UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
BIOGEN INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒ | No fee required. | |||
☐ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |||
1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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5) | Total fee paid:
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☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |||
☐ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | |||
1) | Amount Previously Paid:
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2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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3) | Filing Party:
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4) | Date Filed:
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NOTICE OF |
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2017 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Proxy Statement
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time
Online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017
Letter from our Chairman
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April 26, 2017
To our Stockholders:
We invite you to attend our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held online on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, beginning at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time. You may attend the meeting virtually via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017, where you will be able to vote electronically and submit questions. You will need the 16-digit control number included with these proxy materials to attend the annual meeting.
The following notice of our annual meeting of stockholders contains details of the business to be conducted at the meeting. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 10, 2017 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support and investment in Biogen.
Very truly yours,
STELIOS PAPADOPOULOS
Chairman of the Board
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Biogen Inc.
Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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Date: |
Wednesday, June 7, 2017 |
Time: |
9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time |
Place: |
Online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017 |
Record Date: |
April 10, 2017. Only Biogen stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive notice of, and vote at, the annual meeting. |
Items of Business: |
1. | To elect the eleven nominees identified in the accompanying proxy statement to our Board of Directors to serve for a one-year term extending until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
2. | To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. |
3. | To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation. |
4. | To hold an advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation. |
5. | To approve the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan. |
6. | To transact such other business as may be properly brought before the annual meeting and any adjournments or postponements. |
Virtual Meeting: |
To participate in the annual meeting virtually via the Internet, please visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017. You will need the 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or your proxy card or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. Stockholders will be able to vote and submit questions during the annual meeting. |
You will not be able to attend the annual meeting in person. |
Voting: |
Your vote is extremely important regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether or not you expect to attend the annual meeting online, we urge you to vote as promptly as possible by telephone or Internet or by signing, dating, and returning a printed proxy card or voting instruction form, as applicable. If you attend the annual meeting online, you may vote your shares during the annual meeting virtually via the Internet even if you previously voted your proxy. Please vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be represented and counted at the annual meeting. |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held on June 7, 2017:
The Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement, and 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K are
available at the following website: www.proxyvote.com.
By Order of Our Board of Directors,
SUSAN H. ALEXANDER,
Secretary
225 Binney Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
April 26, 2017
This notice and proxy statement are first being sent to stockholders on or about April 26, 2017. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K is being sent with this notice and proxy statement.
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Proxy Statement Summary | iii | |||||||
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Corporate Governance at Biogen |
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Director Qualifications, Standards, and Diversity
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Board of Directors | 10 | ||||||
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Audit Committee Matters |
Proposal 2 Ratification of the Selection of Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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Proxy Statement Table of Contents (continued) |
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Executive Compensation Matters |
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2016 and 2017 Hiring- and Transition-Related Compensation Decisions |
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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
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Other Management Proposals |
Proposal 4 Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation |
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Proposal 5 Approval of the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan
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7 | Additional Information |
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Manner and Cost of Proxy Solicitation
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Appendix A GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation | A-1 | |||||||
Appendix B Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan | B-1 |
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This summary highlights important information you will find in this Proxy Statement. As it is only a summary, please review the complete Proxy Statement before you vote.
Annual Meeting Information
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DATE: | Wednesday, June 7, 2017 | |
TIME: | 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time | |
LOCATION: | Online only at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017. You will not be able to attend the meeting in person. | |
RECORD DATE:
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April 10, 2017
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Voting Matters and Vote Recommendation
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Voting Matter | Board Recommendation |
Page Number for more detail | ||
Item 1Election of Directors | FOR each nominee | 10 | ||
Item 2Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2017 | FOR | 24 | ||
Item 3Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation | FOR | 27 | ||
Item 4Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation | ONE YEAR | 55 | ||
Item 5Approval of the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan | FOR | 55 |
How to Vote
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Proxy Statement Summary (continued) |
Corporate Governance Matters
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We strive to maintain effective corporate governance practices to ensure that our company is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders. To that end, we continually review and refine our corporate governance policies, procedures, and practices. See Part 2 Corporate Governance at Biogen for more information.
Corporate Governance Highlights
Board and Board Committees | ||||
Number of Independent Director Nominees/Total Number of Director Nominees | 10/11 | |||
Number of Female Director Nominees/Total Number of Director Nominees | 3/11 | |||
Average Age of Directors Standing for Election (as of April 13, 2017) | 62 | |||
All Board Committees Consist of Independent Directors | Yes | |||
Risk Oversight by Full Board and Committees | Yes | |||
Separate Risk Committee | Yes | |||
Separate Chairman and CEO | Yes | |||
Regular Executive Sessions of Independent Directors | Yes | |||
Annual Board and Committee Self-Evaluations | Yes | |||
Annual Independent Director Evaluation of CEO | Yes | |||
Director Education and Orientation | Yes | |||
Annual Equity Grant to Directors | Yes | |||
Director - Stockholder Engagement Initiative | Yes | |||
Stockholder Rights, Accountability, and Other Governance Practices | ||||
Annual Election of All Directors | Yes | |||
Majority Voting for Directors and Resignation Policy | Yes | |||
Proxy Access Bylaw (3% ownership, 3 years, nominees for up to 25% of our Board) | Yes | |||
Annual Advisory Stockholder Vote on Executive Compensation | Yes | |||
Stockholder Ability to Call Special Meetings (25% Threshold) | Yes | |||
Stockholder Ability to Act by Written Consent | Yes | |||
Stock Ownership Guidelines for Directors and Executives | Yes | |||
Prohibition from Hedging and Pledging Securities or Otherwise Engaging in Derivative Transactions | Yes | |||
Compensation Recovery in Equity and Annual Bonus Plans | Yes | |||
Absence of a Stockholder Rights Plan (referred to as Poison Pill) | Yes | |||
Strong Commitment to Environmental and Sustainability Matters | Yes | |||
Board Oversight and Expanded Disclosure on Website Related to Corporate Political Contributions and Expenditures | Yes |
Director - Stockholder Engagement Initiative
We value the views of our stockholders and other stakeholders, and we solicit input throughout the year on topics such as business strategy, capital allocation, corporate governance, executive compensation, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. During fiscal 2016, independent members of our Board of Directors conducted outreach to stockholders to discuss a variety of issues, including business, corporate governance, and compensation related matters.
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Proxy Statement Summary (continued) |
Our Director Nominees
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Proposal 1 Election of Directors
You are being asked to vote on the election of the following eleven nominees for director. All Directors are elected annually by the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast. Detailed information about each Directors background, skill sets and areas of expertise can be found beginning on page 10.
Committee Memberships* | Other Public Boards | |||||||||||||||||
Name, Occupation, and Experience | Age* | Independent | AC | CC | CGC | FC | RC | STC | ||||||||||
Alexander J. Denner, Ph.D. Founding Partner, Sarissa Capital |
47 | Yes | 2 | |||||||||||||||
Caroline D. Dorsa Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated |
57 | Yes | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Nancy L. Leaming Retired Chief Executive Officer and President, Tufts Health Plan |
69 | Yes | | |||||||||||||||
Richard C. Mulligan, Ph.D. Portfolio Manager, Icahn Capital LP and Mallinckrodt Professor of Genetics, Emeritus, Harvard Medical School |
62 | Yes | | |||||||||||||||
Robert W. Pangia Partner, Ivy Capital Partners, LLC |
65 | Yes | | |||||||||||||||
Stelios Papadopoulos, Ph.D. Chairman, Biogen Inc., and Chairman, Exelixis, Inc. and Regulus Therapeutics Inc. |
68 | Yes | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Brian S. Posner President, Point Rider Group and Private Investor |
55 | Yes | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Eric K. Rowinsky, M.D. President and Executive Chairman of RGenix, Inc. |
60 | Yes | 2 | |||||||||||||||
The Honorable Lynn Schenk Attorney, Former Chief of Staff to the Governor of California and Former U.S. Congresswoman |
72 | Yes | 1 | |||||||||||||||
Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D. Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Advisor to Life Sciences Companies |
68 | Yes | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Michel Vounatsos Chief Executive Officer, Biogen Inc. |
55 | No | |
* Age and Committee memberships are as of April 13, 2017.
AC: Audit Committee | CGC: Corporate Governance Committee | RC: Risk Committee | ||
CC: Compensation and Management Development Committee | FC: Finance Committee | STC: Science and Technology Committee |
Chair: | Member: | Financial Expert: |
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Proxy Statement Summary (continued) |
Our Auditors
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Proposal 2 Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
You are being asked to vote to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017. Detailed information about this proposal can be found beginning on page 24.
Executive Compensation Matters
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Proposal 3 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
Our Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Companys named executive officers (NEOs) as described in this Proxy Statement (the say-on-pay vote). Detailed information about the compensation paid to our NEOs can be found beginning on page 27.
Our compensation program embodies a pay-for-performance philosophy that supports our business strategy and aligns executive interests with those of our stockholders. Highlights of our compensation program for 2016 and our compensation best practices follow.
Pay-for-Performance | ||
Short- and long-term incentive compensation rewards financial, strategic, and operational performance and goals that are set to support our long-range plans. |
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Approximately 91% of the compensation pay mix for George A. Scangos, our former CEO, was performance-based and at-risk in 2016. |
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Approximately 84% of the compensation pay mix for our other for our other full-year active NEOs serving at the end of 2016 was performance-based and at-risk in 2016. |
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Other Compensation Best Practices | ||
We provide competitive total pay opportunities after consideration of many factors, including comparative data from a carefully selected peer group. |
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An independent compensation consultant assists our Compensation and Management Development Committee in setting executive and non-employee director compensation. |
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Our compensation programs do not encourage unnecessary and excessive risk taking, and risk assessments are conducted annually. |
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Payments under our annual bonus plan are performance-based and capped. |
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Long-term incentive awards are performance-based and subject to multi-year vesting. |
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Any stock option awards are granted at fair market value; We do not backdate or reprice stock option awards. |
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We maintain robust share ownership guidelines for executive officers and directors. |
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Compensation may be recouped/clawed back under our equity and annual bonus plans. |
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A double-trigger is required for accelerated equity vesting upon change in control for all post-2014 grants. |
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In June 2009, we adopted a policy to eliminate excise tax gross ups for newly-hired executives. |
-vi- |
Proxy Statement Summary (continued) |
Other Management Proposals
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Proposal 4 Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
Proposal 3 above requests that you cast an advisory vote for the compensation paid to the Companys NEOs as described in this Proxy Statement (the say-on-pay vote). In this Proposal 4, as required pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act, you are being asked to cast a non-binding, advisory vote on how frequently we should have say-on-pay votes in the future. You can vote to hold say-on-pay votes every one, two, or three years, or you can abstain from voting. Our Board of Directors believes that say-on-pay votes should be held annually to give stockholders the opportunity to provide regular input on our executive compensation programs and increase our Boards accountability for its compensation decisions and therefore recommends that stockholders vote for the one year option. Detailed information about this proposal can be found on page 55.
Proposal 5 Approval of the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan
You are being asked to approve the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan. Our Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of our Compensation and Management Development Committee, approved the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan, subject to stockholder approval. The Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan will not become effective unless and until it is approved by our stockholders.
The Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan will allow our Compensation and Management Development Committee to make grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, and other awards (including performance-based awards) to employees. Our Board believes that equity awards have been, and will continue to be, a critical part of our total compensation program and allow us to attract and retain the key talent needed to effectively compete in our industry, incentivize superior results and long-term value creation, and align the interests of our employees with those of our stockholders. As discussed in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis, equity compensation is a key element of total compensation at Biogen, and the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan will allow us to continue to grant this key element of compensation and to attract and retain key employees and motivate superior results with long-term incentive awards. Detailed information about this proposal can be found beginning on page 55.
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1 | General Information About the Meeting |
Biogen Inc.
225 Binney Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
The Board of Directors of Biogen Inc. is soliciting your proxy to vote at our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders (Annual Meeting) to be held at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 for the purposes summarized in the accompanying Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K is also available with this Proxy Statement.
References in this Proxy Statement to Biogen or the Company, we, us, and our refer to Biogen Inc.
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting? | At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will vote upon the matters that are summarized in the formal meeting notice. This Proxy Statement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on the matters before the meeting.
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Can I attend the Annual Meeting? | We will be hosting the Annual Meeting virtually via the Internet.
Any stockholder can listen to and participate in the Annual Meeting live via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017. The Annual Meeting will start at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 7, 2017. Stockholders may vote and submit questions while connected to the Annual Meeting on the Internet.
You will not be able to attend the meeting in person.
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What do I need in order to be able to participate in the Annual Meeting online? | You will need the 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or your proxy card or voting instruction form in order to be able to vote your shares or submit questions during the Annual Meeting. If you do not have your 16-digit control number, you will be able to listen to the meeting only you will not be able to vote or submit questions during the meeting.
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Who can vote? | Each share of our common stock that you own as of the close of business on the record date of April 10, 2017 (Record Date) entitles you to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, 213,616,278 shares of our common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote. We are making this Proxy Statement and other Annual Meeting materials available on the Internet or, upon request, by sending printed versions of these materials on or about April 26, 2017 to all stockholders of record as of the Record Date. For ten days before the Annual Meeting, a list of stockholders entitled to vote will be available for inspection at our offices located at 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142 and will be available for examination during the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017. If you would like to review the list, please call our Investor Relations department at (781) 464-2442.
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1 | General Information About the Meeting (continued) |
What am I voting on at the Annual Meeting? | Stockholders will be asked to vote on the following items at the Annual Meeting:
The election to our Board of Directors of the eleven director nominees (Proposal 1);
The ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 (Proposal 2);
The advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 3);
The advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 4);
The approval of the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan (Proposal 5); and
The transaction of such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting and any adjournments or postponements.
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What is the recommendation of our Board on each of the matters scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting? | Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote:
FOR each of the director nominees (Proposal 1);
FOR the ratification of the selection of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 (Proposal 2);
On an advisory basis, FOR the approval of our executive compensation (Proposal 3);
On an advisory basis, for the ONE YEAR option as the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 4); and
FOR the approval of the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan (Proposal 5).
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How do proxies work? | Our Board of Directors is asking for your proxy authorizing the individuals named as proxies to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting in the manner you direct. You may abstain from voting on any matter. If you submit your proxy without specifying your voting instructions, we will vote your shares on the matters scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting in accordance with our Board of Directors recommendations described above. As to any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement, the individuals named as proxies will vote your shares at the Annual Meeting in accordance with their best judgment.
Shares represented by valid proxies received in time for the Annual Meeting and not revoked before the Annual Meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting. You can revoke your proxy and change your vote in the manner described below (under the heading Can I revoke or change my vote after I submit my proxy?). If your shares are held through a bank, broker, or other nominee, please follow the instructions that you were provided by your bank, broker, or other nominee.
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1 | General Information About the Meeting (continued) |
How do I vote and what are the voting deadlines? | Stockholders of Record. If you are a stockholder of record, there are several ways for you to vote your shares.
By Internet. You may vote at www.proxyvote.com, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or your proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials). Votes submitted through the Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 6, 2017.
By Telephone. You may vote using a touch-tone telephone by calling 1-800-690-6903, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or your proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials). Votes submitted by telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 6, 2017.
By Mail. If you received printed proxy materials, you may submit your vote by completing, signing, and dating each proxy card received and returning it in the prepaid envelope. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy card. Proxy cards submitted by mail must be received no later than June 6, 2017 to be voted at the Annual Meeting.
During the Annual Meeting. You may vote during the Annual Meeting by going to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017. You will need the 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or your proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials).
If you vote via the Internet or by telephone, your electronic vote authorizes the named proxies in the same manner as if you signed, dated, and returned your proxy card. If you vote via the Internet or by telephone, do not return your proxy card.
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Beneficial Owners. If your shares are held in a brokerage account in your brokers name, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name. If you are a beneficial owner of your shares, you should have received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or voting instructions from the bank, broker, or other nominee holding your shares. You should follow the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or voting instructions provided by your bank, broker, or other nominee in order to instruct your bank, broker, or other nominee on how to vote your shares. The availability of telephone and Internet voting will depend on the voting process of the bank, broker or other nominee. Shares held beneficially may not be voted during the Annual Meeting; instead a beneficial holder must instruct their bank, broker, or other nominee in advance of the meeting.
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1 | General Information About the Meeting (continued) |
Can I revoke or change my vote after I submit my proxy? | Stockholders of Record. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke or change your vote at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting by:
signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, to be received no later than June 6, 2017;
submitting a later-dated vote by telephone or via the Internet only your latest Internet or telephone proxy received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on June 6, 2017, will be counted;
participating in the Annual Meeting virtually via the Internet and voting again; or
delivering a written revocation to our Secretary at Biogen Inc., 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, to be received no later than June 6, 2017.
Only your latest vote, in whatever form, will be counted.
Beneficial Owners. If you are a beneficial owner of your shares, you must contact the bank, broker, or other nominee holding your shares and follow their instructions for revoking or changing your vote.
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Will my shares be counted if I do not vote? | Stockholders of Record. If you are the stockholder of record and you do not vote before the Annual Meeting by proxy card, telephone, or via the Internet, or during the Annual Meeting via the Internet, your shares will not be voted at the Annual Meeting.
Beneficial Owners. If you are the beneficial owner of shares, your bank, broker, or other nominee, as the record holder of the shares, is required to vote those shares in accordance with your instructions. If no voting instructions are provided, these record holders can vote your shares only on discretionary, or routine, matters and not on non-discretionary, or non-routine, matters. Uninstructed shares whose votes cannot be counted on non-routine matters result in what are commonly referred to as broker non-votes.
The proposal to ratify the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm is a routine matter and the other proposals are non-routine matters. If you do not give your broker voting instructions, your broker (1) will be entitled to vote your shares on the proposal to ratify the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm and (2) will not be entitled to vote your shares on the other proposals. We urge you to provide instructions to your bank, broker, or other nominee so that your votes may be counted on all of these important matters.
You should vote your shares by telephone or by Internet according to the instructions provided by your bank, broker, or other nominee or by signing, dating, and returning a printed voting instruction form to your bank, broker, or other nominee to ensure that your shares are voted on your behalf.
