UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

o    Preliminary Proxy Statement
o    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ    Definitive Proxy Statement
o    Definitive Additional Materials
o    Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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þ    No fee required.
o    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

			(1	)		Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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			(5	)		Total fee paid:

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o		Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

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BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
2190 Parkway Lake Drive
Birmingham, AL 35244

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held April 30, 2009

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE
STOCKHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 30, 2009

 

BioCryst’s Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, Annual Report and other proxy

materials are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

 

To the Stockholders of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be held at The Summit Club, 1901 6th Avenue North, Suite 3100, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, for the following purposes:

 

1. To elect two directors to serve for a term of three years and until a successor is duly elected and shall be qualified;

 

2. To increase the number of shares available for issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan by 1,540,000 shares to 8,132,279;

 

3. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accountants; and

 

4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 6, 2009 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. The meeting may be adjourned from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting, and any business for which notice of the meeting is hereby given may be transacted at any such adjournment. A list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be open to examination by any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at the principal executive offices of the Company in Birmingham, Alabama.

 

A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 is enclosed, but is not filed or part of the proxy soliciting materials. Stockholders may obtain a copy of the Annual Report, the Proxy and the Proxy Statement by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address stated above or by visiting www.proxyvote.com.

 

Please review carefully the accompanying Proxy and Proxy Statement.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Alane P. Barnes, Corporate Secretary

 

Birmingham, Alabama

April 1, 2009

 

ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY. A POSTAGE PREPAID ENVELOPE IS PROVIDED FOR MAILING. A PERSON GIVING A PROXY HAS THE POWER TO REVOKE IT. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOUR PROXY WILL NOT BE COUNTED WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER UPON WHICH YOU VOTE IN PERSON.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2190 Parkway Lake Drive

BIRMINGHAM, AL 35244

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

General

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“BioCryst” or the “Company”) for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at The Summit Club, 1901 6th Avenue North, Suite 3100, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, and any adjournment thereof (the “Meeting”) and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy card are first being mailed to Stockholders on or about April 1, 2009.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on April 30, 2009. The Proxy Statement, the Proxy and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

Purpose of the Meeting

 

The matters to be considered at the Meeting are:

 

 

Revocation and Voting of Proxies

 

Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time prior to the voting thereof, by giving written notice to the Company or by voting in person at the Meeting. Attendance at the Meeting by itself will not revoke a proxy. All valid, unrevoked proxies will be voted as directed. In the absence of any contrary directions, proxies received by the Board will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for director of the Company, FOR the approval of an increase of the number of shares available for issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan, FOR the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for 2009 and, with respect to such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting, in the discretion of the appointed proxies.

 

Voting and Quorum

 

Only holders of record (the “Stockholders”) of our common stock (the “Common Stock”) as of the close of business on March 6, 2009 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. At March 6, 2009, there were 38,331,303 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters on which Stockholders may vote. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting. Shares of Common Stock represented by a properly executed and returned proxy will be treated as present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum without regard to whether the proxy is marked as casting a vote for or against or abstaining with respect to a particular matter. In addition, shares of Common Stock represented by “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares of

Common Stock held in record name by brokers, banks or other nominees as to which a proxy is received and (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote, (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power and (iii) the record holder had indicated that it does not have authority to vote such shares on that matter) generally will be treated as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.

 

Attending the Meeting

 

Stockholders as of the Record Date are invited to attend the Meeting. Stockholders must present a form of photo identification acceptable to the Company, such as a valid driver’s license or passport. Registered holders may vote upon presentation of identification. Beneficial owners must obtain a proxy from their broker, bank or other holder of record and present it to the inspector of election with their ballot. The Meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time. Please allow ample time for the check-in procedures. Media may attend the Meeting by invitation only.

 

Required Votes, Abstentions, and Broker Non-Votes

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the votes cast by Stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting is necessary to elect each of the nominees for director named in the Proxy Statement. Votes may be cast for or withheld from each nominee, but a withheld vote or a broker non-vote will not affect the outcome of the election of directors at the Meeting.

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and voting on the matter is necessary to approve (i) the increase of shares available under the Stock Incentive Plan and (ii) the ratification of our selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accountants. Abstentions with respect to these proposals will have the same effect as a vote against these proposals and broker non-votes will have no effect upon these proposals.

 

Proxy Solicitation

 

The proxy solicitation is being made primarily by mail, although proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone, internet, telegraph, letter, e-mail or otherwise. Certain of our directors, officers and other employees, without additional compensation, may participate in the solicitation of proxies. We will pay the cost of this solicitation, including the reasonable charges and expenses of brokerage firms and others who forward solicitation materials to beneficial owners of the Common Stock. We anticipate using Morrow & Co., LLC, 470 West Ave, Stamford, CT 06902 as a solicitor at an initial anticipated cost of $6,000.

 

 

It is proposed to elect two directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2012, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Proxies cannot be voted for more than two persons. It is intended that shares represented by the Board’s proxies will be voted FOR the election of the two persons listed for terms expiring in 2012:

 

NOMINEES FOR TERMS EXPIRING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IN 2012

 

The following persons shall continue to serve as directors for the terms indicated:

 

DIRECTORS WITH TERMS EXPIRING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IN 2010

 

 

DIRECTORS WITH TERMS EXPIRING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IN 2011

 

 

Dr. Randolph C. Steer has determined not to stand for re-election and therefore his term of office as a director will expire at the Meeting.

 

Below you can find information, including biographical information, about our nominees for director and directors whose terms continue after the Meeting.

 

Stephen R. Biggar, M.D., Ph.D. was appointed to the Board in October 2005. Dr. Biggar has served as a Partner at Baker Brothers Investments, a family of long-term investment funds for major university endowments and foundations, which is focused on publicly traded life sciences companies, since October 2006, served as Principal from April 2002 to October 2006 and served as an Associate from April 2000 to April 2002. Prior to joining Baker Brothers, Dr. Biggar received an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Stanford University. He attended the University of Rochester where he achieved a B.S. degree in Genetics. Dr. Biggar serves as a director of one private biotechnology company.

 

Zola P. Horovitz, Ph.D. was elected a Director in August 1994. Dr. Horovitz was Vice President of Business Development and Planning at Bristol-Myers Squibb from 1991 until his retirement in April 1994 and previously was Vice President of Licensing at the same company from 1990 to 1991. Prior to that, he spent over 30 years with The Squibb Institute for Medical Research, most recently as Vice President Research, Planning, & Scientific Liaison. He has been an independent consultant in pharmaceutical sciences and business development since his retirement from Bristol-Myers Squibb in April 1994. He serves as non executive Chairman on the Board of Directors of Avigen, Inc. and GenVec, Inc., and also serves on the Boards of Directors of Genaera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palatin Technologies, Inc., DOV Pharmaceuticals, NitroMed, Inc. and Immunicon Corporation.

 

John L. Higgins was elected a Director in May 2004. Mr. Higgins has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., a publicly traded biotech company, since January 2007 and has served as a director since February 2007. He was most recently Chief Financial Officer at the biotech company Connetics, since 1997, and also served as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Corporate Development since January 2002 until its acquisition by Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. in December 2006. Before joining Connetics, he was a member of the executive management team at BioCryst. Before joining BioCryst in 1994, Mr. Higgins was a member of the healthcare banking team of Dillon, Read & Co. Inc., an investment banking firm. Mr. Higgins is Chairman of Comentis, a private biotechnology company. He received his A.B. from Colgate University.

 

Beth C. Seidenberg, M.D. was appointed to the Board in December 2005. Dr. Seidenberg has served as Partner of Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers (“KPCB”), a venture capital firm, since May 2005. Prior to joining KPCB, Dr. Seidenberg served at Amgen Inc., a biotechnology company, as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Global Development from January 2002 to December 2004. She also served at

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a pharmaceutical company, as Senior Vice President, Global Development from September 2001 to January 2002, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development & Life Cycle Management from May 2000 to September 2001 and Vice President, Clinical Immunology/Pulmonary/Dermatology from April 2000 to May 2000 and at Merck/Merck Research Laboratories as Vice President, Pulmonary-Immunology from July 1998 to March 2000, Executive Director from March 1996 to June 1998, Senior Director from September 1993 to February 1996 and also served as both Director and Associate Director of Clinical Pharmacology from September 1991 to August 1993 and from June 1989 to August 1991, respectively. She received her M.D. from University of Miami; completed post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and specialty training in immunology and infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Seidenberg also has a B.S. degree in Biology and Anthropology from Barnard College. Dr. Seidenberg was appointed to the Board as a designee of KPCB under a Nomination and Observer Agreement with the Company dated December 16, 2005.

