Definitive Proxy Statement
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN

PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

 

Filed by the Registrant

  x  

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))
x Definitive Proxy Statement
¨ Definitive Additional Materials
¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, 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):

 

x 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: ________
  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ________
  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth amount on which filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ________
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  (5) Total fee paid: ________

 

¨ 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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LOGO

April 26, 2012

Dear Shareholder:

You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to be held at the Company’s headquarters at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The business of the meeting is described in the accompanying Notice of Meeting and proxy statement. We are also enclosing our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and a proxy card.

There will be a management presentation at the meeting to those shareholders who attend the meeting.

Your participation in the meeting is important regardless of the number of shares you hold. If you cannot attend the meeting, please grant a proxy to vote your shares by marking, signing and dating the proxy card and returning it by no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 in the manner described in the proxy statement. Your proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised as explained in the proxy statement.

If you plan to attend, please bring photo identification. Also, if your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee, please bring with you a proxy or letter from the broker or nominee confirming your ownership as of the record date.

 

    Sincerely,
    LOGO
 

Robert F. Doman

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, MA 01887 - Phone 978.657.7500, Fax 978.657.9193


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LOGO

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

25 Upton Drive

Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING

TO BE HELD JUNE 14, 2012

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF

DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the Company’s offices located at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts to consider and act upon the following matters:

 

  (1) To elect eight (8) directors;

 

  (2) To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2012;

 

  (3) To conduct a “Say-on-Pay” advisory vote on the approval of executive compensation; and

 

  (4) To transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 18, 2012 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at the meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

The proxy statement for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and our annual report to shareholders on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 are available on our website at www.dusapharma.com under “For Investors.”

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote. If you hold shares in your own name, please fill in, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope. If your broker or other nominee holds your shares, please follow their instructions to vote. The prompt return of your proxy will assist us in preparing for the Annual Meeting. The proxy does not require any postage if it is mailed in the United States or Canada.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,
LOGO
Nanette W. Mantell, Esq.
Secretary

Dated: April 26, 2012

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

     i   

PROXY STATEMENT

     1   

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

     1   

PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     3   

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     6   

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

     7   

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     7   

CODE OF ETHICS APPLICABLE TO SENIOR OFFICERS

     9   

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     10   

STRUCTURE AND RISK OVERSIGHT FUNCTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     10   

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

     10   

PROPOSAL NO. 2 - RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     11   

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

     12   

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

     13   

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

     18   

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS

     18   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     19   

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     20   

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

     21   

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

     22   

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

     23   

NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

     24   

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL

     24   

ESTIMATED TERMINATION PAYMENT

     25   

401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN

     25   

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     26   

PROPOSAL NO. 3 - “SAY-ON-PAY” ADVISORY VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     28   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

     28   

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     29   

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     30   

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

     30   

OTHER MATTERS

     30   


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PROXY STATEMENT

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Why I am receiving these proxy materials?

You are receiving these proxy materials because the Board of Directors of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“DUSA” or the “Company”), a New Jersey corporation, is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at the Company’s principal executive offices at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887. If properly signed and returned, and not revoked, your proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions it contains. The persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote the proxy for the Board of Directors’ slate of directors and for the other matters listed on the proxy as recommended by the Board of Directors unless contrary instructions are given.

This proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being mailed to shareholders on or about April 26, 2012. DUSA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2011, including financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, but excluding certain exhibits, is being mailed to shareholders at the same time. A copy of the exhibits will be provided upon request and payment to DUSA of reasonable expenses.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only shareholders of record of shares of DUSA common stock at the close of business on April 18, 2012 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any and all adjournments or postponements of the meeting. On the record date, there were 24,932,087 shares of common stock without par value (“Common Stock”) outstanding and entitled to vote. These shares were the only shares outstanding of the Company.

What am I voting on?

There are three matters scheduled for a vote at the annual meeting:

 

   

the election of directors;

 

   

the ratification of the selection by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012; and

 

   

a “Say-on-Pay” advisory vote on the approval of executive compensation.

How many votes do I have?

Each share owned on April 18, 2012, the record date for the meeting, entitles its owner to one vote on each matter to be voted upon. As of the record date, the Company’s management owned approximately 1.70% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.

What is the quorum requirement?

The holders of one-third of the shares that are outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be present, in person or represented by proxy, to constitute a quorum for all matters to come before the meeting.

How do I vote?

Shareholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name.

If you are a shareholder of record (that is, a shareholder who holds shares in your own name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company), you can vote by attending the Annual Meeting in person, or at any adjournment thereof, or by signing, dating and returning your proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you sign and return your proxy card but do not give voting instructions, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted as recommended by our Board of Directors, and will be voted in the proxy holder’s discretion as to other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting.


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Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank or Other Nominee.

If your shares are held in “street name” (that is, in an account at a bank, brokerage firm or other holder of record), then you are the beneficial owner of the shares and these proxy materials, including instructions that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

How are votes counted?

Each matter to be submitted to the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting for such matter. For purposes of determining the number of votes cast with respect to Proposals 2 and 3, only those votes cast “FOR” OR “AGAINST” are included. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted only for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting. A broker “non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. If you do not give instructions to your broker, bank, or other agent, it can vote your shares with respect to discretionary items, but not with respect to non-discretionary items. Discretionary items are proposals considered routine under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange on which your broker, bank or other agent may vote shares held in street name in the absence of your voting instructions, and include the ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm. On non-discretionary items for which you do not give instructions to your broker, bank or other agent, which include the election of directors, the shares will be treated as broker non-votes. With respect to the election of directors, a shareholder may vote “FOR” OR “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY.” Votes indicating “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” will be counted as a vote against the nominee. For Proposals 2 and 3, a shareholder may indicate “FOR,” “AGAINST” OR “ABSTAIN.” Management knows of no other matter to be voted upon other than with respect to the election of directors, the advisory vote regarding executive compensation and the ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP. However, if any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, one of the individuals named on your proxy card as your proxy will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

Yes. If you are a shareholder of record, you may change your vote at any time before the proxy is exercised, by executing and delivering a timely and valid later-dated proxy, by voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting or by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not have the effect of revoking a proxy unless you give proper written notice of revocation to the Secretary before the proxy is exercised or you vote by written ballot at the Annual Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank or other agent, or, if you have obtained a valid proxy card from your broker, bank or other agent giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. In addition, we have retained our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company to assist in the distribution of proxy materials for a fee not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

 

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How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in our Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within three business days after the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. If the final voting results are not available within three business days after the conclusion of the meeting, we will provide the preliminary results in the Form 8-K and the final results in an amendment to the Form 8-K within four business days after the final voting results are known to us.

PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

There are eight (8) nominees for election as directors who will hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and/or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The persons named on the accompanying proxy will vote all shares for which they have received proxies FOR the election of the nominees named below unless contrary instructions are given. In the event that any nominee should become unavailable, shares will be voted for a substitute nominee unless the number of directors constituting a full board is reduced. Directors are elected by majority vote, unless the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, in which case, directors shall be elected by a plurality vote. All of the nominees were elected to the Board of Directors at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and are currently serving.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

   Date First
Elected
 

Jay M. Haft(3)

   76    Chairman of the Board      9/16/1996   

Alfred Altomari(2)(3)(4)

   53    Director      7/29/2010   

David M. Bartash(1)(4)

   69    Vice-Chairman of the Board and Lead Director      11/16/2001   

Alexander W. Casdin(2)(3)

   44    Director      1/29/2009   

Robert F. Doman

   62    Director, President and Chief Executive Officer      6/15/2006   

Paul J. Hondros(1)(4)

   62    Director      7/29/2010   

Magnus Moliteus(2)(4)

   73    Director      7/25/2003   

David M. Wurzer(1)(2)

   53    Director      7/29/2010   

 

 

(1) Member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.

 

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

 

(4) Member of the Acquisition and Business Development Committee.

Jay M. Haft, Esq., 76, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, was first elected to the Board on September 16, 1996. He is a strategic and financial consultant for growth-stage companies. He has served as Chairman of the Board since December 1, 2008. Mr. Haft also served as Chairman of the Board from June 2003 to December 2004 and Vice Chairman and Lead Director from December 2004 to December 2008. Since 2005, Mr. Haft has been a partner and a member of the Investment Committee of Columbus Nova, a private investment arm of the Renova Group. He was a senior corporate partner of the law firm of Parker, Duryee, Rosoff & Haft from 1989 to 1994 and was of counsel to Parker, Duryee, Rosoff & Haft from 1994 until 2002. Mr. Haft was a director of Encore Medical prior to its acquisition by the Blackstone Group in 2006 and is a current member of the board of directors of Kingstone Companies Inc. He is also active in international corporate finance mergers and acquisitions, having extensive experience in the Russian market, where he has worked on growth strategies for companies looking to internationalize their business assets and enter international capital markets. Mr. Haft has served on approximately 30 corporate boards, including his tenure as Chairman of the Emerson Radio Corporation, and director at CompuComp Systems, Inc. He has served as a founder, consultant and/or director of Imatron Inc. (a CT scanner company whose technology is now owned by GE), Cardiac Resuscitator Corp. (technology now owned by Medtronic, Inc.) and Encore

 

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Orthopedics Corp. (technology acquired by the Blackstone Group). Currently Mr. Haft is a director of Ballantyne Cashmere, SpA as well as an advisor to Montezemolo & Partners, an Italian family investment group. He currently serves on the board of directors of Avovic Holdings LLC and two other related companies which operate the Ferrari automobile dealership in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. He also serves on the board of directors of the U.S.-Russia Business Council, and The Link of Times Foundation, a private cultural historical foundation. Mr. Haft is also active in the non-profit sector as well, particularly in the areas of education and art. He has served as a director of the Florida International University (FIU) Foundation and a member of the advisory board of the Wolfsonian Museum and the FIU Law School. He was previously appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the Florida Commission for the Governmental Accountability to the People, and served as a National Trustee and Treasurer of the Miami City Ballet and on the board of the Concert Association of Florida. Mr. Haft earned his Bachelor’s degree and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University and earned his law degree from Yale Law School. The Board believes that Mr. Haft is qualified to serve as a director due to his wealth of knowledge and insight into the challenges faced by emerging growth companies, including successful companies in the medical device field as well as his expertise in counseling companies on strategic matters.

