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
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant
þ
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o | Definitive Proxy Statement |
o | Definitive Additional Materials |
o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-12 |
Genta Incorporated |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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(4) | Date Filed: |
GENTA
INCORPORATED
Two Connell Drive
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
908-286-9800
April 20,
2004
Dear Stockholder:
You
are cordially invited to attend the 2004 annual meeting of stockholders of Genta
Incorporated on Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 11:00 a.m., local time, at the
Hotel Westminster, 550 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, New Jersey.
The
accompanying notice of annual meeting of stockholders outlines the matters to
be brought before the meeting, and the accompanying proxy statement discusses
these matters in greater detail. The notice and the proxy statement have been
made a part of this invitation.
Whether
or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to complete, date and sign
the enclosed proxy card and return it at your earliest convenience in the enclosed
envelope to which no postage need be affixed if mailed in the United States.
If you have any questions or need assistance in completing the proxy card, please
contact Stephen E. Cook, our Corporate Controller, at the number above.
We
are providing a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003 with this proxy statement. We are mailing this proxy
statement and a form of proxy on or about May 18, 2004.
Our
Board of Directors and management look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Sincerely yours, | |
Raymond P. Warrell,
Jr., M.D. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
GENTA
INCORPORATED
Two Connell Drive
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
908-286-9800
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
The
2004 annual meeting of stockholders of Genta Incorporated will be held on Wednesday,
June 23, 2004, at 11:00 a.m., local time, at the Hotel Westminster, 550 West
Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, New Jersey, for the following purposes:
1. |
To elect directors. |
2. |
To approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase
the number of authorized shares of Common Stock available for issuance. |
3. |
To approve an amendment to our 1998 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the
number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the plan. |
4. |
To approve an amendment to our Non-Employee Directors 1998 Stock
Option Plan with respect to the annual stock options granted under the
plan. |
5. |
To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004. |
6. |
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
All
stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Attendance at the
meeting is limited to stockholders and one guest. Only stockholders of record
at the close of business on April 30, 2004, the record date, are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the meeting.
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE URGE YOU
TO COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY.
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
William P. Keane Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary |
April 20,
2004
GENTA
INCORPORATED
Two Connell Drive
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
908-286-9800
PROXY STATEMENT
This
proxy statement contains information related to the 2004 annual meeting of stockholders
of Genta Incorporated to be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 11:00 a.m.,
local time, at the Hotel Westminster, 550 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston,
New Jersey, and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. This proxy statement
and the enclosed proxy card are being mailed to our stockholders on or about
May 18, 2004.
VOTING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Who Can
Vote
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on April 30, 2004, the record
date, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting, and at any
postponements or adjournments thereof. As of March 31, 2004, 77,748,889 shares
of our Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, were issued and outstanding,
and less than 10,000 shares of our convertible Series A Preferred Stock, par
value $.001 per share, were outstanding. Holders of our Common Stock are entitled
to vote for the election of our directors, as well as one vote per share for
each other proposal presented at the annual meeting. Holders of our Series A
Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote at the meeting.
How to
Vote; How Proxies Work
The
Board of Directors is asking for your proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend
the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy as you can always change your vote
at the meeting. Please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card and return
it at your earliest convenience. We will bear the costs incidental to the solicitation
and obtaining of proxies, including the costs of reimbursing banks, brokers
and other nominees for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of our
capital stock. Proxies may be solicited by our officers and employees, without
extra compensation, by mail, telephone, telefax, personal interviews and other
methods of communication. In addition, we have retained Mellon Investor Services
to act as our proxy solicitor in conjunction with the meeting. We have agreed
to pay that firm $9,500, plus reasonable out of pocket expenses, for proxy solicitation
services.
At
the annual meeting, and at any postponements and adjournments thereof, all shares
entitled to vote and represented by properly executed proxies received prior
to the annual meeting and not revoked will be voted as instructed on those proxies.
If no instructions are indicated on a properly executed proxy, the shares will
be voted FOR the election of each of the nominees as director and FOR each other
proposal described in this proxy statement and the attached notice of annual
meeting of stockholders. A stockholder may revoke his or her proxy at any time
before it is exercised by written notice to our Corporate Secretary at our address
listed on the top of page one of this proxy statement, by delivery of a later-dated
signed proxy or by voting in person at the annual meeting.
What Constitutes
a Quorum
The
presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled
to be cast at the meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as shares that are present
for purposes of determining a quorum. Broker non-votes occur when a nominee
holding shares for a beneficial owner does not have discretionary voting power
on a matter and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.
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What Vote
is Required
Election
as a director requires a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting. For election
of directors, votes may be cast in favor of or withheld from a nominee; votes
that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect.
Each
other proposal described in this proxy statement and the attached notice of
annual meeting of stockholders requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes cast at the meeting, except that the proposal to amend our Certificate
of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares of our Common Stock. For each of these proposals, abstentions may be
specified and will have the effect of a negative vote, while broker non-votes
will have no effect on the outcome of such proposals except the proposal to
amend our Certificate of Incorporation.
- 2 -
PROPOSAL
ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
As
of March 31, 2004, the Board consisted of eight directors. At the 2004 annual
meeting, directors will be elected to serve a one-year term expiring at the
next annual meeting of stockholders and until such directors successor
shall have been elected and qualified.
The
Board has nominated Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D., Jerome E. Groopman, M.D.,
Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., Peter T. Tattle, Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., Harlan J.
Wakoff, Douglas G. Watson and Michael S. Weiss for election as directors to
serve until the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders. All nominees are currently
members of the Board.
Each
nominee has expressed his or her willingness to serve as a director if elected,
and we know of no reason why any nominee would be unable to serve. If a nominee
becomes unavailable before the election, the proxies may be voted for one or
more substitute nominees designated by the Board, or the Board may decide to
reduce the number of directors.
Set
forth below is certain information with respect to each nominee for director.
Nominees
for Election at the Annual Meeting
Raymond
P. Warrell, Jr., M.D., 54, has been our Chief Executive Officer and
a member of our Board since December 1999 and our Chairman since January 2001.
From December 1999 to May 2003, he was also our President. From 1978 to 1999,
Dr. Warrell was associated with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in
New York, where he held tenured positions as Member, Attending Physician, and
Associate Physician-in-Chief, and with the Joan and Sanford Weill Medical College
of Cornell University, where he was Professor of Medicine. Dr. Warrell also
has more than 20 years of development and consulting experience in pharmaceuticals
and biotechnology products. He was a co-founder and chairman of the scientific
advisory board of PolaRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., manufacturers of Trisenox®,
a drug for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, which was acquired
by Cell Therapeutics, Inc. in January 2000. Dr. Warrell holds or has filed numerous
patents and patent applications for biomedical therapeutic or diagnostic agents.
He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and more than 240 book chapters
and abstracts, most of which are focused upon drug development in tumor-related
diseases. Dr. Warrell is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation,
the American Society of Hematology, the American Association for Cancer Research
and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Among many awards, he has received
the U.S. Public Health Service Award for Exceptional Achievement in Orphan Drug
Development from the FDA. Dr. Warrell is married to Dr. Loretta M. Itri, President,
Pharmaceutical Development and Chief Medical Officer of Genta.
Jerome
E. Groopman, M.D., 52, has been a member of our Board since November
2002. Dr. Groopman, who is Professor of Medicine and Chief of Experimental Medicine
at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, also holds the Dina and
Raphael Recanati Chair of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Groopman has
an extensive record of achievement in basic and clinical research related to
cancer, hematology and HIV infection. He has served on the Advisory Council
to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for AIDS-related diseases. He
was Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the FDA for Biological Response Modifiers.
In 2000, Dr. Groopman was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Sciences. Dr. Groopman also serves on many scientific editorial boards
and has authored and published more than 150 scientific articles. He has written
three books relating to the devastating personal impact of disease in people
afflicted with AIDS and cancer entitled, The Measure of Our Days,
Second Opinions and The Anatomy of Hope. Among other
periodicals, he is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker magazine,
where he is staff writer on medicine and biology.
Betsy
McCaughey, Ph.D., 55, has been a member of our Board since June 2001.
Dr. McCaughey is a nationally recognized expert on health care. Dr. McCaughey
has had a distinguished academic career as a faculty member at Columbia University
and as John M. Olin Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. In the mid 1990s, she
received broad recognition for her analysis of the Clinton health care plan.
In 1994, she was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York and was a candidate
for Governor in 1998. As Lieutenant Governor, she drafted legislation dealing
with Medicaid reform, clinical trials access, hospital financing and insurance
reform. She is currently an Adjunct Senior
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Fellow at
the Hudson Institute and is a frequent commentator on the future of the health
care industry. Dr. McCaughey has authored numerous articles on health insurance,
medical innovation, government regulation and public policy, which have appeared
in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New Republic,
The New York Times, and U.S. News and World Report.
Peter
T. Tattle, 62, has been a member of our Board since December 2003. Mr.
Tattle retired in 2001 after a 36-year career at Johnson & Johnson. Mr.
Tattles early tenure at Johnson & Johnson spanned positions of increasing
responsibility in sales, marketing and product management in Canada, the US
and the United Kingdom. In 1987, Mr. Tattle was appointed International Vice
President to lead the Cilag Pharmaceutical companies worldwide, and in 1989
was named President of that organization. From 1991 until his retirement, Mr.