 

Stanley C. Erck was appointed to the Board in December 2008. From 2000 through 2008, Mr. Erck served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Iomai Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, leading the company through an initial public offering and a merger with Intercell AG, an Austrian vaccine company, and through the development of a late-stage infectious disease product candidate. Prior to Iomai, Mr. Erck served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Procept, a publicly traded immunology company; as Vice President, Corporate Development at Integrated Genetics (now Genzyme), and in management positions within Baxter International. Mr. Erck currently sits on the Board of Directors of MaxCyte, Inc. and MdBio Foundation. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

 

William W. Featheringill was elected a Director in May 1995. Mr. Featheringill is President, Chief Executive Officer and director, since 1973, of Private Capital Corporation, a venture capital company. He has served as Chairman of Electronic Healthcare Systems, Inc., a system solutions provider to the ambulatory care industry, since June 1995, and Momentum Business Solutions, Inc., a telecom and VoIP company, since May 2001. Mr. Featheringill is also a Director of Southern Research Institute. Mr. Featheringill received a BE in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, a J.D. degree from the Columbia University School of Law and a M.B.A. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

 

Jon P. Stonehouse joined BioCryst in January 2007 as Chief Executive Officer and Director. He was also named President in July 2007. Prior to joining the Company, he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Merck KGaA, a pharmaceutical company, since July 2002. His responsibilities included corporate mergers and acquisitions, global licensing and business development, corporate strategy and alliance management. In March of 2002, Mr. Stonehouse was appointed Vice President of Global Licensing and Business Development and Integration where he was responsible for the worldwide licensing and business development activities for the Ethical Pharmaceutical Division of Merck KGaA. Mr. Stonehouse joined EMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the US Ethical Pharma division for Merck KGaA) in December 1999 as Vice President, Licensing and Business Development — Strategy & Integration and IT. Prior to joining Merck KGaA, he held a variety of roles at Astra Merck/AstraZeneca including: Customer Unit Director, Director, Marketing & Sales — IT, National Sales Manager, National Sales Director — Managed Healthcare, and Product Director — Omeprazole (the world’s most widely prescribed prescription drug-at that time). Mr. Stonehouse started his career in the pharmaceutical industry as a Sales Representative, National Sales Trainer and District Sales Manager for Merck & Co., Inc. In November 2008, Mr. Stonehouse joined the Advisory Board of Precision Biosciences, Inc., a private biotechnology company. Mr. Stonehouse earned his BS in Microbiology at the University of Minnesota.

 

Should any nominee be unable or unwilling to accept election, it is expected that the proxies will vote for the election of such other person for the office of director as the Board may then recommend. The Board has no reason to believe that any of the persons named will be unable to serve or will decline to serve if elected.

Required Vote

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the votes cast by Stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting is necessary to elect each of the nominees for director named above.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR NAMED ABOVE.

 

 

We are asking our stockholders to approve an increase of 1,540,000 in the number of shares available for issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan, which would bring the total number of shares available under the Stock Incentive Plan to 8,132,279 as of March 27, 2009.

 

On February 4, 2009, our Board adopted the increase in the share reserve, subject to stockholder approval at this Meeting. Our Board believes that the increase is necessary to assure that a sufficient reserve of Common Stock remains available for issuance as equity awards. We use equity-based incentive compensation to attract and retain the services of key individuals essential to our long-term growth and financial success. We rely significantly on equity incentives in order to attract and retain key employees, consultants, and non-employee directors, and believe that such equity incentives are necessary for the Company to remain competitive in the marketplace for executive talent and for other key individuals.

 

The following is a summary of the principal features of the Stock Incentive Plan.

 

2009 Equity Incentive Programs

 

The Stock Incentive Plan consists of three separate equity incentive programs:

 

 

The principal features of each program are described below. The Compensation Committee of the Board will have the exclusive authority to administer the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Stock Issuance Program with respect to option grants and stock issuances made to the Company’s executive officers and non-employee Board members, and will also have the authority to make grants under those programs to all other eligible individuals. However, the Board may at any time appoint a secondary committee of one or more Board members to have separate but concurrent authority with the Compensation Committee to make option grants or stock issuances to individuals other than the Company’s executive officers and non-employee Board members, or the Board may retain such authority.

 

The term “plan administrator,” as used in this summary, will mean the Compensation Committee, any secondary committee, or the Board, to the extent each such entity is acting within the scope of its administrative jurisdiction under the Stock Incentive Plan. However, neither the Compensation Committee nor any secondary committee will exercise any administrative discretion under the Automatic Option Grant Program. All grants under that program will be made in strict compliance with the express provisions of such program.

 

Share Reserve

 

As of March 27, 2009, an aggregate of 11,040,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved for issuance over the term of the Stock Incentive Plan. The total number of shares available under the Stock Incentive Plan as of March 27, 2009 is 8,132,279. This amount includes: 6,427,447 shares reserved for awards

already issued; 164,832 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan; and the 1,540,000 share increase proposed under the terms of this proposal.

 

The shares of Common Stock issuable under the Stock Incentive Plan may be drawn from shares of our authorized but unissued Common Stock or from shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares repurchased on the open market.

 

No individual may receive options or stock issuances over the term of the Stock Incentive Plan exceeding 1,500,000 shares in the aggregate.

 

In the event any change is made to the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change in corporate structure effected without our receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments will be made to the securities issuable (in the aggregate and per participant) under the Stock Incentive Plan and the securities in effect under each outstanding option and stock issuance and, where applicable, the option exercise price per share.

 

Eligibility

 

Officers and employees, non-employee Board members and independent consultants in the service of the Company or its parents or subsidiaries (whether now existing or subsequently established) will be eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Stock Issuance Program. Non-employee members of the Board will also be eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program.

 

As of March 27, 2009, six executive officers, seven non-employee Board members and approximately 82 other employees and consultants were eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Stock Issuance Program. The seven non-employee Board members were also eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program.

 

Valuation

 

The fair market value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date under the Stock Incentive Plan will be deemed to be equal to the closing selling price per share on that date on the Nasdaq Global Market. On March 6, 2009, the fair market value per share determined on such basis was $1.19.

 

Discretionary Option Grant Program

 

Terms of Options

 

The Plan Administrator will have complete discretion under the Discretionary Option Grant Program to determine which eligible individuals are to receive option grants, the time or times when those grants are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such grant, the status of any granted option as either an incentive stock option or a non-statutory option under the federal tax laws, the vesting schedule (if any) to be in effect for the option grant and the maximum term for which any granted option is to remain outstanding.

 

Each granted option will have an exercise price per share no less than the fair market value of the option shares on the grant date. No granted option will have a term in excess of ten years, and the option will generally become exercisable in one or more installments over a specified period of service measured from the grant date. However, one or more options may be structured so that they will be immediately exercisable for any or all of the option shares; the shares acquired under those options will be subject to repurchase by the Company, at the exercise price paid per share, if the optionee ceases service with the Company prior to vesting in those shares.

 

Upon cessation of service, the optionee will have a limited period of time in which to exercise any outstanding option to the extent exercisable for vested shares. The Plan Administrator will have complete discretion to extend the period following the optionee’s cessation of service during which his or her outstanding options may be exercised and/or to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of such options in

whole or in part. Such discretion may be exercised at any time while the options remain outstanding, whether before or after the optionee’s actual cessation of service.

 

Upon the optionee’s cessation of service as a result of death after at least five years of service, all of the optionee’s outstanding options will accelerate and become exercisable in full.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

The Plan Administrator is authorized to issue tandem stock appreciation rights in connection with option grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. The grant price of a stock appreciation right may not be less than the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of the grant.

 

Tandem stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Option Grant Program provide the holder with the right to surrender an option for an appreciation distribution from the Company. The amount of such distribution will be equal to the excess of:

 

(i) the fair market value of the vested shares of Common Stock subject to the surrendered option, over

 

(ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares.

 

Such appreciation distribution may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be made in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof.

 

Stock Issuance Program

 

Shares may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program at a price per share not less than their fair market value, payable in cash. Shares may also be issued as consideration for services rendered without any cash outlay required from the recipient. The shares issued may be fully and immediately vested upon issuance or may vest upon the completion of a designated service period or the attainment of pre-established performance goals. To the extent a participant ceases service without completing the designated service period or performance goals, the Company has the right to repurchase the shares at the price paid, if any. However, the Plan Administrator has the discretionary authority at any time to accelerate the vesting of any and all unvested shares outstanding under the program. Share recipients shall have full stockholder rights with respect to their shares, including the right to vote the shares and to receive regular cash dividends.

 

Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the program pursuant to share right awards that entitle the recipient to receive shares upon the attainment of designated service or performance goals. Outstanding share right awards under the program will automatically terminate, and no shares of Common Stock will actually be issued in satisfaction of those awards, if the service or performance goals established for such awards are not attained. The Plan Administrator, however, has the discretionary authority to issue shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of one or more outstanding share right awards as to which the service or designated performance goals are not attained. Share right award holders do not have stockholder rights with respect to such awards; however, the Plan Administrator may grant dividend equivalents entitling the holder of such awards to regular cash dividends payable on the underlying shares. Dividend equivalents are subject to the same vesting schedule and payable at the same time as the shares underlying the share right award.

 

The Plan Administrator has complete discretion under the program to determine which eligible individuals are to receive stock issuances or share right awards, the time or times when those issuances or awards are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such issuance or award, the extent to which a share right award shall have an accompanying dividend equivalent, and the vesting schedule to be in effect for the stock issuance or share right award.