Alfred Altomari, 53, who serves as a member of our Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Acquisition and Business Development Committees, was elected to the Board of Directors on July 29, 2010. Mr. Altomari is the Chief Executive Officer of Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a position he has held since October 2010. From July 2009 to October 2010, he was the Executive Chairman of Agile Therapeutics. From April 2008 to September 2008, Mr. Altomari was the Chief Executive Officer of Barrier Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, and a member of the company’s board of directors from January 2008 until the sale of the company to Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. (now owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc) in August 2008. Mr. Altomari joined Barrier as its Chief Commercial Officer in 2003 and became its Chief Operating Officer in 2006. Prior to joining Barrier, he had served in numerous executive roles in general management, commercial operations, business development, product launch preparation and finance within Johnson & Johnson from 1982 to 2003, including as Vice President/Franchise Head of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical’s Women’s Health Care Franchise. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree with a dual major in finance and accounting from Drexel University and earned his Masters in Business Administration from Rider University. Mr. Altomari currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. and two privately held companies including NB Therapeutics, Inc. and Agile Therapeutics. Mr. Altomari is also currently serving as a member of the advisory board of Le Bow College, the Business School of Drexel University. The Board believes that Mr. Altomari is qualified to serve as a director due to his prior senior management experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as his breadth of experience in the development and marketing of specialty pharmaceuticals.

David M. Bartash, 69, retired, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Lead Director, a member of our Audit Committee and Chairman of our Acquisition and Business Development Committee, was first elected to the Board on November 16, 2001. He was the President and founder of Bartash & Company, a consulting company which, from 1990 to 2009, provided financial and scientific consulting services to the healthcare industry. He has personally advised pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the United States, Canada, and Australia; investment firms in the United States and Great Britain; and investment banking firms in the United States. Mr. Bartash also serves on the board of directors of the Developmental Disabilities Institute, a not-for-profit organization providing educational, residential, and medical services to over 1500 individuals with autism spectrum disorders. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of DDI and on the Executive, Finance, and Building Committees. Mr. Bartash also serves on the board of directors of the DDI Foundation. Prior to founding Bartash & Company, Mr. Bartash spent over 20 years as a research analyst, and primarily as a pharmaceutical analyst, at several major investment firms representing both the buy and the sell sides of Wall Street. His last two positions, prior to forming Bartash & Company, were as senior pharmaceutical analyst at Dean Witter and Citibank. Mr. Bartash earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his Master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College. The Board believes that Mr. Bartash is qualified to serve as a director as a

 

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result of his significant experience in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly stemming from his years of providing investment advice and financial analysis of business and product opportunities, as well as his diversity of view-points.

Alexander W. Casdin, 44, who is a member of our Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, was first elected to the Board on January 29, 2009. He is the Chief Financial Officer of Protox Therapeutics Corporation and has held this position since October 2011. Prior to his position at Protox, he served as the Vice President, Finance of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a position he held from November 2009 to September 2011. Prior to his position at Amylin, Mr. Casdin was founder of Casdin Advisors LLC, formed in 2007, where he served as a strategic advisor to companies in the life sciences industry. From October 2005 until he founded Casdin Advisors, Mr. Casdin was the Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager of Cooper Hill Partners, LLC, a healthcare investment fund, and from 2001 to October 2005, he was Co-Portfolio Manager at Cooper Hill Partners. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Casdin was employed by Pequot Capital Management, LLC as an analyst and then Portfolio Manager where he oversaw the Pequot Capital Healthcare Fund. Prior to joining Pequot Capital Management, Mr. Casdin was a Senior Managing Analyst at Dreyfus Corporation focusing on the healthcare industry. In the non-profit sector, Mr. Casdin is a member of the Social Enterprise Program at Columbia Business School, a member of the advisory board of Hassenfeld Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders based at New York University’s Langone Medical Center and a member of the Artists Council of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Mr. Casdin earned his Bachelor’s degree from Brown University and earned his Master’s in Business Administration, Beta Gamma Sigma, from Columbia Business School. The Board believes Mr. Casdin is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and his business and financial expertise, particularly arising from his years analyzing investment opportunities in the healthcare field.

Robert F. Doman, 62, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since June 2007 and as our President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2005 to June 2007. He was first elected to the Board on June 15, 2006. From 2000 until 2004, Mr. Doman served as the President of Leach Technology Group, the medical device division of Leach Holding Corporation, which was sold to Easterline Technologies in 2004. From 1999 to 2000, he was the President, Device Product Development of West Pharmaceutical Services, a manufacturer of systems and device components for parentally administered medicines and drugs. Prior to joining West Pharmaceutical Services, he worked for the Convatec division of Bristol-Myers Squibb from 1991 to 1999 in positions that included: Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Business Development; Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Wound and Skin Care; and Vice President, U.S. Operations. From 1976 to 1990, he held sales, marketing and business development roles of increasing responsibilities for Critikon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. Mr. Doman earned his Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University. The Board believes that Mr. Doman is qualified to serve as a director due to his prior extensive diverse international and domestic experience in senior management positions at pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including in the field of dermatology, with respect to general management, business development, building sales and marketing capabilities, new product development and strategic planning.

Paul J. Hondros, 62, who is a member of our Audit Committee and our Acquisition and Business Development Committee, was elected to the Board on July 29, 2010. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of AlphaOne Capital Partners, LLC, and its affiliate companies. Prior to founding AlphaOne in December 2008, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gartmore Global Investments and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gartmore Group, a global asset management company. In 1998, he founded Villanova Capital, Inc., which operated until 2003, when it was merged into Gartmore Investment Management plc. Prior to founding Villanova Capital, Inc., he served briefly as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Pilgrim Baxter & Associates, Ltd. From 1990 to 1997 he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Investments’ Institutional Services Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of its Individual Investors groups. Early in his career, Mr. Hondros worked with SEI Investments, Inc., a global investment management, software, and mutual fund services company, where he was employed as a computer programmer, eventually rising to Executive Vice President of its Financial Services Division. Mr. Hondros earned

 

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his Bachelor’s degree in history from St. Joseph’s University, where he and his wife founded The Kinney Center for Autism Studies. The Board believes that Mr. Hondros is qualified to serve as a director due to his management experience and his investment expertise regarding the analysis of corporate performance.

Magnus Moliteus, 73, who serves as Chairman of our Compensation Committee and as a member of our Acquisition and Business Development Committee, was first elected to the Board on July 25, 2003. He also has been a consultant to the healthcare industry and the Chairman of COM Consulting, a privately held firm, which enhances Swedish-American relations particularly between health care companies, since 2001. He is also Special Advisor to KAEL-Gemvax Co., Ltd, a publicly-held Korean development stage pharmaceutical company for their US and European operations. From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Moliteus served as the Executive Director of Invest in Sweden Agency, U.S., a Swedish government agency. From 1973 to 1976 he was the President of Pharmacia France S.A. From 1977 to 1990, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacia, Inc. (now owned by Pfizer, Inc.) and from 1990 to 1995 he was the Chief Executive Officer of Procordia US Inc. Mr. Moliteus served as the Chairman of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. between 1988 and 1991 and remains an honorary director. Also, from 1989 to 1995, Mr. Moliteus was a member of the board of directors of the Health Industry Manufacturers Association (HIMA). Currently, Mr. Moliteus is a member of the advisory board of Modwave LLC and of e-pill, LLC. He is also on the board of directors of Novaflux Inc. and ACell, Inc. Mr. Moliteus earned his Master’s degree from Uppsala University. The Board believes that Mr. Moliteus is qualified to serve as a director based on his extensive senior executive management positions with a global pharmaceutical company and his role as an advisor to numerous other companies in the industry.

David M. Wurzer, CPA, 53, who serves as the Chairman of our Audit Committee and is a member of our Compensation Committee, was elected to the Board of Directors on July 29, 2010. He has been the Managing Director of Investments at Connecticut Innovations, the State of Connecticut’s “venture capital arm,” since November 2009. From September 1997 until December 2007, he served as the Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of CuraGen Corporation, a publicly-traded bio-pharmaceutical company developing protein, antibody and small molecule therapeutics in oncology. Prior to his employment with CuraGen, from 1991 to 1997, he held management and executive level positions with Value Health, Inc., focusing on business synergy, cost savings, and mergers and acquisitions, including the position of the Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer from February 1994 until September 1997. Additionally, from 1980 to 1991, Mr. Wurzer held managerial and accounting positions at Coopers & Lybrand, and its successor by merger PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Wurzer earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Strategic Diagnostics, Inc. and Response Genetics, Inc., both public companies, five privately held life sciences and health care companies, including Axerion Therapeutics, Inc., CyVek, Inc., Post-N-Track, Inc., NovaTract Surgical LLC and Thetis Pharmaceuticals LLC. Since 2008, Mr. Wurzer has periodically provided consulting services relating to raising capital, analyzing the costs associated with expense reductions and implementing business productivity strategies. The Board believes that Mr. Wurzer is qualified to serve as a director due to his prior accounting experience, his investment manager’s perspective on the analysis of corporate performance and his senior management experience in the bio-pharmaceutical industry.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH NOMINEE.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Directors who are members of management receive no cash compensation for service as a director or as a member of any committee. Non-employee directors receive $30,000 per year, as annual compensation, regardless of the number of Board or Committee meetings they attend. The Chairman of the Board received an additional $25,000 per year, and the Vice-Chairman of the Board received $1,000 per meeting in which he acted in the absence of the Chairman of the Board. Directors serving on the Audit Committee received an additional $7,500 per year. The Chairman of the Audit Committee

 

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received an additional $12,500 per year. Directors were also reimbursed $1,200 for each standing Committee meeting attended in person and $750 for each meeting attended by telephone conference and for their out-of-pocket expenses related to their attendance at meetings of the Board and Committees. Under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Compensation Plan all non-employee directors are awarded options to purchase up to 15,000 shares of Common Stock on June 30th of their first year of service or as of the close of business thirty (30) days following their election, whichever shall first occur, and at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, are awarded 8,000 shares of restricted stock or options to purchase up to 10,000 shares of Common Stock on June 30th of each year following their re-election.

The following table sets forth the annual compensation to non-employee directors for 2011:

 

Name

  Fees
Earned or
Paid in Cash

($)
    Stock
Awards(1)
($)
    Option
Awards(2)
($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
  Change in
Pension

Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($)
  All Other
Compensation
($)
  Total ($)  

Alfred Altomari

  $ 44,700      $ 49,760              $ 94,460   

David M. Bartash

  $ 46,900      $ 49,760              $ 96,660   

Alexander W. Casdin

  $ 39,900      $ 49,760              $ 89,660   

Jay M. Haft

  $ 66,100      $ 49,760              $ 115,860   

Paul J. Hondros

  $ 37,200      $ 49,760              $ 86,960   

Magnus Moliteus

  $ 48,600      $ 49,760              $ 98,360   

David M. Wurzer

  $ 54,800      $ 49,760              $ 104,560   

 

 

(1) Restricted stock awards were granted to each of the directors on June 30, 2011 in the amount of 8,000 shares. The restricted stock awards vested as to one-quarter of the total award on the date of the grant and will vest one-quarter of the total award on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The grant date fair value for these stock awards was $6.22 per share.

