UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-K/A
 
Amendment No. 1
 
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Year Ended December 31, 2008
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Commission File Number 000-51531
 
SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
94-3295878
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
395 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400
South San Francisco, California 94080
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
(650) 266-3500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of Each Class:
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered:
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
 
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o   No x
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 (d) of the Act. Yes o   No x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x   No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o   No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting
company)
Smaller reporting company x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2.) Yes o   No x
 
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing sales price for such stock on June 30, 2008, as reported by The Nasdaq Global Market, was $41,275,192. Shares of common stock held by each current executive officer and director and by each person who is known by the registrant to own 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded from this computation in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant. Share ownership information of certain persons known by the registrant to own greater than 5% of the outstanding common stock for purposes of the preceding calculation is based solely on information on Schedule 13G or 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is as of June 30, 2008. This determination of affiliate status is not a conclusive determination for other purposes.
 
The total number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, as of March 20, 2009, was 34,409,768.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
None.




 
SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
FORM 10-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page
     
Explanatory Note
2
     
PART III
 
     
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
18
     
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
21
     
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
32
     
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
37
     
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
40
     
PART IV
 
     
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
40
     
Signatures
 
42
Exhibit Index
43
 
1

 
EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
We are filing this Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”) to amend our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 3, 2009 (the “Original Filing”). The principal purpose of this Amendment is to update the Risk Factors in Part I, Item IA to reflect the initial closing of a private placement to purchase up to $43.5 million of our securities and reflect that we received a letter on April 14, 2009 from the Listing Qualifications Department of The NASDAQ Stock Market notifying us that we do not currently comply with the $10.0 million minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market as set forth in NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5450(b)(1)(A) and include the Part III information that was to be incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). This Amendment hereby amends Part I, Item IA, specifically the risk factors entitled  “If we are unable to raise additional capital in the near term, we may not be able to continue to operate as a going concern,” “The closing of the Private Placement will result in substantial dilution to our stockholders. If we sell shares of our common stock in future financings or other arrangements, stockholders may experience additional dilution,” and “If we fail to continue to comply with the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Global Market, the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets could be negatively impacted” and Part III, Items 10 through 14, and Part IV, Item 15.  In addition, as required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), new certifications by our principal executive officer and principal financial officer are filed as exhibits to this Amendment.

No attempt has been made in this Amendment to modify or update the other disclosures presented in the Original Filing. Other than as stated above in the Risk Factors, this Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the Original Filing or modify or update those disclosures that may be affected by subsequent events. Such subsequent matters, including changes in our management, are addressed in subsequent reports filed by us with the SEC. Accordingly, this Amendment should be read in conjunction with the Original Filing and our other filings with the SEC.
 
In this report, “Sunesis,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sunesis Europe Limited, except where it is made clear that the term refers only to the parent company.
 
2

 
PART I
 
ITEM 1A:   RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and all information contained in this report in weighing a decision to purchase our common stock. If any of the possible adverse events described below actually occurs, we may be unable to conduct our business as currently planned and our financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.  Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations. In addition, the trading price of our common stock could decline due to the occurrence of any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Please see “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

We have marked with an asterisk (*) those risk factors below that reflect substantive changes from the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2009.
 
Risks Related to Our Business
 
*If we are unable to raise additional capital in the near term, we may not be able to continue to operate as a going concern.

We will need to raise substantial additional capital to continue the development and commercialization of voreloxin. We will need to raise substantial additional capital in the near term to:
 
·
fund clinical trials and seek regulatory approvals;

·
continue and expand our development activities;

·
hire additional development personnel;

·
maintain, defend and expand the scope of our intellectual property portfolio;

·
implement additional internal systems and infrastructure; and

·
build or access manufacturing and commercialization capabilities.

Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:

·
the rate of progress and cost of our clinical trials and other development activities;

·
the economic and other terms and timing of any licensing or other partnering arrangement into which we may enter;

·
the costs associated with building or accessing manufacturing and commercialization capabilities;

·
the costs of acquiring or investing in businesses, product candidates and technologies, if any;

·
the costs of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights;

·
the costs and timing of seeking and obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and other regulatory approvals; and

·
the effect of competing technological and market developments.
 
3

 
On March 31, 2009, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with accredited investors, including certain members of management, providing for a private placement of our securities of up to $43.5 million, or the Private Placement. The Private Placement contemplates the sale of up to $15.0 million of units consisting of Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase common stock in two closings.  $10.0 million of units were sold in the initial closing on April 3, 2009.  Subject to the approval of our stockholders, an additional $5.0 million of units may be sold in the second closing, which may occur at our election or at the election of the investors in the Private Placement.  We may elect to hold the second closing if the achievement of a specified milestone with respect to voreloxin has occurred and our common stock is trading above a specified floor price. If we have not delivered notice to the investors in the Private Placement of our election to complete the second closing, or if the conditions for the second closing have not been met, the investors may elect to purchase the units in the second closing by delivering a notice to us of their election to purchase the units.  Notice of an election to complete the second closing, either by us or the investors in the Private Placement, must be delivered on or before the earliest to occur of December 31, 2009, the common equity closing described below or the occurrence of a qualifying alternative common stock financing.   If the second closing occurs, it will be subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.  Subject to the approval of our stockholders, the remaining tranche of $28.5 million of common stock may be sold in the common equity closing. The common equity closing may be completed at our election prior to the earlier of December 31, 2010 or a qualifying alternative common stock financing, or upon the election of the holders of a majority of the Series A preferred stock issued in the Private Placement prior to a date determined with reference to our cash balance dropping below $4.0 million at certain future dates.  If we elect to hold the common equity closing, it will be subject to the approval of the purchasers holding a majority of the Series A preferred stock issued in the Private Placement and subject to a condition that we sell at least $28.5 million of common stock in the common equity closing.
 
We anticipate that the net proceeds from the initial closing of the Private Placement, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operations through at least the end of 2009.
 
The conditions to the second closing for $5.0 million of units are substantial, including conditions related to approval by our stockholders, the development of voreloxin and our stock price, and it is possible that the conditions to this second closing will not be met, in which event we would not receive the $5.0 million of gross proceeds that are contemplated for that closing. The $28.5 million common equity closing is entirely in the discretion of the investors in the Private Placement, and it is possible that they will elect not to complete that closing for reasons related to our business or other factors.
 
Until we can generate a sufficient amount of product revenue to finance our cash requirements, which we may never do, we expect to finance future cash needs primarily through equity issuances (including the possible second closing of the sale of units and common equity closing in the Private Placement described above and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described above), debt arrangements and a possible partnership or license of development and/or commercialization rights to voreloxin. We do not know whether additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.

