Definitive Proxy Statement

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.      )

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Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 


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Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated

149 Commonwealth Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

 


Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held on June 11, 2007

Dear Stockholder:

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Corcept Therapeutics (the “Company”) will be held on Monday, June 11, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. local time at the Company’s headquarters located at 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025 for the following purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement:

1.  To elect nine directors to hold office until the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are qualified and elected.

2.  To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.

3.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 25, 2007 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

By Order Of the Board of Directors,
LOGO
Robert L. Roe, M.D.
President and Secretary

Menlo Park, California

May 7, 2007

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL PROMPTLY THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM AT THE MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH TO DO SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SENT IN YOUR PROXY CARD.


Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated

149 Commonwealth Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

650-327-3270

 


PROXY STATEMENT

 


2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (the “Company”) is furnishing this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 11, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. local time, at the Company’s headquarters located at 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025 and at any adjournments thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). These materials are being mailed to stockholders on or about May 10, 2007.

Only holders of the Company’s common stock as of the close of business on April 25, 2007 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who hold shares of the Company’s common stock in “street name” may vote at the Annual Meeting only if they hold a valid proxy from their broker. As of the Record Date, there were 34,741,766 shares of common stock outstanding.

A majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be present in person or by proxy in order for there to be a quorum at the meeting. Stockholders of record who are present at the meeting in person or by proxy and who abstain from voting, including brokers holding customers’ shares of record who cause abstentions to be recorded at the meeting, will be included in the number of shares present at the meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

Each stockholder of record is entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting for each share of common stock held by such stockholder on the Record Date. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights. Stockholders may vote their shares by using the proxy card enclosed with this Proxy Statement. All proxy cards received by the Company which are properly signed and have not been revoked will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained in the proxy cards. If a signed proxy card is received which does not specify a vote or an abstention, the shares represented by that proxy card will be voted for the nominees to the Board listed on the proxy card and in this Proxy Statement and for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. The Company is not aware, as of the date hereof, of any matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting other than those stated in this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the enclosed proxy card gives discretionary authority to the persons named as proxies to vote the shares represented by the proxy card in their discretion.

Under Delaware law and the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, if a quorum exists at the Annual Meeting, (a) the nominees for director who receive the greatest number of votes cast will be elected to the Board and (b) the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 will be approved if it receives the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of common stock present or represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no impact on the election of directors since they have not been cast in favor of or against any nominee, nor will they have any effect on the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, because approval of that proposal is based solely on the number of votes actually cast.

 

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A stockholder of record may revoke a proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by (a) delivering a proxy revocation or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date to the Secretary of the Company at 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025 or (b) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not revoke a proxy unless the stockholder actually votes in person at the meeting.

The proxy card accompanying this Proxy Statement is solicited by the Board. The Company will pay all of the costs of soliciting proxies. In addition to solicitation by mail, officers, directors and employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally, or by telephone, without receiving additional compensation. The Company, if requested, will pay brokers, banks and other fiduciaries that hold shares of common stock for beneficial owners for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of forwarding these materials to stockholders.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The name, age and occupation of each member of the current Board and each person nominated for election to the Board are set forth below:

 

Name

   Age   

Occupation

James N. Wilson

   63    Chairman of the Board of the Company

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D.

   49    Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Allen Andersson

   63    Chairman, Paperboy Ventures LLC

G. Leonard Baker, Jr.

   64    Venture Capitalist

Joseph C. Cook, Jr.

   65    Executive/Investor

James A. Harper

   59    Retired Pharmaceutical Executive

David L. Mahoney

   52    Private Equity Investor

Alix Marduel, M.D.

   49    Venture Capitalist

Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D.

   62    Chairman, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine

David B. Singer

   44    Private Investment Fund Principal

At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will vote on the election of nine directors, each to serve for a one-year term until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2008 and until their successors are qualified and elected.

NOMINEES

The following individuals, eight of whom currently serve as directors of the Company, have been nominated for election to the Board. Allen Andersson does not currently serve on the Board, but has been nominated for election to the Board to fill the vacancy created by Alan F. Schatzberg, who is not standing for re-election. Mr. Andersson was recommended for consideration as a nominee by an independent director of the Board.

James N. Wilson has served as a director and as Chairman of the Board since 1999. In addition, since 2005, Mr. Wilson has been the Chairman of the Board of NuGEN Technologies, Inc. Since 2002, he has served as a director of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Wilson was Chairman of the Board of Amira Medical, Inc. From 1991 to 1994, he was Chief Operating Officer of Syntex Corporation. From 1989 to 1990, Mr. Wilson was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Neurex Corporation and from 1982 to 1988, Mr. Wilson was Chief Executive Officer of LifeScan, Inc. Mr. Wilson received his B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Arizona.

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D. is a co-founder of the Company and has served as a member of the Board of Directors and as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since 1999. Dr. Belanoff is currently a clinical faculty member and has held various positions in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford

 

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University since 1992. From 1997 to 2001, he served as the Director of Psychopharmacology at the outpatient division of the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital. Dr. Belanoff received his B.A. from Amherst College and his M.D. from Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons.

Allen Andersson is founder and chairman of Paperboy Ventures LLC, a merchant bank commercializing undervalued science since 2003. A software designer and entrepreneur for over twenty years, he was a founder of LightSpeed International, a developer of voice-over-Internet systems in 1995, Expert Image Systems, a developer of medical diagnostic technology in 1986 and Interleaf, an early word processing developer in 1981. Mr. Andersson has held executive positions in Logos Advanced Technologies, Transatlantic Software. He is also President of The Riecken Foundation, which creates public libraries and promotes prosperity and democracy in Central America. Mr. Andersson received his S.B. in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served in the Peace Corps in Honduras.

G. Leonard Baker, Jr. has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 1999. Since 1973, Mr. Baker has been a Managing Director of the General Partner of Sutter Hill Ventures, a venture capital firm. Mr. Baker currently serves on the Board of Therma-Wave, Inc., which is a publicly traded company, and a number of private companies. Mr. Baker received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Joseph C. Cook, Jr. has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2002. Mr. Cook is Chairman of the Board of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Cook served as Chief Executive Officer of Amylin Pharmaceuticals from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Cook is a founder and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Microbia, Inc. Mr. Cook is an officer of Mountain Ventures, Inc. and a founder of Clinical Products, Inc. and Mountain Group Capital, LLC. Mr. Cook retired as Group Vice President of Eli Lilly & Company in 1993 after more than 28 years of service. Mr. Cook received his B.S. from the University of Tennessee.

James A. Harper has served as a member of the Board of Directors since October 2004. He has spent 30 years in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, all in positions with Eli Lilly and Company, from which he retired in 2004. Mr. Harper served as Group Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from 2001 to 2004 and as President, Diabetes and Growth Disorders Business Unit / Product Group from 1994 to 2001. He was a Vice President, Global Pharmaceutical Marketing, from 1993 to 1994 and was President and CEO, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. from 1991 to 1993. Mr. Harper also serves on the Board of Directors of Zymogenetics, Inc., a biotechnology company. Mr. Harper received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University and his M.B.A. from The Wharton School of Business.

David L. Mahoney has served as a member of the Board of Directors since July 2004. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Mahoney served as co-CEO of McKesson HBOC, Inc., a healthcare supply management and information technology company and as CEO of iMcKesson LLC, a healthcare management and connectivity company. He joined McKesson Corporation in 1990 as Vice President for Strategic Planning. Prior to joining McKesson, Mr. Mahoney was a principal with McKinsey & Company where he worked from 1981 to 1990. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Symantec Corporation, Tercica, Inc., Live Oak School, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Mercy Corps and NCPB, Inc., a public television and radio operator. Mr. Mahoney received his B.A. from Princeton University and his M.B.A. from Harvard University.

Alix Marduel, M.D. has served as a member of the Board of Directors since May 2001. Since April 1997, Dr. Marduel has been a managing director of Alta Partners, a venture capital firm investing in information technology and life science companies. Prior to joining Alta Partners, she was a partner at Soffinnova, Inc., which she joined in 1990. Dr. Marduel has conducted post-doctoral research in immunology at the University of California at San Francisco and at Stanford University. Prior to moving to the United States in 1986, she was employed by ICI-Pharma, where she organized clinical trials in England and France. She holds a medical doctorate from the University of Paris, and is licensed to practice in Europe and has passed the U.S. equivalency exams.

 

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David B. Singer has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 1998. Since December 2004, Mr. Singer has been a Principal at Maverick Capital Ltd., an investment manager to private investment funds. From September 1998 to February 2004, Mr. Singer was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GeneSoft Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1992 to 1996, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Affymetrix, Inc. Mr. Singer also serves on the Board of Directors of Affymetrix, Inc. Mr. Singer received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.B.A. from Stanford University.