 

(2) The aggregate numbers of shares subject to option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2011 were as follows: 15,000 for Mr. Altomari, 105,000 for Mr. Bartash, 35,000 for Mr. Casdin, 90,000 for Mr. Haft, 15,000 for Mr. Hondros, 50,000 for Mr. Moliteus and 15,000 for Mr. Wurzer. No stock options were awarded to directors during 2011.

Independence of Directors

The Board has determined that all of the non-employee directors are independent, as independence is defined under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2011, there were nine (9) meetings of the Board of Directors. Each incumbent director, attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of all of the committees on which he serves. The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Compensation Committee. In March, 2012 the Board disbanded its Acquisition and Business Development Committee for the time being as the function of this Committee is being handled by management or the entire Board of Directors. Mr. Haft, the Chairman of the Board, normally presides at Board meetings, and, in his absence, Mr. Bartash, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, presides.

The members of the Audit Committee currently are Messrs. Bartash, Hondros and Wurzer. Mr. Wurzer serves as its Chairman. All of the members are independent directors in accordance with the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market and applicable federal securities laws and regulations. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Wurzer qualifies as an audit committee financial expert and has designated him to fill that role. The Audit Committee provides oversight of the Company’s accounting functions and acts as liaison between the Board of Directors and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee reviews, with the

 

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independent auditors, the Company’s unaudited quarterly financial statements, the planning and scope of the audits of the Company’s financial statements, the results of those audits and the adequacy of internal accounting controls, and monitors other corporate and financial policies. In performing these functions, the Audit Committee meets periodically with the independent auditors (including in private sessions) and with management. In addition, the Audit Committee selects the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.dusapharma.com. The Committee met five (5) times during 2011.

The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently are Mr. Haft, who serves as its Chairman, and Messrs. Altomari and Casdin. All of the members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors in accordance with the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s purpose is to identify and evaluate the qualifications of individuals to become members of the Board of Directors, to select the director nominees, to develop and recommend corporate governance principles to the Board of Directors and to provide oversight and guidance to the Board of Directors to assure compliance with its corporate governance policies and principles. There were three (3) meetings of this Committee in 2011. Shareholders who wish to suggest qualified candidates to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for director should write to: Administrator, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887 stating, in detail, the suggested nominee’s biography and qualifications of such person for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. You should also enclose a written statement from each proposed nominee consenting to be named as a nominee and, if nominated and elected, to serve as a director. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is located on the Company’s website at www.dusapharma.com.

Among the central purposes of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors, reviewing the qualifications of candidates and selecting the director nominees to be voted on at each annual meeting of shareholders. When the need to recruit a director arises, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consult the other directors and the Chief Executive Officer and may retain fee-paid third party recruiting firms to identify potential candidates. The candidate evaluation process may include inquiries as to the candidate’s reputation and background, examination of the candidate’s experiences and skills in relation to the Board of Director’s requirements at the time, consideration of the candidate’s independence as measured by the Board of Director’s independence standards, and other considerations as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems appropriate at the time. In addition, the Committee considers the diversity of professional experience, education, skill sets and viewpoints of the Board of Directors, as a whole, when considering the individual qualities of a potential nominee, with the goal of promoting a balance of perspectives. Prior to formal consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, any candidate who passes such screening would be interviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or its Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer. In effectuating those purposes, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is charged with ensuring that the nominees for membership on the Board of Directors are of the highest possible caliber and are able to provide insightful, intelligent and effective guidance to the management of the Company. The following criteria have been identified by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and adopted by the Board of Directors, to guide the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in selecting nominees:

 

  1. Directors should be of the highest ethical character and share the values of DUSA;

 

  2. Directors should have personal and professional reputations that compliment and enhance the image and standing of DUSA;

 

  3. Directors should be leaders in their fields of endeavor, with exemplary qualifications;

 

  4. The Committee should generally seek current and/or former officers and/or directors of companies and organizations, including scientific, government, educational and other non-profit institutions;

 

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  5. The Committee should seek directors so the Board is comprised of directors who collectively are knowledgeable in the fields of pharmaceuticals and device development, particularly those areas of research, development and commercialization undertaken by the Company;

 

  6. Directors should have varied educational and professional experiences and backgrounds who, collectively, provide meaningful counsel to management;

 

  7. Directors should generally not serve on more than six (6) boards;

 

  8. At least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the directors on the Board should be “independent” as defined by The NASDAQ Stock Market and should not have any real or apparent conflicts of interest in serving as a director; and

 

  9. Each director should have the ability to exercise sound, independent business judgment.

The Committee applies the same criteria to all nominees for the Board irrespective of the source of such nominee.

Absent extenuating circumstances, each member of the Board of Directors is expected to attend the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Seven of the eight directors, who were directors at such time attended the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The members of the Compensation Committee currently are Messrs. Altomari, Casdin, Moliteus and Wurzer. Mr. Moliteus serves as its Chairman. The Compensation Committee considers matters related to the compensation of the Company’s key officers and directors. The Committee also considers employee benefits which may be appropriate as the Company grows and develops policies and procedures. The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting and administering the policies which govern annual executive salaries and cash bonus awards. Also, under the Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Compensation Plan, the Committee approves the amounts of stock option or other equity awards awarded to all grantees. The Compensation Committee evaluates, on a yearly basis, the performance, and determines the compensation of, the executive officers of DUSA, including the named executive officers. DUSA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert F. Doman, is not a member of the Compensation Committee, however, the Compensation Committee seeks input from him regarding the performance and proposed compensation of DUSA’s other executive officers. Mr. Doman and Mr. Richard C. Christopher, DUSA’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, are present, at the invitation of the Compensation Committee, at its meetings, other than during consideration of their own compensation. The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain, at the Company’s expense, independent counsel or other advisers as it deems necessary in connection with its responsibilities. In 2011, the Compensation Committee engaged WNB Consulting LLC to review and analyze DUSA’s executive compensation program, including benefit plans, to prepare a benchmarking analysis and to recommend appropriate levels of cash and equity compensation for DUSA’s directors, executive officers, including the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and to recommend ways to enhance long-term incentives for the Company’s management team. The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for the engagement of WNB Consulting, and all work performed by WNB Consulting on behalf of DUSA is initiated and supervised by the Compensation Committee, except to the extent delegated by the Compensation Committee to management. The Compensation Committee met seven (7) times in 2011. It also met once in 2012 to discuss cash and equity compensation for 2012 and to consider cash bonuses for 2011. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.dusapharma.com.

On March 5, 2012 the Board dissolved the Acquisition and Development Committee because the function of this Committee is being handled by both management and the entire Board of Directors. Prior to dissolution, the members of the Acquisition and Business Development Committee were Messrs. Altomari, Bartash, Hondros and Moliteus. Mr. Bartash served as its Chairman. The Acquisition and Business Development Committee met three (3) times in 2011.

Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Officers

We have adopted a written Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Officers that applies to our senior officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions. We have posted the Code of Ethics on our website,

 

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which is located at www.dusapharma.com. In addition, we intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the directors on the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or employee of the Company or had any relationship or related person transaction requiring disclosure under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Compensation Committee. In addition, none of our executive officers serves as a member for the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors.

Structure and Risk Oversight Function of the Board of Directors

The leadership structure of the Board currently consists of an independent Chairman of the Board who oversees the Board meetings and works with our Chief Executive Officer to establish meeting agendas and a Vice-Chairman of the Board and Lead Director. Our Chairman, Mr. Haft, does not serve as our principal executive officer as we believe this structure enhances the independence of our Board. As noted above, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Doman, is the only member of our Board who has not been deemed to be independent by the Board. Further, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are held by the same person, the Board shall designate a Lead Director who will organize and lead meetings of the Board’s independent directors. Our Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees are comprised of only independent directors. All Board committees are chaired by independent directors who report to the full Board whenever necessary. We believe this leadership structure helps facilitate efficient decision-making and communication among our directors and fosters efficient Board functioning at regularly scheduled meetings.

Our management is primarily responsible for managing the risks we face in the ordinary course of operating our business. The Board oversees potential risks and our risk management activities by receiving operational and strategic presentations from management which include discussions of key risks to our business. The Board also periodically discusses with management important compliance and quality issues. In addition, the Board has delegated risk oversight to each of its key committees within their areas of responsibility. For example, the Audit Committee assists the Board in its risk oversight function reviewing and discussing with management certain financial risks, such as our system of disclosure controls and risks associated with our cash investment policies. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in its risk oversight function by overseeing strategies with respect to our incentive compensation programs and key employee retention issues. We believe our Board leadership structure facilitates the division of risk management oversight responsibilities among the Board committees and enhances the Board’s efficiency in fulfilling its oversight function with respect to different areas of our business risks and our risk mitigation practices.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The Company had the following securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2011:

 

     (a)    (b)      (c)  

Plan category

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

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   2,811,225    $ 3.97         1,393,282   

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 2 - RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors selected Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the 2012 fiscal year. Shareholder ratification of the appointment is not required under the laws of the State of New Jersey, but the Audit Committee has decided to ascertain the position of the shareholders on the appointment. The Board of Directors will reconsider the appointment if it is not ratified. A majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders is required for ratification. Abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. The ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP is a matter on which a broker or nominee has discretionary voting authority, so broker non-votes will not result from this proposal. A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the meeting to answer questions from shareholders and will have the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of the firm, if he or she so desires.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL.

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal years 2011 and 2010 were $511,800 and $480,000, respectively.

Audit Related Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP during fiscal year 2011 for the review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to the Company’s filing of a Post-effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 and a new Registration Statement on Form S-8 were $14,000. The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP during fiscal year 2010 for the review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to the Company’s filing of Post-effective Amendments to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 were $15,500.

Fees for Tax Services

The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte Tax LLP for tax services rendered in support of an Internal Revenue Code Section 382 analysis were $17,500 and $15,000 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

All Other Fees

Other fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP, which related to the Company’s subscription to an online accounting research tool, were $2,200 and $2,200 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

In considering the nature of the services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, all of which were pre-approved in accordance with procedures required by the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with the independent auditors and Company management to determine that Deloitte & Touche LLP is permitted, under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT 1

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) assists the Board of Directors by providing oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process and its independent registered public accounting firm. Management is responsible for preparing the Company’s financial statements and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the conduct of these activities by the Company’s management and selecting the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Directors. A brief description of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee is set forth above under the caption “Meetings and Committees of the Board.”

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 with management. The Audit Committee also discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Section 380, “Communication with Audit Committees,” and SEC Regulation S-X Rule 207, “Communication with Audit Committees.” In addition, the Audit Committee received from Deloitte & Touche LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence from the Company and its management. Additionally, the Audit Committee considered whether their provision of services to the Company beyond those rendered in connection with their audit and review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements was compatible with maintaining their independence and the fees and costs billed and to be billed for those services as shown on page 11 of this proxy statement. The Audit Committee concluded that Deloitte & Touche LLP’s provision of such services is compatible with Deloitte & Touche LLP’s independence.

