Ligand-2013ProxyStatement


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________________________________________________
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Soliciting Material under 240.14a-12
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
 

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April 26, 2013
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of the stockholders of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, to be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. local time, at Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, located at 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Details of the business to be conducted at the annual meeting are given in the attached notice of annual meeting and proxy statement.
We are providing our stockholders access to the proxy materials and our 2012 annual report over the internet. This allows us to significantly reduce our printing and mailing costs and the environmental impact of the circulation of our proxy materials. On or about April 26, 2013, we will mail to stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement and 2012 annual report online and how to vote online. If you receive such a Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the materials unless you specifically request one. However, the Notice contains instructions on how to request to receive printed copies of these materials and a proxy card by mail.
Even if you do not plan to attend the meeting, I encourage you to vote by telephone or on the internet, or, if you request that the proxy materials be mailed to you, by signing, dating and returning the proxy card enclosed with these materials. This will ensure your vote is counted whether or not you are able to attend. If you decide to attend the annual meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so automatically by voting in person at the annual meeting.
We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.
 
 
/s/    JOHN L. HIGGINS        
John L. Higgins
President and Chief Executive Officer 
La Jolla, California
April 26, 2013

Your vote is important. Please vote your shares whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.
In order to assure your representation at the meeting, you are requested to vote by internet or telephone, or, if you request that the proxy materials be mailed to you, by signing, dating and returning the proxy card as described in the enclosed proxy materials as promptly as possible. If you are voting by mail, please return your completed proxy card in the enclosed envelope. You do not need to add postage if mailed in the United States.





NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013
Dear Stockholder:
The annual meeting of stockholders of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held at Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, located at 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037, on June 11, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. local time, for the following purposes:
1.
To elect a board of directors for the forthcoming year. Our board of directors has nominated the following eight persons, each to serve for a one year term to expire at the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders: Jason M. Aryeh, Todd C. Davis, John L. Higgins, David M. Knott, John W. Kozarich, John L. LaMattina, Sunil Patel and Stephen L. Sabba.
2.
To ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.
3.
To consider and vote upon, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
4.
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
 
Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 17, 2013 will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting. For our annual meeting, we have elected to use the Internet as our primary means of providing our proxy materials to stockholders. Consequently, most stockholders will not receive paper copies of our proxy materials. We will instead send to these stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials with instructions for accessing the proxy materials, including our Proxy Statement and annual report, and for voting via the Internet. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials also provides information on how stockholders may obtain paper copies of our proxy materials free of charge, if they so choose. The electronic delivery of our proxy materials will significantly reduce our printing and mailing costs and the environmental impact of the circulation of our proxy materials.
The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will also provide the date, time and location of the annual meeting; the matters to be acted upon at the meeting and the Board of Directors’ recommendation with regard to each matter; a toll-free number, an email address and a website where stockholders may request a paper or email copy of the Proxy Statement, our annual report to stockholders and a form of proxy relating to the annual meeting; information on how to access the form of proxy; and information on how to attend the meeting and vote in person.
The stock transfer books of the Company will remain open between the record date, April 17, 2013, and the date of the meeting. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available for inspection at the offices of the Company and at the meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please vote by internet or telephone as described in the enclosed proxy materials or, if you request that the proxy materials be mailed to you, by signing, dating and returning the proxy card enclosed with those materials. If you attend the annual meeting and vote by ballot, your proxy will be revoked automatically and only your vote at the annual meeting will be counted. The prompt return of your proxy will assist us in preparing for the annual meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
/s/    CHARLES S. BERKMAN        
Charles S. Berkman
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary 
La Jolla, California
April 26, 2013



TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200
La Jolla, CA 92037
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
JUNE 11, 2013
On behalf of the board of directors of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the “Company”), we are asking for your proxy, to be used at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on June 11, 2013. The annual meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. local time, at our corporate headquarters located at 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037. Stockholders of record on April 17, 2013 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. If you need directions to the location of the annual meeting, please contact us at (858) 550-7500. On or about April 26, 2013, we will mail to stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement and 2012 annual report online and how to vote online. If you receive such a Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the materials unless you specifically request one. However, the Notice contains instructions on how to request to receive printed copies of these materials and a proxy card by mail.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on Tuesday, June 11, 2013.
This proxy statement and the Company’s annual report are available electronically at www.envisionreports.com/LGND.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

What is the purpose of the annual meeting?
At our annual meeting, stockholders will act on the items outlined in the notice of meeting that is attached to this proxy statement. These include the election of directors, the ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. Management will be available after the meeting to answer questions.
Who can vote at the meeting?
Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date, are entitled to vote the shares of stock they held on that date. Stockholders may vote in person or by proxy (see “How do I vote?” below). Each holder of shares of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of stock held on the proposals presented in this proxy statement. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote, whether present in person or represented by proxy, will be a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting.
How many votes do I have?
Each share of our common stock that you own as of April 17, 2013 entitles you to one vote. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that is sent to you, or the proxy card or voting instruction form that is included in the proxy materials mailed to you if you have requested delivery by mail, will show the number of shares that you are entitled to vote.

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How are votes counted?
Directors will be elected by a favorable vote of a plurality of the aggregate votes present, in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting. Accordingly, abstentions will not affect the outcome of the election of candidates for director. Absent instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares, a broker is not entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on certain non-routine items, such as the election of directors and the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. Thus, if the beneficial owner does not give a broker specific instructions, the beneficially owned shares may not be voted on this proposal and will not be counted in determining the number of shares necessary for approval, although they will count for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. Stockholders are not permitted to cumulate their shares for the purpose of electing directors or otherwise.
The proposal to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the aggregate votes present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. However, ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP is considered a routine matter on which a broker or other nominee is empowered to vote. Accordingly, no broker non-votes will result from this proposal.
Approval of the non-binding advisory resolution on our executive compensation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the aggregate votes present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against these proposals. Absent instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares, a broker is not entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on the resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers. As a result, broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal.
All votes will be counted by an inspector of elections appointed for the meeting. The inspector will count separately “yes” votes, “no” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes. Shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by a broker or nominee which are represented at the annual meeting, but not empowered to vote on a particular proposal) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
Voting results will be tabulated and certified by our mailing and tabulating agent, Computershare.
Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?
Pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to our stockholders who have not previously requested the receipt of paper proxy materials advising them that they can access this proxy statement, the 2012 annual report and voting instructions over the internet at http://www.envisionreports.com/LGND, by calling toll-free (866) 641-4276, or by sending an e-mail to investorvote@computershare.com with “Proxy Materials Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.” in the subject line. Include in the message your full name and address, plus the number located in the shaded bar on the reverse, and state in the email that you want a paper copy of current meeting materials. You can also state your preference to receive a paper copy for future meetings. There is no charge for you requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy on or before June 1, 2013 to facilitate timely delivery. In addition, stockholders may request to receive proxy materials electronically by email or in printed form by mail on an ongoing basis. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. We encourage stockholders to take advantage of the availability of the proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting.

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How do I vote by proxy
If you are a stockholder of record on the Record Date, you may vote in one of the following four ways:
By the Internet
Go to www.envisionreports.com/LGND 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and follow the instructions. You will need the 12-digit control number that is included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy card or voting instructions form that is sent to you. The internet voting system allows you to confirm that the system has properly recorded your votes. This method of voting will be available up until 11:59 p.m. EDT, on June 10, 2013.
By telephone
On a touch-tone telephone, call toll-free 1-800-652-8683, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and follow the instructions. You will need the 12-digit control number that is included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy card or voting instructions form that is sent to you. As with internet voting, you will be able to confirm that the system has properly recorded your votes. This method of voting will be available up until 11:59 p.m. EDT, on June 10, 2013.
By mail
If you are a shareowner of record, and you elect to receive your proxy materials by mail, you can vote by proxy by marking, dating, and signing your proxy card exactly as your name appears on the card and returning it by mail in the postage-paid envelope that will be provided to you. If you hold your shares in street name and you elect to receive your proxy materials by mail, you can vote by completing and mailing the voting instruction form that will be provided by your bank, broker or other holder of record. You should mail the proxy card or voting instruction form in plenty of time to allow delivery prior to the meeting. Do not mail the proxy card or voting instruction form if you are voting over the internet or by telephone.
At the annual meeting
Whether you are a shareowner of record or a street name holder, you may vote your shares at the annual meeting if you attend in person.
Even if you plan to attend the annual meeting, we encourage you to vote over the internet or by telephone prior to the meeting. It is fast and convenient, and vote is recorded and confirmed immediately.
May I revoke my proxy?
If you give us your proxy, you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised. You may revoke your proxy by sending in another signed proxy with a later date, notifying our corporate secretary, Charles S. Berkman, in writing before the annual meeting that you have revoked your proxy, or you may notify our corporate secretary in writing before the annual meeting and vote in person at the meeting.
What is the quorum requirement?
A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote are present in person or represented by proxy at the annual meeting. On the Record Date, there were 20,224,666 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Accordingly, 10,112,334 shares must be represented by stockholders present at the annual meeting or by proxy to have a quorum.

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Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy vote or vote at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, either the chairperson of the annual meeting or a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, may adjourn the annual meeting to another time or place.
I share an address with another stockholder, and we received only one paper copy of the proxy materials and annual report. How may I obtain an additional copy of these materials?
The rules of the SEC permit us, under certain circumstances, to send a single set of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy materials, and annual reports to any household at which two or more stockholders reside. This procedure, known as householding, reduces the volume of duplicate information you receive and helps to reduce our expenses.
In order to take advantage of this opportunity, we have delivered only one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or, if you previously requested to receive paper proxy materials by mail, one proxy statement and annual report to shareowners who share an address (unless we received contrary instructions from the affected shareowners prior to the mailing date). We will mail a separate copy of any of these documents, if requested. Requests for separate copies of any of these documents, either now or in the future, as well as requests for single copies in the future by shareowners who share an address and are currently receiving multiple copies, can be made by shareowners of record by contacting our corporate secretary at Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, California 92037, or by telephone at (858) 550-7500. Such requests by street name holders should be made through their bank, broker, or other holder of record.
Who is paying the costs of soliciting these proxies?
We will pay all of the costs of soliciting these proxies. Our directors, officers and other employees may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, fax or email. We will pay our directors, officers and other employees no additional compensation for these services. We will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward these proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We will then reimburse them for their expenses. Our costs for forwarding proxy materials will not be significant.
How do I obtain an Annual Report on Form 10-K?
If you would like a copy of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 that we filed with the SEC, we will send you one without charge. Please write to:
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200
La Jolla, California 92037
Attn: Corporate Secretary
All of our SEC filings are also available free of charge in the investor relations section of our website at www.ligand.com.
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 SEC within four business days after the annual meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a Form 8-K within four business days after the meeting, we intend to file a Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an additional Form 8-K to publish the final results.