Tattle served as Company Group Chairman in Johnson & Johnsons Pharmaceuticals
Group. Mr. Tattle currently serves on the boards of Xanthus Life Sciences Inc.,
DFB Pharmaceuticals Inc., Catalina Marketing Corporation and The Cancer Institute
of New Jersey.
Daniel
D. Von Hoff, M.D., F.A.C.P., 56, has been a member of our Board since
January 2000. He is currently Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pathology,
Molecular and Cellular Biology and Director of the Arizona Health Science Centers
Cancer Therapeutics Program at The University of Arizona in Tucson. He also
serves as Executive Vice President of the Translational Genomics Research Institute
(TGen) and will also serve as Director of TGens Translational Drug Development
Division. Dr. Von Hoff is also Chief Scientific Officer for U.S. Oncology. From
1985 through 1999, he was a professor at the University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio. From 1994 through 1999, he was also an adjunct scientist
at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. Dr. Von Hoff has published
more than 503 papers, 126 book chapters and more than 843 abstracts. Dr. Von
Hoff is the former President of the American Association for Cancer Research,
a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member and past board member
of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He was a founder and board member
of ILEXTM Oncology, Inc., which has been acquired
by Genzyme, Inc. Dr. Von Hoff has also served as a consultant to a number of
biopharmaceutical companies engaged in oncology drug development. He is founder
and the Editor Emeritus of Investigational New Drugs The Journal of New
Anticancer Agents and Editor of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. He has played
a significant role in the development of several anticancer agents, e.g., gemcitabine,
CPT-11, docetaxel and others now used routinely in the practice of oncology.
Harlan
J. Wakoff, 37, has been a member of our Board since September 1997.
Mr. Wakoff is a Managing Director in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. From 1996 to 1999 Mr. Wakoff was a Vice President
of the Media and Entertainment Investment Banking Group at ING Baring Furman
Selz LLC. He was previously affiliated with the investment banking groups at
NatWest Markets from January 1995 to June 1996 and Kidder Peabody & Co.
from August 1993 to January 1995.
Douglas
G. Watson, 59, has been a member of our Board since April 2002. Mr.
Watson is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pittencrieff Glen Associates,
a leadership and management consulting firm. Prior to taking early retirement
in 1999, Mr. Watson spent 33 years with Geigy/Ciba-Geigy/Novartis, during which
time he held a variety of positions in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the
United States. From 1986 to 1996, he was President of Ciba U.S. Pharmaceuticals
Division, and in 1996 he was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer
of Ciba-Geigy Corporation. During this ten-year period, Mr. Watson was an active
member of the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers Association board
in Washington, DC. Mr. Watson became President & Chief Executive Officer
of Novartis Corporation in 1997 when the merger of Ciba-Geigy & Sandoz was
approved by the Federal Trade Commission. Mr. Watson is currently Chairman of
OraSure Technologies Inc. He also serves on the boards of Engelhard Corporation,
Dendreon Corporation and InforMedix, Inc., as well as a number of privately
held biotechnology companies.
Michael
S. Weiss, 38, has been Vice Chairman of our Board since May 1997 and
was appointed Lead Director in November 2002. Mr. Weiss is Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, a drug development company focused
on therapies for cancer and diabetes. Prior to joining Keryx, from March 1999
to December 2002, Mr. Weiss served first as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
and then as the Executive Chairman of ACCESS Oncology, Inc., a private biotechnology
company dedicated to the in-licensing and development of clinical stage oncology
drugs. Previously, from November 1993 to March 1999, Mr. Weiss was Senior Managing
Director of Paramount Capital, Inc., a NASD registered broker-dealer which is
an affiliate of our largest stockholder. Prior to that, Mr. Weiss was an attorney
at Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
The
Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the election
of each nominee as director.
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PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE
The
Board has unanimously approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation
to increase the authorized number of shares of capital stock from 125,000,000
shares to 155,000,000 shares and recommends that our stockholders approve the
proposed amendment. The additional 30,000,000 shares of capital stock will be
designated as Common Stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. Genta is currently
authorized to issue 125,000,000 shares of capital stock, 120,000,000 of which
are designated as Common Stock and 5,000,000 of which are designated as Preferred
Stock.
The
additional shares of Common Stock would have rights identical to our Common
Stock currently outstanding. Approval of the proposed amendment and any issuance
of Common Stock would not affect the rights of the holders of our Common Stock
currently outstanding, except for the effects incidental to increasing the outstanding
number of shares of Common Stock, such as dilution of earnings per share and
voting rights of current holders of our Common Stock. As of March 31, 2004,
77,748,889 shares of our Common Stock were issued and outstanding. The proposed
amendment will not change the number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized
for issuance.
The
Board believes that the authorized number of shares of Common Stock should be
increased to provide sufficient shares for such corporate purposes as may be
determined by the Board to be necessary or desirable. These purposes may include,
but are not limited to, the following: expanding our business or product lines
through the acquisition of other businesses or products; establishing strategic
relationships with other companies; raising capital through the sale of our
Common Stock; and attracting and retaining valuable employees by providing equity
incentives. We do not currently have any commitments, arrangements or understandings
relating to any such transaction, which would require the additional shares.
The number of shares currently authorized is sufficient for our existing commitments.
Once
authorized, the additional shares of Common Stock may be issued with approval
of our Board but without further approval of our stockholders, unless stockholder
approval is required by applicable law, rule or regulation.
Stockholder
approval of this proposal is required under Delaware law and requires the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock.
The
Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the approval of the
amendment to the our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock available for issuance.
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PROPOSAL THREE
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR 1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AUTHORIZED UNDER THE PLAN
On
March 19, 2004, the Board approved, subject to stockholder approval at the annual
meeting, an amendment to our 1998 Stock Incentive Plan that would increase the
total number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the plan
from 17,000,000 shares to 18,500,000 shares, an increase of 1,500,000 shares.
The Board has directed that the proposed amendment be submitted to our stockholders
for their approval.
The
Board believes that the availability of the additional 1,500,000 shares under
the plan is in the best interests of the company and our stockholders because
the availability of an adequate stock option program is an important factor
in attracting and retaining qualified officers and employees essential to our
success (whether through acquisitions or otherwise) and in aligning their long
term interests with those of our stockholders. The increase in the number of
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the plan will permit us to
continue to operate the plan for the benefit of new participants (including
new hires or employees of acquired companies), as well as to allow additional
awards to current participants. Stockholder approval of the increase in the
number of shares of Common Stock under the plan is necessary to comply with
the Nasdaq listing maintenance standards.
The
major features of the plan are summarized below, which summary is qualified
in its entirety by the actual text of the plan. We will furnish, without charge,
a copy of the plan to any stockholder upon request. Such request should be sent
to our Corporate Secretary or made by telephone at our address or phone number
listed on the top of page one of this proxy statement.
General
The
plan provides for the grant of (i) incentive stock options, (ii) non-qualified
stock options (incentive and nonqualified stock options are collectively referred
to as options), (iii) stock appreciation rights, (iv) restricted
stock, (v) restricted stock units, (vi) dividend equivalent rights and (vii)
other stock-based awards. The plan currently authorizes the issuance of up to
17,000,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as described in the
plan. Our stockholders are being asked to consider and approve an amendment
which would, commencing on the date of the annual meeting, increase the number
of shares of Common Stock available for grants under the plan by an additional
1,500,000 shares, for a total of 18,500,000 shares. If any award is forfeited
or otherwise terminates or is cancelled without delivery of the shares of Common
Stock, the shares covered by such award or to which such award relates will
again become available for issuance under the plan. No individual who receives
a grant of stock options and stock appreciation rights under the plan may be
granted more than 8,000,000 shares under the plan during any two-year period.
The
plan was approved by the Board on May 28, 1998 and by our stockholders on July
14, 1998. The plan was most recently amended and restated by the Board on April
16, 2003 and by our stockholders on June 25, 2003.
Administration
The
plan is administered by the Boards Compensation Committee. This committee
has the authority to (i) exercise all of the powers granted to it under the
plan, (ii) construe, interpret and implement the provisions of the plan, (iii)
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the plan, (iv)
correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the
plan, (v) amend the plan to reflect changes in applicable law, (vi) determine
whether, to what extent and under what circumstances awards may be settled or
exercised, and (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances
amounts payable with respect to awards will be deferred. The determinations
of the committee are made in its sole discretion and are final, binding and
conclusive. The committee is presently comprised of Michael S. Weiss, Daniel
D. Von Hoff, M.D. and Douglas G. Watson, each of whom is an independent non-employee
director of Genta.
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Eligibility
for Participation
Officers
and other employees (including prospective employees whose participation is
conditioned on their becoming employees) of the company and our subsidiaries
and consultants, advisers and other independent contractors of the company and
our subsidiaries are eligible for grants under the plan. Non-employee directors
of the company are not eligible to receive grants under the plan. The committee
determines who will receive grants under the plan. As of March 31, 2004, approximately
183 employees were eligible for grants under the plan.
Types of
Awards
Stock
Options
The
committee may grant stock options intended to qualify as incentive stock options
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
or so-called non-qualified stock options that are not intended to
so qualify. The terms of any stock option grant under the plan are set forth
in the plan agreement and determined by the committee. Anyone eligible to participate
in the plan may receive a grant of non-qualified stock options. Only employees
of the company and our subsidiaries may receive a grant of incentive stock options.
The plan provides that the total number of incentive stock options which may
be granted under the plan may not exceed 12,500,000 shares of Common Stock.