There are no family relationships among any of the Company’s directors or executive officers.

DIRECTOR NOT STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION

Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D. is a co-founder of the Company and has served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board since 1998. Since 1991, Dr. Schatzberg has been a Professor and the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University’s School of Medicine and is Past President of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Schatzberg received his B.S. from New York University and his M.D. from New York University School of Medicine.

DIRECTOR NOMINATION

The information below describes the criteria and process that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses to evaluate candidates to the Board.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.    The Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Mr. Wilson and Drs. Schatzberg and Marduel. Mr. Wilson is the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held one meeting in 2007 to consider the slate of nominees for the 2007 Annual Meeting. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board of the Company, recommending to the independent members of the Board nominees for election as directors of the Company and providing oversight with respect to corporate governance and ethical conduct. Although Mr. Wilson is an employee of the Company and therefore not an “independent director” for Nasdaq purposes, the Company’s director nomination process meets applicable Nasdaq requirements because the Company’s director nominees are selected by the independent members of the Board.

The information below describes the criteria and process that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses to evaluate candidates to the Board.

Board Membership Criteria.    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for assessing the appropriate balance of experience, skills and characteristics required of the Board. Nominees for director are selected on the basis of depth and breadth of experience, knowledge, integrity, ability to make independent analytical inquiries, understanding of the Company’s business environment, the willingness to devote adequate time to Board duties, the interplay of the candidate’s experience and skills with those of other Board members, and the extent to which the candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board and any Committees of the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to ensure that at least a majority of the directors are independent under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, that the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee are each composed entirely of independent directors, and that members of the Audit Committee possess such accounting and financial expertise as the principal stock exchange or quotation service on which the Company’s shares are listed or quoted require.

Stockholders Proposals for Nominees.    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider written proposals from stockholders for nominees for director. Any such nominations should be submitted to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee c/o the Secretary of the Company and should

 

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include (at a minimum) the following information: (a) all information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the “Exchange Act”) (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) the name(s) and address(es) of the stockholder(s) making the nomination and the number of shares of the Company’s common stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder(s); and (c) appropriate biographical information and a statement as to the qualifications of the nominee, and should be submitted in the time frame described in the Bylaws of the Company and under the caption, “STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS” below.

Process for Identifying and Evaluating Nominees.    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee initiates the process for identifying and evaluating nominees to the Board by identifying a slate of candidates who meet the criteria for selection as nominees and have the specific qualities or skills being sought based on input from members of the Board, management and, if the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems appropriate, a third-party search firm. Candidates are evaluated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee on the basis of the factors described above under “Board Membership Criteria”.

With respect to candidates for initial election to the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also reviews biographical information and qualifications and checks the candidates’ references. Qualified candidates are interviewed by at least one member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Serious candidates meet, either in person or by telephone, with all members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and as many other members of the Board as practicable.

Using the input from interviews and other information obtained, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates which of the prospective candidates is qualified to serve as a director and whether the committee should recommend to the independent members of the Board that the Board nominate, or elect to fill a vacancy with, a prospective candidate. Candidates recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are presented to the independent members of the Board for selection as nominees to be presented for the approval of the stockholders or for election to fill a vacancy. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee expects that a similar process will be used to evaluate nominees recommended by stockholders. However, to date, the Company has not received any stockholder proposal to nominate a director.

Nominees to the Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting.    The nominees for the Annual Meeting were recommended for selection by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and were selected by the independent members of the Board. Allen Andersson does not currently serve on the Board, but has been nominated for election to the Board to fill the vacancy created by Alan F. Schatzberg, who is not standing for re-election. Mr. Andersson was recommended for consideration as a nominee by an independent director of the Board.

Non-employee directors receive a director fee from the Company for their services as members of the Board in the amount of $15,000 per year. Members of the Audit Committee receive an additional fee of $10,000 per year. Directors receive an initial stock option grant of 60,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with their initial election to the Board. Depending on when the grants were issued, such options will vest with respect to 20 or 25% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and with respect to the remaining shares in 48 or 36 equal monthly installments, respectively, thereafter. In 2006, the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.95 per share. This option vests with respect to 25% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and with respect to the remaining shares in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.

 

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BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

The Board met eight times during the year ended December 31, 2006. The Audit Committee met six times, the Compensation Committee met twice and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once during the year ended December 31, 2006. Each member of the Board attended 75% or more of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of Board committees on which such Board member served, other than G. Leonard Baker, Jr. and Alix Marduel, M.D., who attended 70% and 73% of such meetings, respectively.

The Board has standing Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.

Audit Committee.    The Audit Committee currently consists of David L. Mahoney (Chairman), Joseph C. Cook, Jr. and David B. Singer. The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent directors under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and each of them is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. The Board has determined that David L. Mahoney qualifies as an “Audit Committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of its financial statements. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include appointing and providing the compensation of the independent accountants to conduct the annual audit of the Company’s accounts, reviewing the scope and results of the independent audits, reviewing and evaluating internal accounting policies, and approving all professional services to be provided to the Company by its independent accountants. The Audit Committee has a written charter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix A.

Compensation Committee.    The Compensation Committee currently consists of G. Leonard Baker, Jr. (Chairman), James A. Harper, David L. Mahoney and Alix Marduel, M.D. The Board has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s benefit plans, reviews and administers all compensation arrangements for executive officers, and establishes and reviews general policies relating to the compensation and benefits of the Company’s officers and employees. The Compensation Committee has a written charter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix B.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists currently of James N. Wilson (Chairman), Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., and Alix Marduel, M.D. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board, recommending to the independent members of the Board nominees for election as directors of the Company and providing oversight with respect to corporate governance and ethical conduct. The Board has determined that Drs. Schatzberg and Marduel are independent under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. Although Mr. Wilson is an employee of the Company and therefore not an “independent director” for NASDAQ purposes, the Company’s director nomination process meets applicable NASDAQ requirements because the Company’s director nominees are selected by the independent members of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has a written charter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix C.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS

Stockholders or other interested parties may communicate with any director or committee of its Board by writing to them c/o Secretary, Corcept Therapeutics, 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025. Comments or questions regarding the Company’s accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will be referred to members of the Audit Committee. Comments or questions regarding the nomination of directors and other corporate governance matters will be referred to members of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

The Company has a policy of encouraging all directors to attend the annual stockholder meetings. Two of the Company’s directors attended the 2006 annual meeting.

 

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CODE OF ETHICS

The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to all officers and employees, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and controller. This code of ethics has been filed as Exhibit 14.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC. The Company will also deliver a copy of its code of ethics to any stockholder, without charge, upon written request to Corcept Therapeutics, 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025, Attention: Secretary, or upon oral request by calling (650) 327-3270.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

No interlocking relationship exists, or in the past fiscal year has existed, between any member of the Company’s Compensation Committee and any member of any other company’s board of directors or compensation committee.

MANAGEMENT

The names of the executive officers of the Company, their age as of April 30, 2007, and certain other information about them are set forth below:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D.

   49    Chief Executive Officer and Director

Robert L. Roe, M.D.

   66    President and Secretary

Anne M. LeDoux

   59    Vice President and Controller

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D. is a co-founder and has served as a member of our board of directors and as our Chief Executive Officer since 1999. Dr. Belanoff is currently a clinical faculty member and has held various positions in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University since 1992. From 1997 to 2001, he served as the Director of Psychopharmacology at the outpatient division of the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital. Dr. Belanoff received his B.A. from Amherst College and his M.D. from Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons.

Robert L. Roe, M.D. joined the company as President in October 2001. Dr. Roe has spent more than 25 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. From 1999 to 2001, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Allergenics, Inc. From 1996 to 1999, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Cytel Corporation. From 1995 to 1996, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Chugai Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1992 to 1995, Dr. Roe served as President of the Development Research Division and Senior Vice President of Syntex Corporation. Dr. Roe received his B.A. from Stanford University and his M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco.