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PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The persons named below have been nominated by our board of directors to serve as directors of the Company until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The eight candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be elected directors of the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement, our board of directors is not aware of any nominee who is unable to or will decline to serve as a director. If, however, any of those named are unable to serve at the time of the annual meeting, the proxyholders may exercise discretionary authority to vote for substitutes.
Nominees
 
Name
 
Offices Held
 
Year First Elected
Director
 
Age*
John W. Kozarich(N)
 
Chairman of the Board
 
2003
 
63
John L. Higgins
 
President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director
 
2007
 
43
Jason M. Aryeh(C)(N)
 
Director
 
2006
 
44
Todd C. Davis(C)
 
Director
 
2007
 
52
David M. Knott(A)(C)
 
Director
 
2007
 
68
John L. LaMattina(C)
 
Director
 
2011
 
63
Sunil Patel(A)
 
Director
 
2010
 
41
Stephen L. Sabba(A)(N)
 
Director
 
2008
 
53

 *
As of April 17, 2013
(A)
Member of the audit committee
(C)
Member of the compensation committee
(N)
Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee
Business Experience of Director-Nominees
Jason M. Aryeh has served as a member of Ligand's board of directors since September 2006. He is the founder and managing general partner of JALAA Equities, LP, a private hedge fund focused on the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical sector, and has served in such capacity since 1997. Mr. Aryeh serves as the Chairman of the board and a director of QLT and serves as the Chairman of both its Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and its Strategic Action Committee. Mr. Aryeh also serves on the board of directors of CorMatrix Cardiovascular, a medical device company, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Therapeutics Board. Previously, Mr. Aryeh served as a director of both Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, prior to its merger with Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in November 2012, and of Myrexis, Inc., both of which were public biotechnology companies. Mr. Aryeh earned a B.A. in economics, with honors, from Colgate University, and is a member of the Omnicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society in economics. In selecting Mr. Aryeh to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his valuable capital markets experience, including his service as managing general partner of a hedge fund focused on the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical sector. Ligand also benefits from Mr. Aryeh's involvement in the biotechnology industry through his former position as a director of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals and Myrexis, Inc.

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Todd C. Davis is a Founding Managing Director of HealthCare Royalty Partners, a global healthcare investment firm. He has thirty years of experience working in and investing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Over the course of his career, Mr. Davis has been involved in over $2 billion in healthcare deals and nearly $1 billion in royalty financings. He has also led, structured and closed over 40 additional intellectual property licenses, as well as growth equity, and debt deals. Previously, Mr. Davis was a partner at Paul Capital Partners, where he co-managed that firm's royalty investments as a member of the royalty management committee. He also served as a partner responsible for biopharmaceutical growth equity investments at Apax Partners. Prior to beginning his principal investment career in 2001, Mr. Davis held various sales and product management roles at Abbott Laboratories and worked in business development, operations and licensing at Elan Pharmaceuticals. He currently serves on the boards of Suneva Medical and Nuron Biotech. Mr. Davis holds a B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. In selecting Mr. Davis to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his valuable prior experience as a director of several public and private companies. Ligand also benefits from Mr. Davis' financial and accounting expertise and leadership experience within the biotechnology industry.
John L. Higgins is President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Prior to joining Ligand, Mr. Higgins served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Corporate Development, of Connetics Corporation, a specialty pharmaceutical company acquired by Stiefel Laboratories in 2006. Before joining Connetics, he was a member of the executive management team at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. Currently, he is a Director on the Boards of Techne Corporation, CoMentis and BioCryst and serves as Chairperson of the Techne Audit Committee and Chairperson of the Board of CoMentis. Mr. Higgins is also a member of Techne's compensation committee. Prior to BioCryst, Mr. Higgins was a member of the healthcare banking team of Dillon, Read & Co. Inc., an investment banking firm. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colgate University with an A.B. in economics. In selecting Mr. Higgins to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his valuable experience operating and managing public biotechnology companies, his prior service on other company board's and his financial transaction experience as an investment banker. Ligand also benefits from Mr. Higgins' financial experience in leadership roles at companies within the biopharmaceutical industry.
David Knott has over three decades of experience in investing. He began his career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette where he became a Vice President in their retail/small institution division. He left in 1983 to join Mandrakos Associates as a general partner and analyst with responsibility for the firm's investments in the energy and financial services industries. He also was in charge of most of the firm's short selling activities. In late January of 1987 he founded Knott Partners. Currently, Mr. Knott sits on the board of Paramount Resources, is a member of the board of trustees for the Boy's and Girl's Harbor and Say Yes to Education. In addition, Mr. Knott is a member of the Committee on Undergraduate Financial Aid at the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Executive Board at the Wharton Graduate School. Mr. Knott has a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School. In selecting Mr. Knott to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his valuable experience as a director of Paramount Resources and several private organizations which provides the board with a broad leadership perspective. Ligand also benefits from Mr. Knott's financial and accounting expertise and his perspective as a significant stockholder.
John W. Kozarich, Ph.D. has served as a director since March 2003. Dr. Kozarich is Chairman and President of ActivX Biosciences in La Jolla. From 1992 to 2001, he was vice president at Merck Research Laboratories and previously held professorships at the University of Maryland and Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Kozarich is also an adjunct professor of Chemical Physiology at the Scripps Research Institute and serves on boards, including QLT, Inc., Corium Intl. and the Board of Trustees of the Gordon Research Conferences. He is also a recent recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award from the San Diego Section of the American Chemical Society. Dr. Kozarich earned his BS in chemistry, summa cum laude, from Boston College, his PhD in biological chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard. In selecting Dr. Kozarich to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his valuable pharmaceutical and international experience, including his service at Merck Research Laboratories, which is part of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, and his service with ActivX Biosciences, Inc., QLT, Inc. and Corium Intl. Ligand also benefits from Dr. Kozarich's financial and accounting experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

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John L. LaMattina, Ph.D. spent 30 years at Pfizer Inc. beginning as a medicinal chemist in 1977. During his career, he was appointed to various positions of increasing responsibility for Pfizer Central Research, including Vice President of U.S. Discovery Operations in 1993, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Discovery Operations in 1998 and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development in 1999. Dr. LaMattina graduated with cum laude honors from Boston College with a B.S. in Chemistry. He received a Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire in Organic Chemistry and subsequently was at Princeton University in the National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship program. Dr. LaMattina is currently a senior partner at PureTech Ventures and serves on the board of two PureTech companies, Gelesis and Vedanta. He also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Trevena Pharmaceuticals and is a Strategic Advisor for Ziarco Pharmaceuticals. Dr. LaMattina is a respected commentator on the biopharmaceutical industry on Forbes.com as well as with his books, most recently Devalued & Distrusted - Can the Pharmaceutical Industry Restore its Broken Image? In selecting Dr. LaMattina to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his valuable pharmaceutical and experience and experience as director of several biotech companies which provides the board with a broad leadership perspective. Ligand also benefits from Dr. LaMattina's expert knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry and his experience as strategic and scientific advisor.
Sunil Patel has more than 18 years of senior management and R&D experience in the biotechnology industry and is currently Senior Vice President, Chief Business Officer for OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, a development-stage company focused on therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells. Mr. Patel has held senior management positions in corporate development, marketing, and strategy with BiPar Sciences, Allos Therapeutics, Connetics, Abgenix and Gilead Sciences. Mr. Patel also worked at McKinsey & Company serving biotech and pharmaceutical clients and has held scientific research positions at ZymoGenetics and ProCyte. Mr. Patel received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, and master's degree in Molecular Bioengineering/Biotechnology at the University of Washington. In selecting Mr. Patel to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his valuable pharmaceutical and corporate development experience, including his service at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals. Ligand also benefits from Mr. Patel's experience in serving as a senior member of management at both public and private biotechnology companies.
Stephen L. Sabba, M.D. has been a leading Bio/Pharma Analyst and Fund Manager for Knott Partners, L.P., an investment fund company, since November 2006. Previously he was a Partner and Director of Research with Kilkenny Capital Management, a Chicago-based biomedical hedge fund. Prior to that, Dr. Sabba was Director of Research at Sturza's Medical Research, and previously was a gastroenterologist and internist in private practice at Phelps Memorial Hospital in North Tarrytown, New York. He received his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine, and completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in New York City. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honors at Cornell University. Dr. Sabba has served as a member of the board of the directors for QLT, Inc., a leading Canadian biotech company, since June 2012. In selecting Dr. Sabba to serve as a director, the board considered, among other things, his capital markets and accounting expertise gained from his prior experience working in the hedge fund and investment fund industries. Ligand also benefits from his background as a medical doctor and from his understanding of medicine.
Director Independence
Our board of directors has determined that, with the exception of Mr. Higgins, each of the directors is an independent director under the NASDAQ Global Market listing standards. The independent directors have two or more regularly scheduled executive sessions per year at which only the independent directors are present.
Board Meetings and Committees
Our board of directors held two in-person meetings and five telephonic meetings, and acted by unanimous written consent two times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. During such year, each incumbent director attended at least 85% of the aggregate number of meetings of our board of directors which were held during the periods in which he served. The Company does not have a policy regarding attendance of the directors at the annual meeting. At our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, one of our then-current directors, John Higgins, was in attendance.

7

Our board of directors has an audit committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee. Each committee is described below. Each of these committees has a written charter approved by our board of directors. A copy of each charter can be found under the “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance—Corporate Charters” section of our website at www.ligand.com. Our board of directors has determined that each member of these committees meets the applicable rules and regulations regarding independence and that each member is free of any relationship that would interfere with his or her individual exercise of independent judgment with regard to the Company.
The audit committee was established in March 1992 and is primarily responsible for overseeing the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, auditing of financial statements, systems of internal control, and financial compliance programs. The audit committee currently consists of Messrs. Knott and Patel and Sabba (chair), each of whom is independent as defined under Rule 4350 of the NASDAQ Global Market listing standards. The audit committee held one in-person meeting, held four telephonic meetings and acted by unanimous written consent one time during 2012. After reviewing the qualifications of all current committee members and any relationship they may have that might affect their independence from the Company, our board of directors has determined that (i) all current committee members are “independent” as defined under Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (ii) all current committee members are “independent” as defined under the NASDAQ Global Market listing standards, (iii) all current committee members have the ability to read and understand financial statements and (iv) Mr. Knott qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” The latter determination is based on a qualitative assessment of his level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including his formal education and experience.
The nominating committee was established in December 2001 and is responsible for identifying and recommending candidates for director of the Company. The nominating committee was reconstituted as the nominating and corporate governance committee in March 2007 and consists of Mr. Aryeh (chair) and Drs. Kozarich and Sabba. Each member of the nominating and corporate governance committee is an independent director under Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ Global Market listing standards. The nominating and corporate governance committee held one in-person meeting during 2012.
The nominating and corporate governance committee considers nominees recommended by stockholders, if submitted in writing to the Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices and accompanied by the author’s full name, current address and telephone number. The nominating and corporate governance committee has set no specific minimum qualifications for candidates it recommends, but considers each individual’s qualifications, such as high personal integrity and ethics, relevant expertise and professional experience, as a whole. The nominating and corporate governance committee and the board as a whole consider it beneficial to the Company to have directors with a diversity of backgrounds and skills. The nominating and corporate governance committee and the board as a whole have no formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. The nominating and corporate governance committee considers candidates throughout the year and makes recommendations as vacancies occur or the size of our board of directors expands. Candidates are identified from a variety of sources including recommendations by stockholders, current directors, management, and other parties. The nominating and corporate governance committee considers all such candidates in the same manner, regardless of source. Under its charter, the nominating and corporate governance committee may retain a search firm to identify and recommend candidates but has not done so to date.
The compensation committee was established in March 1992 and reviews and approves the Company’s compensation policies, sets executive officers’ compensation and administers the Company’s stock option and stock purchase plans. The compensation committee consists of Messrs. Aryeh, Davis (chair), and Knott and Dr. LaMattina. Each member is an independent director under Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ Global Market listing standards. The compensation committee held one in-person meeting, held one telephonic meetings and acted by unanimous written consent four times during 2012.


