SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

   


Form 8-K

   


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): Dec ember 12, 2013

   


Vermillion, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   


Commission File Number: 001-34810

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware

   

33-0595156

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

   

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

12117 Bee Caves Road Building Three, Suite 100, Austin, TX  78738

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

512.519.0400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

   


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

   

 

 

¨

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

   

 

 

¨

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

   

 

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

   

 

 

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

   


 


 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

(e)

Vermillion, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

 

As described in Item 5.07 below, at the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders of Vermillion, Inc. (the Company ) held on December 12, 2013 (the Annual Meeting ”), the Company’s stockholders approved a proposal to approve an amendment and restatement of the Vermillion, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2010 Plan ”) to, among other things, effectuate an increase in the number of shares of Company common stock available for future awards under the 2010 Plan by 2,300,000 shares so that a total of 3,622,983 shares of Company common stock are available for awards under the 2010 Plan, as amended and restated (the “ Amended and Restated Plan ”) (including 1,250,604 shares of Company common stock that were subject to awards granted under the 2010 Plan as of November 12, 2013). The Company’s board of directors (the “ Board ”) approved the Amended and Restated Plan on October 29, 2013, subject to stockholder approval.

 

The purposes of the Amended and Restated Plan are (i) to enhance the Company’s ability to attract highly qualified personnel; (ii) to strengthen its retention capabilities; (iii) to enhance the long-term performance and competitiveness of the Company; and (iv) to align the interests of participants in the Amended and Restated Plan with those of the Company’s stockholders.  The Compensation Committee of the Board may grant the following types of awards under the Amended and Restated Plan: options to purchase shares of Company common stock (“ Option ”) ;   stock appreciation rights (“ SARs ”) ; restricted shares; restricted share units; unrestricted shares; deferred share units; performance and cash settled awards, and dividend equivalent rights.

As described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2013 (the “ Proxy Statement ”), the following is a summary of material changes effectuated by the Amended and Restated Plan, in addition to the increase in the number of shares of Company common stock available for future awards as discussed above:

 

ption

 

Prohibition on the recycling of the following shares of Company common stock back into the 2010 Plan: (i) shares that were subject to an Option or a   SAR and were not issued or delivered upon the net settlement or net exercise of such Option or SAR, (ii) shares delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay the exercise or purchase price or the withholding taxes related to an outstanding Option or SAR or (iii) shares repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of an Option exercise;

Addition of a requirement for the Company to obtain stockholder approval prior to reducing the exercise price of an outstanding Option or SAR or effectuating a repricing (whether through cancellation and re-grant or through cancellation in exchange for cash), in each case, other than as provided in the adjustment or change in control provisions of the Plan;

Addition of a requirement that dividend equivalents on awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions shall be deposited with the Company and shall be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying awards; and

Modification of the annual per person award limit on grants of Options, SARs and shares subject to performance awards to 500,000 shares.

 


 

 

The descriptions of the Amended and Restated Plan contained herein and in the Proxy Statement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

As described in more detail in the Proxy Statement, pursuant to the Company’s offer letter to Thomas H. McLain, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated February 27, 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Board, as authorized by the Board, granted 4 00,000 Options to Mr. McLain in March 2013, subject to stockholder approval of the Amended and Restated Plan. In addition, there have been 2 42,500 Options granted in 2013 prior to the Annual Meeting which were subject to stockholder approval of the Amended and Restated Plan.  These 642,500 Options became effective upon approval by the stockholders of the Amended and Restated Plan at the Annual Meeting.

 

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

On December 12, 2013, the Company held its 2013 Annual Meeting.  The matters voted on at the Annual Meeting were:  (1) the adopt ion of amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to declassify the Board; (2) the e lection of Peter S. Roddy as a Class I director to serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified ; (3) an a dvisory vote on the compensation of the c ompany’s n amed e xecutive o fficers , as disclosed in the Proxy Statement ; (4) ratification of the Board’s appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013; and (5) approval of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan to , among other modifications, effectuate the changes as described in Item 5.02 above .   As of the record date for the meeting, there were 23,487,927 shares of Company   common stock, par value $0.001 per share, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.  There were 21,420,430 shares present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting.  The final voting results were as follows:

 

Proposal 1.  A doption of A mendments to O ur Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to D eclassify the Board

 

3,711,406

 

 

 

   FOR

AGAINST

ABSTENTION

BROKER NON-VOTES

13,711,406

 464,125

  217,066

7,027,833

 

Based on the votes set forth above, the amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to declassify the Board were not approved by the stockholders

 

Proposal 2.  Election of a Class I Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOMINEE

FOR

AGAINST

WITHHOLD

BROKER NON-VOTES

Peter S. Roddy

13,920,308

0

472,289

7,027,833

 

Based on the votes set forth above, Peter S. Roddy was duly elected to serve as a Clas s I director of the Company   for a term expiring at the Company’s 2016 annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.  

 

Proposal 3 .  Advisory Vote on the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers

 

The advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the P roxy Statement , received the following votes:

 

3,

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTENTION

BROKER NON-VOTES

13,260,915

742,680

389,002

7,027,833

 

Based on the votes set forth above, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officer s , as disclosed in the P roxy Statement, was approv ed in an advisory vote by the stockholders.  


 

 

 

Proposal 4 .  Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 201 3 received the following votes: 

 

0,750,820

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTENTION

BROKER NON-VOTES

20,750,820

241,266

428,344

7,027,833

 

Based on the votes set forth above, the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 201 3   was duly ratified by the stockholders.

 

Proposal 5 .  Approval of an Amendment and Restatement of the 2010 Plan

 

The approval of the Amended and Restated Plan received the following votes:

 

3

 

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTENTION

BROKER NON-VOTES

13,249,053

775,961

367,583

7,027,833

 

Based on the votes set forth above, the Amended and Restated Plan was approved by the stockholders .  

 

On December 16, 2013, the Company issued a press release regarding the results of voting at the Annual Meeting, the complete text of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. 

 

 

 

 

(d) Exhibit No.

Description.

 

 

10.1

 

Vermillion, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

99.1

  

Press Release dated December 16, 2013

 


 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vermillion, Inc.

 

Date:  December 16, 2013

By:

/s/ Eric J. Schoen

 

 

 

Eric J. Schoen

 

 

 

Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer

 


 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

 

 

10.1

 

Vermillion, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

99.1

  

Press Release dated December 16, 2013

 


 

Ex hibit 10.1

 

VERMILLION, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

————————————————

Plan Document

————————————————

Vermillion, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes and adopts the following Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), effective upon approval by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Effective Date”). 

 

1.

Introduction .  

 

(a) Purpose.  T he  purposes of the Plan are: (i) to enhance the Company’s ability to attract highly qualified personnel; (ii) to strengthen its retention capabilities; (iii) to enhance the long-term performance and competitiveness of the Company; and (iv) to align the interests of Plan participants with those of the Company’s stockholders.  Effective Date.  This Plan, as amended and restated, shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for approval and, if approved, sha ll becom e effective as of the Effective Date. 

(b) Definitions .  Terms in the Plan and any Appendix that begin with an initial capital letter have the defined meaning set forth in Appendix I or elsewhere in this Plan, in either case unless the context of their use clearly indicates a different meaning.