Automatic Option Grant Program

 

Terms of Options

 

Under the Automatic Option Grant Program, eligible non-employee Board members, including Board members who are former employees of the Company, will receive a series of option grants over their period of Board service. Each non-employee Board member will, at the time of his or her initial election or appointment to the Board or upon continuing to serve as a Board member after ceasing to be employed by the Company, receive an option grant for up to 20,000 shares of Common Stock. The amount of the initial grant shall be determined by multiplying:

 

(i) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months remaining between the date the Board member first became a non-employee Board member and the date of the next Annual Meeting and the denominator of which is 12, by

 

(ii) 20,000 shares of Common Stock.

 

In addition, each year on the date of the Meeting each individual who is to continue to serve as a non-employee Board member will automatically be granted an additional option to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock. Other than the 1,500,000 share aggregate limit to any participant in the Stock Incentive Plan, there will be no limit on the number of such 15,000 share option grants any one eligible non-employee Board member may receive over his or her period of continued Board service.

 

Each automatic grant will have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the grant date and will have a term of ten years. Each initial automatic option grant shall vest over the period to the Meeting immediately following the grant with a pro rata portion of the grant vesting at the end of each calendar month during the period and with the final portion of the grant vesting on the date of the Annual Meeting. Each annual automatic option grant shall vest and become exercisable for 1/12th of the option shares upon the optionee’s completion of each month of Board service over the 12 month period measured from the automatic grant date. With respect to both the initial automatic option grant and the annual automatic option grant, vesting shall cease and options shall not become exercisable for any additional option shares following the optionee’s cessation of Board service for any reason. Following an optionee’s cessation of Board service for any reason, each option vested at the time of cessation of Board service will remain exercisable by the optionee (or after the optionee’s death, his estate or heirs) for the remainder of the ten year term of that option.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

The terms of the Automatic Option Grant Program provide that options shall have one of two different stock appreciation rights, depending on the date on which the option is granted. In either case, however, the grant price of the stock appreciation right may not be less than the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of the grant.

 

Each option granted under the Automatic Option Grant Program prior to March 7, 2006 includes a limited stock appreciation right such that, upon the successful completion of a hostile tender offer for more than fifty percent of our outstanding voting securities or a change in a majority of the Board as a result of one or more contested elections for Board membership, the option may be surrendered to the Company in return for a cash distribution from the Company. The amount of the distribution per surrendered option share will be equal to the excess of:

 

(i) the fair market value per share at the time the option is surrendered, over

 

(ii) the exercise price payable per share under such option.

Each option granted under the Automatic Option Grant Program on or after March 7, 2006 contains a tandem stock appreciation right that gives the holder the right to surrender the option for an appreciation distribution from the Company. The amount of such distribution will be equal to the excess of:

 

(i) the fair market value of the vested shares of Common Stock subject to the surrendered option, over

 

(ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares.

 

To prohibit discretion, the terms of the tandem stock appreciation right provide that the appreciation distribution must be made in shares of Common Stock.

 

General Provisions

 

Acceleration

 

In the event that the Company is acquired by merger or asset sale or otherwise undergoes a change in control (including a change effected through the successful completion of a tender offer for more than 50% of our outstanding voting stock or a change in the majority of the Board effected through one or more contested elections for Board membership), except as set forth in the terms of the grant, the vesting of each outstanding option under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Automatic Option Grant Program, and the vesting of each share right award under the Stock Issuance Program, shall automatically accelerate in full. However, the Plan Administrator generally may impose terms and conditions at the time of grant that prevent this automatic acceleration.

 

In addition, and except as provided in the terms of any stock issuance, all outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance Program will terminate upon a merger, asset sale or other change in control, and all underlying shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program will immediately vest, except to the extent the Company’s repurchase rights with respect to those shares are to be assigned to a successor corporation or otherwise continued in effect pursuant to the terms of a merger or asset sale.

 

The acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in the ownership or control of the Company may be seen as an anti-takeover provision and may have the effect of discouraging a merger proposal, a takeover attempt or other efforts to gain control of the Company.

 

Special Tax Election

 

The Plan Administrator may provide one or more participants in the Discretionary Option Grant Program and Stock Issuance Program with the right to have us withhold a portion of the shares otherwise issuable to such participants in satisfaction of applicable withholding taxes that attach upon the exercise of options or the vesting of stock issuances or share right awards. Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may allow participants to deliver previously acquired shares of Common Stock in payment of such withholding tax liability.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

The Board may amend or modify the Stock Incentive Plan at any time, subject to any required stockholder approval pursuant to applicable laws and regulations (including applicable Nasdaq Global Market rules). Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Stock Incentive Plan will terminate on the earliest of:

 

(i) March 6, 2016 (but any options, stock issuances or other awards outstanding on such date shall remain in effect in accordance with their terms);

 

(ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan have been issued as fully-vested shares; or

 

(iii) the termination of all outstanding options and stock issuances in connection with certain changes in control or ownership of the Company.

New Plan Benefits

 

Awards to our executive officers during 2008 are reflected below under the heading “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2008.” Each of the non-employee Board members will receive an annual automatic option grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program immediately following the Meeting. The following tabulation reflects the awards granted or expected to be granted to the following persons for 2009 under the Stock Incentive Plan:

 

 

 

 

As of March 27, 2009, 6,592,279 shares of Common Stock remained available for future issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan, which includes 6,427,447 shares reserved for awards already issued and 164,832 shares for awards available for issuance, but excludes the increase of 1,540,000 shares of Common Stock included in the proposal. The weighted average exercise price of the 6,427,447 shares reserved for awards already issued is $6.99 and the weighted average remaining contractual life is 7.2 years.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Information regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, which does not give effect to the increase of 1,540,000 shares of Common Stock included in the proposal, is as follows:

 

 

 

 

Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

Option Grants

 

Options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan may be either incentive stock options which satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or non-statutory options which are not intended to meet such requirements. The federal income tax treatment for the two types of options differs as follows:

 

Incentive Options.  No taxable income is recognized by the optionee at the time of the option grant, and no taxable income is generally recognized at the time the option is exercised. The optionee will, however, recognize taxable income in the year in which the purchased shares are sold or otherwise transferred. For federal tax purposes, dispositions are divided into two categories: (i) qualifying and (ii) disqualifying. A qualifying disposition occurs if the sale or other disposition is made after the optionee has held the shares for more than two years after the option grant date and more than one year after the exercise date. If either of these two holding periods is not satisfied, then a disqualifying disposition will result. If the optionee makes a qualifying disposition, the taxable income recognized by the optionee will be treated as a long-term capital gain and we will not be entitled to an income tax deduction. If the optionee makes a disqualifying disposition of the purchased shares, then for the taxable year in which such disposition occurs, the optionee will recognize ordinary income, and we will be entitled to an income tax deduction, in an amount generally equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of such shares on the option exercise date over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares.

Non-Statutory Options.  No taxable income is recognized by an optionee upon the grant of a non-statutory option. The optionee will in general recognize ordinary income in the year in which the option is exercised, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over the exercise price paid for the shares.

 

If the shares acquired upon exercise of the non-statutory option are unvested and subject to repurchase by the Company in the event of the optionee’s termination of service prior to vesting, then the optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time of exercise but will have to report as ordinary income, as and when our repurchase right lapses, an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the shares on the date the repurchase right lapses over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares. The optionee may, however, elect under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to include as ordinary income in the year of exercise of the option an amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over (ii) the exercise price paid for such shares. If the Section 83(b) election is made, the optionee will not recognize any additional income as and when the repurchase right lapses.

 

We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee with respect to the exercised non-statutory option. The deduction will in general be allowed for the taxable year of the Company in which such ordinary income is recognized by the optionee.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

No taxable income is recognized upon receipt of a stock appreciation right. The holder will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the stock appreciation right is exercised, in an amount equal to the appreciation distribution. We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the appreciation distribution in the taxable year in which the ordinary income is recognized by the optionee.

 

Stock Issuances

 

Generally, the issuance of unvested stock will not result in taxable income to the employee. Instead, upon vesting, the fair market value of such shares, less cash or other consideration paid (if any), will be included in the participant’s ordinary income as compensation. Any cash dividends or other distributions paid with respect to the stock prior to vesting will also be included in the holder’s ordinary income as compensation when paid. The participant may however, elect under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, to include in his ordinary income at the time the stock is issued the fair market value of such shares less any amount paid. Any cash dividends paid thereafter will be treated as dividend income.

 

We will be entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant with respect to the stock issuance. The deduction will in general be allowed for the taxable year of the Company in which such ordinary income is recognized by the participant.

 

Share Rights Awards

 

No taxable income is recognized by a participant upon grant of a share right award. The participant will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the share right award vests and the underlying stock is issued to the participant, in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance. Any cash or other property paid with respect to such shares on the vesting date will also be includible in the participant’s ordinary income as compensation at the time of payment. A participant may not make an 83(b) election with respect to a share right award. We will be entitled to an income tax deduction to the extent the participant recognizes ordinary income with respect to a share right award. The deduction will in general be allowed for the taxable year of the Company in which such ordinary income is recognized by the participant.