8

 Board Leadership Structure
Our board of directors has nominated eight persons to serve as directors of the Company until the next annual meeting of stockholders, seven of whom are independent. We separate the roles of chief executive officer and chairman of our board of directors in recognition of the differences between the two roles. The chief executive officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and the day-to-day leadership and performance of the Company, while the chairman of our board of directors provides guidance to the chief executive officer and presides over meetings of the full board of directors. We believe that this separation of responsibilities provides a balanced approach to managing the board of directors and overseeing the Company.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Our board of directors is actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect the Company. The board’s role in our risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to the Company, including risks associated with our operational, financial, legal and regulatory functions. The full board (or the appropriate board committee in the case of risks that are under the purview of a particular committee) receives these reports from the appropriate “risk owner” within the organization to enable it to understand our risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation strategies. When a board committee engages in a discussion related to areas of material risk to the Company, the chairman of the relevant committee reports on the discussion to the full board during the committee reports portion of the next board meeting. This enables the board and its committees to coordinate the risk oversight role.
Communicating with the Board of Directors
Stockholders may communicate with our board of directors or individual directors by mail, in care of the Secretary, at the Company’s principal executive offices. Letters are distributed to the board of directors, or to any individual director or directors as appropriate, depending on the content of the letter. However, items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the board of directors will be excluded. In addition, material that is illegal, inappropriate or similarly unsuitable will be excluded. Any letter that is filtered out under these standards, however, will be made available to any director upon request.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the nominees listed above.


9


PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
You are being asked to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. Neither the firm nor any of its members has any relationship with the Company or any of its affiliates, except in the firm’s capacity as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
Stockholder ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required by Delaware law, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, the Company’s amended and restated bylaws, or otherwise. However, the audit committee is submitting the selection of Grant Thornton LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the board of directors will reconsider its selection. Even if the selection is ratified, the board of directors or its audit committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent auditing firm at any time during the year if such a change would be in the Company’s and its stockholders’ best interests.
Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the annual meeting, and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented and voting at the annual meeting will be required to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP.
Independent Auditor’s Fees
The following is a summary of the fees incurred by the Company from Grant Thornton LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fee Category
 
 
Fiscal Year
2012 Fees
Fiscal Year
2011 Fees
 
Audit Fees(1)
 
$
341,785

$
310,000

 
Audit-Related Fees(2)
 
 
156,019

 
56,870

 
Tax Fees(3)
 
 
416,778

 
135,600

 
Total Fees
 
$
914,582

$
502,470

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s consolidated annual financial statements and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. In 2012 and 2011, audit fees included fees for professional services rendered for the audits of (i) management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and (ii) the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.
(2)
Audit-Related fees consist of fees billed for professional services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements but are not reported under “Audit Fees.” Such fees include, among other things, fees associated with restatements, employee benefit plan audits, comfort letters, S-3 filing, assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC, and certain consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.
(3)
Tax fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for assistance with federal, state and international tax compliance and tax consulting projects including the 382 limitation analysis, Research and Development tax credit analysis and international tax planning.

10

In considering the nature of the services provided by Grant Thornton LLP during the 2012 fiscal year, the audit committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services.
The audit committee discussed these services with Grant Thornton LLP and the Company’s management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulation concerning auditor independence promulgated by the SEC to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
The services performed by Grant Thornton LLP in 2012 and 2011 were pre-approved in accordance with the requirements of the audit committee charter adopted on November 13, 2006.
Except as stated above, there were no other fees charged by Grant Thornton for 2012 and 2011. The audit committee considers the provision of these services to be compatible with maintaining the independence of Grant Thornton LLP. None of the fees paid to Grant Thornton LLP under the categories “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees” described above were approved by the audit committee after services were rendered pursuant to the de minimis exception established by the SEC.
Audit Committee Policy Regarding Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Our audit committee has established a policy that all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm will be pre-approved by the audit committee. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. The audit committee considers whether the provision of each non-audit service is compatible with maintaining the independence of our auditors. Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. Our independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the audit committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013.

11



PROPOSAL NO. 3
APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, our stockholders are entitled to vote at the annual meeting to provide advisory approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the stockholder vote on executive compensation is an advisory vote only, and it is not binding on us or our board of directors.
Although the vote is non-binding, our compensation committee and board of directors value the opinions of the stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions. As described more fully in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement, our executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate individuals with superior ability, experience and leadership capability to deliver on our annual and long-term business objectives necessary to create stockholder value. We urge stockholders to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement, which describes in detail how our executive compensation policies and procedures operate and are intended to operate in the future. The compensation committee and the board of directors believe that our executive compensation program fulfills these goals and is reasonable, competitive and aligned with our performance and the performance of our executives.
We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our named executive officer compensation as described in this proxy statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on our named executive officers’ compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, we ask that our stockholders vote “FOR” the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated’s Proxy Statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2012 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.”
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.



12

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The names of the executive officers of the Company and their ages, titles and biographies as of April 17, 2013 are set forth below.
John L. Higgins, 43, is being considered for the position of director of the Company. See “Election of Directors” for a discussion of Mr. Higgins' business experience.
Charles S. Berkman, J.D., 44, has served as our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since April 2007. Mr. Berkman joined the Company in November 2001 and previously served as Associate General Counsel and Chief Patent Counsel for the Company (and Secretary since March 2007). Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Berkman was an attorney at the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie from November 2000 to November 2001. Before that he served as an attorney at the law firm of Lyon & Lyon from 1993 to November 2000, where he specialized in intellectual property law. Mr. Berkman earned a BS in chemistry from the University of Texas and a JD from the University of Texas School of Law.
Matthew W. Foehr, 40, has more than 18 years of experience managing global research and development programs. Prior to joining Ligand in 2011, he was Vice President and Head of Consumer Dermatology R&D, as well as Acting Chief Scientific Officer of Dermatology, in the Stiefel division of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Following GSK's $3.6 billion acquisition of Stiefel in 2009, Mr. Foehr led the R&D integration of Stiefel into GSK. At Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., Mr. Foehr served as Senior Vice President of Global R&D Operations, Senior Vice President of Product Development & Support, and Vice President of Global Supply Chain Technical Services. Prior to Stiefel, Mr. Foehr held various executive roles at Connetics Corporation including Senior Vice President of Technical Operations and Vice President of Manufacturing. Mr. Foehr is the author of multiple scientific publications and is named on numerous U.S. patents. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Santa Clara University.
John Sharp, C.P.A., 48, joined the Company in April 2007 as our Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. From November 2004 to April 2007, Mr. Sharp served as Vice President of Finance for Sequenom, (NASDAQ: SQNM) and served as its Principal Accounting Officer since October 2005. From August 2000 to November 2004, Mr. Sharp served as Director of Accounting at Diversa Corporation, a publicly traded biotech company. From January 1994 to August 2000, Mr. Sharp was at the public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, most recently as a Senior Audit Manager. He received a BS from San Diego State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and a member of the Association of Bioscience Financial Officers.
Nishan de Silva, M.D., M.B.A., 40, has more than thirteen years of healthcare experience across healthcare investing and management consulting. Prior to joining Ligand, Dr. de Silva served as a Principal of private equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC, where he was responsible for sourcing late-stage biopharmaceutical investments. Over the previous eight years, he evaluated hundreds of biopharmaceutical company investment opportunities, negotiated and structured major equity positions for several companies and served on the Board of Directors for several public and private biopharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, Dr. de Silva worked in healthcare venture capital at Sprout Group and as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on growth strategy projects for senior management at leading global pharmaceutical and healthcare services companies. Dr. de Silva holds an M.D. from The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, an M.B.A. in Healthcare Management from The Wharton School, and an A.B. in Biology from Harvard College.

13


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS,
DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table shows, based on information we have, the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 17, 2012, by:
 
 
•
 
all persons who are beneficial owners of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock;
 
 
•
 
each of our current directors, including our president and chief executive officer, Mr. Higgins;
 
 
•
 
each of our named executive officers (as defined below in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Summary Compensation Table”); and
 
 
•
 
all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned, subject to community property laws, where applicable. Percentage of ownership is based on approximately 20,224,666 shares of common stock outstanding on April 17, 2013 (not including 1,118,222 shares held in treasury and not entitled to vote). Shares of common stock underlying options include options which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2013, are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person or group holding such options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person or group. The address for individuals for whom an address is not otherwise indicated is 11119 Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037.
 