(c) Effect on Other Plans, Awards, and Arrangements .  This Plan is not intended to affect and shall not affect any stock options, equity-based compensation, or other benefits that the Company or its Affiliates may have provided, or may separately provide in the future, pursuant to any agreement, plan, or program that is independent of this Plan.

(d) Appendices .  Incorporated by reference and thereby part of the Plan are the definitions set forth in Appendix I hereof.

2.

Types of Awards .  The Plan permits the granting of the following types of Awards according to the Sections of the Plan listed here:

 

Section 5

Stock Options

Section 6

Share Appreciation Rights (“ SARs ”)

Section 7

Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units (“ RSUs ”), and Unrestricted Shares

Section 8

Deferred Share Units (“ DSUs ”)

Section 9

Performance and Cash-settled Awards

Section 10

Dividend Equivalent Rights

 

3.

Shares Available for Awards .    

 

(a) Number of Shares. Subject to Section 13 below, a total of 3,622,983 Shares shall be available for issuance under the Plan.  The Shares deliverable pursuant to Awards shall be authorized but unissued Shares, or Shares that the Company otherwise holds in treasury or in trust. 

(b) Replenishment; Counting of Shares.     For purposes of the limitation under Se ction 3(a), to the extent that Shares underlying any Plan Awards are not issued or delivered by

1

 


 

reason of (i) forfe iture, cancellation, expiration or termination (other than by exercise) or (ii) the settlement of such Shares in cash, then such Shares shall be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan:  (i) Shares that were subject to an Option or an SAR and were not issued or delivered upon the net settlement or net exercise of such Option or SAR, (ii) Shares delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay purchase price or the withholding taxes related to an outstanding Option or SAR or (iii) Shares repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of an Option exercise. Shares delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay the withholding taxes for Awards (other than Options or SARs) or Performance Awards shall again be availab le for issuance under this Plan .  Further, and to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan shall not be reduced by any Shares issued under the Plan through the settlement, assumption, or substitution of outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards as a condition of the Company’s or an Affiliate’s acquiring another entity. 

(c) ISO Share Reserve.  T he number of Shares that are available for ISO Awards shall not exceed the total number set forth in Section 3(a) above (as adjusted pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan, and as determined in accordance with Code Section 422).

4.

Eligibility .    

 

(a) General Rule .  Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine from the class of Eligible Persons those Persons to whom Awards may be granted.  Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth its Grant Date and all other terms and conditions of the Award, that is signed on behalf of the Company (or delivered by an authorized agent through an electronic medium), and that, if required by the Committee, is signed by the Eligible Person as an acceptance of the Award .  The grant of an Award shall not obligate the Company or any Affiliate to continue the employment or service of any Eligible Person, or to provide any future Awards or other remuneration at any time thereafter.

(b) Option and SAR Limits per Person.  Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 13, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options or SARs, or a combination thereof, may be granted during any fiscal year of the Company to any person shall be 500,000.

5.

Stock Options .

(a) Grants.  Subject to the special rules for ISOs set forth in the next paragraph, the Committee may grant Options to Eligible Persons pursuant to Award Agreements setting forth terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan, that may be immediately exercisable or that may become exercisable in whole or in part based on future events or conditions, that may include vesting or other requirements for the right to exercise the Option, and that may differ for any reason between Eligible Persons or classes of Eligible Persons, provided in all instances that:

(i)

the exercise price for Shares subject to purchase through exercise of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the Grant Date; and

(ii)

no Option shall be exercisable for a term ending more than ten years after its Grant Date.

 

(b) Special ISO Provisions .  The following provisions shall control any grants of Options that are denominated as ISOs.

(i)

Eligibility.  The Committee may grant ISOs only to Employees (including officers who are Employees) of the Company or an Affiliate that is a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Code Section 424. 

 

2

 


 

(ii)

Documentation.  Each Option that is intended to be an ISO must be designated in the Award Agreement as an ISO, provided that any Option designated as an ISO will be a Non-ISO to the extent the Option fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.  In the case of an ISO, the Committee shall determine on the Grant Date the acceptable methods of paying the exercise price for Shares, and it shall be included in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(iii)

$100,000 Limit.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year (under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate) exceeds U.S. $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Non-ISOs.  For purposes of determining whether the U.S. $100,000 limit is exceeded, the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an ISO shall be determined as of the Grant Date.  In reducing the number of Options treated as ISOs to meet the U.S. $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first.  In the event that Code Section 422 is amended to alter the limitation set forth therein, the limitation of this paragraph shall be automatically adjusted accordingly.

 

 

(iv)

Grants to 10% Holders.  In the case of an ISO granted to an Employee who is a Ten Percent Holder on the Grant Date, the ISO’s term shall not exceed five years from the Grant Date, and the exercise price shall be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the Grant Date.  In the event that Code Section 422 is amended to alter the limitations set forth therein, the limitations of this paragraph shall be automatically adjusted accordingly.

 

(v)

Substitution of Options.  In the event the Company or an Affiliate acquires (whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise) all or substantially all of outstanding capital stock or assets of another corporation or in the event of any reorganization or other transaction qualifying under Code Section 424, the Committee may, in accordance with the provisions of that Section, substitute ISOs for ISOs previously granted under the plan of the acquired company provided (A) the excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an ISO immediately after the substitution over the aggregate exercise price of such shares is not more than the similar excess immediately before such substitution, and (B) the new ISO does not give additional benefits to the Participant, including any extension of the exercise period.

 

 

(vi)

Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions.  By executing an ISO Award Agreement, each Participant agrees to notify the Company in writing immediately after the Participant sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any Shares acquired through exercise of the ISO, if such disposition occurs within the earlier of (A) two years of the Grant Date, or (B) one year after the exercise of the ISO being exercised.  Each Participant further agrees to provide any information about a disposition of Shares as may be requested by the Company to assist it in complying with any applicable tax laws.

 

(c) Method of Exercise.  Each Option may be exercised, in whole or in part ( provided that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares) at any time and from time to time prior to its expiration, but only pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and subject to the times, circumstances and conditions for exercise contained in the applicable Award Agreement.  Exercise shall occur by delivery of both written notice of exercise to the secretary of the Company, and payment of the full exercise price for the Shares being purchased.  The methods of payment that the Committee may in its discretion accept or commit to accept in an Award Agreement include:

(i)

cash or check payable to the Company (in U.S. dollars);

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(ii)

other Shares that (A) are owned by the Participant who is purchasing Shares pursuant to an Option, (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (C) are all, at the time of such surrender, free and clear of any and all claims, pledges, liens and encumbrances, or any restrictions which would in any manner restrict the transfer of such Shares to or by the Company (other than such restrictions as may have existed prior to an issuance of such Shares by the Company to such Participant), and (D) are duly endorsed for transfer to the Company;

(iii)

a net exercise by su r rendering to the Company Shares otherwise receivable upon exercise of the Option;

(iv)

a cashless exercise program that the Committee may approve, from time to time in its discretion, pursuant to which a Participant may elect to concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (A) to such Participant’s broker or dealer to effect the immediate sale of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the exercise price of the Option plus all Withholding Taxes, and (B) to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such broker or dealer in order to complete the sale; or

(v)

any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

The Company shall not be required to deliver Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option until the Company has received sufficient funds to cover the full exercise price due and all applicable Withholding Taxes required by reason of such exercise.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

(d) Exercise of an Unvested Option .  The Committee in its sole discretion may allow a Participant to exercise an unvested Option, in which case the Shares then issued shall be Restricted Shares having analogous vesting restrictions to the unvested Option.