Anne M. LeDoux joined the company as Controller in 2004. Ms. LeDoux has over 14 years of financial and accounting management experience with public pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Prior to joining Corcept in 2004, Ms. LeDoux served in various financial positions at Aviron, Roche Biosciences and at Syntex Corporation. She was also Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Northern California Health Center and Vice President, Finance for the Children’s Hospital of San Francisco. Ms. LeDoux is a Certified Public Accountant and has over 13 years of experience in public accounting, primarily at Coopers and Lybrand. Ms. LeDoux received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from the University of Massachusetts and a law degree from Western New England College, School of Law.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL HOLDERS

The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of the Company’s common stock as of April 30, 2007 or earlier date for information based on filings with the SEC by (a) each person known to the Company to own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of its common stock, (b) each director of the Company, (c) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and each other executive officer named in the compensation tables appearing earlier in this Form 10-K and (d) all directors and executive officers as a group. The information in this table is based solely on statements in filings with the SEC or other information the Company believes to be reliable. Percentage of ownership is based on 34,741,766 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 30, 2007. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting and investment power with respect to the shares. Shares of common stock subject to outstanding options and warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2007 are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of ownership of the person holding such options or warrants, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner(1)

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

5% Stockholders

     

Entities affiliated with Paperboy Ventures LLC(3)

   6,642,527    19.1 %

Sutter Hill Ventures(4)

   5,683,536    16.4 %

Entities affiliated with Alta Partners, LLP(5)

   3,198,274    9.2 %

Maverick Capital, Ltd.(6)

   2,122,841    6.1 %

Director Nominee

     

Allen Andersson(3)

   6,642,527    19.1 %

Directors and Named Executive Officers

     

G. Leonard Baker, Jr.(7)

   4,144,112    11.9 %

Alix Marduel(5)

   3,198,274    9.2 %

Joseph K. Belanoff(8)

   2,805,863    8.1 %

Alan Schatzberg(9)

   2,738,749    7.9 %

James N. Wilson(10)

   2,654,154    7.6 %

Joseph C. Cook, Jr.(11)

   967,942    2.8 %

David B. Singer(12)

   778,667    2.2 %

David L. Mahoney(13)

   508,871    1.5 %

Robert L. Roe(14)

   322,172    1.0 %

James A. Harper(15)

   99,440    *  

Anne M. LeDoux(16)

   44,255    *  

All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)(17)

   18,262,499    52.0 %
       

 

  * Less than 1% of Corcept’s outstanding common stock.

 

 

(1)

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the named individuals is c/o Corcept Therapeutics, 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025.

 

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(2)

Beneficial ownership of shares is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power, or of which a person has the right to acquire ownership within 60 days after March 31, 2006. Except as otherwise noted, each person or entity has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown.

 

 

(3)

Includes 6,142,547 shares held by Paperboy Ventures LLC (“Paperboy”), of which Mr. Andersson is founder and chairman and 500,000 shares held by Anderieck Holdings LLC (“Anderieck”), an affiliate of Paperboy. The address of Paperboy and Anderieck is 1875 K Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20006.

 

 

(4)

Consists of: (a) 3,381,387 shares held by Sutter Hill Ventures, A California Limited Partnership (Sutter Hill Ventures), (b) 29,273 shares held by Sutter Hill Entrepreneurs Fund (AI), L.P. (SHAI), (c) 74,113 shares held by Sutter Hill Entrepreneurs Fund (QP), L.P. (SHQP), (d) 1,539,424 shares held by individuals affiliated with Sutter Hill Ventures and entities affiliated with such individuals, (e) 205,439 shares of Common Stock owned by G. Leonard Baker, Jr., one of our directors, (f) 102,195 shares held by Mr. Baker, Trustee of The Baker Revocable Trust and (g) 351,705 shares held by Saunders Holdings, L.P. of which Mr. Baker is a General Partner. Mr. Baker has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by The Baker Revocable Trust and Saunders Holdings, L.P. Mr. Baker, Sutter Hill Ventures, SHAI and SHQP do not have any voting or dispositive power with respect to the shares held by individuals affiliated with Sutter Hill Ventures and entities affiliated with such individuals referenced under part (d) of this note. Mr. Baker shares voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Sutter Hill Ventures, SHAI and SHQP with the following natural persons: David L. Anderson, William H. Younger, Jr., Tench Coxe, Gregory P. Sands, James C. Gaither, James N. White, Jeffrey W. Bird and David E. Sweet. As a result of the shared voting and dispositive powers referenced herein, Messrs. Baker, David L. Anderson, William H. Younger, Jr., Tench Coxe, Gregory P. Sands, James C. Gaither, James N. White, Jeffrey W. Bird and David E. Sweet may each be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by Sutter Hill Ventures, SHAI and SHQP. The address for Sutter Hill Ventures and affiliates is 755 Page Mill Road, #A-200, Palo Alto, CA 94304.

 

 

(5)

Includes 3,078,789 shares held of record by Alta BioPharma Partners II, LP and 119,485 shares held of record by Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC. Dr. Marduel is a managing director of Alta BioPharma Management II, LLC (which is a general partner of Alta BioPharma Partners II, LP) and a manager of Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC. Dr. Marduel disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares held by all of the foregoing funds, except to the extent of her proportionate pecuniary interests therein. Alta Parents II, Inc. provides investment advisory services to several venture capital funds including Alta BioPharma Partners II, LP and Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC. The managing directors of Alta BioPharma Partners II, LP and the managers of Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC exercise sole voting and investment power with respect to shares owned by such funds. Certain principals of Alta Partners II, Inc. are managing directors of Alto BioPharma Management II, LLC (which is the general partner of Alta BioPharma Partners II, LP), and managers of Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC. As managing directors and managers of such entities, they may be deemed to share voting and investment powers for the shares held by the funds. The principals of Alta Partners II, Inc. disclaim beneficial ownership of all such shares held by the foregoing funds, except to the extent of their proportionate pecuniary interests therein. The address of Alta Partners II, Inc. is One Embarcadero Center, Suite 3700, San Francisco, California 94111.

 

 

(6)

Includes 194,999 shares held of record by Maverick Fund II, Ltd., 607,398 shares held of record by Maverick Fund USA, Ltd., and 1,320,444 shares held of record by Maverick Fund, L.D.C. Maverick Capital, Ltd. is an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and, as such, has beneficial ownership of the shares held by Maverick Fund USA, Ltd., Maverick Fund II, Ltd. and Maverick Fund, L.D.C. through the investment discretion it exercises over these accounts. Maverick Capital Management, LLC is the General Partner of Maverick Capital, Ltd. Lee S. Ainslie III is a manager of Maverick Capital Management, LLC, and is granted sole investment discretion pursuant to Maverick Capital Management, LLC’s Regulations. The address of Maverick Capital, Ltd. is One Market Street, Spear Street Tower, Suite 3710, San Francisco, CA 94105.

 

 

(7)

Includes all shares referenced in footnote (4) other than the 1,539,424 shares held by individuals affiliated with Sutter Hill Ventures and entities affiliated with such individuals referenced under part (d) of footnote (4).

 

 

(8)

Includes 300,000 shares held as custodian for Edward G. Belanoff and 300,000 shares held as custodian for Julia E. Belanoff under the California Uniform Transfers to Minors Act over which Dr. Belanoff has voting control and 41,668 shares issuable pursuant to options exerciseable within 60 days of April 30, 2007.

 

 

(9)

Includes 300,000 shares held of record by Lindsey D. Schatzberg over which Dr. Schatzberg has voting control.

 

 

(10)

Includes 1,988,094 shares held of record by the James N. Wilson and Pamela D. Wilson Trust and 666,060 shares held of record by the James and Pamela Wilson Family Partners, over all of which Mr. Wilson has voting control pursuant to voting agreements. Mr. Wilson disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interests in the entities holding such shares.

 

 

(11)

Includes 400,000 shares held of record by Farview Management, Co. L.P., a Texas limited partnership, and 67,942 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2007.

 

 

(12)

Includes 43,500 shares held of record by the Singer-Kapp Family Trust FBO Kapp S. Singer and 3,500 shares held of record by the Singer Kapp Family 2000 Trust FBO Elliot Byrd Singer. Mr. Singer is a Principal with Maverick Capital Limited. The address of David Singer is One Market Street, Spear Street Tower, Suite 3710, San Francisco, CA 94105.

 

9


 

(13)

Includes 400,000 shares held of record by the David L. Mahoney and Winnifred C. Ellis 1998 Family Trust and 38,171 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2007.

 

 

(14)

Includes 173,282 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2007.

 

 

(15)

Includes 32,040 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2007.

 

 

(16)

Includes 44,255 shares issuable pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2007.

 

 

(17)

Total number of shares includes common stock held by entities affiliated with directors and executive officers. See footnotes 1 and 2 and footnotes 4 through 16 above.

 

10


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

On December 15, 2006, the Company sold an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001, at a price of $1.00 per share to certain investors pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 14, 2006 (the “December 2006 Financing”). The aggregate consideration received by the Company was $3,000,000. The investors included the Paperboy Ventures, LLC and Sutter Hill Ventures, both venture capital firms that are currently significant shareholders of the Company. Paperboy Ventures, LLC purchased 1,892,527 shares and Sutter Hill Ventures purchased 379,391 shares in the December 2006 Financing. The investors also included G. Leonard Baker, Jr., Joseph C. Cook, Jr., David L. Mahoney and James N. Wilson, who are members of the Board. Mr. Baker purchased 25,242 shares, Mr. Cook and related entities purchased 300,000 shares, Mr. Mahoney purchased 200,000 shares and Mr. Wilson purchased 100,000 shares in the December 2006 Financing.