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How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting? | A majority of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of the Record Date must be present at the Annual Meeting to hold the Annual Meeting and conduct business. This is called a quorum. Shares voted in the manner described above (under the heading How do I vote and what are the voting deadlines?) will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting. Shares that are present and entitled to vote on one or more of the matters to be voted upon are counted as present for establishing a quorum. If a quorum is not present, we expect that the Annual Meeting will be adjourned until we obtain a quorum.
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1 | General Information About the Meeting (continued) |
What vote is required to approve each proposal and how are votes counted? | Proposal 1: Election of Directors: Directors are elected by a majority vote of the votes cast in uncontested elections that is, a director will be elected if more votes are cast for that directors election than against that director and by a plurality of votes cast in contested elections that is, the directors receiving the highest number of For votes will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, are not counted for purposes of electing directors and will have no effect on the results of this vote.
Proposal 2: Ratification of PwC: The affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and having voting power at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the selection of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal. Brokers generally have discretionary authority to vote on the ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm, thus we do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal.
Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation: Because this proposal asks for a non-binding, advisory vote, there is no required vote that would constitute approval. We value the opinions expressed by our stockholders in this advisory vote, and our Compensation and Management Development Committee of our Board of Directors (sometimes referred to in this Proxy Statement as the Compensation Committee), which is responsible for overseeing and administering our executive compensation programs, will consider the outcome of the vote when designing our compensation programs and making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not have any effect on the results of those deliberations.
Proposal 4: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation: This proposal also calls for a non-binding, advisory vote. Our Board of Directors has recommended an annual vote, and we believe that stockholders will overwhelmingly support that recommendation. However, if another frequency receives more votes, our Board of Directors will take that fact into account when making its decision on how often to hold executive compensation advisory votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not have any effect on the results of those deliberations.
Proposal 5: Approval of the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan: The affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and having voting power at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan. Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal and broker non-votes will not have any effect on the results of this proposal.
| |
Are there other matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting? | We do not know of any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, your proxy authorizes the individuals named as proxies to vote, or otherwise act, in accordance with their best judgment.
|
5 |
1 | General Information About the Meeting (continued) |
Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials? | We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials on the Internet, consistent with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, in most instances we are mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to our stockholders. You can access our proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or you may request printed versions of our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting. In addition, you may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis.
| |
What does it mean if I receive more than one notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials or more than one set of printed proxy materials? | If you hold your shares in more than one account, you may receive a separate Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or a separate set of printed proxy materials, including a separate proxy card or voting instruction form, for each account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please vote by telephone or by Internet or sign, date, and return a proxy card or voting instruction form for each account.
| |
Where do I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting? | We will publish the voting results of the Annual Meeting in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days after the end of the Annual Meeting. You may request a copy of this Form 8-K by contacting Investor Relations, Biogen Inc., 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, (781) 464-2442. You will also be able to find a copy of this Form 8-K on the Internet through the SECs electronic data system, called EDGAR, at www.sec.gov or through the Investors section of our website, www.biogen.com.
| |
Who should I call if I have any questions? | If you have any questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please contact the bank, broker, or other nominee holding your shares, or our Investor Relations department at (781) 464-2442.
|
6 |
2 | Corporate Governance at Biogen |
7 |
2 | Corporate Governance at Biogen (continued) |
8 |
2 | Corporate Governance at Biogen (continued) |
9 |
3 | Board of Directors |
Proposal 1 Election of Directors
|
||||
Our Board of Directors currently consists of the following directors, all serving one-year terms extending until the Annual Meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified:
Alexander J. Denner | Robert W. Pangia | Lynn Schenk | ||
Caroline D. Dorsa | Stelios Papadopoulos | Stephen A. Sherwin | ||
Nancy L. Leaming | Brian S. Posner | Michel Vounatsos | ||
Richard C. Mulligan | Eric K. Rowinsky |
Other than Mr. Vounatsos, all directors are standing for reelection to serve a one-year term extending until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless they resign or are removed. Mr. Vounatsos was appointed to our Board of Directors in January 2017 and is standing for election to serve a one-year term extending until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualified, unless he resigns or is removed. Our Board of Directors has nominated these eleven directors based on its carefully considered judgment that the experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills of our nominees qualify them to serve on our Board of Directors. As described in detail below, our nominees have considerable professional and business expertise. We know of no reason why any nominee would be unable to accept nomination or election.
If any nominee is unable to serve on our Board of Directors, the shares represented by your proxy will be voted for the election of such other person as may be nominated by our Board of Directors. In addition, in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, we will file an amended proxy statement and proxy card that, as applicable, (1) identifies the alternate nominee(s), (2) discloses that such nominees have consented to being named in the revised proxy statement and to serve if elected, and (3) includes the disclosure required by Item 7 of Schedule 14A with respect to such nominees. All nominees have consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected.
Our Nominees for Director
(Information is as of April 13, 2017)
Alexander J. Denner, Ph.D.
|
| Experience |
Dr. Denner, 47, has served as one of our directors since 2009. Dr. Denner is a founding partner and Chief Investment Officer of Sarissa Capital Management LP. Sarissa Capital focuses on improving the strategies of companies to better provide shareholder value. From 2006 to 2011, Dr. Denner served as a Senior Managing Director at Icahn Capital. Prior to that, he served as a portfolio manager at Viking Global Investors and Morgan Stanley Investment Management.
| Qualifications |
Dr. Denner has significant experience overseeing the operations and research and development of healthcare companies and evaluating corporate governance matters. He also has extensive experience as an investor, particularly with respect to healthcare companies, and possesses broad healthcare industry knowledge.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Corporate Governance (Chair)
Finance
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
The Medicines Company
Bioverativ Inc.
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Chair)
Vivus, Inc.
Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
10 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Caroline D. Dorsa
|
| Experience |
Ms. Dorsa, 57, has served as one of our directors since 2010. Ms. Dorsa served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, a diversified energy company, from April 2009 until her retirement in October 2015, and served on its Board of Directors from 2003 to April 2009. From February 2008 to April 2009, she served as Senior Vice President, Global Human Health, Strategy and Integration at Merck & Co., Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From November 2007 to January 2008, Ms. Dorsa served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gilead Sciences, Inc., a life sciences company. From February 2007 to November 2007, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Avaya, Inc., a telecommunications company. From 1987 to January 2007, Ms. Dorsa held various financial and operational positions at Merck & Co., Inc., including Vice President and Treasurer, Executive Director of U.S. Customer Marketing and Executive Director of U.S. Pricing and Strategic Planning. Ms. Dorsa also serves as a director of Illumina, Inc., Intellia Therapeutics, Inc., and as a Trustee of the Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, the Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund, and the Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund, investment funds within the Goldman Sachs fund complex.
| Qualifications |
Ms. Dorsa has significant financial and accounting expertise and a deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry. Her strategic perspective on the industry is particularly valuable to our Board of Directors as it oversees our growth initiatives and reviews both internal development projects and external opportunities.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Audit (Chair)
Risk
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
Illumina, Inc.
Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.
Goldman Sachs Investment Funds
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
None
Nancy L. Leaming
|
| Experience |
Ms. Leaming, 69, has served as one of our directors since 2008. Ms. Leaming has been an independent consultant since 2005. From 2003 to 2005, she served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Tufts Health Plan, a provider of healthcare insurance. From 1986 to 2003, Ms. Leaming served in several executive positions at Tufts Health Plan, including President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer.
| Qualifications |
Ms. Leaming has well-developed leadership skills and financial acumen and provides insights into the healthcare reimbursement and payor market, where she served for 20 years in senior operational, financial, and managerial roles.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Audit
Risk
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
None
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
Edgewater Technology, Inc.
Hologic, Inc.
11 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Richard C. Mulligan, Ph.D.
|
| Experience |
Dr. Mulligan, 62, has served as one of our directors since 2009. He is currently a Portfolio Manager at Icahn Capital LP and, since 2013, the Mallinckrodt Professor of Genetics, Emeritus, at Harvard Medical School, after serving as the Mallinckrodt Professor of Genetics and Director of the Harvard Gene Therapy Initiative since 1996. Prior to that, he was Professor of Molecular Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and the Chief Scientific Officer of Somatix Therapy Corporation, a drug discovery and development company that he founded. Dr. Mulligan was a founding partner of Sarissa Capital Management LP, an investment firm, from 2013 to 2016. Dr. Mulligan was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow in 1981.
| Qualifications |
Dr. Mulligan has scientific expertise in the areas of molecular biology, genetics, gene therapy, and biotechnology, as well as extensive experience within the healthcare industry, including overseeing the operations and research and development of healthcare companies.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Science and Technology (Chair)
Compensation and Management Development
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
None
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
Cellectis SA
Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Robert W. Pangia
|
| Experience |
Mr. Pangia, 65, served as a director of the Company from 1997 to 2003 during the period the Company was operated as IDEC Pharmaceuticals, and has served as a director since 2003 following IDECs merger with Biogen Inc. Mr. Pangia has been a partner in Ivy Capital Partners, LLC, the general partner of Ivy Healthcare Capital, L.P., a private equity fund specializing in healthcare investments, since 2003. From 2011 to 2016 he was also the Chief Executive Officer of Ivy Sports Medicine, LLC, a medical device company. From October 2007 to October 2009, he also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Highlands Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company. From 1996 to 2003, Mr. Pangia was self-employed as an investment banker. From 1987 to 1996, he held various senior management positions at PaineWebber, a financial services company, including Executive Vice President and Director of Investment Banking for PaineWebber Incorporated of New York, a member of the Board of Directors of PaineWebber, Inc., Chairman of PaineWebber Properties, Inc., and a member of several of PaineWebbers executive and operating committees.
| Qualifications |
Mr. Pangia has significant financial acumen and breadth of expertise within the healthcare industry.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Compensation and Management Development (Chair)
Finance
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
None
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
None
12 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Stelios Papadopoulos, Ph.D.
|
| Experience |
Dr. Papadopoulos, 68, has served as one of our directors since 2008 and as our independent Chairman since June 2014. Dr. Papadopoulos also serves as the Chairman of Regulus Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and Exelixis, Inc., a drug discovery and development company that he co-founded in 1994. Previously, he was an investment banker with Cowen & Co., LLC, a financial services company, focusing on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, from 2000 until his retirement as Vice Chairman in August 2006. Prior to joining Cowen & Co., Dr. Papadopoulos served for 13 years as an investment banker at PaineWebber, Inc., a financial services company, where he was most recently Chairman of PaineWebber Development Corp., a PaineWebber subsidiary focusing on biotechnology.
| Qualifications |
Having founded multiple life sciences companies and worked as an investment banker focused on the life sciences industry, Dr. Papadopoulos brings to our Board of Directors a firsthand understanding of the demands of establishing, growing, and running life sciences businesses.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Audit
Finance
Science and Technology
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
BG Medicine, Inc.
Exelixis, Inc. (Chair)
Regulus Therapeutics, Inc. (Chair)
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
None
Brian S. Posner
|
| Experience |
Mr. Posner, 55, has served as one of our directors since 2008. Mr. Posner has been a private investor since March 2008 and is the President of Point Rider Group LLC, a consulting and advisory services firm serving predominantly the financial services industry, as well as institutional investors seeking to make control investments in that industry. From 2005 to March 2008, Mr. Posner served as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and co-Chief Investment Officer of ClearBridge Advisors LLC, an asset management company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. Prior to that, Mr. Posner co-founded Hygrove Partners LLC, a private investment fund, in 2000 and served as its Managing Partner for five years. He served as a portfolio manager and an analyst at Fidelity Investments, a financial services company, from 1987 to 1996 and, from 1997 to 1999, at Warburg Pincus Asset Management/Credit Suisse Asset Management where he also served as co-Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research.
| Qualifications |
Given his substantial experience as a leading institutional investment manager and advisor, Mr. Posner brings a professional investors perspective and significant management and financial expertise that are valuable to our Board of Directors as it oversees our strategy for enhancing stockholder value.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Finance (Chair)
Audit
Corporate Governance
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
Arch Capital Group Ltd.
AQR Funds
Bioverativ Inc. (Chair)
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
BG Medicine, Inc.
River Park Funds
13 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Eric K. Rowinsky, M.D.
|
| Experience |
Dr. Rowinsky, 60, has served as one of our directors since 2010. He has served as President of RGenix, Inc., a privately-held life sciences company, since November 2015 and as its Executive Chairman since December 2015. From January 2012 to November 2015, Dr. Rowinsky was the Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Stemline Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focusing on the discovery and development of therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells. Dr. Rowinsky is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at New York University and has been an independent consultant since January 2010. Prior to that, he was the Chief Medical Officer of Primrose Therapeutics, Inc., a start-up biotechnology company focusing on the development of therapeutics for polycystic kidney disease, from August 2010 until its acquisition in September 2011. From 2005 to December 2009, he served as the Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of ImClone Systems Incorporated, a life sciences company. From 1996 to 2004, Dr. Rowinsky held several positions at the Cancer Therapy & Research Centers Institute for Drug Development, including Director of the Institute and Director of Clinical Research. During that time, he held the SBC Endowed Chair for Early Drug Development and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. From 1988 to 1996, Dr. Rowinsky was an Associate Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and on the staff of the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
| Qualifications |
Dr. Rowinsky has extensive research and drug development experience, oncology expertise, and broad scientific and medical knowledge.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Compensation and Management Development
Corporate Governance
Science and Technology
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
Fortress Biotech Inc.
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
BIND Therapeutics, Inc.
14 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Lynn Schenk, J.D.
|
| Experience |
Ms. Schenk, 72, served as a director of the Company from 1995 to 2003 during the period the Company was operated as IDEC Pharmaceuticals, and has served as a director since 2003 following IDECs merger with Biogen Inc. Ms. Schenk is an attorney and consultant in private practice with extensive public policy and business experience. She is also a member of the Board of Overseers of the Scripps Research Institute, a director of the California High Speed Rail Authority Board, and a trustee of the University of California, San Diego Foundation. From 1999 to 2003, she served as Chief of Staff to the Governor of California, during which time she led the effort to create the Institutes for Science and Innovation at the University of California. She headed the States Executive Branch risk management team post 9/11 and during the California energy crisis. From 1993 to 1995, Ms. Schenk was a Member of the United States House of Representatives, representing San Diego, California and served on the House Energy & Commerce Committee with a special emphasis on biotechnology. From 1980 to 1983, she was the California Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing during which time she formed the California Commission on Industrial Innovation. Ms. Schenk is a member of the Board of Directors of Sempra Energy, an energy services and development company, and serves on the Compensation Committee and Environmental Health, Safety and Technology Committee of which she is the Chair.
| Qualifications |
Ms. Schenks strong public policy, government, legal, and private sector experience provides vital insights to our Board of Directors about significant issues affecting the highly regulated life sciences industry. She brings public sector operations and management expertise to our Board of Directors. She has demonstrated her commitment to boardroom excellence by completing the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) comprehensive program of study for corporate directors. She supplements her skill sets through ongoing engagement with the director community, and access to leading practices.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Risk (Chair)
Compensation and Management Development
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
Sempra Energy
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
None
15 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D.
|
| Experience |
Dr. Sherwin, 68, has served as one of our directors since 2010. Dr. Sherwin currently divides his time between advisory work in the life sciences industry and patient care and teaching in his specialty of medical oncology. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and a volunteer Attending Physician in Hematology-Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Sherwin also currently serves as a venture partner with Third Rock Ventures, LLC. Dr. Sherwin previously served as the Chairman of Ceregene, Inc., a life sciences company that he co-founded, from 2001 until its acquisition by Sangamo Biosciences, Inc. in 2013. He was also a co-founder and chairman of Abgenix, Inc., an antibody company which was acquired by Amgen Inc. in 2006. From 1990 to October 2009, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Cell Genesys, Inc., a life sciences company, and was its Chairman from 1994 until the companys merger with BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in October 2009. Prior to that, he held various positions at Genentech, Inc., a life sciences company, most recently as Vice President, Clinical Research. Dr. Sherwin is a member of the Boards of Directors of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Aduro Biotech, Inc., all of which are clinical-stage life sciences companies. During the past five years, Dr. Sherwin also served as a director of BioSante Pharmaceuticals until its merger with ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in September 2013, Vical Inc., and Verastem Inc.
| Qualifications |
Dr. Sherwin has extensive knowledge of the life sciences industry and brings more than 30 years of experience in senior leadership positions at large and small publicly traded life sciences companies to our Board of Directors.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
Finance
Risk
Science and Technology
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
Aduro Biotech, Inc.
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*
* On February 22, 2017, Dr. Sherwin notified Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of his decision to not stand for re-election and to resign from the Board of Directors of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective May 11, 2017.
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
Biosante Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Vical, Inc.
Verastem, Inc.
16 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Michel Vounatsos
|
| Experience |
Mr. Vounatsos, 55, has served as our Chief Executive Officer and one of our directors since January 2017. Prior to that, from April 2016 to December 2016, he served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to joining Biogen, Mr. Vounatsos spent 20 years at Merck & Co., Inc., a pharmaceutical company, where he most recently served as President, Primary Care, Customer Business Line. In this role, he led Mercks global primary care business unit, a role which encompassed Mercks cardiology-metabolic, general medicine, womens health, and biosimilars groups and developed and instituted a strategic framework for enhancing the companys relationships with key constituents, including the most significant providers, payers, and retailers and the worlds largest governments. Mr. Vounatsos previously held leadership positions across Europe and in China for Merck. Prior to that, Mr. Vounatsos held management positions at Ciba-Geigy. Mr. Vounatsos received his C.S.C.T. certificate in Medicine from the Universite Victor Segalen, Bordeaux II, France, and his M.B.A. from the HEC School of Management in Paris.
| Qualifications |
Mr. Vounatsos has significant knowledge and experience with respect to the biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries, a comprehensive leadership background resulting from service as an executive in the pharmaceutical industry, and studied medicine as part of his educational background.
| Biogen Committee Memberships |
None
| Other Current Public Company Boards |
None
| Former Public Company Directorships Held in the Past Five Years |
None
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE NAMED ABOVE.