(e) Termination of Continuous Service .  The Committee may establish and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the terms and conditions on which an Option shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service.  The Committee may waive or modify these provisions at any time.  To the extent that a Participant is not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of his or her termination of Continuous Service, or if the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Option) does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified in the Award Agreement or below (as applicable), the Option shall terminate and the Shares underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan and become available for future Awards. 

The following provisions shall apply to the extent an Award Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an Option shall terminate when there is a termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service:

Reason for terminating Continuous Service

Option Termination Date

(I) By the Company for Cause, or what would have been Cause if the Company had known all of the relevant facts.

Termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service, or when Cause first existed if earlier.

(II) Disability of the Participant.

Within one year after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service.

(III) Retirement of the Participant after age 65   with five years or more of Continuous Service.

Within one   year after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service.

(IV) Death of the Participant during Continuous Service or within 90   days thereafter.

Within one   year after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service.

(V) Other than due to Cause or the Participant’s Disability, Retirement, or Death.

Within 90 days after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service.

4

 


 

 

If there is a Securities and Exchange Commission blackout period (or a Committee-imposed blackout period) that prohibits the buying or selling of Shares during any part of the ten day period before the expiration of any Option based on the termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service (as described above), the period for exercising the Options shall be extended until ten days beyond when such blackout period ends.  Notwithstanding any provision hereof or within an Award Agreement, no Option shall ever be exercisable after the expiration date of its original term as set forth in the Award Agreement.

6.

SARs .

(a) Grants.  The Committee may grant SARs to Eligible Persons pursuant to Award Agreements setting forth terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan; provided that:

(i)

the exercise price for the Shares subject to each SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the Grant Date;

 

(ii)

no SAR shall be exercisable for a term ending more than ten years after its Grant Date; and

 

(iii)

each SAR shall, except to the extent an SAR Award Agreement provides otherwise, be subject to the provisions of Section 5(e) relating to the effect of a termination of Participant’s Continuous Service, with “SAR” being substituted for “Option.” 

 

 

(b) Settlement.  Subject to the Plan’s terms, an SAR shall entitle the Participant, upon exercise of the SAR, to receive Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the product of the number of Shares as to which the SAR is being exercised, and the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value, on such date, of the Shares covered by the exercised SAR, over (ii) an exercise price designated in the SAR Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR Award Agreement may limit the total settlement value that the Participant will be entitled to receive upon the SAR’s exercise, and may provide for settlement either in cash or in any combination of cash or Shares that the Committee may authorize pursuant to an Award Agreement.  If, on the date on which an SAR or portion thereof is to expire, the Fair Market Value exceeds the per Share exercise price of such SAR, then the SAR shall be deemed exercised and cancelled without any payment in settlement thereof; subject to any specific provision to the contrary within an Award Agreement.

(c) SARs related to Options .  The Committee may grant SARs either concurrently with the grant of an Option or with respect to an outstanding Option, in which case the SAR shall extend to all or a portion of the Shares covered by the related Option, and shall have an exercise price that is not less than the exercise price of the related Option.  An SAR shall entitle the Participant who holds the related Option, upon exercise of the SAR and surrender of the related

5

 


 

Option, or portion thereof, to the extent the SAR and related Option each were previously unexercised, to receive payment of an amount determined pursuant to Section 6(b) above.  Any SAR granted in tandem with an ISO will contain such terms as may be required to comply with the provisions of Code Section 422.

7.

Restricted Shares, RSUs, and Unrestricted Share Awards .

(a) Grant.  The Committee may grant Restricted Share, RSU, or Unrestricted Share Awards to Eligible Persons, in all cases pursuant to Award Agreements setting forth terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan.  The Committee shall establish as to each Restricted Share or RSU Award the number of Shares deliverable or subject to the Award (which number may be determined by a written formula), and the period or periods of time (the “ Restriction Period ”) at the end of which all or some restrictions specified in the Award Agreement shall lapse, and the Participant shall receive unrestricted Shares (or cash to the extent provided in the Award Agreement) in settlement of the Award.  Such restrictions may include, without limitation, restrictions concerning voting rights and transferability, and such restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times and pursuant to such circumstances or based on such criteria as selected by the Committee, including, without limitation, criteria based on the Participant’s duration of employment, directorship or consultancy with the Company, individual, group, or divisional performance criteria, Company performance, or other criteria selection by the Committee. The Committee may make Restricted Share and RSU Awards with or without the requirement for payment of cash or other consideration.  In addition, the Committee may grant Awards hereunder in the form of Unrestricted Shares which shall vest in full upon the Grant Date or such other date as the Committee may determine or which the Committee may issue pursuant to any program under which one or more Eligible Persons (selected by the Committee in its sole discretion) elect to pay for such Shares or to receive Unrestricted Shares in lieu of cash bonuses that would otherwise be paid.

(b) Vesting and Forfeiture.  The Committee shall set forth, in an Award Agreement granting Restricted Shares or RSUs, the terms and conditions under which the Participant’s interest in the Restricted Shares or the Shares or cash subject to RSUs will become vested and non-forfeitable.  Except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or as the Committee otherwise determines, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason, the Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Shares and RSUs to the extent the Participant’s interest therein has not vested on or before such termination date; provided that if a Participant purchases Restricted Shares and forfeits them for any reason, the Company shall return the purchase price to the Participant to the extent either set forth in an Award Agreement or required by Applicable Law.

(c) Certificates for Restricted Shares.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Company shall hold certificates representing Restricted Shares and dividends (whether in Shares or cash) that accrue with respect to them until the restrictions lapse, and the Participant shall provide the Company with appropriate stock powers endorsed in blank. The Participant’s failure to provide such stock powers within ten days after a written request from the Company shall entitle the Committee to unilaterally declare a forfeiture of all or some of the Participant’s Restricted Shares.  

(d) Section 83(b) Elections .  A Participant may make an election under Code Section 83(b) (the “ Section 83(b) Election ”) with respect to Restricted Shares.  A Participant who has received RSUs may, within ten days after receiving the RSU Award, provide the Committee with a written notice of his or her desire to make Section 83(b) Election with respect to the Shares subject to such RSUs.  The Committee may in its discretion convert the Participant’s RSUs into Restricted Shares, on a one-for-one basis, in full satisfaction of the Participant’s RSU Award.  The Participant may then make a Section 83(b) Election with respect to those Restricted Shares; provided that the Participant’s Section 83(b) Election will be invalid if not filed with the Company

6

 


 

and the appropriate U.S. tax authorities within 30 days after the Grant Date of the RSUs replaced by the Restricted Shares.

(e) Deferral Elections for RSUs .  To the extent specifically provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant may irrevocably elect, in accordance with Section 8 below, to defer the receipt of all or a percentage of the Shares that would otherwise be transferred to the Participant both more than 12 months after the date of the Participant’s deferral election and upon the vesting of an RSU Award.  If the Participant makes this election, the Company shall credit the Shares subject to the election, and any associated Shares attributable to Dividend Equivalent Rights attached to the Award, to a DSU account established pursuant to Section 8 below on the date such Shares would otherwise have been delivered to the Participant pursuant to this Section.