Based on its review and the discussions with the Company’s management and its independent auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

David M. Bartash

Paul J. Hondros

David M. Wurzer (Chairman)

 

 

 

1 

The materials in the Audit Committee Report are not “soliciting material,” are not deemed filed with the SEC and are not to be incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this report and irrespective of any general incorporation language therein.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Philosophy and Objectives - All of our compensation programs and policies are designed to attract, retain, and reward key employees to align compensation with DUSA’s performance and to motivate executive officers to achieve the Company’s business objectives. Our programs are geared to rewarding both short and longer-term performance with the ultimate objective of increasing shareholder value over time.

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee” or the “Committee”) believes that compensation should reflect the success of our executives as a management team, so, generally, we consider both individual and corporate strategic and financial goals in determining compensation. However, we believe that our Chief Executive Officer’s performance should be evaluated entirely on achievement of corporate goals since these are his primary responsibilities. We believe that executive compensation should not be based on the short-term performance of our stock, but that the price of our stock will, in the long-term, reflect our operating performance and management of the Company by our executives. We seek to have the long-term performance of our stock reflected in executive compensation through our stock option and restricted stock award programs.

Throughout this proxy statement, the individuals who served as our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer during fiscal year 2011, as well as other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 20, are referred to as “named executive officers.”

Overview of Compensation and Process - The Compensation Committee is composed of Messrs. Altomari, Casdin, Moliteus and Wurzer. Mr. Moliteus serves as its Chairman. The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting and administering the policies which govern annual executive salaries and cash bonus awards. Also, the Committee approves the amounts of stock option or other equity awards to all grantees under the Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Compensation Plan. The Compensation Committee evaluates, on a yearly basis, the performance, and determines the compensation of, the executive officers of DUSA, including the named executive officers. DUSA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Doman, is not a member of the Compensation Committee, however, the Compensation Committee seeks input from him regarding the performance of DUSA’s other executive officers. Mr. Christopher, DUSA’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, provides input regarding the Company’s Vice President, Controller. The Compensation Committee discusses and adjusts the written recommendations of Mr. Doman and Mr. Christopher in awarding discretionary cash bonuses, as well as base salary increases for the other executives. The Compensation Committee exercises subjective judgment and discretion in the granting of the amount of bonuses and in setting base salaries. Mr. Doman and Mr. Christopher are present, at the invitation of the Compensation Committee, at its meetings, other than during consideration of their own compensation or other executive sessions.

Following the annual meeting of shareholders held in June 2011, the Compensation Committee considered the results of the advisory vote on executive compensation, which was very supportive. The Compensation Committee continued to use the same policies and procedures in 2011 as it did in 2010 and thus far in 2012.

The Compensation Committee regularly retains an independent compensation consultant, WNB Consulting LLC, to review and analyze DUSA’s executive compensation programs, to prepare a benchmarking analysis, and to recommend appropriate levels of cash and equity compensation for DUSA’s directors and executive officers, including its President and Chief Executive Officer. WNB Consulting was retained in both 2010 and 2011 for similar purposes, which included updating the information that the firm had provided to the Committee in 2009. The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for the engagement of WNB Consulting, and all work performed by WNB Consulting is initiated and supervised by the Compensation Committee, except to the extent delegated by the Compensation Committee to management. The Committee discussed the recommendations of WNB Consulting when setting 2011 and 2012 salaries, when making decisions about bonus levels and equity compensation awards and when revising compensation for our directors. While input from the

 

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consultant is carefully considered, the ultimate decision making authority rests with the Compensation Committee, which retains discretion over salary, cash bonus, and equity compensation determinations, based upon its subjective view of an executive’s performance.

DUSA’s executive compensation programs consist of base salary, discretionary cash bonus incentives based on annual individual and corporate goals, grants under the Company’s equity plan, a 401(k) plan, a deferred compensation plan (which is currently inactive), and certain other perquisites and benefits generally available on the same basis as benefits provided to its other employees. Typically, during the first quarter of each year, our Compensation Committee meets to consider and, if deemed appropriate, approve cash bonuses for our executives based on the prior fiscal year’s performance and base salaries for the new fiscal year, and to consider and, if deemed appropriate, grant equity awards, in the form of stock options and/or restricted stock awards, to the executive officers. On occasion, compensation adjustments are made during the year to reflect a change in roles or responsibilities of our executives.

DUSA does not currently provide any pension benefits to its named executive officers or employees.

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the corporation’s chief executive officer and four other most highly paid executive officers. We periodically review the potential consequences of Section 162(m) and may structure performance-based compensation to comply with certain exemptions. However, we have not done so to date.

DUSA had numerous successes in 2011 highlighted by significant increases in profitability and positive cash flow, as well as achievement of record sales volumes and revenues of its key products. In order to recognize the short term performance, as well as, strengthen the Company’s position for the long term through the initiation of clinical trials to enhance its key product’s label claims, the Committee provided a combination of base salary increases, cash bonuses and equity awards in order to better align management with shareholders’ interests.

Base Salary - With regard to base salary, the Compensation Committee believes that DUSA’s officers should be compensated at levels comparable to the base salary of executive officers at similar public biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. The Company’s goal is to pay base salaries that are at competitive levels in order to attract and retain talented management personnel. During 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Compensation Committee used survey data reporting the salaries and bonuses for executives of companies in these groups, which was prepared by WNB Consulting LLC. The surveys included the Ernst and Young’s National Life Sciences Entrepreneurial Survey, Radford Associates Survey, Mercer Executive Compensation Survey, Tower Watson’s Executive Compensation Survey, ORC SIRS Executive Compensation Survey and Salary.com 2011 proxy analysis. The Committee uses this information to assist it in setting executive compensation but does not have a pre-established policy or target for the allocation between either cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive compensation.

The Committee also takes note of the cost of living increase in determining base salary increases, as well as the general performance of the Company. Following the analysis by WNB Consulting, all named executive officers’ base salaries for 2009 remained at 2008 levels in order to preserve cash resources during uncertain economic times. For 2010, the Committee approved base salary increases for the named executive officers, other than Mr. Doman, in the range of 2.0% to 6.4% which included certain market adjustments for two of the named executive officers whose base salaries were, based on the analysis from WNB Consulting, below competitive levels. The Committee granted an increase of 4% to Mr. Doman in light of his very strong performance and guidance of the Company to achieve both positive cash flow and profitability during the fourth quarter of 2009. For 2011, the Committee considered information from WNB Consulting and provided two executives with market adjustments. The Committee approved base salary increases, including these adjustments, ranging from 0% to 10%, including an increase of 3.69% for Mr. Doman and 10% for Mr. Christopher (including a market adjustment), due to their leadership and the impressive financial improvement by the Company. For 2012, in addition to assessing individual performance, the Committee also considered WNB Consulting’s updated findings, which indicated that the Company’s base salary was still below the

 

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market median for several executives. In an effort to address this situation, Mr. Christopher, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, received another base salary adjustment in order to bring his salary more in line with the competitive market. The Committee approved base salary increases, including this adjustment, ranging from 0% to 7.16% to reward the management team for the strong financial and operational performance. Mr. Doman received an increase of 4.44% and Mr. Christopher received an increase of 7.16% (including the market adjustment), due to their leadership and the continuing strong financial improvement by the Company.

Bonuses - Under the terms of its employment agreements with its officers, DUSA’s Vice Presidents are eligible to receive a range of up to 35% to 40% of their base salary as a discretionary cash bonus award to be set by the Board of Directors. Mr. Doman is eligible to receive up to 50% of his base salary as a cash bonus. In some cases, the agreements provide that the Board may award a cash bonus in excess of the stated percentage for outstanding performance. DUSA believes that the cash bonus is an important incentive to its officers and assists DUSA in reaching its corporate goals.

Financial and strategic business goals are typically set by management, and approved by the Board of Directors, usually during the fourth quarter of the previous year. The primary financial goals relate to achievement of net revenue and income statement improvement milestones. Management recommends these goals to incentivize its named executive officers to perform at consistent high levels, however, these goals are not set at levels which management believes are likely to be unattainable. The Committee uses a subjective approach in its consideration of cash bonus incentives. For 2011, management made recommendations to the Committee in light of certain corporate performance, including surpassing the budgets for revenue on the Company’s key products, the Kerastick® and BLU-U®, net income and cash flow along with achievement of improved product margins, the launch of an alternate Kerastick® tip and the issuance of several new patents. In the past, the Committee also considered other factors, such as the attainment of positive cash flow and profitability on a full year basis, despite a difficult economic environment. In February 2012, the Committee using its discretion, based on the experience of its members, and in light of strong performance during 2011, determined that bonuses should be paid in amounts ranging from approximately 30% to approximately 57% of base salary. The Committee believes that a flexible approach is fairer and provides a greater incentive for the Company’s executives to achieve both short and long term objectives.

In February 2011 and again in February 2012, the Committee met with Mr. Doman and Mr. Christopher who reviewed the contributions of each of the named executive officers, and Mr. Doman provided his recommendations for base salaries for 2011 and 2012, respectively, and proposed a cash bonus opportunity that should be paid to each of the named executive officers other than himself. In making its decision, the Committee discussed and evaluated the recommendations of Mr. Doman regarding 2011 and 2012 salaries and cash bonus opportunities, as well as the base salary and bonus for Mr. Doman, in conjunction with WNB Consulting.

Equity Awards - DUSA has awarded stock options to its executive officers on initial hire, sometimes at the time of a promotion, and generally, has awarded stock options and/or restricted shares on an annual basis at a meeting of the Compensation Committee during the first quarter of the year. The Compensation Committee believes that a strong stock ownership program aligns executive officers with shareholders’ interests and is essential to the long-term growth of the Company by providing executives with incentives to increase shareholder value over time. The Compensation Committee uses survey data and recommendations of independent consultants to monitor and evaluate the amount of long-term incentive compensation levels of its officers. There is no formula for the number of grants which are issued. In addition, the Board has decided to grant equity awards every year in order to take into account the volatility of DUSA’s stock price from year to year. In 2011 and again in 2012, WNB Consulting advised that DUSA’s current equity compensation does not meet desired levels of competitive long-term compensation based on its analysis. WNB Consulting recommended to the Compensation Committee that DUSA should increase the level of equity compensation that DUSA pays to its executive officers to better align executive officers’ interests with shareholders and to maintain the effectiveness of DUSA’s goal of retaining and motivating its executive officers through the use of equity compensation, since historically equity compensation has

 

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been significantly below that of similarly situated companies. In 2012, the Committee increased the size of the restricted share grants to begin to address this matter, but the size of the award is limited by the number of shares that are eligible for grant under the Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Compensation Plan.