14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
 
Shares Beneficially
Owned via Options,
Warrants or
Convertible Notes
 
Percent of
Class Owned
 
Beneficial Owner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BVF, L.P.(1)
900 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60611
 
 
3,582,065

 
—

 
17.71

%
David M. Knott(2)
485 Underhill Blvd., Ste. 205
Syosset, NY 11791-3419
 
 
1,730,039

 
23,003

 
8.67

%
BlackRock Fund Advisors(3)
40 E. 52 nd Street
New York, NY 10022
 
 
1,183,015

 
—

 
5.85

%
Wellington Management Company, LLC(4)
75 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
 
 
1,160,086

 
—

 
5.74

%
The Vanguard Group(5) 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355
 
 
1,062,525

 
—

 
5.25

%
Park West Asset Management, LLC(6) 900 Larkspur Landing Circle Suite 165 Larkspur, CA 94939
 
 
1,016,386

 
—

 
5.03

%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors and Executive Officers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David M. Knott(2)
 
 
1,730,039

 
23,003

 
8.67

%
John L. Higgins
 
 
120,025

 
292,832

 
2.04

%
Jason M. Aryeh
 
 
318,379

 
23,633

 
1.69

%
Matthew W. Foehr
 
 
43,870

 
122,084

 
*

 
John P. Sharp
 
 
24,166

 
82,582

 
*

 
Charles S. Berkman
 
 
16,829

 
73,142

 
*

 
John W. Kozarich
 
 
36,948

 
26,371

 
*

 
Sunil Patel
 
 
36,222

 
19,114

 
*

 
Todd C. Davis
 
 
35,718

 
23,003

 
*

 
John L. LaMattina
 
 
21,535

 
18,559

 
*

 
Nishan de Silva
 
 
15,490

 
25,000

 
*

 
Stephen L. Sabba
 
 
19,425

 
19,670

 
*

 
Directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)
 
 
2,418,646

 
748,993

 
15.66

%
 

15



 *
Less than 1%
(1)
Based solely on a review of a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2013 which reported that BVF, L.P. (on behalf of Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P., BVF Investments, L.L.C., Investment 10, L.L.C., BVF Partners L.P., BVF Inc. and Mark N. Lampert) had sole voting and dispositive power over 3,582,065 shares.
(2)
Based solely on a review of a Form 4 filed on November 29, 2012 by David M. Knott.
(3)
Based solely on a review of a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 11, 2013 which reported that BlackRock Fund Advisors had sole voting and dispositive power over 1,183,015 shares.
(4)
Based solely on a review of a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2013, which reported that Wellington Management Company, LLP had sole voting and dispositive power over 1,160,086 shares.
(5)
Based solely on a review of a Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 2013, which reported that The Vanguard Group had sole voting and dispositive power over 1,062,525 shares.
(6)
Based solely on a review of a Schedule 13G/A filed on December 26, 2012, which reported that Park West Asset Management, LLC had sole voting and dispositive power over 1,016,386 shares.
 




16

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Executive Summary
Overview of Our Executive Compensation Program
The compensation committee has designed our executive compensation program to provide compensation opportunities that:
 
•
Attract, motivate and retain individuals of superior ability and managerial talent critical to its long-term success;
•
Align executives’ interests with the Company’s corporate strategies, business objectives and the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders;
•
Create incentives to achieve key strategic and corporate performance objectives; and
•
Enhance the executives’ incentive to increase the Company’s stock price and maximize stockholder value.
The following is a summary of important aspects of our executive compensation program discussed later in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis:
 
•
Key Elements of Our Compensation Program. Our compensation program is designed to achieve these objectives through a combination of the following types of compensation:
•
Base salary;
•
Annual variable performance bonus awards payable in cash;
•
Long-term stock-based incentive awards; and
•
Employee benefits and perquisites, including change in control severance arrangements.
Each element of our executive compensation program is discussed in greater detail below.
 
•
We Intend to Pay for Performance . The majority of our named executive officers’ total compensation as shown in our Summary Compensation Table below ties compensation directly to the achievement of corporate objectives, increases in our stock price or both. We emphasize pay for performance in order to align executive compensation with our business strategy and the creation of long-term shareholder value.
•
Our Compensation Program Supports Our Corporate Objectives and Stockholder Interests. Our compensation program is designed to align executive officer compensation with our corporate strategies, business objectives and the long-term interests of our stockholders by rewarding successful execution of our business plan and tying a portion of total compensation opportunities to equity incentives.

Overview of 2012 Performance
The compensation committee believes the executive compensation program is an important factor in driving our named executive officers’ performance to achieve sustainable profitability and stock price appreciation. Our Company’s fiscal year 2012 accomplishments, guided by our named executive officers, illustrate the success of this strategy, even in an uncertain economic environment, and included, among other things, the following:
 
 
•
Diversification of Captisol Supply Business: In 2011, the Company entered into multiple agreements to supply Captisol to a number of partners in the pharmaceutical field, including Vertex, MEI, GSK and J-Pharma.
•
Research and Development: In 2012, the Company completed and presented data on a number of early stage studies.
•
Restructuring Efforts: During 2012, the Company undertook various cost-cutting efforts, including the transition to a new, lower-cost facility and laboratory and an increase in usable tax assets from a major tax assets assessment, all of which will substantially reduce expenditures.
•
Additional Strategic Developments: During 2012, the Company established new business relationships and partnerships, streamlined Captisol operations, and further leveraged existing partners for operational and distribution services.
 

 


17

2012 Compensation Programs and Decisions
In line with our executive compensation program’s emphasis on pay for performance, compensation awarded to our named executive officers for 2012 reflected our financial results and overall compensation philosophy:
 
•
Base Salary Adjustments:  During 2012, our named executive officers received increases to their base salaries, representing the adjustments necessary to bring the base salaries into line with approximately the 50th percentile of the salary levels in effect for comparable executive positions at companies in our peer group;
•
Pay-for-Performance Annual Incentive Bonuses:  For 2012, our Company focused on certain key business development objectives and objectives related to the optimization of the Captisol business, business development and operational goals. Our compensation program for 2012 was designed to support the Company’s focus on these areas and together achievement in these areas represented 100% of our named executive officers’ total bonus opportunity. Corporate performance determines all of our named executive officers’ bonuses. The annual bonuses awarded to our named executive officers for 2012 are discussed below under “Annual Bonuses;” and
•
Equity-based Compensation:  Our compensation committee continued its practice of ensuring that a substantial portion of our named executive officers’ total compensation is awarded in the form of long-term equity incentive awards. As in year’s past, a large portion of the annual award was granted in the form of stock options, which provide value to our executives only if our stock price increases.
In light of the Company’s overall performance during 2012, the compensation committee believes that the named executive officers’ 2012 compensation was appropriate.
Response to 2012 Say on Pay Vote
In June 2012, we held a stockholder advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, commonly referred to as a say-on-pay vote. Our stockholders overwhelmingly approved the compensation of our named executive officers, with over 95% of stockholder votes cast in favor of our 2012 say-on-pay resolution (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes). As we evaluated our compensation practices and talent needs throughout 2012, we were mindful of the strong support our stockholders expressed for our compensation philosophy. As a result, following our annual review of our executive compensation philosophy, the compensation committee decided to generally retain our existing approach to executive compensation for our continuing executives, with an emphasis on short- and long-term incentive compensation that rewards our senior executives when they deliver value for our stockholders.
In addition, when determining how often to hold a stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation, the board of directors took into account the strong preference for an annual vote expressed by our stockholders at our 2012 annual meeting. Accordingly, the board of directors determined that we will hold an advisory stockholder vote on the compensation of our named executive officers every year until the next say-on-pay frequency vote.
The Role of the Compensation Committee and Executive Officers in Setting Compensation
The compensation committee has the primary authority to determine the Company’s compensation philosophy and to establish compensation for the Company’s executive officers. In determining each level of compensation and the total package, the compensation committee reviewed a variety of sources, to determine and set compensation.
The chief executive officer aids the compensation committee by providing annual recommendations regarding the compensation of all executive officers, other than himself. Each named executive officer and senior executive management team member, in turn, participates in an annual performance review with the chief executive officer to provide input about his contributions to the Company’s success for the period being assessed. The performance of our chief executive officer and senior executive management team as a group is reviewed annually by the compensation committee.
In 2012, the compensation committee retained Radford, an independent compensation consulting firm, to assist it in the formulation of the peer group used to determine executive equity compensation during 2012 and to advise regarding the determination of the other key elements of the executive compensation program. Radford reports to and is accountable to the compensation committee, and may not conduct any other work for us without the authorization of the compensation committee. Radford did not provide any services to us in 2012 beyond its engagement as an advisor to the compensation committee on compensation matters. After review and consultation with Radford, the compensation committee has determined that Radford is independent and there is no conflict of interest resulting from retaining Radford

18

currently or during the year ended December 31, 2012. In reaching these conclusions, the compensation committee considered the factors set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10C-1 and NASDAQ listing standards.
As in prior years, the compensation committee and the Company’s management also consulted several independent compensation surveys to assist them in determining market pay practices for compensating executive officers. These surveys were reviewed to compare the Company’s compensation levels to the market compensation levels, taking into consideration the other companies’ size, the industry, the individual executive’s level of responsibility and his years of experience. For 2012, the current executive salaries were benchmarked against the Radford Global Life Sciences Compensation Report using data from companies with 50-149 employees and the Biotech Employee Development Coalition (BEDC) Survey for San Diego-based public and private biotechnology companies with 50-149 employees. These surveys were used due to the competitiveness in hiring employees within the biotechnology industry as well as in our geographic location and we believe they represent the types of companies with which we compete for executive talent. With respect to the foregoing survey data, the identities of the individual companies included in the surveys were not provided to the compensation committee, and the compensation committee did not refer to individual compensation information for such companies. Instead, the compensation committee only referred to the statistical summaries of the compensation information for the companies included in such surveys.
Additionally, the compensation committee worked with Radford to confirm a peer group of companies in the United States for which compensation survey information can be provided to the compensation committee. This is necessary so the Company can offer compensation that is competitive within that group of companies. The peer group companies for 2012 compensations included Alkermes, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Columbia Laboratories, Depomed, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Exelixis, Incyte, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Nektar Therapeutics, PDL BioPharma, Santarus, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and Vical. The peer group revisions from the 2011 peer group were intended to ensure that the peer group more accurately reflects companies that are our peers in terms of our current business model and stage of development, including the number of programs maintained by the company and the importance of licensing to the company's business model.
The selected companies in our peer group are companies that fall within a reasonable range of comparison factors and/or that we may compete with for executive talent. In addition to the criteria for selection described above related to finding companies with similar business models and at a similar stage of development as Ligand, the other criteria used in the identification and selection of the peer group included business/labor market competitors in the biotechnology industry similar in size and complexity to us, companies with market values generally between $200 million and $3 billion and companies with products in comparable stages of development to our products. We also focused on companies with multiple product candidates, as opposed to single product companies. The peer group was not selected on the basis of executive compensation levels.
The peer group compensation data is limited to publicly available information and therefore does not provide precise comparisons by position as offered by more comprehensive survey data. The survey data, however, can be used to provide pooled compensation data for positions closely akin to those held by each named executive officer. In addition, the pool of senior executive talent from which the Company draws and against which it compares itself extends beyond the limited community of our immediate peer group and includes a wide range of other organizations in the communications sector outside of the Company’s traditional competitors, which range is represented by such surveys. As a result, the compensation committee uses peer group data on a limited basis to analyze the overall competitiveness of the Company’s compensation with its direct publicly traded peers in the United States and its general compensation philosophy, and, during 2012, to determine equity award levels for the named executive officers, but continues to primarily rely on industry survey data in determining actual executive compensation. For purposes of this compensation discussion and analysis, references to our “peer group” include both the peer group of companies listed above and the survey data reviewed by our compensation committee.
The compensation committee strives to target total compensation, as well as annual cash and long-term performance compensation to the median (i.e. 50th percentile) of executive officers performing similar job functions at companies in our peer group. However, we strongly believe in retaining the best talent among our senior executive management team and while we believe that comparisons to market data are a useful tool, we do not believe that it is appropriate to establish executive compensation levels based solely on a comparison to data from these companies. Therefore, the compensation committee may approve total compensation packages for senior executive management that vary from the peer group median based on several principal factors. Specifically, officers with relatively less overall experience, less tenure with the Company and/or lower performance ratings over several years will have total compensation set at or below the peer group median. Conversely, if an officer consistently receives favorable performance ratings over successive years, accumulates years of service and expertise with the Company and/or has significant other experience or responsibilities, his total compensation will typically be above the peer group median.