(f) Issuance of Shares upon Vesting .  As soon as practicable after vesting of a Participant’s Restricted Shares (or of the right to receive Shares underlying RSUs), the Company shall deliver to the Participant, free from vesting restrictions, one Share for each surrendered and vested Restricted Share (or deliver one Share free of the vesting restriction for each vested RSU), unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to Section 11 regarding Withholding Taxes.  No fractional Shares shall be distributed, and cash shall be paid in lieu thereof.

8.

DSUs .

(a) Elections to Defer .  The Committee may make DSU awards to Eligible Persons pursuant to Award Agreements (regardless of whether or not there is a deferral of the Eligible Person’s compensation), and may permit select Eligible Persons to irrevocably elect, on a form provided by and acceptable to the Committee (the “ Election Form ”), to forego the receipt of cash or other compensation (including the Shares deliverable pursuant to any RSU Award) and in lieu thereof to have the Company credit to an internal Plan account a number of DSUs having a Fair Market Value equal to the Shares and other compensation deferred.  These credits will be made at the end of each calendar quarter (or other period determined by the Committee) during which compensation is deferred.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, a Participant’s Election Form will be ineffective with respect to any compensation that the Participant earns before the date on which the Election Form takes effect.  For any Participant who is subject to U.S. income taxation, the Committee shall only authorize deferral elections under this Section (i) pursuant to written procedures, and using written Election Forms, that satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A, and (ii) only by Eligible Persons who are Directors, Consultants, or members of a select group of management or highly compensated Employees (within the meaning of ERISA).

(b) Vesting .  Unless an Award Agreement expressly provides otherwise, each Participant shall be 100% vested at all times in any Shares subject to DSUs.

(c) Issuances of Shares .  Unless an Award Agreement expressly provides otherwise, the Company shall settle a Participant’s DSU Award, by delivering one Share for each DSU, in five substantially equal annual installments that are issued before the last day of each of the five calendar years that end after the date on which the Participant’s Continuous Service ends for any reason, subject to –

(i)

the Participant’s right to elect a different form of distribution, only on a form provided by and acceptable to the Committee, that permits the Participant to select any combination of a lump sum and annual installments that are triggered by, and completed within ten years following, the last day of the Participant’s Continuous Service, and

(ii)

the Company’s acceptance of the Participant’s distribution election form executed at the time the Participant elects to defer the receipt of cash or other compensation pursuant to Section 8(a), provided that the Participant may change a distribution election through any subsequent election that (A) the Participant delivers to the Company at least one year before the date on which distributions are otherwise scheduled to commence pursuant to the Participant’s initial distribution election, (B) such

7

 


 

distribution election does not take effect until at least one year after the date it was executed by the Participant and (C) defers the commencement of distributions by at least five years from the originally scheduled distribution commencement date.

Fractional shares shall not be issued, and instead shall be paid out in cash.

(d) Emergency Withdrawals .  In the event that a Participant suffers an unforeseeable emergency within the contemplation of this Section, the Participant may apply to the Committee for an immediate distribution of all or a portion of the Participant’s DSUs.  The unforeseeable emergency must result from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (within the meaning of Code Section 152) of the Participant, casualty loss of the Participant’s property, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable conditions beyond the control of the Participant.  The Committee shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine whether a Participant has a qualifying unforeseeable emergency, may require independent verification of the emergency, and may determine whether or not to provide the Participant with cash or Shares.  Examples of purposes which are not considered unforeseeable emergencies include post-secondary school expenses or the desire to purchase a residence.  In no event will a distribution be made to the extent the unforeseeable emergency could be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, or by liquidation of the Participant’s nonessential assets to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause a severe financial hardship.  The amount of any distribution hereunder shall be limited to the amount necessary to relieve the Participant’s unforeseeable emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.  The number of Shares subject to the Participant’s DSU Award shall be reduced by any Shares distributed to the Participant and by a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of the distribution equal to any cash paid to the Participant pursuant to this Section.  For all DSUs granted to Participants who are U.S. taxpayers, the term “unforeseeable emergency” shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A.

(e) Termination of Service .  For purposes of this Section, a Participant’s “Continuous Service” shall only end when the Participant incurs a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations § 1.409A-1(h).  A Participant shall be considered to have experienced a termination of Continuous Service when the facts and circumstances indicate that either (i) no further services will be performed for the Company or any Affiliate after a certain date, or (ii) that the level of bona fide services the Participant will perform after such date (whether as an Employee, Director, or Consultant) are reasonably expected to permanently decrease to no more than 50% of the average level of bona fide services performed by such Participant (whether as an Employee, Director, or Consultant) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or full period of services to the Company and its Affiliates if the Participant has been providing such services for less than 36 months).

9.

Performance and Cash-Settled Awards .

(a) Performance Units .  Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) hereof, the Committee may in its discretion grant Performance Awards, including Performance Units to any Eligible Person, including Performance Unit Awards that (i) have substantially the same financial benefits and other terms and conditions as Options, SARs, RSUs, or DSUs, but (ii) are settled only in cash.  All Awards hereunder shall be made pursuant to Award Agreements setting forth terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan.

(b) Performance Compensation Awards .  Subject to the limitations set forth in this Section, the Committee may, at the time of grant of a Performance Unit, designate such Award as a “ Performance Compensation Award ” (payable in cash or Shares) in order that such Award constitutes, and has terms and conditions that are designed to qualify as, “qualified performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).  With respect to each such Performance Compensation Award, the Committee shall establish, in writing within the time required under

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Code Section 162(m), a “ Performance Period ,” “ Performance Measure(s) ”, and “ Performance Formula(e) ” (each such term being defined below).  Once established for a Performance Period, the Performance Measure(s) and Performance Formula(e) shall not be amended or otherwise modified to the extent such amendment or modification would cause the compensation payable pursuant to the Award to fail to constitute qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).

A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that the Performance Measure(s) for such Award is achieved and the Performance Formula(e) as applied against such Performance Measure(s) determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s Award has been earned for the Performance Period.  As soon as practicable after the close of each Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Measure(s) for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, determine and certify in writing the amount of the Performance Compensation Award to be paid to the Participant and, in so doing, may use negative discretion to decrease, but not increase, the amount of the Award otherwise payable to the Participant based upon such performance

(c) Limitations on Awards .  The maximum Performance Award and the maximum Performance Compensation Award that any one Participant may receive during any 12-month period during a Performance Period, without regard to time of vesting or exercisability, shall not together exceed 500,000  Shares, as adjusted pursuant to Section 13 below (or, for Performance Units to be settled in cash, U.S. $2,000,000. 

(d) Definitions .

(i) Performance Formula ” means, for a Performance Period, one or more objective formulas or standards established by the Committee for purposes of determining whether or the extent to which an Award has been earned based on the level of performance attained or to be attained with respect to one or more Performance Measure(s).  Performance Formulae may vary from Performance Period to Performance Period and from Participant to Participant and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative.