The
committee determines the period during which stock options are exercisable,
subject to the limitation that incentive stock options must be exercised no
later than the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of the incentive stock
option. However, if the grantee of an incentive stock option is a person who
holds more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our
outstanding stock, the period during which stock options are exercisable may
not exceed five years from the date of grant. Unless the committee provides
otherwise, an option will become exercisable in four equal installments of 25%
on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant.
The
exercise price per share of an option will be determined by the committee and
set forth in the plan agreement. The exercise price per share for a non-qualified
stock option may be less than, equal to or greater than the fair market value
of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. The exercise price per share
for incentive stock options must be at least equal to the fair market value
of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. It is current committee policy
that the exercise price per share must be at least equal to the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant for all non-qualified
stock options granted. If the grantee of an incentive stock option is a person
who holds more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the company or any of our subsidiaries, the exercise price per share
of the incentive stock option must be no less than 110% of the fair market value
of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. To the extent that the aggregate
fair market value of shares of Common Stock, determined on the date of grant,
with respect to which incentive stock options become exercisable for the first
time by a grantee during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such incentive
stock options must be treated as non-qualified stock options.
The
exercise price for any option is payable (i) by check, (ii) by delivery of shares
of Common Stock having a fair market value on the date of the exercise equal
to part or all of the option exercise price (unless the plan agreement provides
otherwise) or (iii) by such other payment method permitted by the committee.
The committee may provide in the plan agreement that an additional option will
be granted to any grantee who delivers shares of Common Stock to exercise an
outstanding option. The additional option will equal the number of shares delivered
to exercise the original outstanding option, have an exercise price equal to
the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and have an expiration
date that is no later than that of the original option.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
The
committee may grant stock appreciation rights to anyone eligible to participate
in the plan. Stock appreciation rights may be granted in connection with, or
independently of, any stock option granted under the plan. Upon exercise of
a stock appreciation right, the grantee will receive an amount equal to the
excess of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise
over the exercise price set forth in the plan agreement. Such payment to the
grantee will be in cash, in Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common
Stock, as determined by the committee.
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Restricted
Stock
The
committee may grant restricted shares of Common Stock to anyone eligible to
participate in the plan. The committee may require that grantees pay consideration
for the restricted stock. The committee determines the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to the restricted stock award, the terms and conditions of the
restricted stock award and the applicable restriction period. After a grantee
accepts a restricted stock award, the grantee will have all of the rights of
our stockholders with respect to such restricted stock, except that the grantee
will not be able to transfer the restricted stock until the stock is earned
and the restrictions lapse.
Restricted
Stock Units
The
committee may grant restricted stock units to anyone eligible to participate
in the Plan. Restricted stock units provide grantees with the economic equivalent
of actual restricted shares of stock. A restricted stock unit is an unsecured
promise to transfer an unrestricted share of Common Stock at a specified future
maturity date (which can be later than the vesting date at which the right to
receive the shares becomes non-forfeitable) selected by the grantee.
Dividend
Equivalent Rights
The
committee may include in any award a dividend equivalent right which entitles
the recipient to receive an amount equal to the ordinary dividends that would
have been paid, during the time such award is outstanding, unexercised or not
vested, on the shares of Common Stock covered by such award as if such shares
were then outstanding.
Other
Stock Based-Awards
The
plan permits the committee to grant other stock based awards, such as performance
shares or unrestricted stock, subject to such terms and conditions, as the committee
deems appropriate.
Amendment
and Termination of the Plan
The
Board may amend or terminate the plan at any time, subject to stockholder approval
if required in order to comply with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
or other applicable laws or regulations. Unless sooner terminated by the Board,
no stock options may be granted under the plan after July 13, 2008.
Change
in Control
In
the event of a change in control, (i) unless the applicable plan agreement provides
otherwise, outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights will become
fully vested and immediately exercisable if the grantees employment is
terminated without cause within one year of the change in control, and (ii)
outstanding plan agreements may be amended by the committee to advance the date
on which the outstanding award terminates. If a proposed liquidation or dissolution
of us occurs, outstanding awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation
of the action, unless the committee determines otherwise. If we merge or consolidate
with or into another corporation or entity, outstanding awards will be assumed
or an equivalent option or right will be substituted by the successor corporation
or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the committee
determines otherwise. If the successor corporation does not assume or substitute
the outstanding award, the award will terminate as of the date of the closing
of the merger.
Grants
Under the Plan
As
of March 31, 2004, stock options to purchase an aggregate of 12,303,237 shares
of Common Stock (net of cancellations) had been granted under the plan, of which
10,490,062 were outstanding. No shares of Common Stock remain outstanding or
have been granted with respect to stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent
rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock-based awards.
If the amendment to the plan to increase the number of shares authorized to
be issued under the plan to 18,500,000 shares is approved by stockholders at
the meeting, the total number of shares of Common Stock that will be available
to be issued is 6,196,763 shares.
- 8 -
No
grants have been made under the plan that are subject to stockholder approval
at the annual meeting. The following table lists stock option grants made during
2003 under the plan at an exercise price of $5.82 to $16.30 per share.
Name and Position |
Number Of Securities Underlying Options Granted |
||||
Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D | 1,300,000 | ||||
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
William P. Keane | 15,000 | ||||
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | |||||
and Corporate Secretary | |||||
Loretta M. Itri, M.D | 330,000 | ||||
President, Pharmaceutical Development | |||||
and Chief Medical Officer | |||||
Bruce A. Williams | 20,000 | ||||
Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing | |||||
Stefan Grant, M.D., J.D | 7,500 | ||||
Vice President and Corporate Counsel | |||||
Executive Group, other than those listed above | | ||||
Non-Executive Director Group | | ||||
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group | 795,800 | ||||
Total grants made during 2003 | 2,468,300 | ||||
The
last reported sales price of our Common Stock on March 31, 2004 on the Nasdaq
stock market was $10.50 per share.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
The
following is a brief description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences
generally arising with respect to grants that may be awarded under the plan.
This discussion is intended for the information of our stockholders considering
how to vote at the annual meeting and not as tax guidance to individuals who
participate in the plan.
The
grant of an incentive stock option or non-qualified stock option will create
no tax consequences for us or the participant. A participant will not recognize
taxable income upon exercising an incentive stock option (except that the alternative
minimum tax may apply), and we will receive no deduction at that time. Upon
exercising a non-qualified stock option, the participant must generally recognize
ordinary income equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair
market value of the shares on the date exercised. We generally will be entitled
to a deduction equal to the amount recognized as ordinary income by the participant.
A
participants disposition of shares acquired upon the exercise of an option
generally will result in capital gain or loss measured by the difference between
the sale price and the participants tax basis in such shares (the exercise
price of the option in the case of shares acquired by exercise of an incentive
stock option and held for the applicable incentive stock option holding periods).
Generally, there will be no tax consequences to us in connection with a disposition
of shares acquired under an option, except that we will be entitled to a deduction
(and the participant will recognize ordinary income) if shares acquired upon
exercise of an incentive stock option are disposed of before the applicable
incentive stock option holding periods are satisfied.
- 9 -
With
respect to the grant of restricted shares that are restricted as to transferability
and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant must generally
recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares received
at the time that the shares become transferable or not subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier. We generally will be entitled
to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant.
A participant may elect to be taxed at the time of receipt of such restricted
shares rather than upon the lapse of the restriction on transferability or the
substantial risk of forfeiture, but if the participant subsequently forfeits
the shares, the participant would not be entitled to any tax deduction, including
a capital loss, for the value of the shares on which the participant previously
paid tax. Such election must be made and filed with the Internal Revenue Service
within 30 days after receipt of the shares.
The
grant of a stock appreciation right or restricted stock unit will not result
in income for the participant or in a tax deduction to us. Upon exercise of
the award, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount that
equals the fair market value of any shares of Common Stock and/or any cash received,
and Genta will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount. Participants
will recognize ordinary income equal to any amounts paid on dividend equivalent
rights at the time of such payment, and we will be entitled to a corresponding
deduction.
Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally disallows
a public corporations tax deduction for compensation paid to its chief
executive officers and any of its four other most highly compensated officers
in excess of $1,000,000 in any year. Compensation that qualifies as performance-based
compensation is excluded from the $1,000,000 deductibility cap, and therefore
remains fully deductible by the corporation that pays it. We intend that stock
options and stock appreciation rights granted under the plan by the committee
will qualify as performance-based compensation. Other awards granted under the
plan will not qualify as performance-based compensation.
The
plan amendment is being presented for stockholder approval to satisfy Nasdaq
requirements and to qualify for certain tax benefits. If the amendment is not
approved, it will not be adopted.
The
Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the approval of an
amendment to our 1998 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares
authorized under the plan.
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PROPOSAL FOUR
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN
On
June 26, 2003, the Board approved, subject to stockholder approval at the annual
meeting, an amendment to our Non-Employee Directors 1998 Stock Option
Plan with respect to the stock options granted annually to our directors who
are not employees of the company or any of our subsidiaries for their services.
The Board has directed that the proposed amendment be submitted to our stockholders
for their approval, as stockholder approval is necessary to comply with the
Nasdaq listing maintenance standards. If Proposal Four is not approved by our
stockholders, the amendment will not be adopted and certain options conditionally
granted to non-employee directors as described below will be terminated.
