Hanley remained a full-time employee with the Company through November 28, 2008. Between December 1, 2008 and January 9, 2009, Dr. O’Hanley’s employment was reduced to part-time employment of no more than two days per week and his salary was reduced a corresponding amount during this time. Dr. O’Hanley has agreed to devote his best efforts to assisting in the smooth and successful transition of knowledge and responsibilities to his replacement.

 

Under the terms of the Severance and Release Agreement, the Company and Dr. O’Hanley also agreed to terminate the March 22, 2004 Employment Agreement between the Company and Dr. O’Hanley. Lastly, the Company and Dr. O’Hanley agreed to a mutual release of any and all claims arising out of Dr. O’Hanley’s employment with the Company.

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The Compensation Committee of AVI BioPharma, Inc. has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Form 10-K/A as required under Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K. Based on their review and discussions with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Company’s full Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Form 10-K/A.

 

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

 

 

William A. Goolsbee

 

Michael D. Casey (Chair)

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid or earned by each of the named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. Based on the fair value of equity awards granted to named executive officers in 2009 and the base salary of the named executive officers, “Salary” accounted for, on average, approximately 38% of the total compensation of the named executive officers, incentive compensation including cash bonus and stock option grants, accounted for approximately 57% of the total compensation of the named executive officers and benefits accounted for approximately 5% of the total compensation of named executive officers:

 

20



 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary
($)

 

Bonus
($)

 

Stock
Awards
($)

 

Option
Awards
($)(1)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

 

Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)

 

All Other
Compensation

 

Total
($)

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

(f)

 

(g)

 

(h)

 

(i)

 

(j)

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.,

 

2009

 

480,000

 

181,440

 

114,378

 

271,950

 

 

 

 

 

94,101

(2)

1,141,869

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2008

 

411,551

 

196,020

 

362,970

 

613,974

 

 

 

195,786

(2)

1,780,301

 

J. David Boyle II,

 

2009

 

324,000

 

62,111

 

42,579

 

116,550

 

 

 

 

 

19,437

(3)

564,677

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

2008

 

93,462

 

72,973

 

 

512,300

 

 

 

160,550

(3)

839,285

 

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.,

 

2009

 

265,000

 

42,135

 

29,021

 

77,700

 

 

 

 

 

9,800

(4)

423,656

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic

 

2008

 

265,000

 

49,737

 

 

87,893

 

 

 

9,200

(4)

411,830

 

Alliances

 

2007

 

260,000

 

27,700

 

 

320,288

 

 

 

9,000

(4)

616,988

 

Paul Medeiros,

 

2009

 

165,202

 

150,000

 

110,000

 

371,840

 

 

 

11,628

(5)

808,670

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.,

 

2009

 

264,295

 

59,288

 

81,600

 

514,665

 

 

 

55,558

(6)

975,406

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)                                  The amounts in the option awards column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted in 2009 calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are included in Note 2 to the financial statements set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K, filed March 16, 2010 (Commission File No. 001-14895).

 

(2)                                  The amount stated for fiscal year 2009 represents $84,301 in temporary living and travel expenses and $9,800 contributed to Dr. Hudson’s account in Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.  The amount stated for fiscal year 2008 represents $186,586 in relocation and temporary living expenses and $9,200 contributed to Dr. Hudson’s account in Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

(3)                                  The amount stated for fiscal year 2009 represents $9,637 in relocation and temporary living expenses and $9,800 contributed to Mr. Boyle’s account in Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan. The amount stated for fiscal year 2008 represents $158,390 in relocation and temporary living expenses and $2,160 contributed to Mr. Boyle’s account in Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

(4)                                  The amounts stated for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 represents funds contributed to Dr. Iversen’s account in Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

(5)                                  The amount stated for fiscal year 2009 represents $6,328 in legal expenses and $5,250 contributed to Mr. Medeiros’s account in Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

(6)                                 The amount stated for fiscal year 2009 represents $45,758 in relocation expenses and $9,800 contributed to Dr. Shrewsbury’s account in Company matching contributions under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

See the discussion above under the heading “Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers” for a discussion of our employment arrangements with our named executive officers.

 

21



 

Grants of Plan Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)

 

Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards

 

All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
of Stock

 

All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying

 

Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option

 

Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock
and
Option

 

Name

 

Grant
Date(1)

 

Threshold
($)

 

Target
($)

 

Maximum
($)

 

Threshold
(#)

 

Target
(#)

 

Maximum
(#)

 

or Units
(#)

 

Options
(#)

 

Awards
($)

 

Awards
($)

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

(f)

 

(g)

 

(h)

 

(i)

 

(j)

 

(k)

 

(l)

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.,

 

2/10/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

124,324

 

 

 

 

 

114,378

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2/10/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

0.92

 

271,950

 

J. David Boyle II,

 

2/10/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,282

 

 

 

 

 

42,579

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

2/10/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

150,000

 

0.92

 

116,550

 

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.,

 

2/10/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,545

 

 

 

 

 

29,021

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

 

2/10/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

0.92

 

77,700

 

Paul Medeiros

 

5/19/2009

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

110,000

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

5/19/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

400,000

 

1.10

 

371,840

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.,

 

1/26/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60,000

 

 

 

 

 

81,600

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

1/26/2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

450,000

 

1.36

 

514,665

 

 


(1)                                  Subject to acceleration of vesting in accordance with the named executive officers’ employment agreement, all options granted in 2009 for Drs. Hudson, Iversen and Shrewsbury and Messrs. Boyle and Medeiros become exercisable starting twelve months after the grant date, with one-third of the options becoming exercisable at that time with an additional one-third of the options becoming exercisable on the second and third anniversary dates of the option grant, respectively.  Effective April 20, 2010, Dr. Hudson resigned at the request of the Board of Directors, which resignation is being treated as a termination without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement).  Accordingly, effective April 20, 2010, all of Dr. Hudson’s options became fully vested and exercisable until October 20, 2010.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year End

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

Grant Date

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable

 

Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)

 

Options
Exercise
Price ($)

 

Option
Expiration
Date

 

Number of
Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
(#)

 

Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
($)

 

Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
That Have Not
Vested (#)

 

Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
market or
payout value
of unearned
shares, units
or other rights
that have not
vested ($)

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

(f)

 

(g)

 

(h)

 

(i)

 

(j)

 

(k)

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.,

 

2/8/2008

 

166,750

 

500,250

 

 

1.09

 

02/8/18

 

 

 

174,750

 

255,135

 

President and Chief Executive Officer(1)

 

2/10/2009

 

0

 

350,000

 

 

0.92

 

2/10/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. David Boyle II,

 

8/18/2008

 

116,667

 

233,333

 

 

1.21

 

08/18/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary(2)

 

2/10/2009

 

0

 

150,000

 

 

0.92

 

2/10/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.,

 

1/3/2002

 

84,000

 

 

 

5.75

 

01/03/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Vice President of

 

12/05/2002

 

92,400

 

 

 

5.35

 

12/05/12

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic Alliances(3)

 

2/22/2005

 

75,000

 

 

 

2.53

 

02/22/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/16/2006

 

75,000

 

 

 

7.35

 

02/16/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/06/2007

 

83,334

 

41,666

 

 

3.00

 

02/06/17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/28/2008

 

25,000

 

50,000

 

 

1.39

 

02/28/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/10/2009

 

 

100,000

 

 

0.92

 

2/10/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Medeiros

 

5/19/2009

 

 

400,000

 

 

 

1.10

 

05/19/19

 

 

 

100,000

 

146,000

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.

 

1/26/2009

 

 

450,000

 

 

 

1.36

 

01/26/19

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22



 


(1)                                  Dr. Hudson’s 667,000 options granted on February 8, 2008 at $1.09 per share became exercisable starting February 8, 2009, with one-fourth being exercisable on this date one-fourth became exercisable on February 8, 2010, and one-fourth were scheduled to become exercisable in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Options granted on February 10, 2009 at $0.92 per share became exercisable starting February 10, 2010. with one third being exercisable on this date and another one-third were scheduled to become exercisable on February 10, 2011 and 2012 respectively. Of Dr. Hudson’s 333,000 shares of restricted stock granted on February 8, 2008, 100,000 vested on that date, 58,250 vested on February 8, 2009, 58,250 shares vested on February 8, 2010, and the remaining shares were scheduled to vest in equal annual installments of 58,250 shares in 2011 and 2012. Effective April 20, 2010, Dr. Hudson resigned at the request of the Board of Directors, which resignation is being treated as a termination without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement).  Upon his resignation,, (1) all of Dr. Hudson’s options became fully vested and exercisable until October 20, 2010 and (2) Dr. Hudson became fully vested in all shares of restricted stock owned by him.

 

(2)                                  Mr. Boyle’s 350,000 options granted on August 18, 2008 at $1.21 per share became exercisable starting August 18, 2009, with one-third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on August 18, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Options granted on February 10, 2009 at $0.92 per share became exercisable starting February 10, 2010 with on third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on February 10, 2011 and 2012, respectively.  Effective April 20, 2010, Mr. Boyle was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer and President.  As a result of this appointment, Mr. Boyle was granted a fully vested option to acquire 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.24 per share.

 

(3)                                  Dr. Iversen’s 75,000 options granted on February 16, 2006 at $7.35 per share became exercisable starting February 16, 2007, with one-third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on February 16, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Dr. Iversen’s 125,000 options granted on February 6, 2007 at $3.00 per share became exercisable starting February 6, 2008, with one-third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on February 6, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Dr. Iversen’s 75,000 options granted on February 28, 2008 at $1.39 per share became exercisable starting February 28, 2009, with one-third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on February 28, 2010 and 2011, respectively.  Options granted on February 10, 2009 at $0.92 per share became exercisable starting February 10, 2010 with one-third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on February 10, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

 

(4)                                  Mr. Medeiros’s 400,000 options granted on May 19, 2009 at $1.10 per share will become exercisable starting May 19, 2010, with one-third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on May 19, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Mr. Medeiros was also granted 100,000 shares of restricted stock that will vest on the performance of certain milestones. The performance milestone for these restricted shares was not achieved as of December 31, 2009.

 

(5)                                  Dr. Shrewsbury’s 450,000 options granted on January 26, 2009 at $1.36 per share became exercisable starting January 26, 2010, with one-third being exercisable on this date and another one-third being exercisable on January 26, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Also on January 26, 2009, Dr. Shrewsbury was granted 60,000 shares of restricted stock that vested July 27, 2009.

 

23



 

2009 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

 

 

Option awards

 

Stock award

 

Name

 

Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)

 

Value
Realized on
Exercise ($)

 

Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)

 

Value
Realized on
Vesting ($)

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.,

 

 

 

 

 

182,574

 

170,881

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. David Boyle II,

 

 

 

 

 

46,282

 

42,579

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.,

 

 

 

 

 

31,545

 

29,021

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Medeiros,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.,

 

 

 

 

 

60,000

 

126,000

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

None of our named executive officers exercised any stock options during fiscal year 2009.

 

2009 Pension Benefits

 

None of our named executive officers are entitled to pension benefits or other payments of benefits pursuant to any established plan following retirement.

 

2009 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

None of our named executive officers are entitled to benefits under any nonqualified defined contribution or nonqualified deferred compensation plans.

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control

 

The table below reflects the amount of compensation payable to each of the named executive officers of the Company in the event of termination of such executive’s employment. The amount of compensation payable to each named executive officer upon termination without cause or before and after a change in control, and for termination following a change of control, is shown below. The amounts shown assume that such termination was effective as of December 31, 2009, and thus includes amounts earned through such time and are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the executives upon their termination.

 

24



 

Name

 

Benefit

 

Before
Change in
Control,
Termination
w/o Cause ($)

 

After Change
in Control,
Termination
w/o Cause ($)

 

Voluntary
Termination
($)

 

Death ($)

 

Disability ($)

 

Change in
Control ($)

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

(f)

 

(g)

 

Leslie Hudson, Ph.D.,(8)

 

Cash Severance

 

1,391,508

(1)

1,590,048

(1)

 

 

250,000

(2)

250,000

(2)

1,590,048

(1)

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Stock Options

 

187,046

(3)

374,093

(4)

 

 

 

(5)

 

(5)

374,093

(4)

 

 

Restricted Stock

 

127,568

(6)

255,135

(7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

255,135

(7)

J. David Boyle II,

 

Cash Severance(9)

 

324,000

 

648,000

 

 

 

37,000

(9)

10,000

(10)

648,000

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

Stock Options

 

139,333

(4)

139,333

(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

139,333

(4)

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.,

 

Cash Severance(9)

 

265,000

 

265,000

 

 

 

32,083

(9)

10,000

(10)

265,000

 

Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances

 

Stock Options

 

57,500

(4)

57,500

(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

57,500

 

Paul Medeiros,

 

Cash Severance(9)

 

315,000

 

630,000

 

 

 

36,259

(9)

10,000

(10)

630,000

 

Senior Vice President of Business

 

Stock Options

 

144,000

 

144,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

144,000

 

Development and Chief Business Officer

 

Restricted Stock

 

146,000

 

146,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

146,000

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.,

 

Cash Severance(9)

 

310,000

 

620,000

 

 

 

35,833

(9)

10,000

(10)

620,000

 

Senior Vice President of Preclinical, Clinical, and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

 

Stock Options

 

45,000

 

45,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

45,000

 

 


(1)                                  Cash severance is payable in equal monthly installments over twenty-four months for Dr. Hudson.

 

(2)                                  Cash severance is payable in equal monthly installments over six months for Dr. Hudson.

 

(3)                                  If termination occurs before the second anniversary of Dr. Hudson’s date of employment, 50% of Dr. Hudson’s unvested stock options immediately become fully vested. If, on the other hand, termination occurs on or after the second anniversary of Dr. Hudson’s date of employment, all unvested stock options immediately become fully vested. If Dr. Hudson had been terminated on December 31, 2009, such termination would have occurred prior to his second anniversary with the Company. Accordingly, 50% of his unvested stock options would have immediately become fully vested as of December 31, 2009. The stated dollar amount reflects the market value as of December 31, 2009, net of exercise price.