19

 
     In addition, the mix of compensation paid to our named executive officers is intended to ensure that total compensation reflects our overall success or failure and to motivate executive officers to meet appropriate performance measures. In determining each element of compensation for any given year, our compensation committee considers and determines each element individually and then review the resulting total compensation and determine whether it is reasonable and competitive. We do 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 compensation levels of our named executive officers reflect to a significant degree their varying roles and responsibilities. Mr. Higgins, in his role as chief executive officer, has the greatest level of responsibility among our named executive officers and, therefore, receives the highest level of pay. This is also consistent with the practices of the companies in our peer group and the summary compensation data included in the summaries of comparable companies reviewed by our compensation committee.
Base Compensation
As discussed above, the Company provides its named executive officers with a base salary that is structured around the median of base salaries offered by our peer group, but will vary from such level based on:
 
 
•
 
industry experience, knowledge and qualifications;
 
 
•
 
the salary levels in effect for comparable positions within the Company’s principal industry marketplace competitors; and
 
 
•
 
internal comparability considerations.
As a general matter, the base salary for each executive officer is initially established through negotiation at the time the officer is hired, taking into account the officer’s qualifications, experience, prior salary and competitive salary information. Increases in base salary from year to year are based upon the performance of the executive officers (other than the chief executive officer) as well as market positioning considerations, as assessed by the chief executive officer and approved by the compensation committee. The compensation committee assesses these factors with respect to the chief executive officer.
Our named executive officers received base salary increases in 2012 of 10%-14% from 2011 levels, representing the adjustments necessary to bring the base salaries into line with approximately the 50th percentile of the salary levels in effect for comparable executive positions at companies in our peer group. Increases were higher than 2011 levels based on market data comparisons to the peer group and performance. Mr. Higgins received a slightly higher increase than other executives. Mr. Higgins compensation was lower than the peer group and overall performance merited the higher percent. Mr. Foehr was hired the previous year and his salary was competitive within the peer group and therefore, his increase was lower than other executives.
Performance-Based Compensation
Annual Performance-Based Cash Compensation
It is the compensation committee’s objective to have a substantial portion of each named executive officer’s compensation contingent upon the Company’s performance. For our named executive officers, all of his or her annual bonus compensation is dependent on the Company’s performance relative to specified performance objectives.
 
The annual performance-based bonus program consists of a cash award if certain corporate performance objectives are satisfied. The Company sets annual incentive targets around a baseline, which is the median (i.e. 50th percentile) of annual incentives offered by our peer group. Under the Company’s program, the potential performance bonus for the chief executive officer is up to 75% of base salary, 50% of base salary for Mr. Foehr, and 40% of base salary for the other named executive officers.
In determining the performance compensation awarded to each named executive officer, the Company evaluates the Company’s performance in a number of areas. At the beginning of each year, our board of directors sets corporate objectives for the year. These objectives are set by the board of directors after considering management input and our overall strategic objectives. These objectives generally relate to factors such as strategic objectives, achievement of product development objectives, establishment of new collaborative arrangements and general operational goals.

20

Following the conclusion of each year, the compensation committee determines the level of achievement of the corporate objectives for each year relative to these corporate objectives. This achievement level is then applied to each named executive officer’s target bonus to determine that year’s total annual bonus. The Compensation Committee retains the discretion to reduce the final bonus payout to a named executive officer.
At the beginning of 2012, our board of directors, with input provided by our named executive officers, established our Company goals for the year. The compensation committee then reviewed and considered a proposed Company-wide (including named executive officers) bonus program in view of the Company goals, including the proportional emphasis to be placed on each objective annual bonus determination purposes.
The Company goals approved by the compensation committee for 2012 for purposes of annual bonus achievement included:
Goals Related to Optimization of Captisol Business (40% Weighting) 
•
Manage current business to maximize revenue by expanding existing relationships and entering into new contracts
•
Leverage manufacturing partner to further protect and expand the business
•
Enter into license for Melphalan or develop plan to launch product by end of 2014
•
Finalize plan to expand Captisol into non-pharma markets
Business Development Goals (35% Weighting) 
•
Develop and execute plan to acquire assets
•
Complete at least two licensing deals for internal programs
•
Develop relationships with venture capital and private equity firms for current and future deal-making in emerging markets
Operational Goals (25% Weighting) 
•
Effective research and development project management of HCV Nuc, Glucagon and Melphalan programs
•
Efficient and successful facility management
•
Achieve financial management and corporate communications objectives.
In evaluating management’s performance against our 2012 corporate objectives in January 2013, our compensation committee determined to award a corporate achievement level of 100% relative to those objectives. This determination was made in the discretion of the compensation committee after its review of our overall corporate performance relative to each of the objectives listed above. In general, quantitative objectives were not established for the corporate objectives during 2012. Instead these performance objectives were used as a guide by the compensation committee in determining overall corporate performance as they represented those areas in which the named executive officers and our employees generally were expected to focus their efforts.

With respect to the goals related to the optimization of our Captisol business, the compensation committee awarded full credit, for an achievement level of 45%, noting the entry into agreements to supply Captisol to a number of new partners, including Vertex, MEI, GSK and J-Pharma.
With respect to the business development goals, the compensation committee awarded full credit, for an achievement level of 35%, noting the initiation of a pivotal Melphalan trial, the completion of the glucagon studies and presentation of the data and the presentation of the Hep-Direct preclinical data.
With respect to the operational goals, which were entirely qualitative goals and not objectively determinable, the compensation committee determined an overall achievement level of 25% was appropriate given its subjective determination of the Company’s overall performance in this area during 2012. The compensation committee noted the Company’s smooth transition to a new, lower-cost facility and laboratory re-activation, the significant increase in industry analyst coverage, the conclusion of a major tax assets assessment resulting in a substantive increase in usable tax assets and the fact that the Company became profitable during 2012.
As a result of the foregoing determinations, all of our named executive officers other than Mr. Sharp received bonus awards equal to 100% of their target awards. Mr. Sharp’s award represented 35% of his base salary, or approximately 88%

21

of his target award. The compensation committee determined to pay Mr. Sharp’s bonus award at this level based on its subjective evaluation of his individual performance for 2012.
The actual bonus awards paid to our named executive officers are disclosed below in the table entitled “Summary Compensation Table.”
Long-Term Performance-Based Equity Incentive Program
In accordance with its philosophy, the Company’s longer-term performance-based compensation is based on equity ownership. The Company believes that equity ownership in the Company is important to tie the ultimate level of an executive officer’s compensation to the performance of the Company’s stock and stockholder gains while creating an incentive for sustained growth.
We generally provide equity compensation to our named executive officers through grants of stock options and restricted stock units. The grants are designed to align the interests of our named executive officers with those of the stockholders and provide each individual with a significant incentive to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business. The compensation committee views granting options and restricted stock unit awards as a retention device and therefore also reviews the status of vesting and number of vested verses unvested options and restricted stock unit awards at the time of grant. Guidelines for the number of stock options and restricted stock unit awards granted to each executive officer are determined using a procedure approved by the compensation committee based upon several factors, including the executive officer’s level of responsibility, salary grade, performance and the value of the stock option and restricted stock unit awards at the time of grant. With respect to our named executive officers, we generally make awards to such officers at the time of initial hire based on an evaluation of the foregoing factors. Additional grants, other than the annual awards to executives, may be made following a significant change in job responsibility or in recognition of a significant achievement. Annual awards are made to our named executive officers when such awards are deemed appropriate by the compensation committee based on an evaluation of the foregoing factors.
Stock options granted under the various stock plans generally have a four-year vesting schedule designed to provide an incentive for continued employment. The options generally expire ten years from the date of the grant. This provides a reasonable time frame during which executive officers and other employees who receive grants can benefit from the appreciation of the Company’s shares. The exercise price of options granted under our 2002 Plan, is equal to 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. Accordingly, the option will provide a return to the executive officer only if the market price of the shares appreciates over the option term. Restricted stock unit awards generally vest in equal installments over three years.
Equity incentive awards under the compensation programs discussed above are made at regular compensation committee meetings and at special meetings as needed. For example, a special meeting may be called if a regular meeting is cancelled or following the annual performance review process. The effective date for such grants is the date of such meeting. The Company may also make grants of equity incentive awards at the discretion of the compensation committee or the board of directors in connection with the hiring of new named executive officers and other employees.
In February 2012, the compensation committee approved aggregate awards of 200,000 stock options and 24,000 restricted stock units to our named executive officers (other than Dr. de Silva) pursuant to the Company’s 2002 Plan as part of our annual grant program as follows: John L. Higgins, 175,000 options and 18,000 restricted stock units; John P. Sharp, 35,000 options and 5,000 restricted stock units; Matthew W. Foehr, 60,000 options and 10,000 restricted stock units; and Charles S. Berkman, 25,000 options and 5,000 restricted stock units. The foregoing option awards are subject to the standard four year time-based vesting schedule described above and the foregoing restricted stock unit awards are subject to the standard three year time-based vesting schedule described above.
In February 2012, in connection with his commencement of employment, the compensation committee approved an award of 90,000 options and 10,000 restricted stock units to Dr. de Silva. The vesting of 75,000 of these options and the restricted stock units is consistent with the time-based vesting schedules described above. The remaining 15,000 options vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant.
The benchmark for the time-based equity grants to the named executive officers in 2012 was the 75th percentile level of equity awards for similar positions at our peer group companies, adjusted using the above factors and taking into consideration such equivalency factors as our number of shares outstanding and market capitalization, compared to the peer group companies. No other factors were considered by the compensation committee in determining the size of such awards and the awards actually granted to the named executive officers during 2012 were consistent with this pay positioning.