(ii) Performance Measure ” means one or more of the following selected by the Committee to measure Company, Affiliate, and/or business unit performance for a Performance Period, whether in absolute or relative terms (including, without limitation, terms relative to a peer group or index):  basic, diluted, or adjusted earnings per share; sales or revenue; earnings before interest, taxes, and other adjustments (in total or on a per share basis); basic or adjusted net income; returns on equity, assets, capital, or revenue; economic value added; working capital; total stockholder return; and product development, product market share, research, licensing, successful completion of clinical trials, submission of applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“ FDA ”) for new tests, receipt from the FDA of clearance for new tests, commercialization of new tests, litigation, human resources, information services, mergers, acquisitions, sales of assets of Affiliates or business units.  Each such measure shall be, to the extent applicable, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied by the Company (or such other standard applied by the Committee) and, if so determined by the Committee, and in the case of a Performance Compensation Award, to the extent permitted under Code Section 162(m), adjusted to omit the effects of extraordinary items, gain or loss on the disposal of a business segment, unusual or infrequently occurring events and transactions and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles.  Performance Measures may vary from Performance Period to Performance Period and from Participant to Participant, and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative.

(iii) Performance Period ” means one or more periods of time (of not less than one fiscal year of the Company), as the Committee may designate, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Measure(s) will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s rights in respect of an Award.

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(e) Deferral Elections .  At any time prior to the date that is both at least six months before the close of a Performance Period (or shorter or longer period that the Committee selects) with respect to a Performance Award and at which time vesting or payment is substantially uncertain to occur, the Committee may permit a Participant who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of ERISA) to irrevocably elect, on a form provided by and acceptable to the Committee, to defer the receipt of all or a percentage of the cash or Shares that would otherwise be transferred to the Participant upon the vesting of such Award.  If the Participant makes this election, the cash or Shares subject to the election, and any associated interest and dividends, shall be credited to an account established pursuant to Section 8 hereof on the date such cash or Shares would otherwise have been released or issued to the Participant pursuant to this Section.  

10.

Dividend Equivalent Rights .  To the extent expressly provided in an Award Agreement, a Dividend Equivalent Right shall entitle an Eligible Person who has received an Award to be credited with dividends that the Company declares and pays (in cash, Shares, or other securities) to its stockholders of record between the Grant Date and the settlement date of the Award.  Any Dividend Equivalent Rights arising from cash dividends shall be immediately deemed to be reinvested in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to such cash dividends (unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise).  The Company shall settle Dividend Equivalent Rights by issuing Shares to a Participant to the extent they were previously credited to the Participant as Dividend Equivalent Rights and are attributable to Shares that the Participant is receiving as settlement of an Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may in an Award Agreement or modification thereto provide for (i) an earlier or later settlement event for Dividend Equivalent Rights, and (ii) complete or partial settlement in cash rather than in Shares ; provided that Dividend Equivalent Rights associated with an Award subject to performance-based vesting conditions shall be deposited with the Company and shall be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Award .

11.

Taxes; Withholding

(a) General Rule.     Participants are solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection with Awards, and neither the Company, any Affiliate, nor any of their employees, directors, or agents shall have any obligation to mitigate, indemnify, or to otherwise hold any Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes.     The Company’s obligation to deliver Shares (or to pay cash) to Participants pursuant to Awards is at all times subject to their prior or coincident satisfaction of all required Withholding Taxes.  Except to the extent otherwise either provided in an Award Agreement or thereafter authorized by the Committee, the Company or any Affiliate will satisfy required Withholding Taxes that the Participant has not otherwise arranged to settle before the due date thereof –

(i)     first from withholding the cash otherwise payable to the Participant pursuant to the Award;

 

(ii)     then by withholding and cancelling the Participant’s rights with respect to a number of Shares that (A) would otherwise have been delivered to the Participant pursuant to the Award, and (B) have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes (such withheld Shares may not have a value in excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value thereof on the date of the withholding determined by applying the minimum statutory withholding rate); and 

 

(iii)      finally, withholding the cash otherwise payable to the Participant by the Company.

 

(b) U.S. Code Section 409A.   To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Code Section 409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Code Section 409A.  To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate (i) to exempt the Award from Code Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) to comply with the

10

 


 

requirements of Code Section 409A and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under such Section.

(c)  Unfunded Tax Status.  The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Person pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Person any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate, and a Participant’s rights under the Plan at all times constitute an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company for the collection of benefits as they come due.  Neither the Participant nor the Participant’s duly-authorized transferee or Beneficiaries shall have any claim against or rights in any specific assets, Shares, or other funds of the Company.

12.

Non-Transferability of Awards .

(a) General.  Except as set forth in this Section, or as otherwise approved by the Committee, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution.  The designation of a death Beneficiary by a Participant will not constitute a transfer.  An Award may be exercised, during the lifetime of the holder of an Award, only by such holder, by the duly-authorized legal representative of a holder who is Disabled, or by a transferee permitted by this Section.

(b) Limited Transferability Rights.     The Committee may in its discretion provide in an Award Agreement that an Award in the form of a Non-ISO, a Share-settled SAR, Restricted Shares, RSUs, Performance Awards, Performance Units may be transferred without consideration and on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, either (i) by instrument to the Participant’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below), (ii) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which the Award is to be passed to the Participant’s designated beneficiaries, or (iii) by gift to charitable institutions.  Any transferee of the Participant’s rights shall succeed and be subject to all of the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and the Plan.  “ Immediate Family ” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.

(c) Death .  In the event of the death of a Participant, any outstanding Awards issued to the Participant shall automatically be transferred to the Participant’s Beneficiary (or, if no Beneficiary is designated or surviving, to the person or persons to whom the Participant’s rights under the Award pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution).  

13.

Change in Capital Structure; Change in Control; Etc .

(a) Changes in Capitalization.  The Committee shall equitably adjust the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award,  the number of Shares that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation, forfeiture, or expiration of an Award, the per person maximums set forth in the Plan, as well as the exercise or other price per Share covered by each such outstanding Award, to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock-split, reverse stock-split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the Shares, merger, consolidation, change in form of organization, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.  In the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding Awards under the Plan such alternative consideration (including cash or securities of any surviving entity) as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of all Awards so replaced.  In any case, such substitution of cash or securities shall not require the consent of any person who is granted Awards pursuant to the Plan.  Except as expressly provided herein, or in an Award Agreement, if the Company issues for consideration shares of stock of any

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class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, the issuance shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be required to be made with respect to the number or price of Shares subject to any Award.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation . In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company other than as part of a Change in Control, each Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such dissolution or liquidation, subject to the ability of the Committee to exercise any discretion authorized in the case of a Change in Control. 

(c) Change in Control.  In the event of a Change in Control but subject to the terms of any Award Agreements or employment-related agreements between the Company or any Affiliates and any Participant, each outstanding Award shall be assumed or a substantially equivalent award shall be substituted by the surviving or successor company or a parent or subsidiary of such successor company (in each case, the “ Successor Company ”) upon consummation of the Change in Control.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, instead of having outstanding Awards be assumed or replaced with equivalent awards by the Successor Company, the Committee may in its sole and absolute discretion and authority, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Company’s stockholders or any Participant with respect to his or her outstanding Awards, take one or more of the following actions (with respect to any or all of the Awards, and with discretion to differentiate between individual Participants and Awards for any reason):

(i)

accelerate the vesting of Awards so that Awards shall vest (and, to the extent applicable, become exercisable) as to the Shares that otherwise would have been unvested and provide that repurchase rights of the Company with respect to Shares issued pursuant to an Award shall lapse as to the Shares subject to such repurchase right;

(ii)

arrange or otherwise provide for the payment of cash or other consideration to Participants in exchange for the satisfaction and cancellation of outstanding Awards (with the Committee determining the amount payable to each Participant based on the Fair Market Value, on the date of the Change in Control, of the Award being cancelled, based on any reasonable valuation method selected by the Committee);

(iii)

terminate all or some Awards upon the consummation of the Change in Control, provided that the Committee shall provide for vesting of such Awards in full as of a date immediately prior to consummation of the Change in Control.  To the extent that an Award is not exercised prior to consummation of a transaction in which the Award is not being assumed or substituted, such Award shall terminate upon such consummation;

(iv)

make such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding Awards or this Plan as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate, subject however to the terms of Section 13 above.