 

(4)                                  In the event of a change in control of the Company, all stock options held by the named executive officer will automatically vest and became exercisable. If the named executive officer had been terminated on December 31, 2009 and such termination occurred after a change in control, 100% of such named executive officer’s unvested stock options would have been vested as of December 31, 2009. The stated dollar amount reflects the market value as of December 31, 2009, net of exercise price.

 

(5)                                  In the event of death or disability, the stock options will cease vesting, but the exercise period is automatically extended to six months following the month in which the death or disability occurs.

 

(6)                                  If termination occurs before the second anniversary of Dr. Hudson’s date of employment, 50% of Dr. Hudson’s unvested shares of restricted stock immediately become fully vested. If, on the other hand, termination occurs on or after the second anniversary of Dr. Hudson’s date of employment, all unvested shares of restricted stock immediately become fully vested. If Dr. Hudson had been terminated on December 31, 2009, such termination would have occurred prior to his second anniversary with the Company. Accordingly, 50% of his unvested shares of restricted stock would have immediately become fully vested as of December 31, 2009. The stated dollar amount reflects the market value as of December 31, 2009, net of exercise price.

 

(7)                                  In the event of a change in control of the Company, all unvested shares of restricted stock immediately become fully vested. If Dr. Hudson had been terminated on December 31, 2009 and such termination occurred after a change in control, 100% of his unvested shares of restricted stock would have been vested as of December 31, 2009. The stated dollar amount reflects the market value as of December 31, 2009, net of exercise price.

 

(8)                                  Effective April 20, 2010, Dr. Hudson resigned at the request of the Board of Directors, which resignation is being treated as a termination without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement).  Accordingly, he received severance benefits as described in detail in note 12 (Subsequent Events) to the financial statements filed with this Form 10-K/A.

 

(9)                                  Cash severance is payable as a lump sum for the respective named executive officers.

 

(10)                            In the event of death, the named executive officer will receive all salary compensation due as of the last day of the month following the month in which the death occurs. In addition, the named executive officer will receive any unused paid time off and proceeds from life insurance. The stock options will cease vesting as of the date of death, but the exercise period is automatically extended to one year from the date of death.

 

For a further discussion of the Company’s obligations on a change of control or termination of a named executive officer, see also the discussion above under “Post-Employment Benefits and Change in Control Arrangements.”

 

25


 


 

2009 Director Compensation

 

The Company uses a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. In setting director compensation, the Company considers the significant amount of time that directors expend in fulfilling their duties to the Company as well as the skill-level required by the Company of directors.

 

The Company has certain policies pertaining to director compensation.  In 2009, compensation for certain directors was adjusted to reflect the fact that they departed or joined the Board during 2009.  See discussion below under “Director Compensation for Fiscal 2009” for details regarding individual director compensation.

 

The following director compensation policies were effective in the fiscal year 2009, and, as noted, have been modified for fiscal year 2010:

 

·                  annual compensation of $30,000 for services as a director, other than the Chairman of the Board of Directors;

 

·                  annual compensation of $75,000 payable to the Chairman of the Board of Directors;

 

·                  an additional $12,000 to the Chairman of the Audit Committee;

 

·                  an additional $8,000 to each member of the Audit Committee;

 

·                  an additional $5,000 to the Chairman of the Compensation Committee;

 

·                  an additional $3,000 to each member of the Compensation Committee;

 

·                  an additional $5,000 to the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee;

 

·                  an additional $3,000 to each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee;

 

·                  For fiscal year 2009, at the meeting of the Board of Directors held immediately following the Annual Meeting, each non-employee director other than Dr. Behrens and Dr. Henney received 5,000 shares of Common Stock. These shares vest on the anniversary date of the grant;

 

·                  For fiscal year 2009, at the meeting of the Board of Directors held immediately following the Annual Meeting, each non-employee director other than Dr. Behrens and Dr. Henney received a nonqualified option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant pursuant to AVI’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. These options vest ratably on each anniversary date of the grant over four years of continued service to the Board of Directors;

 

·                  Starting in fiscal year 2010, each year at the meeting of the Board of Directors held immediately following the Annual Meeting, each non-employee director who has served at least six months will receive 5,000 shares of Common Stock. These shares will vest on the earlier of (i) the anniversary date of the grant or (ii) the date of the Annual Meeting in the year following the date of grant; and

 

·                  Starting in fiscal year 2010, each year at the meeting of the Board of Directors held immediately following the Annual Meeting, each non-employee director who has served at least six months will receive a nonqualified option to purchase 30,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant pursuant to AVI’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. These options will vest on the earlier of (i) the anniversary date of the grant or (ii) the date of the Annual Meeting in the year following the date of grant.

 

In addition to the compensation paid to members of the Company’s committees and instead of the compensation paid to non-employee directors at the meeting held immediately following the Annual Meeting, new non-employee directors receive:

 

·                  a nonqualified option upon joining the Board of Directors, to purchase 60,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant pursuant to AVI’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. These options vest ratably over four years of continued service to the Board of Directors, with 1/4 of the total amount shares vesting each year on the earlier of (i) the anniversary date of the grant or (ii) the date of the Annual Meeting in the year following the date of grant.

 

Dr. Behrens and Dr. Henney joined the Board of Directors in early 2009.  As a result, they did not receive the annual non-employee equity awards granted to members of the Board of Directors at the meeting of the Board of Directors held immediately following the 2009 Annual Meeting described above.  Instead, in addition to the cash compensation paid for service as a director as described above, Dr. Behrens and Dr. Henney each received a nonqualified option upon joining the Board of Directors to purchase 60,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant pursuant to AVI’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. These options vest ratably over four years of continued service to the Board of Directors, with 1/4 of the total amount shares vesting each year on the earlier of (i) the anniversary date of the grant or (ii) the date of the Annual Meeting in the year following the date of grant.

 

26



 

The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation we paid to our non-employee directors in 2009:

 

Director Compensation for Fiscal 2009

 

Name

 

Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)

 

Stock
Awards
($)

 

Option
Awards
($)(1)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)

 

Change in
Pension Value
and Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)

 

All Other
Compensation
($)

 

Total
($)

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

(f)

 

(g)

 

(h)

 

Michael D. Casey(4)

 

103,750

 

5,500

 

18,592

 

 

 

 

127,842

 

K. Michael Forrest(5)

 

41,250

 

5,500

 

18,592

 

 

 

 

65,342

 

William Goolsbee

 

47,500

 

5,500

 

18,592

 

 

 

 

71,592

 

John C. Hodgman

 

52,500

 

5,500

 

18,592

 

 

 

 

76,592

 

Gil Price, M.D.

 

47,500

 

5,500

 

18,592

 

 

 

 

71,592

 

M. Kathleen Behrens, Ph.D.(2)

 

26,500

 

 

33,498

 

 

 

 

59,998

 

Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D., D.Sc.(2)(4)

 

24,000

 

 

33,498

 

 

 

 

57,498

 

Former Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John W. Fara, Ph.D.(3)

 

20,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,500

 

 


(1)

 

The amounts in the option awards column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards granted in fiscal year 2009 calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are included in Note 2 to the financial statements set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K, filed March 16, 2010 (Commission File No. 001-14895). As of December 31, 2009, each director and former director had the following number of options outstanding: Mr. Casey: 83,000; Dr. Fara: 93,334; Mr. Forrest: 393,000; Mr. Goolsbee: 73,000; Mr. Hodgman: 103,334; Dr. Price: 73,000; Dr. Behrens 60,000; and Dr. Henney 60,000.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Dr. Henney and Dr. Behrens were appointed to the Board of Directors on March 31, 2009. For fiscal year 2009, Dr. Henney and Dr. Behrens did not receive the annual grants for non-employee directors of 5,000 shares of Common Stock and the nonqualified option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to AVI’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. Both Dr. Henney and Dr. Behrens received a nonqualified option to purchase 60,000 shares of Common Stock upon joining the Board of Directors.

 

 

 

(3)

 

Dr. Fara decided not to stand for reelection in March 2009, and ceased to be a member of the Audit Committee when his term as a director expired on May 19, 2009.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Mr. Casey and Dr. Henney decided not to stand for reelection in March 2010.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Mr. Forrest resigned from the Board of Directors on April 20, 2010. Vesting of 5,000 options granted to Mr. Forrest that were to become vested on May 19, 2010 was accelerated upon his resignation and such options became fully vested on April 20, 2010. Vesting of 5000 shares of restricted stock granted to Mr. Forrest that were to become vested on May 19, 2010 was accelerated upon his resignation and such restricted stock became fully vested or April 20, 2010.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

As of December 31, 2009, the Compensation Committee was composed of three directors, namely, Mr. Casey, Mr. Forrest and Mr. Goolsbee.  Prior to his appointment as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Forrest served on the Company’s Compensation Committee.  On March 27, 2007, in connection with his appointment as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Forrest resigned as a member of the Compensation Committee and Mr. Casey was appointed as his replacement. On March 10, 2008, having completed his tenure as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Forrest was again appointed to the Compensation Committee. There were no employee directors on the Compensation Committee and no interlocks.

 

27



Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

Stock Owned by AVI BioPharma, Inc. Management and Principal Shareholders

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of AVI Common Stock as of April 26, 2010, with respect to: (i) each person known by AVI to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of AVI Common Stock, (ii) each of AVI’s directors, (iii) each of AVI’s named executive officers and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner

 

Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership (# of
Shares)(1)

 

Percent
of
Class(1)

 

Officers and Directors

 

 

 

 

 

J. David Boyle II(2)

 

281,949

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D.(3)

 

546,037

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Medeiros (4)

 

133,334

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen B. Shrewsbury, M.D.(5)

 

210,000

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony Chase(6)

 

309,312

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

John C. Hodgman(7)

 

93,334

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

Gil Price, M.D.(8)

 

128,482

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

Michael D. Casey(9)

 

73,000

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

William A. Goolsbee(10)

 

51,500

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D., D.Sc.(11)

 

15,000

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

M. Kathleen Behrens, Ph.D.(12)

 

15,000

 

*

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.
3450 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 101
Bothell, WA 98021

 

 

 

 

 

All directors and officers as a group (13 persons)(13)

 

1,856,948

 

1.7

%

5% Shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

George W. Haywood(14)

 

9,804,799

 

8.9

%

c/o Moomjian, Waite, Wactlar & Coleman, LLP
100 Jericho Quadrangle, Suite 225
Jericho, New York 11753

 

 

 

 

 

Eastbourne Capital Management, L.L.C.(15)

 

9,795,542

 

8.9

%

1101 Fifth Avenue, Suite 370
San Rafael, CA 94901

 

 

 

 

 

 


*              Less than one percent

 

(1)           Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of Common Stock subject to options and warrants currently exercisable or convertible, or exercisable or convertible within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010, are deemed beneficially owned and outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such securities, but are not considered outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.

 

28



 

(2)           Includes 216,667 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(3)           Includes 450,734 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(4)           Includes 133,334 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(5)           Includes 150,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(6)           Includes 140,000 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(7)           Includes 88,334 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(8)           Includes 41,500 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(9)           Includes 68,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(10)         Includes 41,500 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(11)         Includes 15,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(12)         Includes 15,000 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(13)         Includes (i) an aggregate of 1,220,069 shares subject to options exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010 and (ii) 140,000 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010.

 

(14)         Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13D filed on March 26, 2010 by George W. Haywood, which reported (i) sole voting and dispositive power as to 8,804,799 shares, which amount includes 1,475,673 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010, and (ii) shared voting and dispositive power as to 1,000,000 shares held by Mr. Haywood’s spouse.

 

(15)         Eastbourne Capital Management, L.L.C. (“Eastbourne”) is an investment adviser with voting and dispositive power for shares held by its clients, which include Black Bear Offshore Master Fund, L.P., Black Bear Fund I, L.P., Black Bear Fund II, L.L.C., and Horse Eye Level Partners, L.P., and thus is deemed to beneficially own shares held by its clients. By virtue of its control of Black Bear Offshore Master Fund, L.P., Black Bear Fund I, L.P., Black Bear Fund II, L.L.C., and Horse Eye Level Partners, L.P., Eastbourne is deemed to share beneficial ownership of (and voting and dispositive power with respect to) the shares of Stock beneficially owned by such entities.  The amount stated above for Eastbourne includes (i) 2,859,140 shares held by Black Bear Offshore Master Fund, L.P., which amount includes 1,977,329 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010, (ii) 2,957,955 shares held by Black Bear Fund I, L.P., which amount includes 2,042,107 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010, (iii) 2,856,098 shares held by Black Bear Fund II, LLC, which amount includes 1,970,284 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010, and (iv) 1,122,349 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 26, 2010 held by Horse Eye Level Partners, L.P.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table summarizes information, as of December 31, 2009, with respect to shares of our common stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans.

 

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 under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

8,932,811

 

$

2.79

 

681,955

(1)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

-0-

 

 

-0-

 

Total

 

8,932,811

 

$

2.79

 

681,955

 

 

29



 


(1)           The number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans includes shares from the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”). The number of shares reserved for issuance is increased by an automatic annual share increase pursuant to which the number of shares available for issuance under the 2002 Plan automatically increases on the first trading day of each fiscal year (the “First Trading Day”), beginning with the 2003 fiscal year and continuing through the fiscal year 2011, by an amount equal to two percent (2%) of the total number of shares outstanding on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal year; such increases being subject to the limitation in the next sentence. The 2002 Plan provides that, following any such adjustment, the number of then outstanding options under the Company’s stock option plans and stock purchase plans, together with options in the reserve then available for future grants under the Company’s stock option plans, will not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the then outstanding voting shares of capital stock of the Company, and all the actually outstanding stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, together with all shares in the reserve then available for future grants under the Company’s stock option and stock purchase plans. This automatic share increase feature is designed to assure that a sufficient reserve of Common Stock remains available for the duration of the 2002 Plan to attract and retain the services of key individuals essential to the Company’s long-term growth and success. This feature is also designed to eliminate the uncertainty inherent in seeking an individual increase to the reserve each year as to what number of shares will be available in the reserve for option grants. Creating a certain rate of growth under the 2002 Plan assists the Company as it makes strategic personnel decisions in an effort to expand its growth, as the Company will know the approximate number of shares that will become available for issuance under the 2002 Plan. At the same time, the Company has attempted to minimize the dilutive effect that the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of options can have on stockholders’ percentage of ownership in the Company by adopting only a 2% growth rate for the 2002 Plan. This rate, while it provides room for growth in the 2002 Plan, is a rate which the Company believes it can reasonably sustain, minimizing the risk to stockholders that the option reserve grows faster than the Company itself. The twenty percent (20%) limitation discussed above further protects shareholders by capping the size of the 2002 Plan in relation to the Company’s other securities.