On March 30, 2007, we sold an aggregate of 9,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001, at a price of $1.00 per share to certain investors pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated that same date (the “March 2007 Financing”.) The aggregate consideration received by the Company was $9,000,000. The investors included Paperboy Ventures, LLC, Sutter Hill Ventures and Alta Partners, LLP, all venture capital firms that are currently significant shareholders of the Company. Paperboy Ventures, LLC purchased 4,250,000 shares, Sutter Hill Ventures and related parties purchased 1,332,430 shares and Alta Partners, LLP purchased 1,500,000 shares. The investors also included G. Leonard Baker, Jr., Joseph C. Cook, Jr., James A. Harper, David L. Mahoney, Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D. and James N. Wilson, who are members of the Board, and other accredited investors. Alix Marduel, M.D., a member of the Board is also a Managing Director of Alta Partners. Mr. Baker, a partner at Sutter Hill Ventures, purchased 154,306 shares (as part of the Sutter Hill Ventures purchase noted above), Mr. Cook and related entities purchased 600,000 shares, Mr. Harper purchased 50,000 shares, Mr. Mahoney purchased 200,000 shares, Dr. Schatzberg purchased 50,000 shares and Mr. Wilson and related entities purchased 360,000 shares in the March 2007 Financing. The March 2007 Financing also included the purchase of 650,000 shares by other accredited investors.

Pursuant to a consulting agreement with the Company, Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., who is a member of the Board, received compensation of $33,750 for his services as Chairman of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board in 2006. The Company terminated this agreement with Dr. Schatzberg in October 2006.

James N. Wilson, who is a member of the Board, received a salary of $79,040 from the Company in 2006.

The Company has entered into an agreement with Robert L. Roe, M.D., the Company’s President, dated October 18, 2001. Pursuant to such letter agreement, Dr. Roe received an option to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $0.75 per share and a $187,250 loan, subject to interest rate of 6.5% and evidenced by a full-recourse promissory note to the Company to finance the exercise of the option. Shares purchased by Dr. Roe pursuant to the option are subject to a right of repurchase in favor of the Company, which lapsed over five years, ending in October 2006. Through December 2006, Dr. Roe had repaid $99,705 of the principal of the loan plus accrued interest, leaving a total remaining balance of $87,545 plus accrued interest in the amount of $28,269 for a total combined balance of $115,814. If the Company terminates Dr. Roe’s employment for any reason other than for cause, Dr. Roe will receive a lump sum severance payment equal to his annual salary in effect at the time of his termination. Dr. Roe received a base salary of $364,208 from the Company in 2006.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. Such agreements require the Company, among other things, to indemnify its officers and directors, other than for liabilities arising from willful misconduct of a culpable nature, and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceedings against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

11


The Board has determined that the following directors are “independent” under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market:

G. Leonard Baker, Jr.

Joseph C. Cook, Jr.

James A. Harper

David L. Mahoney

Alix Marduel, M.D.

Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D.

David B. Singer

See “Director Compensation” for a discussion of the Company’s director compensation policy.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and SEC rules, the Company’s directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of any class of equity security are required to file periodic reports of their ownership, and changes in that ownership, with the SEC. Based solely on its review of copies of these reports and representations of such reporting persons, the Company believes that during the year ended December 31, 2006, such SEC filing requirements were satisfied except that Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D. and Robert L. Roe, M.D. each reported two dispositions and David L. Mahoney reported a purchase of Company securities on Forms 4 filed one day after they each were due. For Drs. Belanoff and Roe, the first dispositions occurred on February 17, 2006 with the Forms 4 being filed on February 22, 2006 and the second dispositions occurred on February 28, 2006 with the Forms 4 being filed on March 3, 2006. Mr. Mahoney’s purchase occurred on February 17, 2006 with the Form 4 being filed on February 22, 2006.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Compensation Objectives

For Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., our Chief Executive Officer, Robert L. Roe, M.D., our President and Fred Kurland, our Chief Financial Officer, or our named executive officers (“NEOs”), compensation is intended to be performance-based, with the exception of such NEOs’ base salary. The Compensation Committee believes that compensation paid to executive officers should be closely aligned with the performance of the Company on both a short-term and long-term basis, linked to specific, measurable results intended to create value for stockholders, and that such compensation should assist the Company in attracting and retaining key executives critical to its long-term success.

In establishing compensation for executive officers, the following are the Compensation Committee’s objectives:

 

  ·  

Attract and retain individuals of superior managerial talent;

 

  ·  

Ensure senior officer compensation is aligned with the Company’s corporate strategies, business objectives and the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders;

 

  ·  

Increase the incentive to achieve key strategic and financial performance measures by linking incentive award opportunities to the achievement of performance goals in these areas; and

 

  ·  

Align officer and shareholder interests, as well as promote retention of key people, by providing a portion of total compensation opportunities for senior management in the form of direct ownership in the Company through stock options.

The Company’s overall compensation program is structured to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified executive officers by paying them competitively, consistent with the Company’s success and their contribution to

 

12


that success. The Company believes compensation should be structured to ensure that a portion of compensation opportunity will be directly related to Company stock performance and other factors that directly and indirectly influence stockholder value. Accordingly, the Company sets goals designed to link each NEO’s compensation to the Company’s performance, such as the attainment of clinical goals and meeting agreed upon financial targets.

The Company provides a base salary to our executive officers. Additionally, consistent with our performance-based philosophy, the Company reserves the largest potential compensation awards for performance- and incentive-based programs for the Company’s senior executive management team, comprised of the Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer. Such programs include stock options grants, designed to provide compensation opportunities if milestones that increase the value of the Company, such as positive results in clinical trials, are attained. Incentive-based programs provide compensation in the form of both cash and equity, to reward for both short-term and long-term performance of the Company. The Compensation Committee allocates total compensation between cash and equity compensation based on the Compensation Committee members’ knowledge of compensation practices in the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical industries. The balance between equity and cash compensation among members of the senior executive management team, all three of whom are NEOs, is evaluated annually to align the interests of management with stockholders through both short and long term incentives.

The Chairman of the Board and the members of the Compensation Committee are seasoned executives of, consultants to or venture capitalists with investments in the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical industry. Collectively they have served as board and compensation committee members of many public and privately held companies including Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., NuGen Technologies, Inc., Neurex Corporation, Praecis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tercica, Inc., and Zymogenetics Inc. As a result of this extensive involvement in the compensation of executives in these and other companies, the Chairman of the Board and the members of the Compensation Committee collectively have developed a clear understanding and knowledge of the compensation structures that are necessary to attract, motivate and retain management talent.

Determination of Compensation

The Compensation Committee is provided with the primary authority to determine and recommend the compensation awards available to the Company’s executive officers for approval by the Board of Directors. Based on the Compensation Committee members’ collective understanding of compensation practices in similar companies in the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical industry, the Company’s executive compensation package consists of the following elements:

 

  ·  

Base salary: compensation for ongoing performance throughout the year.

 

  ·  

Periodic performance-based cash compensation: awards to recognize and reward achievement of performance goals.

 

  ·  

Long-term performance-based equity incentive program: equity compensation to provide an incentive to the NEOs to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stock in the business.

 

  ·  

Other benefits: employee benefit plans in which executives and eligible employees participate.

 

  ·  

Severance and change of control benefits: remuneration paid to executives in the event of a change of control of the Company or involuntary employment termination.

To aid the Compensation Committee in making its determination, our Chief Executive Officer provides recommendations annually to the Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of all other executive officers. Each NEO in turn, participates in an annual performance review with our Chief Executive Officer to provide input about his contributions to the Company’s success for the period being assessed. The overall performance of our senior executive management team is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee.

 

13


Within its performance-based compensation program, the Company aims to compensate the NEOs in a manner that is tax effective for the Company. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows an income tax deduction to publicly-held corporations for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid for any fiscal year to the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer or to any of its four most highly compensated officers. However, the statute exempts qualifying performance-based compensation from the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. The policy of the Compensation Committee has been to attempt to structure the compensation of our NEOs to avoid the loss of the deductibility of any compensation, even though Section 162(m) does not preclude the payment of compensation in excess of $1,000,000. Certain option grants made under our equity plans were intended to be structured so that any compensation deemed paid upon the exercise of those options will qualify as performance-based compensation that is not subject to the $1,000,000 limitation.