Under
the plan, each non-employee director receives (i) a grant of an option to purchase
24,000 shares of Common Stock upon his or her initial election to the Board
(subsection 5(d)) and (ii) an annual grant of an option to purchase 20,000 shares
of Common Stock at the first meeting of the Board that he or she attends in
person, fully exercisable on the date of the grant (subsection 5(e)). In addition,
the plan currently provides that each member of the Executive Committee of the
Board will receive a grant of an option to purchase 1,000 shares of Common Stock
for each Executive Committee meeting that he or she attends in person, fully
exercisable on the date of the grant (subsection 5(f)).
Proposal
Four would amend two subsections of the plan. The first subsection that would
be affected is subsection 5(e), which sets forth the annual grant of options
to non-employee directors. The Board believes that improvements in communications
technology allow directors to participate effectively at meetings by means of
tele- or video-conference connections. Therefore, the Board recommends that
directors who attend meetings in this manner should be eligible for compensation
as if they were present in person, subject to the approval of the Chairman of
the Board. This change would be effected by substituting the term attend
in person, or participate in, subject to the approval of the Chairman of the
Board in subsection 5(e) for the current words attend in person.
The
second subsection that would be affected by Proposal Four is subsection 5(f),
which currently covers the grant of stock options to members of the Executive
Committee of the Board. The Board is proposing that current subsection 5(f)
be deleted and replaced with a new subsection 5(f) to provide for stock options
to be granted to the Lead Director and the chairperson of each committee of
the Board. To this end, the Board has taken cognizance that the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 and other new regulatory requirements have resulted in establishing
new organizational and business standards that hold public companies and their
boards of directors to new governance and business standards. The Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 introduces, among other things, board-level oversight of accountability,
internal controls and principles of integrity and independence. The Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 contemplates that leadership for many of these functions will be
provided by chairs of committees of boards and other independent board members.
The change in subsection 5(f) would recognize the increased time, effort and
responsibility of those positions. The proposed new wording of subsection 5(f)
is as follows:
(f)
The Lead Director and each non-employee Chairperson of a Committee of
the Board will be granted an annual option to purchase 5,000 shares at
the first meeting of the Board held subsequent to the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under each
option granted under this subsection 5(f) shall be equal to Fair Market
Value (as defined in subsection 6(a) of this Plan). Such options shall
become exercisable immediately upon grant. |
- 11 -
On
June 26, 2003, the Board approved grants for 2003 to the Lead Director and chairperson
of each committee of the Board as contemplated by the proposed change to subsection
5(f), subject to stockholder approval of Proposal Four at the 2004 annual meeting
of stockholders. Accordingly, on June 26, 2003, the following non-employee directors
were granted options to purchase Common Stock at $12.50 and $14.86 per share
under the plan, conditioned upon stockholder approval of Proposal Four, with
respect to the capacities and in the amounts set forth opposite their respective
names:
Name
of Non-Employee Director |
Capacity
for which Option Was Granted |
Shares
of Common Stock Underlying Options Granted |
Harlan J. Wakoff | Chair Audit Committee | 5,000 |
Michael S. Weiss | Lead
Director, Chair Compensation Committee, Chair Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
15,000 |
The
major features of the plan are summarized below, which summary is qualified
in its entirety by the actual text of the plan. We will furnish without charge
a copy of the plan to any stockholder upon request. Such request should be sent
to our Corporate Secretary or made by telephone at our address or phone number
listed on the top of page one of this proxy statement.
General
The
plan provides for the grant of non-qualified stock options to our non-employee
directors. The plan authorizes the issuance of up to 3,300,000 shares of Common
Stock, subject to adjustment as described in the plan. If any stock option issued
under the plan is cancelled or terminated without delivery of the shares of
Common Stock, the shares covered by such stock option will again be available
for issuance under the plan.
The
plan was approved by the Board on May 28, 1998 and by our stockholders on July
14, 1998. The plan was most recently amended on June 26, 2003 by the Board.
Administration
Any
administrative action required under the plan will be taken by the Board. All
determinations of the Board are final, binding and conclusive.
Eligibility
for Participation
Only
non-employee directors are eligible to receive grants under the plan. As of
March 31, 2004, seven non-employee directors were eligible for grants under
the plan.
Stock Option
Grants
Currently,
each non-employee director receives a grant under the plan of an option to purchase
24,000 shares of Common Stock upon his or her initial election to the Board,
which vests over a three year period. Thereafter, each non-employee director
receives an annual grant under the plan of an option to purchase 20,000 shares
of Common Stock at the first meeting of the Board that he or she attends in
person, fully exercisable on the date of the grant. In addition, each member
of the Executive Committee of the Board receives a grant of an option to purchase
1,000 shares of Common Stock for each Executive Committee meeting that he or
she attends in person, fully exercisable on the date of the grant. Revisions
to the annual stock option grants are proposed in this Proposal Four.
Each
option granted to a non-employee director under the plan will have an exercise
price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the
grant and a term of ten years from the date of the grant.
- 12 -
If a non-employee
directors service on the Board terminates for any reason other than death
or disability, options granted under the plan will be exercisable for six months
after termination to the extent they were exercisable at the time of termination,
but not after the expiration date of the option. If a director dies or becomes
disabled while serving on the Board or during the aforementioned post-service
exercise period, the options granted under the plan will, to the extent exercisable
immediately prior to death or disability, remain exercisable for one year after
the date of death or disability, but not after the expiration date of the option.
Amendment
and Termination of the Plan
The
Board may amend the plan at any time, subject to stockholder approval if required
to comply with applicable law, rule or regulation. Unless terminated earlier
by the Board, the plan will terminate on the date that no more shares are available
for issuance under the plan.
Change
in Control
In
the event of a change in control, all options granted under the plan will become
fully vested and immediately exercisable upon (i) the termination of the non-employee
directors membership on the Board by stockholder action within one year
of the change in control, or (ii) the approval by our stockholders of a plan
of complete liquidation or an agreement for the sale or disposition by us of
all or substantially all of our assets or other similar transactions. In the
event of a merger or consolidation of us with or into any other corporation
or entity, each outstanding stock option granted under the plan will be assumed
by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation
or an equivalent option or right will be substituted for the outstanding stock
option.
Grants
Under the Plan
As
of March 31, 2004, stock options to purchase an aggregate of 1,048,336 shares
of Common Stock (net of cancellations but including conditional options granted
to certain directors as described under this Proposal Four) had been granted
under the plan, of which 928,335 were outstanding.
The
following table lists all stock option grants (including, where applicable,
conditional grants subject to stockholder approval under Proposal Four) made
during 2003 under the plan at an exercise price of $6.60 to $14.86 per share:
Name of Non-Employee Director | Number Of Securities Underlying Options Granted |
Jerome E. Groopman , M.D | 20,000 |
Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D | 20,000 |
Peter T. Tattle (appointed December 16, 2003) | 24,000 |
Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D | 20,000 |
Harlan J. Wakoff | 25,000 |
Douglas G. Watson | 20,000 |
Michael S. Weiss | 35,000 |
Patrick J. Zenner (retired December 16, 2003) | 20,000 |
The
last reported sales price of our Common Stock on March 31, 2004 on the Nasdaq
stock market was $10.50 per share.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
The
following is a brief description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences
generally arising with respect to stock options that may be granted under the
plan. This discussion is intended for the information of our stockholders considering
how to vote at the 2004 annual meeting and not as tax guidance to individuals
who participate in the plan.
- 13 -
The
grant of a nonqualified stock option will create no tax consequences for us
or the participant. Upon exercising a nonqualified stock option, the participant
must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the difference between the
exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the date exercised.
We generally will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount recognized
as ordinary income by the participant.
A
participants disposition of shares acquired upon the exercise of a nonqualified
stock option generally will result in capital gain or loss measured by the difference
between the sale price and the participants tax basis in such shares.
There will be no tax consequences to us in connection with a disposition of
shares acquired under an option.
The
Board believes that these amendments to the plan are in the best interests of
the company and our stockholders because they provide improved incentives to
attract and retain qualified non-employee directors to serve on the Board and
to encourage such directors to assume leadership roles as Lead Director and
as chairpersons of the committees of the Board. Additionally, they encourage
enhanced long-term performance by compensating directors for their service to
the Board and their participation at meetings of the Board and its committees.
The
Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the approval of the
amendment to our Non-Employee Directors 1998 Stock Option Plan with respect
to the annual stock options granted under the plan.
- 14 -
PROPOSAL FIVE
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The
Board has selected the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004, subject to ratification
by our stockholders at the annual meeting. Deloitte & Touche LLP was our
independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
Representatives
of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the meeting, will
have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be
available to answer appropriate questions.
The
Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the ratification
of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent auditors
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.
- 15 -
OTHER MATTERS
The
Board does not know of any other matter that may be brought before the annual
meeting. However, if any such other matters are properly brought before the
meeting, the proxies may use their own judgment to determine how to vote your
shares.
MATTERS RELATING TO OUR GOVERNANCE
The Board
and its Committees
The
Board currently consists of eight directors. They are Raymond P. Warrell, Jr.,
M.D., Jerome E. Groopman, M.D., Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., Peter T. Tattle, Daniel
D. Von Hoff, M.D., Harlan J. Wakoff, Douglas G. Watson and Michael S. Weiss.
The Board has determined that, except as noted below, all of the members of
the Board are "independent directors" as defined under Nasdaq rules.
Dr.
Warrell is not considered independent as he is an executive officer of the Company.