 

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

The Company is not aware of any related party transactions that would require disclosure.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board of Directors has determined that all directors other than Dr. Hudson, namely, Mr. Casey, Mr. Forrest, Mr. Hodgman, Mr. Goolsbee, Dr. Price, Dr. Behrens, and Dr. Henney, are “independent,” as defined under applicable listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market.  Former director Dr. Fara, who served as a member of the Board and as a member of certain committees of the Board during a portion of 2009, was likewise “independent,” as defined under applicable listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market.  All directors serving on the Company’s Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are “independent,” as defined under applicable listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Audit and Other Fees

 

KPMG LLP has been the Company’s auditors since 2002. During fiscal years 2009 and 2008, the fees for audit and other services performed by KPMG LLP for the Company were as follows:

 

 

 

Amount and Percentage of Fees

 

Nature of Services

 

2009

 

2008

 

Audit Fees

 

$

302,000 (76

%)

$

333,368 (100

%)

Audit Related Fees

 

$

94,800 (24

%)(1)

$

 

Tax Fees

 

$

 

$

 

All Other Fees

 

$

 

$

 

Total

 

$

396,800 (100

%)

$

333,368 (100

%)

 


(1)          Includes $78,800 paid in connection with the issuance of comfort letters and $16,000 paid in connection with an audit of the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

30



 

Responsibilities and Duties of the Audit Committee.  The Company’s management is responsible for preparing the Company’s financial statements and the independent auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the conduct of these activities by the Company’s management and the independent auditors. The financial management and the independent auditors of the Company have more time, knowledge and more detailed information on the Company than do Committee members. Consequently, in carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the Committee does not provide any expert or special assurance as to the Company’s financial statements or any professional certification as to the independent auditors’ work.

 

As further described in the Charter, the specific duties of the Audit Committee include the following:

 

·      Select, retain (subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders, if required), and, when appropriate, terminate the engagement of the independent auditor and set the independent auditors’ compensation;

 

·      Select, retain (subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders, if required), and, when appropriate, terminate the engagement of financial consultants and set such consultants’ compensation;

 

·      Pre-approve all permitted non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors and/or financial consultants and establish policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent auditors and/or financial consultants to provide permitted non-audit services;

 

·      Periodically discuss and review with the independent auditors’ their independence from management and the Company and the matters included in the written disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board, including whether the provision by the independent auditors of permitted non-audit services is compatible with independence and obtain and review a report from the independent auditors describing all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company;

 

·      Receive and review: (a) a report by the independent auditors describing the independent auditors’ internal quality-control procedures and any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the independent auditors, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (b) other required reports from the independent auditors;

 

·      Meet with management and the independent auditors and/or financial consultants prior to commencement of the annual audits and internal controls analysis and testing to review and discuss the planned scope and objectives of the audit and/or such analysis and testing;

 

·      Meet with the independent auditors, with and without management present, after completion of the annual audit to review and discuss the results of the examinations of the independent auditors and appropriate analyses of the financial statements;

 

·      Meet with the financial consultants, with management present, after completion of the analysis and testing of the Company’s internal controls by the financial consultants to review and discuss the results of such analysis and testing;

 

·      Review and discuss (a) the reports of the independent auditors, with and without management present, as to the state of the Company’s financial reporting systems and procedures, the adequacy of internal accounting and financial controls, the integrity and competency of the financial and accounting staff, disclosure controls and procedures, other aspects of the financial management of the Company and (b) current accounting trends and developments, and (c) take such action with respect thereto as may be deemed appropriate;

 

·      Review the interim financial statements with management and the independent auditors prior to the filing of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and discuss the results of the quarterly reviews and any other matters required to be communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors under generally accepted auditing standards;

 

·      Review and discuss with management and the independent auditors the financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (or the annual report to stockholders if distributed prior to the filing of Form 10-K), including the judgment of the independent auditors about the quality, not just acceptability, of accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of the disclosures in the financial statements;

 

·      Recommend to the Board of Directors, based upon the Committee’s review, whether the financial statements should be included in the annual report on Form 10-K;

 

·      Review press releases, as well as Company policies with respect to earnings press releases, financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies and review such releases, information and guidance for compliance with regulations governing the use of non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles financial measures and related disclosure requirements;

 

31



 

·      Discuss Company policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and review contingent liabilities and risks that may be material to the Company and major legislative and regulatory developments that could materially impact the Company’s contingent liabilities and risks;

 

·      Review (a) the status of compliance with laws, regulations, and internal procedures, including, without limitation, the Company’s policies on ethical business practices; and (b) the scope and status of systems designed to promote Company compliance with laws, regulations and internal procedures, through receiving reports from management, legal counsel and third parties as determined by the Committee and report on the same to the Board of Directors;

 

·      Establish procedures for the confidential and anonymous receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding the Company’s accounting, internal controls, auditing matters and compliance with the Company’s ethical business policies;

 

·      Establish policies for the hiring of employees and former employees of the independent auditor;

 

·      Prepare a report of the Committee each year for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules;

 

·      Review and assess the adequacy of this Charter annually with the Board of Directors as a whole and report to the Board of Directors any significant matters as they occur during the year; and

 

·      Conduct such other duties and undertake such other tasks as may be appropriate to the overall purposes for the Committee and as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors consistent with such purposes

 

PART IV

 

Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)  The following documents are filed as part of this Report:

 

(1) Financial Statements

 

The following financial statements of the Company and the Report of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors, are included in Part IV of this Report on the pages indicated:

 

Report of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F-1

Report of Arthur Andersen, Independent Auditors

F-2

Balance Sheets

F-3

Statements of Operations

F-4

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

F-5

Statements of Cash Flows

F-6

Notes to Financial Statements

F-7

 

(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

(3) Exhibits

 

The following exhibits are filed herewith and this list is intended to constitute the exhibit index:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement dated November 14, 2005. (15)

1.2

 

Placement Agency Agreement between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., and Maxim Group, LLC, dated December 12, 2007. (22)

1.3

 

Engagement Letter dated January 28, 2009 between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Rodman & Renshaw, LLC. (41)

2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 12, 2008 by and among AVI BioPharma, Inc., EB Acquisition Corp., Ercole Biotech, Inc. and the Stockholder Representative. (35)

3.1

 

Third Restated Articles of Incorporation of AntiVirals Inc. (1)

3.2

 

First Restated Bylaws of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (28)

3.3

 

First Amendment to Third Restated Articles of Incorporation. (4)

 

32



 

3.4

 

Amendment to Article 2 of the Company Third Restated Articles of Incorporation. (11)

3.5

 

First Amendment to First Restated Bylaws of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (53)

4.1

 

Form of Specimen Certificate for Common Stock. (1)

4.2

 

Warrant to purchase 485,290 shares of the Company’s common stock dated November 14, 2005. (16)

4.3

 

Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, issued in connection with the Placement Agency Agreement dated December 12, 2007. (23)

4.4

 

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant. (42)

4.5

 

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant. (51)

10.1†

 

1992 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended through May 11, 2000). (1)

10.2†

 

Employment Agreement with Denis R. Burger, Ph.D. dated November 4, 1996. (1)

10.3†

 

Employment Agreement with Alan P. Timmins dated November 4, 1996. (1)

10.4†

 

Employment Agreement with Dwight Weller, Ph.D. dated November 4, 1996. (1)

10.5

 

Technology Transfer Agreement between Anti-Gene Development Group and AntiVirals Inc., dated February 9, 1992. (1)

10.6

 

Amendment to Technology Transfer Agreement between Anti-Gene Development Group and AntiVirals Inc. dated January 20, 1996. (1)

10.7

 

License and Option Agreement between Anti-Gene Development Group and AntiVirals Inc., dated February 9, 1993. (1)

10.8

 

Commercial Lease between Research Way Investments, Landlord, and AntiVirals Inc., Tenant, dated June 15, 1992. (1)

10.9

 

Lease between Benjamin Franklin Plaza, Inc., Landlord, and AntiVirals Inc., Tenant, dated June 17, 1992. (1)

10.10

 

First Amendment to Lease between Benjamin Franklin Plaza, Inc., Landlord, and AntiVirals Inc., Tenant, dated July 24, 1995. (1)

10.11†

 

Employment Agreement with Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D. dated July 14, 1997. (2)

10.12†

 

ImmunoTherapy Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan. (3)

10.13

 

License Agreement between ImmunoTherapy Corporation and Ohio State University, dated March 12, 1996. (3)

10.14

 

License Agreement between ImmunoTherapy Corporation and Ohio State University, dated December 26, 1996. (3)

10.15

 

Amendment to License Agreement between ImmunoTherapy Corporation and Ohio State University, dated September 23, 1997. (3)

10.16

 

Purchase Agreement, dated December 15, 1999, by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and certain Investors. (5)

10.17

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 15, 1999, by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and certain Investors. (5)

10.18

 

Purchase Agreement, dated December 16, 1999, by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and certain Investors. (5)

10.19

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 16, 1999, by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and certain Investors. (5)

10.20

 

Subscription Agreement, dated December 1, 1999, by and between SuperGen, Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (5)

10.21

 

2000 Amendment to Technology Transfer Agreement between Anti-Gene Development Group and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (6)

10.22

 

United States of America Sales, Distribution, and Development Agreement, dated April 4, 2000, between SuperGen, Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (7)

10.23

 

Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated April 4, 2000, between SuperGen, Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (7)

10.24

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 14, 2000, between SuperGen, Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (7)

10.25†

 

2000 Employee Share Purchase Plan. (8)

10.26†

 

Employment Agreement with Mark M. Webber dated May 11, 2000. (9)

10.27

 

Lease Agreement with Spieker Partners, LP dated May 8, 2001. (9)

10.28*

 

Investment Agreement dated May 22, 2001 between the Company and Medtronic Asset Management, Inc. (9)

10.29

 

Warrant dated June 20, 2001 issued to Medtronic Asset Management, Inc. (9)

10.30

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated June 20, 2001 between the Company and Medtronic Asset Management, Inc. (9)

10.31*

 

License and Development Agreement dated June 20, 2001 between the Company and Medtronic, Inc. (9)

10.32*

 

Supply Agreement dated June 20, 2001 between the Company and Medtronic, Inc. (9)

10.33

 

Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 25, 2002 between the Company and certain purchasers (“2002 SPA”). (10)

10.34

 

Form of Warrant issued by the Company to certain purchasers under the 2002 SPA. (10)

10.35

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated March 25, 2002 between the Company and certain purchasers. (10)

10.36†

 

2002 Equity Incentive Plan. (11)

10.37

 

Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 19, 2005 between the Company and certain purchasers (“2005 SPA”). (12)

10.38

 

Form of Purchase Warrant issued by the Company to certain purchasers under the 2005 SPA. (12)

10.39†

 

Amendment to employment agreement of Denis R. Burger, Ph.D. (14)

10.40†

 

Amendment to employment agreement of Alan P. Timmins. (14)

 

33



 

10.41†

 

Amendment to employment agreement of Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D. (14)

10.42†

 

Amendment to employment agreement of Dwight D. Weller, Ph.D. (14)

10.43†

 

Amendment to employment agreement of Peter D. O’Hanley, M.D., Ph.D. (14)

10.44†

 

Amendment to employment agreement of Mark M. Webber. (14)

10.45

 

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 14, 2005 between the Company and certain purchasers. (16)

10.46*

 

Supply Agreement, dated March 10, 2006, by and between Cook Group Incorporated and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (17)

10.47*

 

License and Development Agreement, dated March 10, 2006, by and between Cook Group Incorporated and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (17)

10.48*

 

Investment Agreement, dated March 10, 2006, by and between Cook Group Incorporated and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (17)

10.49*

 

License Agreement dated January 26, 2006 by and between with Chiron Corporation and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (18)

10.50

 

Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 26, 2006 by and between with Chiron Corporation and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (18)

10.51

 

Second Lease Extension and Modification Agreement dated January 24, 2006 by and between Research Way Investments and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (19)

10.52*

 

Collaboration and License Agreement, dated December 19, 2006, by and between Ercole Biotech, Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (20)

10.53

 

Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated December 19, 2006, by and between Ercole Biotech, Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (21)

10.54*

 

Cross License Agreement dated January 8, 2007 by and between Eleos, Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (24)

10.55

 

Separation and Release Agreement dated March 27, 2007 by and between Denis R. Burger, Ph.D. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (25)

10.56*

 

Second License and Collaboration Agreement dated May 1, 2007 by and between Ercole Biotech. Inc. and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (26)

10.57

 

Real Property Purchase Agreement, dated April 19, 2007, by and between WKL Investments Airport, LLC and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (27)

10.58*

 

Sponsored Research Agreement between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Charley’s Fund, Inc., effective October 12, 2007. (29)

10.59

 

Shareholder’s Trust Agreement between and among AVI BioPharma, Inc., AVI Shareholder Advocacy Trust, The Shareholder Advocate LLC, and Richard Macary, dated October 29, 2007. (30)

10.60†

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Alan P. Timmins and AVI BioPharma, Inc., dated October 26, 2007. (31)

10.61

 

Professional Services Agreement between James B. Hicks Ph.D., LLC and AVI BioPharma, Inc., dated October 26, 2007. (32)

10.62

 

Letter Agreement executed by George Haywood, dated October 29, 2007. (33)

10.63†

 

Employment Agreement dated February 8, 2008 by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Leslie Hudson, Ph.D. (34)