In 2011, WNB Consulting also provided updated survey data indicating that the members of DUSA’s Board of Directors received less compensation than their peers, particularly with respect to equity compensation and committee activities. In October 2010, the Committee had reviewed information from WNB Consulting and in light of this information and the increasing responsibilities of board members of public companies, increased the annual base fee for non-employee members of the Board of Directors from $25,000 to $30,000. As of January 1, 2011, the Committee established additional fees for service and attendance at Board and Committee meetings. In June 2011, Messrs. Altomari, Bartash, Casdin, Haft, Hondros, Moliteus and Wurzer each received a formula award of 8,000 restricted shares.

Stock options have typically been granted as of the close of business on the date of grant. The Board of Directors determined that all grants should be made two days following the release of quarterly earnings by DUSA.

DUSA also maintains a 401(k) plan for all employees which provides a match of $0.50 for each dollar contributed up to 6% of base salary, which was raised from up to 2.5% in December 2011. In 2006, DUSA adopted a deferred compensation plan which was available to operating director-level employees and above, however, the plan has been suspended for the time being due to lack of enrollment. DUSA adopted these plans in order to provide competitive benefits to its upper level employees.

In some cases, the Committee has altered a proposed amount of a cash bonus or equity grant to provide a particular award for excellent performance. This is an example of the discretion which is contemplated in the employment agreements between the Company and the named executive officers.

Currently, DUSA does not have any stated policy regarding an adjustment or recovery of awards or payments if a performance measure, upon which such award or payment may have been based, were to be restated. However, the Committee plans to consider adoption of a policy consistent with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act following issuance of the final regulations by the Securities and Exchange Commission on this matter.

Perquisites - As provided in his employment agreement, DUSA provides its President and Chief Executive Officer with local housing, including utilities, since his permanent residence is in a state different from the location of DUSA’s principal offices in Massachusetts. In addition, DUSA covers the amount of tax that the officer pays on the amount of the rent which constitutes compensation to him. This form of compensation did affect the level of base salary that the officer was offered and agreed upon when he joined DUSA in 2005.

Other Compensation -

Generally Available Benefits

We provide the following benefits to our named executive officers generally on the same basis as the benefits provided to all employees:

 

   

Health and dental insurance;

 

   

Life insurance;

 

   

Short- and long-term disability;

 

   

Educational assistance; and

 

   

401(k) plan.

We believe that these benefits are consistent with those offered by other similarly situated companies.

 

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Severance Benefits

All of the named executive officers have a provision in their employment agreements providing for a severance benefit equal to twelve (12) months of the officer’s then current salary. DUSA has received information from its employment consultant that the provision of twelve (12) months severance for termination without cause is relatively common, and DUSA believes that the provision assists it in attracting key management to the Company.

Change of Control

DUSA provides a change of control provision in its named executive officers’ employment agreements. The provision provides for the payment of three (3) times an officer’s then current salary under certain change of control circumstances. DUSA believes that the change of control provisions would serve to retain DUSA’s senior management talent and to focus management’s attention on DUSA’s operations during a change of control transaction.

Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code impose certain adverse tax consequences on compensation treated as excess parachute payments. An executive is treated as having received excess parachute payments if he receives compensatory payments or benefits that are contingent on a change in control, and the aggregate amount of such payments and benefits equal or exceeds three times the executive’s base amount as defined under the Internal Revenue Code. The portion of the payments and benefits in excess of one times base amount are treated as excess parachute payments and are subject to a 20% excise tax, in addition to any applicable federal income and employment taxes. Also, our compensation deduction in respect of the executive’s excess parachute payments is disallowed. If we were to be subject to a change of control, certain amounts received by our executives could be excess parachute payments under Section 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Deferred Compensation

On the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, DUSA adopted the DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) effective October 18, 2006. The Plan is intended to be a non-qualified, supplemental retirement plan. It is intended primarily for the purpose of allowing a select group of management, including the named executive officers and members of the Board of Directors (the “Participants”) the option of having a portion of their compensation deferred, pursuant to Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and, as such, to be exempt from the provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of Title I of ERISA. Participants may defer up to 80% of their compensation. A Participant will be 100% vested in all of the amounts he or she defers as well as in the earnings attributable to a Participant’s deferred account. A Participant may elect to receive distributions from the deferred account at various times, either in a lump sum or in up to ten annual installments. DUSA’s obligation to pay the Participant an amount from his or her deferred account is an unsecured promise and benefits will be paid out of the general assets of the Company. While DUSA has established a Rabbi Trust to segregate the Participants’ deferred amounts, the Participants will be general creditors of DUSA. The Compensation Committee acts as the administrator of the Plan. The trustee of the Participants’ deferred accounts is Bankers Trust Company. Although, as noted above, this plan has been suspended for lack of enrollees, we believe that this plan is beneficial in assisting DUSA to retain and attract key individuals for the long-term benefit of the Company.

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code requires that “nonqualified deferred compensation” be deferred and paid under plans or arrangements that satisfy the requirements of the statute with respect to the timing of deferral elections, timing of payments and certain other matters. Failure to satisfy these requirements can expose employees and other service providers to accelerated income tax liabilities and penalty taxes and interest on their vested compensation under such plans. It is our intention to design and administer our compensation and benefits plans and arrangements for all of our employees and other service providers, including the named executive officers, so that they are either exempt from, or satisfy the requirements of, Section 409A. With respect to our compensation and benefits plans that are subject to Section 409A, in accordance with Section 409A and regulatory guidance issued by the IRS, we are currently operating such plans in compliance with Section 409A based upon our good faith, reasonable interpretation of the statute and the IRS’s regulatory guidance.

 

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REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE 2

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the contents of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with the Company’s management. Based on this review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

By the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors,

Alfred Altomari

Alexander W. Casdin

Magnus Moliteus (Chairman)

David M. Wurzer

 

 

2 

The material in the Report of the Compensation Committee is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this report and irrespective of any general incorporation language therein.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS

The name, age, current position and date first elected as an executive officer of the Company of each executive officer who is not a director of the Company is listed below, followed by summaries of their backgrounds and principal occupations. Executive officers are elected annually, and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

Name

   Age   

Current Title

   Date First
Elected as
Officer

Mark C. Carota

   57    Vice President, Operations    2/18/2000

Richard C. Christopher

   42    Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer    1/01/2004

Scott L. Lundahl

   53    Vice President, Intellectual Property and Regulatory Affairs    6/23/1999

Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD

   65    Vice President, Scientific Affairs and Chief Medical Officer    10/11/1993

William F. O’Dell

   65    Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing    4/17/2006

Michael J. Todisco, CPA

   47    Vice President, Controller    9/18/2006

Mark C. Carota has been employed by the Company since October 1999 and has served as our Vice President, Operations since February 2000. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Carota was Director of Operations from November 1998 to October 1999 for Lavelle, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of orthopedic instrumentation. From July 1998 to November 1998, Mr. Carota was employed as Director of Quality Assurance by CGI Inc. Prior to joining CGI Inc., Mr. Carota was employed by Allergan Inc. from February 1997 to July 1998 where he had responsibility for quality assurance, engineering and facilities.

Richard C. Christopher has been employed by the Company since December 2000 and has served as our Vice President, Finance and CFO since January 2005. Prior to his promotion to his current position in January 2005, he held the positions of Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis from January 2004 to January 2005 and Director, Financial Analysis from December 2000 to January 2004. Prior to joining the Company, he was the North American Cost Accounting Manager for Grace

 

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Construction Products, a unit of W.R. Grace & Co., from April 1999 to December 2000. Prior to joining Grace Construction Products, Mr. Christopher was employed by the Boston Edison Company from March 1996 to April 1999.

Scott L. Lundahl has been employed by the Company since May 1998 and has served as our Vice President, Intellectual Property and Regulatory Affairs since January 2004. In addition to his current position, he has held the positions of Vice President, Technology and Director of Technology Development. In 1994, Mr. Lundahl co-founded and became Vice President of Lumenetics, Inc., a privately-owned medical device development company, which, prior to May 1998, provided the Company with consulting services in the light device technology area.

Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD has been employed by the Company as our Vice President, Scientific Affairs and Chief Medical Officer since October 1993. Prior to joining the Company, he was Director of the Hematology/Oncology Department of Daiichi Pharmaceuticals Inc., and prior thereto he held positions in the Medical Research Division of the American Cyanamid Company, directing photodynamic therapy clinical development, among other assignments.

William F. O’Dell has been employed by the Company as our Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing since April 2006. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. O’Dell was Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Business Development at West Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from October 2005 to April 2006. Mr. O’Dell also served at West Pharmaceuticals as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Americas Region from January 2002 to October 2005 and as Vice President of Global Marketing from December 1999 to December 2001. Mr. O’Dell is also currently serving on the board of directors for Ipswich Country Club Homeowners Association in the capacity of President.

Michael J. Todisco, CPA, has been employed by the Company since May 2005 and has served as our Vice President, Controller since September 2006. Prior to his promotion to his current position, he held the position of Controller. Prior to joining the Company, he was the Director of Finance at Art Technology Group, Inc. from March 2003 through May 2005. Prior to joining Art Technology Group, Mr. Todisco was the Director of Treasury Services at American Tower Corporation from March 2001 through March 2003, and prior to that from 1997 to 2001 was the Director of Finance at Sapient Corporation.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following table shows, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, certain information regarding the annual and long-term compensation paid by DUSA to those persons who were, at any time during the year (i) our principal executive officer, (ii) our principal financial officer, and (iii) the three most highly compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer and principal financial officer who were serving DUSA at the end of the year. All amounts are stated in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. For more information about the elements of each named executive officer’s compensation, see the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.