The
Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee and an Executive Committee. The Board held seven
meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. The Audit Committee
held seven meetings, and the Compensation Committee held three meetings.
No formal meetings were held by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee,
as the independent directors of the Board acted as a whole on nominating and
corporate governance matters. The Executive Committee, which was
re-established at the Board meeting held on December 16, 2003, did not
meet during the year ended December 31, 2003. Each member of the Board
attended no fewer than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and
the committees of which he or she was a member. Although we do not have a formal
policy regarding attendance by members of the Board at our annual meeting of
stockholders, we encourage directors to attend and historically more than a
majority have done so. All directors holding office at the time, with the exception
of Dr. Von Hoff, attended the 2003 annual meeting of shareholders.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit Committee currently consists of Harlan J. Wakoff, Douglas G. Watson and
Jerome E. Groopman, M.D. Each member of the committee is independent as defined
under Nasdaq rules. The Board has also determined that both Mr. Wakoff and Mr.
Watson fulfill the SEC criteria as audit committee financial experts. Pursuant
to the Audit Committees charter adopted by the Board, the purposes of
the Audit Committee include reviewing the procedures and results of our external
auditing functions, providing a direct communication link to the Board from
our external auditing staffs and our Chief Financial Officer, helping assure
the quality of our financial reporting and control systems and recommending
annually to the Board the firm of independent auditors to examine our financial
statements. A copy of this committees charter was attached to our proxy
statement for the 2003 annual meeting of stockholders as Appendix A.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee currently consists of Michael S. Weiss, Daniel D. Von
Hoff, M.D. and Douglas G. Watson. Each member of the committee is independent
as defined under Nasdaq rules. The primary purpose of the Compensation Committee
is to review, on an annual basis or more frequently as it deems appropriate,
the performance of our executive officers, review the amount and form of compensation
payable to our executive officers and report to the Board on an annual basis
making recommendations regarding compensation of our executive officers. In
addition, the Compensation Committee administers our equity compensation plans.
- 16 -
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Michael
S. Weiss, Jerome E. Groopman, M.D. and Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D. Each member of
the committee is independent as defined under Nasdaq rules. The purposes of
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to identify and recommend
individuals qualified for nomination to serve as on our Board and its committees,
ensure that the performance of the Board is reviewed, develop and recommend
corporate governance principles to the Board and ensure that an appropriate
governing structure with respect to the Board and its committees is in place
so that the Board can perform a proper review function. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees charter is available on our website at www.genta.com.
In
assessing candidates as director nominees, whether recommended by this committee
or stockholders, the committee considers the following criteria:
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended
by stockholders. In order for a stockholder to make a nomination, the stockholder
must comply with the advance notice provision of Section 14 in Article II of
our by-laws. The stockholder must provide a written notice along with the additional
information required by our by-laws to our Corporate Secretary at our address
listed on the top of page one of this proxy statement. Except as set forth below,
we must receive such written notice no less than 120 days prior to any meeting
of stockholders called for the election of directors. In the event less than
100 days of notice of the meeting is given to stockholders, we must receive
written notice not later than the close of business on the seventh day following
the day on which the notice of the meeting was mailed.
Executive
Committee
The
Executive Committee currently consists of Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D., Harlan
J. Wakoff, Douglas G. Watson, Peter T. Tattle and Michael S. Weiss. The Executive
Committee is empowered to exercise all of the powers and authorities of the
Board in management of the business and affairs of the company, except that
the Executive Committee does not have the power and authority in reference to
(i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or
matter expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to be submitted
to the stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any
provisions of our by-laws.
- 17 -
Compensation
of Directors
Our
directors receive $15,000 per year for their services. In addition, under our
Non-Employee Directors 1998 Stock Option Plan, non-employee directors
currently receive a grant of 24,000 stock options upon their initial election
to the Board and, thereafter, each member of the Board receives an annual grant
of 20,000 stock options at the first Board meeting he or she attends in person
each year. Employee directors are eligible for stock options under our 1998
Stock Incentive Plan. Directors receive an additional $1,500 for each Board
meeting attended in person or $750 for each Board meeting attended telephonically.
Directors attending committee meetings receive $1,000 for each in-person meeting
or $750 for each meeting attended telephonically. Directors receive $2,500 per
day for Board or committee activities outside of the normal activities. If Proposal
Four described on pages eleven through fourteen of this proxy statement is approved
by our stockholders at the meeting, the Lead Director and committee chairpersons
would receive annual cash compensation of $5,000 and a grant of 5,000 stock
options.
Stockholder
Communications to the Board
The
Board has provided a process for stockholders to communicate with our directors.
Stockholders and other interested parties who wish to communicate with our directors
may address their correspondence to the Board, to the non-employee directors
or any other group of directors or committee of the Board or to a particular
director, in care of our Corporate Secretary at our address listed on the top
of page one of this proxy statement.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
We
have a series of agreements with Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop and
commercialize Genasense. Aventis and Genta will co-promote Genasense
in the United States; Aventis is a major participant in the worldwide oncology
market and possesses one of the largest oncology sales forces in the United
States. Under these agreements, Aventis has committed to provide up to $476.9
million in initial payments, milestone payments and for the purchase from us
of equity and convertible notes. In addition, Aventis is responsible for 75%
of development costs related to any U.S. NDA (new drug application) incurred
by Genta or Aventis, and substantially all other development, marketing and
sales costs incurred worldwide in connection with Genasense. Aventis has
agreed to pay us royalties on its exclusive worldwide net sales of Genasense,
and to reimburse a portion of our expense in building Gentas sales force
to market Genasense in the United States.
In
2003, license fees and development funding revenues received from Aventis pursuant
to our collaborative agreement related to GenasenseTM accounted for
$1.0 million, or 15% and $4.2 million, or 63% of our consolidated revenues,
respectively. In 2002, license fees and development funding revenues received
from Aventis accounted for $0.8 million, or 22% and $2.8 million, or 78% of
our consolidated revenues, respectively. Aventis beneficially owns 8.6% of our
Common Stock as of March 31, 2004.
Code of
Ethics
The
Board has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all our directors and employees,
including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and controller.
A copy of the Code is currently available on our website at www.genta.com.
- 18 -
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND COMPENSATION
Executive
Officers
Our
executive officers are:
Raymond
P. Warrell, Jr., M.D., 54, has been our Chief Executive Officer and
a member of our Board since December 1999 and our Chairman since January 2001.
From December 1999 to May 2003, he was our President. From 1978 to 1999, Dr.
Warrell was associated with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New
York, where he held tenured positions as Member, Attending Physician, and Associate
Physician-in-Chief, and with the Joan and Sanford Weill Medical College of Cornell
University, where he was Professor of Medicine. Dr. Warrell also has more than
20 years of development and consulting experience in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
products. He was a co-founder and chairman of the scientific advisory board
of PolaRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., manufacturers of Trisenox®, a drug for
the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, which was acquired by Cell Therapeutics,
Inc. in January 2000. Dr. Warrell holds or has filed numerous patents and patent
applications for biomedical therapeutic or diagnostic agents. He has published
more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and more than 240 book chapters and abstracts,
most of which are focused upon drug development in tumor-related diseases. Dr.
Warrell is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the American
Society of Hematology, the American Association for Cancer Research and the
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Among many awards, he has received the
U.S. Public Health Service Award for Exceptional Achievement in Orphan Drug
Development from the FDA. Dr. Warrell is married to Dr. Loretta M. Itri, President,
Pharmaceutical Development and Chief Medical Officer of Genta.
William
P. Keane, 49, has been our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
since October 2002 and was appointed our Corporate Secretary in November 2002.
Previously, he was Vice President of Sourcing, Strategy, and Operations Effectiveness
at Bristol Myers Squibb, Inc. From 2000 to 2001, Mr. Keane served as Chief Financial
Officer of Covance Biotechnology Services Inc., and from 1997 to 2000, he was
Vice-President of Finance within the Global Manufacturing group at Warner-Lambert/Pfizer.
From 1985 to 1997, he held positions of increasing responsibility in Finance
and Operations at Ciba-Geigy/Novartis. Mr. Keane currently serves on the board
of Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Loretta
M. Itri, M.D., F.A.C.P., 54, has been our President, Pharmaceutical
Development and Chief Medical Officer since March 2003 and was Executive Vice
President, Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer from March 2001 to
March 2003. Previously, Dr. Itri was Senior Vice President, Worldwide Clinical
Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer at Ortho Biotech Inc., a Johnson & Johnson
company, from November 1990 until March 2001. As the senior clinical leader
at Ortho Biotech and previously at J&Js R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical
Research Institute (PRI), she led the clinical teams responsible for new drug
application approvals for Procrit®. She had similar leadership responsibilities
for the approvals of Leustatin, Renova,
Topamax,
Levofloxin,
and Ultram.
Prior to joining J&J, Dr. Itri was associated with Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
from June 1982 until November 1990, most recently as Assistant Vice President
and Senior Director of Clinical Investigations, where she was responsible for
all phases of clinical programs in Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Antivirals,
AIDS, Hematology, and Oncology. Under her leadership in the areas of recombinant
proteins, cytotoxic drugs and differentiation agents, she compiled the first
successful Product License Application (PLA) for an interferon product (Roferon-A;
interferon alfa). Dr. Itri currently serves on the board of directors of Pharmacyclics,
Inc. Dr. Itri is married to Dr. Raymond P. Warrell, our Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman.