10.64

 

Ercole Biotech, Inc. Convertible Promissory Note dated March 12, 2008. (36)

10.65†

 

Employment Agreement dated April 10, 2008 by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Dr. Ryszard Kole. (37)

10.66*†

 

Employment Agreement dated July 24, 2008 by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and J. David Boyle II. (38)

10.67*†

 

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2008 by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and J. David Boyle II. (39)

10.68†

 

Severance and Release Agreement effective October 27, 2008 by and between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Peter O’Hanley. (40)

10.69†

 

Employment Agreement dated January 26, 2009 between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Stephen Bevan Shrewsbury, M.D. (43)

10.70

 

Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 29, 2009 between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and the Purchasers. (44)

10.71†

 

Letter Agreement Regarding Board of Director Representation between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Eastbourne Capital Management, LLC. (45)

10.72

 

Agreement between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency dated May 5, 2009. (46)

10.73*†

 

Employment Agreement dated May 19, 2009 between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Paul Medeiros. (47)

10.74

 

Agreement between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency dated May 28, 2009. (48)

10.75*

 

First Amendment to Sponsored Research Agreement between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Charley’s Fund, Inc. dated June 2, 2009. (49)

10.76

 

Lease dated July 24, 2009 by and between BMR-3450 Monte Villa Parkway, LLC and AVI BioPharma, Inc. (50)

10.77

 

Amendment of Contract between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (contract no HDTRA 1-07-C0010), effective September 30, 2009. (52)

10.78*

 

Collaboration and License Agreement between Isis Pharmaceuticals and Ercole Biotech, Inc. dated May 16, 2003 (filed with Form 10-K on March 16, 2010)

10.79

 

Settlement Agreement dated April 20, 2010 among AVI BioPharma, Inc. and the Shareholder Group (54)

 

34



 

10.80

 

Separation Agreement dated April 20, 2010 between AVI BioPharma, Inc. and Leslie Hudson, Ph.D. (55)

14.1

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. (13)

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant. (filed with Form 10-K on March 16, 2010)

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. (filed with Form 10-K on March 16, 2010)

31.1

 

Certification of the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, J. David Boyle II, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

 

Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 


(1)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 1997 (Commission Registration No. 333-20513).

 

 

(2)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1998.

 

 

(3)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 1998 (Commission Registration No. 333-60849).

 

 

(4)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 1998 (Commission Registration No. 000-22613).

 

 

(5)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 1999 (Commission Registration No. 333-93135).

 

 

(6)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2000 (Commission Registration No. 333-39542).

 

 

(7)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Registrations Statement on Form S-3, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 15, 2000 (Commission Registration No. 333-45888).

 

 

(8)

Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Form 14-A, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2000.

 

 

(9)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2001, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2001, as amended on April 23, 2002.

 

 

(10)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2002.

 

 

(11)

Incorporated by reference to appendixes to Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14-A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2002.

 

 

(12)

Incorporated by reference to registrants current report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 20, 2005.

 

 

(13)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2004.

 

 

(14)

Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2005.

 

 

(15)

Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 2005.

 

 

(16)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2006.

 

 

(17)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Registrations Statement on Form S-3, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2006 (Commission Registration No. 333-133211).

 

35



 

(18)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2006.

 

 

(19)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibits to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2006.

 

 

(20)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2007.

 

 

(21)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2007.

 

 

(22)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.01 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 2007.

 

 

(23)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 2007.

 

 

(24)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2007.

 

 

(25)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2007.

 

 

(26)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.60 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2007.

 

 

(27)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2007.

 

 

(28)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2008.

 

 

(29)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2008.

 

 

(30)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2008.

 

 

(31)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.60 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2008.

 

 

(32)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2008.

 

 

(33)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2008.

(34)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.63 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2008.

 

 

(35)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2008.

 

 

(36)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2008.

 

 

(37)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.64 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2008.

 

36



 

(38)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.65 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2008.

 

 

(39)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.66 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2008.

 

 

(40)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2009.

 

 

(41)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2009.

 

 

(42)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2009.

 

 

(43)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.71 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2009.

 

 

(44)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2009.

 

 

(45)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2009.

 

 

(46)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.72 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2009.

 

 

(47)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.73 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2009.

 

 

(48)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.74 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2009.

 

 

(49)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.75 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2009.

 

 

(50)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.76 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2009.

 

 

(51)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 2009.

 

 

(52)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.77 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2009.

 

 

(53)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2010.

 

 

(54)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2010.

 

 

(55)

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2010.

 

(b)  Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed under Item 15(a)(3) hereof are filed as part of this Form 10-K/A other than Exhibit 32.1, which shall be deemed furnished.

 

37



 

(c)  Financial Statement Schedules.

 

All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

 


* A Confidential Treatment Request for certain information in this document has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information for which treatment has been sought has been deleted from such exhibit and the deleted text replaced by an asterisk (*).

 

† Indicates management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

 

38



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated:

April 28, 2010

AVI BIOPHARMA, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. David Boyle II

 

 

J. David Boyle II

 

 

Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, Senior Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in their capacities indicated on April 28, 2010:

 

Signature

 

Title

 

 

 

 /s/ J. DAVID BOYLE II

 

Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, Senior Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer

J. David Boyle II

 

(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

/s/ MICHAEL D. CASEY

 

Chairman of the Board

Michael D. Casey

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ M. KATHLEEN BEHRENS, Ph.D.

 

Director

M. Kathleen Behrens, Ph.D.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ WILLIAM A. GOOLSBEE

 

Director

William A. Goolsbee

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ CHRISTOPHER S. HENNEY, Ph.D., D.Sc.

 

Director

Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D., D.Sc.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ JOHN C. HODGMAN

 

Director

John C. Hodgman

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ GIL PRICE, M.D.

 

Director

Gil Price, M.D.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ ANTHONY CHASE

 

Director

Anthony Chase

 

 

 

39


 


 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

AVI BioPharma, Inc:

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009 and the information included in the cumulative from inception presentations for the period January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2009 (not separately presented herein). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. The financial statements of AVI BioPharma, Inc. for the period July 22, 1980 (inception) to December 31, 2001 were audited by other auditors who have ceased operations. Those auditors expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements in their report dated February 21, 2002.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009 and the information included in the cumulative from inception presentations for the period January I, 2002 to December 31, 2009 (not separately presented herein), in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of AVI BioPharma, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report, dated March 16, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon

 

March 16, 2010

 

 

 

F-1



 

THIS REPORT IS A CONFORMED COPY OF THE REPORT PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BY ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AND HAS NOT BEEN REISSUED BY THAT FIRM.

 

Report of Independent Public Accountants

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of AVI BioPharma, Inc. (an Oregon corporation in the development stage) as of December 31, 2001, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2001 and for the period from inception (July 22, 1980) to December 31, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AVI BioPharma, Inc. as of December 31, 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2001 and for the period from inception (July 22, 1980) to December 31, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon

 

February 21, 2002

 

 

F-2



 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

(A Development Stage Company)

Balance Sheets

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

 48,275

 

$

 11,192

 

Short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

171

 

282

 

Accounts receivable

 

2,085

 

4,971

 

Other current assets

 

779

 

599

 

Total Current Assets

 

51,310

 

17,044

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property held for sale

 

2,372

 

 

Property and Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $14,026 and $12,919

 

2,466

 

5,189

 

Patent Costs, net of accumulated amortization of $1,762 and $1,927

 

3,759

 

3,268

 

Other assets

 

120

 

35

 

Total Assets

 

$

 60,027

 

$

 25,536

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

 1,381

 

$

 2,014

 

Accrued employee compensation

 

922

 

1,306

 

Long-term debt, current portion

 

77

 

74

 

Warrant valuation

 

27,609

 

1,254

 

Deferred revenue

 

3,428

 

2,190

 

Other liabilities

 

90

 

450

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

33,507

 

7,288

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, non-current portion

 

1,924

 

2,001

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

966

 

515

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock, $.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 110,495,587 and 71,101,738 issued and outstanding

 

11

 

7

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

299,088

 

266,035

 

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

 

(275,469

)

(250,310

)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

23,630

 

15,732

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

60,027

 

$

25,536

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-3



 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

(A Development Stage Company)

Statements of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 22, 1980

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

(Inception) through

 

(in thousands)

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from license fees, grants and research contracts

 

$

17,585

 

$

21,258

 

$

10,985

 

$

59,809

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

24,396

 

27,331

 

31,058

 

230,432

 

General and administrative

 

8,696

 

11,469

 

13,035

 

74,020

 

Acquired in-process research and development

 

 

9,916

 

 

29,461

 

Operating loss

 

(15,507

)

(27,458

)

(33,108

)

(274,104

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-operating (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest (expense) income and other, net

 

(454

)

344

 

984

 

8,323

 

(Increase) decrease on warrant valuation

 

(9,198

)

3,161

 

4,956

 

3,450

 

Realized gain on sale of short-term securities— available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

3,863

 

Write-down of short-term securities — available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

(17,001

)

 

 

(9,652

)

3,505

 

5,940

 

(1,365

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(25,159

)

$

(23,953

)

$

(27,168

)

$

(275,469

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.27

)

$

(0.34

)

$

(0.50

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing basic and diluted loss per share

 

93,090

 

69,491

 

53,942

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-4



 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

(A Development Stage Company)

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

Deficit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

Comprehensive

 

During the

 

Total

 

 

 

Partnership

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-In

 

Income

 

Development

 

Shareholders’

 

(in thousands)

 

Units

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

(Loss)

 

Stage

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE AT JULY 22, 1980 (Inception)

 

 

 

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

Issuance of partnership units, warrants and common stock

 

3,615

 

8,273

 

1

 

33,733

 

 

 

33,734

 

Compensation expense related to issuance of warrants for common stock and partnership units

 

 

 

 

537

 

 

 

537

 

Exercise of warrants for partnership units and common stock

 

42

 

2,236

 

 

4,152

 

 

 

4,152

 

Exercise of options for common stock

 

 

990

 

 

4,005

 

 

 

4,005

 

Issuance of common stock for ESPP

 

 

252

 

 

810

 

 

 

810

 

Issuance of common stock and warrants for cash and securities, net of offering costs

 

 

37,185

 

4

 

162,348

 

 

 

162,352

 

Issuance of common stock and warrants for the acquisition of ImmunoTherapy Corporation

 

 

2,132

 

 

17,167

 

 

 

17,167

 

Issuance of common stock and warrants for services

 

 

536

 

 

2,469

 

 

 

2,469

 

Compensation expense related to issuance of options for common stock

 

 

 

 

6,842

 

 

 

6,842

 

Conversion of debt into common stock and partnership units

 

9

 

10

 

 

88

 

 

 

88

 

Issuance of common stock in exchange for partnership units

 

(1,810

)

1,633

 

 

(0

)

 

 

 

Withdrawal of partnership net assets upon conveyance of technology

 

(1,856

)

 

 

(177

)

 

 

(177

)

Common stock subject to rescission, net

 

 

(64

)

 

(289

)

 

 

(289

)

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write-down of short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

17,001

 

 

17,001

 

Realized gain on sale of short-term securities— available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

(3,766

)

 

(3,766

)

Unrealized loss on short-term securities— available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

(13,217

)

 

(13,217

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

(199,189

)

(199,189

)

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(199,171

)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2006

 

 

53,183

 

5

 

$

 231,685

 

$

 18

 

$

 (199,189

)

$

 32,519

 

Exercise of warrants for common stock

 

 

12

 

 

29

 

 

 

29

 

Exercise of options for common stock

 

 

39

 

 

90

 

 

 

90

 

Issuance of common stock for ESPP

 

 

518

 

 

1,450

 

 

 

1,450

 

Issuance of common stock to vendors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation expense related to issuance of options for common stock

 

 

 

 

313

 

 

 

313

 

Issuance of common stock for cash and securities, net of offering costs

 

 

10,697

 

1

 

14,447

 

 

 

14,448

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

4,719

 

 

 

4,719

 

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on short-term securities— available-for-sale, net

 

 

 

 

 

(18

)

 

(18

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,168

)

(27,168

)

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,186

)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2007

 

 

64,449

 

6

 

$

 252,733

 

$

 —

 

$

 (226,357

)

$

 26,382

 

Exercise of options for common stock

 

 

7

 

 

9

 

 

 

9

 

Issuance of common stock for ESPP

 

 

84

 

 

72

 

 

 

72

 

Issuance of common stock and warrants to vendors

 

 

324

 

 

828

 

 

 

828

 

Compensation expense to non-employees on issuance of options and warrants to purchase common stock

 

 

 

 

180

 

 

 

180

 

Compensation expense on issuance of restricted stock

 

 

100

 

 

166

 

 

 

166

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

326

 

 

3,656

 

 

 

3,656

 

Issuance of common stock for acquisition of Ercole

 

 

5,812

 

1

 

8,391

 

 

 

8,392

 

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on short-term securities— available-for-sale, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,953

)

(23,953

)

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,953

)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2008

 

 

71,102

 

7

 

$

 266,035

 

$

 —

 

$

 (250,310

)

$

 15,732

 

Exercise of options for common stock

 

 

62

 

 

76

 

 

 

76

 

Issuance of common stock for ESPP

 

 

124

 

 

85

 

 

 

85

 

Issuance of common stock for cash and securities, net of offering costs

 

 

38,520

 

4

 

30,518

 

 

 

30,522

 

Compensation expense on issuance of restricted stock

 

 

427

 

 

203

 

 

 

203

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

261

 

 

2,171

 

 

 

2,171

 

Comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on short-term securities— available-for-sale, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,159

)

(25,159

)

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,159

)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2009

 

 

110,496

 

11

 

$

 299,088

 

$

 —

 

$

 (275,469

)

$

 23,630

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-5



 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

(A Development Stage Company)

Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 22, 1980

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

(Inception) through

 

(in thousands)

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

December 31, 2009

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(25,159

)

$

(23,953

)

$

(27,168

)

$

(275,469

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,379

 

1,469

 

2,014

 

17,682

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

347

 

584

 

59

 

1,305

 

Realized gain on sale of short-term securities— available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