17 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Our Board of Directors met 17 times in 2016. Our Board of Directors also has six standing committees. The principal functions of each committee, the committee composition in 2016, and number of meetings held in 2016 are described in the table below. The Chair of each committee periodically reports to our Board of Directors on committee deliberations and decisions. Each committees charter is posted on our website, www.biogen.com, under the Corporate Governance subsection of the Investors section of the website. Also posted there are our Corporate Governance Principles, which, together with our committee charters, comprise our governance framework.
Committee | Function | 2016 Members | Meetings in 2016 |
|||||
Audit |
Assists our Board of Directors in its oversight of: the integrity of our financial statements; our accounting and financial reporting processes; the independence, qualifications, and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm; our global tax compliance and tax audit processes; and our internal audit and corporate compliance functions.
Our Audit Committee has the sole authority and direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention, evaluation, and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. |
Caroline D. Dorsa (Chair) Nancy L. Leaming Stelios Papadopoulos Brian S. Posner |
10 | |||||
Compensation and Management Development |
Assists our Board of Directors with oversight of executive compensation and management development, including: recommending to our Board of Directors the compensation for our Chief Executive Officer, and approving the compensation for our other executive officers; administration of our short- and long-term incentive plans; reviewing executive and senior management development programs (including succession plans for executives and senior management); and recommending to our Board of Directors the compensation of our non-employee directors. |
Robert W. Pangia (Chair) Caroline D. Dorsa* Richard C. Mulligan Eric K. Rowinsky Lynn Schenk |
18 | |||||
Corporate Governance |
Assists our Board of Directors in assuring sound corporate governance practices and identifying qualified nominees to our Board of Directors and its committees. | Alexander J. Denner (Chair) Brian S. Posner Eric K. Rowinsky Lynn Schenk* |
12 | |||||
Finance |
Assists our Board of Directors with oversight of our financial strategy, policies, and practices. | Brian S. Posner (Chair) Alexander J. Denner Robert W. Pangia Stelios Papadopoulos Stephen A. Sherwin |
14 | |||||
Risk |
Assists our Board of Directors with oversight of managements exercise of its responsibility to assess and manage risks associated with our business and operations.
For more information on our Board oversight of risks, please see Board Risk Oversight below. |
Lynn Schenk (Chair) Alexander J. Denner* Caroline D. Dorsa Nancy L. Leaming Stephen A. Sherwin |
5 | |||||
Science and Technology |
Assists our Board of Directors with oversight of our key strategic decisions involving research and development matters and our intellectual property portfolio. | Richard C. Mulligan (Chair) Stelios Papadopoulos Eric K. Rowinsky Stephen A. Sherwin |
5 |
| Determined by our Board of Directors to be an audit committee financial expert. |
* | Effective April 1, 2016, this director no longer serves on this committee. |
| Special Board Committees. From time to time, our Board may establish ad hoc committees to address particular matters. In 2016, our Board had two ad hoc committees. The first ad hoc committee was comprised of Alexander J. Denner, Caroline D. Dorsa, Richard C. Mulligan, Stelios Papadopoulos, and Brian S. Posner and met 14 times in 2016. Robert W. Pangia was also a member of this committee for a portion of 2016. The second ad hoc committee was comprised of Richard C. Mulligan and Lynn Schenk and met three times in 2016. |
| Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings. No director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of meetings of our Board of Directors and the committees on which he or she served during 2016. |
18 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
| Executive Sessions. Under our Corporate Governance Principles, the independent directors of our full Board are required to meet without management present at least four times each year, and may also meet without management present at such other times as determined by our Chairman, or if requested by at least two other directors. In 2016, the independent directors of our full Board met without management present seven times. Each committee of our Board also had numerous executive sessions throughout the year. |
| Attendance at Stockholder Meeting. We expect all of our directors and director nominees to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. All of our directors attended our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. |
This section describes our compensation program for our non-employee directors and shows the compensation paid to or earned by our non-employee directors during 2016. George A. Scangos, Ph.D., our former Chief Executive Officer and a former member of our Board of Directors, received no compensation for his service on our Board during 2016. Mr. Vounatsos, our current Chief Executive Officer, receives no compensation for his service on our Board of Directors.
Retainers, Meeting Fees, and Expenses
The following table presents the retainers and meeting fees for all non-employee members of our Board of Directors in effect in 2016:
Retainers | Meeting Fees | |||||||||
Annual Board Retainer |
$ | 65,000 | Board of Directors Meetings (per meeting day): |
|||||||
Annual Retainers (in addition to Annual Board Retainer):
|
In-person attendance
|
$ | 2,500 | |||||||
Telephonic attendance |
$ | 1,500 | ||||||||
Independent Chairman of the Board |
$ | 50,000 | Committee Meetings (per meeting) |
$ | 1,500 | |||||
Audit Committee Chair |
$ | 25,000 | Attendance at Annual Science and Technology Committee Portfolio Review (per day) |
$ |
1,500 |
| ||||
Compensation and Management |
$ | 20,000 | ||||||||
Corporate Governance Committee Chair |
$ | 15,000 | ||||||||
Finance Committee Chair |
$ | 15,000 | ||||||||
Risk Committee Chair |
$ | 15,000 | ||||||||
Science and Technology Committee Chair |
$ | 15,000 | ||||||||
Audit Committee Member (other than Chair) |
$ | 5,000 |
19 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
20 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Name (a) |
Fees (b) |
Stock (c) |
Change in Pension (d) |
All Other (e) |
Total (f) |
|||||||||||
Alexander J. Denner |
$ | 173,500 | $ | 269,420 | | | $ | 442,920 | ||||||||
Caroline D. Dorsa |
$ | 170,000 | $ | 269,420 | | | $ | 439,420 | ||||||||
Nancy L. Leaming |
$ | 127,500 | $ | 269,420 | | | $ | 396,920 | ||||||||
Richard C. Mulligan |
$ | 176,500 | $ | 269,420 | | | $ | 445,920 | ||||||||
Robert W. Pangia |
$ | 153,000 | $ | 269,420 | $57,011 | | $ | 479,431 | ||||||||
Stelios Papadopoulos |
$ | 213,500 | $ | 404,130 | | $10,000 | $ | 627,630 | ||||||||
Brian S. Posner |
$ | 186,000 | $ | 269,420 | | $25,000 | $ | 480,420 | ||||||||
Eric K. Rowinsky |
$ | 151,000 | $ | 269,420 | | | $ | 420,420 | ||||||||
Lynn Schenk |
$ | 160,000 | $ | 269,420 | | $25,000 | $ | 454,420 | ||||||||
Stephen A. Sherwin |
$ | 133,000 | $ | 269,420 | | $25,000 | $ | 427,420 |
Notes to the 2016 Director Compensation Table
(1) | Reflects the grant date fair value of annual time-vested RSU grants made in 2016 to non-employee directors under the Non-Employee Directors Equity Plan, as described in the narrative preceding this table. These RSUs are scheduled to vest in full and be settled in shares on the first anniversary of the grant date, generally subject to continued service. Grant date fair values were computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718 and determined by multiplying the number of RSUs granted by the fair market value of the Companys common stock on the relevant grant date. These RSU grants were subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such awards in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ Inc. on February 1, 2017. The amounts reported in this column do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. |
(2) | The amounts in column (d) represent earnings in the Voluntary Board of Directors Savings Plan that are in excess of 120% of the average applicable federal long-term rate. The federal long-term rate for 2016 applied in this calculation is 3.14%, the federal long-term rate effective in January 2016 when the Fixed Rate Option (FRO) under this plan was established for 2016. Only Mr. Pangia has deferred compensation notionally invested in the FRO. |
(3) | The amounts in column (e) represent the amount of matching contributions made in 2016 by the Biogen Foundation on behalf of the director pursuant to the terms of a matching gift program offered by the Biogen Foundation to all U.S. employees and non-employee directors of Biogen. Under the matching gift program, the Biogen Foundation matches gifts to eligible U.S.-based non-profit organizations, in accordance with the Biogen Foundations guidelines, up to an annual maximum per donor of $25,000 per calendar year and up to a program total of $1.5 million per calendar year. The matching contributions made by the Biogen Foundation are not taxable income to the director, and the director may not take any tax deductions for such matching contributions. |
21 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Director Equity Outstanding at 2016 Fiscal Year-End
The following table summarizes the equity awards that were outstanding as of December 31, 2016 for each of the non-employee directors serving during 2016.
Option Awards(1) | Stock Awards(2) | |||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | ||||||
Alexander J. Denner |
| 1,060 | ||||||
Caroline D. Dorsa |
| 1,060 | ||||||
Nancy L. Leaming |
| 1,060 | ||||||
Richard C. Mulligan |
| 1,060 | ||||||
Robert W. Pangia |
17,125 | 1,060 | ||||||
Stelios Papadopoulos |
| 1,590 | ||||||
Brian S. Posner |
| 1,060 | ||||||
Eric K. Rowinsky |
| 1,060 | ||||||
Lynn Schenk |
| 1,060 | ||||||
Stephen A. Sherwin |
12,000 | 1,060 |
Notes to the Director Equity Outstanding at 2016 Fiscal Year-End Table
(1) | All stock options were granted with a ten-year term. Stock options vested in full on the first anniversary of the grant date. All stock options were vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2016. |
(2) | RSUs granted to non-employee directors as part of the annual grant vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date. Each RSU award was subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such award in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ Inc. on February 1, 2017. The numbers reported in this column do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. |
Our Board of Directors believes that a fundamental part of risk management is understanding the risks that we face, monitoring these risks, and adopting appropriate control and mitigation of these risks. As stated in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Board and its committees are responsible for reviewing the Companys significant risk exposures and steps taken by management to monitor and mitigate such exposure. Our Board oversees the management of material risks facing the Company. Biogen is committed to fostering a company culture of risk-adjusted decision-making without constraining reasonable risk-taking and innovation, and our Board and its committee oversees our efforts to foster this culture.
Our Board regularly receives information about our material strategic, operational, financial, and compliance risks and managements response to, and mitigation of, such risks. In addition, our risk management systems, including our risk assessment processes, internal controls over financial reporting, compliance programs, and internal and external auditing procedures are designed to inform management and our Board about our material risks. As part of its risk oversight function, our Board and its committees review this framework, its operation, and our strategies for generating long-term value for our stockholders to ensure that such strategies will not motivate management to take excessive risks.
In determining the allocation of risk oversight responsibilities, our Board and its committees generally oversee material risks within their identified areas of concern. Our Board and each committee meet regularly with management to ensure that management is exercising its responsibility to identify relevant risks and is adequately assessing, monitoring, and taking appropriate action to mitigate risk. When a committee receives a report from members of management on areas of material risk to the Company, the Chair of the relevant committee reports on the discussion to the full Board of Directors during the next Board of Directors meeting. This enables our Board and its committees to coordinate their oversight of risk and identify risk interrelationships.
22 |
3 | Board of Directors (continued) |
Our independent Chairman of the Board promotes effective communication and consideration of matters presenting significant risks to the Company through his role in developing our Boards meeting agendas, advising committee chairs, chairing meetings of the independent directors, and facilitating communications between independent directors and our Chief Executive Officer.
A summary of the key areas of risk oversight responsibility of our Board and each of its committees is set forth below:
Board or Committee | Area of Risk Oversight | |||
Board |
Corporate and commercial strategy and execution, pricing and reimbursement, competition, and other material risks. |
|||
Audit |
Financial, accounting, disclosure, corporate compliance, distributors, anti-bribery and anti-corruption matters, and other risks reviewed in its oversight of the internal audit and corporate compliance functions. |
|||
Compensation and Management Development |
Workforce and compensation matters. Oversight of compensation policies and practices, including whether such policies and practices balance risk-taking and rewards in an appropriate manner as discussed further below. |
|||
Corporate Governance |
Corporate governance and board succession, director independence, potential conflicts of interest, and related party transactions involving directors and executive officers. |
|||
Finance |
Financial, capital, and credit risks. |
|||
Risk |
Review of the Companys risk governance framework and infrastructure designed to identify, assess, manage, and monitor the Companys material risks. Review of the risk management policies, guidelines, and practices implemented by Company management. The allocation of risk oversight responsibilities to our Board and its committees. Information technology, cybersecurity, environmental, health and sustainability, and other material risks not allocated to our Board or another committee. Material government and other investigations. |
|||
Science and Technology |
Research and development activities, clinical development and drug safety, and intellectual property. |
The Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) section of this Proxy Statement describes our compensation policies, programs, and practices for our named executive officers. Our goal-setting, performance assessment, and compensation decision-making processes described in the CD&A apply to all employees. We offer a limited number of short-term cash incentive plans, with employees eligible for either our annual bonus plan or a sales incentive compensation plan; no employee is eligible to participate in more than one cash incentive plan at any time. Our annual bonus plan is consistently maintained for all participants globally, with the same Company performance goals, payout levels, and administrative provisions regardless of the participants job level, location, or function in the Company. We also have a long-term incentive program that provides different forms of awards depending upon an employees level, but is otherwise consistent throughout the Company.
In the CD&A, we describe the risk-mitigation controls for our compensation programs, including the role of our Compensation Committee to review and approve the design, goals, and payouts under our annual bonus plan and long-term incentive program and to each executive officers compensation. In addition, we have reviewed the processes, controls, and design of our sales incentive compensation plans. Based on our assessment, we believe that, through a combination of risk-mitigating features and incentives guided by relevant market practices and Company-wide goals, our compensation policies, programs, and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
23 |
4 | Audit Committee Matters |
Proposal 2 Ratification of the Selection of Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
||||
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF
THE SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017.
24 |
4 | Audit Committee Matters (continued) |
25 |
4 | Audit Committee Matters (continued) |
Policy on Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services
26 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters |
Proposal 3 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
|
||||
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION SET FORTH ABOVE.
27 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
|
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) describes our compensation strategy, philosophy, policies, and practices underlying our executive compensation programs for 2016. It also provides information regarding the manner and context in which compensation was earned by and awarded to our 2016 named executive officers listed below, whom we refer to collectively as named executive officers or NEOs.
George A. Scangos, Ph.D.* Former Chief Executive Officer |
Michel P. Vounatsos, M.B.A.* Chief Executive Officer and Former Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer |
Paul J. Clancy, M.B.A. Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
John G. Cox, M.S., M.B.A.** Former Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology of Biogen and Chief Executive Officer of Bioverativ |
Michael Ehlers, M.D., Ph.D. Executive Vice President, Research and Development |
* | Dr. Scangos ceased to be our Chief Executive Officer in January 2017 and Mr. Vounatsos was appointed our Chief Executive Officer effective in January 2017. From April 2016 to December 2016, Mr. Vounatsos served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer. |
** | Mr. Cox served as our Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology through June 30, 2016 and thereafter served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Bioverativ, which was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company until it was spun-off in February 2017. In addition, from October 2015 through May 2016, Mr. Cox also served as our interim Executive Vice President, Global Therapeutics Operations. Mr. Cox voluntarily separated from the Company on January 31, 2017 in connection with the closing of the Bioverativ spin-off. |
|
Financial Performance
We had moderate financial growth in 2016 when compared to our performance in 2015.
A reconciliation of our GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is provided in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
28 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
Product and Pipeline Developments
Approvals
| SPINRAZA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in pediatric and adult patients in the U.S., the first approved treatment for this disease. |
| ZINBRYTA was approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the U.S. by the FDA and in the European Union (EU) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). |
| BENEPALI and FLIXABI, two anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biosimilars developed through our joint venture, Samsung Bioepis, were approved by the European Commission (EC). |
| The EC approved a variation to the marketing authorization of TYSABRI, which extended its indication to include relapsing-remitting MS patients with highly active disease activity despite a full and adequate course of treatment with at least one disease modifying therapy. TYSABRI was previously indicated only for patients who had failed to respond to beta-interferon or glatiramer acetate in the EU. |
Applications for Marketing and Agency Actions
Biologics license applications, new drug applications, and/or marketing authorization applications for product candidates were accepted by the FDA or the EMA:
| SPINRAZA new drug application submitted to the FDA and marketing authorization application validated by the EMA for the treatment of SMA. |
| Aducanumab for the treatment of early Alzheimers disease granted Fast Track designation by the FDA and accepted into the EMAs Priority Medicines (PRIME) program. |
| Adalimumab (SB5), an anti-TNF biosimilar developed through our joint venture, Samsung Bioepis, marketing authorization application submitted to EMA. |
Data Readouts
| Opicinumab (Anti-Lingo-1) (Phase 2 relapsing MS) |
| Aducanumab (Phase 1b Alzheimers disease presented new data supporting the ongoing Phase 3 studies) |
| SPINRAZA (Phase 3 SMA in infants and children) |
Leadership Team
At the core of what we do are our people and our leaders. As a result, our goal is to find top-tier talent with the skills necessary to imagine and lead us into the future. We advanced this goal in 2016 with the addition of three key members to our leadership team.
| Michel Vounatsos, Chief Executive Officer, formerly Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Vounatsos joined us in April 2016 as our Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer after a 20-year career with Merck and became our Chief Executive Officer in January 2017. While at Merck, he held leadership positions of increasing responsibility in Europe, China, and the U.S., driving significant and consistent growth across multiple geographies. We believe that his significant knowledge and experience with respect to the biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries, and his comprehensive leadership background, will guide Biogen in the next phase of its evolution. |
| Michael Ehlers, Executive Vice President, Research and Development. Dr. Ehlers joined us in May 2016 from Pfizer, where he was Senior Vice President & Head, BioTherapeutics R&D and the Chief Scientific Officer, Neuroscience & Pain. Prior to joining Pfizer in 2010, Dr. Ehlers was the George Barth Geller Professor of Neurobiology and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Duke University Medical Center, where he pioneered studies on neuronal organelles and the trafficking of neurotransmitter receptors. He holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has authored more than 100 scientific papers. We believe Dr. Ehlers will play a critical role in not only research and development but our overall mission. |
| Paul McKenzie, Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology. Dr. McKenzie joined us in February 2016 from Johnson & Johnson, where he held a variety of leadership roles, most recently as vice president of R&D for Johnson & Johnsons Ethicon business. Prior to that role, he led the manufacturing and technical operations team responsible for internal and external manufacturing of Janssens pharmaceutical portfolio. He also ran Global |
29 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
Development for Janssen R&D, helping to manage pipeline activities from discovery through clinical development and commercialization. Dr. McKenzie also held various R&D and manufacturing positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck. We believe that Dr. McKenzies extensive technical and development expertise will allow him to lead the next phase of growth across Biogens development and manufacturing operations. |
Hemophilia Spin-off
| Announced in May 2016 our intention to spin off our hemophilia business, Bioverativ, as an independent, publicly traded company and completed the spin-off on February 1, 2017. |
Capital Allocation
| Announced a $5.0 billion stock repurchase program and returned approximately $1.0 billion to stockholders in 2016. |
| Completed transactions giving us access to potential therapies in new areas, including: neuropathic pain; an oral compound that targets the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor for multiple autoimmune indications; and gene-based therapies in multiple ophthalmic diseases. |
Other Notable Achievements in the Workplace and Community
| Achieved carbon neutrality across our value chain since 2014. |
| Procured electricity for global operations from renewable sources, earning Biogen a Green Power Leadership Award from the Environmental Protection Agency. |
| Earned a perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index (a national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBTQ employees) for the fourth consecutive year. |
| Over 3,000 employees volunteered from 27 countries in the annual Care Deeply Day. |
| Engaged 29,000+ students in hands-on learning to inspire their passion for science since the inception of Biogens Community Labs. |
Total Shareholder Return
| Our one-, three- and five-year total shareholder return (TSR)* compared to our peer group and the Standard & Poors 500 (S&P 500) is set forth below. |
* | TSR is a measure of performance over time that combines changes in share price and dividends paid to show the total return to the shareholder expressed as an annualized percentage. |
2016 Executive Compensation Programs and Pay-for-Performance Alignment
We believe our executive compensation programs are effectively designed and have worked well to implement a pay-for-performance culture that is aligned with the interests of our stockholders. In 2016, our executive compensation programs consisted of base salary, short- and long-term incentives, and other benefits.