 

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

 

We anticipate that any compensation deemed paid by the Company in connection with the disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock option shares or the exercise of non-statutory options with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the option shares on the grant date will qualify as performance-based compensation

for purposes of Code Section 162(m) and will not have to be taken into account for purposes of the $1 million limitation per covered individual on the deductibility of the compensation paid to certain of our executive officers. Accordingly, all compensation deemed paid with respect to those options will remain deductible by the Company without limitation under Code Section 162(m). Compensation attributable to stock issuances or share right awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan may or may not qualify for the performance-based compensation exception, depending upon the specific terms of each grant.

 

Required Vote

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and voting on the matter is necessary to approve the amendment to the Stock Incentive Plan. Accordingly, abstentions with respect to the proposal to approve the amended Stock Incentive Plan will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to approve the amended Stock Incentive Plan. Broker non-votes will have no effect upon the proposal.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS THE APPROVAL OF THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.

 

 

The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. Services provided to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP in fiscal 2008 are described below.

 

The Company is asking its stockholders to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as its independent registered public accountants. Although ratification is not required by the Company’s Bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to its stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice.

 

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make such statements as they may desire.

 

Audit Fees

 

In connection with the audit of the 2008 financial statements, the Company entered into an engagement agreement with Ernst & Young LLP which set forth the terms by which Ernst & Young LLP will perform audit services for the Company. That agreement is subject to alternative dispute resolution procedures and an exclusion of punitive damages.

 

Set forth below is information relating to the aggregate fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

 

It is the policy of the Audit Committee, as set forth in the Audit Committee Charter, to pre-approve, consistent with the requirements of the federal securities laws, all auditing services and non-audit services provided to the Company by its independent registered public accounting firm, other than such non-audit

services as are prohibited by law to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm and other than as provided in the de minimis exception set forth in applicable provisions of the federal securities laws. The Committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Committee the authority to grant the required pre-approvals, provided that the decisions of any member(s) to whom such authority is delegated to pre-approve an activity shall be presented to the full Committee at each of its scheduled meetings.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR FISCAL 2009.

 

In the event that the Company’s stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the appointment will be reconsidered by the Audit Committee and the Board. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

The Company is governed by a Board of Directors, which currently consists of eight directors as determined by resolution of the Board in accordance with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. The Board has determined that seven of the eight current members of the Board (Biggar, Erck, Featheringill, Higgins, Horovitz, Seidenberg, and Steer) are independent as defined by the Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

 

The Board has appointed Dr. Horovitz as the Chairman of the Board and as such he presides over the Board meetings and any executive session of the non-management directors. During 2008, there were four executive sessions held by the independent board members.

 

The Board has established the Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance and Nominating committees to assist in the oversight of the Company. The Board has adopted charters for each of these committees, which are posted on the Company’s website at www.biocryst.com. The Company also makes available at its website its code of business conduct, which applies to all employees of the Company as well as the members of the Board of Directors. The Company intends to post on its website any amendments to, or waivers from, its code of business conduct. Printed copies of these charters or the code of business conduct may be obtained, without charge, by contacting the Corporate Secretary, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2190 Parkway Lake Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35244.

 

Committees of the Board

 

Audit Committee

 

The Company has an Audit Committee, currently consisting of Mr. Higgins and Drs. Steer and Horovitz, which is responsible for the review of internal accounting controls, financial reporting and related matters. The Audit Committee also recommends to the Board the independent accountants selected to be the Company’s auditors and reviews the audit plan, financial statements and audit results. The Board has adopted an Audit Committee Charter, available on the Company’s website, that meets all applicable rules of Nasdaq and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Audit Committee members are “independent” directors as defined by Nasdaq and the SEC and meet Nasdaq’s financial literacy requirements for audit committee members. The Board has determined that Mr. Higgins qualifies as the “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined by the SEC. The Audit Committee met four times during 2008.

Compensation Committee

 

The Company has a Compensation Committee, currently consisting of Drs. Seidenberg and Biggar and Mr. Featheringill. The Compensation Committee is responsible for the annual review of officer compensation and other incentive programs. The Board has adopted a Compensation Committee Charter, available on the Company’s website, that meets all applicable rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. The Compensation Committee members are “independent” directors as defined by Nasdaq. The Compensation Committee held two meetings during 2008.

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

 

The Company has a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consisting of Drs. Biggar, Seidenberg and Steer. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee selects persons for election or re-election as directors and provides oversight of the corporate governance affairs and policies of the Board of Directors and the Company. The Board has adopted a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, available on the Company’s website, that meets all applicable rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee members are “independent” directors as defined by Nasdaq. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held two meetings during 2008.

 

Selection of Board Nominees

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and other Board members, as well as management and stockholders. The Committee has established a procedure for submission of nominees by stockholders and will consider nominees recommended in writing, including biographical information and personal references. All submissions by stockholders should be sent directly to the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Zola P. Horovitz, at 2190 Parkway Lake Drive, Birmingham, Alabama, 35244. Suggestions of candidates for election at the 2010 Annual Meeting must be received by the Chairman no earlier than December 31, 2009 and no later than January 31, 2010. The Chairman will provide copies of all submissions to the Committee for their consideration.

 

The Committee reviews all submissions and evaluates them based on predetermined selection criteria to identify prospective nominees. Once the Committee has identified a prospective nominee, the Committee makes an initial determination as to whether to conduct a full evaluation of the candidate. This initial determination is based on whatever information is provided to the Committee with the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the Committee’s own knowledge of the prospective candidate, which may be supplemented by inquiries to the person making the recommendation or to others. The preliminary determination is based primarily on the need for additional Board members to fill vacancies or expand the size of the Board and the likelihood that the prospective nominee can satisfy the evaluation factors described below. If the Committee determines, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and other Board members as appropriate, that additional consideration is warranted, it may request additional information about the prospective nominee’s background and experience. The Committee then evaluates the prospective nominee against our director selection criteria, including:

 

 

The Committee also considers such other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the balance of management and independent directors, the need for Audit

Committee expertise and the evaluations of other prospective nominees. In connection with this evaluation, the Committee determines whether to interview the prospective nominee, and if warranted, one or more members of the Committee, and others as appropriate, interview prospective nominees in person or by telephone. After completing this evaluation and interview, the Committee selects the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders. The Company engaged Spencer Stuart & Associates in late 2008 to identify potential nominees, and that firm assisted the Company in recruiting Mr. Erck, who was appointed to the Board in December 2008.

 

Stockholder Communications

 

Stockholders interested in communicating directly with the Board, or specified individual directors, may do so by writing the Corporate Secretary, 2190 Parkway Lake Drive, Birmingham, Alabama, 35244. The Secretary will review all such correspondence and will regularly forward to the Board copies of all such correspondence that, in the opinion of the Secretary, relates to the functions of the Board or its committees or that the Secretary otherwise determines requires their attention. Directors may at any time review a log of all correspondence received by the Company that is addressed to members of the Board and request copies of such correspondence. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will immediately be brought to the attention of the Chairman of the Audit Committee and handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee with respect to such matters.

 

Director Attendance

 

During 2008, the Board held six meetings. Each member of the Board attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and committees of the Board of which he or she is a member, except that Mr. Steer attended three of six meetings of the Board, four of four meetings of the Audit Committee and two of three meetings of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. We encourage all members of the Board to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Four members of the Board of Directors were in attendance at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

During 2008, there were no relationships or related transactions requiring disclosure between the Company and any of its directors, executive officers or five percent stockholders. The Audit Committee Charter requires all related party transactions to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

 

Below you can find information, including biographical information, about our executive officers (other than Mr. Stonehouse, whose biographical information appears above).

 

 

Stuart Grant joined BioCryst in August 2007 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Grant was most recently Chief Financial Officer of The Serono Group from November 2004 to April 2007. From April 2007 to August 2007, Mr. Grant was on a planned three month sabbatical after the integration of The Serono Group into Merck following the successful sale of the company. From April 2002 to November 2004, Mr. Grant served as Chief Financial Officer of Serono USA and from January 1999 to April 2002 as Vice President Corporate Finance of The Serono Group. Prior to 1999, Mr. Grant held other positions within The Serono Group, including General Manager Laboratories Serono SA and Finance Director Laboratories

Serono SA. He has also held various senior finance positions in the electronics industry in various European locations. Mr. Stuart received a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Glasgow and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

 

Yarlagadda S. Babu, Ph.D., joined BioCryst in 1988 and was BioCryst’s first full-time employee. Dr. Babu has served as the Company’s Vice President — Drug Discovery since 1992. Prior to joining BioCryst, he served five years on the biochemistry faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

 

David S. McCullough joined BioCryst in April 2007.  Prior to joining BioCryst, Mr. McCullough served as Director, Global Corporate Development in the Ethical Pharmaceuticals Division at Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany from February 2002 to April 2007. In that position he was responsible for leading the company’s efforts in evaluating the commercial value of specific product opportunities and in the case of the Serono SA acquisition, their entire company portfolio. Mr. McCullough led the commercial assessment of strategic and financial attractiveness of over 40 companies in oncology and other therapeutic areas. From June 1995 to January 2002, Mr. McCullough was an integral part of the Business Operations and Market Research Team in the Oncology Business Unit of Eli Lilly and Company. Mr. McCullough received his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Illinois University.