Bruce
A. Williams, 49, has been our Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing
since February 2001. Mr. Williams served most recently as Vice President, Sales
and Marketing, at Celgene Corporation from July 1996 until March 2001, where
he launched Thalomid®,
that companys first pharmaceutical product. He was previously Executive
Director for Marketing at Ortho Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company,
where he launched Procrit®
(epoetin alfa). Previously, Mr. Williams held sales, marketing, advertising,
and licensing/acquisition positions at Lederle, now a division of American Home
Products, Inc., and at Organon, Inc.
- 19 -
Stefan
C. Grant, M.D., J.D. 46, has been our Corporate Counsel since April
2002 and was appointed Vice President in January 2004. Previously, he was with
the intellectual property law firm of Kenyon & Kenyon. He has worked with
the pharmaceutical, biotechnical, chemical and medical device industries, and
has experience in all aspects of intellectual property law, including the prosecution,
licensing and litigation of patents. Prior to joining Kenyon & Kenyon, Dr.
Grant, who is a medical oncologist and hematologist, spent eleven years at Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he was an attending physician and Assistant
Professor of Medicine at Cornell University Medical College. He underwent postgraduate
medical training in South Africa, Great Britain and the United States. Dr. Grant
received his J.D. from Fordham University and his medical degree from the University
of the Witwatersrand Medical School in South Africa.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding compensation paid to
the following named executive officers, during the year ended December 31, 2003:
our Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly paid executive officers.
Name
and Principal Position |
Annual Compensation | Other
Annual Compensation |
Long-Term Compensation Awards |
Other Compensation ($) (1) |
||||||||||||||||
Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Securities
Underlying Options (#) |
|||||||||||||||||
Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D. | 2003 | 406,250 | 200,000 | 20,867 | (2) | 1,300,000 | 11,667 | |||||||||||||
Chairman and | 2002 | 325,000 | 100,000 | 16,289 | 300,000 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2001 | 325,000 | 100,000 | 18,037 | 300,000 | 8,060 | ||||||||||||||
William P. Keane | 2003 | 260,000 | 65,000 | 1,848 | (3) | 15,000 | 10,000 | |||||||||||||
Vice President, Chief Financial | 2002 | 47,333 | | | 100,000 | | ||||||||||||||
Officer and Corporate Secretary | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loretta M. Itri, M.D. | 2003 | 390,744 | 107,200 | 7,877 | (4) | 330,000 | 11,667 | |||||||||||||
President, Pharmaceutical | 2002 | 307,000 | 79,500 | 3,464 | 40,000 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||
Development and | 2001 | 201,807 | | 11,179 | 300,000 | 8,500 | ||||||||||||||
Chief Medical Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bruce A. Williams | 2003 | 213,350 | 50,800 | 2,595 | (5) | 20,000 | 10,000 | |||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, Sales | 2002 | 203,200 | 39,000 | | 35,000 | 9,167 | ||||||||||||||
and Marketing | 2001 | 161,125 | | | 150,000 | 7,312 | ||||||||||||||
Stefan Grant, M.D., J.D. | 2003 | 201,400 | 42,800 | | 7,500 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||
Vice President and Corporate | 2002 | 128,859 | | | 60,000 | 4,749 | ||||||||||||||
Counsel |
(1) |
Represents 401(k) matching contributions made by us. |
(2) |
Includes $6,000 for auto allowance, $4,464 for long-term disability and
$10,403 for life insurance premiums. |
(3) |
Represents long-term disability insurance premiums. |
(4) |
Represents long-term disability and life insurance premiums. |
(5) |
Represents life insurance premiums. |
- 20 -
Stock Option
Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The
following table sets forth certain information concerning grants of stock options
made during 2003 to the named executive officers.
Name |
Number Of Securities Underlying Options Granted |
Percent Of Total Options Granted To Employees In Fiscal Year |
Exercise Price ($/Sh) |
Expiration Date |
Grant
Date Value ($) (1) |
||||||||||||
Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D. | 1,000,000 (2) | 40.50% | 7.86 | 01/28/2013 | 4,691,959 | ||||||||||||
300,000 (3) | 12.16% | 9.88 | 05/16/2013 | 1,119,944 | |||||||||||||
William P. Keane | 15,000 (4) | * | 13.23 | 07/01/2013 | 94,243 | ||||||||||||
Loretta M. Itri, M.D. | 300,000 (5) | 12.16% | 11.95 | 08/05/2013 | 1,702,497 | ||||||||||||
30,000 (3) | 1.22% | 7.86 | 01/28/2013 | 111,994 | |||||||||||||
Bruce A. Williams | 20,000 (3) | * | 7.86 | 01/28/2013 | 74,663 | ||||||||||||
Stefan Grant, M.D., J.D. | 7,500 (3) | * | 7.86 | 01/28/2013 | 27,999 |
* Less than 1%.
(1) |
These amounts represent the estimated fair value of stock options, measured
at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. There
are four underlying assumptions in developing the grant valuations: an
expected volatility of 58%, an expected term of exercise of four years,
a risk free interest rate of approximately 3.3% and a dividend yield of
0%. The actual value, if any, an officer may realize will depend on the
amount by which the stock price exceeds the exercise price on the date
the option is exercised. Consequently, there is no assurance the value
realized by an officer will be at or near the value estimated above. These
amounts should not be used to predict stock performance. |
(2) |
Represents options granted for renewal of employment contract. (a) 500,000
shares vest immediately in the event that the average share price exceeds
$20.00 for seven consecutive trading days and (b) the remaining 500,000
shares vest immediately in the event that the average share price exceeds
$30.00 for seven consecutive trading days. |
(3) |
Represents options granted for 2002 annual performance bonus. |
(4) |
Represents options issued per employment offer agreement. |
(5) |
Represents options granted for renewal of employment contract. One third
of the shares become exercisable upon the first FDA approval of Genasense,
one third of the shares become exercisable upon FDA approval of Genasense
in any second indication, and one third of the shares become exercisable
upon FDA approval of Genasense in any of the following indications:
non-small cell lung cancer, breast, colorectal, prostate or non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma. |
- 21 -
Option
Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option Values
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to aggregate option
exercises by the named executive officers in the fiscal year ended December
31, 2003 and with respect to the unexercised options held by the named executive
officers as of December 31, 2003.
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at Fiscal YearEnd (#) |
Value of Unexercised In-The-Money Options at Fiscal Year End ($) (1) |
||||||||||||
Name |
Shares
Acquired On Exercise (#) |
||||||||||||
Value Realized ($) |
|||||||||||||
Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||
Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D. | | | 4,194,385 | 2,468,877 | 31,175,944 | 7,851,209 | |||||||
William P. Keane | | | 25,000 | 90,000 | 76,250 | 228,750 | |||||||
Loretta M. Itri, M.D. | | | 130,000 | 540,000 | 564,000 | 923,070 | |||||||
Bruce A. Williams | | | 83,750 | 121,250 | 283,050 | 334,430 | |||||||
Stefan Grant, M.D., J.D. | | | 15,000 | 52,500 | | 19,268 | |||||||
(1) |
Calculated on the basis of the market value of the underlying securities
as of December 31, 2003 ($10.43 per share), minus the exercise price,
and excludes options approved in January 2004 as part of the 2003 annual
bonus. |
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table summarizes the number of outstanding options granted to employees
and directors, as well as the number of securities remaining available for future
issuance, under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2003.
Plan category | Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in the first column) |
||||
Equity compensation plans | |||||||
approved by security | |||||||
holders | 10,799,422 | $6.32 | 7,311,352 | ||||
Equity compensation plans | |||||||
not approved by security | |||||||
holders (1) | | | |
(1) |
None. |
- 22 -
Employment
Agreements
Employment
Agreement with Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D.
Pursuant
to an employment agreement dated as of December 1, 2002 between Genta and Dr.
Warrell and signed May 16, 2003, Dr. Warrell continues to serve as our Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Warrells 2003 employment agreement will
expire on December 31, 2005. Under his 2003 employment agreement, Dr. Warrell
receives a base salary of $400,000 per annum with annual percentage increases
equal to at least the Consumer Price Index for the calendar year preceding the
year of the increase. In the event we terminate his employment without cause
(as defined in the 2003 agreement) or Dr. Warrell terminates his employment
for good reason (as defined in the 2003 agreement), Dr. Warrell becomes entitled
to receive, as severance, the base salary he would have received during the
twelve-month period following the date of termination. At the end of each calendar
year, Dr. Warrell is eligible for an annual bonus ranging from 0% to 60% of
annual base salary, subject to the achievement of agreed-upon goals and objectives.
Dr. Warrell received (i) an initial option grant of 1,000,000 stock options,
of which (a) 500,000 shares vest immediately in the event that the average share
price exceeds $20.00 for seven consecutive trading days and (b) the remaining
500,000 shares vest immediately in the event that the average share price exceeds
$30.00 for seven consecutive trading days; and is entitled to receive (ii) annual
stock options for the purchase of up to 225,000 shares of Common Stock, depending
upon the achievement of agreed-upon goals and objectives. Dr. Warrell continues
to be entitled to any and all medical insurance, dental insurance, group health,
disability insurance and other benefit plans, which are generally available
to Gentas senior executives.
Employment
Agreement with Loretta M. Itri, M.D.
Pursuant
to an employment agreement dated as of August 5, 2003, between Genta and Dr.