We are currently continuing to conduct our ongoing clinical trials of voreloxin in acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and ovarian cancer. If we are not able to secure additional funding when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our clinical trials or scale back our development program or conduct additional workforce or other expense reductions. For example, in June 2008, we announced that we reduced our workforce by approximately 60% and implemented a revised operating plan to focus our efforts on voreloxin, wind down our internal discovery research activities to streamline our operations and extend our financial resources. In addition, we may have to partner voreloxin at an earlier stage of development than we might otherwise choose to do, which would lower the economic value of that program to us.

Our failure to raise capital when needed and on acceptable terms would require us to reduce our operating expenses, delay or reduce the scope of our voreloxin development program and limit our ability to continue our operations. Any one of the foregoing would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our independent registered public accountants have indicated that our recurring operating losses raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
 
Our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 were prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. The going concern basis of presentation assumes that we will continue in operation for the foreseeable future and will be able to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. However, our independent registered public accountants have indicated that our recurring operating losses raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. We may be forced to reduce our operating expenses and raise additional funds to meet our working capital needs. However, we cannot guarantee that will be able to obtain sufficient additional funds when needed or that such funds, if available, will be obtainable on terms satisfactory to us. In the event that these plans cannot be effectively realized, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue as a going concern.
 
4

 
Conditions affecting the equity markets may make it more difficult and costly to raise additional capital.

Currently, there is turmoil in the U.S. economy in part due to tightening credit markets. Banks have tightened their lending standards, investors are increasingly unwilling to buy stock and corporate bonds and economic growth has slowed. Factors contributing to a slowing economy appear to be reduced credit availability, falling house prices and rising prices. If these factors continue to affect equity markets, our ability to raise capital may be adversely affected.

We have incurred losses since inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We may not ever achieve or sustain profitability.

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history as a public company. We are not profitable and have incurred losses in each year since our inception in 1998. Our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $37.2 million, $38.8 million, and $31.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, we had an accumulated deficit of $316.2 million. We do not currently have any products that have been approved for marketing, and we continue to incur substantial development and general and administrative expenses related to our operations. We expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect these losses to increase significantly, especially upon commencing pivotal and Phase 3 clinical trials for voreloxin, as we conduct development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, voreloxin, and as we commercialize any approved drugs. Our losses, among other things, have caused and will continue to cause our stockholders’ equity and working capital to decrease.
 
Our business model had been based in part upon entering into strategic collaborations for discovery and/or the development of some of our product candidates. To date, we have derived substantially all of our revenue from research collaboration agreements. The research phase for all of our revenue-generating collaboration agreements is completed. We do not expect to enter into any new collaboration agreement that will result in research revenue for us. We also do not anticipate that we will generate revenue from the sale of products for the foreseeable future. In the absence of additional sources of capital which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all, the development of voreloxin or future product candidates, if any, may be reduced in scope, delayed or terminated. If our product candidates or those of our collaborators fail in clinical trials or do not gain regulatory approval, or if our future products do not achieve market acceptance, we may never become profitable. Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent periods.

There is a high risk the development of voreloxin could be halted or significantly delayed for various reasons; our clinical trials for voreloxin may not demonstrate safety or efficacy or lead to regulatory approval.

Voreloxin is prone to the risks of failure inherent in the drug development process. We need to conduct significant additional preclinical studies and clinical trials before we can attempt to demonstrate that voreloxin is safe and effective to the satisfaction of the FDA and other regulatory authorities. Failure can occur at any stage of the development process, and successful preclinical studies and early clinical trials do not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials, even after obtaining promising results in earlier trials.

For example, we terminated two Phase 2 trials of voreloxin in small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. We recently  ceased development of SNS-032 and terminated our related license agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company after completion of a Phase 1 trial as no responses demonstrating efficacy were observed in that trial. In addition, in our Phase 1 trial of SNS-314, a maximum tolerated dose was not established and no responses were observed.  As a result, we have suspended further development of SNS-314 while we seek a partner or licensee to support further development.

If our clinical trials result in unacceptable toxicity or lack of efficacy, we may have to terminate them. If clinical trials are halted, or if they do not show that voreloxin is safe and effective in the indications for which we are seeking regulatory approval, our future growth will be limited and we may not have any other product candidates to develop.
 
We do not know whether our ongoing clinical trials or any other future clinical trials with voreloxin or any of our product candidates will be completed on schedule, or at all, or whether our ongoing or planned clinical trials will begin or progress on the time schedule we anticipate. The commencement of our planned clinical trials could be substantially delayed or prevented by several factors, including:
 
5

 
·
delays or failures to raise additional funding;
·
limited number of, and competition for, suitable patients with particular types of cancer for enrollment in clinical trials;
·
delays or failures in obtaining regulatory approval to commence a clinical trial;
·
delays or failures in obtaining sufficient clinical materials;
·
delays or failures in obtaining institutional review board approval to conduct a clinical trial at prospective sites; or
·
delays or failures in reaching acceptable clinical trial agreement terms or clinical trial protocols with prospective sites.
 
The completion of our clinical trials could also be substantially delayed or prevented by several factors, including:
 
·
delays or failures to raise additional funding;
·
slower than expected rates of patient recruitment and enrollment;
·
failure of patients to complete the clinical trial;
·
unforeseen safety issues;
·
lack of efficacy during clinical trials;
·
inability or unwillingness of patients or clinical investigators to follow our clinical trial protocols; and
·
inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment.
 
Additionally, our clinical trials may be suspended or terminated at any time by the FDA, other regulatory authorities, ourselves or, in some cases, our collaboration partners. Any failure to complete or significant delay in completing clinical trials for our product candidates could harm our financial results and the commercial prospects for our product candidates.
 
In March 2008, we informed the FDA of a stability observation in our voreloxin drug product. Specifically, visible particles were observed during stability studies of one of our voreloxin drug product lots. We have since identified a process impurity in the voreloxin active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, that, when formulated into the packaged vial of the voreloxin drug product, can result in the formation of particles over time. As a response to these findings, we implemented a revised manufacturing process to attempt to control the impurity and thereby prevent particle formation. One lot of voreloxin API manufactured using the revised manufacturing process has been formulated into a drug product lot that has completed nine months of stability testing without formation of particles. This drug product lot is currently being used in our clinical trials. It will take time to evaluate whether or not this revised manufacturing process for voreloxin API will be successful in stopping the formation of particles in this drug product lot over the longer term, and to evaluate whether or not such control of particle formation would also be reliably and consistently achieved in subsequent lots over the shorter or longer term. We provided an update on the results from our process optimization activities to the FDA in December 2008. If the change in manufacturing process does not adequately control the formation of visible particles, we will need to discuss other possibilities with the FDA, which could include temporary clinical hold until the issue has been resolved to their satisfaction.
 