 

J. Michael Mills joined BioCryst in January 2005 as Controller. Effective January 2009, he was also named the Company’s Principal Accounting Officer. As Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, he is responsible for the Company’s external and internal financial reporting, accounting policy and systems, and internal controls. From September 2003 through January 2005, Mr. Mills served as a division controller with Compass Bank. He began his career in September 1997 with Ernst & Young LLP, providing accounting and auditing services to a variety of clients. Mr. Mills served as Manager with Ernst & Young LLP from October 2002 through August 2003. Mr. Mills is a Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”) and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Alabama Society of CPAs.

 

William P. Sheridan joined BioCryst as Chief Medical Officer effective as of July 1, 2008. Dr. Sheridan’s spent 15 years in drug development at Amgen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. before joining the Company, most recently as Vice President of North American Medical Affairs from March 2007 to November 2007. Dr. Sheridan organized and led Amgen’s US Medical Affairs function, making significant contributions to the successful launch of many compounds, including Aranesp^®, Enbrel^®, Kineret^®, Neulasta^® and Sensipar^®. In addition to his most recent position at Amgen, Dr. Sheridan held titles at the Vice President level in International Medical Affairs, from March 2005 to February 2007; Global Health Economics, from January 2004 to January 2005; and Outcomes Research, US Medical Affairs, and Product Development from January 2002 to December 2003. Prior to joining Amgen, Dr. Sheridan practiced medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Victoria, Australia as Head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Service. He earned his MB BS degree (M.D. equivalent) at the University of Melbourne in Victoria. He is a board-certified fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, with a sub-specialty in hematology and medical oncology. After leaving Amgen in November 2007 and prior to joining the Company, Dr. Sheridan served as an independent consultant for pharmaceutical companies, including BioCryst.

 

Philosophy and Overview of Compensation

 

The Compensation Committee, or Committee, of the Board of Directors has the responsibility for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence with the Company’s compensation philosophy. Our goal is to provide a compensation package that attracts, motivates and retains executive talent and is designed to align executives’ interest with the Company’s corporate strategies, business objectives and the long-term interests of the stockholders. We refer to the individuals who served as our chief executive officer, or CEO, and chief financial officer, or CFO, during 2008, as well as the other four individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table, as our “named executive officers” or “NEOs.”

In early 2007, we began a review of our overall compensation policies and practices in light of the Company’s business strategy and hired a compensation consultant to assist with this review as described below under the heading “Role of Compensation Consultants.” Based upon this review, the Committee implemented an Annual Incentive Plan, or AIP, for employees at the top three organization levels defined by the Committee. The Committee makes compensation decisions for our executive officers after consideration of the following objectives:

 

 

The Committee implemented the AIP beginning with the 2007 plan year to achieve the objectives described above.

 

Role of the Executive Officers

 

The Committee has the primary authority to determine the Company’s compensation philosophy and to establish compensation for the Company’s executive officers. The Committee makes all compensation decisions for the named executive officers, but the CEO provides recommendations to the Committee regarding the cash and equity awards to be paid to all named executive officers other than the CEO. The Committee reviews the performance of the named executive officers with the CEO and the Committee independently evaluates the performance of the CEO. Each named executive officer and other senior executive management team members participate in an annual performance review, which provides information about individual contributions toward the achievement of the Company’s objectives for the period being assessed, in addition to achievement of their own individual objectives. The Committee performs an annual review of the performance of our CEO and our senior executive management team as a group.

 

Role of Compensation Consultants

 

In 2007, BioCryst engaged LCG Group, a compensation firm, to perform a competitive compensation analysis of the Company’s overall compensation practices and to also provide competitive data on the CFO position. Results of the competitive analysis of the CFO position were used to develop a competitive offer to Mr. Grant during 2007. Results of the overall analysis performed by LCG Group did not impact 2007 base salary decisions for existing named officers, but did impact the annual cash incentive awards for performance during the 2007 plan year and base salary decisions for 2008. The overall analysis conducted by LCG Group focused on the evaluation of all positions within BioCryst, establishing appropriate organization levels within the Company and to determine the competitive range of compensation, including both cash and stock, for each of the organization levels. In addition, LCG Group was assigned the task of advising the Committee on the design and implementation of a compensation plan for all organizational levels to meet the objectives of having a greater portion of compensation related to performance and based on achievement of established corporate and individual objectives. One of LCG Group’s findings was that the absence of an annual cash incentive at the executive level represented a competitive shortfall and that such a plan is typically used to drive specific annual Company goals. As a result of this analysis, in November 2007 the Board approved the AIP, beginning with the 2007 fiscal year, and an Executive Relocation Policy, both of which are described in more detail below.

 

During 2008, LCG Group provided competitive compensation data on the Chief Medical Officer, or CMO, position. Results of the competitive analysis of the CMO position were used to develop a competitive offer to Mr. Sheridan during 2008. Late in 2008, LCG Group also conducted an updated analysis of competitive base salary and stock option grant levels, the results of which were reviewed for 2009 compensation decisions.

2008 Elements of Executive Compensation

 

The Company’s 2008 compensation program for executive officers was primarily comprised of the following four elements:

 

 

Base Salary

 

The Company provides our named executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. In determining the base salary amount for each named executive officer, the Committee primarily considers:

 

 

Base salary amounts are typically reviewed annually as part of the Company’s performance review process as well as upon a promotion or other change in job responsibility. For 2008, each of our named executive officers, other than those who joined the Company during 2008, received an increase in base salary of 3% to 7%, primarily in recognition of the continuing advancement of the Company’s clinical programs during 2008, and varying based on the performance of each executive officer. To assist in determining appropriate base salary increases, LCG Group provided competitive base salary levels by updating the competitive data provided by the Radford Biotechnology Survey, a survey of the majority of the biotechnology companies across the country, focusing on comparable positions at comparably-sized companies with 50 to 150 employees.

 

For Mr. Stonehouse, who was hired as our new CEO during 2007, the Committee reviewed the above criteria and the competitive data, and established a base salary increase of 6.2% effective March 2008. This increase resulted in a base salary of $425,000, generally targeting the 50^th percentile.

 

Mr. McCullough, who was hired as our Vice President, Strategic Planning and Commercialization during 2007, was provided a base salary increase of 4.4% effective March 2008. This increase resulted in a base salary of $224,520, approximating the 25^th percentile.

 

Mr. Grant, who was hired as our CFO during 2007, was provided a base salary increase of 3% effective March 2008, resulting in a base salary of $386,250. Given Mr. Grant’s experience, his performance, and his compensation levels prior to joining the Company, the Committee was generally targeting his base salary above the 75^th percentile.

 

For Dr. Sheridan, who was hired as our new CMO during 2008, LCG Group prepared a competitive compensation analysis to assist the Committee in determining the appropriate compensation package for the CMO. This competitive compensation analysis was developed using the Radford Biotechnology Survey, focusing on comparably-sized companies with 50 to 150 employees. Based on this review and Dr. Sheridan’s experience and current compensation levels, his compensation package of base salary and equity grants was generally targeted at or above the 75^th percentile. Dr. Sheridan’s base salary was approved by the Committee at $375,000.

 

Dr. Babu, our Vice President, Drug Discovery, was provided a base salary increase of 7% effective March 2008. This resulted in a base salary of $303,420, approximating the 75^th percentile.

J. Claude Bennett, M.D., our former Chief Operating Officer, was provided a base salary increase of 4.10% effective March 2008, resulting in a base salary of $375,700. Dr. Bennett resigned from the Company effective June 13, 2008.

 

Annual Incentive Compensation

 

It is the Committee’s objective to have a substantial portion of each officer’s compensation contingent upon the Company’s performance as well as upon his or her own level of performance and contribution towards the Company’s performance. The AIP was implemented to achieve the objectives of increasing the amount of performance-based compensation and rewarding the achievement of Company and individual performance objectives. The AIP provides incentive targets and ranges for employees of the Company who are Executive Directors and above, including the NEOs. For 2008, senior management, with the approval of the Committee and the Board, established certain corporate objectives and each NEO developed personal objectives to help achieve the corporate objectives. The corporate objectives established for 2008 were non-financial and were primarily related to the continued progression of both our clinical and non-clinical programs. Each individual’s objectives were prepared in conjunction with the corporate objectives and were designed to promote the execution of the corporate objectives. The AIP includes individual incentive ranges, with a minimum, target and maximum incentive opportunity that varies by participant. Overall funding is based on the Company’s performance against the current year corporate objectives and may range from $0 to an amount above the sum of the individual targets for exceptional Company performance. Distributions under the AIP relative to the incentive ranges are based on individual performance and all awards under the plan are settled in cash. All awards are determined by the Committee. For the CEO, the annual incentive range is 0% (minimum), 50% of base salary (target), and 75% of base salary (maximum). The employment agreements of Messrs. Grant and McCullough provide for an annual incentive opportunity range of 0% (minimum), 30% of base salary (target), and 30% of base salary (maximum). For Drs. Babu and Sheridan, the annual incentive range is 0% (minimum), 25% of base salary (target), and 30% of base salary (maximum).