30 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
91% of our CEOs and 84% of our other NEOs 2016 compensation was performance-based and at-risk.
* | Reflects actual salary, target bonus, and planned approximate annual long-term incentive (LTI) grant date value awarded in 2016. CEO pay mix reflects compensation for Dr. Scangos, who served as our CEO for all of 2016. NEO pay mix excludes Mr. Coxs special recognition award, as described in further detail below, as well as compensation for Mr. Vounatsos and Dr. Ehlers due to their partial year employment with Biogen in 2016. |
Our 2016 performance-based compensation payouts align with our commitment to strong performance.
In 2016, overall we achieved the majority of the corporate performance goals that we set in the beginning of the year for our incentive compensation plans. As a result, the payouts, as a percentage of target, for our 2016 annual bonus plan, 2016 granted cash-settled performance units, and 2016 granted market stock units were above target payout levels, as described in further detail below.
Annual Bonus Plan 121%*
110% Company Performance Multiplier
(The overall Annual Bonus Plan multiplier was further increased because the individual multiplier for the NEOs was the same as the Company multiplier) |
Cash-Settled Performance Units (CSPUs) 120%*
Performance multiplier for the CSPUs during the 2016 performance period.
(Earned units are subject to three-year time vesting) |
Market Stock Units (MSUs) 111%*
Performance multiplier for the MSUs during the 2016 performance period. |
* | Actual multiplier for applicable 2016 award. |
2016 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
At our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we continued to receive support for our executive compensation programs with approximately 97% of the votes cast for approval of our annual say-on-pay proposal. Our Compensation Committee viewed this as very positive support for our executive compensation programs and their alignment with long-term stockholder value creation and noted that the Companys executive compensation programs have been effective in implementing the Companys stated compensation philosophy and objectives.
Our Compensation Committee is committed to continually reviewing our executive compensation programs on a proactive basis to ensure the ongoing alignment of such programs with the interests of our stockholders.
In 2016, we reviewed the external landscape, the results from our say-on-pay proposal at last years Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and the results of our current compensation programs. Our Compensation Committee was satisfied that our existing compensation programs further our pay-for-performance outcomes, and, accordingly, did not recommend any significant changes to our executive compensation programs for 2016.
31 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
32 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
33 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
34 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
Performance Goals and Target Setting Process
Early each year, our Compensation Committee reviews and establishes the pay levels of each element of total compensation for our executive officers. Total compensation is comprised of base salary, annual bonus, and long-term incentive awards. A summary of the process our Compensation Committee follows in setting compensation is described below:
Target Setting |
Monitoring & Tracking Our Compensation Committee closely monitors the progress against the performance goals throughout the year and engages in dialogue with management on such progress. |
Results & Awards: Compensation Committee Actions | ||
Our Compensation Committee assesses the outcomes of the prior year to determine whether the intended behaviors and results were achieved with respect to the incentives from the prior year.
Our Compensation Committee and our CEO discuss potential goals for the upcoming year that are tied to the short- and longer-term strategic goals of the Company.
The annual business plan for the year is approved by our Board of Directors, and incentive goals and targets are aligned with the business plan.
Payout levels for each goal are established by management and approved by our Compensation Committee.
The goals are then applied to our executive officers, including NEOs, so that there is full alignment of executive incentive goals with the critical objectives that have been established for the year.
Our Compensation Committee also reviews base salaries, bonus, and long-term incentive planning ranges, plan designs, benefits, and peer group data. |
Reviews and certifies the annual Company results against the pre-established goals for our incentive compensation plans.
Reviews and discusses the performance of our CEO.
Reviews and discusses the Company, team, and individual performance of each executive officer as assessed by our CEO.
Reviews and discusses our CEOs recommended compensation levels for each executive officer other than himself in the context of such executive officers contributions to the Company and the other factors described above.
Approves the final compensation for each NEO other than our CEO, including base salary, bonus, and long-term incentive awards.
Reviews CEO compensation and recommends to our Board of Directors for approval the compensation of our CEO, including base salary, bonus, and long-term incentive awards. |
35 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
2016 and 2017 Hiring- and Transition-Related Compensation Decisions
36 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
37 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
38 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
2016 Annual Bonus Plan Company Target and Results Table
Set forth below is a summary of the Company goals and weightings that our Compensation Committee established for our 2016 annual bonus plan and the degree to which we attained these goals. As described below, the Company performance multiplier was 110%. Because the individual performance multiplier was the same as the Company performance multiplier for 2016, the combined annual bonus multiplier for each NEO was 121%.
Performance Range | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company Goals
|
Weight
|
Threshold
|
Target
|
Max
|
Results
|
Payout
|
||||||||||||||||||
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
EPS |
25 | % | $ | 17.62 | $ | 19.06 | $ | 20.50 | $ | 20.16 | (1) | 134.1 | % | |||||||||||
Revenue |
25 | % | $ | 10,760M | $ | 11,385M | (1) | $ | 12,010M | $ | 11,481M | (1) | 104.5 | % | ||||||||||
MARKET PERFORMANCE |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Achieve Global MS Market Share |
15 | % | |
Specific market goals are not disclosed for competitive reasons |
|
|
Below Goal (2) |
70.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Increase Global Hemophilia Units |
5 | % | |
Specific market goals are not disclosed for competitive reasons |
|
|
Above Goal (2) |
150.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Build and Advance Total Pipeline |
20 | % | |
Specific pipeline goals are not disclosed for competitive reasons |
|
|
Above Goal (3) |
105.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Achieve Aducanumab Phase 3 Enrollment |
10 | % | |
Specific enrollment goals are |
|
|
Above Goal (4) |
|
110.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
Weighted Company Performance Multiplier |
|
110.0 | %* |
* | Numbers may not recalculate due to rounding. |
Notes to 2016 Annual Bonus Plan Company Targets and Results Table
(1) | These financial measures were based on our publicly reported revenues of $11,449 million and our publicly announced Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $20.22. For purposes of our 2016 annual bonus plan, revenues were adjusted to neutralize the effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations and EPS was reduced to account for the net impact of share repurchases not originally contemplated at the time the Company performance goals were determined. |
(2) | Market goals for MS and Hemophilia were below and above goals, respectively. Specific details are not disclosed for competitive reasons. |
39 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
(3) | The Company continued to expand and re-shape its pipeline of pre-clinical and clinical stage programs, through advancement of internal programs, entering into external collaborations, and exceeding expectations of the level of confidence in and momentum of its clinical stage portfolio. Specific details are not disclosed for competitive reasons. |
(4) | Aducanumab Phase 3 clinical trial patient enrollment was above goal. Specific details are not disclosed for competitive reasons. |
40 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
2016 Cash-Settled Performance Units Company Target and Results Table
The final CSPU performance multiplier was determined by our Compensation Committee and applied to the target units granted to determine the actual units earned and eligible to vest. The following chart shows the pre-established corporate performance goals and the actual results that determined the final CSPU Multiplier for 2016:
Company Goals (1) | Weight % |
Target Performance Range | Payout | |||||||||||
Threshold | Target | Max | Results | |||||||||||
Revenue |
50% | $10,760M | $11,385M | $12,343M | $11,481M | 104.5% | ||||||||
Adjusted Free Cash Flow |
50% | $3,341M | $3,656M | $4,139M | $3,906M | 136.5% | ||||||||
Weighted CSPU Performance Multiplier |
120.0%* |
* | Numbers may not recalculate due to rounding. |
Notes to 2016 Cash-Settled Performance Units Company Targets and Results Table
(1) See Notes to 2016 Annual Bonus Plan Company Targets and Results Table above for definitions and adjustments related to revenue goals and results. Adjusted free cash flow was decreased to reflect the delay in Swiss large scale manufacturing capital spending.
41 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
42 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
43 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
44 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
The following table shows the compensation paid to or earned by our NEOs during the years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, for the year(s) in which they were a named executive officer.
Name and Principal Position (a) |
Year (b) |
Salary (c) |
Bonus(1) (d) |
Stock (e) |
Non-Equity (f) |
Change in (g) |
All Other (h) |
Total (i) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
George A. Scangos(6) |
|
2016 |
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,007,653 |
|
$ |
2,541,000 |
|
$ |
221,642 |
|
$ |
463,493 |
|
$ |
17,733,788 |
| ||||||||
Former Chief Executive Officer |
2015 | $ | 1,538,462 | | $ | 13,015,232 | $ | 1,181,250 | $ | 184,724 | $ | 954,718 | $ | 16,874,386 | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | $ | 1,375,000 | | $ | 12,120,939 | $ | 4,047,313 | $ | 86,634 | $ | 1,001,483 | $ | 18,631,369 | |||||||||||||||||||
Michel P. Vounatsos(7) |
|
2016 |
|
$ |
519,231 |
(8) |
|
$1,500,000 |
|
$ |
3,151,199 |
|
$ |
447,799 |
|
$ |
1,598 |
|
$ |
181,222 |
|
$ |
5,801,049 |
| ||||||||
Chief Executive Officer and Former Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul J. Clancy |
|
2016 |
|
$ |
844,600 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,556,773 |
|
$ |
728,818 |
|
$ |
55,376 |
|
$ |
199,635 |
|
$ |
5,385,202 |
| ||||||||
Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
|
2015 2014 |
|
$ $ |
747,498 698,389 |
|
|
|
|
$ $ |
2,543,374 2,824,497 |
|
$ $ |
284,655 811,632 |
|
$ $ |
45,960 25,454 |
|
$ $ |
332,115 330,045 |
|
$ $ |
3,953,602 4,690,017 |
| ||||||||
John G. Cox(9) |
|
2016 |
|
$ |
696,750 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,010,767 |
|
$ |
594,636 |
|
$ |
247,644 |
|
$ |
181,167 |
|
$ |
7,730,964 |
| ||||||||
Former Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology, of Biogen, and Chief Executive Officer of Bioverativ |
|
2015 2014 |
|
$ $ |
674,753 609,508 |
|
|
|
|
$ $ |
3,559,612 2,820,174 |
|
$ $ |
258,348 709,086 |
|
$ $ |
144,138 3,818 |
|
$ $ |
340,997 320,831 |
|
$ $ |
4,977,848 4,463,417 |
| ||||||||
Michael D. Ehlers(10) |
|
2016 |
|
$ |
491,827 |
(11) |
|
$1,170,177 |
|
$ |
3,410,650 |
|
$ |
425,062 |
|
$ |
155 |
|
$ |
14,665 |
|
$ |
5,512,536 |
| ||||||||
Executive Vice President, Research & Development |
Notes to the Summary Compensation Table
(1) | The amounts in column (d) reflect sign-on bonuses provided to Mr. Vounatsos and Dr. Ehlers at the time of hire, as described above in the CD&A under the heading 2016 and 2017 Hiring- and Transition-Related Compensation Decisions Arrangements with Mr. Vounatsos and Dr. Ehlers. All other cash bonuses were based on achievement of performance criteria under our annual bonus plan, which amounts are disclosed in column (f). |
(2) | The amounts reflect the grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC 718 for RSUs, MSUs, and CSPUs granted during 2016, 2015, and 2014, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. The 2016 amounts for Mr. Cox and Dr. Ehlers represent grants of MSUs, CSPUs, and RSUs, as described in more detail in the CD&A above. The amounts for all other NEOs for 2016 and for all NEOs, as applicable, for 2015 and 2014 represent grants of MSUs and CSPUs. These grants were subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such awards in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ on February 1, 2017. The amounts reported in this column do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. The grant date fair value for MSU grants are estimated as of the date of grant using a lattice model with a Monte Carlo simulation. Assumptions used in this calculation are included on page F-44 in footnote 15 of our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The grant date fair value for CSPU and RSU grants was determined by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award (assuming target performance for CSPUs) by the closing price of the Companys common stock on the grant date. The MSU and CSPU grants are estimated based on the Monte Carlo expected value on the date of grant. The table below shows the target and maximum payouts possible for the 2016, 2015, and 2014 MSU and CSPU awards based on the value at the date of grant and the payout levels. |
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer | Target Payout |
Maximum Payout |
Target Payout |
Maximum Payout |
Target Payout |
Maximum Payout |
||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Scangos |
$ | 13,007,653 | $ | 26,015,306 | $ | 13,015,232 | $ | 26,030,464 | $ | 12,120,939 | $ | 24,241,878 | ||||||||||||
Mr. Vounatsos |
$ | 3,151,199 | $ | 6,302,398 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Mr. Clancy |
$ | 3,556,773 | $ | 7,113,546 | $ | 2,543,374 | $ | 5,086,749 | $ | 2,824,497 | $ | 5,648,994 | ||||||||||||
Mr. Cox |
$ | 3,810,767 | $ | 7,621,534 | $ | 3,559,612 | $ | 7,119,225 | $ | 2,820,174 | $ | 5,640,348 | ||||||||||||
Dr. Ehlers |
$ | 2,540,438 | $ | 5,080,876 | | | | |
45 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
(3) | The amounts in column (f) reflect actual bonuses paid under our annual bonus plan. |
(4) | The amounts in column (g) reflect earnings in the SSP that are in excess of 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate. The federal long-term rates applied in this calculation are 3.14%, 3.16%, and 4.11% for 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. A description of the SSP is presented in the narrative preceding the 2016 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table below. |
(5) | The amounts in column (h) for 2016 reflect the following: |
Executive Officer | Company Matching Contribution to 401(k) Plan Account |
Company Contribution to SSP Account |
Personal Health and Financial Planning(12) |
Value of Company- Paid Life Insurance Premiums |
Relocation(13) | |||||||||||||||
Dr. Scangos |
$ | 15,900 | $ | 446,538 | | $ | 1,055 | $ | 0 | |||||||||||
Mr. Vounatsos |
$ | 11,077 | $ | 18,000 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 1,187 | $ | 147,958 | ||||||||||
Mr. Clancy |
$ | 15,900 | $ | 176,179 | $ | 6,031 | $ | 1,525 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Mr. Cox |
$ | 15,900 | $ | 156,382 | $ | 7,500 | $ | 1,385 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Dr. Ehlers |
$ | 0 | $ | 13,610 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,055 | $ | 0 |
(6) | Dr. Scangos ceased to be Biogens Chief Executive Officer, effective January 6, 2017. |
(7) | Mr. Vounatsos joined Biogen as our Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer effective April 18, 2016. Mr. Vounatsos was appointed our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors effective January 6, 2017. |
(8) | Mr. Vounatsos base salary for 2016 was $750,000. Mr. Vounatsos was paid his pro rata share of his base salary from April 18, 2016 through December 31, 2016. |
(9) | Mr. Cox served as our Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology, through June 30, 2016 and thereafter served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Bioverativ, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company until it was spun-off in February 2017. In addition, from October 2015 through May 2016, Mr. Cox served as our interim Executive Vice President, Global Therapeutics Operations. Mr. Cox voluntarily separated from the Company on January 31, 2017 in connection with the closing of the Bioverativ spin-off. |
(10) | Dr. Ehlers joined Biogen as Executive Vice President, Research & Development effective May 9, 2016. |
(11) | Dr. Ehlers base salary for 2016 was $775,000. Dr. Ehlers was paid his pro rata share of his base salary from May 9, 2016 through December 31, 2016. |
(12) | Represents reimbursements of expenses relating to tax, financial and estate planning, and executive physicals as described under the heading Executive Physicals, Tax Preparation, Financial and Estate Planning above. The amount for Mr. Clancy includes the 2016 benefit of $4,406 and reimbursement during 2016 of the 2015 benefit of $1,625. |
(13) | The amount for Mr. Vounatsos reflects relocation benefits under our Executive Relocation Policy. This amount includes a tax gross-up of $71,372. |
46 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table shows additional information regarding all grants of plan-based awards made to our NEOs for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts |
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares or Units (#) (i) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards(2) (j) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name (a) |
Grant Date (b) |
Notes | Threshold (c) |
Target (d) |
Maximum (e) |
Threshold (f) |
Target (g) |
Maximum (h) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
George A. Scangos |
02/22/2016 | (3) | | | | 10,115 | 20,230 | 40,460 | | $ | 6,607,796 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/22/2016 | (4) | | | | 12,038 | 24,075 | 48,150 | | $ | 6,399,857 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/22/2016 | (5) | $ | 525,000 | $ | 2,100,000 | $ | 4,725,000 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michel P. Vounatsos |
05/02/2016 | (3) | | | | 2,380 | 4,760 | 9,520 | | $ | 1,600,745 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/02/2016 | (4) | | | | 2,833 | 5,665 | 11,330 | | $ | 1,550,454 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/02/2016 | (5) | $ | 92,521 | $ | 370,082 | $ | 832,685 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul J. Clancy |
02/22/2016 | (3) | | | | 2,765 | 5,530 | 11,060 | | $ | 1,806,282 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/22/2016 | (4) | | | | 3,293 | 6,585 | 13,170 | | $ | 1,750,491 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/22/2016 | (5) | $ | 150,582 | $ | 602,329 | $ | 1,355,240 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John G. Cox |
02/22/2016 | (3) | | | | 2,963 | 5,925 | 11,850 | | $ | 1,935,336 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/22/2016 | (4) | | | | 3,528 | 7,055 | 14,110 | | $ | 1,875,431 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/22/2016 | (5) | $ | 122,859 | $ | 491,434 | $ | 1,105,727 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/01/2016 | (6) | | | | | | | 8,444 | $ | 2,200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Ehlers |
06/01/2016 | (3) | | | | 1,830 | 3,660 | 7,320 | | $ | 1,289,903 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/01/2016 | (4) | | | | 2,180 | 4,360 | 8,720 | | $ | 1,250,535 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/01/2016 | (5) | $ | 87,823 | $ | 351,291 | $ | 790,405 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/01/2016 | (6) | | | | | | | 3,034 | $ | 870,212 |
Notes to the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
(1) | Reflects the potential future payouts of awards granted in 2016 under our annual bonus plan and our LTI program for each NEO as of the grant date. For NEOs hired during 2016 (Mr. Vounatsos and Dr. Ehlers), our annual bonus plan is prorated based on their hire date. |
(2) | Represents the grant date fair value of CSPUs, MSUs, and RSUs, computed in accordance with ASC 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. These grants were subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such awards in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ on February 1, 2017. The amounts reported in this column do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. The grant date fair value for MSU grants is estimated as of the date of grant using a lattice model with a Monte Carlo simulation. Assumptions used in this calculation are included on page F-44 in footnote 15 of our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The grant date fair value for CSPU and RSU grants was determined by multiplying the number of shares subject to the award (assuming target performance for CSPUs) by the closing price of the Companys common stock on the grant date. |
(3) | These amounts relate to the annual grant of MSUs. These are performance-based RSUs tied to the growth in our stock price between the grant date and each of three annual vesting dates. The number of MSUs earned is determined on each vesting date. Columns (f), (g), and (h) represent the number of MSUs that can be earned based on performance at the threshold level of 50%, target level of 100%, and the maximum level of 200%, respectively. To the extent earned, the award becomes eligible to vest ratably over three years, as described in further detail under the heading Long-Term Incentives (LTI) above. |
(4) | These amounts relate to the annual grant of CSPUs. These are performance-based RSUs tied to our 2016 financial performance and subsequently subject to time-based vesting. The number of CSPUs earned is determined in early 2017 based on 2016 revenue and adjusted free cash flow performance against target. Earned CSPUs will vest ratably over three years. These awards are settled in cash or stock at the discretion of our Compensation Committee upon the vesting date based on the 30-day average closing price of our common stock. Columns (f), (g), and (h) represent the number of CSPUs earned if the Company performance multiplier were 50%, 100%, and 200%, respectively. |
(5) | These amounts relate to our 2016 annual bonus plan. The amounts shown in column (d) represent the 2016 target payout amount based on the target percentage applied to each NEOs base salary as of December 31, 2016. For 2016, the bonus targets were 140% of salary for Dr. Scangos and 70% of salary for all other NEOs. In 2016, because the individual performance multiplier was the same as the Company performance multiplier under our 2016 annual bonus plan, the amounts in column (c), (d), and (e) represent a payment if the Company performance multiplier and the individual performance multiplier were each 50%, 100%, and 150%, respectively, which amounts are prorated for Mr. Vounatsos and Dr. Ehlers based on their hire dates. Actual amounts paid to each NEO under this plan are included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table. |
(6) | These amounts relate to special grants of time-based RSUs, as described in further detail in the CD&A above under the heading 2016 and 2017 Hiring- and Transition-Related Compensation Decisions. |
47 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Fiscal Year-End
The following table summarizes the equity awards that were outstanding as of December 31, 2016 for each of our NEOs.