The failure to enroll patients for clinical trials may cause delays in developing voreloxin.

We may encounter delays if we are unable to enroll enough patients to complete clinical trials of voreloxin. Patient enrollment depends on many factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the protocol, the proximity of patients to clinical sites and the eligibility criteria for the trial. Moreover, when one product candidate is evaluated in multiple clinical trials simultaneously, patient enrollment in ongoing trials can be adversely effected by negative results from completed trials. Voreloxin is being tested in patients with AML and ovarian cancer, which can be difficult patient populations to recruit.
  
The results of preclinical studies and clinical trials may not satisfy the requirements of the FDA or other regulatory agencies.
 
Prior to receiving approval to commercialize voreloxin or future product candidates, if any, in the United States or abroad, we and our collaboration partners must demonstrate with substantial evidence from well-controlled clinical trials, to the satisfaction of the FDA and other regulatory authorities, that such product candidates are safe and effective for their intended uses. The results from preclinical studies and clinical trials can be interpreted in different ways. Even if we and our collaboration partners believe the preclinical or clinical data are promising, such data may not be sufficient to support approval by the FDA and other regulatory authorities.
 
6

 
We rely on third parties to manufacture our voreloxin drug product and its active pharmaceutical ingredient, and depend on a single supplier for the active pharmaceutical ingredient. There are a limited number of manufacturers that are capable of manufacturing voreloxin.

We do not currently own or operate manufacturing facilities and lack the capability to manufacture voreloxin on a clinical or commercial scale. As a result, we rely on third parties to manufacture both the voreloxin API and the finished drug product. The API is classified as a toxic substance, limiting the available manufacturers. We believe that there are at least five contract manufacturers in North America with suitable capabilities for API manufacture, and at least four that can manufacture finished drug product. We currently have established relationships with only one manufacturer for API and two manufacturers for the finished drug product. If our third-party API manufacturer is unable or unwilling to produce voreloxin, we will need to establish a contract with another supplier. However, establishing a relationship with an alternative supplier would likely delay our ability to produce API for six to nine months, during which time we would rely on current inventory to supply our drug product manufacturing activities. We expect to continue to depend on third-party contract manufacturers for all our API and finished drug product needs in the foreseeable future.

Voreloxin requires precise, high quality manufacturing. A contract manufacturer is subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspection by the FDA and corresponding state agencies to ensure strict compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP, and other applicable government regulations and corresponding foreign standards. Our contract manufacturer’s failure to achieve and maintain high manufacturing standards in compliance with cGMP regulations could result in manufacturing errors resulting in patient injury or death, product recalls or withdrawals, delays or interruptions of production or failures in product testing or delivery, delay or prevention of filing or approval of marketing applications for voreloxin, cost overruns or other problems that could seriously harm our business.

To date, voreloxin has been manufactured in small quantities for preclinical studies and clinical trials. Prior to being approved for commercial sale, we will need to manufacture finished drug product in larger quantities. Significant scale-up of manufacturing will be accompanied by significant validation studies, which will be reviewed by the FDA prior to approval. If we are unable to successfully increase the manufacturing capacity for voreloxin, the regulatory approval or commercial launch may be delayed or there may be a shortage in commercial supply.

Any performance failure on the part of a contract manufacturer could delay clinical development or regulatory approval of our product candidates or commercialization of our future products, depriving us of potential product revenue and resulting in additional losses. For example, because we rely on a single supplier for voreloxin API, the failure of such supplier to have sufficient quantities of the API or to supply API on a timely basis or at all would negatively affect us. In addition, our dependence on a third party for manufacturing may adversely affect our future profit margins. Our ability to replace an existing manufacturer may be difficult because the number of potential manufacturers is limited and the FDA must approve any replacement manufacturer before it can be an approved commercial supplier. Such approval would require new testing and compliance inspections. It may be difficult or impossible for us to identify and engage a replacement manufacturer on acceptable terms in a timely manner, or at all.

We expect to expand our clinical development capabilities, and any difficulties hiring or retaining key personnel or managing this growth could disrupt our operations.

We are highly dependent on the principal members of our development staff. We expect to expand our clinical development capabilities by increasing expenditures in these areas, hiring additional employees and expanding the scope of our current operations. Future growth will require us to continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems and continue to retain, recruit and train additional qualified personnel, which may impose a strain on our administrative and operational infrastructure. The competition for qualified personnel in the biopharmaceutical field is intense. We are highly dependent on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified management and specialized personnel required for clinical development. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. If we are unable to retain key personnel or manage our growth effectively, we may not be able to implement our business plan.
 
If we are sued for infringing intellectual property rights of third parties, litigation will be costly and time consuming and could prevent us from developing or commercializing voreloxin.

Our commercial success depends on not infringing the patents and other proprietary rights of third parties and not breaching any collaboration or other agreements we have entered into with regard to our technologies and product candidates. If a third party asserts that we are using technology or compounds claimed in issued and unexpired patents owned or controlled by the third party, we may need to obtain a license, enter into litigation to challenge the validity of the patents or incur the risk of litigation in the event that a third party asserts that we infringe its patents.
 
7

 
If a third party asserts that we infringe its patents or other proprietary rights, we could face a number of challenges that could seriously harm our competitive position, including:
 
·
infringement and other intellectual property claims, which would be costly and time consuming to litigate, whether or not the claims have merit, and which could delay the regulatory approval process and divert management’s attention from our business;

·
substantial damages for past infringement, which we may have to pay if a court determines that voreloxin or any future product candidates infringe a third party’s patent or other proprietary rights;

·
a court order prohibiting us from selling or licensing voreloxin or any future product candidates unless a third party licenses relevant patent or other proprietary rights to us, which it is not required to do; and

·
if a license is available from a third party, we may have to pay substantial royalties or grant cross licenses to our patents or other proprietary rights.
 
If our competitors develop and market products that are more effective, safer or less expensive than voreloxin, our commercial opportunities will be negatively impacted.

The life sciences industry is highly competitive, and we face significant competition from many pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are researching, developing and marketing products designed to address the treatment of cancer, including AML and ovarian cancer.  Voreloxin is a small molecule therapeutic that will compete with other drugs and therapies that currently exist or are being developed. Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial, manufacturing, marketing and drug development resources than we do. Large pharmaceutical companies in particular have extensive experience in clinical testing and in obtaining regulatory approvals for, and marketing, drugs.