 

Based on an assessment of the corporate objectives for 2008, the Committee approved an AIP pool equal to 85% of the target incentive amount. This pool was for annual incentive awards for 2008 payable in March 2009. The AIP provides for an overall pool of funding based upon the achievement of the corporate objectives, but after the final pool is established the allocation is determined by the Committee based upon each executive officer’s level of performance against their objectives. For the 2008 plan year, Mr. Stonehouse received $180,700, Mr. Grant received $115,900, Dr. Babu received $85,000, Mr. McCullough received $58,400, and Dr. Sheridan received $52,500. Dr. Sheridan’s award was prorated based on his date of hire during 2008.

 

The AIP provides that if the employment of a participating employee is terminated as a result of death, retirement or permanent disability, the employee is eligible to receive a pro rata award based on his or her base salary on the date of separation during the plan year in which the employee was considered an active employee and the number of whole months actually worked. In all other circumstances, absent provisions to the contrary in an employment agreement, all awards are forfeited if an employee voluntarily or involuntarily terminates employment with the Company before the annual incentive awards are paid.

 

Special Retention Incentives

 

In May 2008, the Committee approved retention bonuses for each of Messrs. Grant and McCullough and Dr. Babu. The retention bonuses provide for (i) a cash payment of 80% of the officer’s annual base salary as of April 1, 2008 and (ii) a restricted stock award equivalent to 20% of the officer’s annual base salary as of April 1, 2008. The retention bonuses will be paid if the respective officer is an employee of the Company through December 31, 2009. The Committee approved these special retention bonuses to retain key executive talent.

 

In October 2006, the Committee approved cash bonuses to each of the named executive officers employed by the Company on that date, except Dr. Charles E. Bugg, our former CEO, and also approved a special discretionary grant of stock options for 12,000 shares for Mr. Randall B. Riggs, our former Senior Vice President of Business Development, effective November 1, 2006. These bonuses and stock option grants were awarded as retention incentives to encourage the executive to remain employed through April 1, 2007, in light

of the announcement of the pending retirement of Dr. Bugg as CEO, effective in 2007 after a successor had been named.

 

The cash bonuses for each of the named executive officers were paid after April 1, 2007 and are therefore reported as compensation earned for the 2007 fiscal year.

 

Special Retention Stock Option Grants

 

In early 2009, the Committee discussed various approaches to create a special pool of stock options for rewarding senior individuals for exceptional contributions and as a retention tool. The Committee reviewed data that outlined the number of underwater options for Vice President and above. Based on a review of data and discussion, the Committee approved a special stock option pool of 300,000 options, with grants made to senior executives whose performance is strong and who have a significant number of shares underwater. These special grants were awarded on March 2, 2009 (the same date as annual grants) and carry a two-year cliff vesting schedule. The exercise price of these options were granted at 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. The pool was generally distributed proportionately based on the number of shares underwater.

 

Under this special retention grant, Mr. Stonehouse was granted options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock; Mr. McCullough was granted options to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock; Mr. Grant was granted options to purchase 65,000 shares of common stock; and Dr. Babu was granted options to purchase 55,000 shares of common stock. The remaining options in the pool were granted to two other senior individuals who are critical to the Company.

 

Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

 

The Company’s officers, along with all other Company employees, are eligible to participate in the Company’s periodic awards of stock options and other stock grants. Awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan are designed to:

 

 

The Committee has historically granted equity awards to all employees and executives on an annual basis, which for 2007 and 2008 has been during March. The overall grant pool is established based on a review of competitive stock option grant levels by organizational level and the number of employees at each level. A grant range is established for each organizational level, with target grants set at roughly the 50^th percentile, and grant opportunities varying based on individual performance.

 

In March 2008, based on a review of the performance of each NEO, the Committee awarded stock option grants as follows: Mr. Stonehouse, options to purchase 60,750 shares of common stock; Mr. Grant, options to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock; Dr. Babu, options to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock; Mr. McCullough, 17,250 shares of common stock; and Dr. Bennett, options to purchase 17,000 shares of common stock. In July 2008, Dr. Sheridan received an initial grant of options to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock in connection with his hire by the Company.

 

Stock options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan generally have a four-year vesting schedule to provide a long-term incentive for continued employment. The options generally expire ten years after the date of the grant. This provides a reasonable time frame during which the 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 the Stock Incentive Plan cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant.

 

Other Elements of Compensation

 

In order to attract, retain and pay market levels of compensation, we offer broad-based retirement, health and welfare employee benefits to our eligible employees, including our named executive officers, subject to

the terms and conditions of each benefit program. Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in these benefits on the same basis as other full-time employees.

 

Medical Insurance.  The Company makes available to eligible employees and their dependents group health, dental and vision insurance coverage.

 

Life and Disability Insurance.  The Company makes available disability and life insurance at coverage levels based upon the employee’s level of compensation. In addition, as part of Mr. Stonehouse’s employment agreement, he is entitled to have either a $1 million life insurance policy payable to his beneficiary upon death, or, if there is no policy in place, we are required to pay his beneficiary $1 million.

 

Defined Contribution Plan.  The Company offers a retirement plan designed to meet the requirements under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The 401(k) plan permits eligible employees to defer from 1% to 30% of their annual eligible compensation, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Employee elective deferrals are immediately vested and non-forfeitable. The Company makes matching contributions equal to the first 5% of the employee elective deferrals, which vest over a period not to exceed six years.

 

Stock Purchase Plan.  The Company sponsors a broad-based employee stock purchase plan (the “ESPP”), designed to meet the requirements under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. The ESPP permits employees to purchase Company stock at a discount through payroll deductions. ESPP 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 stock purchase period or the last day of the stock purchase period, whichever is lower. The purchase dates occur on the last business days of January and July of each year. To pay for the shares, each participant may authorize periodic payroll deductions from 1% to 15% of the employee’s cash compensation, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. All payroll deductions collected from the participant during the purchase period are automatically applied to the purchase of common stock on the dates indicated above provided the participant remains an eligible employee and has not withdrawn from the ESPP prior to the purchase date.

 

Other.  The Company makes available certain other fringe benefits to executive officers and other employees, such as tuition reimbursement and payment of professional dues. The aggregate amount of these benefits was less than $10,000 for each NEO during 2008.

 

Executive Relocation Policy.  In November 2007, the Board approved the Committee’s recommended adoption of an Executive Relocation Policy (the “Relocation Policy”) for certain new employees of the company, including executive officers. The Relocation Policy provides for a house hunting trip, temporary living and trips home for up to 90 days, home selling support or direct reimbursement for some selling expenses, moving costs and temporary storage of goods, customary closing expenses on the new home, a miscellaneous allowance of one month’s salary, not to exceed $5,000, and gross up of all taxable expenses. The Relocation Policy requires 100% repayment of benefits if the employee leaves or is terminated for cause within 12 months from the hire date.

 

Employment Agreement of CEO

 

Mr. Stonehouse entered into a one-year employment agreement with the Company on January 5, 2007 that automatically renews for successive annual terms. Mr. Stonehouse’s minimum annual compensation is $400,000 with the potential to earn a cash bonus of up to $300,000 based on the Company’s achievement of performance related goals. In addition, Mr. Stonehouse is entitled to receive reasonable vacation, sick leave, medical benefits, $1,000,000 of life insurance during the term of his employment, participation in profit sharing or retirement plans, payment of fees for his participation in the advisory council at Duke University, and reimbursement for reasonable attorneys fees incurred in connection with the negotiation of his employment agreement. His agreement also provided for stock option and restricted stock awards.

 

In the event of a change in control as defined by the agreement, all outstanding options would become immediately vested. If Mr. Stonehouse’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, upon non-renewal of the term by the Company, as a result of constructive termination, or by the Company as a result of disability, all compensation earned through the termination date will be paid to him. In addition, by signing a release of any and all claims against the Company, resigning from the Board, and returning to the Company

all of its property and confidential information in his possession, Mr. Stonehouse will receive: severance in an amount equal to the product of (x) two and (y) the sum of (1) annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the date of termination, and (2) the target bonus in effect for the fiscal year of termination; and the Company shall pay the monthly premium under COBRA health insurance coverage until the earlier of 12 months following the date of termination or the date upon which COBRA continuation coverage ceases. The termination provisions of Mr. Stonehouse’s agreement are set forth in more detail under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Employment Agreements of Other Named Executive Officers

 

The stock option provisions for the other named executive officers are the same as all other employees. In the event of termination of service other than on account of death or disability, each executive has three months to exercise any options exercisable prior to the termination in service. In the event of permanent disability, the executive will be able to exercise all outstanding options vested at the time of such disability in their entirety within the earlier of 12 months or the expiration of the option. In the event of death, the executor of his estate will be able to exercise all of the outstanding options in their entirety within the earlier of 12 months or the expiration of the option. If the executive has completed five years of service, all outstanding options vest in their entirety at death, but with less than five years of service only the portion of the option that was exercisable at the time of death will be exercisable during the 12 month period. As with all employees, if the executive is no longer an employee of the Company, but prior to the last date of employment continues service with the Company in another capacity, such as service as a consultant or service as a member of the Board of Directors, his outstanding options continue to vest and be exercisable until three months after separation from such service or expiration of the option.