 

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Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal
Position (NEO)

(a)

  Year
(b)
    Salary
(c)
    Bonus
(d)
    Stock
Awards(1)
(e)
    Option
Awards(3)
(f)
    Non-equity
Incentive
Compensation

(g)
    Change in
Pension Value
and
Non-qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(h)
    All Other
Compensation(4)
(i)
    Total
(j)
 

Robert F. Doman

   

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

  $

 

 

450,000

434,000

417,000

  

  

  

  $

 

 

256,000

255,000

126,000

  

  

  

  $

 

 

672,000

214,500

114,192

  

  

  

   

$

 


144,508

153,462

  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

  $

 

 

57,801

56,430

61,115

  

  

  

  $

 

 

1,435,801

1,104,438

871,769

  

  

  

Richard C. Christopher

   

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

  $

 

 

275,000

250,000

235,000

  

  

  

  $

 

 

123,000

118,000

52,000

  

  

  

  $

 

 

273,000

69,300

45,872

  

  

  

   

$

 


94,486

61,499

  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

  $

 

 

11,585

10,954

10,888

  

  

  

  $

 

 

682,585

542,740

405,259

  

  

  

William F. O’Dell

   

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

  $

 

 

284,000

273,100

266,100

  

  

  

  $

 

 

127,000

128,000

54,000

  

  

  

  $

 

 

273,000

69,300

45,872

  

  

  

   

$

 


94,486

61,499

  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

  $

 

 

14,879

15,785

15,869

  

  

  

  $

 

 

698,879

580,671

443,340

  

  

  

Mark C. Carota

   

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

  $

 

 

234,000

219,000

210,000

  

  

  

  $

 

 

85,000

87,000

40,000

  

  

  

  $

 

 

189,000

44,550

27,800

  

  

  

   

$

 


61,138

45,531

  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

   

 

 


  

  

  

  $

 

 

9,214

9,102

9,045

  

  

  

  $

 

 

517,214

420,790

332,376

  

  

  

Scott L. Lundahl(2)

    2011      $ 233,000      $ 85,000      $ 189,000                           $ 8,982      $ 515,982   

 

 

(1) The grant date fair value of these stock awards was $1.22 per share in 2009, $1.65 per share in 2010 and $4.20 per share in 2011.

 

(2) Mr. Lundahl was not one of our named executive officers or one of our three most highly compensated executive officers, other than the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, in 2009 or 2010.

 

(3) Option awards represent the grant date fair value of awards. Grant date fair value is based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model on the date of grant. For additional discussion on the valuation assumptions used in determining the grant date fair value, see Note 8 to the audited consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

(4) All other compensation includes a car allowance, Company contributions under our 401(k) plan, group term life insurance, housing arrangements, and other perquisites as follows:

 

Name

   Year      Car Allowance      401(k)
Match
     Group Term
Life
Insurance
     Housing/
Insurance
     Other(1)      Total Other
Compensation
 

Robert F. Doman

    

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

   $

 

 

9,600

9,600

9,600

  

  

  

   $

 

 

4,539

4,587

4,600

  

  

  

   $

 

 

2,154

2,094

1,959

  

  

  

   $

 

 

25,543

24,731

27,529

  

  

  

   $

 

 

15,965

15,418

17,427

  

  

  

   $

 

 

57,801

56,430

61,115

  

  

  

Richard C. Christopher

    

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

   $

 

 

6,000

6,000

6,000

  

  

  

   $

 

 

3,431

3,122

2,937

  

  

  

   $

 

 

2,154

1,832

1,951

  

  

  

    

 

 


  

  

  

    

 

 


  

  

  

   $

 

 

11,585

10,954

10,888

  

  

  

William F. O’Dell

    

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

   $

 

 

8,400

8,400

8,400

  

  

  

   $

 

 

3,288

3,412

3,326

  

  

  

   $

 

 

1,822

2,094

2,199

  

  

  

   $

 

 

934

1,282

1,327

  

  

  

   $

 

 

435

597

617

  

  

  

   $

 

 

14,879

15,785

15,869

  

  

  

Mark C. Carota

    

 

 

2011

2010

2009

  

  

  

   $

 

 

6,000

6,000

6,000

  

  

  

   $

 

 

1,121

1,156

1,111

  

  

  

   $

 

 

2,093

1,946

1,934

  

  

  

    

 

 


  

  

  

    

 

 


  

  

  

   $

 

 

9,214

9,102

9,045

  

  

  

Scott L. Lundahl

     2011       $ 6,000       $ 893       $ 2,089                       $ 8,982   

 

 

(1) These amounts represent gross-ups of the perquisites for housing and automobile insurance reimbursements, respectively, for our named executive officers who received these benefits during 2009, 2010 and 2011, to compensate them for the taxes due on such amounts.

DUSA’s named executive officers each have employment agreements with DUSA. The material terms of these agreements are discussed under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control.”

 

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Grants Of Plan-Based Awards

The following table provides information about equity and non-equity awards granted to the named executive officers for 2011.

 

Name and Principal
Position (NEO)

  Grant
Date
    Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  Estimated Future
Payouts Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
  All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
    Base Price
of Stock
Award
($/SH)
    Grant
date fair
value of
awards(1)

($)
    All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Securities
Under-
lying
Options
(#)
  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/SH)
  Grant
date fair
value of
options
($)
    Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maxi-
mum
($)
  Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
  Maxi-
mum
(#)
           
(a)   (b)     (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)   (i)                 (j)   (k)   (l)

Robert F. Doman

    3/7/11                    160,000      $ 4.20      $ 672,000         

Richard C. Christopher

    3/7/11                    65,000      $ 4.20      $ 273,000         

William F. O’Dell

    3/7/11                    65,000      $ 4.20      $ 273,000         

Mark C. Carota

    3/7/11                    45,000      $ 4.20      $ 189,000         

Scott L. Lundahl

    3/7/11                    45,000      $ 4.20      $ 189,000         

 

 

(1) Stock awards were granted at a price of $4.20 per share, being the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-end

The following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards for our named executive officers at December 31, 2011.

 

     Option Awards     Stock Awards

Name and Principal
Position (NEO)

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
  Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
    Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
($)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested (#)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested ($)
(a)   (b)     (c)     (d)   (e)     (f)     (g)     (h)     (i)   (j)

Robert F. Doman

    50,000          $ 14.26        01/03/2015           

Robert F. Doman

    50,000          $ 15.90        01/03/2015           

Robert F. Doman

    50,000          $ 6.75        03/27/2016           

Robert F. Doman

    60,000          $ 3.37        03/20/2014           

Robert F. Doman

    21,375        7,125 (1)      $ 2.20        05/09/2015           

Robert F. Doman

    93,700        93,700 (2)       $ 1.22        03/13/2016           

Robert F. Doman

    32,500        97,500 (3)      $ 1.65        03/05/2017           

Robert F. Doman

              4,750(4)      $ 20,805       

Robert F. Doman

              46,800(5)      $ 204,984       

Robert F. Doman

              97,500(6)      $ 427,050       

Robert F. Doman

              160,000(7 )      $ 700,800       

Richard C. Christopher

    7,500          $ 1.60        03/13/2013           

Richard C. Christopher

    20,000          $ 9.92        03/18/2014           

Richard C. Christopher

    25,000          $ 10.00        03/17/2015           

Richard C. Christopher

    20,000          $ 6.75        03/27/2016           

Richard C. Christopher

    20,000          $ 3.37        03/20/2014           

Richard C. Christopher

    14,625        4,875 (8)      $ 2.20        05/09/2015           

Richard C. Christopher

           37,550 (9)      $ 1.22        03/13/2016           

Richard C. Christopher

    21,250        63,750 (10)      $ 1.65        03/05/2017           

Richard C. Christopher

              3,250(11)      $ 14,235       

Richard C. Christopher

              18,800(12)      $ 82,344       

Richard C. Christopher

              31,500(13)      $ 137,970       

Richard C. Christopher

              65,000(14)      $ 284,700       

William F. O’Dell

    50,000          $ 6.90        04/17/2016           

William F. O’Dell

    25,000          $ 3.37        03/20/2014           

William F. O’Dell

    14,625        4,875 (15)      $ 2.20        05/09/2015           

William F. O’Dell

    37,550        37,550 (16)      $ 1.22        03/13/2016           

William F. O’Dell

    21,250        63,750 (17)      $ 1.65        03/05/2017           

William F. O’Dell

              3,250(18)      $ 14,235       

William F. O’Dell

              18,800(19)      $ 82,344       

William F. O’Dell

              31,500(20)      $ 137,970       

William F. O’Dell

              65,000(21)      $ 284,700       

Mark C. Carota

    25,000          $ 9.92        03/18/2014           

Mark C. Carota

    20,000          $ 10.00        03/17/2015           

Mark C. Carota

    15,000          $ 6.75        03/27/2016           

Mark C. Carota

    20,000          $ 3.37        03/20/2014           

Mark C. Carota

    12,375        4,125(22)        $ 2.20        05/09/2015           

Mark C. Carota

    12,800        27,800(23)        $ 1.22        03/13/2016           

Mark C. Carota

    13,750        41,250(24)        $ 1.65        03/05/2017           

Mark C. Carota

              2,750(25)      $ 12,045       

Mark C. Carota

              13,900(26)      $ 60,882       

Mark C. Carota

              20,250(27)      $ 88,695       

Mark C. Carota

              45,000(28)      $ 197,100       

Scott L. Lundahl

    17,500          $ 1.60        03/13/2013           

Scott L. Lundahl

    22,500          $ 9.92        03/18/2014           

Scott L. Lundahl

    20,000          $ 10.00        03/17/2015           

Scott L. Lundahl

    15,000          $ 6.75        03/27/2016           

Scott L. Lundahl

    20,000          $ 3.37        03/20/2014           

Scott L. Lundahl

    12,375        4,125(29)        $ 2.20        05/09/2015           

Scott L. Lundahl

    26,800        27,800(30)        $ 1.22        03/13/2016           

Scott L. Lundahl

    13,750        41,250(31)        $ 1.65        03/05/2017           

Scott L. Lundahl

              2,750(32)      $ 12,045       

Scott L. Lundahl

              13,900(33)      $ 60,882       

Scott L. Lundahl

              20,250(34)      $ 88,695       

Scott L. Lundahl

              45,000(35)      $ 197,100       

 

 

(1) The remaining unvested options vest on 5/9/12.

 

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(2) Unvested options vest as to 46,850 shares on 3/13/12 and 46,850 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(3) Unvested options vest as to 32,500 shares on 3/5/12, 32,500 shares on 3/5/13 and 32,500 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(4) The remaining unvested restricted shares vest on 5/9/12.

 

(5) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 23,400 shares on 3/13/12 and 23,400 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(6) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 32,500 shares on 3/5/12, 32,500 shares on 3/5/13 and 32,500 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(7) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 40,000 shares on 3/7/12, 40,000 shares on 3/7/13, 40,000 shares on 3/7/14 and 40,000 shares on 3/7/15.

 

(8) The remaining unvested options vest on 5/9/12.

 

(9) Unvested options vest as to 18,775 shares on 3/13/12 and 18,775 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(10) Unvested options vest as to 21,250 shares on 3/5/12, 21,250 shares on 3/5/13 and 21,250 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(11) The remaining unvested restricted shares vest on 5/9/12.

 

(12) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 9,400 shares on 3/13/12 and 9,400 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(13) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 10,500 shares on 3/5/12, 10,500 shares on 3/5/13 and 10,500 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(14) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 16,250 shares on 3/7/12, 16,250 shares on 3/7/13, 16,250 shares on 3/7/14 and 16,250 shares on 3/7/15.

 

(15) The remaining unvested options vest as on 5/9/12.

 

(16) Unvested options vest as to 18,775 shares on 3/13/12 and 18,775 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(17) Unvested options vest as to 21,250 shares on 3/5/12, 21,250 shares on 3/5/13 and 21,250 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(18) The remaining unvested restricted shares vest on 5/9/12.