(a) | Option Awards(1) | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Option (f) |
Number (g) |
Market (h) |
Number of Unearned Shares or Units That Have Not Vested(4) (i) |
Market Value of Unearned Shares or Units That Have Not Vested(3) (j) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grant (b) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options |
Option (e) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercisable (c) |
Unexercisable (d) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
George A. Scangos | 2/12/2013 | | | | | | | 9,191 | $ | 2,606,384 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2014 | | | | | 10,656 | $ | 3,021,828 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2014 | | | | | | | 5,251 | $ | 1,489,079 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2015 | | | | | 8,397 | $ | 2,381,221 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2015 | | | | | | | 8,851 | $ | 2,509,967 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/22/2016 | | | | | 28,890 | $ | 8,192,626 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/22/2016 | | | | | | | 40,460 | $ | 11,473,647 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michel P. Vounatsos | 5/2/2016 | | | | | 6,798 | $ | 1,927,777 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/2/2016 | | | | | | | 9,520 | $ | 2,699,682 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul J. Clancy | 2/12/2013 | | | | | | | 2,808 | $ | 796,293 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2014 | | | | | 2,483 | $ | 704,129 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2014 | | | | | | | 1,224 | $ | 347,102 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2015 | | | | | 1,641 | $ | 465,355 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2015 | | | | | | | 1,731 | $ | 490,877 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/22/2016 | | | | | 7,902 | $ | 2,240,849 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/22/2016 | | | | | | | 11,060 | $ | 3,136,395 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John G. Cox | 2/12/2008 | 2,892 | | $ | 60.56 | 2/11/2018 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/24/2009 | 7,588 | | $ | 49.65 | 2/23/2019 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2013 | | | | | | | 2,249 | $ | 637,771 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2014 | | | | | 2,483 | $ | 704,129 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2014 | | | | | | | 1,224 | $ | 347,102 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2015 | | | | | 2,297 | $ | 651,383 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/23/2015 | | | | | | | 2,421 | $ | 686,547 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/22/2016 | | | | | 8,466 | $ | 2,400,788 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/22/2016 | | | | | | | 11,850 | $ | 3,360,423 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2016 | | | | | 8,444 | $ | 2,394,550 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Ehlers | 6/1/2016 | | | | | 8,266 | $ | 2,344,072 | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6/1/2016 | | | | | | | 7,320 | $ | 2,075,806 |
Notes to the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Fiscal Year End Table
(1) | All stock options were granted with a ten-year term. Stock options vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date. It has not been the Companys practice to cash out stock options having an exercise price greater than the market price (i.e., underwater options). These stock options were subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such awards in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ on February 1, 2017. The amounts reported in this column do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. |
(2) | CSPUs were granted in 2016, 2015, and 2014. Numbers reflect the number of CSPUs earned and eligible to vest based on our financial performance for each of 2016, 2015, and 2014, but that have not satisfied the service-based vesting requirement as of December 31, 2016. CSPUs that have been earned upon satisfaction of the performance conditions vest ratably over three years from the grant date. The cash payout for these awards will be based on the 30-day average closing stock price at vesting. For Mr. Cox and Dr. Ehlers, the amounts in this column also reflect 8,444 RSUs granted to Mr. Cox under his special recognition award on April 1, 2016 and 3,034 RSUs granted to Dr. Ehlers on June 1, 2016 in connection with his hire, each vesting ratably over three years from the grant date. These grants were subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such awards in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ on February 1, 2017. The amounts reported in this column do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. |
(3) | The market value of awards is based on the closing price of our stock on December 30, 2016 ($283.58), the last business day of 2016, as reported by NASDAQ. |
(4) | MSUs were granted in 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013. These are performance-based RSUs tied to the growth in our stock price between the dates of grant and vesting. MSUs are eligible to vest ratably over four years for grants made in 2013, and three years for grants made in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The number and value shown in columns (i) and (j), respectively, reflects maximum performance results for MSUs granted in 2013 and 2016 and target performance results for MSUs granted in 2014 and 2015 based on the prior years performance in each case. These grants were subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such awards in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ on February 1, 2017. The amounts reported in this column do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. |
2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Our executive officers must use pre-established trading plans to sell shares of Biogen stock. Trading plans may only be entered into when the executive is not in possession of material non-public information about the Company, and we require
48 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
a waiting period following the establishment of a trading plan before any trades may be executed. Our policy is designed to provide safeguards that will allow our executives an opportunity to realize the value intended by the Company in granting equity-based LTI awards.
Our NEOs are also subject to the share ownership guidelines described above in the subsection titled Share Ownership Guidelines.
The following table shows information regarding vesting of stock awards for each NEO during the year ended December 31, 2016. None of the NEOs exercised stock options during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Stock Awards | ||||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting(1) |
Value Realized on Vesting(2)(3) |
||||||||||
George A. Scangos |
57,609 | $ | 14,815,081 | |||||||||
Paul J. Clancy |
15,242 | $ | 3,976,993 | |||||||||
John G. Cox |
15,205 | $ | 3,950,976 |
Notes to the 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
(1) | With the exception of Dr. Scangos 2014 CSPUs, CSPUs were settled in cash for all of our NEOs. The number of actual shares of our common stock acquired on vesting after shares were withheld to pay the minimum withholding of taxes was as follows: |
Net Shares Acquired(4) | ||
Dr. Scangos |
20,823 | |
Mr. Clancy |
4,613 | |
Mr. Cox |
4,876 |
(2) | The value realized for MSUs and RSUs are calculated by multiplying the closing price of a share of our common stock on the vesting date by the total number of shares that vested on such date. The value realized for CSPUs is calculated using the 60-day average closing price of the common stock of the Company through the vesting date for grants made prior to 2014 and the 30-day average closing price for grants made in 2014 and later. |
(3) | The value realized upon vesting for Mr. Cox includes non-qualified deferred CSPUs of $928,065. Terms of the non-qualified deferred compensation plan are presented in the narrative preceding the 2016 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table below. |
(4) | MSUs were settled in shares of our common stock. CSPUs were settled in cash for all of our NEOs, other than Dr. Scangos, in which case a portion of his CSPUs were settled in shares of our common stock. For Dr. Scangos, in 2015, our Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to settle Dr. Scangos 2014 CSPUs in shares of our common stock; the net shares acquired by Dr. Scangos reflected in the table above represent 14,792 MSUs and 6,031 CSPUs settled in shares. |
49 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
Name | Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year(1) |
Company Contributions in Last Fiscal Year(2) |
Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year(3) |
Aggregate Distributions in Last Fiscal Year |
Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year-End(4) |
|||||||||||||||
George A. Scangos |
$ | 504,375 | $ | 446,538 | $ | 656,387 | | $ | 11,619,411 | |||||||||||
Michel P. Vounatsos |
$ | 300,000 | $ | 18,000 | $ | 3,763 | | $ | 321,763 | |||||||||||
Paul J. Clancy |
$ | 0 | $ | 176,179 | $ | 107,017 | | $ | 1,851,529 | |||||||||||
John G. Cox |
$ | 928,065 | $ | 156,382 | $ | 553,539 | | $ | 13,995,903 | |||||||||||
Michael D. Ehlers |
$ | 116,250 | $ | 13,610 | $ | 2,331 | | $ | 132,190 |
Notes to the 2016 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table
(1) | The amounts in this column are also included, in part, in columns (c), (e), and/or (f) of the Summary Compensation Table as non-qualified deferral of salary, non-qualified deferral of CSPU payments, and non-qualified deferral of payments under our 2016 annual bonus plan, respectively. |
(2) | The amounts in this column are also included in column (h) of the Summary Compensation Table for 2016 as Company contributions to the SSP. |
(3) | Earnings in excess of 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate are reported in column (g) of the Summary Compensation Table for 2016 for Dr. Scangos ($221,642), Mr. Vounatsos ($1,598), Mr. Clancy ($55,376), Mr. Cox ($247,644), and Dr. Ehlers ($155). |
(4) | The following table lists the compensation deferrals during 2015 and 2014 by the NEOs, as reported, where applicable, in the proxy statement for our 2016 and 2015 Annual Meetings of Stockholders. |
Amounts Previously Reported as Deferred | ||||||
Name | 2015 | 2014 | ||||
George A. Scangos |
$ | 1,368,040 | $1,205,644 | |||
John G. Cox |
$ | 3,030,054 | $4,313,520 |
This column also includes Company contributions and compensation earned and deferred in prior years, which was disclosed in our prior proxy statements where applicable, together with earnings on these amounts. |
50 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
51 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
52 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
Potential Post-Termination Payments Table
The following table summarizes the potential payments to each NEO under various termination events. The table assumes that the event occurred on December 31, 2016. The calculations use the closing price of our common stock as reported by NASDAQ on December 30, 2016, the last business day of 2016, which was $283.58 per share. Amounts for Mr. Vounatsos are determined under our executive severance plans described above, since his employment agreement did not become effective until January 2017. Amounts for Dr. Scangos assume a termination on December 31, 2016 in accordance with SEC rules. On January 6, 2017, Dr. Scangos ceased to be our Chief Executive Officer and received the benefits described in the CD&A under the heading 2016 and 2017 Hiring- and Transition-Related Compensation Decisions Dr. Scangos Arrangements.
Name and Payment Elements(1) (a) |
Retirement(2) (b) |
Involuntary by the Not Following a Corporate |
Involuntary Employment Action Following a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control (d) |
|||||||||
George A. Scangos(3) |
||||||||||||
Severance |
| $ | 7,200,000 | $ | 7,200,000 | |||||||
Performance-based RSUs(4) |
$ | 25,741,046 | $ | 25,741,046 | $ | 25,741,046 | ||||||
Medical, Dental and Vision |
| $ | 27,110 | $ | 27,110 | |||||||
Outplacement(5) |
| $ | 38,000 | $ | 38,000 | |||||||
Total |
$ | 25,741,046 | $ | 33,006,156 | $ | 33,006,156 | ||||||
Michel P. Vounatsos |
||||||||||||
Severance |
| $ | 1,275,000 | $ | 2,550,001 | |||||||
Performance-based RSUs |
| | $ | 3,344,749 | ||||||||
Medical, Dental and Vision |
| $ | 19,879 | $ | 39,757 | |||||||
Outplacement(5) |
| $ | 38,000 | $ | 38,000 | |||||||
Total |
| $ | 1,332,879 | $ | 5,972,507 | |||||||
Paul J. Clancy |
||||||||||||
Severance |
| $ | 2,559,898 | $ | 2,925,598 | |||||||
Performance-based RSUs |
$ | 6,614,090 | $ | 6,614,090 | $ | 6,614,090 | ||||||
Medical, Dental and Vision |
| $ | 34,080 | $ | 38,949 | |||||||
Outplacement(5) |
| $ | 38,000 | $ | 38,000 | |||||||
280G Tax Gross-Up(6) |
| | | |||||||||
Total |
$ | 6,614,090 | $ | 9,246,068 | $ | 9,616,637 | ||||||
John G. Cox(7)(8) |
||||||||||||
Severance |
| $ | 2,386,967 | $ | 2,386,967 | |||||||
Performance-based RSUs |
| | $ | 7,068,736 | ||||||||
Time-based RSUs |
| | $ | 2,394,550 | ||||||||
Medical, Dental and Vision |
| $ | 34,080 | $ | 38,949 | |||||||
Outplacement(5) |
| $ | 38,000 | $ | 38,000 | |||||||
280G Tax Gross-Up(6) |
| | | |||||||||
Total |
| $ | 2,459,047 | $ | 11,927,202 | |||||||
Michael D. Ehlers(9) |
||||||||||||
Severance |
| $ | 1,317,500 | $ | 2,635,000 | |||||||
Performance-based RSUs |
| | $ | 2,586,555 | ||||||||
Time-based RSUs |
| | $ | 860,382 | ||||||||
Medical, Dental and Vision |
| $ | 19,475 | $ | 38,949 | |||||||
Outplacement(5) |
| $ | 38,000 | $ | 38,000 | |||||||
Total |
| $ | 1,374,975 | $ | 6,158,886 |
Notes to the Potential Post-Termination Payments Table
(1) | In the event of an executives death or disability, all outstanding awards under the Companys LTI program will vest in full. The value of such accelerated awards for all NEOs other than Dr. Scangos would be the same amount as shown in column (d) for such NEO (based on actual performance estimated as of December 31, 2016). The value of Dr. Scangos accelerated awards would be $23,703,474, which, pursuant to his employment agreement, is calculated at the target level of performance. The grants underlying these calculations were subsequently adjusted pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such awards in connection with the spin-off of Bioverativ on February 1, 2017. The amounts reported in this table do not reflect such anti-dilution adjustments. |
(2) | Dr. Scangos and Mr. Clancy were eligible for potential payments upon retirement at December 31, 2016. Under Dr. Scangos employment agreement, upon retirement, all of his outstanding awards under the Companys LTI program will continue to vest as if he had remained employed by the Company for the duration of the vesting period, subject to the achievement of any applicable performance criteria, and all awards that require exercise by him will remain exercisable until the earlier of three years after retirement or the original expiration date. Upon Mr. Clancys retirement, any vested CSPU awards would be paid to him following, if applicable, the six-month delay required by Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, any unvested CSPU awards would vest immediately upon |
53 |
5 | Executive Compensation Matters (continued) |
certification of the achievement of the applicable performance criteria and would be paid to him following, if applicable, the six-month delay required by Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, and any unvested MSU awards would, subject to the achievement of any applicable performance criteria, vest in accordance with the terms of such awards. The amounts listed for Dr. Scangos and Mr. Clancy in column (b) assumes the value of all unvested awards based on actual performance estimated as of December 31, 2016. |
(3) | On January 6, 2017, Dr. Scangos ceased to be our Chief Executive Officer and became entitled to the payments in column (c), as further described in the CD&A under the heading 2016 and 2017 Hiring- and Transition-Related Compensation Decisions Dr. Scangos Arrangements. |
(4) | Under Dr. Scangos employment agreement, in the case of an involuntary employment action or retirement, all of his outstanding awards under the Companys LTI program would continue to vest as if he remained employed by the Company for the duration of the vesting period, subject to the achievement of any applicable performance criteria, and all awards that require exercise by him will remain exercisable for three years (or, if earlier, until the original expiration date). The amounts listed for Dr. Scangos in columns (c) and (d) assumes the value of all unvested LTI awards based on actual performance estimated as of December 31, 2016. The actual value that will be earned, if any, will not be known until the end of the applicable performance period. |
(5) | The NEOs are also provided executive-level outplacement services at a cost of $38,000 at the executive vice president level. |
(6) | The payments for Mr. Clancy and Mr. Cox upon a corporate transaction or a corporate change in control on December 31, 2016 would not have been subject to a Section 280G excise tax. |
(7) | Biogen entered into an offer letter agreement with Mr. Cox to become the CEO of Bioverativ effective May 19, 2016. The agreement included the following enhanced severance benefits: (i) 24 months of severance instead of 21 months of severance for an involuntary termination, other than for cause and (2) the vesting in full of all of his outstanding awards under the Companys LTI program in the event the spin-off of Bioverativ did not occur and the Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology and Global Therapeutic Operations position was no longer available. |
(8) | Mr. Cox voluntarily separated from the Company on January 31, 2017 in connection with the closing of the Bioverativ spin-off. Mr. Cox did not receive any severance benefits in connection with such separation; however, all of Mr. Coxs outstanding LTI awards were converted into time-based RSUs for Bioverativ common stock and will continue to vest in accordance with the service requirements of each original award. |
(9) | Dr. Ehlers would be entitled to the payments in column (d) in connection with a termination as discussed above in the section entitled Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control Executive Severance Policy Dr. Ehlers Additional Arrangements. |
54 |
6 | Other Management Proposals |
Proposal 4 Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
|
||||
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ONE-YEAR OPTION AS THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Proposal 5 Approval of the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan
|
||||
55 |
6 | Other Management Proposals (continued) |
56 |
6 | Other Management Proposals (continued) |
The table below includes aggregated information regarding awards outstanding under the 2008 Plan, the 2005 Plan, and the Directors Plan, the number of shares available for future awards under each of the 2008 Plan and the Directors Plan as of March 31, 2017, and the proposed number of shares issuable under the 2017 Plan. We also maintain a tax-qualified employee stock purchase plan, pursuant to which 6,008,140 shares remain outstanding as of March 31, 2017.