22

All of the equity awards granted to our named executive officers are disclosed below in the table entitled “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2012.”
Other Elements of Compensation and Perquisites
In order to attract, retain and pay market levels of compensation, we provide our named executive officers and other employees the following benefits and perquisites.
Medical Insurance.  The Company provides to each named executive officer, the named executive officer’s spouse and children such health, dental and vision insurance coverage as the Company may from time to time make available to its other executives of the same level of employment. The Company pays a portion of the premiums for this insurance for all employees.
Life and Disability Insurance.  The Company provides each named executive officer such disability and/or life insurance as the Company in its sole discretion may from time to time make available to its other executive employees of the same level of employment.
Defined Contribution Plan.  The Company and its designated affiliates offer the Section 401(k) Savings/Retirement Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), a tax-qualified retirement plan, to their eligible employees. The 401(k) Plan permits eligible employees to defer from 1% to 90% of their annual eligible compensation, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. The employees’ elective deferrals are immediately vested and non-forfeitable in the 401(k) Plan. In April 2007, the Company began to make matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan equal to $0.25 per each $1.00 contributed by an employee up to an annual maximum of $2,000 per year.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  The Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which qualifies under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, permits participants to purchase Company stock on favorable terms. Plan participants are granted a purchase right to acquire shares of common stock at a price that is 85% of the stock price on either the first day of the six month offering period or the stock price on the last day of the six month offering period, whichever is lower. The purchase dates occur on the last business days of December and June of each year. To pay for the shares, each participant may authorize periodic payroll deductions from 1% to 10% of his or her cash compensation, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. All payroll deductions collected from the participant in an offering period are automatically applied to the purchase of common stock on that offering period’s purchase date provided the participant remains an eligible employee and has not withdrawn from the employee stock purchase plan prior to that date.
Other.  The Company makes available certain other perquisites or fringe benefits to executive officers and other employees, such as tuition reimbursement, airline club dues, professional society dues and food and recreational fees incidental to official company functions, including board meetings. With the exception of Dr. de Silva, who received the relocation assistance outlined in the Summary Compensation Table below in connection with his commencement of employment, the aggregate of these other benefits was less than $10,000 for each executive officer in the last fiscal year.
Severance and Change in Control Arrangements
We believe that reasonable severance benefits for our named executive officers are important because it may be difficult for our executive officers to find comparable employment within a short period of time. We also believe that it is important to protect our named executive officers in the event of a change in control transaction involving us. In addition, it is our belief that the interests of stockholders will be best served if the interests of our senior management are aligned with them, and providing change in control benefits should eliminate, or at least reduce, the reluctance of senior management to pursue potential change in control transactions that may be in the best interests of stockholders. Accordingly, the severance arrangements we have entered into with each of our executive officers provide for severance benefits in specified circumstances, as well as benefits in connection with a change in control.
Change in Control Arrangements
The Company has a change in control severance agreement with each of the named executive officers. In the event a named executive officer’s employment is terminated by us without cause or he or she resigns for good reason within 24 months following a change in control of the Company, he or she will be eligible to receive a severance benefit equal to:
 

23

•
one times (two times for Mr. Higgins) the annual rate of base salary in effect for such officer at the time of involuntary termination; plus
•
one times (two times for Mr. Higgins) the greater of: (a) the maximum target bonus for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs; or (b) the maximum target bonus for the fiscal year in which the change in control occurs, if different; plus
•
twelve (twenty-four for Mr. Higgins) multiplied by the monthly premium the executive would be required to pay for continued health coverage for himself or herself and his or her eligible dependents.

The foregoing severance amount will be payable in a lump sum following the officer’s termination of employment.
 
 The change in control severance agreements also provide that all of a named executive officer’s outstanding stock awards will vest in the event of such a termination. In addition, the post-termination exercise period of a named executive officer’s stock options will be extended from three months to the date that is nine months following the date of termination (but in no event beyond the original expiration date of such options).
For purposes of the change in control severance agreements, an involuntary termination is either a termination of a named executive officer’s employment by us without cause or his resignation for good reason. “Cause” is generally defined as an officer’s conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, an officer’s willful and material breach of any obligation or duty under the employment agreement, the Company’s confidentiality and proprietary rights agreement or the Company’s written employment or other written policies that have previously been furnished to the officer, which breach is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof is received by the officer, if such breach is capable of cure, the officer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, including without limitation, fraud, dishonesty or embezzlement, in the performance of his duties, or the officer’s continuing failure or refusal to perform his assigned duties or to comply with reasonable directives of the board of directors that are consistent with the officer’s job duties (which directives are not in conflict with applicable law), which failure is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof is received by the officer.
For purposes of the change in control severance agreements, “good reason” is generally defined as a material diminution in the officer’s authority, duties or responsibilities, a material diminution in the officer’s base compensation, a material change in the geographic location at which the officer must perform his duties, or any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company or any successor or affiliate of its obligations to the officer under the employment agreement. An officer must provide written notice to the Company of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events or conditions without his written consent within 90 days of the occurrence of such event. The Company will have a period of 30 days to cure such event or condition after receipt of written notice of such event from the officer. Any voluntary termination of an officer’s employment for “good reason” must occur no later than the date that is six months following the initial occurrence of one of the foregoing events or conditions.
For purposes of the change in control severance agreements, a “change in control” has generally the same definition as given to such term under our 2002 Plan, as described below.
Amended and Restated Severance Plan
We maintain the Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Amended and Restated Severance Plan to provide severance payments to our employees and the employees of our subsidiaries upon an involuntary termination of employment without cause. Each of the named executive officers is eligible to participate in the severance plan, provided that he is not subject to disciplinary action or a formal performance improvement plan at the time of termination. However, if, as a result of his or her involuntary termination by us without “cause,” a named executive officer would be eligible to receive severance under any individual change in control severance agreement, employment agreement or other arrangement providing severance benefits, as approved by our board of directors or a committee thereof, such named executive officer will not be eligible for benefits under the severance plan.
Under the terms of the severance plan, a named executive officer will be eligible to receive (1) a lump sum payment in cash for fully earned but unpaid base salary and accrued but unused vacation through the date of termination, (2) an amount equal to his base salary for the severance period, which period will be equal to (a) two months plus (b) one week for each year of service as of the date of termination and (c) continued health coverage at the same cost as was in effect for the named executive officer at the date of termination throughout such severance period, provided that such named executive officer elects continued coverage under COBRA. The foregoing cash severance benefit will be payable in a lump sum following the officer’s termination of employment, subject to the officer’s execution of a general release of claims acceptable to us.

24

For purposes of the severance plan, “cause” is generally defined as an officer’s conviction of (or entry of a plea of no contest to) any felony or any other criminal act, an officer’s commission of any act of fraud or embezzlement, an officer’s unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or our subsidiaries, or an officer’s commission of any material violation of the Company’s policies, or an officer’s commission of any other intentional misconduct which adversely affects the business or affairs of the Company in a material manner.
Change in Control Acceleration of Equity Awards
Equity awards granted under the 2002 Plan to the named executive officers may be subject to accelerated vesting in the event of a “change in control.”
Option agreements under the 2002 Plan, which cover each of the named executive officers, provide that such options will automatically vest in the event of a “change in control” where the option is not assumed or replaced by a successor:
Under the 2002 stock incentive plan, a “change in control’ is generally defined as:
 
•
 
a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company in which 50% or more of its voting securities change ownership;
 
 
•
 
the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
 
 
•
 
a change in control of the Company effected through a successful tender offer for more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding common stock or through a change in the majority of our board of directors as a result of one or more contested elections for board membership.
Compensation Recovery Policy
Our board of directors maintains a policy that it will evaluate in appropriate circumstances whether to seek the reimbursement of certain compensation awards paid to an executive officer if such executive engages in misconduct that caused or partially caused a restatement of financial results, in accordance with section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. If circumstances warrant, we will seek to claw back appropriate portions of the executive officer’s compensation for the relevant period, as provided by law.
Policies Regarding Tax Deductibility of Compensation
Within its performance-based compensation program, the Company aims to compensate the named executive officers in a manner that is tax-effective for the Company without sacrificing the effectiveness of the incentive programs being offered to executive. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code restricts the ability of publicly held companies to take a federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to certain of their executive officers to the extent that compensation exceeds $1.0 million per covered officer in any fiscal year. However, this limitation does not apply to compensation that is “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The non-performance based compensation paid in cash to the Company’s executive officers for the 2012 fiscal year did not exceed the $1.0 million limit per officer, and the compensation committee does not anticipate that the non-performance based compensation to be paid in cash to the Company’s executive officers for fiscal 2013 will exceed that limit.

While we consider the tax deductibility of each element of executive compensation as a factor in our overall compensation program, the compensation committee, however, retains the discretion to approve compensation that may not qualify for the compensation deduction if, in light of all applicable circumstances, it would be in our best interest for such compensation to be paid without regard to whether it may be tax deductible 
Risk Assessment of Compensation Policies and Programs
In early 2013, management assessed our compensation policies and programs for all employees for purposes of determining the relationship of such policies and programs and the enterprise risks faced by the Company and presented its assessment to our compensation committee. Based on its assessment, management recommended, and the compensation committee, concluded, that none of our compensation policies or programs create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In connection with their review, management and the

25

compensation committee noted certain key attributes of our compensation policies and programs that help to reduce the likelihood of excessive risk taking, including:
•
The program design provides a balanced mix of cash and equity compensation, fixed and variable compensation and annual and long-term incentives.
•
Corporate performance objectives are designed to be consistent with the Company’s overall business plan and strategy, as approved by the Board of Directors.
•
The determination of executive incentive awards is based on a review of a variety of indicators of performance, reducing the risk associated with any single indicator of performance.
•
The Company’s equity awards generally vest over multi-year periods.
•
The Compensation Committee has the right to exercise negative discretion over executive incentive plan payments.
 


26

Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides information regarding the compensation earned by our named executive officers during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name and Principal Position
Year
Salary($)
Bonus
($)
Stock
Awards
($)(1)
Option
Awards
($)(1)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
All Other
Compensation
($)(3)
Total
 
John L. Higgins,
2012
$484,517
—

$260,460
$1,561,823
$363,388
$2,715
$2,672,903
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
2011
$423,850
—

$150,750
$738,128
$317,888
$2,540
$1,633,156
 
 
2010
$420,000
—

$124,500
$426,504
$223,650
$2,540
$1,197,194
 
Matthew W. Foehr,
2012
$359,625
—

$144,700
$535,482
$179,813
$2,540
$1,222,160
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
2011
$247,950
—

$249,250
$869,820
$123,959
$2,643
$1,493,622
 
John P. Sharp,
2012
$292,519
—

$72,350
$312,365
$102,382
$2,985
$782,601
 
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
2011
$265,007
—

$30,150
$192,555
$106,003
$3,284
$596,999
 
 
2010
$262,600
—

$29,880
$109,360
$74,578
$2,810
$479,228
 
Charles S. Berkman,
2012
$275,202
—

$72,350
$223,118
$110,081
$4,455
$685,206
 
Vice President and General Counsel
2011
$249,719
—

$30,150
$96,278
$99,888
$2,838
$478,873
 
 
2010
$247,450
—

$29,880
$109,360
$70,276
$2,534
$459,500
 

Nishan de Silva, M.D., M.B.A.,
2012
$246,269
—

$144,700
$803,223
$98,508
$39,067
$1,331,767
 
Vice President of Corporate Development
—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

 
 
(1)
 
Reflects the grant date fair value for stock and option awards granted in 2010, 2011 and 2012, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. With respect to stock and option awards with performance-based vesting conditions, the grant date fair value was adjusted for our assessment of the probability that performance conditions will be achieved. The assumptions used to calculate the value of stock and option awards are set forth under Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2013. The following table provides the full grant date fair values for all stock and option awards included in the Summary Compensation Table that were granted during 2011 with performance-based vesting conditions, assuming that the highest level of performance will be achieved in each case (no performance-based awards were granted during 2010 or 2012):
 
 
Name and Principal Position
Year
Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock Awards($)
Grant Date Fair Value
of Option Awards($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew W. Foehr,
2011
—
$244,050
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
 
 
 
(2)
 
Represents performance bonus awards under the management bonus plan earned in 2010, 2011 and 2012, but paid in the subsequent year.
(3)
 
Represents life insurance premiums paid by the Company and, for each year represented in the table and $2,000 in 401(k) matching funds paid by the Company for each named executive officer. For Dr. de Silva, also includes a $25,000 relocation payment, paid in a lump sum to Dr. de Silva in connection with his commencement of employment, and a payment of $11,550 to gross Dr. de Silva up for the taxes payable on such payment.