Compensation Benchmarking

The Company sets base salary structures and any grants of stock options based on the Compensation Committee members’ collective understanding of compensation practices in the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical industry and such members’ experiences as seasoned executives of, consultants to, board and compensation committee members of, or venture capitalists with investments in similar biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical industry companies.

Elements of Executive Compensation

BASE COMPENSATION

The Company pays base salaries to provide fixed compensation based on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of competitive market practices. Due to the Compensation Committee’s collective experience with similar companies in the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical industry, the Compensation Committee has intricate knowledge and understanding of what the industry demands in order to motivate and retain our executive officers. The Company provides each NEO with a base salary that was established by extensive negotiations with each NEO when such individual first joined the Company as an employee. Base salaries have not changed in 2006 as compared to 2005 other than for annual cost of living adjustments of approximately 3-4% per year that were approved by the Compensation Committee and applied equally to all employees. While base salaries are not considered by the Internal Revenue Service to constitute performance-based compensation, each year the Compensation Committee reviews the CEO’s base salary to determine if a change is appropriate based on Company performance, such as the Company’s progress on research and development programs. Similarly, the CEO reviews the base salary of the other NEOs and has the ability to propose a change in base salary based on performance to the Compensation Committee. Other than the annual cost of living increases that the Compensation Committee has approved, no formulaic base salary increases are provided to the NEOs.

PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

Performance Goals and Periodic Performance-Based Cash Compensation

The Company structures its compensation programs to reward executive officers based on the Company’s performance. This allows executive officers to receive bonus compensation in the event certain specified corporate performance measures are achieved. To date, the Company has not instituted an annual performance-based cash compensation or annual performance-based equity compensation program because the Compensation Committee believes that the compensation objective to ensure that executive officers’ compensation is aligned with the Company’s corporate strategies, business objectives and the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders is achieved when milestone successes are met, such as meeting the predetermined endpoints in the Company’s clinical trials. The achievement of these milestones does not necessarily correspond with annual performance periods.

 

14


Performance-based cash compensation has been awarded in past years primarily to recognize the attainment of certain accomplishments of value enhancing milestones such as successful financing transactions and the commencement of certain clinical trials. No performance-based cash or equity bonuses were awarded in 2006. For the next fiscal year, the Compensation Committee believes that performance-based compensation should continue to be based on achievement of certain milestone successes, such as the attainment of predetermined end-points in the Company’s clinical trials, successful financing transactions and commencement of certain clinical trials.

Long-Term Performance-Based Equity Incentive Program

The Company’s executive officers, along with all of the Company’s employees, are eligible to participate in the Company’s awarding of stock options under its 2004 Equity Incentive Plan. As discussed above, the Company believes, with its performance-based approach to compensation, that equity ownership in the Company is important to tie the ultimate level of an executive officer’s compensation to the performance of the Company’s stock and stockholder gains while creating an incentive for sustained growth. The Company has, thus far, only used stock options as the long-term performance-based equity incentive vehicle because the Compensation Committee believes that stock options maximize executive officers’ incentive to increase the Company’s stock price and maximize stockholder value.

Equity compensation in the form of incentive or non-qualified stock options is awarded by the Compensation Committee from time to time. The size and the timing of each grant is based on a number of factors, including the executive officer’s salary, such executive officer’s contributions to the achievement of the Company’s financial and strategic objectives, the value of the stock option at the time of grant and industry practices and norms from the collective knowledge of the Compensation Committee as seasoned executives of, consultants to, board and compensation members of, and venture capitalists with investments in similar companies in the industry. The relative weight given to each of these factors varies among individuals at the Compensation Committee’s discretion. There is no set formula for the granting of stock options to individual executives and employees. Grants also may be made following a significant change in job responsibility or in recognition of a significant achievement. In March 2006, Dr. Roe and Mr. Kurland were granted stock options for 50,000 and 25,000 shares of common stock, respectively. The amounts of these stock option grants were awarded in recognition of each individual’s outstanding performance and determined by the Compensation Committee through its collective understanding of compensation practices in the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical industry.

Stock options granted under the various stock plans generally have a four or five-year vesting schedule in order to provide an incentive for continued employment and generally expire ten years from the date of the grant. This provides a reasonable time frame in which to provide the executive officer with the possibility of price appreciation of the Company’s shares. The exercise price of options granted under the stock plans is 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant.

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS

The Company has a Section 401(k) Savings/Retirement Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) to cover eligible employees of the Company and any designated affiliate. The 401(k) Plan permits eligible employees of the Company to defer up to 100% of their annual compensation, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. The employees’ elective deferrals are immediately vested and non-forfeitable upon contribution to the 401(k) Plan. The Company currently makes no matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Employees of the Company are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the first day of the month coinciding with or immediately following the first day of employment.

 

15


SEVERANCE ARRANGEMENTS

The Company has entered into an offer letter agreement with Robert L. Roe, M.D., the Company’s President, dated October 18, 2001 (the “Roe Offer Letter”). Pursuant to the Roe Offer Letter, if the Company terminates Dr. Roe’s employment for any reason other than for cause, Dr. Roe will receive a lump sum severance payment equal to 12 months of his base salary in effect at the time of his termination. This severance arrangement was designed to attract Dr. Roe to the position of President and retain him in that position as the Company competes for talented executives in the marketplace where such protections are commonly offered. The severance arrangement provides benefits to ease Dr. Roe’s transition due to an unexpected employment termination by the Company due to changes in the Company’s employment needs.

CHANGE OF CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS

The Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan and 2004 Equity Incentive Plan provide that upon a change of control, the successor entity to the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the successor entity may assume or substitute a stock option or other award granted under such plan. Under the stock option agreements entered into pursuant to the 2000 Stock Option Plan, in the event of a change of control, 20% of the total shares subject to such options shall become immediately vested; thereafter, such options shall continue vesting according to the original vesting schedule. If the stock options or other award granted are not assumed or substituted, such options or other awards will become fully vested and exercisable for all of the shares subject to such option or award immediately prior to the effective date of the transaction. The Compensation Committee believes that such single trigger change of control policy is consistent with the objectives of providing the highest possible return to stockholders by allowing management to be able to effectively participate equally with stockholders in evaluating alternatives to the NEO in the event of a change of control transaction, without compelling the executive officer to remain employed under new ownership and with a continuing illiquid stake in the Company.

Further, the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan provides that in the event of an involuntary termination of services for any reason other than death, disability or cause, within 12 months following a change of control, any awards that were assumed or substituted in a change of control shall accelerate fully so that such awards are immediately exercisable upon termination.

Under the Roe Offer Letter, in the event of a change of control, the vesting of any stock option then held by Dr. Roe will be immediately accelerated by an additional 20% of the shares subject to such stock options. The change of control arrangement for Dr. Roe was designed to retain him and provide continuity of management in the event of an actual or threatened change of control. Such arrangements encourage executives, such as Dr. Roe, to remain focused on the Company’s business in the event of rumored or actual fundamental corporate changes.

OTHER ELEMENTS OF COMPENSATION AND PERQUISITES

Medical Insurance.    The Company, at its sole cost, provides to each eligible employee (including each NEO), and his or her spouse and children such health, dental and optical insurance as the Company may from time to time make available to its other employees of the same level of employment. Such insurance programs are part of an overall broad-based total compensation program designed to facilitate the Company’s ability to attract and retain employees as the Company competes for talented individuals in the marketplace where such benefits are commonly offered.

Life and Disability Insurance.    The Company provides each eligible employee (including each NEO) such disability and/or life insurance as the Company in its sole discretion may from time to time make available to its other employees of the same level of employment. Such insurance programs are part of an overall broad-based total compensation program designed to facilitate the Company’s ability to attract and retain employees as the Company competes for talented individuals in the marketplace where such benefits are commonly offered.

 

16


POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO EQUITY COMPENSATION AWARDS

The Company grants all stock option awards based on the fair market value as of the date of grant. The Company does not have a policy of granting stock option awards at other than the fair market value. The exercise price for stock option grants is determined by looking at the fair market value of the last quoted price per share on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the date of grant. The Company does not have a policy and does not intend to have a policy or practice to select option grant dates for executive officers in coordination with the release of material non-public information.

The following tables and descriptive materials set forth information concerning compensation earned for services rendered to the Company by its Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”) and the Company’s President for the year ended December 31, 2006 whose salary and bonus for the year ended December 31, 2006 exceeded $100,000. Collectively, together with the CEO and CFO, these are the “named executive officers.”