(3,863

)

Write-down of short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

17,001

 

Impairment charge on property held for sale

 

128

 

800

 

 

 

928

 

Stock-based compensation

 

2,374

 

4,830

 

5,732

 

22,697

 

Conversion of interest accrued to common stock

 

 

 

 

8

 

Acquired in-process research and development

 

 

9,916

 

 

29,461

 

Increase (decrease) on warrant valuation

 

9,198

 

(3,161

)

(4,956

)

(3,450

)

(Increase) decrease in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable and other assets

 

2,621

 

(1,850

)

(2,849

)

(2,900

)

Net increase in accounts payable, accrued employee compensation, and other liabilities

 

312

 

(975

)

2,491

 

5,274

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(8,800

)

(12,340

)

(24,677

)

(191,326

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(931

)

(369

)

(1,270

)

(17,869

)

Patent costs

 

(1,063

)

(848

)

(857

)

(7,243

)

Purchase of marketable securities

 

 

(11

)

(110

)

(112,986

)

Sale of marketable securities

 

111

 

 

12,813

 

117,724

 

Acquisition costs

 

 

(11

)

 

(2,389

)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

(1,883

)

(1,239

)

10,576

 

(22,763

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of common stock, warrants and partnership units, net of offering costs, and exercise of options and warrants

 

47,840

 

81

 

18,745

 

262,937

 

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(74

)

(113

)

 

(187

)

Buyback of common stock pursuant to rescission offering

 

 

 

 

(289

)

Withdrawal of partnership net assets

 

 

 

 

(177

)

Issuance of convertible debt

 

 

 

 

80

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

47,766

 

(32

)

18,745

 

262,364

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

37,083

 

(13,611

)

4,644

 

48,275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period

 

11,192

 

24,803

 

20,159

 

 

End of period

 

$

48,275

 

$

11,192

 

$

24,803

 

$

48,275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for interest

 

$

97

 

$

104

 

$

104

 

$

305

 

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term securities—available-for-sale received in connection with the private offering

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

17,897

 

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on short-term securities—available-for-sale

 

$

 

$

 

$

(18

)

$

 

Issuance of common stock and warrants in satisfaction of liabilities

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

545

 

Issuance of common stock for building purchase

 

$

 

$

 

$

750

 

$

750

 

Assumption of long-term debt for building purchase

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,200

 

$

2,200

 

Issuance of common stock for Ercole assets

 

$

 

$

8,075

 

$

 

$

8,075

 

Assumption of liabilities for Ercole assets

 

$

 

$

2,124

 

$

 

$

2,124

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-6


 


 

AVI BioPharma, Inc.

(A Development Stage Company)

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.  ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF BUSINESS:

 

AVI BioPharma, Inc. (the “Company” or “AVI”) was incorporated in the State of Oregon on July 22, 1980. The mission of the Company is to develop and commercialize improved therapeutic products based upon antisense and cancer immunotherapy technology.

 

Through May 1993, the financial statements included the combined accounts of the Company and ANTI-GENE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, a limited partnership (AGDG or the Partnership) founded in 1981 and registered in the State of Oregon. Substantially all income generated and proceeds from the Partnership unit sales through that date have been paid to the Company under the terms of research and development contracts entered into by the Partnership and the Company. Significant transactions between the Company and the Partnership through that date have been eliminated.

 

In March 1993, the Company offered to all partners in the Partnership the opportunity to exchange their partnership units or warrants to purchase partnership units (unit warrants) for common stock or warrants to purchase common stock. Under the terms of the offer, which was completed May 1, 1993, each partner could elect to exchange each unit held or unit warrant held for 1,100 shares of common stock or warrants to purchase 1,100 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively. Total shares and warrants to purchase shares issued in the exchange offer were 1,632,950 and 381,700, respectively.

 

Effective May 19, 1993, the Company and the Partnership entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement wherein the Partnership conveyed all intellectual property then within its control to the Company. As part of the conveyance, the Company tendered to the Partnership for liquidation all partnership units received pursuant to the exchange offer and received a 49.37 percent undivided interest in the intellectual property. The Company then purchased the remaining undivided interest in the intellectual property for rights to payments of 4.05 percent of gross revenues in excess of $200 million, from sales of products, which would, in the absence of the Technology Transfer Agreement, infringe a valid claim under any patent transferred to the Company. The Company also granted to the Partnership a royalty-bearing license to make, use and sell small quantities of product derived from the intellectual property for research purposes only.

 

In March 2000, the Company and AGDG amended the Technology Transfer Agreement to give to AGDG and Gene Tools LLC, related organizations, exclusive, non royalty-bearing rights to in vitro diagnostic applications of the intellectual property. In consideration for this amendment, Gene Tools paid the Company $1 million and reduced the royalty that the Company would pay to AGDG under the Technology Transfer Agreement on future sales of therapeutic products from 4.05% to 3.00%.

 

The remaining net assets of the Partnership, $177,000 of cash, were no longer combined with those of the Company in May 1993. Under the terms of the Technology Transfer Agreement, the Partnership ceased active sales of partnership units and income generating activities and no longer will enter into research and development contracts with the Company. The Partnership currently exists primarily for the purpose of collecting potential future payments from the Company as called for in the Technology Transfer Agreement.

 

Acquisition of Ercole

 

On March 20, 2008, the Company acquired all of the stock of Ercole Biotechnology, Inc. (“Ercole”) in exchange for 5,811,721 shares of AVI common stock. The transaction included the assumption of approximately $1.8 million in liabilities of Ercole. The AVI common stock was valued at approximately $8.4 million. AVI also issued warrants to purchase AVI stock to settle certain outstanding warrants held in Ercole, which were valued at $437,000. These warrants are classified as equity. The acquisition was aimed at consolidating AVI’s position in directed alternative RNA splicing therapeutics. Ercole and the Company had been collaborating since 2006 to develop drug candidates, including AVI-4658, currently in clinical testing in the United Kingdom for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Ercole has other ongoing discovery research programs.

 

The total estimated purchase price of $10.2 million has been allocated as follows:

 

Accounts Receivable

 

$

76,000

 

Prepaid Expenses

 

$

7,000

 

Fixed Assets

 

$

10,000

 

Patents

 

$

190,000

 

Acquired In-Process Research and Development

 

$

9,916,000

 

 

F-7



 

The pending patents acquired as part of the Ercole acquisition have an expected expiration date of 2026. Acquired in-process research and development consists of other discovery research programs in areas including beta thalassemia and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor. As these programs were in development at the time of acquisition, there were significant risks associated with completing these projects, and there were no alternative future uses for these projects, the associated value has been considered acquired in-process research and development.

 

Ercole has been a development stage company since inception and does not have a product for sale. The Company has retained a limited number of Ercole employees and plans on incorporating in-process technology of Ercole into the Company’s processes. The acquisition of Ercole did not meet the definition of a business and it is therefore being accounted for as an asset acquisition.

 

2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

 

Basis of Accounting

 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles as outlined in the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the valuation of investments and liability classified warrants, long-lived asset impairment, and revenue recognition.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. These changes did not have a significant impact on Company’s net loss, assets, liabilities, shareholders’ equity or cash flows.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

 

Short-Term Securities—Available-For-Sale

 

Short-term securities include certificates of deposit, commercial paper and other highly liquid investments with original maturities in excess of 90 days at the time of purchase and less than one year from the balance sheet date. The Company classifies its investment securities as available-for-sale and, accordingly, such investment securities are stated on the balance sheet at their fair market value with unrealized gains (losses) recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss).  There were no unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s investments in marketable securities on its balance sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are stated at invoiced amount and do not bear interest as they are due within twelve months. Because a majority of accounts receivable are from the U.S. government and historically no amounts have been written off, an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable is not considered necessary. Amounts included in accounts receivable are as follows:

 

As of December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Research contract

 

$

2,085

 

$

4,971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

2,085

 

$

4,971

 

 

F-8



 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally five years, using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset, generally five years, using the straight-line method. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Expenditures that increase the useful life or value are capitalized.

 

Amounts included in property held for sale:

 

As of December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Property held for sale

 

$

2,372

 

$

 

 

The Company has listed for sale an industrial property located in Corvallis Oregon for a sales price of $2.5 million. Selling and closing expenses are estimated to be $0.1 million.  The Company has decided to outsource its large scale manufacturing activities and has listed this property for sale with a commercial real estate agent.

 

Amounts included in property and equipment are as follows:

 

As of December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Building

 

$

 

$

2,500

 

Lab equipment

 

5,933

 

5,676

 

Office equipment

 

970

 

741

 

Leasehold improvements

 

9,589

 

9,191

 

 

 

16,492

 

18,108

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

(14,026

)

(12,919

)

Property and equipment, net

 

$

2,466

 

$

5,189

 

 

Depreciation expense was $1,154,000, $1,212,000 and $1,718,000 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Patent Costs

 

Patent costs consist primarily of legal and filing fees incurred to file patents on proprietary technology developed by the Company. Patent costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated economic lives or the legal lives of the patents, generally 20 years. Patent amortization was $225,000, $257,000 and $296,000 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  The Company also expensed the remaining net book value of previously capitalized patents that were later abandoned of $347,000, $580,000 and $0, for 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively. The Company expects to incur amortization expense of approximately $146,000 per year over the following five fiscal years.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company records revenue from research contracts and grants as the services are performed and payment is reasonably assured. In 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $17,585,000, $21,258,000 and $10,985,000, respectively, in research contracts revenues from government funding for work performed on viral disease projects and other grants and contracts.  Revenue associated with research and development arrangements is recognized under the proportional performance method, using the payment received method. To date, revenue from research and development arrangements has not been material.

 

Research and Development
 

Research and development (R&D) expenses include related salaries, contractor fees, materials, utilities and allocations of corporate costs. R&D expenses also consist of independent R&D costs and costs associated with collaborative development arrangements. In addition, the Company funds R&D at other companies and research institutions under agreements. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

 

F-9



 

Other Current Assets

 

Amounts included in other current assets are as follows:

 

As of December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses

 

$

337

 

$

316

 

Prepaid rents

 

158

 

 

Restricted cash

 

284

 

283

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current assets

 

$

779

 

$

599

 

 

Starting in April 2006, the Company was required to pledge $150,000 as collateral for company credit cards issued to certain employees. Starting in April 2007, the Company was required to pledge $125,000 as collateral for payments on long-term debt. The Company classifies these amounts as restricted cash. As of December 31, 2009, restricted cash including accrued interest was $284,000. The remaining components of other current assets include normally occurring prepaid expenses and rents.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

The Company issues stock-based compensation to certain employees, officers and directors.  These principles require companies to account for stock options using the fair value method, which results in the recognition of compensation expense over the vesting period of the options.  See Note 3.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered and settled. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the net deferred tax asset to zero because it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained upon an examination.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company measures at fair value certain financial assets and liabilities. Generally accepted accounting principles specify a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair-value hierarchy:

 

Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

 

Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

 

Level 3—Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

The Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following as of December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2009

 

(in thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Short-term securities-available- for-sale and restricted cash

 

$

48,730

 

$

48,275

 

$

455

 

$

 

Total

 

$

48,730

 

$

48,275

 

$

455

 

$

 

 

F-10



 

The Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following as of the date indicated:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2009

 

(in thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Warrants

 

$

27,609

 

$

 

$

 

$

27,609

 

Total

 

$

27,609

 

$

 

$

 

$

27,609

 

 

The Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following as of December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2008

 

(in thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Short-term securities-available-for-sale and restricted cash

 

$

11,757

 

$

11,192

 

$

565

 

$

 

Total

 

$

11,757

 

$

11,192

 

$

565

 

$

 

 

The Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following as of the date indicated:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2008

 

(in thousands)

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Warrants

 

$

1,254

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,254

 

Total

 

$

1,254

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,254

 

 

A reconciliation of the change in value of the Company’s warrants for the year ended December 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements
Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs

 

(in thousands)

 

(Level 3)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2009

 

$

1,254

 

Change in value of warrants

 

9,198

 

Issuances

 

17,157

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

$

27,609

 

 

A reconciliation of the change in value of the Company’s warrants for the year ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements
Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs

 

(in thousands)

 

(Level 3)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2008

 

$

4,415

 

Change in value of warrants

 

(3,161

)

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2008

 

$

1,254

 

 

The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other current monetary assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.

 

F-11



 

Warrants

 

Certain of the Company’s warrants issued in connection with financing arrangements are classified as liabilities in accordance with the generally accepted accounting pronouncements, whereby, the fair market value of these warrants is recorded on the balance sheet at issuance and marked to market at each financial reporting period. The change in the fair value of the warrants is recorded in the Statement of Operations as a non-cash gain (loss) and is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

0.2%-2.69

%

0.3%-3.0

%

3.1%-3.5

%

Expected dividend yield

 

0

%

0

%

0

%

Expected lives

 

0.4-4.7 years

 

0.2-4.2 years

 

0.9-5.0 years

 

Expected volatility

 

86.0%-102.1

%

63.6%-104.8

%

58.2%-80.7

%

Warrants classified as liabilities

 

30,203,466

 

7,994,229

 

9,607,866

 

Warrants classified as equity

 

2,129,530

 

2,129,530

 

4,248,545

 

Market value of stock at beginning of year

 

$

0.66

 

$

1.41

 

$

3.18

 

Market value of stock at end of year

 

$

1.46

 

$

0.66

 

$

1.41

 

 

The risk-free interest rate is estimated using an average of treasury bill interest rates. The expected dividend yield is zero as the Company has not paid any dividends to date and does not expect to pay dividends in the future. The expected lives are based on the remaining contractual lives of the related warrants. The expected volatility is estimated using historical calculated volatility and considers factors such as future events or circumstances that could impact volatility.

 

For warrants classified as permanent equity, the fair value of the warrants is recorded as additional paid-in capital and no further adjustments are made.

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Comprehensive income (loss) includes charges or credits to equity that did not result from transactions with shareholders. The Company’s only component of “other comprehensive income (loss)” is unrealized gain (loss) on cash equivalents and short-term securities—available-for-sale.