14.

Termination, Rescission and Recapture of Awards .

(a) Each Award under the Plan is intended to align the Participant’s long-term interests with those of the Company.  Accordingly, unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement, the Company may terminate any outstanding, unexercised, unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards (“ Termination ”), rescind any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to the Award (“ Rescission ”), or recapture any Shares (whether restricted or unrestricted) or proceeds from the Participant’s sale of Shares issued pursuant to the Award (“ Recapture ”), if the Participant does not comply with the conditions of subsections (b), (c), and (e) hereof (collectively, the “ Conditions ”).

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(b) The Participant shall comply with any agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate with regard to nondisclosure of the  proprietary or confidential information or material of the Company or any Affiliate. 

(c) The Participant shall comply with any agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate with regard to intellectual property (including but not limited to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, inventions, developments and improvements). 

(d) Upon exercise, payment, or delivery of cash or Company Stock pursuant to an Award, the Participant shall certify on a form acceptable to the Company that he or she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(e) If the Company determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that (i) a Participant has violated any of the Conditions set forth in subsection (b) or (c); (ii) during his or her Continuous Service, or within one   year after its termination for any reason, a Participant has solicited any non-administrative employee of the Company to terminate employment with the Company; or (y) during his or her Continuous Service, a Participant has engaged in activities which are   materially prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company, including any breaches of fiduciary duty or the duty of loyalty, then the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose a Termination, Rescission, and/or Recapture with respect to any or all of the Participant’s relevant Awards, Shares, and the proceeds thereof. 

(f) Within ten days after receiving notice from the Company of any such activity described in Section 14(e) above, the Participant shall deliver to the Company the Shares acquired pursuant to the Award, or, if Participant has sold the Shares, the gain realized, or payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment, or delivery; provided , that if the Participant returns Shares that the Participant purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option (or the gains realized from the sale of such Company Stock), the Company shall promptly refund the exercise price, without earnings, that the Participant paid for the Shares.  Any payment by the Participant to the Company pursuant to this Section shall be made either in cash or by returning to the Company the number of Shares that the Participant received in connection with the rescinded exercise, payment, or delivery. 

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company has sole and absolute discretion not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture, and its determination not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any particular act by a particular Participant or Award shall not in any way reduce or eliminate the Company’s authority to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any other act or Participant or Award.   

(h) All administrative and discretionary authority given to the Company under this Section shall be exercised by the most senior human resources executive of the Company or such other person or committee (including without limitation the Committee) as the Committee may designate from time to time.

(i) If any provision within this Section is determined to be unenforceable or invalid under any Applicable Law, such provision will be applied to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, and shall automatically be deemed amended in a manner consistent with its objectives and any limitations required under Applicable Law. 

15.

Recoupment of Awards Unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may in its sole and absolute discretion, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Company’s stockholders or of any Participant, require that any Participant reimburse the Company for all or any portion of any Awards granted under this Plan (“ Reimbursement ”), or the Committee may require the Termination or Rescission of, or the Recapture associated with, any Award, if and to the extent—

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(a) the granting, vesting, or payment of such Award was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a material financial restatement;

(b) in the Committee’s view the Participant either benefited from a calculation that later proves to be materially inaccurate, or engaged in fraud or misconduct that caused or partially caused the need for a material financial restatement by the Company or any Affiliate; and

(c) a lower granting, vesting, or payment of such Award would have occurred based upon the  miscalculated amounts or the conduct described in clause (b) of this Section.

In each instance, the Committee will, to the extent practicable and allowable under Applicable Laws, require Reimbursement, Termination or Rescission of, or Recapture relating to, any such Award granted to a Participant; provided that the Company will not seek Reimbursement, Termination or Rescission of, or Recapture relating to, any such Awards that were paid or vested more than three years prior to the first date of the applicable restatement period. 

 

16.

Relationship to other Benefits .  No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

17.

Administration of the Plan .   The Committee shall administer the Plan in accordance with its terms, provided that the Board may act in lieu of the Committee on any matter.  The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it deems advisable.  In the absence of a duly appointed Committee, the Board shall function as the Committee for all purposes of the Plan.

(a) Committee Composition .  The Board shall appoint the members of the Committee. If and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may authorize one or more executive officers to make Awards to Eligible Persons other than themselves.  The Board may at any time appoint additional members to the Committee, remove and replace members of the Committee with or without Cause, and fill vacancies on the Committee however caused.

(b) Powers of the Committee .  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion:

(i)

to grant Awards and to determine Eligible Persons to whom Awards shall be granted from time to time, and the number of Shares, units, or dollars to be covered by each Award;

(ii)

to determine, from time to time, the Fair Market Value of Shares;

(iii)

to determine, and to set forth in Award Agreements, the terms and conditions of all Awards, including any applicable exercise or purchase price, the installments and conditions under which an Award shall become vested (which may be based on performance), terminated, expired, cancelled, or replaced, and the circumstances for vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and other restrictions and limitations;

(iv)

to approve the forms of Award Agreements and all other documents, notices and certificates in connection therewith which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants;

(v)

to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, to determine the meaning of their terms, and to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and procedures relating to the Plan and its administration;

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(vi)

to the extent consistent with the purposes of the Plan and without amending the Plan, to modify, to cancel, or to waive the Company’s rights with respect to any Awards, to adjust or to modify Award Agreements for changes in Applicable Law, and to recognize differences in foreign law, tax policies, or customs;

(vii)

in the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting, settlement, or exercise of Award, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, to implement paperless documentation, granting, settlement, or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system; and

(viii)

to make all interpretations and to take all other actions that the Committee may consider necessary or advisable to administer the Plan or to effectuate its purposes.

Subject to Applicable Law and the restrictions set forth in the Plan, the Committee may delegate administrative functions to individuals who are Directors or Employees.

(c) Law Adjustments and Sub-plans.  To facilitate the making of any grant of an Award under this Plan, the Committee may adopt rules and provide for such special terms for Awards to Participants who are located within the United States, foreign nationals, or who are employed by the Company or any Affiliate outside of the United States of America as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding the conversion of local currency, taxes, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with the customs and requirements of particular countries.  The Company may adopt sub-plans and establish escrow accounts and trusts, and settle Awards in cash in lieu of shares, as may be appropriate, required or applicable to particular locations and countries.

(d) Action by Committee .  Unless otherwise established by the Board or in any charter of the Committee, a majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.  Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by an officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s independent certified public accounts, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

(e) Deference to Committee Determinations .  The Committee shall have the discretion to interpret or construe ambiguous, unclear, or implied (but omitted) terms in any fashion it deems to be appropriate in its sole discretion, and to make any findings of fact needed in the administration of the Plan or Award Agreements.  The Committee’s prior exercise of its discretionary authority shall not obligate it to exercise its authority in a like fashion thereafter.  The Committee’s interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan, or of any Award or Award Agreement, and all determination the Committee makes pursuant to the Plan shall be final, binding, and conclusive.   The validity of any such interpretation, construction, decision or finding of fact shall not be given de novo review if challenged in court, by arbitration, or in any other forum, and shall be upheld unless clearly made in bad faith or materially affected by fraud.