We believe that our ability to successfully compete with voreloxin and any future product candidates, if any, will depend on, among other things:
 
·
our ability to develop novel compounds with attractive pharmaceutical properties and to secure, protect and maintain intellectual property rights based on our innovations;

·
the efficacy, safety and reliability of our product candidates;

·
the speed at which we develop our product candidates;

·
our ability to design and successfully execute appropriate clinical trials;

·
our ability to maintain a good relationship with regulatory authorities;

·
our ability to obtain, and the timing and scope of, regulatory approvals;

·
our ability to manufacture and sell commercial quantities of future products to the market; and

·
acceptance of future products by physicians and other healthcare providers.
   
Some of the current key competitors of voreloxin in AML include Genzyme Corporation’s clofarabine, Eisai Corporation’s decitabine, Celgene Corporation’s azacitidine and Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s laromustine, all of which could change the treatment paradigm of acute leukemia. Each of these compounds is further along in clinical development than is voreloxin. Liposomal doxorubicin and topotecan are current standards of care in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients, and we are aware that several of our competitors have initiated Phase 3 clinical trials for this indication.
 
8

  
We expect competition for voreloxin to increase as additional products are developed and approved to treat AML and ovarian cancer in various patient populations.  If our competitors market products that are more effective, safer or less expensive than voreloxin or our other future products, if any, or that reach the market sooner we may not achieve commercial success or substantial market penetration. In addition, the biopharmaceutical industry is characterized by rapid change. Products developed by our competitors may render voreloxin or any future product candidates obsolete.
 
We rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our voreloxin drug product.

We rely on third parties, such as contract research organizations, medical institutions, clinical investigators and contract laboratories, to conduct our planned and existing clinical trials for voreloxin. If the third parties conducting our clinical trials do not perform their contractual duties or obligations, do not meet expected deadlines or need to be replaced, or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical trial protocols or for any other reason, we may need to enter into new arrangements with alternative third parties and our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated or may need to be repeated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize the product candidate being tested in such trials.

Our proprietary rights may not adequately protect voreloxin or future product candidates, if any.

Our commercial success will depend on our ability to obtain patents and maintain adequate protection for voreloxin and any future product candidates in the United States and other countries. As of December 31, 2008, we owned, co-owned or had rights to approximately 233 issued U.S. and foreign patents and approximately 370 pending U.S. and foreign patent applications. We will be able to protect our proprietary rights from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that our proprietary technologies and future products are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively maintained as trade secrets.

We apply for patents covering both our technologies and product candidates, as we deem appropriate. However, we may fail to apply for patents on important technologies or product candidates in a timely fashion, or at all. Our existing patents and any future patents we obtain may not be sufficiently broad to prevent others from practicing our technologies or from developing competing products and technologies. In addition, we generally do not exclusively control the patent prosecution of subject matter that we license to or from others. Accordingly, in such cases we are unable to exercise the same degree of control over this intellectual property as we would over our own. Moreover, the patent positions of biopharmaceutical companies are highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles remain unresolved. As a result, the validity and enforceability of patents cannot be predicted with certainty. In addition, we do not know whether:
 
·
we, our licensors or our collaboration partners were the first to make the inventions covered by each of our issued patents and pending patent applications;

·
we, our licensors or our collaboration partners were the first to file patent applications for these inventions;

·
others will independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies;

·
any of our or our licensors’ pending patent applications will result in issued patents;

·
any of our, our licensors’ or our collaboration partners’ patents will be valid or enforceable;

·
any patents issued to us, our licensors or our collaboration partners will provide us with any competitive advantages, or will be challenged by third parties;
  
·
we will develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable; or

·
the patents of others will have an adverse effect on our business.
 
We also rely on trade secrets to protect some of our technology, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to maintain. While we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade secrets, our or our collaboration partners’ employees, consultants, contractors or scientific and other advisors, or those of our licensors, may unintentionally or willfully disclose our proprietary information to competitors. Enforcement of claims that a third party has illegally obtained and is using trade secrets is expensive, time consuming and uncertain. In addition, foreign courts are sometimes less willing than U.S. courts to protect trade secrets. If our competitors independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how, we would not be able to assert our trade secrets against them and our business could be harmed.
 
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The composition of matter patents covering voreloxin are due to expire in 2015. Even if voreloxin is approved by the FDA, we may not be able to recover our development costs prior to the expiration of these patents.

The voreloxin API composition of matter is covered by U.S. patent 5,817,669 and its counterpart patents and patent applications in 43 foreign jurisdictions. U.S. patent 5,817,669 is due to expire in October 2015, and most of its foreign counterparts are due to expire in June 2015. We do not know whether patent term extensions and data exclusivity periods will be available in the future. Voreloxin must undergo extensive clinical trials before it can be approved by the FDA. We do not know when, if ever, voreloxin will be approved by the FDA. Even if voreloxin is approved by the FDA in the future, we may not have sufficient time to commercialize our voreloxin product to enable us to recover our development costs prior to the expiration of the U.S. and foreign patents covering voreloxin. Our obligation to pay royalties to Dainippon, the company from which we licensed voreloxin, may extend beyond the patent expiration, which would further erode the profitability of this product.

Our workforce reductions in August 2007, June 2008, March 2009 and any future workforce and expense reductions may have an adverse impact on our internal programs, our ability to hire and retain key personnel and may be distracting to management.

In August 2007, we conducted a workforce reduction of approximately 25% in order to reduce expenses. In June 2008, we conducted a second workforce reduction of approximately 60% to focus on the development of voreloxin. In March 2009, in conjunction with the closing of the Private Placement we conducted an additional workforce reduction of six employees. In light of our continued need for funding and expense control, we may be required to implement further workforce and expense reductions in the future. Further workforce and expense reductions could result in reduced progress on our internal programs. In addition, employees, whether or not directly affected by a reduction, may seek future employment with our business partners or competitors. Although our employees are required to sign a confidentiality agreement at the time of hire, the confidential nature of certain proprietary information may not be maintained in the course of any such future employment. Further, we believe that our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel. We may have difficulty retaining and attracting such personnel as a result of a perceived risk of future workforce and expense reductions. In addition, the implementation of expense reduction programs may result in the diversion of efforts of our executive management team and other key employees, which could adversely affect our business.

We may be subject to damages resulting from claims that we or our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of our employees’ former employers.