 

Rent Expense

 

The Company’s operating lease agreements for its Corvallis, Oregon facility and its Bothell, Washington facility provide for scheduled annual rent increases throughout the lease’s term.  In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the Company recognizes the effects of the scheduled rent increases on a straight-line basis over the full term of the leases, which expires in 2020 and 2014.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $230,000, $133,000 and $155,000, respectively, in additional rent expense from the amortization of future scheduled rent increases.

 

Commitments and Contingencies.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company may be named as a party to various legal claims, actions and complaints, including matters involving employment, intellectual property, effects from the use of drugs utilizing our technology, or others. It is impossible to predict with certainty whether any resulting liability would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Financial Instruments.

 

The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other current monetary assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.

 

F-12



 

License Arrangements.

 

License arrangements may consist of non-refundable upfront license fees, data transfer fees, research reimbursement payments, exclusive licensed rights to patented or patent pending compounds, technology access fees, various performance or sales milestones and future product royalty payments. Some of these arrangements are multiple element arrangements.

 

The Company defers recognition of non-refundable upfront fees if it has continuing performance obligations without which the technology, right, product or service conveyed in conjunction with the non-refundable fee has no utility to the licensee that is separate and independent of Company performance under the other elements of the arrangement. In addition, if the Company has continuing involvement through research and development services that are required because its know-how and expertise related to the technology is proprietary to the Company, or can only be performed by the Company, then such up-front fees are deferred and recognized over the period of continuing involvement.

 

Payments related to substantive, performance-based milestones in a research and development arrangement are recognized as revenue upon the achievement of the milestones as specified in the underlying agreements when they represent the culmination of the earnings process.

 

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

 

Long-lived assets held and used by us and intangible assets with determinable lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable in accordance with generally accepted accounting pronouncements. We evaluate recoverability of assets to be held and used by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Such reviews assess the fair value of the assets based upon estimates of future cash flows that the assets are expected to generate.

 

At December 31, 2008, the Company determined that the ongoing decline in the real estate market had adversely impacted the fair value of a building purchased by the Company for $3.3 million in 2007. Based on an independent third-party appraisal, the Company estimated that the current fair value of the building had declined to approximately $2.5 million. Accordingly, an impairment charge of $800,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company completed a second third party appraisal in November of 2009, based on this revised estimate the Company believes the property to have a current fair value, net of costs to sell of $2.4 million.  This property was listed for sale in November of 2009. Selling and closing expenses are estimated to be $0.1 million.  The Company has decided to outsource its large scale manufacturing activities and has listed this property for sale with a commercial real estate agent.

 

In addition, at December 31, 2009, the Company conducted an evaluation of the status of its patents each quarter during 2009. Pursuant to these evaluations, the Company has recorded a write-off of $347,000, in 2009 for previously capitalized costs related to patents that have expired or were abandoned.

 

Government Research Contract Revenue.

 

The Company recognizes revenues from federal research contracts during the period in which the related expenditures are incurred. The Company receives reimbursement of costs incurred, overhead and, in some cases, a fixed fee. The Company presents these revenues and related expenses at gross in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with the generally accepted accounting pronouncements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently adopted accounting guidance:

 

During the first fiscal quarter of 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Staff Positions ASC 820 10 65-65-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability has Significantly Decreased and the Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly”, ASC 320 10 65-65-1, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments”, and ASC 825 10 65 65-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”. These Staff Positions were issued to clarify the application of ASC 820 10 65-65-4, “Fair Value Measurements” in the current economic environment, modify the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities, and require companies to disclose the fair value of financial instruments in interim periods. The Staff Positions are effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009, if all three Staff Positions or both the fair-value measurement and other-than-temporary impairment Staff Positions are adopted simultaneously. The Company has adopted the Staff Positions in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, and there was no material impact on the Company’s Financial Statements or related disclosures.

 

F-13



 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position ASC 320 10 65-65-1, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments”, which requires the Company to disclose information for interim and annual periods that enables users of its financial statements to understand the types of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt and equity securities held, including information about investments in an unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment has or has not been recognized. The provisions of this pronouncement were adopted in the second quarter of 2009. There was no material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP  ASC 825 10 65 65-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” , which requires publicly traded companies to include disclosures about the fair value of its financial instruments whenever it issues summarized financial information for interim reporting periods. The provisions of these pronouncements were adopted in the second quarter of 2009. There was no material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Recent accounting guidance not yet adopted:

 

In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance to amend the disclosure requirements related to recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The guidance requires new disclosures on the transfers of assets and liabilities between Level 1 (quoted prices in active market for identical assets or liabilities) and Level 2 (significant other observable inputs) of the fair value measurement hierarchy, including the reasons and the timing of the transfers. The guidance will become effective for us with the reporting period beginning January 1, 2010, except for the disclosure on the roll forward activities for Level 3 fair value measurements, which will become effective for us with the reporting period beginning July 1, 2011. Other than requiring additional disclosures, adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

3. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION:

 

Stock-based compensation costs are generally based on the fair value calculated from the Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the date of grant for stock options and on the date of enrollment for the Plan. The fair value of stock grants is amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the grants. Stock options granted to employees are service-based and typically vest over three years.

 

The fair market values of stock options granted during 2009, 2008 and 2007 were measured on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

1.2%-1.8

%

1.1%-3.4

%

4.4%-5.1

%

Expected dividend yield

 

0

%

0

%

0

%

Expected lives

 

3.6-9.1 Years

 

3.6-9.1 Years

 

3.7-9.1 Years

 

Expected volatility

 

92.0%-94.4

%

81.0%-90.7

%

84.1%-90.6

%

 

The risk-free interest rate is estimated using an average of treasury bill interest rates. The expected dividend yield is zero as the Company has not paid any dividends to date and does not expect to pay dividends in the future. The expected lives are estimated using expected and historical exercise behavior. The expected volatility is estimated using historical calculated volatility.

 

The Company is required to estimate potential forfeiture of stock grants and adjust compensation cost recorded accordingly. The estimate of forfeitures is adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures are recognized through a cumulative catch-up in the period of change and impact the amount of stock compensation expense to be recognized in future periods.

 

F-14



 

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity with respect to the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 is presented in the following table:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

For the Year Ended
December 31,

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Options outstanding at beginning of year

 

7,540,873

 

$

3.34

 

6,304,453

 

$

4.60

 

5,571,470

 

$

5.12

 

Granted

 

2,727,000

 

1.10

 

2,743,607

 

1.27

 

1,263,548

 

2.80

 

Exercised

 

(62,711

)

1.68

 

(6,761

)

1.31

 

(11,639

)

2.49

 

Canceled

 

(1,272,351

)

2.72

 

(1,500,426

)

4.82

 

(518,926

)

5.88

 

Options outstanding at end of year

 

8,932,811

 

2.79

 

7,540,873

 

3.34

 

6,304,453

 

4.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at end of year

 

5,119,227

 

$

3.94

 

4,779,603

 

$

4.18

 

4,497,526

 

$

4.76

 

Vested at December 31, 2009 and expected to vest

 

8,856,539

 

$

2.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

Outstanding Options

 

Exercisable Options

 

Range of Exercise Prices

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual

Life (Years)

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

$0.60-$1.09

 

2,013,950

 

$

0.96

 

8.54

 

200,617

 

$

1.06

 

$1.10-$1.39

 

1,895,430

 

$

1.24

 

8.64

 

447,181

 

$

1.28

 

$1.42-$2.53

 

1,969,357

 

$

2.18

 

6.29

 

1,569,524

 

$

2.30

 

$2.55-$5.75

 

2,106,291

 

$

4.49

 

3.08

 

1,954,122

 

$

4.60

 

$5.88-$7.35

 

947,783

 

$

7.21

 

4.26

 

947,783

 

$

7.21

 

Total

 

8,932,811

 

$

2.79

 

6.33

 

5,119,227

 

$

3.94

 

 

The weighted average fair value per share of stock-based payments granted to employees during 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $1.09, $1.04 and $2.27, respectively. During 2009, 2008 and 2007, the total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $105,301, $1,831 and $4,937, and the total fair value of stock options that vested was $1,740,000, $3,040,000 and $3,661,000, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2009, there was $2,278,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plan. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, $76,000 was received for the exercise of stock options. The Company is obligated to issue shares from the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan upon the exercise of stock options. The Company does not currently expect to repurchase shares from any source to satisfy its obligations under the Plan. The Company may issue options to purchase up to an additional 681,995 shares of Common Stock at December 31, 2009 under stock option plans.

 

The following are the stock-based compensation costs recognized in the Company’s statements of operations:

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2009

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2008

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2007

 

Research and development

 

$

1,192

 

$

1,689

 

$

1,878

 

General and administrative

 

1,182

 

3,141

 

3,854

 

Total

 

$

2,374

 

$

4,830

 

$

5,732

 

 

F-15



 

On March 27, 2007, in connection with his resignation, the Company entered into a Separation and Release Agreement with AVI’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to this agreement, he may exercise his previously granted options until the earlier of the termination date specified in the respective stock option grant agreements or March 28, 2010. This modification of these stock options in the first quarter of 2007 increased compensation costs by $1,057,000.

 

In the first quarter of 2008, the Company granted 333,000 shares of restricted stock to its new Chief Executive Officer. These shares vest over a period of four years. The Company recognized compensation expense related to these shares of for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, of $63,000 and $166,000.

 

In the third quarter of 2008, the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer resigned. In accordance with his existing employment agreement, he may exercise his previously granted options until the earlier of the termination date specified in the respective stock option grant agreements or March 18, 2010.  This acceleration of the vesting of these stock options resulted in additional compensation costs of $382,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2009, these options were outstanding.

 

In the second quarter of 2009, the Company granted a total of 25,000 shares of restricted stock to members of its Board of Directors. These shares vest over a period of one year.  During year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized compensation expense related to these shares of $58,000.

 

Also in the second quarter of 2009, the Company granted 100,000 shares of restricted stock to its Vice President of Business Development. These shares vest upon the achievement of certain performance milestones. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company did not recognize any compensation expense related to these shares since the performance milestones was not achieved and these shares were canceled.

 

In the first quarter of 2009, the Company granted 60,000 shares of restricted stock to its Chief Medical Officer. These shares vest over a period of 181 days.  During the year ended December 31, 2009 the Company recognized compensation expense related to these shares of $82,000.

 

The Company records the fair value of stock options granted to non-employees in exchange for services in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The fair value of the options granted is expensed when the measurement date is known. The performance for services was satisfied on the grant date for stock options granted to non-employees.

 

The total fair value of the options granted to non-employees during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $141,000, $180,000 and $313,000 respectively, which was expensed to general and administration.

 

4.  NET LOSS PER SHARE:

 

Basic EPS is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period and diluted EPS is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding. Given that the Company is in a loss position, there is no difference between basic EPS and diluted EPS since the common stock equivalents would be antidilutive.

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(25,159

)

$

(23,953

)

$

(27,168

)

Weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing basic earnings per share

 

93,090

 

69,491

 

53,942

 

Dilutive effect of warrants and stock options after application of the treasury stock method

 

*

 

*

 

*

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing diluted earnings per share

 

93,090

 

69,491

 

53,942

 

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.27

)

$

(0. 34

)

$

(0. 50

)

 


* Warrants and stock options to purchase 41,266,000, 17,665,000 and 20,161,000 shares of common stock as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were excluded from the earnings per share calculation as their effect would have been antidilutive.

 

F-16



 

5.  LIQUIDITY:

 

Since its inception in 1980 through December 31, 2009, the Company has incurred losses of approximately $275.5 million, substantially all of which resulted from expenditures related to research and development, general and administrative charges and acquired in-process research and development resulting from two acquisitions. The Company has not generated any material revenue from product sales to date, and there can be no assurance that revenues from product sales will be achieved. Moreover, even if the Company does achieve revenues from product sales, the Company expects to incur operating losses over the next several years.

 

The Company believes it has sufficient cash to fund operations at least through the following twelve months, exclusive of future receipts from billings on existing government contracts. For 2010, the Company expects expenditures for operations, net of government funding, including collaborative efforts and research and development activities to be approximately $23 to $27 million. The Company believes it will continue to receive funding from government and other sources to pursue the development of its product candidates, and has assumed certain revenues from these awards in providing this guidance.  Should the Company not continue to receive funding from its current contracts or receive additional funding, or should the timing be delayed, it may have a significant negative impact on the Company’s guidance.

 

Our cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities were $48.4 million at December 31, 2009, compared with $11.5 million at December 31, 2008, respectively. The increase of $36.9 million was due primarily to net proceeds of $47.8 million from the sale of common stock and issuance of stock warrants from two separate equity financing transactions that closed in January and August of 2009.  The cash from financing activities was partially offset by cash used in operations of $8.8 million, costs of $2.0 million related to acquisitions of patents and fixed assets and debt repayments of $0.1 million.

 

In January 2009, we raised net proceeds of $15.5 million in financing through the sale of 14,224,202 shares of common stock pursuant to a registered direct offering to a select group of institutional investors. The investors also received warrants to purchase 14,224,202 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.16 per share. These warrants are exercisable starting July 30, 2009 and expire on July 30, 2014. In addition, the placement agent used for the equity financing received a warrant for the purchase of an additional 426,726 common shares at $1.45 per share. This warrant is exercisable starting January 30, 2009 and expires on January 30, 2014.  All of these warrants have been classified as liabilities as discussed in Note 7, as they require the issuance of registered shares.  These warrants are non-cash liabilities; the Company is not required to expend any cash to settle these liabilities.

 

On August 25, 2009, the Company closed a registered equity financing for net proceeds of $32.3 million with several institutional investors. The Company sold 24,295,775 shares of common stock at $1.42 per share, and also issued warrants for the purchase of 9,718,310 common shares at an exercise price of $1.78 per share. These warrants are exercisable starting February 25, 2010 and expire on August 25, 2014.  All of these warrants have been classified as liabilities as discussed in Note 7, as they require the issuance of registered shares. These warrants are non-cash liabilities; the Company is not required to expend any cash to settle these liabilities.