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table provides compensation information for the year ended December 31, 2006 for each of our named executive officers.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year  

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)

 

Stock
Awards

($)

 

Option
Awards(1)

($)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)

 

Change in
Pension

Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($)

 

All Other
Compensation

($)

 

Total

($)

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D.,

Chief Executive Officer

  2006   $ 395,200                 $ 395,200

Robert L. Roe, M.D.,

President

  2006   $ 364,208       $ 181,500         $ 545,708

Fred Kurland,

Chief Financial Officer(2)

  2006   $ 257,088       $ 90,750         $ 347,838

 

(1)

Refer to Notes 1 – “Accounting Policies and Estimates - Stock-Based Compensation” included in Part II – Item 8 - Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the relevant assumptions used to determine the valuation of our option awards.

 

(2)

Fred Kurland resigned from the Company effective April 13, 2007.

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

The following table summarizes the grants of stock and option awards we made to the named executive officers in 2006.

 

Name

  Grant
Date
  Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  Estimated Future
Payouts Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
 

All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number

of Shares
of Stock
or Units

(#)

 

All Other
Option
Awards:
Number

of Securities
Underlying
Options(1)

(#)

    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
 

Grant

Date
Fair
Value
of Stock

and
Option
Awards

($)

   

Thresh-

old

($)

 

Target

($)

 

Maxi-

mum

(#)

 

Thresh-

old

(#)

 

Target

(#)

 

Maxi-

mum

(#)

       

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D.

                         

Robert L. Roe, M.D.

  03/02/06                 50,000 (2)   $ 4.95   181,500

Fred Kurland

  03/02/06                 25,000 (2)   $ 4.95   90,750

 

(1)

Refer to Notes 1 – “Accounting Policies and Estimates - Stock-Based Compensation” included in the Part II – Item 8 - Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on From 10-K for the relevant assumptions used to determine the valuation of our option awards.

 

(2)

The options were granted under the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

17


OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

The following table summarizes unexercised options that have not vested and related information for each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2006.

 

    Option Awards   Stock Awards

Name

 

Number

of

Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

Exercisable

(#)

   

Number

of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

Unexercisable

(#)

   

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number

of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)

 

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

  Option
Expiration
Date
 

Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested

(#)

 

Market
Value
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested

($)

 

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units

or Other
Rights
That
Have

Not

Vest

(#)

 

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units

or Other
Rights
That
Have

Not
Vested

($)

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D.

                       

Robert L. Roe, M.D.

  10,000 (1)         $ 0.10   10/1/2010        
  61,750 (1)   38,250       $ 7.00   11/23/2013        
  36,700 (1)   63,300       $ 4.82   2/10/2015        
      50,000 (2)     $ 4.95   3/2/2016        

Fred Kurland

  113,480 (1)   86,520       $ 7.00   2/6/2014        
  18,350 (1)   31,650       $ 4.82   2/10/2015        
      25,000 (2)     $ 4.95   3/2/2016        

 

(1)

The option vests at the rate of 25% at the first anniversary of the grant date and, thereafter, at the rate of 1.67% per month, until fully vested.

 

(2)

The option vests at the rate of 25% at the first anniversary of the grant date and, thereafter, at the rate of 2.0834% per month, until fully vested.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

None of our named executive officers exercised stock options during 2006. To date, no stock awards have been granted to any of our named executive officers.

PENSION BENEFITS

None of our named executive officers participate in or have account balances in qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans sponsored by us.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

None of our named executives participate in or have account balances in non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans maintained by us.

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF CONTROL

Severance Agreement

The Company has entered into an offer letter agreement with Robert L. Roe, M.D., the Company’s President, dated October 18, 2001 (the “Roe Offer Letter”). Pursuant to the Roe Offer Letter, if the Company terminates Dr. Roe’s employment for any reason other than for cause (as defined in the Roe Offer Letter),

 

18


Dr. Roe will receive a lump sum severance payment equal to 12 months of his base salary in effect at the time of his termination.

Change of Control Arrangements

The Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan (the “2000 Plan”) and 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”) provide that upon a change of control, the successor entity to the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the successor entity may assume or substitute a stock option or other award granted under such plan. Under the stock option agreements entered into pursuant to the 2000 Stock Option Plan, in the event of a change of control, 20% of the total shares subject to such options shall become immediately vested; thereafter, such options shall continue vesting according to the original vesting schedule. If the stock options or other award granted are not assumed or substituted, such options or other awards will become fully vested and exercisable for all of the shares subject to such option or award immediately prior to the effective date of the transaction.

Further, the 2004 Plan provides that in the event of an involuntary termination of services for any reason other than death, disability or cause, within 12 months following a change of control, any awards that were assumed or substituted in a change of control shall accelerate fully so that such awards are immediately exercisable upon termination.

Under the Roe Offer Letter, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the Roe Offer Letter), the vesting of any stock option then held by Dr. Roe will be immediately accelerated by an additional 20% of the shares subject to such stock options.

The following table reflects compensation payable to each named executive officer under a change of control or various employment termination events. The amounts shown below assume that (i) a change of control of the Company or (ii) each named executive officer terminated employment with the Company, was effective as of December 31, 2006, and estimates the value to the named executive officer as a result of each triggering event.

 

Name

 

Benefit

 

Termination
Without

Cause

 

Change of
Control Under
the Roe Offer

Letter

 

Change of
Control Under
the 2000 Plan

or 2004 Plan

  Involuntary
Termination
Other Than for
Death,
Disability or Cause
Within 12 Months
of Change of
Control

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D.

 

       —        —        —  

Robert L. Roe, M.D.

 

Base Salary

Accelerated  Vesting of Stock Options

  $364,208
     —  
(3)
     —  
(1)(3)
     —  
(2)(3)

Fred Kurland

 

Accelerated  Vesting of Stock Options

       —     (1)(3)   (2)(3)

 

(1)

Assumes that the stock options were not assumed or substituted by the successor entity to the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the successor entity.

 

(2)

Assumes that the stock options were assumed or substituted by the successor entity to the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the successor entity.

 

(3)

For all unvested options held by named executive officers as of December 31, 2006, there is no value to the change of control acceleration features under the 2000 Plan, the 2004 Plan or the Roe Offer Letter because the exercise price of the options exceeded the closing stock price for the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Stock Market as of that date.

 

19


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2006 with respect to the shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued under all of the Company’s existing equity compensation plans, including the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2000 Stock Option Plan.

 

Plan Category

  

(a)

Number of Securities to
Be Issued upon Exercise
of Outstanding Options

   (b)
Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
  

(c)

Number of Securities Remaining Available
for Future Issuance under Equity
Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column(a))

 

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

   1,809,686    $ 5.80    2,679,996 (1)

Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders

            
                  

Total

   1,809,686    $ 5.80    2,679,996  
                  

 

(1)

Includes a total of 2,679,996 shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2006. The 2004 Equity Incentive Plan contains an “evergreen” provision that automatically increases on the first business day of each fiscal year beginning January 1, the lesser of an additional (i) 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, (ii) 2% of the outstanding shares of capital stock on such date, or (iii) an amount determined by the Board. None of the Company’s other plans has an “evergreen” provision.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table provides compensation information for the one year period ended December 31, 2006, for each member of our Board of Directors.

 

Name

 

Fees Earned

or Paid in

Cash

($)

 

Stock

Awards

($)

 

Option

Awards

($)(4)(5)

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

  

Change in Pension

Value and
Nonqualified

Deferred
Compensation

Earnings ($)

  

All Other

Compensation

($)

  

Total

($)

James N. Wilson(2)

  $                   

Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D.(3)

                      

G. Leonard Baker, Jr.

  $ 15,000                  $ 15,000

Joseph C. Cook, Jr. (1)

  $ 25,000                  $ 25,000

James A. Harper(1)

  $ 15,000                  $ 15,000

David L. Mahoney(1)

  $ 25,000     $ 36,300            $ 61,300

Alix Marduel, M.D.

  $ 15,000                  $ 15,000

Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D.

  $ 15,000                  $ 15,000

David B. Singer

  $ 25,000                  $ 25,000

 

(1)

The following are the aggregate number of shares represented by option awards outstanding that have been granted to each of our non-employee directors as of December 31, 2006, the last day of the 2006 fiscal year: Mr. Cook: 75,000; Mr. Harper: 60,000; Mr. Mahoney: 70,000.

 

(2)

Mr. Wilson is an employee director. He receives no additional compensation in his capacity as a director.

 

(3)

Dr. Belanoff is a full time employee and a named executive officer of the company and is compensated in that capacity. He receives no additional compensation in his capacity as a director.

 

(4)

Refer to Notes 1 – “Accounting Policies and Estimates - Stock-Based Compensation” included in Part II – Item 8 - Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the relevant assumptions used to determine the valuation of our option awards.