Many of our employees were previously employed at biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. We may be subject to claims that we or our employees have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. A loss of key personnel or the work product of current or former personnel could hamper or prevent our ability to commercialize voreloxin, which could severely harm our business. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
  
We currently have limited marketing staff and no sales or distribution organization. If we are unable to develop a sales and marketing and distribution capability on our own or through collaborations with marketing partners, we will not be successful in commercializing voreloxin.
 
We currently have no sales or distribution capabilities and limited marketing staff. We intend to establish our own sales and marketing organization with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize voreloxin in North America, which will be expensive and time consuming. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of these products. We plan to collaborate with third parties that have direct sales forces and established distribution systems to commercialize voreloxin. To the extent that we enter into co-promotion or other licensing arrangements, our product revenue is likely to be lower than if we marketed or sold voreloxin directly. In addition, any revenue we receive will depend upon the efforts of third parties, which may not be successful and are only partially within our control. If we are unable to enter into such arrangements on acceptable terms or at all, we may not be able to successfully commercialize voreloxin. If we are not successful in commercializing voreloxin or our future product candidates, if any, either on our own or through collaborations with one or more third parties, our future product revenue will suffer and we may incur significant additional losses.
 
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We depend on various consultants and advisors for the success and continuation of development efforts.

We work extensively with various consultants and advisors, who provide advice and/or services in various business and development functions, including clinical development, operations and strategy, regulatory matters, accounting and finance. The potential success of our drug development programs depends, in part, on continued collaborations with certain of these consultants and advisors. Our consultants and advisors are not our employees and may have commitments and obligations to other entities that may limit their availability to us. We do not know if we will be able to maintain such relationships or that such consultants and advisors will not enter into other arrangements with competitors, any of which could have a detrimental impact on our development objectives and our business.

If conflicts of interest arise between our collaboration partners and us, any of them may act in their self interest, which may be adverse to our interests.

If a conflict of interest arises between us and one or more of our collaboration partners, they may act in their own self interest or otherwise in a way that is not in the interest of our company or our stockholders. Our collaboration partners are conducting multiple product development efforts within the disease area that is the subject of collaboration with our company. In some of our collaborations, we have agreed not to conduct, independently or with any third party, any research that is competitive with the research conducted under our collaborations. Our collaboration partners, however, may develop, either alone or with others, products in related fields that are competitive with the product candidates that are the subject of these collaborations. Competing products, either developed by our collaboration partners or to which our collaboration partners have rights, may result in their withdrawal of support for a product candidate covered by the collaboration agreement.

If one or more of our collaboration partners were to breach or terminate their collaboration agreements with us or otherwise fail to perform their obligations thereunder in a timely manner, the preclinical or clinical development or commercialization of the affected product candidates could be delayed or terminated. We do not know whether our collaboration partners will pursue alternative technologies or develop alternative product candidates, either on their own or in collaboration with others, including our competitors, as a means for developing treatments for the diseases targeted by collaboration agreements with our company.

Our facilities are located near known earthquake fault zones, and the occurrence of an earthquake or other catastrophic disaster could cause damage to our facilities and equipment, which could require us to cease or curtail operations.

Our facilities are located in the San Francisco Bay Area near known earthquake fault zones and are vulnerable to significant damage from earthquakes. We are also vulnerable to damage from other types of disasters, including fires, floods, power loss, communications failures and similar events. If any disaster were to occur, our ability to operate our business at our facilities may be seriously or completely impaired and our data could be lost or destroyed.
 
Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.

Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure may create uncertainty regarding compliance matters. New or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases. As a result, their application in practice may evolve over time. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. Complying with evolving interpretations of new or changed legal requirements may cause us to incur higher costs as we revise current practices, policies and procedures, and may divert management time and attention from potential revenue-generating activities to compliance matters. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, our reputation may also be harmed. Further, our board members, chief executive officer and chief financial officer could face an increased risk of personal liability in connection with the performance of their duties. As a result, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified board members and executive officers, which could harm our business.
 
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Global credit and financial market conditions negatively impact the value of our current portfolio of cash equivalents or short-term investments and our ability to meet our financing objectives.

Our cash and cash equivalents are maintained in highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase. Our marketable securities consist primarily of investments in readily marketable debt securities with remaining maturities of more than 90 days at the time of purchase. While, as of the date of this filing, we are not aware of any downgrades, material losses, or other significant deterioration in the fair value of our cash equivalents or marketable securities, no assurance can be given that further deterioration in conditions of the global credit and financial markets would not negatively impact our current portfolio of cash equivalents or marketable securities or our ability to meet our current liquidity needs.
 
Risks Related to Our Industry
 
The regulatory approval process is expensive, time consuming and uncertain and may prevent us from obtaining approval for the commercialization of voreloxin.

The research, testing, manufacturing, selling and marketing of product candidates are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States and other countries, which regulations differ from country to country. Neither we nor our collaboration partners are permitted to market our product candidates in the United States until we receive approval of a new drug application or NDA, from the FDA, or in any other country without the equivalent marketing approval from such country. We have not received marketing approval for voreloxin.  None of our collaboration partners has had a product resulting from our collaboration enter clinical trials.  In addition, failure to comply with FDA and other applicable U.S. and foreign regulatory requirements may subject us to administrative or judicially imposed sanctions, including warning letters, civil and criminal penalties, injunctions, product seizure or detention, product recalls, total or partial suspension of production, and refusal to approve pending NDAs, supplements to approved NDAs or their foreign equivalents.

Regulatory approval of an NDA or NDA supplement or a foreign equivalent is not guaranteed, and the approval process is expensive and may take several years. Furthermore, the development process for oncology products may take longer than in other therapeutic areas. Regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the drug approval process. Despite the time and expense exerted, failure can occur at any stage, and we could encounter problems that cause us to abandon clinical trials or to repeat or perform additional preclinical studies and clinical trials. The number of preclinical studies and clinical trials that will be required for marketing approval varies depending on the drug candidate, the disease or condition that the drug candidate is designed to address, and the regulations applicable to any particular drug candidate. The FDA or a foreign regulatory authority can delay, limit or deny approval of a drug candidate for many reasons, including:
 
·
the drug candidate may not be deemed safe or effective;
·
regulatory officials may not find the data from preclinical studies and clinical trials sufficient;
·
the FDA or foreign regulatory authority might not approve our or our third-party manufacturer’s processes or facilities; or
·
the FDA or foreign regulatory authority may change its approval policies or adopt new regulations.
 
We may be subject to costly claims related to our clinical trials and may not be able to obtain adequate insurance.