 

The Company currently has a total of $61.7 million of contracted development studies.  As of December 31, 2009, $48.4 million has been billed to the government.   The Company has $13.3 in development contracts remaining that have not yet been completed and have not been billed.  The Company expects to complete the remaining contract activity and receive the contracted revenue in 2010 and early 2011.

 

In December 2006, the Company announced the execution of a two-year $28 million research contract with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The contract is directed toward funding the Company’s development of antisense therapeutics to treat the effects of Ebola, Marburg and Junín hemorrhagic viruses, which are seen by DoD as potential biological warfare and bioterrorism agents. In May 2009, the Company received an amendment from DTRA to extend the contract performance period to November 29, 2009 and a cost modification of an additional $5.9 million, increasing the total contract amount to $33.9 million. In September 2009, the Company received a second amendment from DTRA to extend the contract performance period to February 28, 2011 and a cost modification of an additional $11.5 million, increasing the total contract amount to $45.4 million. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $10.4 million, $16.8 million and $8.0 million, respectively, in research contract revenue from this contract. To date, the Company has recognized revenues of $35.2 million from this contract.  Funding of the remainder of the contract is anticipated in 2010 and 2011.

 

In January 2006, the Company announced that the final version of the 2006 defense appropriations act had been approved, which included an allocation of $11.0 million to fund the Company’s ongoing defense-related programs. Net of government administrative costs, it is anticipated that the Company will receive up to $9.8 million under this allocation. The Company’s technology is expected to be used to continue developing RNA based drugs against Ebola and Marburg viruses. The Company has received signed contracts for all of these projects. The Company expects that funding under these signed contracts will be completed over the next 12 months.  During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $2.3 million, $4.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in research contract revenue from this contract. To date, the Company has recognized revenues of $9.2 million on these contracts. Funding of the remainder of these contracts is anticipated in 2010.

 

F-17



 

In May 2009, the Company entered into a contract with DTRA to develop H1N1 drugs. Under this contract, DTRA will pay up to $4.1 million to the Company for the work to be performed by the Company. The work will involve the application of analogs based on the Company’s proprietary PMO and PMOplus antisense chemistry and the Company plans to conduct preclinical development of at least one drug candidate and demonstrate it is effective by testing it in virus infected animals. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized $1.7 million in revenue under this contract.

 

In July 2009, the Company entered into a lease agreement with BMR-3450 Monte Villa Parkway LLC relating to the lease of 19,108 square feet of laboratory and office space in Bothell, Washington. The Company began occupying this space in August 2009, and has moved its headquarters and R&D functions to this new location.  The term of the lease is approximately 63 months, although the Company has a one-time option to terminate the lease after 3 years’ time upon payment of a termination fee. The Company will commence paying base rent of approximately $43,000 per month after approximately 3 months. The amount of base rent is subject to an annual increase of 3%.

 

The likelihood of the long-term success of the Company must be considered in light of the expenses, difficulties and delays frequently encountered in the development and commercialization of new pharmaceutical products, competitive factors in the marketplace as well as the complex regulatory environment in which the Company operates. There can be no assurance that the Company will ever achieve significant revenues or profitable operations.

 

6.  LONG-TERM DEBT

 

The Company has two loans outstanding which are collateralized by a parcel of real property purchased in April 2007 in Corvallis, Oregon. These loans bear interest at 4.75% and mature in February 2027. At December 31, 2009, these loans had unpaid principal balances of $1,275,000 and $726,000, for a total indebtedness of $2,001,000.  The Company incurred interest expense on these loans of $97,000, $104,000 and $104,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

The following table sets forth the expected future principal payments on these loans:

 

(in thousands)

 

Year ending December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

$

77

 

2011

 

81

 

2012

 

85

 

2013

 

90

 

2014

 

92

 

Thereafter

 

1,576

 

Total scheduled loan principal payments

 

$

2,001

 

 

7.  SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND WARRANT LIABILITY:

 

In December 2007, the Company closed a private equity financing for net proceeds of $14,448,250 with several institutional investors. The Company sold 10,696,616 shares of common stock at $1.90 per share. These investors also received warrants for the purchase of 5,348,308 common shares at $2.45 per share. These warrants are exercisable starting June 19, 2008 and expire on December 18, 2012.

 

On January 30, 2009, the Company closed a registered equity financing for net proceeds of $15.5 million with several institutional investors. The Company sold 14,224,202 shares of common stock at $1.16 per share, and also issued warrants for the purchase of 14,224,202 common shares at $1.16 per share and a fair value at the date of issue of $8.2 million. These warrants are exercisable starting July 30, 2009 and expire on July 30, 2014. In connection with the equity financing, the placement agent received a warrant for the purchase of an additional 426,726 common shares at $1.45 per share. This warrant is exercisable starting January 30, 2009 and expires on January 30, 2014.  All of these warrants have been classified as liabilities as they require the issuance of registered shares. These warrants are non-cash liabilities; The Company does not expect to expend any cash to settle these liabilities.

 

On August 25, 2009, the Company closed a registered equity financing for net proceeds of $32.3 million with several institutional investors. The Company sold 24,295,775 shares of common stock at $1.42 per share, and also issued warrants for the purchase of 9,718,310 common shares at $1.78 per share and a fair value at the date of issue of $9.0 million. These warrants are exercisable starting February 25, 2010 and expire on August 25, 2014.  All of these warrants have been classified as liabilities as, as they require

 

F-18



 

the issuance of registered shares. These warrants are non-cash liabilities; The Company does not expect to expend any cash to settle these liabilities.

 

The Company has two stock option plans, the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan and the 1997 Stock Option Plan (the Plans). The 2002 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options to employees and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights and bonus rights to employees, directors of the Company and consultants. The 1997 Plan provides for the assumption of the ImmunoTherapy Options under the Merger Agreement. The Company has reserved 11,828,111 shares of common stock for issuance under the Plans. Options issued under the Plans generally vest ratably over three years and expire five to ten years from the date of grant. At December 31, 2009, 8,932,811 options were outstanding at a weighted-average exercise price of $2.79 under equity compensations plans approved by security holders. At December 31, 2009, 681,955 options were available for issuance under equity compensation plans approved by security holders.  See Note 3—“Stock-Based Compensation” for a summary of the status of the Company’s stock option plans and changes for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

The Company has also issued warrants for the purchase of common stock in conjunction with financing and compensation arrangements. A summary of the status and activity with respect to the Company’s warrants is presented in the following table:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

For the Year Ended
December 31,

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Warrants outstanding at beginning of year

 

10,123,759

 

$

8.54

 

13,856,411

 

$

8.12

 

8,508,103

 

$

11.68

 

Granted

 

24,369,238

 

1.41

 

445,985

 

1.77

 

5,348,308

 

2.45

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(2,160,001

)

5.00

 

(4,178,637

)

6.42

 

 

 

Warrants outstanding at end of year

 

32,332,996

 

3.40

 

10,123,759

 

8.54

 

13,856,411

 

8.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at end of year

 

20,948,808

 

$

1.60

 

8,457,881

 

$

3.21

 

6,842,225

 

$

5.85

 

 

The following table summarizes information about warrants outstanding at December 31, 2009:

 

Exercise
Price

 

Outstanding Warrants at
December 31, 2009

 

Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual
Life (Years)

 

Exercisable Warrants

 

$

 0.0003

 

16,667

 

No expiration date

 

16,667

 

0.1679

 

238,228

 

2.87

 

238,228

 

1.14

 

1,000

 

No expiration date

 

1,000

 

1.16

 

14,224,202

 

4.58

 

14,224,202

 

1.45

 

426,726

 

4.08

 

426,726

 

1.78

 

9,718,310

 

4.67

 

0

 

2.45

 

5,348,308

 

2.97

 

5,348,308

 

3.61

 

207,757

 

0.37

 

207,757

 

5.00

 

485,920

 

0.37

 

485,920

 

35.63

 

1,665,878

 

0.25

 

 

 

 

32,332,996

 

 

 

20,948,808

 

 

The warrants issued in 2009 and 2007 do not require net cash settlement. However, because the warrants require settlement in registered shares, the Company has recorded the warrants as liabilities on the accompanying balance sheet. There is no effect on cash flows from these warrants, as the mark-to-market adjustment is reflected as a non-cash charge within the Company’s Statements of Operations. There were 30,203,466, 9,607,866, and 4,259,558 outstanding warrants classified as liabilities at December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.

 

8.  SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENTS:

 

On January 27, 2007, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive License Agreement with Chiron Corporation (“Chiron”) granting the Company a nonexclusive license to Chiron’s patents and patent applications for the research, development, and commercialization of antisense therapeutics against hepatitis C virus, in exchange for the payment of certain milestone and royalty payments to Chiron. In lieu of the first milestone payment due under the License Agreement, the Company and Chiron also entered into a separate agreement under which the Company issued to Chiron 89,012 shares of the Company’s common stock with a market value of $500,000 and which was expensed to research and development. There may be future payments made to Chiron by the Company based on milestones in the License Agreement.

 

F-19



 

On March 13, 2007, the Company announced that it had entered into agreements with Cook Group Inc. (“Cook”) for Cook’s development and commercialization of products for vascular and cardiovascular diseases. In November 2009, we announced that we believe Cook discontinued development of our drug candidate, AVI-5126, on its cobalt-chromium stent because of an unexpectedly high rate of restenosis.

 

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company extended the lease on its facility located at 4575 SW Research Way, Suite 200, Corvallis, OR 97333. This lease now expires on December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had an accrued rent payable of $615,163 related to back rent payments. During the first half of 2006 the Company issued 31,154 shares of the Company’s common stock with a market value of $175,000, paid cash and sold fixed assets to Research Way Investments to pay off the accrued rent payable related to back rent payments.

 

In January 2006, the Company issued 30,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with a market value of $200,000 to the Oregon State University Foundation to secure access to certain university research facilities, which was expensed to research and development.

 

On January 8, 2007, the Company announced that it had entered into a cross-license agreement with Eleos Inc. for the development of antisense drugs targeting p53, a well-studied human protein that controls cellular response to genetic damage. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company granted Eleos Inc. an exclusive license to the Company’s NEUGENE® third-generation antisense chemistry to treat cancer with p53-related drugs. In return, Eleos Inc. granted an exclusive license to its patents to the Company for treatment of most viral diseases with drugs that target p53. The companies are sharing rights in other medical fields where targeting p53 may be therapeutically useful. Each company will make milestone payments and royalty payments to the other on development and sales of products that utilize technology licensed under the agreement. In addition, Eleos Inc. made an upfront payment of $500,000 to the Company. The Company recognized $125,000 in license fees for each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007; the remaining $125,000 has been classified as deferred revenue.

 

On March 27, 2007, in connection with the resignation of AVI’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the Company entered into a Separation and Release Agreement, pursuant to which the former Chairman and CEO is entitled to receive his base compensation for 18 months ($562,500 in the aggregate) and medical insurance for the same 18 month period and may exercise his previously granted options until the earlier of the termination date of the respective stock option grant agreements or March 28, 2010. The Company recognized $1,619,872 in total compensation expense to general and administrative in 2007, including $562,500 in cash compensation and $1,057,372 in stock-based compensation.

 

On April 19, 2007, the Company entered into a real property purchase agreement with WKL Investments Airport, LLC (“WKL”) to purchase a parcel of real property, including improvements situated on the land and intangibles related to the land, for $3,300,000. The Company paid the purchase price as follows: $350,000 in cash, assumption of two loans secured by the property in the amount of $2,200,000, and issuance of 270,758 shares of AVI common stock (at $2.77 per share or $750,000 in the aggregate).

 

On October 15, 2007, the Company and Charley’s Fund, Inc. announced that the Company had been awarded a $2.45 million research grant from Charley’s Fund, a nonprofit organization that funds drug development and discovery initiatives specific to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This award will support a new product development program using proprietary exon skipping technologies developed by the Company to overcome the effects of certain genetic errors in the dystrophin gene. The award will allow AVI to accelerate its development of new therapeutics for DMD. Through December 31, 2009, the Company had received $2.0 million from Charley’s Fund, and recorded the advances as Deferred Revenue, to be recognized upon the attainment of certain milestones as specified in the agreement.  In September 2009, the Company amended the agreement with Charley’s Fund. The Amendment pertains to certain provisions of the Sponsored Research Agreement by and between the Company and Charley’s Fund entered into effective October 12, 2007 (the “Agreement”). Under the terms of the Amendment, the Company was awarded up to an additional $3 million in sponsored research funds, for a total of $5 million from Charley’s Fund to support a new product development program using proprietary exon skipping technologies developed by the Company to overcome the effects of certain genetic errors in the dystrophin gene. Revenue associated with this research and development arrangement is recognized under the proportional performance method, using the payment received method.   For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized $ 0, $23,000 and $38,000, respectively, in revenues from Charley’s Fund.

 

On September 18, 2008, the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer resigned. In accordance with his employment agreement, he is entitled to receive severance payments totaling $630,000.  Of this amount, one-third ($210,000) was paid on the effective date of his termination, and the remaining $420,000 was paid in monthly installments of $35,000 over the following 12 months.  The Company recognized compensation expense of $630,000 in 2008 pursuant to his resignation, of which $280,000 was classified as a deferred liability as of December 31, 2008. In 2009 the Company recognized $315,000 of compensation expense.   In addition, in accordance with his employment agreement, he may exercise his previously granted stock options until the earlier of the termination date specified in the respective stock option grant agreements or March 18, 2010. This acceleration of the vesting of these stock options resulted in additional compensation costs of $382,419 for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

F-20



 

In July 2009, the Company entered into a lease agreement with BMR-3450 Monte Villa Parkway LLC relating to the lease of 19,108 square feet of laboratory and office space in Bothell, Washington. The Company began occupying this space in August 2009, and has moved its headquarters and R&D functions to this new location.  The term of the lease is approximately 63 months, although the Company has a one-time option to terminate the lease after 3 years’ time upon payment of a termination fee. The Company will commence paying base rent of approximately $43,000 per month after approximately 3 months. The amount of base rent is subject to an annual increase of 3%.