 

(5)

The option was granted under the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and vests at the rate of 25% at the first anniversary of the grant date and, thereafter, at the rate of 2.0834% per month, until fully vested.

 

20


Non-employee directors receive a director fee from the Company for their services as members of the Board in the amount of $15,000 per year. Directors receive an initial stock option grant of 60,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with their initial election to the Board. Depending on when the grants were issued, such options will vest with respect to 20 or 25% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and with respect to the remaining shares in 48 or 36 equal monthly installments, respectively, thereafter. Members of the Audit Committee receive an additional $10,000 per year. In addition, during 2006, the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional stock option grant of 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Directors are reimbursed for certain expenses in connection with attending Board and committee meetings.

Pursuant to the Company’s non-employee director compensation policy, on March 2, 2006, the Company granted David L. Mahoney, the Chairman of the Audit Committee, an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.95 per share. This option vests at the rate of 25% at the first anniversary of the grant date and thereafter, at the rate of 2.0834% per month, until fully vested.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

No interlocking relationship exists, or in the past fiscal year has existed, between any member of the Company’s Compensation Committee and any member of any other company’s board of directors or compensation committee.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) has furnished this report on executive compensation. None of the members of the Compensation Committee is currently an officer or employee of the Company and all are “non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and “outside directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Compensation Committee is responsible for designing, recommending to the Board of Directors for approval and evaluating the compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company and reviewing and approving the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other officers and directors.

This report, filed in accordance with Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K, should be read in conjunction with the other information relating to executive compensation which is contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is not repeated here.

In this context, the Compensation Committee hereby reports as follows:

1. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section contained herein with management.

2. Based on the review and discussions referred to in paragraph (1) above, the Compensation Committee recommended to our board of directors, and our Board of Directors has approved, that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the SEC.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
G. LEONARD BAKER, JR., CHAIRMAN
JAMES A. HARPER
DAVID L. MAHONEY
ALIX MARDUEL, M.D.

 

21


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Under the guidance of a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors and enclosed with this proxy statement as Appendix A, the purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of its financial statements. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include appointing and providing for the compensation of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Each of the members of the Audit Committee meets the independence requirements of Nasdaq.

Management has primary responsibility for the system of internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm has the responsibility to express an opinion on the financial statements based on an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.

In this context and in connection with the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Audit Committee:

 

  ·  

reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 with the Company’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

  ·  

discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 90, Audit Committee Communications;

 

  ·  

reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, discussed with Ernst & Young LLP their independence, and concluded that the non-audit services performed by Ernst & Young LLP are compatible with maintaining their independence;

 

  ·  

based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

 

  ·  

instructed Ernst & Young LLP that the Audit Committee expects to be advised if there are any subjects that require special attention.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE
DAVID L. MAHONEY, CHAIRMAN
JOSEPH C. COOK, JR.
DAVID B. SINGER

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Audit Fees

Fees for audit services totaled approximately $217,000 in 2006 and $177,000 in 2005, including fees for professional services provided in connection with the annual audit of the Company’s financial statements and review of the Company’s quarterly financial statement and audit services provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory filings.

Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees, and All Other Fees

There were no fees paid to our principal accounting firm during 2006 or 2005 for any of these services.

 

22


Pre-approval of audit-related and non-audit services

The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee the authority to pre-approve audit-related and non-audit services not prohibited by law to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and associated fees, provided that the Chairman shall report any decision to pre-approve such audit-related or non-audit services and fees to the full Audit Committee at its next regular meeting.

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will vote on the election of nine directors, each to serve for a one-year term until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2008 and until their successors are qualified and elected. The independent members of the Board have selected, and the Board has unanimously nominated, Allen Andersson, G. Leonard Baker, Jr., Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., Joseph C. Cook, Jr., James A. Harper, David L. Mahoney, Alix Marduel, M.D., David B. Singer and James N. Wilson for election to the Board. The nominees have indicated that they are willing and able to serve as directors. If any of the nominees becomes unable or unwilling to serve, the accompanying proxy may be voted for the election of such other person as shall be designated by the Board. The proxies being solicited will be voted for the nominees at the Annual Meeting. Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting, assuming a quorum is present. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “for” the election of the nominees as listed above.

Unless otherwise instructed, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy card to vote shares represented by properly executed proxy cards for the election of the nominees as listed above.

PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will be asked to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make statements if they desire to do so. Such representatives are also expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “for” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.

OTHER MATTERS

As of the time of preparation of this Proxy Statement, neither the Board nor management intends to bring before the meeting any business other than the matters referred to in the Notice of Annual Meeting and this Proxy Statement. If any other business should properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, the persons named in the proxy will vote on such matters according to their best judgment.

 

23


STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING

The Company’s Bylaws provide that advance notice of a stockholder’s proposal must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices not earlier than one hundred fifty (150) days, and not later than one hundred twenty (120) days, prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of the proxy materials for the previous year’s annual meeting. The Bylaws also provide that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, this advance notice must be received not earlier than the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Each stockholder’s notice must contain the following information as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and appropriate biographical information and a statement as to the qualification of the nominee; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Company’s books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the number of shares of the Company’s common stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner. A copy of the full text of the provisions of the Company’s Bylaws dealing with stockholder nominations and proposals is available to stockholders from the Secretary of the Company upon written request.

Under the rules of the SEC, stockholders who wish to submit proposals for inclusion in the Proxy Statement of the Board of Directors for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must submit such proposals so as to be received by the Company at 149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025, on or before January 4, 2008. In addition, if the Company is not notified by January 4, 2008 of a proposal to be brought before the 2008 Annual Meeting by a stockholder, then proxies held by management may provide the discretion to vote against such proposal even though it is not discussed in the proxy statement for such meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,
LOGO

Robert L. Roe, M.D.

President and Secretary

Menlo Park, California

May 7, 2007

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL PROMPTLY THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM AT THE MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH TO DO SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SENT IN YOUR PROXY CARD.

 

24


Appendix A

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

Adopted by the Board of Directors of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated

Purpose

The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (the “Company”) is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of its financial statements. The Committee is not responsible, however, for planning or conducting audits, or determining whether the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate or in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Composition

The Committee shall be composed of three or more directors, as determined by the Board, each of whom shall be “independent”, as that term is defined in Section 10A(m) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Rules and Regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Exchange Act, and shall meet the independence and financial literacy requirements of Nasdaq. At least one member of the Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert”, as that term is defined in the Regulations, and shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities.

Responsibilities

The Committee is charged by the Board with the responsibility to:

 

1. Appoint and provide for the compensation of a “registered public accounting firm” (as that term is defined in Section 2(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) to serve as the Company’s independent auditor, oversee the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of any disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting), evaluate the performance of the independent auditor and, if so determined by the Committee, replace the independent auditor; it being acknowledged that the independent auditor is ultimately accountable to the Board and the Committee, as representatives of the stockholders.

 

2. Ensure the receipt of, and evaluate the written disclosures and the letter that the independent auditor submits to the Committee regarding the auditor’s independence in accordance with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, discuss such reports with the auditor, oversee the independence of the independent auditor and, if so determined by the Committee in response to such reports, take appropriate action to address issues raised by such evaluation.

 

3. Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61, as it may be modified or supplemented.

 

4. Instruct the independent auditor and the internal auditor, if any, to advise the Committee if there are any subjects that require special attention.

 

A-1


5. Instruct the independent auditor to report to the Committee on all critical accounting policies of the Company, all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments and the treatment preferred by the auditors, and other material written communication between the auditors and management.

 

6. Meet with management and the independent auditor to discuss the annual financial statements and the report of the independent auditor thereon, and to discuss significant issues encountered in the course of the audit work, including: restrictions on the scope of activities; access to required information; the adequacy of internal financial controls; the adequacy of the disclosure of off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations and relationships in reports filed with the Commission; and the appropriateness of the presentation of any non-GAAP financial measures (as defined in the Regulations) included in any report filed with the Commission or in any public disclosure or release.

 

7. Review the management letter delivered by the independent auditor in connection with the audit.

 

8. Following such review and discussions, if so determined by the Committee, recommend to the Board that the annual financial statements be included in the Company’s annual report.

 

9. Meet quarterly with management and the independent auditor to discuss the quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of the Form 10-Q; provided that this responsibility may be delegated to the chairman of the Committee or a member of the Committee who is a financial expert.

 

10. Meet at least once each year in separate executive sessions with management, the internal auditor, if any, and the independent auditor to discuss matters that any of them or the Committee believes could significantly affect the financial statements and should be discussed privately.