 

Under Mr. Grant’s agreement, he is entitled to a base salary of $375,000 and is eligible for an annual cash bonus of up to 30% of his base salary. Mr. Grant’s agreement was amended effective November 7, 2007 to provide that in lieu of the Company’s standard relocation benefits, Mr. Grant is entitled to certain travel perquisites related to his maintenance of his residence in Boston. In the event Mr. Grant sells his residence in Boston, he is entitled to additional benefits under the Company’s relocation policy, reduced by the amounts previously paid to Mr. Grant under the terms of his amended employment agreement. If Mr. Grant is terminated without cause, by signing a release of any and all claims against the Company and returning to the Company all of its property and confidential information in his possession, Mr. Grant will receive: continuation of his base salary for one year beyond the termination date; payment of his target bonus in effect for the fiscal year of termination; and the Company shall pay the monthly premium under COBRA health insurance coverage until the earlier of six months following the date of termination or the date upon which Mr. Grant commences employment with another entity. Mr. Grant is also entitled to compensation upon a Change of Control under certain circumstances. The termination provisions of Mr. Grant’s agreement are set forth in more detail under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Under Mr. McCullough’s agreement, he is entitled to a base salary of $215,000 and is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on a target amount equal to 30% of his base compensation. If Mr. McCullough is terminated without cause, by signing a release of any and all claims against the Company and returning to the Company all of its property and confidential information in his possession, Mr. McCullough will receive continuation of his base salary for one year beyond the termination date and the Company shall pay the monthly premium under COBRA health insurance coverage until the earlier of six months following the date of termination or the date upon which Mr. McCullough commences employment with another entity. Mr. McCullough is also entitled to compensation upon a Change of Control under certain circumstances. The termination provisions of Mr. McCullough’s agreement are set forth in more detail under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Under Dr. Sheridan’s agreement, he is entitled to a base salary of $375,000 and a bonus based on a target amount equal to 25% of his base compensation. Dr. Sheridan was also provided with relocation assistance under the Relocation Policy consisting of temporary housing for up to six months and payment of certain moving expenses. If Dr. Sheridan is terminated without cause, by signing a release of any and all claims against the Company and returning to the Company all of its property and confidential information in his possession, Dr. Sheridan will receive (i) continuation of his base salary for one year beyond the termination

date, (ii) relocation assistance to move Dr. Sheridan’s personal belongings back to his California residence and (iii) the Company shall pay the monthly premium under COBRA health insurance coverage until the earlier of six months following the date of termination or the date upon which Dr. Sheridan commences employment with another entity. If Dr. Sheridan remains an employee of the Company until June 30, 2011 and within six months thereafter, he resigns as a result of a material and adverse change in the Company’s business, he will be entitled to the payments described above. Dr. Sheridan is also entitled to compensation upon a Change of Control under certain circumstances. The termination provisions of Dr. Sheridan’s agreement are set forth in more detail under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Upon termination, each named executive officer is entitled to receive amounts earned during the term of employment. These items are: unused vacation pay, vested amounts payable under the Company’s 401(k) plan, and the ability to exercise any outstanding vested stock options for a period of three months following the final date of employment.

 

In addition, upon death or disability, the executive, or beneficiary in the event of death, will receive benefits under the Company’s disability benefit program or payments under a life insurance policy, as applicable.

 

The standard stock option terms for all optionees, including the named executive officers, provides for full acceleration of vesting upon certain events. Full acceleration is automatic upon a change in control not approved by stockholders, such as: (i) acquisition of over 50% of the combined voting power of the Company, and (ii) change in composition of the Board over a period of 24 consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases as a result of one or more contested elections. In the event of an acquisition such as: (i) a merger or consolidation, (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iii) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to such merger, then the unvested options of the optionees are accelerated unless the options are assumed by the acquiring company. These provisions are superseded by the provisions of the employment agreements of the named executive officers, if applicable, as described under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Policy Regarding Tax Deductibility of Compensation

 

As part of its role, the Committee reviews and considers the compensation programs for compliance with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which limits the Company’s federal tax deduction for compensation paid to covered employees unless the compensation satisfies the exception for performance-based compensation. Options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan are expected to be fully deductible for federal income tax purposes. Compensation attributable to stock issuances or share right awards under the Stock Incentive Plan may or may not qualify for the performance-based compensation exception, depending upon the specific terms of each grant. For 2008, the compensation paid in cash to the Company’s executive officers did not exceed the $1 million limit per officer. The Committee does not anticipate that the compensation to be paid in cash to the Company’s executive officers for fiscal 2009 will exceed that limit.

 

Policy with Respect to Equity Compensation Awards

 

The Company grants all equity incentive awards based on the fair market value as of the date of grant. The exercise price for stock option grants and similar awards is determined by reference to the last quoted price per share on the Nasdaq Global Market at the close of business on the date of grant. Beginning on January 1, 2006, the Company began accounting for stock-based payments in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”).

 

The following table sets forth the total compensation awarded, paid to or earned by the individuals who served as the Company’s CEO and CFO during 2008, along with the next four most highly compensated executive officers during 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

The following table provides information about plan-based awards granted during 2008 to our named executive officers.

 

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the equity awards we have made to our named executive officers which are outstanding as of December 31, 2008.

 

 

 

 

The following table provides information on stock option exercises during 2008 by our named executive officers and shares of restricted stock held by our named executive officers that vested during 2008.

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth potential payments payable to our named executive officers upon termination of employment. The amounts include compensation payable upon voluntary or involuntary termination or retirement, termination following a change in control, and in the event of disability or death. The Company’s Compensation Committee may in its discretion revise, amend or add to the benefits if it deems it advisable. The amounts shown assume the options are valued at their last intrinsic value in fiscal 2008 and that termination is effective December 31, 2008, and thus include amounts earned through such time and are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the executives upon their termination. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of such executive’s separation from the Company. The amounts shown in the table do not include: accrued vacation, vested amounts payable under the Company’s 401(k) plan, any accrued but unpaid bonus or base salary, or potential compensation recognized upon exercise of vested options as disclosed in the Outstanding Equity Awards table above.

 

A description of the relevant provisions of the employment agreements and retention bonus agreements, as applicable, of Messrs. Stonehouse, McCullough and Grant and Drs. Babu and Sheridan is set forth below the table. A description of the benefits executive officers are entitled to upon death, retirement or disability under the AIP is included in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the terms of his employment letter agreement, in the event of termination by the Company without Cause, upon non-renewal of the term of the agreement by the Company, as a result of a Constructive Termination, or by the Company as a result of a Disability, Mr. Stonehouse is entitled to severance equal to the product of (x) two, and (y) the sum of his annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the termination, and his target bonus in effect for the fiscal year of termination, to be paid in equal installments over the regularly scheduled payroll periods of the Company for the two years following the effective date of termination. The Company will also pay the monthly premium for health insurance coverage under COBRA until the earlier of 12 months following the effective date of termination or the date upon which COBRA continuation coverage ceases. If there is a Change of Control, all equity awards granted to Mr. Stonehouse vest in full, and if his employment is terminated following the Change of Control, he shall receive the benefits described above, provided that if his employment is terminated within one year of the effective date of his agreement, the severance multiplier shall be two as opposed to one. The receipt of such benefits is subject to his signing and not revoking a release of any and all claims against the Company, its officers, directors and employees, resigning from the Board, and returning to the Company all of its property and confidential information.

 

For purposes of Mr. Stonehouse’s letter agreement:

 

 

 

Pursuant to the terms of his employment letter agreement, in the event of termination by the Company without Cause, Mr. Grant is entitled to continuation of base salary for one year beyond the effective termination date, payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices, payment of his target bonus in effect for the year of termination, payable in equal installments over the regularly scheduled payroll periods of the Company for the one year following the effective date of termination, and, if he elects to continue health insurance coverage under COBRA, the monthly premium for such coverage until the earlier of 6 months following the effective date of termination or the date upon which he commences employment with another entity. In the event of a Change of Control, all equity awards shall vest in full, and if his employment is terminated without Cause or he is Constructively Terminated within 6 months of the Change of Control, he is entitled to the benefits described above. The receipt of such benefits is conditioned on his signing and not revoking a release of any and all claims, in a form prescribed by the Company and returning to the Company all of its property and confidential information.

 

Pursuant to the terms of his employment letter agreement, in the event of termination by the Company without Cause, Mr. McCullough is entitled to continuation of base salary for one year beyond the effective termination date, payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices, and, if he elects to continue health insurance coverage under COBRA, the monthly premium for such coverage until the earlier of 6 months following the effective date of termination or the date upon which he commences employment with another entity. In the event of a Change of Control, all equity awards shall vest in full, and if his employment is terminated without Cause or he is Constructively Terminated within 6 months of the Change of Control, he is entitled to the benefits described above. The receipt of such benefits is conditioned on his signing and not revoking a release of any and all claims, in a form prescribed by the Company and returning to the Company all of its property and confidential information.