Number of shares (as of March 31, 2017)(1) |
As a percentage of stock outstanding (214,236,610 shares as of March 31, 2017) |
|||||||
Outstanding stock options and SARs (for stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2017, the weighted average exercise price was $54.02 and the weighted average remaining contractual term was 2.03 years) |
45,337 | 0.02 | % | |||||
Outstanding full value shares, including time-vested RSUs and performance-based awards |
1,386,421 | 0.65 | % | |||||
Total shares subject to outstanding awards |
1,431,758 | 0.67 | % | |||||
Total shares available for future awards under the 2008 Plan(2) |
5,867,986 | 2.74 | % | |||||
Total shares available for future awards under the Directors Plan |
734,333 | 0.34 | % | |||||
Total shares subject to outstanding awards, available for future awards under the 2008 Pan, and available for future awards under the Directors Plan |
8,034,077 | 3.75 | % | |||||
Proposed shares available for future awards under the 2017 Plan(3)(4) |
8,000,000 | 3.73 | % | |||||
Total shares outstanding under existing equity awards, available for future awards, and additional shares proposed to be reserved for issuance under the 2017 Plan |
16,034,077 | 7.48 | % |
(1) | For purposes of the number of shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2008 Plan, each share subject to a stock option or SAR is counted as one share and each share subject to any other award is counted as 1.5 shares. |
(2) | We will cease granting new awards under the 2008 Plan if the 2017 Plan is approved by our stockholders and, as described below under Authorized Shares, the shares remaining available for issuance under the 2008 Plan will be available for issuance under the 2017 Plan. |
(3) | For purposes of determining shares available under the 2017 Plan, each share subject to a stock option or SAR will count as one share and each share subject to any other award will count as 1.5 shares. Because the 2017 Plan does not specify a mix of stock options and SARs, on the one hand, and other awards, on the other, it is not possible to determine the amount of subsequent dilution that may ultimately result from such awards. Other share-counting provisions, including adjustments to the numbers of shares available under the 2017 Plan, are described below under Authorized Shares. |
(4) | Subject to adjustment as described below under Authorized Shares, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered in satisfaction of awards under the 2017 Plan is 8,000,000 plus any shares of stock that either remain available for grant as of the date of adoption of the 2017 Plan (including shares available by reason of a predecessor plan) or are subject to awards under the 2008 Plan and on or after the date of adoption of the 2017 Plan are cancelled, surrendered, exchanged, terminated, or forfeited for any reason in accordance with the terms of such plan. |
57 |
6 | Other Management Proposals (continued) |
58 |
6 | Other Management Proposals (continued) |
59 |
6 | Other Management Proposals (continued) |
60 |
6 | Other Management Proposals (continued) |
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE BIOGEN INC. 2017 OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN.
61 |
7 | Additional Information |
The following table and accompanying notes provide information about the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
| each stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock; |
| each of our named executive officers (listed in the Summary Compensation Table); |
| each of our directors and nominees for director; and |
| all of our directors and executive officers as a group. |
Except as otherwise noted, the persons identified have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of our common stock beneficially owned. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting and investment power with respect to the shares. Except as otherwise noted, the information below is as of April 13, 2017 (Ownership Date).
Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, the address of each of the individuals named below is: c/o Biogen Inc., 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142.
Name | Shares Owned (1) |
Shares Subject to Options and Stock Units (2) |
Total Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Outstanding Shares (3) |
||||||||||||
BlackRock, Inc.(4) 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022 |
17,082,146 | | 17,082,146 | 8.01 | % | |||||||||||
PRIMECAP Management Company(5) 177 East Colorado Boulevard 11th Floor Pasadena, CA 91105 |
15,584,387 | | 15,584,387 | 7.31 | % | |||||||||||
The Vanguard Group(6) 100 Vanguard Boulevard Malvern, PA 19355 |
14,009,922 | | 14,009,922 | 6.57 | % | |||||||||||
Paul J. Clancy |
20,705 | | 20,705 | * | ||||||||||||
John G. Cox(7) |
30,601 | | 30,601 | * | ||||||||||||
Alexander J. Denner(8) |
317,890 | 1,084 | 318,974 | * | ||||||||||||
Caroline D. Dorsa |
16,033 | 1,084 | 17,117 | * | ||||||||||||
Michael Ehlers(9) |
| 5,598 | 5,598 | |||||||||||||
Nancy L. Leaming |
7,924 | 1,084 | 9,008 | * | ||||||||||||
Richard C. Mulligan |
7,890 | 1,084 | 8,974 | * | ||||||||||||
Robert W. Pangia |
15,568 | 13,030 | 28,598 | * | ||||||||||||
Stelios Papadopoulos(10) |
26,580 | 1,626 | 28,206 | * | ||||||||||||
Brian S. Posner |
5,275 | 1,084 | 6,359 | * | ||||||||||||
Eric K. Rowinsky |
12,005 | 1,084 | 13,089 | * | ||||||||||||
George A. Scangos(11) |
82,497 | | 82,497 | * | ||||||||||||
Lynn Schenk(12) |
7,990 | 1,084 | 9,074 | * | ||||||||||||
Stephen A. Sherwin |
3,845 | 13,362 | 17,207 | * | ||||||||||||
Michel Vounatsos(9) |
1,525 | 3,244 | 4,769 | |||||||||||||
Executive officers and directors as a group (18 persons)(9)(13) |
492,518 | 50,834 | 543,361 | * |
* | Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of our outstanding shares of common stock. |
(1) | The shares described as owned are shares of our common stock directly or indirectly owned by each listed person. |
(2) | Includes options that are or will become exercisable and RSUs that will vest within 60 days of the Ownership Date. |
(3) | The calculation of percentages is based upon 213,116,278 shares outstanding on the Ownership Date, plus for each of the individuals listed above the shares subject to options and RSUs reflected in the column under the heading Shares Subject to Options and Stock Units. |
62 |
7 | Additional Information (continued) |
(4) | Based solely on information as of December 31, 2016 contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. on January 19, 2017, which also indicates that it has sole voting power with respect to 14,947,189 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 17,073,676 shares, and shared voting and shared dispositive power with respect to 8,470 shares. |
(5) | Based solely on information as of December 31, 2016 contained in Form 13F-HR filed with the SEC by PRIMECAP Management Company on February 13, 2017, which also indicates that it has sole voting power over 2,054,072 shares. |
(6) | Based solely on information as of December 31, 2016 contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC by The Vanguard Group on February 10, 2017, which also indicates that it has sole voting power with respect to 340,469 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 13,632,396 shares, shared voting power with respect to 40,243 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 377,526 shares. |
(7) | Mr. Cox voluntarily separated from the Company on January 31, 2017 in connection with the closing of the Bioverativ spin-off. |
(8) | Includes (i) 190,142 shares of common stock directly beneficially owned by Sarissa Capital Domestic Fund LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Sarissa Domestic); and (ii) 119,858 shares of common stock directly beneficially owned by Sarissa Capital Offshore Master Fund LP, a Cayman Islands limited partnership (Sarissa Offshore and, together with Sarissa Domestic, the Sarissa Funds). Sarissa Capital Management GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Sarissa Capital GP), is the general partner of Sarissa Capital Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Sarissa Capital), the investment advisor to the Sarissa Funds. Alexander Denner is the Chief Investment Officer of Sarissa Capital and the managing member of Sarissa Capital GP. By virtue of the foregoing, Dr. Denner may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares that the Sarissa Funds directly beneficially own. Dr. Denner disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares of common stock owned by the Sarissa Funds. |
(9) | Includes shares underlying market stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Ownership Date, assuming the maximum possible number of shares that are eligible for vesting on the vesting date. |
(10) | Includes 10,000 shares held in limited liability companies of which Dr. Papadopoulos is the sole manager. |
(11) | Includes 10,756 shares held in trusts of which Dr. Scangos is a trustee. Dr. Scangos ceased to be Biogens Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board, effective January 6, 2017. |
(12) | Includes 3,100 shares held in a trust of which Ms. Schenk is a trustee. |
(13) | Includes 323,100 shares held indirectly through trusts, funds, or limited liability companies. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors, and greater than 10% stockholders to file initial reports of ownership and changes of ownership of our common stock. As a practical matter, we assist our directors and executive officers by monitoring transactions and completing and filing Section 16 forms on their behalf. Based solely on information provided to us by our directors and executive officers, we believe that during 2016 all such parties complied with all applicable filing requirements.
63 |
7 | Additional Information (continued) |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Our Code of Business Conduct (Values in Action), Corporate Governance Principles, Related Person Transaction Policy, and Conflict of Interest Policy set forth our policies and procedures for the review and approval of transactions with related persons, including transactions that would be required to be disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with SEC rules.
In circumstances where one of our directors or executive officers, or a family member, has a direct or indirect material interest in a transaction involving Biogen, our Corporate Governance Committee must review and approve all such proposed transactions or courses of dealing. In determining whether to approve or ratify a transaction with a related person, among the factors our Corporate Governance Committee may consider (as applicable) are:
| the business reasons for entering into the transaction; |
| the size of the transaction and the nature of the related persons interest in the transaction; |
| whether the transaction terms are as favorable to us as they would be to an unaffiliated third party; |
| whether the transaction terms are more favorable to the related person than they would be to an unaffiliated third party; |
| the availability of alternative sources for comparable products, services, or other benefits; |
| whether the transaction would impair the independence or judgment of the related person in the performance of his or her duties to us; |
| for non-employee directors, whether the transaction would be consistent with NASDAQs requirements for independent directors; |
| whether the transaction is consistent with our Conflict of Interest Policy, which prohibits related persons and others from having a financial interest in any competitor, customer, vendor, or supplier of ours; |
| the related persons role in arranging the transaction; |
| the potential for the transaction to be viewed as representing or leading to an actual or apparent conflict of interest; and |
| any other factors that our Corporate Governance Committee deems appropriate. |
Other than the sponsored research agreement described below, there are no relationships or transactions with related persons that are required to be disclosed in this Proxy Statement under SEC rules. Indeed, our Code of Business Conduct, which sets forth legal and ethical guidelines for all of our directors and employees, states that directors, executive officers, and employees must avoid relationships or activities that might impair their ability to make objective and fair decisions while acting in their Company roles.
On January 27, 2017, we entered into a sponsored research agreement with Harvard University (the Research Agreement), under which the Artavanis-Tsakonas Laboratory at Harvard Medical School will conduct research to identify novel genes, targets, and pathways that regulate neurodegenerative diseases. We believe the Research Agreement will support the identification of new drug targets and pathways in a resource efficient manner. Under the Research Agreement, we have an option to negotiate an exclusive license to any invention resulting from projects funded under the agreement. Dr. Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas is the Principal Investigator and directs the activities of the Artavanis-Tsakonas Laboratory and is a Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Artavanis-Tsakonas currently serves as a Visiting Scientist at Biogen, which is a part-time position, and previously served as our Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer. The Research Agreement requires us to make payments to Harvard University of $1.7 million per year, of which $1.0 million per year will directly fund the sponsored research at the Artavanis-Tsakonas Laboratory. The Research Agreement has an initial term of five years and may, after three years, be terminated on six months notice if certain milestones have not been met.
64 |
7 | Additional Information (continued) |
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2016 about:
| the number of shares of common stock subject to issuance upon exercise of outstanding options and vesting of RSUs under plans adopted and assumed by us; |
| the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options under plans adopted and assumed by us; and |
| the number of shares of common stock available for future issuance under our active plans: the 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan, the 2006 Non-Employee Directors Equity Plan, and the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
Plan Category | Number of Securities (a) |
Weighted-average Exercise Price of (b) |
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in column(a))(2) (c) | |||
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders |
1,415,759 | $ 54.06 | 13,144,980 | |||
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders |
| | | |||
Total |
1,415,759 | $ 54.06 | 13,144,980 |
(1) | The weighted-average exercise price includes all outstanding stock options but does not include RSUs, which do not have an exercise price. If the RSUs were included in this calculation, the weighted average exercise price would be $2.51. The total number of RSUs included in column (a) is 1,350,291. |
(2) | Of these shares, (a) 6,496,000 remain available for future issuance under our 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan, (b) 717,613 remain available for future issuance under our 2006 Non-Employee Directors Equity Plan, and (c) 5,931,367 remain available under our 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In addition to shares issuable upon the exercise of options or rights, the shares under our 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan and our 2006 Non-Employee Directors Equity Plan may also be issued other than upon such exercise. |
65 |
7 | Additional Information (continued) |
66 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
|
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation
Diluted Earnings Per Share and Net Income Attributable to Biogen Inc.
(Unaudited, $ in millions, except per share amounts)
For the Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||
December 31, 2016 |
December 31, 2015 |
|||||||
GAAP earnings per share Diluted |
$ | 16.93 | $ | 15.34 | ||||
Adjustments to GAAP net income attributable to Biogen Inc. (as detailed below) |
3.29 | 1.67 | ||||||
Non-GAAP earnings per share Diluted |
$ | 20.22 | $ | 17.01 |
For the Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||
December 31, 2016 |
December 31, 2015 |
|||||||
GAAP net income attributable to Biogen Inc. |
$ | 3,702.8 | $ | 3,547.0 | ||||
Adjustments: |
||||||||
TECFIDERA litigation settlement and license chargesA |
454.8 | | ||||||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets |
373.6 | 365.3 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration |
14.8 | 30.5 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on deconsolidation of variable interest entities |
(4.4) | | ||||||
Hemophilia business separation costs |
18.1 | | ||||||
Restructuring, business transformation and other cost saving initiatives: |
||||||||
Restructuring chargesB |
33.1 | 93.4 | ||||||
Cambridge manufacturing facility rationalization costsC |
54.8 | | ||||||
Income tax effect related to reconciling items |
(224.9) | (104.3) | ||||||
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Biogen Inc. |
$ | 4,422.7 | $ | 3,931.9 |
(A) | Under our settlement and license agreement with Forward Pharma A/S (Forward Pharma), we paid Forward Pharma $1.25 billion in cash. The $455 million pre-tax charge recognized during the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 represents the portion of the $1.25 billion cash payment that is attributable to our sales of TECFIDERA during the period April 2014 through December 31, 2016. |
(B) | Restructuring charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 include $8.0 million and $93.4 million, respectively, of costs incurred in connection with our 2015 corporate restructuring. Restructuring charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 include charges of $17.7 million incurred in connection with additional cost savings measures primarily intended to realign our organizational structure in anticipation of the changes in roles and workforce resulting from our decision to spin off our hemophilia business, and to achieve further targeted cost reductions. Restructuring charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 also include severance charges of $7.4 million related to employee separation costs as a result of our decision to vacate and cease manufacturing in Cambridge, MA and vacate our warehouse in Somerville, MA. |
(C) | Cambridge manufacturing facility rationalization costs reflect additional depreciation, the write-down of excess inventory and other direct costs associated with our decision to vacate and cease manufacturing in Cambridge, MA and vacate our warehouse in Somerville, MA. Additional depreciation expense, which totaled $45.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, is included in cost of sales, excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets in our condensed consolidated statements of income. Also reflected in this amount for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 are charges of $6.9 million for the write-down of excess inventory, which are included in cost of sales, excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets in our condensed consolidated statements of income. |
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis by providing additional measures which may be considered Non-GAAP financial measures under applicable SEC rules. We believe that the disclosure of these Non-GAAP financial measures provides additional insight into the ongoing economics of our business and reflects how we manage our business internally, set operational goals, and forms the basis of our management incentive programs. These
A-1 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
|
Appendix A (continued)
Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and should not be viewed in isolation or as a substitute for reported, or GAAP, net income attributable to Biogen Inc. and diluted earnings per share.