 

(19) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 9,400 shares on 3/13/12 and 9,400 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(20) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 10,500 shares on 3/5/12, 10,500 shares on 3/5/13 and 10,500 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(21) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 16,250 shares on 3/7/12, 16,250 shares on 3/7/13, 16,250 shares on 3/7/14 and 16,250 shares on 3/7/15.

 

(22) The remaining unvested options vest as to on 5/9/12.

 

(23) Unvested options vest as to 13,900 shares on 3/13/12 and 13,900 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(24) Unvested options vest as to 13,750 shares on 3/5/12, 13,750 shares on 3/5/13 and 13,750 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(25) The remaining unvested restricted shares vest on 5/9/12.

 

(26) Unvested restricted shares vest as 6,950 shares on 3/13/12 and 6,950 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(27) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 6,750 shares on 3/5/12, 6,750 shares on 3/5/13 and 6,750 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(28) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 11,250 shares on 3/7/12, 11,250 shares on 3/7/13, 11,250 shares on 3/7/14 and 11,250 shares on 3/7/15.

 

(29) The remaining unvested options vest on 5/9/12.

 

(30) Unvested options vest as to 13,900 shares on 3/13/12 and 13,900 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(31) Unvested options vest as to 13,750 shares on 3/5/12, 13,750 shares on 3/5/13 and 13,750 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(32) The remaining unvested restricted shares vest on 5/9/12.

 

(33) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 6,950 shares on 3/13/12 and 6,950 shares on 3/13/13.

 

(34) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 6,750 shares on 3/5/12, 6,750 shares on 3/5/13 and 6,750 shares on 3/5/14.

 

(35) Unvested restricted shares vest as to 11,250 shares on 3/7/12, 11,250 shares on 3/7/13, 11,250 shares on 3/7/14 and 11,250 shares on 3/7/15.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table shows information with respect to each named executive officer regarding the value of options exercised and stock awards vested during 2011. Ninety Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-five shares were acquired on exercise of any options for all of the named executive officers during 2011.

 

      Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name and Principal Position
(NEO)

   Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)
     Value
Realized on
Exercise
($)
     Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#)
     Value
Realized on
Vesting ($)
 
(a)    (b)      (c)      (d)      (e)  

Robert F. Doman

                     60,650       $ 253,035   

Richard C. Christopher

     42,550       $ 187,593         23,150       $ 99,335   

William F. O’Dell

                     23,150       $ 99,335   

Mark C. Carota

     36,875       $ 144,433         16,450       $ 71,455   

Scott L. Lundahl

     18,500       $ 41,140         16,450       $ 71,455   

 

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Non-qualified Deferred Compensation

The following table shows that none of the named executive officers are currently participating in the DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, an unfunded, unsecured deferred compensation plan:

 

Name and Principal
    Position (NEO)

   Executive
Contributions
in Last FY ($)
     Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY ($)
     Aggregated
Earnings in Last
FY ($)
     Aggregated
Withdrawal /
Distributions ($)
     Aggregated
Balance at
Last FYE ($)
 
               (a)    (b)      (c)      (d)      (e)      (f)  

Robert F. Doman

                                       

Richard C. Christopher

                                       

William F. O’Dell

                                       

Mark C. Carota

                                       

Scott L. Lundahl

                                       

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL

The Company has employment agreements with each of its named executive officers. According to the terms of these agreements, the named executive officers are entitled to receive compensation as determined by the Board of Directors and are eligible to receive the benefits generally made available to employees of the Company. The Company may terminate any of these agreements at any time, with or without cause on sixty (60) days prior written notice. If employment is terminated without cause, the Company has agreed to pay a severance allowance equivalent to twelve (12) months of the named executive officer’s then-current base salary payable in either: (i) a lump sum, within sixty (60) days following the date of termination; or (ii) equal monthly installments, depending on the terms of the named executive officer’s employment agreement.

In the event a named executive officer should die while employed by the Company, his heirs or beneficiaries will be entitled to any Company paid death benefits in force at the time of such death and will also be entitled to exercise any vested but unexercised stock options which were held by him at the time of his death, within a period of one (1) year from the date of death.

These employment agreements also provide for certain severance benefits following a change in control of the Company and termination of employment. Upon any “change of control,” as defined in the agreements, the Company shall pay to the named executive officer a lump sum payment equal to three (3) times his base salary for the last fiscal year within five (5) days after such termination. In addition, Mr. Doman’s agreement provides that he shall be entitled to receive a change of control payment equal to three (3) times his base salary less the amount of salary paid from the date of the consummation of the change of control to the effective date of a termination, if the termination is effective within three (3) years of the change of control.

Under the Company’s equity plans, upon a change of control, unless the Company determines otherwise, all outstanding options not fully vested automatically accelerate and become immediately exercisable and the restrictions and conditions on all outstanding stock awards immediately lapse. The date on which such accelerated vesting, immediate exercisability and lapse of restrictions and conditions would occur, is the date of the occurrence of the change of control.

 

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ESTIMATED TERMINATION PAYMENT

The table below reflects amounts payable to the named executive officers, assuming that their employment was terminated on December 31, 2011, both prior to and following a change in control of the Company, or assuming a change in control of the Company occurred on December 31, 2011.

 

Name

  Termination Without Cause Prior to a Change in Control
(“CIC”) ($)
    CIC ($)
  Severance     Continuation
of

Benefits
    Accelerated
Vesting of
Options
    Accelerated
Vesting of
Restricted
Stock
    Total     CIC
Payment
    Continuation
of

Benefits
    Accelerated
Vesting of
Options and
Restricted
Stock
    Total     Termination Without
Cause Within
36 Months of a CIC
or for Good Reason
Prior

to CIC ($)

Robert F. Doman

  $ 450,000      $ 11,611                    $ 461,611      $ 1,350,000      $ 11,611      $ 817,822      $ 2,179,433      $1,350,000 less salary
following change of
control to date of
termination, if any

Richard C. Christopher

  $ 275,000                           $ 275,000      $ 825,000             $ 343,644      $ 1,168,644     

William F. O’Dell

  $ 284,000                           $ 284,000      $ 852,000             $ 343,644      $ 1,195,644     

Mark C. Carota

  $ 234,000                           $ 234,000      $ 702,000             $ 236,023      $ 938,023     

Scott L. Lundahl

  $ 233,000                           $ 233,000      $ 699,000             $ 236,023      $ 935,023     

401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN

The Company adopted a tax-qualified employee savings and retirement 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), effective January 1, 1996, covering all qualified employees. Participants may elect a salary reduction of at least 1% as a contribution to the 401(k) Plan, up to the statutorily prescribed annual limit for tax-deferred contributions ($16,500 in 2011, $22,000 if over age 50). Modification of salary reductions can be made monthly for 2011. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company began to match $.50 of each $1.00 contributed by a participant up to 6% of a participant’s salary (the “Company Match”), subject to certain limitations of the 401(k) Plan. Participants vest in the Company Match at a rate of 25% for each year of service to the Company (based on the anniversary of their date of hire). Employees who were already employed as of the effective date of the Company Match received credit for their past service to the Company.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information, as of March 31, 2012, with respect to holdings of our Common Stock by: (i) each of our directors; (ii) each of our named executive officers; (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group; and (iv) by all beneficial owners of greater than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock, based upon currently available Schedules 13D and 13G and other forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Name(1)

   Number of  Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
    Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares (3)
 

Alfred Altomari

     21,000 (4)      *   

David M. Bartash

     128,125 (5)      *   

Mark C. Carota

     190,657 (6)      *   

Alexander W. Casdin

     237,000 (7)      *   

Richard C. Christopher

     233,667 (8)      *   

Robert F. Doman

     603,592 (9)      2.42

Jay M. Haft

     150,750 (10)      *   

Paul J. Hondros

     17,000 (11)      *   

Scott L. Lundahl

     224,086 (12)      *   

Magnus Moliteus

     92,625 (13)      *   

William F. O’Dell

     247,915 (14)      *   

David M. Wurzer

     22,000 (15)      *   

All directors and all executive officers as a group (consisting of 14 persons)

     2,509,100 (16)      10.06

James E. Flynn

Deerfield Capital, L.P.

Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P.

Deerfield Management Company, L.P.

Deerfield Special Situations Fund International Limited

     1,724,286 (17)      6.92

Edwin H. Morgens

Phaeton International (BVI) Ltd.

Phoenix Partners, L.P.

Morgens, Waterfall, Vintiadis & Co., Inc.

     1,506,000 (18)      6.04

 

 

* Less than 1%.

Notes:

 

(1) Unless indicated otherwise, the individuals listed herein have a business mailing address of c/o DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887.

 

(2) Unless indicated otherwise: (i) the individuals and entities listed herein have the sole power to both vote and dispose of all securities that they beneficially own; and (ii) beneficial ownership listed includes all options and warrants which are exercisable as of March 31, 2012 and options and stock awards which will vested within sixty (60) days from March 31, 2012.

 

(3) The percentage of ownership as calculated above includes in the number of shares outstanding for each individual listed those shares that are beneficially, yet not necessarily directly, owned. Applicable percentage of ownership is based on 24,932,087 shares of Common Stock outstanding on March 31, 2012 unless noted as otherwise.

 

(4) 15,000 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Altomari has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(5) 80,000 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Bartash has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

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(6) 150,700 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Carota has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(7) 35,000 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Casdin has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(8) 173,275 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Christopher has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(9) 444,050 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Doman has the right to acquire through the exercise of options. Of the shares indicated, Mr. Doman shares investment and voting power with respect to 19,750 shares.

 

(10) 70,000 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Haft has the right to acquire through the exercise of options. Under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Mr. Haft disclaims, but may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of, 34,500 shares that are held by his spouse.

 

(11) 15,000 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Hondros has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(12) 162,200 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Lundahl has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(13) 50,000 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Moliteus has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(14) 193,325 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. O’Dell has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(15) 15,000 of the shares indicated represent shares with respect to which Mr. Wurzer has the right to acquire through the exercise of options.

 

(16) Includes all of the shares indicated in footnotes 4 through 15, including an additional 271,600 shares underlying stock options beneficially owned by our unnamed executive officers.