Because we conduct clinical trials in humans, we face the risk that the use of voreloxin or future product candidates, if any, will result in adverse side effects. We cannot predict the possible harms or side effects that may result from our clinical trials. Although we have clinical trial liability insurance for up to $10.0 million aggregate, our insurance may be insufficient to cover any such events. We do not know whether we will be able to continue to obtain clinical trial coverage on acceptable terms, or at all. We may not have sufficient resources to pay for any liabilities resulting from a claim excluded from, or beyond the limit of, our insurance coverage. There is also a risk that third parties that we have agreed to indemnify could incur liability. Any litigation arising from our clinical trials, even if we were ultimately successful, would consume substantial amounts of our financial and managerial resources and may create adverse publicity.

Even if we receive regulatory approval to sell voreloxin, the market may not be receptive to voreloxin.

Even if voreloxin obtains regulatory approval, it may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare payors and/or the medical community. We believe that the degree of market acceptance will depend on a number of factors, including:
 
·
timing of market introduction of competitive products;
 
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·
efficacy of our product;
·
prevalence and severity of any side effects;
·
potential advantages or disadvantages over alternative treatments;
·
strength of marketing and distribution support;
·
price of voreloxin, both in absolute terms and relative to alternative treatments; and
·
availability of reimbursement from health maintenance organizations and other third-party payors.
 
For example, the potential toxicity of single and repeated doses of voreloxin has been explored in a number of animal studies that suggest the dose-limiting toxicities in humans receiving voreloxin may be similar to some of those observed with approved cytotoxic agents, including reversible toxicity to bone marrow cells, the gastrointestinal system and other systems with rapidly dividing cells. In our Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of voreloxin, we have witnessed the following side effects, irrespective of causality, ranging from mild to more severe: lowered white blood cell count that may lead to a serious or possibly life-threatening infection, hair loss, mouth sores, fatigue, nausea with or without vomiting, lowered platelet count, which may lead to an increase in bruising or bleeding, lowered red blood cell count (anemia), weakness, tiredness, shortness of breath, diarrhea and intestinal blockage.

If voreloxin fails to achieve market acceptance, due to unacceptable side effects or any other reasons, we may not be able to generate significant revenue or to achieve or sustain profitability.

Even if we receive regulatory approval for voreloxin, we will be subject to ongoing FDA and other regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and limit our ability to commercialize voreloxin.

Any regulatory approvals that we or our collaboration partners receive for voreloxin or our future product candidates, if any, may also be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing studies. In addition, even if approved, the labeling, packaging, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and recordkeeping for any product will be subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. The subsequent discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, may result in restrictions on the marketing of the product, and could include withdrawal of the product from the market.

Regulatory policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States or abroad. If we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we might not be permitted to market voreloxin or our future products and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
 
The coverage and reimbursement status of newly approved drugs is uncertain, and failure to obtain adequate coverage and reimbursement could limit our ability to market voreloxin and decrease our ability to generate revenue.

There is significant uncertainty related to the third-party coverage and reimbursement of newly approved drugs both nationally and internationally. The commercial success of voreloxin and our future products, if any, in both domestic and international markets depends on whether third-party coverage and reimbursement is available for the ordering of our future products by the medical profession for use by their patients. Medicare, Medicaid, health maintenance organizations and other third-party payors are increasingly attempting to manage healthcare costs by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement of new drugs and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for our future products. These payors may not view our future products as cost effective, and reimbursement may not be available to consumers or may not be sufficient to allow our future products to be marketed on a competitive basis. Likewise, legislative or regulatory efforts to control or reduce healthcare costs or reform government healthcare programs could result in lower prices or rejection of our future products. Changes in coverage and reimbursement policies or healthcare cost containment initiatives that limit or restrict reimbursement for our future products may reduce any future product revenue.

Failure to obtain regulatory approval in foreign jurisdictions will prevent us from marketing voreloxin abroad.

We intend to market voreloxin in international markets. In order to market voreloxin in Canada, the European Union and many other foreign jurisdictions, we must obtain separate regulatory approvals. We have had limited interactions with foreign regulatory authorities, and the approval procedures vary among countries and can involve additional testing at significant cost. The time required to obtain approval may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. The foreign regulatory approval processes may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. We may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all. We may not be able to file for regulatory approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize voreloxin or any other future products in any market.
 
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Foreign governments often impose strict price controls, which may adversely affect our future profitability.

We intend to seek approval to market voreloxin in both the United States and foreign jurisdictions. If we obtain approval in one or more foreign jurisdictions, we will be subject to rules and regulations in those jurisdictions relating to voreloxin. In some foreign countries, particularly in the European Union, prescription drug pricing is subject to governmental control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a drug candidate. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of voreloxin to other available therapies. If reimbursement of voreloxin is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, we may be unable to achieve or sustain profitability.

We may incur significant costs complying with environmental laws and regulations, and failure to comply with these laws and regulations could expose us to significant liabilities.

We use hazardous chemicals and radioactive and biological materials in our business and are subject to a variety of federal, state, regional and local laws and regulations governing the use, generation, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these materials. Although we believe our safety procedures for handling and disposing of these materials and waste products comply with these laws and regulations, we cannot eliminate the risk of accidental injury or contamination from the use, storage, handling or disposal of hazardous materials. In the event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could significantly exceed our insurance coverage, which is limited to $0.1 million for pollution cleanup, and we are uninsured for third-party contamination injury.
 
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
 
*The closing of the Private Placement will result in substantial dilution to our stockholders. If we sell shares of our common stock in future financings or other arrangements, stockholders may experience additional dilution.

We need to raise substantial additional funds, through the Private Placement and otherwise, to continue our operations, fund additional clinical trials of voreloxin and potentially commercialize voreloxin. We plan to continue to finance our operations with a combination of equity issuances (including the possible second closing of the sale of units and common equity closing in the Private Placement and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described above), debt arrangements and a possible partnership or license of development and/or commercialization rights to voreloxin. Any issuance of convertible debt securities, preferred stock or common stock may be at a discount from the then-current trading price of our common stock. If we issue additional common or preferred stock or securities convertible into common stock, our stockholders will experience additional dilution, which may be significant.