 

Pursuant to the terms of his employment letter agreement, in the event of termination by the Company without Cause, Dr. Sheridan is entitled to (i) continuation of base salary for one year beyond the effective termination date, payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices, (ii) relocation assistance to move Dr. Sheridan’s personal belongings back to his California residence and (iii) if he elects to continue health insurance coverage under COBRA, the monthly premium for such coverage until the earlier of 6 months following the effective date of termination or the date upon which he commences employment with another

entity. In the event of a Change of Control, all equity awards shall vest in full, and if his employment is terminated without Cause or he is Constructively Terminated within six months of the Change of Control, he is entitled to the benefits described above, except in the event that the effective date of termination occurs before July 1, 2009, in which case the benefits described above will be calculated at 50% of the total benefit. In either case, the receipt of such benefits is conditioned on his signing and not revoking a release of any and all claims, in a form prescribed by the Company and returning to the Company all of its property and confidential information.

 

For purposes of the agreements of Messrs. Grant and McCullough and Dr. Sheridan:

 

 

Pursuant to the terms of retention bonus agreements dated May 21, 2008, retention bonuses will be paid to each of Messrs. Grant and McCullough and Dr. Babu if the respective officer is an employee of the Company on December 31, 2009. The retention bonuses provide for (i) a cash payment of 80% of the officer’s annual base salary as of April 1, 2008 and (ii) a restricted stock award equivalent to 20% of the officer’s annual base salary as of April 21, 2008. In the event of a Change in Control prior to December 31, 2009, each officer would be entitled to the retention bonus.

 

The following table provides information related to the compensation of our non-employee directors during fiscal 2008.

 

 

 

 

Narrative to Director Compensation Table

 

Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive any additional compensation for their services as a director. Non-employee directors receive an annual retainer fee, a separate fee for attending board meetings and committee meetings, and are reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending board or committee meetings and while representing the Company in conducting certain business. The annual retainer fee is $12,000 ($24,000 for the Chairman), and the meeting fee is $1,000 per board meeting attended by teleconference and $1,500 per meeting attended in person. The fee for attending committee meetings is $500 per meeting attended and the Chairs of the Audit and Compensation Committees are paid an annual retainer fee of $4,000 and $2,000, respectively.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

Relationships and Independence of the Compensation Committee Members

 

During 2008, the Committee consisted of Dr. Seidenberg (Chair), Dr. Biggar and Mr. Featheringill. No member of the Committee was at any time during 2008 or within the last five years an officer or employee of the Company. 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 reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and discussed its contents with Company management. Based on the review and discussions, the Committee has recommended that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

 

Beth C. Seidenberg, M.D., Chair of the Committee
Stephen R. Biggar, M.D., Ph.D.
William W. Featheringill

 

In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed with management the financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. The Audit Committee reviewed with Ernst & Young LLP, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those 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 Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. In addition, the Committee has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standard (“SAS”) No. 61 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU § 380), Communication with Audit Committees, as amended. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Ernst & Young LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP their independence. The Audit Committee also considered the compatibility of non-audit services with Ernst & Young LLP’s independence.

 

The Audit Committee discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the overall scope and plans for their audit. The Audit Committee meets with Ernst & Young LLP, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their evaluation of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

 

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee and the Board approved the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2008 and has approved the retention of Ernst & Young LLP as the principal accounting firm to be used by the Company throughout the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

 

John L. Higgins, Chair of the Committee
Randolph C. Steers, M.D., Ph.D.
Zola P. Horovitz, Ph.D.

 

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of March 6, 2009 by (i) each director, (ii) each of the named executive officers, (iii) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group and (iv) each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our Common Stock. Unless otherwise noted below, the address for each person listed in the table is the principal executive offices of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) requires our officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities (collectively, “Reporting Persons”), to file reports of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reporting Persons are required by the Act regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

 

Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by us during 2008, or written representations from certain Reporting Persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, the Company believes that its Reporting Persons were in compliance with all applicable filing requirements except as described below.

 

Notwithstanding a long history of compliance, during a stock reconciliation effort between the Company and Mr. Featheringill the parties discovered that 11,000 shares of BioCryst stock purchased by Mr. Featheringill should have been recorded on a Form 4 in 2000. These shares were part of a much larger series of transactions in which all forms were properly filed. The parties also discovered an inadvertent omission for a Form 4 filing of 65,000 shares as a result of the transfer of shares into the Featheringill family trust. Soon after discovery of the inadvertent omissions, Form 4 filings were completed for both transactions.

 

Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company by December 2, 2009 to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement relating to such meeting.

 

A stockholder must notify the Company no earlier than December 31, 2009 and no later than January 31, 2010 of a proposal for the 2010 Annual Meeting which the stockholder intends to present other than by inclusion in our proxy material. If we do not receive such notice prior to such date, proxies solicited by our Board of Directors will confer discretionary authority upon the proxies for the Board of Directors to vote upon any such matter.

 

In the Company’s filings with the SEC, information is sometimes “incorporated by reference.” This means that the Company is referring you to information that has previously been filed with the SEC, and that the information should be considered part of a particular filing. As provided in regulations promulgated by the SEC, the “Audit Committee Report” and the “Compensation Committee Report” contained in this proxy statement specifically are not incorporated by reference into any other filings with the SEC. In addition, this proxy statement includes the Company’s website address. This website address is intended to provide inactive, textual references only. The information on the Company’s website is not part of this proxy statement.

 

Management does not intend to present to the Meeting any matters other than those previously mentioned herein and does not presently know of any matters that will be presented by other parties. If other matters should properly come before the Meeting, it is intended that the holders of the proxies will act in respect thereto and in accordance with their best judgment.

 

Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of the proxy statement may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. You may have a separate copy of this document sent to you by contacting the Corporate Secretary, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2190 Parkway Lake Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35244, (205) 444-4600. If you prefer to receive separate copies of our proxy statement in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee holder, or you may contact us at the above address.

 

A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 was mailed with this Proxy Statement. Stockholders may obtain a copy of the Annual Report, the Proxy and the Proxy Statement by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address stated above or by visiting www.proxyvote.com.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

Birmingham, Alabama

April 1, 2009

 

BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(formerly the “BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1991 Stock Option Plan”)

 

(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED FEBRUARY 2009)

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

I.  PURPOSES OF THE PLAN

 

A. This Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), formerly the “BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1991 Stock Option Plan,” is intended to promote the interests of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), by providing a method whereby (i) key employees (including officers and directors) of the Company (or its parent or subsidiary corporations) who are responsible for the management, growth and financial success of the Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporations), (ii) non-employee members of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) (or of any parent or subsidiary corporations) and (iii) consultants and other independent contractors who provide valuable services to the Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporations) may be offered the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Company as an incentive for them to remain in the service of the Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporations).

 

B. For purposes of the Plan, the following provisions shall be applicable in determining the parent and subsidiary corporations of the Company:

 

(i) Any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company shall be considered to be a parent corporation of the Company, provided each such corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Company) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

(ii) Each corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company shall be considered to be a subsidiary of the Company, provided each such corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

C. The Plan, as hereby amended and restated, was approved and adopted by the Board on February 4, 2009 in order to increase by 1,540,000 the number of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), that may be issued pursuant to the Plan. The Board’s adoption of the share increase is subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2009 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

 

 

A. The Plan shall be divided into three separate equity programs:

 

(i) the Discretionary Option Grant Program specified in Article Two, pursuant to which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock,

 

(ii) the Stock Issuance Program specified in Article Three, pursuant to which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of Common Stock directly, either through immediate purchase of such shares or as compensation for services rendered to the Company (or any parent or subsidiary), and

(iii) the Automatic Option Grant Program specified in Article Four, pursuant to which non-employee members of the Board will automatically receive option grants to purchase shares of Common Stock.

 

B. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the provisions of Articles One and Five of the Plan shall apply to all equity programs under the Plan and shall accordingly govern the interests of all individuals under the Plan.

 

III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

A. A committee of two (2) or more non-employee Board members appointed by the Board (the “Primary Committee”) shall have sole and exclusive authority to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section 16 Insiders. For purposes of this Section, a Section 16 Insider shall mean an officer or director of the Company subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”).

 

B. Administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in the programs may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in the Primary Committee, another committee of one (1) or more Board members appointed by the Board (the “Secondary Committee”), or the Board may retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all such persons.

 

C. Members of the Primary Committee and any Secondary Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and shall be subject to removal by the Board at any time.

 

D. Each Plan Administrator (whether the Primary Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee) shall, within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority (subject to the express provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs and to make such determinations under, and issue interpretations of, the provisions of such programs and any outstanding options or stock issuances thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative authority under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties.

 

E. Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee shall constitute service as a Board member, and members of each such committee shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service on such committee. No member of the Primary Committee or Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act of omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option grants or stock issuances under the Plan.

 

F. Administration of the Automatic Option Grant Program shall be self-executing in accordance with the express terms and conditions of Article Four, and no Plan Administrator shall exercise any discretionary functions under that program.