Our Non-GAAP net income attributable to Biogen Inc. and Non-GAAP earnings per share Diluted financial measures exclude the following items from GAAP net income attributable to Biogen Inc. and GAAP earnings per share Diluted:
1. Purchase accounting and merger-related adjustments.
We exclude certain purchase accounting related items associated with the acquisition of businesses, assets, and amounts in relation to the consolidation of variable interest entities for which we are the primary beneficiary. These adjustments include, but are not limited to, charges for in-process research and development, the amortization of certain acquired intangible assets, and charges or credits from the fair value remeasurement of our contingent consideration obligations.
2. Hemophilia business separation costs.
We have excluded costs that are directly associated with the set up and spin off of our hemophilia business into an independent, publicly-traded company. These costs represent incremental third party costs attributable solely to hemophilia separation and set up activities.
3. Restructuring, business transformation, and other cost saving initiatives.
We exclude costs associated with the companys execution of certain strategies and initiatives to streamline operations, achieve targeted cost reductions, rationalize manufacturing facilities, or refocus R&D activities. These costs may include employee separation costs, retention bonuses, facility closing and exit costs, asset impairment charges or additional depreciation when the expected useful life of certain assets have been shortened due to changes in anticipated usage, and other costs or credits that management believes do not have a direct correlation to our on-going or future business operations.
4. Other items.
We evaluate other items of income and expense on an individual basis, and consider both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the item, including (i) its size and nature, (ii) whether or not it relates to our ongoing business operations, and (iii) whether or not we expect it to occur as part of our normal business on a regular basis, including in the fourth quarter of 2016, TECFIDERA litigation settlement and license charges. We also include an adjustment to reflect the related tax effect of all reconciling items within our reconciliation of our GAAP to Non-GAAP net income attributable to Biogen Inc.
A-2 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
|
Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan
BIOGEN INC.
2017 OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN
1. Defined Terms
Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines certain capitalized terms used in the Plan and sets forth certain operational rules related to those terms.
2. Purpose; Term
The Plan provides for the grant of Awards consisting of or based on the Stock of the Company. The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain employees of the Company and its Affiliates, to provide an incentive for them to generate stockholder value by contributing to the appreciation of the Companys Stock price and to enable them to participate in the growth of the Company by granting Awards with respect to the Companys Stock. No Awards may be granted under the Plan more than ten (10) years after the Effective Date, but Awards granted prior to that date may continue in accordance with their terms.
3. Administration
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Board may in any instance perform any of the functions of the Committee hereunder and the Committee may delegate such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine in accordance with applicable legal requirements, including Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (references herein to the Committee shall include the Board or the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation, as applicable).
The Committee shall select the Participants to receive Awards and shall determine the terms and conditions of the Awards. The Committee has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan; determine eligibility for and grant Awards; determine, modify or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; determine the form of settlement of Awards (whether in cash, shares of Stock or other property); prescribe forms, rules and procedures and otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Plan. Determinations of the Committee made under the Plan will be conclusive and will bind all parties.
4. Eligibility
All employees of the Company (or of any Affiliate) are eligible to be Participants in the Plan.
5. Stock Available for Awards
A. Shares Available. Subject to the other subsections of this Section 5 and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10, no more than 8,000,000 shares of Stock in the aggregate may be delivered under or in satisfaction of Awards, plus the number of shares of Stock that, as of the date of adoption of the Plan, either: (i) remain available for grant under the 2008 Plan (including shares available under such plan by reason of a predecessor plan) or (ii) are subject to awards under 2008 Plan and on or after the date of adoption are cancelled, surrendered, exchanged, terminated or forfeited for any reason whatsoever in accordance with the terms of such plan. Shares issued under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. No fractional shares will be issued under the Plan.
B. Fungible Share Plan. Each share of Stock subject to an Award consisting of Options and/or SARs shall be counted against the limits set forth in Section 5.A as one (1) share. Each share of Stock subject to any Award other than an Award consisting of Options and/or SARs shall be counted against the limits set forth in Section 5.A as one and one-half (1.5) shares.
C. Reversion to the Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, if (i) an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, (ii) if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to
B-1 |
2017 PROXY STATEMENT
|
Appendix B (continued)
forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company or (iii) on or after the date of adoption of the Plan, an outstanding award under the 2008 Plan is cancelled, surrendered, exchanged, terminated or forfeited in accordance with the terms of the 2008 Plan, the shares of Stock allocable to such expired, terminated, cancelled, exchanged or forfeited, as applicable, portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock, shall again be available for delivery under the Plan in an amount determined in accordance with Section 5.B. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been delivered in satisfaction of Awards under the Plan to the extent that any portion of an Award is settled in cash or other property (other than shares of Stock). Upon delivery of shares of Stock in settlement of a SAR, the full number of shares of Stock covered by such SAR shall be treated as delivered under the Plan (and not only the number of shares of Stock delivered in settlement of such Award). Shares of Stock withheld from an Award in satisfaction of withholding taxes as described in Section 9.I or in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of any Award shall not again be available for delivery under the Plan.
D. Certain Other Company Awards. To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder, and other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), Stock issued under awards granted by another company (other company awards) and assumed by the Company in connection with a merger, consolidation, stock purchase or similar transaction, or issued by the Company under awards substituted for other company awards in connection with a merger, consolidation, stock purchase or similar transaction, shall not reduce the shares of Stock available for Awards under the Plan and such other company awards shall not be subject to the individual limits described in Section 5.E. Such awards may have terms inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
E. Limit on Individual Grants. The maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Options, SARs, RSUs, RSAs and Other Awards that may be granted to any Participant in any calendar year is 1,500,000 shares of Stock in the aggregate, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10. The foregoing limit refers to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered, or the value of which may be paid in cash or other property (based on the fair market value of the shares of Stock or such other property on the date of payment), under Awards granted during the calendar year. The foregoing limit will be construed in a manner consistent with Section 162(m), including, without limitation, where applicable, the rules under Section 162(m) pertaining to permissible deferrals of exempt awards.
6. Options
A. Grant of Options. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant both (i) Options to purchase up to a maximum of 1,000,000 shares of Stock that are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 422 (ISOs) and (ii) Options that are not intended to comply with such requirements (NQSOs). Eligibility for ISOs is limited to employees of the Company or of a parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code. Each Option shall be clearly identified in the applicable Award agreement as either an ISO or an NQSO, but if no such identification is made, the Option shall be treated as an NQSO. The Committee shall determine the number of shares subject to each Option and the exercise price therefor, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant. An ISO granted to an employee described in Section 422(b)(6) of the Code must have an exercise price that is not less than 110% of such Fair Market Value.
B. Terms and Conditions. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify in the Award agreement or thereafter. An ISO may not be exercisable after the period provided in Section 1.422-2(d) of the Treasury Regulations. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. At the time of the grant of an Option, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such Option as it, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate, including requiring the achievement of Performance Criteria. The Expiration Date of each Option shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof, or at such earlier time as the Committee shall state in the Award agreement.
C. Payment. No shares of Stock shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the exercise price therefor is received by the Company. Such payment may be made in whole or in part in cash or, to the extent
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legally permissible and expressly permitted by the Committee at or after the grant of the Option, by delivery of other property such as shares of Stock (for which the Committee may require a holding period), valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery or such other lawful consideration, including in accordance with a cashless exercise, as the Committee may determine or any combination of the foregoing permitted forms of payment.
7. SARs
A. Grant of SARs. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant SARs. The Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter whether SARs are settled in cash, Stock or other securities of the Company, Awards or other property, and may define the manner of determining the excess in value of the shares of Stock over the base value of the SAR. The Committee shall fix the base value of each SAR, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.
B. Terms and Conditions. Each SAR shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify in the Award agreement or thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of SARs, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. At the time of the grant of a SAR, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such SAR as it, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate, including requiring the achievement of Performance Criteria. The Expiration Date of each SAR shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof, or at such earlier time as the Committee shall state in the Award agreement.
8. RSUs, RSAs and Other Awards
A. RSUs. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant RSUs. Each RSU shall represent the unfunded and unsecured commitment of the Company to deliver to the Participant at a specified future date or dates one or more shares of Stock or, if specified in the Award, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the Award, in any case subject to the satisfaction of any vesting or other terms and conditions established with respect to the Award as the Committee may determine. The Committee may make Awards of RSUs that are subject to restrictions or forfeiture on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine from time to time.
B. RSAs. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant RSAs and determine the duration of the period (the Restricted Period) during which, and the conditions under which, the shares of Stock may be forfeited to the Company and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. RSAs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered during the Restricted Period. RSAs shall be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may determine. Any certificates issued in respect of RSAs shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Company shall deliver such shares of Stock, along with any certificates, to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the Participants Designated Beneficiary.
C. Other Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may grant Awards (including Performance Awards) other than Options, SARs, RSUs or RSAs (Other Awards). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Awards shall be granted, the number of shares of Stock to be granted pursuant to such Other Awards, whether such Awards are to be settled in cash, Stock, other property or a combination of the foregoing, and all other conditions of such Other Awards.
D. Terms and Conditions. At the time of the grant of RSUs, RSAs or Other Awards, the Committee shall determine the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for each share of Stock subject to the Award. At the time of the grant of RSUs, RSAs or Other Awards, as applicable, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such Award as it, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate, including requiring the achievement of Performance Criteria.
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9. General Provisions Applicable to Awards
A. Documentation and Legal Conditions on Delivery of Stock. Each Award shall be evidenced by a written or electronic document delivered or made available to the Participant or an agreement executed by the Participant specifying the terms and conditions thereof and containing such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee considers necessary or advisable to achieve the purposes of the Plan or to comply with applicable tax or other laws or accounting principles. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of Stock previously delivered under the Plan until: (i) the Companys counsel has approved all legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of delivery listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied or waived. If the sale of Stock has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or if the Company determines that the registration statement covering the sale of Stock is not available, the Company may defer the sale until such time as it determines that the registration statement is available and may delay the applicability of any provisions of the Award during any period of unavailability. The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an Award or the delivery of shares of Stock under an Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law. The Company may require that certificates evidencing Stock issued under the Plan bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock and the Company may hold the certificates pending lapse of the applicable restrictions.
B. Performance Criteria. The Committee may establish Performance Criteria on which the granting of Performance Awards, or the vesting of Performance Awards, will be subject. The Committee shall determine whether any Performance Criteria so established have been achieved, and if so to what extent, and its determination shall be binding on all persons.
C. Minimum Vesting Period. To the extent an Award is to vest based solely upon the continued employment of the Participant, such Award shall vest pursuant to a schedule that provides for vesting in three equal increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, or such longer period as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that up to 500,000 shares of Stock may be made subject to Awards with a time-based vesting schedule that provides for vesting sooner than the default schedule set forth in this Section 9.C; and, provided, further, that Awards shall be subject to accelerated vesting as set forth in Section 9.G, Section 10 or in a Participants Award agreement.
D. Committee Discretion. Awards may be made alone or in combination with other Awards, including Awards of other types. The terms of Awards of the same type need not be identical, and the Committee need not treat Participants uniformly (subject to the requirements of applicable law). Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Plan or a particular Award agreement, any determination with respect to an Award may be made by the Committee at the time of grant or at any time thereafter.
E. Dividends and Cash Payments. In the discretion of the Committee, any Award under the Plan may provide the Participant with (i) dividends or dividend equivalents payable (in cash, property or other Awards under the Plan) currently or deferred with or without interest and (ii) cash payments in lieu of or in addition to an Award. Any entitlement to such dividends, dividend equivalents, cash payments or similar entitlements will be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with, the requirements of Section 409A and shall subject to such limits or restrictions as the Committee may impose.
F. Leaves of Absence. Awards held by a Participant on an approved leave of absence shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms during the leave of absence as if the Participant was an active employee unless otherwise agreed to in writing between the Company and the Participant or otherwise set forth in the Award agreement; provided, however, in the event of an ISO, such leave of absence shall not exceed ninety (90) days unless reemployment is guaranteed by law or contract.
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Appendix B (continued)
G. Termination of Employment. Unless the Committee expressly provides otherwise in an Award agreement, the following rules shall apply in connection with the termination of a Participants employment with the Company and its Affiliates. Immediately upon the termination of the Participants employment with the Company and its Affiliates, each Award requiring exercise will cease to be exercisable and each Award to the extent not then vested will be forfeited, except that:
(1) In the event of a termination of the Participants employment by reason of death or as a result of Disability, each Award held by a Participant immediately prior to his or her death or termination of employment as a result of Disability shall, to the extent not vested previously, become fully vested, and each Option, SAR and other Award requiring exercise, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable by the Participant or the Participants executor or administrator or the person or persons to whom the Option or SAR is transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, in each case for the lesser of: (i) the one-year period ending with the first anniversary of the Participants death or Disability, as applicable, or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this subsection G, and shall thereupon terminate;
(2) In the event of the Participants Retirement, each Award, to the extent not vested previously, shall become vested as to 50% of the number of shares covered by such unvested Award and for an additional 10% of the number of shares covered by such unvested Award for every full year of consecutive employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates beyond ten (10) years, up to the remaining amount of the unvested Award; provided, however, that: (i) the applicable grants with respect to such Awards shall provide for payment terms that comply with, or are exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A and (ii) Awards subject to Performance Criteria intended to comply with Section 162(m) will vest according to the schedule contemplated in this Section 9.G(2) only to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m). In the event of the Participants Retirement, each Option, SAR and other Award requiring exercise, to the extent then exercisable (after giving effect to the accelerated vesting provided for herein), will remain exercisable for the lesser of: (a) the three-year period ending with the third anniversary of the Participants Retirement or (b) the period ending on the latest date on which such Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this subsection G, and shall thereupon terminate;
(3) In the event of the Participants termination of employment For Cause, each Award held by a Participant or a Participants permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to such termination of employment (including any portion of the Award that is then exercisable) shall terminate at the commencement of business on the date of such termination; and
(4) In the event of the Participants termination of employment for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement or For Cause, each Option, SAR and other Award requiring exercise held by a Participant immediately prior to such termination of employment, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of: (i) the period ending six (6) months from the Participants termination date or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this subsection G, and shall thereupon terminate; and each other Award shall terminate at the close of business on the date of such termination.
Subject to Section 9.O, unless the Committee expressly provides otherwise, a Participants employment with the Company and its Affiliates will be deemed to have ceased upon termination of the Participants employment with the Company and its Affiliates (whether or not the Participant continues in the service of the Company or its Affiliates in some capacity other than that of an employee of the Company or its Affiliates).
H. Transferability. No Award may be transferred other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised during the life of a Participant only by the Participant, except that, as to Options other than ISOs, the Committee may in its sole discretion permit certain transfers to the Participants family members or to certain entities controlled by the Participant or his or her family members.
I. Withholding Taxes. The Participant shall pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Committee for payment of, any taxes or social insurance contributions required by law to be withheld with respect to Awards under the Plan no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company and its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax or social insurance contributions from any payment of any kind due to the Participant hereunder or
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otherwise. In the Committees discretion, tax and social insurance contributions required by law to be withheld in respect of Awards may be paid in whole or in part in shares of Stock, including shares retained by the Company from the Award creating the obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of retention or delivery, but not in excess of the maximum withholding amount consistent with the Award being subject to equity accounting treatment under applicable accounting rules (including FASB ASC Topic 718 (or any successor provision)).
J. Option or SAR Repricing. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (which term includes, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares) or as otherwise contemplated by Section 10 below, the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price or base value of such Options or SARs, (ii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for Options or SARs with an exercise price or base value that is less than the exercise price or base value of the original Options or SARs or (iii) cancel outstanding Options or SARs that have an exercise price or base value greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such cancellation in exchange for cash or other consideration.
K. Amendment of Award. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, the Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization and converting an ISO to an NQSO; provided, however, that if stockholder approval is required by law or the rules of the applicable stock exchange on which the Stock of the Company is then publicly-traded, such amendment shall not become effective until such stockholder approval is obtained. Any such action shall require the Participants consent unless the Committee determines that the action would not materially and adversely affect the Participant.
L. Recovery of Compensation. The Committee may cancel, rescind, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any Award at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Award agreement and the Plan or if the Participant engages in any Detrimental Activity. In addition, the Committee may provide that Awards and the proceeds from Awards or Stock acquired thereunder will be subject to forfeiture and disgorgement to the Company to the extent required or permitted by applicable Company policy, law or stock exchange listing standards. Each Participant, by accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, agrees to cooperate fully with the Committee to effectuate any forfeiture or disgorgement required hereunder. The Participant (and neither the Committee nor the Company) will be solely responsible for any adverse tax or other consequences to a Participant that may arise in connection with this Section 9.L.
M. Foreign Nationals. The Committee may take any action consistent with the terms of the Plan, either before or after an Award has been granted, which the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with government laws or regulatory requirements of any foreign jurisdiction, including but not limited to modifying or amending the terms and conditions governing any Awards, establishing sub-plans under the Plan or adopting such procedures as the Committee may determine to be appropriate in response to differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employment, accounting or other matters.
N. Deemed Exercise of Awards. On the Expiration Date on which a vested Award (or portion thereof) requiring exercise is scheduled to terminate in accordance with the Plan and the terms of the Award, if the per share exercise price or base value, as the case may be, of the Award is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on that date, the vested portion of the Award will be deemed to have been exercised at the close of business on that date. As promptly as practicable thereafter, the Company will deliver to the Participant the shares of Stock subject to the vested portion of the Award less that number of shares with a value that is equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value of: (i) the aggregate exercise price or base value, as the case may be, of the vested portion of the Award and (ii) the amount withheld, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 9.I, in satisfaction of any federal, state and local withholding of taxes or social insurance contributions related to the exercise.
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Appendix B (continued)
O. Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award agreement to the contrary:
(1) Awards under the Plan are intended either to be exempt from the rules of Section 409A or to satisfy those rules, and shall be construed accordingly.
(2) To the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company and its Affiliates until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A (after giving effect to the presumptions contained therein).