(f) No Liability; Indemnification .  Neither the Board nor any Committee member, nor any Person acting at the direction of the Board or the Committee, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement.  The Company and its Affiliates shall pay or reimburse any member of the Committee, as well as any Director, Employee, or Consultant who in good faith takes action on behalf of the Plan, for all expenses incurred with respect to the Plan, and to the full

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extent allowable under Applicable Law shall indemnify each and every one of them for any claims, liabilities, and costs (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of their good faith performance of duties on behalf of the Plan.  The Company and its Affiliates may, but shall not be required to, obtain liability insurance for this purpose.

(g) Expenses The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne jointly and severally by the Company and its Affiliates.

18.

Modification of Awards and Substitution of Options .   Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify an Award to accelerate the rate at which an Option or SAR may be exercised, to accelerate the vesting of any Award, to extend or renew outstanding Awards, to accept the cancellation of outstanding Awards to the extent not previously exercised, or to make any change that the Plan would permit for a new Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification of an outstanding Award may materially and adversely affect a Participant’s rights thereunder unless either (a) the Participant provides written consent to the modification, or (b) before a Change in Control, the Committee determines in good faith that the modification is not materially adverse to the Participant.     Except as provided in Section 13, without prior stockholder approval, in no event may the Committee exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or SARs or effect repricing through cancellation and re-grants or cancellation in exchange for cash.

19.

Plan Amendment and Termination .  The Board may amend or terminate the Plan as it shall deem advisable; provided that no change shall be made that increases the total number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Awards (except pursuant to Section 13 above) unless such change is authorized by the stockholders of the Company.  A termination or amendment of the Plan shall not materially and adversely affect a Participant’s vested rights under an Award previously granted to him or her, unless either (a) the Participant consents in writing to such termination or amendment, or (b) before a Change in Control, the Committee determines in good faith that the modification is not materially adverse to the Participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may amend the Plan to comply with changes in tax or securities laws or regulations, or in the interpretation thereof. 

20.

Term of Plan .  If not sooner terminated by the Board, this Plan shall terminate at the close of business on the date ten years after its Effective Date.  No Awards shall be made under the Plan after its termination; however, termination of the Plan shall not affect the Committee’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.  

21.

Governing Law .     The terms of this Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, within the United States of America, without regard to the State’s conflict of laws rules.  

22.

Laws and Regulations .

(a) General Rules.     This Plan, the granting of Awards, the exercise of Options and SARs, and the obligations of the Company hereunder (including those to pay cash or to deliver, sell or accept the surrender of any of its Shares or other securities) shall be subject to all Applicable Laws.  In the event that any Shares are not registered under any Applicable Law prior to the required delivery of them pursuant to Awards, the Company may require, as a condition to their issuance or delivery, that the persons to whom the Shares are to be issued or delivered make any written representations and warranties (such as that such Shares are being acquired by the Participant for investment for the Participant’s own account and not with a view to, for resale in connection with, or with an intent of participating directly or indirectly in, any distribution of such Shares) that the Committee may reasonably require, and the Committee may in its sole discretion include a legend to such effect on the certificates representing any Shares issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan.

(b) Black-out Periods.  Notwithstanding any contrary terms within the Plan or any Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the absolute discretion to impose a “blackout” period on the exercise of any Option or SAR, as well as the settlement of any Award, with respect to any or all Participants (including those whose Continuous Service has ended) to the extent that the Committee determines that doing so is either desirable or required in order to comply with applicable securities laws.

16

 


 

23.

No Stockholder Rights .   Neither a Participant nor any transferee or Beneficiary of a Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares underlying any Award until the date of issuance of  the Shares to such Participant, transferee, or Beneficiary for such Shares in accordance with the Company’s governing instruments and Applicable Law.  Prior to the issuance of Shares or Restricted Shares pursuant to an Award, a Participant shall not have the right to vote or to receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder with respect to the Shares underlying the Award (unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement for Restricted Shares), notwithstanding its exercise in the case of Options and SARs.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right that is determined based on a record date prior to the date the Share is issued, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Plan or an Award Agreement.

 

17

 


 

 

___________________

Appendix I: Definitions

___________________

 

As used in the Plan, the following terms have the meanings indicated when they begin with initial capital letters within the Plan:

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with such Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person or the power to elect directors, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “affiliated,” “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Applicable Law ” means the legal requirements relating to the administration of options and share-based plans under any applicable laws of the United States, any other country, and any provincial, state, or local subdivision, any applicable stock exchange or automated quotation system rules or regulations, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.

 

Award ” means any award made pursuant to the Plan, including awards made in the form of an Option, an SAR, a Restricted Share, a RSU, an Unrestricted Share, a DSU, a Performance Unit, a Performance Award, or Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination thereof, whether alternative or cumulative.

 

Award Agreement ” means any written document setting forth the terms of an Award that has been authorized by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the form or forms of documents to be used, and may change them from time to time for any reason.

 

Beneficiary ” means the person or entity designated by the Participant, in a form approved by the Company, to exercise the Participant’s rights with respect to an Award or receive payment or settlement under an Award after the Participant’s death.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Cause ” will have the meaning set forth in any unexpired employment agreement between the Company and the Participant. In the absence of such an agreement, “Cause” will exist if the Participant is terminated from employment or other service with the Company or an Affiliate for any of the following reasons: (i) the Participant’s willful failure to substantially perform his or her duties and responsibilities to the Company or deliberate violation of a material Company policy; (ii) the Participant’s commission of any material act or acts of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty, or other willful misconduct; (iii) the Participant’s material unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship with the Company; or (iv) Participant’s willful and material breach of any of his or her obligations under any written agreement or covenant with the Company.  The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Company’s ability to terminate a Participant’s employment or consulting relationship at any time, and the term “Company” will be interpreted herein to include any Affiliate or successor thereto, if appropriate.

 

Change in Control ” means any of the following:

(i)

Merger .  The Company consummates a merger, or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation unless: (A) the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately before the merger or consolidation would continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; and (B) no Person (other than Persons who are Employees at any time more than one year before a transaction) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 5 0% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.

(ii)

Sale of Assets .  The stockholders of the Company approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all, or substantially all, of the Company’s assets.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate


 

 

ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Committee ”   means the Compensation Committee of the Board or its successor, provided that the term “Committee” means (i) with respect to any decision involving an Award intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m), a committee consisting of two or more Directors of the Company who are intended to be “outside directors” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), and (ii) with respect to any decision relating to a Reporting Person, a committee consisting of solely of two or more Directors who are intended to be disinterested within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

 

Company ” means Vermillion, Inc., a Delaware corporation; provided that in the event the Company reincorporates to another jurisdiction, all references to the term “Company” shall refer to the Company in such new jurisdiction.

 

Company Stock ” means common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company.  In the event of a change in the capital structure of the Company affecting the common stock (as provided in Section 13), the Shares resulting from such a change in the common stock shall be deemed to be Company Stock within the meaning of the Plan. 

 

Consultant ” means any person (other than an Employee or Director), including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render services and is compensated for such services.