The closing of the Private Placement will result in substantial dilution to our stockholders.  Following the initial closing, the holders of our common stock prior thereto hold approximately 54.3% of our outstanding common stock (assuming conversion of the convertible preferred at the current conversion price), and will hold approximately 37.2% if the warrants issued at the initial closing are exercised in full.  Following the second closing for $5.0 million of units, if completed, the holders of our common stock prior to the Private Placement will hold approximately 44.2% of our outstanding common stock (assuming conversion of the convertible preferred at the current conversion price), and will hold approximately 28.4% if the warrants issued at the initial and second closings are exercised in full.  Following the common equity closing, if completed, the holders of our common stock prior to the Private Placement would hold approximately 19.0% of our outstanding common stock (assuming conversion of the convertible preferred at the current conversion price), and would hold approximately 15.3% if the warrants issued at the initial and second closings are exercised in full.
 
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We may not have the sufficient funding to distribute capital to our common stockholders or continue our business upon a change of control event.

If a change of control (as that term is defined in the Certificate related to the convertible preferred to be issued in the Private Placement), which includes a sale or merger of  Sunesis or a significant partnering transaction, occurs, the holders of the convertible preferred would be entitled to receive, before any proceeds are distributed to common stockholders, three times the amount that the investors in the Private Placement paid for the units ($10.0 million at the initial closing and, if consummated, an additional $5.0 million at the second closing), which could equal up to a total of $45.0 million.  We would not have any capital to distribute to our common stockholders if the consideration received in a transaction that triggers a change of control event under the certificate of designation is less than this liquidation preference amount.  Further, if the investors elect to treat a partnering transaction as a change of control, entitling the holders of the convertible preferred to the liquidation preference described above, the holders of the convertible preferred would be entitled to the full amount of any payments made by a corporate partner by surrendering the convertible preferred, up to the liquidation preference amount, which may leave us with insufficient resources to continue our business.  This right of the holders of the convertible preferred may also impair our ability to enter into a significant partnering transaction since a partner would be willing to enter into a partnering agreement with us only if we have or had access to sufficient capital to satisfy our obligations under the partnering agreement.  Whether or not we would have sufficient resources would depend on the terms of the partnering agreement and other cash resources available to us at that time.
 
We cannot take fundamental actions related to Sunesis without the consent of a majority of the holders of the convertible preferred to be issued in the Private Placement.

For as long as the convertible preferred is outstanding, the holders of the convertible preferred issued and to be issued in the Private Placement will have a number of rights, including the right to approve any sale of the company, any significant partnering transaction, any issuance of debt or convertible preferred and, unless certain conditions are met, any issuance of common stock other than the second closing and the common equity closing contemplated by the Private Placement.  It is possible that the interests of the holders of the convertible preferred and the holders of common stock may be inconsistent, resulting in the inability to obtain the consent of the holders of convertible preferred to matters that may be in the best interests of the common stockholders.
 
The price of our common stock may continue to be volatile, and the value of an investment in our common stock may decline.

In 2008, our common stock traded as low as $0.18 and as high as $2.10. Factors that could cause continued volatility in the market price of our common stock include, but are not limited to:
 
·
failure to raise additional capital to move forward with our clinical development plans and current and future operations;
·
results from, and any delays in or discontinuance of, ongoing and planned clinical trials for voreloxin;
·
announcements of FDA non-approval of voreloxin, delays in filing regulatory documents with the FDA or other regulatory agencies, or delays in the review process by the FDA or other foreign regulatory agencies;
·
announcements relating to our collaborations with Biogen Idec, J&JPRD and Merck;
·
announcements relating to restructuring and other operational changes;
·
delays in the commercialization of voreloxin or our future products, if any;
·
market conditions in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;
·
issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports or recommendations;
·
actual and anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results;
·
developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights;
·
introduction of new products by our competitors;
·
issues in manufacturing voreloxin drug substance or drug product ,or future products, if any;
·
market acceptance of voreloxin or our future products, if any;
·
deviations in our operating results from the estimates of analysts;
·
third-party healthcare reimbursement policies;
·
FDA or other U.S. or foreign regulatory actions affecting us or our industry;
·
litigation or public concern about the safety of voreloxin or future products, if any;
·
failure to develop or sustain an active and liquid trading market for our common stock;
·
sales of our common stock by our officers, directors or significant stockholders; and
·
additions or departures of key personnel.
 
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In addition, the stock markets in general, and the markets for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price or liquidity of our common stock. In the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the issuer. If any of our stockholders were to bring such a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit and the attention of our management would be diverted from the operation of our business.
 
*We no longer comply with certain of the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Global Market. We may be delisted and the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets could be negatively impacted.  
 
Our common stock is currently listed on The NASDAQ Global Market. To maintain the listing of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market we are required to meet certain listing requirements, including a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share, a market value of publicly held shares (excluding shares held by our executive officers, directors and 10% or more stockholders) of at least $5 million and stockholders’ equity of at least $10.0 million. We announced on April 17, 2009 we had received a letter, dated April 14, 2009, from the Listing Qualifications Department of The NASDAQ Stock Market notifying us that we do not comply with the $10.0 million minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market set forth in NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5450(b)(1)(A). NASDAQ’s determination was based on a review of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008. At that time, our stockholders’ equity was reported at $6.5 million. Since that time, we announced an up to $43.5 million financing, of which the first $10.0 million was received on April 3, 2009 upon the issuance of shares of our Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase our common stock and the remainder of which may be issued by us, subject to approval by our stockholders, upon the satisfaction of a certain clinical milestone and our common stock trading above a specified floor price or upon approval by a majority of the investors in the Private Placement, among other conditions. While we do not anticipate that we will meet the $10.0 million of stockholders’ equity continued listing requirement as of March 31, 2009 on a GAAP or pro-forma basis after giving effect to the $10.0 million initial closing of the Private Placement, the amount of the shortfall depends on the net proceeds from the initial closing of the Private Placement, the amount of the restructuring charge from our reduction in force on March 31, 2009 and the application of GAAP to the terms of the newly issued securities, which we are in the process of analyzing.  As provided in the NASDAQ rules, we have the opportunity to submit to NASDAQ a specific plan and timeline to achieve and sustain compliance. We submitted in a timely manner to the NASDAQ Staff a plan to continue listing on The NASDAQ Global Market. There is no assurance that NASDAQ will accept our plan to satisfy the stockholders’ equity requirement. If, after the completion of its review, NASDAQ determines that we have not presented a plan that adequately addresses the stockholders’ equity issue, NASDAQ will provide written notice that our securities will be subject to delisting from The NASDAQ Global Market. In that event, we may either apply for listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market, provided we meet the continued listing requirements of that market, or appeal the decision to a NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel. In the event of an appeal, we would remain listed on The NASDAQ Global Market pending a decision by the Panel following the hearing.
 