(3) If a Participant is deemed on the date of the Participants termination of Employment to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then, with regard to any payment that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable, payable on account of a separation from service, such payment will be made or provided on the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service and (ii) the date of the Participants death (the Delay Period). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 9.O(3) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) will be paid on the first business day following the expiration of the Delay Period in a lump sum and any remaining payments due under the Award will be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them in the applicable Award agreement.
(4) For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under the Plan shall be treated as a separate payment.
P. Section 162(m). In the case of any Performance Award (other than an Option or SAR) intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), the Committee shall establish the Performance Criterion (or Criteria) applicable to the Award within the time period required under Section 162(m) and the grant, vesting or payment, as the case may be, of the Award will be conditioned upon the satisfaction of the Performance Criterion (or Criteria) as certified by the Committee. The Committee may, subject to the terms of the Plan, amend a previously granted Performance Award or take any other action that disqualifies such Award from the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m).
10. Effect of Certain Transactions
A. Covered Transactions
Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement:
(1) If the Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or surviving entity other than the Company or its Affiliate, the Committee shall provide for the assumption of some or all outstanding Awards or for the grant of new Awards in substitution therefor or the continuation of some or all of the Awards by the acquiror or survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor, except to the extent that the Committee pays out the Award pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.A(2).
(2) If the Covered Transaction is one in which holders of Stock will receive upon consummation a payment (whether cash, non-cash or a combination of the foregoing), the Committee may provide for payment (a cash-out), with respect to some or all Awards or any portion thereof (whether or not vested), equal in the case of each affected Award or portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (i) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock times the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award or such portion, over (ii) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, under the Award or such portion (in the case of a SAR, the aggregate base value above which appreciation is measured), in each case on such payment terms (which need not be the same as the terms of payment to holders of Stock) and other terms, and subject to such conditions, as the Committee determines; provided, that the Committee shall not exercise its discretion under this Section 10.A(2) with respect to an Award or portion thereof providing for nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A in a manner that would constitute an extension or acceleration of, or other change in, payment terms if such change would be inconsistent with the applicable requirements of Section 409A. For avoidance of doubt, in the event that the aggregate
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exercise or purchase price of the Award exceeds the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the Award, the Award will be deemed to be cashed out for a payment of zero.
(3) Each Award will terminate upon consummation of the Covered Transaction, other than Awards assumed, substituted or continued pursuant to Section 10.A(1). For avoidance of doubt, in the event that the Awards are not cashed out (or deemed cashed out) as provided in Section 10.A(2), such Awards shall be assumed, substituted or continued as provided in Section 10.A(1).
B. Corporate Transaction. Except as otherwise provided in the Award agreement, if at any time within two (2) years after the effective date of a Corporate Transaction there is an Involuntary Employment Action with respect to any Designated Employee, each then outstanding Award assumed, substituted or continued under Section 10.A(1) and held by such Designated Employee (or a permitted transferee of such person) shall, upon the occurrence of such Involuntary Employment Action, automatically accelerate so that each such Award shall become fully vested or exercisable, as applicable, immediately prior to such Involuntary Employment Action. Upon the occurrence of an Involuntary Employment Action with respect to a Designated Employee, any outstanding Options or SARs held by such Designated Employee (and a permitted transferee of such person) shall be exercisable for one (1) year following the Involuntary Employment Action or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option or SAR.
C. Corporate Change in Control. Except as otherwise provided in the Award agreement, if at any time within two (2) years after the effective date of a Corporate Change in Control there is an Involuntary Employment Action with respect to any Designated Employee, each then outstanding Award assumed, substituted or continued under Section 10.A(1) and held by such Designated Employee (or a permitted transferee of such person) shall, upon the occurrence of such Involuntary Employment Action, automatically accelerate so that each such Award shall become fully vested or exercisable, as applicable, immediately prior to such Involuntary Employment Action. Upon the occurrence of an Involuntary Employment Action with respect to a Designated Employee, any outstanding Options or SARs held by such Designated Employee (and a permitted transferee of such person) shall be exercisable for one (1) year following the Involuntary Employment Action or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option or SAR.
D. Changes In, Distributions With Respect To and Redemptions of the Stock.
(1) In the event of any stock dividend or other similar distribution of stock or other securities of the Company, stock split or combination of shares (including a reverse stock split), recapitalization, conversion, reorganization, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, merger, exchange of stock, redemption or repurchase of all or part of the shares of any class of stock or any change in the capital structure of the Company or an Affiliate or other transaction or event that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of FASB ASC Topic 718 (or any successor provision), the following shall be equitably adjusted (i) the number of shares that may be delivered as per Section 5, (ii) the individual limits described in Section 5.E, (iii) the number and kind of shares of stock or securities subject to Awards then outstanding or subsequently granted, (iv) exercise prices or base values, as the case may be, relating to outstanding Awards and (v) any other provision of Awards affected by such change.
(2) The Committee may also make equitable or proportionate adjustments of the type described in Section 10.D(1) to take into account distributions to stockholders other than stock dividends or normal cash dividends, material changes in accounting practices or principles, extraordinary dividends, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions, dispositions or similar transactions involving Stock or any other event other than those described in Section 10.D(1), if the Committee determines that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan and to preserve the value and equity of Awards made hereunder, having due regard for: (i) the qualification of ISOs under Section 422; (ii) the continued exemption of the Awards from (or satisfaction by the Awards of the rules of) Section 409A, where applicable and (iii) in the case of Awards intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception Section 162(m), the continued qualification for that exception (unless otherwise determined by the Committee).
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(3) References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 10.
11. Miscellaneous
A. No Right to Employment. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award. Neither the adoption, maintenance, nor operation of the Plan nor any Award hereunder shall constitute a contract of employment or confer upon any employee of the Company or of any Affiliate any right with respect to the continuance of his/her employment by or other service with the Company or any such Affiliate nor shall it or they be construed as affecting the rights of the Company (or Affiliate) to terminate the service of any person at any time or otherwise change the terms of such service, including, without limitation, the right to promote, demote or otherwise re-assign any employee from one position to another within the Company or any Affiliate.
B. No Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or other person shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock to be issued under the Plan until he or she becomes the holder thereof. A Participant to whom an RSA is awarded shall be considered a stockholder of the Company at the time the Award is granted except as otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award agreement.
C. Effective Date. The Plan became effective on the Effective Date.
D. Amendment of the Plan. The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, subject to such stockholder approval as the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable. Further, under all circumstances, the Committee may, but shall not be required to, make non-substantive administrative changes to the Plan in order to conform with or take advantage of governmental requirements, statutes or regulations. Except as provided in Section 9.L, no such amendment, modification or termination will adversely affect the rights of any Participant (without his or her consent) under any Award previously granted and no amendment will, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, effectuate a change for which stockholder approval is required under applicable law or relevant stock exchange listing standards.
E. Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
F. Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, nor any Affiliate, nor the Committee, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any Affiliate or the Committee, will be liable to any Participant, to any permitted transferee, to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or any permitted transferee or to any other holder of an Award by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Award.
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EXHIBIT A
Definition of Terms
The following terms, when used in the Plan, will have the meanings and be subject to the provisions set forth below:
2008 Plan means the Companys 2008 Amended and Restated Omnibus Equity Plan.
Affiliate means any corporation or other entity that stands in a relationship to the Company that would result in the Company and such corporation or other entity being treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code, except that such Sections shall be applied by substituting at least 50% for at least 80% wherever applicable; provided, however, that in determining eligibility for the grant of an Option or SAR by reason of service for an Affiliate, Affiliate shall mean any corporation or other entity in a chain of corporations all of which have a controlling interest in another corporation or other entity in the chain, beginning with the parent entity and ending with the entity for which the Award recipient was providing services on the grant date of the Award (defining the term controlling interest based on at least 50% rather than at least 80%). The Company may at any time by amendment provide that different ownership thresholds apply (consistent with Section 409A, where applicable).
Award means any Option, SAR, RSA, RSU and any Other Award convertible into or otherwise based on Stock (including a Performance Award payable in cash), granted under the Plan.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor law.
Committee means the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board.
Company means Biogen Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Competitive Activity shall include: (i) the rendering of services for any organization or engaging directly or indirectly in any business which is or becomes competitive with the Company, or which organization or business, or the rendering of services to such organization or business, is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company; (ii) the disclosure to anyone outside the Company, or the use in other than the Companys business, without prior written authorization from the Company, of any confidential information or material relating to the business of the Company, acquired by the Participant either during or after employment with the Company or (iii) any attempt directly or indirectly to induce any employee of the Company to be employed or perform services elsewhere or any attempt directly or indirectly to solicit the trade or business of any current or prospective customer, supplier or partner of the Company.
Continuing Director shall mean, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board who (i) was a member of the Board on March 24, 2017 or (ii) becomes a member of the Board subsequent to March 24, 2017 and was appointed, nominated for election or elected to the Board with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board at the time of such appointment, nomination or election, provided that a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest will not be considered a Continuing Director unless and until (a) such director has served on the Board for at least two (2) years and (b) the most recent reelection of such director has been approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors in office at the time of such approval.
Corporate Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred upon the first of the following events:
(1) an event in which any Person, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), together with all affiliates and associates (as such terms are used in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such Person, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities;
(2) the consummation of the merger or consolidation of the Company with any other company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
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2017 PROXY STATEMENT
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Appendix B (continued)
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger; or
(3) at any time the Continuing Directors do not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the board of directors of a successor to the Company).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case where the occurrence of a Corporate Change in Control could affect the vesting of or payment under an Award subject to the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, the term Corporate Change in Control shall mean an occurrence that both (i) satisfies the requirements set forth above in this definition and (ii) is a change in control event as that term is defined in the regulations under Section 409A.
Corporate Transaction means any of: (i) a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company (or an Affiliate) is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the then outstanding Stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert; (iii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Companys assets or (iv) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company. Where a Corporate Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) as determined by the Committee, the Corporate Transaction shall be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any case where the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction could affect the vesting of or payment under an Award subject to the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, the term Corporate Transaction shall mean an occurrence that both (a) satisfies the requirements set forth above in this definition and (b) is a change in control event as that term is defined in the regulations under Section 409A.
Covered Transaction means a Corporate Change in Control or a Corporate Transaction.
Delay Period has the meaning set forth in Section 9.O(3).
Designated Beneficiary means the Participants estate.
Designated Employee means an employee designated by the Committee, in its sole discretion, as a Designated Employee for purposes of the Plan at any time prior to the effective date of a Corporate Transaction or Corporate Change in Control, as applicable.
Detrimental Activity shall include any action or failure to act that, in the sole determination of the Committee: (i)(a) constitutes financial malfeasance that is materially injurious to the Company, (b) violates the Companys Code of Conduct, (c) results in the Companys restatement of its earnings, financial results or financial statements or (d) results in a violation or breach of law or contract that is materially injurious to the Company or (ii) violates any non-competition, non-disclosure or non-solicitation agreement with the Company, or in the event that the Participant has not entered into any such agreement with the Company, the Participant engages in any Competitive Activity.
Disability shall exist for purposes of the Plan if the Company determines in its sole discretion that the Participant has been terminated as a result of the employee having become totally and permanently disabled. For this purpose, totally and permanently disabled means that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Effective Date means the date the Plan was approved by the Companys stockholders.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor law.
Expiration Date means the latest date on which an Option, SAR or Other Award requiring exercise may be exercised pursuant to the Award agreement.
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2017 PROXY STATEMENT
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Appendix B (continued)
Fair Market Value means, with respect to Stock, for so long as such Stock is readily tradable on an established securities market (within the meaning of Section 409A), the closing price on the day of the grant or measurement or, if the applicable date is not a trading day, on the most recent trading day immediately prior to the applicable date, and otherwise, the fair market value of such Stock determined by the Committee by a reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method (within the meaning of Section 409A).
For Cause shall be deemed to include, but is not limited to, dishonesty with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, insubordination, substantial malfeasance or non-feasance of duty, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, breach of, or a failure to comply with, the Companys policies, procedures or codes of ethics or business conduct, breach by a Participant of any provision of any employment, nondisclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate, the Participants commission of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony and other conduct that is, or could reasonably be expected to be, harmful or prejudicial to the business of the Company or an Affiliate. The determination of the Committee or its designee as to the existence of circumstances warranting a termination For Cause shall be conclusive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Participant is a party to an effective employment or similar agreement with the Company or an Affiliate which contains a cause definition, such definition shall be controlling for purposes of the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect.
Involuntary Employment Action as to a Participant means the involuntary termination of a Participants employment with the Company following a Corporate Transaction or Corporate Change in Control, as applicable, (i) other than For Cause or (ii) upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances: (a) any adverse and/or material alteration and diminution in the Participants authority, duties or responsibilities (other than a mere change in title or reporting relationship) as they existed immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction or Corporate Change in Control, as applicable, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter, (b) a reduction of the Participants base salary or a reduction in targeted bonus opportunity, in each case as in effect on the date prior to the Corporate Transaction or Corporate Change in Control, as applicable, or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter or (c) relocation of the offices at which the Participant is employed which increases his or her daily commute by more than 100 miles on a round trip basis; provided, however, that in any case the Participant notifies the Chief Legal Officer or the Head of Human Resources of the Company in writing of the basis for his or her involuntary termination within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of the circumstances and the Company does not cure such circumstance within thirty (30) days thereafter.
ISOs has the meaning set forth in Section 6.A.
NQSOs has the meaning set forth in Section 6.A.
Option means the right to purchase shares of Stock of the Company for a specified period of time at a specified price.
Other Award has the meaning set forth in Section 8.C.
other company award has the meaning set forth in Section 5.D.
Participant means a person selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.
Performance Award means an Award subject to Performance Criteria. The Committee in its discretion may grant Performance Awards that are intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) and Performance Awards that are not intended to so qualify.
Performance Criteria means specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of employment or passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting, payment or full enjoyment of an Award. For purposes of Performance Awards that are intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), a Performance Criterion shall be based on objectively determinable measures of performance relating to any of, or to any combination of, the following (measured either absolutely or comparatively (including, without limitation, by reference to an index or indices or the performance of one or more companies) and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, functional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in
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2017 PROXY STATEMENT
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Appendix B (continued)
combinations thereof and subject to such adjustments, if any, as the Committee specifies, consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m)): sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization or other items, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis; return on equity, investment, capital or assets; one or more operating ratios; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition, expansion or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures and strategic alliances; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or refinancings; or achievement of clinical trials or measurable research objectives. A Performance Criteria and any targets with respect thereto determined by the Committee shall be based on achievement of an objectively determinable performance goal. A Performance Criteria and any targets with respect thereto determined by the Committee need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss and may be based on GAAP, non-GAAP or other metrics as provided for herein. To the extent consistent with the requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m), the Committee may provide in the case of any Award intended to qualify for such exception that one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to such Award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria.
Person shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include: (i) the Company or any of its Affiliates; (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefits plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (iv) a corporation or other business entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
Plan means the Biogen 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect.
Restricted Period has the meaning set forth in Section 8.B.
Retirement as to any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates shall mean such persons leaving the employment of the Company and its Affiliates after reaching age 55 with ten (10) consecutive years of service with the Company or its Affiliates, but not including pursuant to any termination For Cause or pursuant to any termination for insufficient performance, as determined by the Company.
RSA means Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be redelivered or offered for sale to the Company if specified service or performance-based conditions are not satisfied.
RSU means an unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of Stock, to deliver Stock or cash measured by the value of Stock in the future, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions.
SAR means the right to receive upon exercise an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Stock of equivalent value) equal to any excess in value of shares of Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation is measured.
Section 162(m) means Section 162(m) of the Code, including the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other applicable Internal Revenue Service guidance.
Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code, including the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other applicable Internal Revenue Service guidance.
Section 422 means Section 422 of the Code, including the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other applicable Internal Revenue Service guidance.
Stock means the common stock, $0.0005 par value, of the Company.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
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E25472-P92180 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
BIOGEN INC. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Board recommends a vote FOR the following proposals: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. | Election of Directors. To elect the eleven director nominees numbered 1a through 1k to serve for a one-year term extending until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and their successors are duly elected and qualified. | For | Against | Abstain | For | Against |
Abstain |
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1a.
1b.
1c.
1d.
1e.
1f.
1g.
1h.
1i. |
Alexander J. Denner
Caroline D. Dorsa
Nancy L. Leaming
Richard C. Mulligan
Robert W. Pangia
Stelios Papadopoulos
Brian S. Posner
Eric K. Rowinsky
Lynn Schenk |
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐ |
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐
☐ |
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☐
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1j. | Stephen A. Sherwin | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||||
1k. |
Michel Vounatsos |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
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2. |
To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Biogen Inc.s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. |
☐ |
☐ |
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3. |
Say on Pay - To approve an advisory vote on executive compensation. |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
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The Board recommends a vote for 1 YEAR on the following proposal: |
1 Year |
2 Years |
3 Years |
Abstain |
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4. |
Say When on Pay - To approve an advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation.
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☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
☐ |
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The Board recommends a vote FOR the following proposal: | For | Against | Abstain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. |
To approve the Biogen Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Plan. |
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☐ |
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6. |
To transact such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
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Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. |
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
V.1.2
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The 2017 Notice and Proxy Statement and 2016 Annual Report with Form 10-K are available
at: www.proxyvote.com.
E25473-P92180
BIOGEN INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
June 7, 2017, 9:00 AM, Eastern Daylight Time
This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints Michel Vounatsos, Paul J. Clancy, and Susan H. Alexander, and each of them (with full power to act alone), as proxies of the undersigned with all the powers the undersigned would possess if present during the 2017 Annual Meeting, and with full power of substitution in each of them to appear, represent and vote all shares of common stock of Biogen Inc. which the undersigned would be entitled to vote at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BIIB2017 on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as directed herein. If no direction is indicated, such shares will be voted FOR the election of all of the director nominees listed in Proposal 1, FOR Proposals 2, 3 and 5, and for the 1 YEAR option for Proposal 4. As to any other matter that may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, proxy holders will vote in accordance with their best judgment.
Continued and to be signed on reverse side
V.1.2