 

Continuous Service ” means a Participant’s period of service in the absence of any interruption or termination, as an Employee, Director, or Consultant.  Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of:  (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; (iv) changes in status from Director to advisory director or emeritus status; or (iv) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company and its Affiliates.  Changes in status between service as an Employee, Director, and a Consultant will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service if the individual continues to perform bona fide services for the Company.  The Committee shall have the discretion to determine whether and to what extent the vesting of any Awards shall be tolled during any paid or unpaid leave of absence; provided ,   however , that in the absence of such determination, vesting for all Awards shall be tolled during any such unpaid leave (but not for a paid leave).

 

Deferred Share Units ” or “ DSUs ” mean Awards pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

 

Director ” means a member of the Board, or a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate.

 

Disabled ” means a condition under which a Participant –

 

(i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or

 

(ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, received income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company.

 

Dividend Equivalent Rights ” means Awards pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan, which may be attached to other Awards.

 

Effective Date ” means the date on which the shareholders of the Company approve the Plan, as amended and restated.

 

Eligible Person ” means any Consultant, Director, or Employee.

 

Employee ” means any person whom the Company or any Affiliate classifies as an employee (including an officer) for employment tax purposes, whether or not that classification is correct.  The payment by the Company of a director’s fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” of such Director by the Company.

 

Employer ” means the Company and each Subsidiary and Affiliate that employs one or more Participants.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 


 

 

Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the closing price of the Company Stock on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or such other stock exchange as the Company Stock is then listed for trading, as of such date (and, if none, as determined by the Committee in good faith based on relevant facts and circumstances).

 

Grant Date ” means the later of (i) the date designated as the “Grant Date” within an Award Agreement, and (ii) date on which the Committee determines the key terms of an Award, provided that as soon as reasonably practical thereafter the Committee both notifies the Eligible Person of the Award and enters into an Award Agreement with the Eligible Person.

 

Incentive Stock Option ” (or “ ISO ”) means, an Option that qualifies for favorable income tax treatment under Code Section 422, and which is intended by the Committee to constitute an Incentive Stock Option

 

Non-ISO ” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

Option ” means a right to purchase Company Stock granted under the Plan, at a price determined in accordance with the Plan.

 

Participant ” means any Eligible Person who holds an outstanding Award.

 

Performance Awards ” mean Awards granted pursuant to Section 9.

 

Performance Unit ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9(a) of the Plan which may be paid in cash, in Shares, or such combination of cash and Shares as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine.

 

Person ” means any natural person, association, trust, business trust, cooperative, corporation, general partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited partnership, limited liability company, real estate investment trust, regulatory body, governmental agency or instrumentality, unincorporated organization or organizational entity.

 

Plan ” means this Vermillion, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

Recapture ” and “ Rescission ” have the meaning set forth in Section 14 of the Plan.

 

Reimbursement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15 of the Plan.

 

Reporting Person ” means an Employee, Director, or Consultant who is subject to the reporting requirements set forth under Rule 16b-3.

 

Restricted Share ” means a Share of Company Stock awarded with restrictions imposed under Section 7.

 

Restricted Share Unit ” or “ RSU ” means a right granted to a Participant to receive Shares or cash upon the lapse of restrictions imposed under Section 7.

 

Retirement ” means a Participant’s termination of employment after age 65.

 

Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor provision.

 

Share ” means a share of Company Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

 

SAR ” or “ Share Appreciation Right ” means a right to receive amounts awarded under Section 6.

 

Ten Percent Holder ” means a person who owns (within the meaning of Code Section 422) stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.

 

Unrestricted Shares ” mean Shares (without restrictions) awarded pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.

 

Withholding Taxes ” means the aggregate minimum amount of federal, state, local and foreign income, payroll and other taxes that the Company and any Affiliates are required to withhold in connection with any Award.


 

 

Vermillion, Inc.

Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

_______________________

 

Appendix II: ____ Sub-Plan

_______________________

 

This Appendix II applies to any Awards that are made to Eligible Persons who are residents of ___________ and who are or may become subject to its tax laws (i.e. income tax and/or social security tax) as a result of Awards granted under the Vermillion, Inc. Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”).  Terms herein that begin with initial capital letters have the special definition set forth in the Plan. 

This Appendix II shall be read in conjunction with the Plan and is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan; provided that, to the extent that the terms and conditions of the Plan differ from or conflict with the terms of this Appendix II, the following terms of this Appendix II shall prevail:

1. ______________________

 


 

 

 

Vermillion, Inc.

Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As approved by the Board of

Directors on _________  ___,

2013, and by the Company’s

stockholders on _____, 2013.

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

PICTURE 1

Vermillion Reports Results of 2013 Annual Meeting

 

AUSTIN, Texas — December 16, 2013 —Vermillion, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRML) , a multivariate diagnostics company focused on gynecologic cancers and women’s health, reported the voting results from its annual meeting of its stockholders held December 12, 2013:

·

Approved the reappointment of Peter S. Roddy as director

·

Approved in an advisory vote the compensation of the company’s named executive officers

·

Ratified the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013

·

Approved an amendment to the company ’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance by 2.3 million and other related modifications

·

Did not approve an amendment to the company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws that would declassify the board of directors

 

“We are pleased that four of the five stockholder proposals passed by wide margins,” commented Tom McLain, Vermillion’s president and CEO. “The proposal to declassify the board of directors is considered “non-routine” and required 66.7% of all outstanding shares to vote for its adoption. While it was approved by more than 95% of the shares voted on this proposal, these votes represented only 58.4% of our total outstanding shares. The board believes declassification will enhance corporate governance and is important for our shareholders, so we plan to reintroduce this proposal at a later date.”

 

About Vermillion

Vermillion, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRML) is dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians diagnose, treat and improve outcomes for patients. Vermillion, along with its prestigious scientific collaborators, has diagnostic programs in gynecologic oncology and women's health.

 

The company's lead diagnostic, OVA1®, is a blood test for pre-surgical assessment of ovarian tumors for malignancy, using an innovative algorithmic approach. As the first FDA-cleared, protein-based In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assay, OVA1 represents a new class of software-based diagnostics. For additional information, including published clinical trials, visit www.vermillion.com .

 


 

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve significant risks and uncertainties including statements regarding Vermillion's expected cash outlay and Vermillion’s ability to regain traction in reimbursement. Words such as “may,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “plans,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “will,” “potential,” “projects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on Vermillion's expectations as of the date of this press release. A variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected in such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: (1) uncertainty as to Vermillion’s ability to protect and promote its proprietary technology; (2) Vermillion’s lack of a lengthy track record successfully developing and commercializing diagnostic products; (3) uncertainty as to whether Vermillion will be able to obtain any required regulatory approval of its future diagnostic products; (4) uncertainty of the size of market for its existing diagnostic tests or future diagnostic products, including the risk that its products will not be competitive with products offered by other companies, or that users will not be entitled to receive adequate reimbursement for its products from third-party payers such as private insurance companies and government insurance plans; (5) uncertainty that Vermillion has sufficient cash resources to fully commercialize its tests and continue as a going concern; (6) uncertainty whether the trading in Vermillion's stock will become significantly less liquid; and (7) other factors that are described in Vermillion's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Vermillion expressly disclaims any obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

 

This release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Copies are available through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov .

 

Investor Relations Contact:

Liolios Group, Inc.

Ron Both

Tel 1-949-574-3860