 

9.  INCOME TAXES:

 

As of December 31, 2009 the Company has federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $211,108,000 and $225,611,000, respectively, available to reduce future taxable income, which expire 2009 through 2028. Of these amounts, approximately $2,007,000 and $2,046,000, respectively, relate to federal and state net operating losses assumed as part of the Ercole acquisition. Utilization of the Ercole net operating losses is limited to approximately $425,000 per year. In addition, the Internal Revenue Code rules under Section 382 and related state laws could limit the future use of the remaining net operating losses based on ownership changes and the value of the Company’s stock. Approximately $3,930,000 of the Company’s carryforwards were generated as a result of deductions related to exercises of stock options. When utilized, this portion of the Company’s carryforwards, as tax affected, will be accounted for as a direct increase to contributed capital rather than as a reduction of the year’s provision for income taxes. The principal differences between net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes and the accumulated deficit result from depreciation, amortization, investment write-downs, treatment of research and development costs, limitations on the length of time that net operating losses may be carried forward, and differences in the recognition of stock-based compensation.

 

The Company had net deferred tax assets of $110,539,000 and $102,881,000 at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, primarily from net operating loss carryforwards and research and development credit carryforwards. A valuation allowance was recorded to reduce the net deferred tax asset to zero because it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The net change in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was an increase of approximately $7,658,000 and $8,250,000 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, mainly due to the increase in the net operating loss carryforwards, research and development tax credits, and a decrease in the asset related to short term securities due to the expiration of the capital loss carryforward period as of December 31, 2009.

 

Deferred tax assets assumed as part of the Ercole acquisition total approximately $1,407,000 and primarily relate to accrual to cash adjustment, net operating losses, and research & development credits.  A valuation allowance was recorded to reduce the net deferred tax assets to zero because it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. When such deferred tax assets are utilized or at such time when the valuation allowance is lifted, this portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets, as tax affected, will be accounted for as a direct increase to equity rather than as a reduction of that year’s provision for income taxes.

 

An analysis of the deferred tax assets (liabilities) is as follows:

 

December 31,

 

2009

 

2008

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

83,057

 

$

75,509

 

Difference in depreciation and amortization

 

2,544

 

2,276

 

Capital loss carryforward

 

8

 

8

 

Research and development tax credits

 

18,436

 

20,404

 

stock compensation

 

4,197

 

3,326

 

Stock options for consulting services

 

1,012

 

957

 

Deferred Rent

 

378

 

244

 

Deferred Revenue

 

805

 

 

Other

 

102

 

157

 

 

 

110,539

 

102,881

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valuation allowance

 

(110,539

)

(102,881

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

 

F-21



 

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrual for interest or penalties on its balance sheet at December 31, 2009 and at December 31, 2008, and has not recognized interest and/or penalties in the statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 or 2007.

 

10.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

 

Lease Obligations
 

The Company leases office and laboratory facilities under various noncancelable operating leases through December 2020. Rent expense under these leases was $1,467,000, $1,429,000 and $1,388,000 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $12,837,000 for the period from July 22, 1980 through December 31, 2009.

 

At December 31, 2009, the aggregate non-cancelable future minimum payments under these leases are as follows:

 

(in thousands)

 

Year ending December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

$

2,073

 

2011

 

2,175

 

2012

 

2,230

 

2013

 

2,036

 

2014

 

2,033

 

Thereafter

 

9,135

 

Total minimum lease payments

 

$

19,682

 

 

Royalty Obligations
 

The Company has license agreements for which it is obligated to pay the licensors a minimum annual royalty. Royalty payments under these agreements were $75,000, $75,000 and $125,000 for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $1,259,000 for the period from July 22, 1980 through December 31, 2009.

 

At December 31, 2009, the aggregate future minimum royalty payments under these agreements are as follows:

 

( in thousands)

 

Year ending December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

$

100

 

2011

 

80

 

2012

 

80

 

2013

 

80

 

2014

 

55

 

Thereafter

 

715

 

Total minimum royalty payments

 

$

1,110

 

 

Litigation
 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company defends its patents as deemed necessary. There are no material asserted claims as of 12/31/09.

 

F-22



 

11.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY QUARTER (UNAUDITED):

 

2009 for quarter ended (in thousands)

 

December 31

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

March 31

 

Revenues from grants and research contracts

 

$

5,141

 

$

6,349

 

$

2,945

 

$

3,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

6,624

 

7,473

 

5,804

 

4,495

 

General and administrative

 

2,470

 

1,800

 

2,206

 

2,220

 

Operating loss

 

(3,953

)

(2,924

)

(5,065

)

(3,565

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income, net

 

(312

)

(127

)

(31

)

16

 

Increase (decrease) on warrant valuation

 

7,791

 

(5,039

)

(14,572

)

2,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

3,526

 

$

(8,090

)

$

(19,668

)

$

(927

)

Net income (loss) per share — basic

 

$

0.03

 

$

(0.08

)

$

(0.23

)

$

(0.01

)

Net income (loss) per share — diluted

 

$

0.03

 

$

(0.08

)

$

(0.23

)

$

(0.01

)

Shares used in per share calculations — basic

 

110,266

 

95,261

 

85,664

 

80,759

 

Shares used in per share calculations — diluted

 

125,647

 

95,261

 

85,664

 

80,759

 

 

2008 for quarter ended (in thousands)

 

December 31

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

March 31

 

Revenues from grants and research contracts

 

$

5,479

 

$

5,171

 

$

4,983

 

$

5,625

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

5,070

 

7,680

 

7,678

 

6,903

 

General and administrative

 

3,303

 

3,429

 

2,184

 

2,553

 

Acquired in process research and development

 

 

 

 

9,916

 

Operating loss

 

(2,894

)

(5,938

)

(4,879

)

(13,747

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income, net

 

36

 

60

 

81

 

167

 

Increase (decrease) on warrant valuation

 

1,718

 

(169

)

3,047

 

(1,435

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(1,140

)

$

(6,047

)

$

(1,751

)

$

(15,015

)

Net income (loss) per share — basic

 

$

(0.01

)

$

(0.08

)

$

(0.02

)

$

(0.23

)

Net income (loss) per share — diluted

 

$

(0.01

)

$

(0.08

)

$

(0.02

)

$

(0.23

)

Shares used in per share calculations — basic

 

71,074

 

71,151

 

70,986

 

65,189

 

Shares used in per share calculations — diluted

 

71,074

 

71,151

 

70,986

 

65,189

 

 

12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED):

 

·                  On March 18, 2010, Michael Casey announced to the Board of Directors his decision to not stand for re-election at the end of his term as a director of the Company. On March 24, 2010, Dr. Christopher Henney announced to the Board of Directors his decision to not stand for re-election at the end of his term as a director of the Company  Both decisions were based solely on personal reasons, and was not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. Both will remain a director through the end of his current term which ends following the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Company’s shareholders.

 

·                  On March 25, 2010, AVI BioPharma, Inc. (“AVI” or the “Company”) entered into an amendment to its contract with the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (“DTRA”) to develop, in cooperation with the Transformational Medical Technologies Initiative (“TMTI”) of the U.S. Department of Defense, one or more of AVI’s nucleotide-based drug candidates targeting the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus (swine flu) and demonstrate efficacy in an appropriate preclinical model. The material terms of the original contract between DTRA and the Company were previously disclosed by the Company in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2009.

 

F-23



 

Under the contract entered into by the Company in May 2009, DTRA agreed to pay up to $5.1 million to the Company for the work to be performed by the Company, which amount was ultimately finalized at $4.1 million.  The amendment entered into on March 25, 2010 provides up to $4.0 million in additional DTRA funding to support continued preclinical development of AVI’s lead influenza drug candidate, AVI-7367, against H1N1 as well as its expanded preclinical evaluation against H5N1 (avian flu) and drug resistant H1N1 and H3N2 flu strains. AVI’s lead influenza drug candidate utilizes AVI’s proprietary PMO plus™  chemistry.

 

·                  On April 14, 2010, at the 2010 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, AVI BioPharma, Inc. (“AVI” or the “Company”) presented the poster entitled  AVI-5038: Initial Efficacy and Safety Evaluation in Cynomolgus Monkeys.

 

AVI-5038 is AVI’s lead pre-clinical PPMO, or peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer, drug candidate for the potential treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and is intended to cause a skip of exon 50 in the gene coding for the protein dystrophin. PPMOs are one of a series of different chemical analogs being developed from AVI’s core PMO, or phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer, chemistry.

 

The American Academy of Neurology poster includes previously reported data of a preclinical study in which cynomolgus monkeys were dosed intravenously for four weeks with AVI-5038 given up to 9mg/kg.  In that study, the candidate drug appeared to be well tolerated with findings generally limited to the kidney, and included basophilic granule accumulation and evidence of tubular degeneration/regeneration that was dose dependent.  Clinical chemistry and urinalysis did not detect a change in kidney function.  Significant levels of exon skipping were detected by RT-PCR in the diaphragm, heart and quadriceps after four weeks of dosing at 9mg/kg.

 

A preliminary summary of the findings from an ongoing 12-week preclinical study in which cynomolgus monkeys were dosed intravenously with AVI-5038 at doses of 1.5, 6 and 15mg/kg was also presented. Significant toxicological findings were observed following bolus intravenous administration at 6 and 15mg/kg.  The preliminary results suggest that the toxicities seen in this study are also dose dependent and primarily involve the kidney. The in life portion of the study is complete, but the collection and analysis of data from the study is still ongoing.  The Company believes that the data set is not yet sufficient to determine the ultimate impact these findings might have on the future development of AVI-5038.

 

PPMOs are chemically distinct from PMOs.  AVI-4658 is AVI’s lead PMO drug candidate for the potential treatment of DMD by skipping exon 51.  AVI-4658 is currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial at two sites in the United Kingdom and has been generally well tolerated to date in all patients dosed up to 20mg/kg for 12 weeks.

 

·                  On April 20, 2010, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement with George W. Haywood (“Mr. Haywood”), Cheryl Haywood (“Ms. Haywood”), Rockall Emerging Markets Master Fund Limited (the “Fund”), Meldrum Asset Management, LLC (“Meldrum”), Con Egan (“Mr. Egan”) and Conor O’Driscoll (“Mr. O’Driscoll”) (“Mr. Haywood”, “Ms. Haywood”, the “Fund”, “Meldrum”, “Mr. Egan” and “Mr. O’Driscoll” each a “Shareholder Party” and, collectively, the “Shareholder Group”). The Shareholder Group had previously requested that the Company call a special shareholders’ meeting to (1) remove certain members of the Company’s board of directors (“Board”) and (2) elect new directors to the Board to fill vacancies left by removal of directors.  The Settlement Agreement memorializes certain actions taken by the Board of Directors, including, among other things, (i) requesting the resignation of Leslie Hudson as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, and as a director, (ii) amending the Company’s Bylaws to reduce the size of the Board and to clarify that a nominee appointed by the Board to fill a vacancy would serve the remainder of the term of such seat, (iii) appointing J. David Boyle II, the Company’s current Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, (iv) appointing Anthony R. Chase to serve as a director of the Company to fill the vacancy created by Dr. Hudson’s resignation from the Board, (v) appointing Mr. Chase to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and (vi) accepting the resignation of one of the Company’s directors, K. Michael Forrest, to facilitate the reduction in Board size as a result of the Bylaw amendment.

 

·                  As the Board of Directors requested that Leslie Hudson, Ph.D., the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, tender his resignation as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, such resignation is being treated as an involuntary termination of his employment without “Cause” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Employment Agreement dated February 8, 2008 between the Company and Dr. Hudson (the “Employment Agreement”). In connection with his resignation, on April 20, 2010, the Company entered into a separation agreement with Dr. Hudson (the “Separation Agreement”), the terms of which were previously negotiated pursuant to the Employment Agreement.  Pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, Dr. Hudson will receive total cash severance payments of $1,412,170.00 (the “Cash Severance Payments”), calculated by reference to two (2) times the sum of: (i) his annual base salary in effect as of the Separation Date ($494,400), (ii) the average of his last two annual bonuses ($188,669), and (iii) the annual cost of Pfizer retiree healthcare coverage for him and his spouse ($23,016).  The Cash Severance Payments will be made to Dr. Hudson in twenty-four (24) equal monthly

 

F-24



 

installments, less required deductions and withholdings, over the twenty-four (24) month period following the effective date of the Separation Agreement.  In addition, as of the effective date of the Separation Agreement, previously granted options to Dr. Hudson for three hundred thirty-three thousand five hundred (333,500) shares and one hundred sixteen thousand five hundred (116,500) shares of restricted stock will immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

 

·                  On April 20, 2010, the Board of Directors appointed J. David Boyle II, 56, the Company’s current Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as its Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.  Mr. Boyle will continue in his position as Chief Financial Officer.  As a result of this interim appointment, Mr. Boyle’s salary has been increased by $3,000 per month while serving as the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, his bonus target percentage for 2010 has been increased to forty percent (40%), and he has been granted a fully vested option on April 20, 2010 to acquire 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.24.

 

·                  On April 20, 2010, the Board of Directors appointed Anthony R. Chase as a Group II Director to fill the vacancy on the Board left by the resignation of Leslie Hudson.  The Board also designated Mr. Chase as an independent member of the Board.  The Shareholder Group submitted Mr. Chase’s name for consideration by the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board.  Mr. Chase was granted an option pursuant to the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan to acquire 60,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, at an exercise price of $1.24, with a four-year vesting period commencing on the grant date of April 20, 2010 (the “Grant Date”), 1/4th of the shares vest and become exercisable on the earlier of one year after the Grant Date or the commencement of the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders; 1/4th of the shares vest and become exercisable on the earlier of two years after the Grant Date or the commencement of the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders, 1/4th of the shares vest and become exercisable on the earlier of three years after the Grant Date or the commencement of the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders and 1/4th of the shares vest and become exercisable on the earlier of four years after the Grant Date or the commencement of the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.  Mr. Chase will hold office for the remainder of the term of a Group II director and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

F-25