 

11. Review significant changes to the Company’s accounting principles and practices proposed by the independent auditor, the internal auditor, if any, or management.

 

12. Review the scope and results of internal audits, if any.

 

13. Evaluate the performance of the internal auditor, if any, and, if so determined by the Committee, recommend replacement of the internal auditor.

 

14. Conduct or authorize such inquiries into matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibility as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

15. Provide minutes of Committee meetings to the Board, and report to the Board on any significant matters arising from the Committee’s work.

 

16. At least annually, review and reassess this Charter and, if appropriate, recommend changes to the Board.

 

17. Prepare the Committee report required by the Regulations to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

 

18. Establish a procedure for receipt, retention and treatment of any complaints received by the Company about its accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

A-2


19. Approve, in accordance with Sections 10A(h) and (i) of the Exchange Act and the Regulations, all professional services, to be provided to the Company by its independent auditor, provided that the Committee shall not approve any non-audit services proscribed by Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act in the absence of an applicable exemption. The Committee may adopt policies and procedures for the approval of such services which may include delegation of authority to a designated member or members of the Committee to approve such services so long as any such approvals are disclosed to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

 

20. Review and approve all related party transactions.

Authority

By adopting this Charter, the Board delegates to the Committee full authority in its discretion to:

 

1. Perform each of the responsibilities of the Committee described above.

 

2. Appoint a chair of the Committee, unless a chair is designated by the Board.

 

3. Engage independent counsel and other advisers as the Committee determines necessary to carry out its responsibilities.

 

4. Cause the officers of the corporation to provide such funding as the Committee shall determine to be appropriate for payment of compensation to the Company’s independent auditor and any legal counsel or other advisers engaged by the Committee, and payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the audit committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

 

A-3


Appendix B

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

Adopted by the Board of Directors of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated

Purpose

The purpose of the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (the “Company”) is to assist the Board in the discharge of its responsibilities relating to compensation, and to oversee incentive, equity-based and other compensatory plans in which executive officers and key employees of the Company participate.

Composition

The Committee shall be composed of two or more directors, as determined by the Board, each of whom shall: (i) satisfy the requirements of Nasdaq, (ii) qualify as a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (iii) qualify as an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Responsibilities

The Committee is charged by the Board with the responsibility to:

 

1. Develop and periodically review compensation policies and practices applicable to executive officers, including the criteria upon which executive compensation is based, the specific relationship of corporate performance to executive compensation and the composition in terms of base salary, deferred compensation and incentive or equity-based compensation and other benefits.

 

2. Cause to occur by the Board of Directors the review and approval of corporate goals and objectives relevant to Chief Executive Officer compensation and the evaluation of the CEO’s performance in light of these goals and objectives.

 

3. Recommend for approval by the Board the CEO’s compensation based on the evaluation described in paragraph 2 (above).

 

4. Determine bases for and recommend for approval by the Board the compensation for other executive officers.

 

5. Oversee and evaluate incentive, equity-based and other compensatory plans of the Company in which executive officers and key employees participate, including approving guidelines and size of grants and awards, making grants and awards, interpreting and promulgating rules relating to the plans, modifying or canceling grants or awards, designating employees eligible to participate and imposing limitations and conditions on grants or awards.

 

6. Review and approve, subject to stockholder or Board approval as required, the creation or amendment of any incentive, equity-based and other compensatory plans of the Company (other than amendments to tax-qualified employee benefit plans and trusts, and any supplemental plans thereunder, that do not substantially alter the costs of such plans to the Company or are simply to conform such plans to applicable laws or regulations).

 

7. Review and approve any employment agreements, severance arrangements, change-in-control arrangements or special or supplemental employee benefits, and any material amendments to any of the foregoing, applicable to executive officers.

 

B-1


8. Review periodically the compensation and benefits offered to nonemployee directors and recommend changes to the Board as appropriate.

 

9. Produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement.

 

10. Provide minutes of Committee meetings to the Board, and report to the Board on any significant matters arising from the Committee’s work.

 

11. Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to the Committee by the Board or as designated in plan documents.

Authority

By adopting this Charter, the Board delegates to the Committee full authority in its discretion to:

 

1. Perform each of the responsibilities of the Compensation Committee described above; provided, however, that the Board retains the authority to authorize one or more officers of the Company to designate officers and employees to be recipients of rights or options created by the Company or to determine the number of such rights or options to be received by such officers or employees.

 

2. Delegate such of its authority and responsibilities as the Committee deems proper to members of the Committee or a subcommittee.

 

3. Appoint a chair of the Committee, unless a chair is designated by the Board.

 

4. Engage and terminate compensation consultants, independent counsel and such other advisers as the Committee determines necessary to carry out its responsibilities, and approve the fees and other terms of retention of any such consultants and other advisers.

 

5. Cause the officers of the Company to provide such funding as the Committee shall determine to be appropriate for payment of compensation to any compensation consultants, independent counsel or other advisers engaged by the Committee.

 

B-2


Appendix C

NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER

Adopted by the Board of Directors of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated

Purpose

The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (the “Company”) is to identify individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board of the Company, recommend nominees for election as directors of the Company and provide oversight with respect to corporate governance.

Composition

The Committee shall be composed of three or more directors, as determined by the board of directors, each of whom shall satisfy the requirements of Nasdaq.

Responsibilities

The Committee is charged by the Board with the responsibility to:

 

1. Identify and evaluate individuals, including individuals proposed by stockholders, qualified to serve as members of the Board, recommend to the independent directors of the Company nominees for election as directors of the Company at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected; and identify, evaluate and recommend individuals to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships that may occur between such meetings.

 

2. After consultation with the Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, make recommendations to the Board with respect to assignment of Board members to committees and for committee chairs; and, as appropriate, recommend rotation or removal of directors from Board committees.

 

3. Cause to be prepared and recommend to the Board the adoption of corporate governance guidelines, and from time to time review and assess the guidelines and recommend changes for approval by the Board.

 

4. Conduct from time to time a review of the Board and the Board committees in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the committee charters, and report the evaluation to the Board.

 

5. Periodically review and assess the Company’s code of ethics, and recommend changes for approval by the Board.

 

6. Provide minutes of Committee meetings to the Board, and report to the Board on any significant matters arising from the Committee’s work.

 

7. From time to time, review and reassess this Charter and, if appropriate, recommend changes to the Board.

 

8. Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to the Committee by the Board.

 

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Authority

By adopting this Charter, the Board delegates to the Committee full authority in its discretion to:

 

1. Perform each of the responsibilities of the Committee described above.

 

2. Delegate such of its authority and responsibilities as the Committee deems proper to members of the Committee or a subcommittee.

 

3. Appoint a chair of the Committee, unless a chair is designated by the Board.

 

4. Engage and terminate search firms, independent counsel and other advisers as the Committee determines necessary to carry out its responsibilities, and approve the fees and other terms of retention of any such search firms, independent counsel and other advisers.

 

5. Cause the officers of the Company to provide such funding as the Committee shall determine to be appropriate for payment of compensation to any search firm or other advisers engaged by the Committee.

 

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LOGO

FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE

FOR

All nominees listed (except as indicated

below)

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY

to vote (as to all nominees)

1. To elect nine directors, to hold office until the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified, the nominees listed below:

01 Allen Andersson, 06 David L. Mahoney,

02 G. Leonard Baker, Jr., 07 Alix Marduel, M.D.,

03 Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., 08 David B. Singer,

04 Joseph C. Cook, Jr., 09 James N. Wilson

05 James A. Harper,

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write the nominee’s name on the line provided below.

Please mark your vote like this X

FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN

2. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.

COMPANY ID:

PROXY NUMBER:

ACCOUNT NUMBER:

Signature Signature Date

Date and sign exactly as name(s) appear(s) on this proxy. If signing for estates, trusts, corporations or other entities, title or capacity should be stated. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. Date: May , 2007


LOGO

FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE

Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated

Proxy Solicited by the Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders

to be Held June 11, 2007

The undersigned hereby appoints James N. Wilson and Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D. or any one of them with full power of substitution, to vote proxies at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Corcept Therapeutics (the “Company”) to be held on June 11, 2007 at 2:00 p.m., local time, and at any adjournment thereof, hereby revoking any proxies heretofore given, to vote all shares of common stock of the Company held or owned by the undersigned as directed on the reverse side of this proxy card, and in their discretion upon such other matters as may come before the meeting.

The Board recommends that you vote FOR the proposals on the reverse side. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed above. WHEN NO CHOICE IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ABOVE PROPOSALS. This proxy may be revoked by the undersigned at any time, prior to the time it is voted by any of the means described in the accompanying proxy statement.

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

(Continued and to be signed and dated on the reverse side)