27

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2012
The following table summarizes plan-based awards granted to our named executive officers during the last fiscal year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)
 
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Name
Grant Date
Date of Board Action approving Award
Threshold ($)
Target ($)
Maximum ($)
 
Threshold ($)
Target ($)
Maximum ($)
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units (#)(2)
All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)(#3)
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh)
Closing Price on Grant Date ($/Sh)
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($) ($(4)
John L. Higgins
2/1/12
2/1/12
—
367,500
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
18,000
—
—
14.47
260,460
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
175,000
14.47
—
1,561,823
Matthew W. Foehr
2/1/12
2/1/12
—
180,000
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
10,000
—
—
14.47
144,700
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
60,000
14.47
—
535,482
John P. Sharp
2/1/12
2/1/12
—
118,000
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
5,000
—
—
14.47
72,350
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
35,000
14.47
—
312,365
Charles S. Berkman
2/1/12
2/1/12
—
111,000
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
5,000
—
—
14.47
72,350
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
25,000
14.47
—
223,118
Nishan de Silva
2/1/12
2/1/12
—
114,000
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
75,000
14.47
—
669,353
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
15,000 (5)
14.47
—
133,871
 
2/9/12
2/1/12
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
10,000
—
—
14.47
144,700
(1)
Cash bonus awards granted under our annual performance bonus program. Actual bonus amounts paid are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above.
(2)
The restricted stock unit awards granted to the named executive officers vest in equal installments over a three year period. For a description of the change in control provisions applicable to the foregoing equity awards, see “Severance and Change in Control Arrangements” above.
(3)
Except as described above, each option grant to the named executive officers vests 12.5% after six months from grant and the remainder in 42 equal monthly installments. For a description of the change in control provisions applicable to the foregoing equity awards, see “Severance and Change in Control Arrangements” above.
(4)
Represents the fair value of the stock option or stock award at the time of grant as determined in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used to calculate the value of stock and option awards are set forth under Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2013.
(5)
The option grant vests on the third anniversary of the date of grant. For a description of the change in control provisions applicable to the foregoing equity awards, see “Severance and Change in Control Arrangements” above.


28

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table provides information on all stock option awards and stock awards held by the named executive officers of the Company as of December 31, 2012. All outstanding equity awards are in shares of the Company’s common stock.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name(1)
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
($)
Option Expiration Date
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(3)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Unit 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
($)
John L. Higgins
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
47,999
—
—
21.00
2/22/2018
—
—
—
—
 
66,292
2,708
—
16.14
2/14/2019
—
—
—
—
 
46,042
18,958
—
9.96
2/14/2020
—
—
—
—
 
52,708
62,292
—
10.05
2/16/2021
—
—
—
—
 
36,458
138,542
—
14.47
2/8/2022
—
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
32,166
667,123
—
—
Matthew W. Foehr
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
91,667
58,333
—
9.97
4/17/2021
—
—
—
—
 
12,500
47,500
—
14.47
2/8/2022
—
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
26,666
553,053
—
—
John P. Sharp
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8,333
—
—
40.86
4/29/2017
—
—
—
—
 
14,499
—
—
21.00
2/22/2018
—
—
—
—
 
16,972
694
—
16.14
2/14/2019
—
—
—
—
 
11,805
4,861
—
9.96
2/14/2020
—
—
—
—
 
13,750
16,250
—
10.05
2/16/2021
—
—
—
—
 
7,292
27,708
—
14.47
2/8/2022
—
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
8,000
165,920
—
—
Charles S. Berkman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
999
—
—
73.08
12/10/2013
—
—
—
—
 
1,000
—
—
53.10
12/7/2015
—
—
—
—
 
3,333
—
—
40.86
4/29/2017
—
—
—
—
 
5,333
—
—
42.90
6/19/2017
—
—
—
—
 
14,499
—
—
21.00
2/22/2018
—
—
—
—
 
16,972
694
—
16.14
2/14/2019
—
—
—
—
 
11,805
4,861
—
9.96
2/14/2020
—
—
—
—
 
6,875
8,125
—
10.05
2/16/2021
—
—
—
—
 
5,208
19,792
—
14.47
2/8/2022
—
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
8,000
165,920
—
—
Nishan de Silva
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15,625
59,375
—
14.47
2/8/2022
—
—
—
—
 
 
15,000(4)
—
14.47
2/8/2012
—
—
—
—
 
—
—
—
—
—
10,000
207,400
—
—
 



29

(1)
Each option grant to the named executive officers has a ten year term from the date of grant. Except as described below, each option vests 12.5% after six months from grant and the remainder in 42 equal monthly installments. Exercise prices for awards granted prior to April 2007 reflect the $2.50 downward adjustment made to such exercise prices in April 2007 to reflect the Company’s one-time special cash dividend paid in April 2007. For a description of the change in control provisions applicable to the stock option awards, see “Severance and Change in Control Arrangements” above.
(2)
The restricted stock unit awards granted to the named executive officers vest in equal installments over a three year period. For a description of the change in control provisions applicable to the stock awards, see “Severance and Change in Control Arrangements” above.
The table above reflects the remaining unvested restricted stock units from the following grants of restricted stock units to the NEOs: Mr. Higgins, 12,500 restricted stock units granted on February 15, 2010, 15,000 restricted stock units granted on February 17, 2011, and 18,000 restricted stock units granted on February 9, 2012; Mr. Foehr, 25,000 restricted stock units granted on April 18, 2011, and 10,000 restricted stock units granted on February 9, 2012; Mr. Sharp, 3,000 restricted stock units granted on February 15, 2010, 3,000 restricted stock units granted on February 17, 2011, and 5,000 restricted stock units granted on February 9, 2012; Mr. Berkman, 3,000 restricted stock units granted on February 15, 2010, 3,000 restricted stock units granted on February 17, 2011, and 5,000 restricted stock units granted on February 9, 2012; and Dr. de Silva, 10,000 restricted stock units granted on February 9, 2012.

(3)
Computed by multiplying the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2012 by the number of shares of common stock subject to such award.
(4)
The option grant vests on the third anniversary of the date of grant.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested During Fiscal Year 2012
The following table provides information on stock option exercises and stock vesting in fiscal 2012 by the named executive officers of the Company.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option Awards
Stock Awards
Name
No. of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
Value Realized  Upon
Exercise
($)(1)
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
Value Realized  on
Vesting
($)(2)
John L. Higgins
—

—

13,333

200,395

Matthew W. Foehr
—

—

—

—

John P. Sharp
—

—

3,000

45,090

Charles S. Berkman
—

—

3,000

45,090

(1) The value realized upon exercise of stock options reflects the price at which shares acquired upon exercise of the stock options were sold or valued for income tax purposes, net of the exercise price for acquiring the shares.
(2) Computed by multiplying the closing market price of our restricted stock on the vesting date by the number of shares of restricted stock subject to such award vesting on the applicable vesting date.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The following table summarizes potential change in control and severance payments to each named executive officer. The three right-hand columns describe the payments that would apply in three different potential scenarios—a termination without cause prior to a change in control or more than 24 months following a change in control; a change in control without a termination of employment; or a termination of employment as a result of the named executive officer’s resignation for good reason or termination of employment by us other than for cause, in each case within 24 months following a change in control. The table assumes that the termination or change in control occurred on December 31, 2012. For purposes of estimating the value of accelerated equity awards to be received in the event of a termination of employment or change in control, we have assumed a price per share of our common stock of $20.74, which represents the closing market price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on December 31, 2012, the last trading day of 2012. All cash severance benefits will be paid in a lump sum.
 

30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name
 
Benefit
 
Termination
Without  Cause;
No Change of
Control
($)
 
Change of
Control;
No Termination
($)(1)
 
Termination Without
Cause or Resignation
for Good Reason
within 24 Months
Following a Change
of Control
($)(2)
 
John L. Higgins
 
Salary
 
980,000
 
—
 
98,000
 
 
 
Bonus
 
—
 
—
 
726,776
 
 
 
Option acceleration
 
—
 
—
 
1,751,384
 
 
 
Stock Award acceleration
 
—
 
518,500
 
518,500
 
 
 
Benefits continuation
 
5,341
 
—
 
19,837
 
 
 
Total value:
 
985,341
 
518,500
 
3,114,497
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew W. Foehr
 
Salary
 
360,000
 
—
 
360,000
 
 
 
Bonus
 
—
 
—
 
179,813
 
 
 
Option acceleration
 
—
 
—
 
926,071
 
 
 
Stock Award acceleration
 
—
 
435,519
 
435,519
 
 
 
Benefits continuation
 
3,659
 
—
 
19,027
 
 
 
Total value:
 
363,659
 
435,519
 
1,920,430
 
 
 
 
 
 
John P. Sharp
 
Salary
 
295,000
 
—
 
295,000
 
 
 
Bonus
 
—
 
—
 
117,008
 
 
 
Option acceleration
 
—
 
—
 
403,036
 
 
 
Stock Award acceleration
 
—
 
141,716
 
141,716
 
 
 
Benefits continuation
 
5,116
 
—
 
19,003
 
 
 
Total value:
 
300,116
 
141,716
 
975,763
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charles S. Berkman
 
Salary
 
277,500
 
—
 
277,500
 
 
 
Bonus
 
—
 
—
 
110,081
 
 
 
Option acceleration
 
—
 
 
 
266,546
 
 
 
Stock Award acceleration
 
—
 
141,716
 
141,716
 
 
 
Benefits continuation
 
7,630
 
—
 
19,837
 
 
 
Total value:
 
285,130
 
141,716
 
815,680
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nishan de Silva
 
Salary
 
285,000
 
—
 
285,000
 
 
 
Bonus
 
—
 
—
 
98,504
 
 
 
Option acceleration
 
—
 
—
 
466,331
 
 
 
Stock Award acceleration
 
—
 
241,953
 
241,953
 
 
 
Benefits continuation
 
—
 
—
 
—
 
 
 
Total value:
 
285,000
 
241,953
 
1,091,788
 
(1)
The 2002 Plan provides that options will vest in the event of a change in control and the options are not assumed or replaced by a successor. This disclosure assumes that the successor does not assume or replace the options.