Itri, Dr. Itri was appointed President, Pharmaceutical Development and Chief
Medical Officer of Genta as of March 28, 2003. The employment agreement has
an initial term of three years, beginning March 28, 2003 and continuing through
March 27, 2006. The agreement provides for a base annual salary of $400,000
and an annual cash bonus ranging from 0% to 50% of her base salary to be paid
if mutually agreed-upon goals and objectives are achieved for the year. Dr.
Itri was also granted an incentive stock option to purchase 300,000 shares of
our Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.95 per share, one third of the
shares to become exercisable upon the first FDA approval of Genasense, one third
of the shares to become exercisable upon FDA approval of Genasense in any second
indication, and one third of the shares to become exercisable upon FDA approval
of Genasense in any of the following indications: non-small cell lung cancer,
breast, colorectal, prostate or non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None
of the members of our Compensation Committee had any interlock relationship
to report during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
- 23 -
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Overview
The
company seeks to achieve three objectives, which serve as guidelines in making
compensation decisions:
In
making its compensation determinations, the Compensation Committee of the Board
has relied, in part, on independent surveys and analyses of management compensation
of executives of companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries
(including companies in the Nasdaq Pharmaceutical Stock Index used in the Stock
Price Performance Graph set forth on page thirty-six of this proxy statement)
and recommendations of management. The Compensation Committee believes it has
established executive compensation levels that are competitive with companies
in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries when taking into account
relative company size, stage of development, individual responsibilities and
experience, individual and overall corporate performance and geographic location.
Components
of Executive Compensation
The
companys potential therapeutic products are in various stages of research
and development, and no revenues have as yet been generated from therapeutic
product sales. As a result, the use of traditional performance standards, such
as corporate profitability, are not believed to be appropriate in the evaluation
of the performance of the company or its individual executives. The compensation
of the companys executive officers is based, in substantial part, on the
achievement of individual and overall corporate objectives. Such objectives
are established and modified as necessary to reflect changes in market conditions
and other factors. Individual and overall corporate performance is measured
by reviewing whether these corporate objectives have been achieved.
The
companys compensation package for executive officers generally consists
of annual cash compensation and long-term compensation in the form of stock
options. In light of the companys stage of development, considerable emphasis
is placed on equity-based compensation in an effort to preserve cash to finance
the companys research and development efforts.
Annual
Cash Compensation
Compensation
levels for the companys executive officers are determined in part through
comparisons with companies of a similar size, stage of development and level
of complexity in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and other companies
with which the company competes for personnel. In addition, the compensation
level for each executive officer reflects an evaluation of the responsibilities
required for each respective position, individual experience levels and individual
performance and contributions toward achievement of the companys business
objectives. The compensation levels for the companys executive officers
are designed to be competitive within a range that the Compensation Committee
determines to be reasonable in light of the aforementioned factors. The salary
level of each executive officer is reviewed on an annual basis, and adjustments
are made as deemed necessary.
- 24 -
Stock Options
The
Compensation Committee believes that by providing all full-time employees, including
executive officers who have responsibility for the management and growth of
the company, with an opportunity to obtain an equity interest in the company,
the best interests of stockholders and the companys employees will be
closely aligned. Accordingly, all full-time employees, including executive officers,
are eligible to receive stock option grants from time to time, giving them the
right to purchase shares of the companys Common Stock at a specified price.
Compensation of Executive Officers
In
making compensation decisions for the companys fiscal year ended December
31, 2003, the Compensation Committee considered the importance to the company
of retaining highly qualified key personnel due to the complex and technologically
sophisticated nature of the companys business. Bonus compensation was
awarded to the companys executive officers in an aggregate amount of $465,800.
Dr. Warrell received bonus and salary compensation pursuant to the terms of
his employment agreement. In December 2002, the committee increased Dr. Warrells
2003 annual base salary to $400,000 and awarded him a $200,000 bonus.
This
report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation shall not be
deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference
this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent
the company specifically incorporates this report by reference, and shall not
otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
Members of the Compensation Committee | |
Michael S. Weiss,
Chairman Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D. Douglas G. Watson |
- 25 -
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The
Audit Committee of the Board is currently composed of three directors, each
of whom is independent as defined under the Nasdaq rules, and operates under
a written charter adopted by the Board. The members of our committee are Harlan
J. Wakoff, Douglas G. Watson and Jerome E. Groopman, M.D. Among our other responsibilities,
we recommend to the Board the selection of the companys independent auditors.
Management
is responsible for the companys internal controls and the financial reporting
process. Deloitte & Touche LLP, the companys independent auditors,
are responsible for performing an independent audit of the companys consolidated
financial statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States of America and to issue a report thereon. The Audit Committees
responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.
In
this context, we have met and held discussions with management and the independent
auditors. Management represented to us that the companys consolidated
financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States, and we have reviewed and discussed the consolidated
financial statements with management and the independent auditors. We also discussed
with the independent auditors matters required to be discussed by Statement
on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit Committees), as amended.
The
companys independent auditors also provided to us the written disclosures
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions
with Audit Committees), and we discussed with the independent auditors their
independence.
Fees for
independent auditors for fiscal years 2003 and 2002
Set
forth below are the fees billed for services rendered by Deloitte & Touche
LLP in 2003 and 2002.
2003 | 2002 | ||||
Audit Fees | $376,875 | $198,375 | |||
Audit-Related Fees | 233,873 | 118,000 | |||
Total Audit & Audit-Related Fees | 610,748 | 316,375 | |||
Tax Fees | 48,160 | 68,405 | |||
All Other Fees | 20,500 | 0 | |||
Total Fees | $679,408 | $384,780 | |||
Audit
fees consist of fees billed for services rendered for the audit of our financial
statements and review of our financial statements included in our quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and services provided in connection with other statutory
or regulatory filings.
Audit-related
fees consist of fees billed for services with respect to accounting consultations
and due diligence services related to potential acquisitions.
Tax
fees consist of fees billed for professional services related to the preparation
of our U.S. federal, U.S. state and foreign income tax returns and tax advice
given to us.
All
other fees consist of fees billed for professional services related to the post-implementation
review of a new financial information and accounting system implemented by the
company in 2003.
After
considering the provision of services encompassed within the above disclosures
about fees, the Audit Committee has determined that the provision of such services
is compatible with maintaining Deloitte & Touche LLPs independence.
- 26 -
Pre-approval
policy of services performed by independent auditors
The
Audit Committees policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit related
services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided
for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service
or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The Audit
Committee has delegated the pre-approval authority to its chairperson when expedition
of services is necessary. The independent auditors and management are required
to periodically report to the full Audit Committee regarding the extent of services
provided by the independent auditors in accordance with this pre-approval and
the fees for the services performed to date.
Based
upon our discussion with management and the independent auditors and our review
of the representation of management and the report of the independent auditors
to us, we recommended that the Board include the audited consolidated financial
statements in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2003, filed with the SEC, and that Deloitte & Touche LLP be
appointed as the independent auditors for the companys fiscal year ending
December 31, 2004.
This
report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference
by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent the company specifically
incorporates this report by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed
under such Acts.
Members of the Audit Committee | |
Harlan J. Wakoff,
Chairman Douglas G. Watson Jerome E. Groopman, M.D. |
- 27 -
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The
following table sets forth as of March 31, 2004 certain information with respect
to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock (the only voting class outstanding),
(i) by each director, (ii) by each of the named executive officers and (iii)
by all officers and directors as a group. As of March 31, 2004, each share of
Series A Preferred Stock was convertible at the option of the holder into approximately
7.3967 shares of Common Stock. Except as required by law or with respect to
the creation or amendment of senior classes of Preferred Stock or creation of
different series or classes of Common Stock, and in certain other instances,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock do not have voting rights until such shares
are converted into Common Stock. The conversion price and the numbers of shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock may
be adjusted in the future, based on the provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended.
Name and Address (1) |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (2) |
Percent
of Class Beneficially Owned |
||||||
Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D | 4,490,085 | (3) | 5.5 | % | ||||
William P. Keane | 31,000 | (4) | * | |||||
Loretta M. Itri, M.D | 234,495 | (5) | * | |||||
Bruce A. Williams | 144,000 | (6) | * | |||||
Stefan Grant, M.D., J.D | 31,975 | (7) | * | |||||
Jerome E. Groopman, M.D | 46,000 | (8) | * | |||||
Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D | 89,334 | (8) | * | |||||
Peter T. Tattle | | * | ||||||
Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D | 141,667 | (8) | * | |||||
Harlan J. Wakoff | 260,000 | (8) | * | |||||
Douglas G. Watson | 91,000 | (9) | * | |||||
Michael S. Weiss | 741,687 | (10) | 1.0 | % | ||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as | 6,301,243 | (11) | 7.6 | % | ||||
a group |
* | Less than one percent (1%). | |
(1) |
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each named holder is in care
of Genta Incorporated, Two Connell Drive, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922. |
(2) |
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to
securities. Shares of Common Stock subject to options exercisable within
60 days of March 31, 2004 are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage
of the person holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for
computing the percentage of any other person. Except as indicated by footnote,
and subject to community property laws where applicable, the person named
in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all
shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them. |
(3) |
Consists of 70,700 shares of Common Stock, including 10,000 shares of
Common Stock related to the Asset Purchase Agreement with Relgen LLC,
a privately held corporation, of which Dr. Warrell is the majority stockholder
and 4,419,385 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of currently
exercisable stock options. Excludes 26,995 shares of Common Stock beneficially
owned by Dr. Warrells wife, Dr. Itri. Dr. Warrell disclaims beneficial
ownership of such shares. |
(4) |
Consists of 6,000 shares of Common Stock and 25,000 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options. |
- 28 -
(5) |
Consists of 26,995 shares of Common Stock and 207,500 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options. Excludes
70,700 shares of Commons Stock, beneficially owned by Dr. Itris
husband, Dr. Warrell. Dr. Itri disclaims beneficial ownership of such
shares. |
(6) |
Consists of 9,000 shares of Common Stock and 135,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options. |
(7) |
Consists of 100 shares of Common Stock and 31,875 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of exercisable stock options. |
(8) |
Consists of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of exercisable
stock options. |
(9) |
Consists of 15,000 shares of Common Stock and 76,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of exercisable stock options. |
(10) |
Consists of 478,353 shares of Common Stock and 263,334 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options. |
(11) |
Consists of 606,048 shares of Common Stock and 5,695,095 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options. |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The
following table sets forth as of March 31, 2004 certain information with respect
to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock (the only voting class outstanding)
by each person known to us to beneficially own more than five percent of our
outstanding Common Stock.