 

(17) The number of shares beneficially owned is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2012 by James E. Flynn, Deerfield Capital, L.P., Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P., Deerfield Management Company, L.P., and Deerfield Special Situations Fund International Limited. Such Schedule 13G discloses that James E. Flynn has shared dispositive power, and beneficially owns, 1,724,286 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (including warrants to purchase 593,453 shares of Common Stock). As set forth in the Schedule 13G, 687,875 shares are beneficially owned by Deerfield Capital, L.P. and Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P. (including warrants to purchase 209,489 shares of Common Stock) and 1,036,411 shares are beneficially owned by Deerfield Management Company, L.P. and Deerfield Special Situations Fund International Limited (including warrants to purchase 383,964 shares of Common Stock). Deerfield Capital, L.P. is the general partner of Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P. Deerfield Management Company, L.P. is the investment manager of Deerfield Special Situations Fund International Limited. James E. Flynn is the managing member of the general partners of Deerfield Capital, L.P. and Deerfield Management Company, L.P. and as such may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares reported in the Schedule 13G. The address of James E. Flynn is 780 Third Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, New York 10017. The Company makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information reported.

 

(18)

The number of shares beneficially owned is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2012 by Morgens, Waterfall, Vintiadis & Company, Inc. (“Morgens Waterfall”) and Edwin H. Morgens (“Morgens”). Such Schedule 13G discloses that the reporting persons have shared dispositive power, and beneficially own, 1,506,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. As set forth in the Schedule 13G, 631,100 shares are beneficially owned by Phaeton International (BVI) Ltd., 868,900 shares are beneficially owned by Phoenix Partners, L.P., 1,500,000 shares are beneficially owned by Morgens Waterfall and 1,506,000 shares are beneficially owned by Morgens. Such Schedule 13G also discloses that Morgens has sole dispositive power and beneficially owns 6,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Morgens Waterfall is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as amended, in the business of rendering of financial services and as such it provides discretionary investment advisory services to Phaeton International (BVI) Ltd., and Phoenix Partners, L.P. In such capacity, Morgens Waterfall has the power to make decisions regarding the dispositions of the proceeds from the sale of the foregoing shares of Common Stock. The business address of the reporting persons above is 600 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10020. The Company makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information reported.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. 3 - “SAY-ON-PAY” ADVISORY VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The primary objective of our overall executive compensation program is to provide balanced, comprehensive and competitive rewards for the short- and long-term in a cost-effective manner to the Company. We have designed our executive compensation program to incentivize achievement of corporate and personal goals that we believe will deliver value to our shareholders, drive operational results and promote high levels of individual performance. Our compensation program provides a combination of fixed and variable pay. We believe that compensation levels in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries are dynamic and very competitive as a result of the need to attract and retain qualified executives with the necessary skills and experience to keep up with the complex regulatory environment in which we operate and to understand the rapidly changing medical technology in our industry. We believe that the fixed portion of our current executive compensation program achieves our objectives, but we believe that our long-term incentives need to be enhanced.

Shareholders are urged to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth in this proxy statement, which discusses how our compensation policies and procedures reflect our compensation objectives, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and other related compensation tables and narrative disclosure that describe the compensation of our five most highly-compensated executive officers in fiscal year 2011.

In accordance with recently adopted Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which were made pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Shareholder Protection Act and as a matter of good corporate governance, you, as a shareholder at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are being asked to vote for or against the following advisory resolution:

Adoption of Proposal No. 3

RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and related compensation tables, and the related disclosure contained in this proxy statement.

THIS ADVISORY VOTE IS NOT BINDING. ALTHOUGH NON-BINDING, THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THE OUTCOME OF THE ADVISORY VOTE WHEN MAKING FUTURE DECISIONS REGARDING OUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

We review all relationships and transactions in which we and our directors and executive officers or their immediate family members are participants to determine whether such persons have a direct or indirect material interest. According to our written Statement of Policy with respect to Related Person Transactions, our Audit Committee, with the assistance of management and our legal counsel, is primarily responsible for the implementation of processes and controls to obtain information from the directors and executive officers with respect to related person transactions and for then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether we or a related person has a direct or indirect material interest in the transaction. In determining whether a proposed transaction is a related person transaction, we examine:

 

  (i) the related person’s relationship to us;

 

  (ii) the related person’s interest in the transaction;

 

  (iii) the material facts of the proposed transaction, including the proposed aggregate value of such transaction or, in the case of indebtedness, the amount of principal that would be involved; and

 

  (iv) whether the proposed transaction is on terms that are comparable to the terms available to an unrelated third party or to employees generally.

 

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If our Audit Committee determines that the proposed transaction is a related person transaction, the Audit Committee decides whether to approve or disapprove the transaction. If it is approved, any material related person transaction is submitted to our Board of Directors. For the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending March 31, 2012, there was one transaction in which the Company was or is to be a participant and the amount involved exceeded $120,000, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. In January 2007, DUSA hired Kevin Doman, the son of Robert F. Doman, our President and Chief Executive Officer, as a sales representative. Kevin Doman’s hiring was reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee after review and approval of his compensation by the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee reviews his compensation each year. Factors considered by the Audit Committee included (i) Kevin Doman’s experience in the industry, (ii) the fact that his compensation package is the same as that of our other sales representatives and was not reviewed or influenced by Robert Doman, prior to hiring or on an annual basis thereafter and (iii) the amount of compensation that Kevin Doman could receive from DUSA in the future. Kevin Doman received $115,000 in salary and commissions for 2011 and has the potential to earn approximately $136,000 in salary and commissions in 2012.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In order to be considered for inclusion in the Board of Directors’ proxy statement and proxy card for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, a shareholder proposal must be received by the Company on or before December 27, 2012. Proposals should be directed to the attention of the Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Richard C. Christopher, at the Company’s offices at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887, or the Secretary, Nanette W. Mantell, Esq., c/o Reed Smith LLP, Princeton Forrestal Village, 136 Main Street, Suite 250, Princeton, New Jersey 08543.

In addition, if a shareholder wishes to present a proposal at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting which is not intended to be included in the Company’s proxy statement for that meeting, the Company must receive written notice of the shareholder proposal by March 13, 2013. If DUSA does not receive notice of such a shareholder proposal by this date, the Company will retain its discretionary authority to vote proxies on such proposals even if it is not specifically reflected on the proxy card, and shareholders have not had an opportunity to vote on the proposal by proxy.

The Board of Directors believes that the most efficient method for shareholders and other interested parties to raise issues and ask questions and to get a response is to direct such communications to DUSA through its Shareholder Services department at the address provided in the “Contact DUSA” section of our website, www.dusapharma.com. If, notwithstanding these methods, a shareholder or other interested party wishes to direct a communication specifically to the Board of Directors, then the following method is available. To ensure that the communication is properly directed in a timely manner, it should be clearly identified as intended for the Board of Directors:

 

  Board of Directors   
  Attention: Chairman of the Board   
  c/o DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.   
  25 Upton Drive   
  Wilmington, MA 01887   

The address stated above is supervised by DUSA which will promptly forward to the Board any communication intended for them. The Board believes that DUSA should speak with one voice and has empowered management to speak on the Company’s behalf subject to the Board’s oversight and guidance on specific issues. Therefore, in most circumstances the Board will not respond directly to inquiries received in this manner but may take into consideration ideas, concerns and positions that are presented in a concise, clear, supported and constructive manner.

 

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Under the securities laws of the United States, the Company’s directors, officers and any person holding more than ten percent (10%) of our Common Stock are required to report their ownership of securities and any changes in that ownership to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 3, 4 and 5. Based on our review of the copies of such forms we have received, we believe that all of our officers, directors and shareholders holding ten percent (10%) or more of our Common Stock complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to their reporting obligations, except for Mr. Doman who filed one late Form 4 on May 11, 2011 relating to transactions occurring on June 9, 2008 and August 22, 2008 pursuant to which Mr. Doman transferred 10,000 and 5,000 shares, respectively, to his wife as a gift for no consideration. In making these statements, we have relied on the written representations of our directors and officers and copies of the reports that they, and any person holding more than ten percent (10%) of our Common Stock, have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

The Company is required to provide an Annual Report and proxy statement to all shareholders. If you are a shareholder of record and have more than one account in your name or at the same address as other shareholders of record, you may authorize the Company to discontinue mailings of multiple proxy statements, Annual Reports and other information statements. Each shareholder in the household will continue to receive a separate proxy card. This process, known as “householding”, reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps reduce our expenses. To do so, please mark the designated box on each proxy card for which you wish to discontinue receiving duplicate documents. Your consent to stop delivery of the Annual Report, proxy statements and other information statements shall be effective for five (5) years or until you revoke your consent. You may revoke your consent at any time by contacting Mr. Richard Christopher, our Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, at 978-909-2211, or by calling 1-800-607-2530. Delivery of individual copies of the documents shall resume within thirty (30)  days of our receipt of your request.

OTHER MATTERS

Management knows of no matters other than those described above that are to be brought before the meeting. However, if any other matter properly comes before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote the proxy in accordance with their best judgment on the matter.

The cost of preparing and mailing the enclosed material will be borne by the Company. The Company may use the services of its officers and employees (who will receive no additional compensation) to solicit proxies. The Company intends to request that banks and brokers holding shares of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Common Stock forward copies of the proxy materials to those persons for whom they hold shares and to request authority for the execution of proxies. The Company will reimburse banks and brokers for their out-of-pocket expenses. The Company has retained its transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, to aid in the distribution, at an estimated cost of less than $10,000.

Certain information contained in this proxy statement relating to the occupations and security holdings of our directors and officers is based upon information received from the individual directors and officers.

 

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DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Proxy for 2012 Annual Meeting

This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of

The Board of Directors

The undersigned hereby appoints Robert F. Doman and Richard C. Christopher, or either of them, each with power of substitution, proxies to vote all shares of common stock which the undersigned would possess if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (including all adjournments thereof) of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) to be held on Thursday, June 14, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., at the Company’s offices located at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887.

SHAREHOLDERS ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF IT IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Items 1, 2 and 3. Unless otherwise specified, the vote represented by this proxy will be cast FOR Items 1, 2 and 3.

 

1.

Election of Directors

 

         Nominees:

  

¨ Alfred Altomari

¨ David M. Bartash

¨ Alexander W. Casdin

¨ Robert F. Doman

¨ Jay M. Haft

¨ Paul J. Hondros

¨ Magnus Moliteus

¨ David M. Wurzer

 

¨    FOR ALL NOMINEES

¨    WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES

¨    FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below)

INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold.

 

 

 

2. Ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.

¨ FOR             ¨ AGAINST             ¨ ABSTAIN

 

 

 

3.

Advisory vote regarding the compensation (“Say-on-Pay”) of our named executive officers.

¨ FOR             ¨ AGAINST             ¨ ABSTAIN


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4.

In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Electronic Distribution

If you would like to receive future DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. proxy statements and annual reports electronically, please visit http://www.amstock.com. Click on Shareholder Account Access to enroll. Please enter your account number and tax identification number to log in, then select Receive Company Mailings via E-Mail and provide your e-mail address.

To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. ¨

Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by a duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by a duly authorized person.

 

  Signature of Shareholder

 

 

 

  Date

 

 

 

  Signature of Shareholder

 

 

 

  Date