31

(2)
The change in control severance agreements with each of our named executive officers provide that all of a named executive officer’s outstanding stock awards will vest in the event of such a termination.
Compensation of Directors
The following table provides information related to the compensation of each of our non-employee directors for fiscal 2012.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
Stock
Awards
($)(8)
Option
Awards
($)(8)
All Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Jason M. Aryeh(1)
14,000
81,658
56,939
—
152,597
Todd Davis(2)
12,000
81,658
56,939
—
150,597
David Knott(3)
38,500
59,154
56,939
—
154,593
John W. Kozarich(4)
24,000
81,658
56,939
—
162,597
Sunil Patel(5)
10,000
81,658
56,939
—
148,597
Stephen L. Sabba(6)
46,500
59,154
56,939
—
162,593
John L. LaMattina(7)
28,500
59,154
56,939
—
144,593
            
  
(1)
As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Aryeh held options to purchase 23,633 shares of our common stock and 2,925 unvested shares of restricted stock. During 2012, Mr. Aryeh received 6,517 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $81,658 and 7,335 stock options with a grant date fair value of $56,939.
(2)
As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Davis held options to purchase 23,003 shares of our common stock and 2,925 unvested shares of restricted stock. During 2012, Mr. Davis received 6,517 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $81,658 and 7,335 stock options with a grant date fair value of $56,939.
(3)
As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Knott held options to purchase 23,003 shares of our common stock and 2,925 unvested shares of restricted stock. During 2012, Mr. Knott received 4,721 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $59,154 and 7,335 stock options with a grant date fair value of $56,939.
(4)
As of December 31, 2012, Dr. Kozarich held options to purchase 26,371 shares of our common stock and 2,925 unvested shares of restricted stock. During 2012, Mr. Kozarich received 6,517 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $81,658 and 7,335 stock options with a grant date fair value of $56,939.
(5)
As of December 31, 2012, Mr. Patel held options to purchase 19,670 shares of our common stock and 2,925 unvested shares of restricted stock. During 2012, Mr. Patel received 6,517 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $81,658 and 7,335 stock options with a grant date fair value of $56,939.
(6)
As of December 31, 2012, Dr. Sabba held options to purchase 19,670 shares of our common stock and 2,925 unvested shares of restricted stock. During 2012, Dr. Sabba received 4,721 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $81,658 and 7,335 stock options with a grant date fair value of $56,939.
(7)
As of December 31, 2012, Dr. LaMattina held options to purchase 19,670 shares of our common stock and 2,925 unvested shares of restricted stock. During 2012, Dr. LaMattina received 4,721 restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $59,154 and 7,335 stock options with a grant date fair value of $56,939.
(8)
Reflects the grant date fair value for stock and option awards granted in 2012. The assumptions used to calculate the value of stock and option awards are set forth under Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2013.
Narrative to Director Compensation Table
Non-employee members of our board of directors are paid fees for their service as a director and are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with such service.

32

Under our director compensation policy adopted by our board of directors, each director is eligible to receive an annual retainer of $45,000. No meeting fees will be paid. In addition, the chairperson of the board will receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000, the chairperson of the audit committee will receive an annual retainer fee of $20,000, the chairperson of the compensation committee will receive an annual retainer of $12,000 and the chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committees will receive an annual retainer fee of $8,000. Members of the audit committee will receive an annual retainer of $10,000, members of the compensation committee will receive an annual retainer of $6,000 and members of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive an annual retainer of $4,000.
At each annual meeting, non-employee directors will automatically be granted 2,925  restricted stock units and 7,335 stock options. The foregoing awards will vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Upon initial election to the board of directors, each non-employee director will automatically be granted 1,666 shares of restricted stock and 5,000 stock options. The foregoing awards will vest in three equal annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. Additionally, the awards will vest in full in the event of a change in control or a hostile take-over, each as defined under our 2002 Plan. In addition, the director compensation policy contains an ownership guideline so that members of the board are required to own shares with a value of at least three times the then-current annual retainer after they have completed three years of board service.
Directors may elect to receive their retainers in cash or vested shares of our common stock, which shares will be issued under our 2002 Plan. While directors will continue to be able to elect to receive their retainers in cash or in vested shares of our common stock, until June 1, 2013, directors must elect to receive at least 50% of their retainers for such period in vested shares of our common stock.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Relationships and Independence of the Compensation Committee Members
During fiscal 2012, the compensation committee was composed of Messrs. Aryeh, Davis and Knott and Dr. LaMattina (who joined the compensation committee in February 2012 in connection with his election to the board). No executive officer of the Company served on the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity which has one or more executive officers serving as members of the Company’s board of directors or compensation committee.
Compensation Committee Report
The compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors has submitted the following report for inclusion in this proxy statement:
The compensation committee reviewed this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and discussed its contents with the Company’s management. Based on the review and discussions, the compensation committee has recommended to the board of directors that this Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2012.
This report of the compensation committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.
The foregoing report has been furnished by the compensation committee.
Todd C. Davis, Chairperson of the Compensation Committee
Jason M. Aryeh
David M. Knott
John L. LaMattina, Ph.D.
 
Audit Committee Report
The following is the report delivered by the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors with respect to the principal factors considered by such committee in its oversight of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the Company for 2012.
The audit committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the board of directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of

33

internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the audit committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Company’s annual report with management, including a discussion of any significant changes in the selection or application of accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements and the effect of any new accounting initiatives.
The audit committee reviewed and discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the audit committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees), as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) in Rule 3200T. In addition, the audit committee has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP their independence from management and the Company, has received from Grant Thornton LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3600T and has considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.
The audit committee met with Grant Thornton LLP to discuss the overall scope of their services, the results of their audit and reviews, its evaluation of the Company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. Grant Thornton LLP, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, also periodically updates the audit committee about new accounting developments and their potential impact on the Company’s reporting. The audit committee’s meetings with Grant Thornton LLP were held with and without management present. The audit committee is not employed by the Company, nor does it provide any expert assurance or professional certification regarding the Company’s financial statements. The audit committee relies, without independent verification, on the accuracy and integrity of the information provided, and representations made, by management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee has recommended to the Company’s board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in this proxy statement and in our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2012.
This report of the audit committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.
The foregoing report has been furnished by the audit committee.
Stephen L. Sabba, M.D., Chairperson of the Audit Committee
David M. Knott
Sunil Patel
 


34


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
We describe below transactions and series of similar transactions, since the beginning of fiscal year 2012, with respect to which we were a party, will be a party, or otherwise benefited, in which:
 
 
•
 
the amounts involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000; and
 
 
•
 
a director, nominee for director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our common stock or any member of their immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Pursuant to our audit committee charter, the audit committee of our board of directors is responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions with related parties. We have not adopted written procedures for review of, or standards for approval of, these transactions, but instead the audit committee of our board of directors intends to review such transactions on a case by case basis. In addition, the compensation committee of our board of directors and/or our board of directors will review approve all compensation-related policies involving our directors and executive officers.
Transactions with Related Parties
The severance arrangements we have entered into with each of our executive officers provide for severance benefits in specified circumstances, as well as benefits in connection with a change in control. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Severance and Change in Control Arrangements.”
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its directors and executive officers and may indemnify its other officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Company is also empowered under its amended and restated bylaws to enter into indemnification contracts with its directors and officers and to purchase insurance on behalf of any person whom it is required or permitted to indemnify. Pursuant to this provision, the Company has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its directors and officers.
In addition, the Company’s certificate of incorporation provides that to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Company’s directors will not be liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care to the Company and its stockholders. This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as an injunction or other forms of non-monetary relief would remain available under Delaware law. Each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Company, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law, for acts or omissions that the director believes to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or its stockholders, for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, for acts or omissions involving a reckless disregard for the director’s duty to the Company or its stockholders when the director was aware or should have been aware of a risk of serious injury to the Company or its stockholders, for acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of inattention that amounts to an abdication of the director’s duty to the Company or its stockholders, for improper transactions between the director and the Company and for improper distributions to stockholders and loans to directors and officers. This provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
All future transactions between the Company and its officers, directors, principal stockholders and affiliates will be approved by the audit committee or a majority of the independent and disinterested members of the board of directors.
 


35

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company, or written representations from certain reporting persons, we have determined that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were satisfied during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.


DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
The deadline for submitting a stockholder proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders is December 27, 2013. Stockholders wishing to submit proposals or director nominations that are not to be included in such proxy statement and proxy must also do so by December 27, 2013. Stockholders are advised to review our amended and restated bylaws, which contain additional requirements with respect to advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. Our current amended and restated bylaws are available at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov , or upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at the address listed below. Stockholder proposals should be directed to Corporate Secretary, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037.
In addition, the proxy solicited by the board of directors for the next annual meeting of stockholders will confer discretionary authority to vote on any stockholder proposal presented at that meeting, unless the Company receives notice of such proposal no later than a reasonable period of time prior to the mailing of proxy materials for such annual meeting.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Stockholders that received the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials can access this Proxy Statement and our fiscal 2012 Annual Report at http://www.envisionreports.com/LGND, which does not have “cookies” that identify visitors to the site. A copy of the Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the 2012 fiscal year has been mailed concurrently with this proxy statement to all stockholders that received a copy of the proxy materials in the mail. The Annual Report is not incorporated into this proxy statement and is not considered proxy solicitation material. Written requests for copies of our Annual Report to stockholders may also be directed to Corporate Secretary, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037.


SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation, including the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this proxy statement, the proxy and any additional solicitation material furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation material will be furnished to brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others so that they may forward this solicitation material to such beneficial owners. In addition, the Company may reimburse such persons for their costs of forwarding the solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. The original solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by solicitation by telephone, telegram or other means by directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company. No additional compensation

36

will be paid to directors, officers or employees of the Company for any such services. Except as described above, the Company does not presently intend to solicit proxies other than by internet.
 

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (such as brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially results in a reduced usage of natural resources and cost savings for companies.
A number of brokers with account holders who are our stockholders will be “householding” our proxy materials. A single proxy statement and one annual report will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. Any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered and who wishes to receive a separate copy of the documents can request a copy of the documents by sending a written request to Corporate Secretary, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037, or contact our Corporate Secretary at (858) 550-7500. Also, if, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report in the future, please notify your broker or direct your written request to Corporate Secretary, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA 92037, or contact our Corporate Secretary at (858) 550-7500. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the proxy statement at their address and would like to request “householding” of their communications should contact their broker.
OTHER BUSINESS
As of the date of this proxy statement, the board of directors knows of no other business that will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting. If other matters are properly brought before the annual meeting, however, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote the shares represented thereby on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
 
 
By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
/s/    CHARLES S. BERKMAN        
Charles S. Berkman
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
April 26, 2013
 

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