Name and Address
(1) |
Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned (2) |
Percent
of Class Beneficially Owned |
||||||
Dr. Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D. | 17,854,672 | (1) | 22.0 | % | ||||
c/o of Paramount Capital Asset Mgmt. | ||||||||
787 7th Avenue, 48th Floor | ||||||||
New York, NY 10019 | ||||||||
Garliston Limited | 6,665,498 | (2) | 8.6 | % | ||||
c/o Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ||||||||
300 Somerset Corporate Blvd | ||||||||
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 | ||||||||
Mazama Capital Management, Inc. | 5,324,221 | 6.8 | % | |||||
One SW Columbia | ||||||||
Portland, OR 97258 |
- 29 -
(1) |
Dr. Rosenwald is chairman and sole stockholder of Paramount BioCapital
Asset Management, Inc. (PBAM). PBAM is the managing member
of Aries Select I, LLC (AS1) and Aries Select II, LLC (AS2),
each a Delaware LLC, the general partner of the Aries Domestic Fund, L.P.
(ADF1) and Aries Domestic Fund II, L.P. (ADF2),
each a Delaware limited partnership, and the investment manager of Aries
Select, Ltd. (Aries Select) and the Aries Master Fund II (AMF2),
each a Cayman Island exempted company (such entities referred to above,
the Aries Funds). Dr. Rosenwald and PBAM may be deemed to
beneficially own the securities of the Issuer owned by the Aries Funds
under Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Each of Dr. Rosenwald and PBAM disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities
held by the Aries Funds under Rule 16a-1(a)(2), except to the extent of
its pecuniary interest therein, if any. |
|
Dr. Rosenwald may be deemed, for purposes of Section 13D under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to have voting and dispositive power over 17,854,672 shares as follows: 7,975,100 shares owned by AMF2; 5,887,859 shares owned by ADF1; 656,191 shares owned by ADF2; 30,000 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase 3,305,522 Shares owned directly by Dr. Rosenwald. |
(2) |
Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. may be deemed to have shared voting and
investment power over 6,665,498 shares of Common Stock held by Garliston
Limited. |
- 30 -
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The
following graph compares the five-year cumulative total stockholder return (change
in stock price plus reinvested dividends) of our Common Stock with the CRSP
Total Return Index for the Nasdaq National Market (U.S. and foreign) and the
CRSP Total Return Index for Nasdaq Biotechnology Index for the period from December
31, 1998 to December 31, 2003. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on December
31, 1998 in our Common Stock and the common stock of each of the foregoing indices
and also assumes reinvestment of dividends.
- 31 -
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors
and executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of our Common
Stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes
in ownership of our Common Stock.
To
our knowledge based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished
to us and the reporting persons representations to us that no other reports
were required, except as set forth below, during the year ended December 31,
2003, our directors and officers and owners of more than ten percent of our
Common Stock complied with their respective filing requirements under Section
16(a) on a timely basis. Each of Bruce A. Williams, Daniel Von Hoff, M.D., Harland
J. Wakoff, Lorettta M. Itri, M.D., Douglas G. Watson and William P. Keane had
one untimely filed report and transaction during the last fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003. Each of Michael S. Weiss and Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D.
had two such reports and transactions during the last fiscal year ended December
31, 2003.
- 32 -
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR NEXT YEAR
Proposals
of stockholders intended to be presented at the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders
called for a date within thirty days of June 23, 2005 and be included in our
proxy materials must be received by us no later than January 18, 2005. Stockholder
proposals failing to comply with the procedures of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, will be excluded.
Proposals
of stockholders intended to be presented at the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders
called for a date within thirty days of June 23, 2005 and not be included in
our proxy materials must comply with the advance notice provision in Section
3 of Article I of our by-laws. Except as set forth below, we must receive written
notice not less than fifty days nor more than seventy-five days prior to the
2005 annual meeting. In the event that less than sixty-five days of notice or
prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given to our stockholders, we
must receive written notice not less than the close of business on the fifteenth
day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed
or such public disclosure was made. If notice is not received during the specified
periods, the stockholder proposals will be deemed untimely.
All
stockholder proposals should be directed to our Corporate Secretary at our address
listed on the top of page one of this proxy statement.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
We
will provide without charge to each person solicited by this proxy statement,
on the written request of such person, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K,
including the financial statements and financial statement schedules, as filed
with the SEC for our most recent fiscal year. Such written requests should be
directed to William P. Keane, our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Corporate Secretary, at our address listed on the top of page one of this proxy
statement.
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
Raymond P. Warrell,
Jr., M.D. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: April
20, 2004
- 33 -
Please Mark Here for Address Change or Comments |
o | ||
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the director nominees listed below and FOR Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. | |||||||||
1. | To elect directors. | FOR
ALL NOMINEES (except as marked to the contrary) |
WITHHOLD FROM ALL NOMINEES |
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||
o | o | 2. | To approve an amendment to the Companys Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock available for issuance. | o | o | o | |||
To withhold authority to vote for any nominee, write the number preceding the nominees name on the line below. Withhold authority for: ____________________ Director Nominees: 01 RAYMOND P. WARRELL, JR., M.D., 02 JEROME E. GROOPMAN, M.D., 03 BETSY MCCAUGHEY, PH.D., 04 PETER T. TATTLE, 05 DANIEL D. VON HOFF, M.D., 06 HARLAN J. WAKOFF, 07 DOUGLAS G. WATSON, 08 MICHAEL S. WEISS. |
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||
3. | To approve an amendment to the Companys 1998 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the plan. | o | o | o | |||||
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||||||
4. | To approve an amendment to the Companys Non-Employee Directors 1998 Stock Option Plan with respect to the annual stock options granted under the plan. | o | o | o | |||||
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||||||
5. | To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Companys independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004. | o | o | o |
Signature _________________________________ Signature _________________________________ Date ______________ |
Please
sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your stock certificate. If signing
as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please indicate
the capacity in which signing. When signing as joint tenants, all parties
to the joint tenancy must sign. When the proxy is given by a corporation,
it should be signed by an authorized officer. |
|
Ù FOLD AND DETACH HERE Ù |
Vote
by Internet or Telephone or Mail
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Internet
and telephone voting is available through 11:59 PM Eastern Time
the day prior to the Annual Meeting.
Your Internet
or telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same
manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
http://www.eproxy.com/gnta Use the Internet to vote. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website. |
1-800-435-6710 Use any touch-tone telephone to vote. Have your proxy card in hand when you call. |
Mail Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
If you
vote by Internet or by telephone,
you do NOT need to mail your proxy card.
You can
view the Proxy Statement and the 2003 Annual Report
on the Internet at www.genta.com
GENTA
INCORPORATED
PROXY SOLICITED
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 23, 2004
The
undersigned stockholder of Genta Incorporated (the Company) acknowledges
receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement,
each dated May 18, 2004, and the undersigned revokes all prior proxies and appoints
Raymond P. Warrell, Jr., M.D. and William P. Keane, and each of them, as proxies
for the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to vote all shares
of Common Stock of the Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote at
the Companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Hotel Westminster,
550 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, NJ, at 11:00 a.m., local time, on
June 23, 2004 and at any postponement or adjournment thereof, and the undersigned
authorizes and instructs said proxies or their substitutes to vote as follows:
THIS
PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY
THE UNDERSIGNED. IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
ALL DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS CARD, FOR
PROPOSALS 2, 3, 4 AND 5, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JUDGMENT OF THE PROXIES,
FOR OR AGAINST ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
AND ANY POSTPONEMENT OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
Receipt
of the Notice of Annual Meeting, the Proxy Statement and the Companys
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 accompanying
the same is hereby acknowledged.
PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
(Continued and to be dated and signed on the other side.)
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side) |
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Ù FOLD AND DETACH HERE Ù |
You can now access your Genta Incorporated account online.
Access your Genta Incorporated stockholder account online via Investor ServiceDirect® (ISD).
Mellon Investor Services LLC, Transfer Agent for Genta Incorporated, now makes it easy and convenient to get current information on your stockholder account.
|
|
Visit
us on the web at http://www.melloninvestor.com
For
Technical Assistance Call 1-877-978-7778 between 9am-7pm
Monday-Friday Eastern Time