Additionally, our common stock has traded in the near term below the $1.00 minimum bid price every trading day since September 17, 2008. Under normal circumstances, companies traded on NASDAQ would receive a deficiency notice from NASDAQ if their common stock has traded below the $1.00 minimum bid price for 30 consecutive business days. Due to market conditions, however, on October 16, 2008, NASDAQ announced suspension of the enforcement of rules requiring a minimum $1.00 closing bid price and the market value of publicly held shares, with enforcement scheduled to resume on Monday, July 20, 2009. If our common stock is still listed on The NASDAQ Global Market on July 20, 2009 and our common stock continues to trade below the $1.00 minimum bid price for 30 consecutive business days following the end of NASDAQ’s enforcement suspension or if the market value of our publicly held shares trades below $5 million for 30 consecutive business days following the end of NASDAQ’s enforcement suspension, we would likely receive a deficiency notice. Following receipt of a deficiency notice, we expect we would have 180 calendar days to regain compliance by having our common stock trade over the $1.00 minimum bid price for at least a 10-day period and we would have 90 calendar days to regain compliance by having our publicly held shares trade over $5 million in value for at least a 10-day period. If we were to fail to regain compliance during the grace period, our common stock could be delisted.

If we fail to comply with The NASDAQ Global Market listing standards, we may consider transferring to The NASDAQ Capital Market, provided we met the transfer criteria, which is a lower tier market, or our common stock may be delisted and traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board network. Moving our listing to the NASDAQ Capital Market could adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock as would our common stock being traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board network.  If our common stock were to be delisted by NASDAQ, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
 
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·
a limited availability of market quotations for our common stock;
·
a reduced amount of news and analyst coverage for us;
·
a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future;
·
reduced liquidity for our stockholders;
·
potential loss of confidence by collaboration partners and employees; and
·
loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business development opportunities.

Provisions of our charter documents or Delaware law could delay or prevent an acquisition of our company, even if the acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, and could make it more difficult to change management.

Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders might otherwise consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. In addition, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempt by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult to replace or remove our board of directors. These provisions include:
 
·
a classified Board of Directors so that not all directors are elected at one time;
·
a prohibition on stockholder action through written consent;
·
limitations on our stockholders’ ability to call special meetings of stockholders;
·
an advance notice requirement for stockholder proposals and nominations; and
·
the authority of our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with such terms as our Board of Directors may determine.

In addition, Delaware law prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person who, together with its affiliates, owns or within the last three years has owned 15% of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company.

Provisions in our charter documents and provisions of Delaware law could limit the price that investors are willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
 
The ownership of our common stock is highly concentrated, and your interests may conflict with the interests of our existing stockholders.

Our executive officers and directors and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 7.5% of our outstanding common stock as of March 15, 2009. Accordingly, these stockholders, acting as a group, could have significant influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets or any other significant corporate transaction. The significant concentration of stock ownership may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock due to investors’ perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise.

We have never paid dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be our stockholders’ sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

We are at risk of securities class action litigation.

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because biotechnology companies have experienced greater than average stock price volatility in recent years. If we faced such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business.
 
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PART III
 
ITEM 10:   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
 
The following table sets forth information as of April 10, 2009 with respect to our directors:
 
Name
 
Age
 
Director Since
James W. Young, Ph.D. 
 
64
 
2000
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr. 
 
46
 
2004
Matthew K. Fust
 
44
 
2005
Homer L. Pearce, Ph.D. 
 
56
 
2006
David C. Stump, M.D. 
 
59
 
2006
Edward Hurwitz
 
45
 
2009
Dayton Misfeldt
 
35
 
2009
 
The principal occupations and positions for at least the past five years of our directors are as follows:
 
James W. Young, Ph.D. served as Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors from December 2003 to April 2009 and has served as non-executive Chairman of our Board of Directors since April 2009. From May 2000 to November 2003, Dr. Young served as our Chief Executive Officer. In April 2006, he joined 5AM Ventures, a venture capital firm, as a Venture Partner. From September 1995 to March 2000, Dr. Young served as Vice President of Research, as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, and as Group Vice President at ALZA Corporation, a pharmaceutical company. From September 1992 to August 1995, Dr. Young served as Senior Vice President for Business Development and as President of the Pharmaceuticals Division of Affymax, N.V., a biopharmaceutical company. From September 1987 to August 1992, he served as Senior Vice President for Business Development and as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Pharmaceuticals Division at Sepracor Inc., a pharmaceutical company. Dr. Young holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Fordham University and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Cornell University.
 
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr. has served as our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and a member of our Board of Directors since January 2004 and also as our President since August 2005. From December 2001 to December 2003, he served as our Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer. From June 1992 to September 2001, Mr. Swisher served in various management roles, including Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, for ALZA Corporation. In 2007, Mr. Swisher joined the Board of Directors of the Okizu Foundation, an organization that provides support to families affected by childhood cancers. Mr. Swisher holds a B.A. in History from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
 
Matthew K. Fust has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, since January 2009.  Prior to joining Onyx, Mr. Fust was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, which he joined in May 2003. From May 2002 to May 2003, Mr. Fust was Chief Financial Officer at Perlegen Sciences, Inc., a biotechnology company. From June 1996 to January 2002, Mr. Fust was with ALZA Corporation, first as Controller and then as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Fust holds a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
 
Homer L. Pearce, Ph.D. served in various capacities at Eli Lilly & Company between 1979 and March 2006, including Vice President, Cancer Research and Clinical Investigation from 1994 to 2002 and Distinguished Research Fellow, Cancer Research, Lilly Research Laboratories from 2002 to March 2006. Since August 2006, Dr. Pearce has served as a consultant to Sunesis, reviewing, assessing and advising us on our development plans and strategies. He is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Pearce holds a B.S. from Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Harvard University.
 
18

 
David C. Stump, M.D. is Executive Vice President, Research and Development, at Human Genome Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and has served at that company since November 1999. From December 2003 to May 2007, Dr. Stump served as Executive Vice President of Drug Development at Human Genome Sciences and, from November 1999 to December 2003, as its Senior Vice President, Drug Development. Prior to joining Human Genome Sciences, Dr. Stump held roles of increasing responsibility at Genentech, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 1989 to 1999, including Vice President, Clinical Research and Genentech Fellow. Prior to joining Genentech, Dr. Stump was an Associate Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Vermont. Since September 2006, Dr. Stump has served as a consultant to Sunesis, reviewing, assessing and advising us on our development plans and strategies. Dr. Stump holds an A.B. from Earlham College and an M.D. from Indiana University, and did his residency and fellowship training in internal medicine, hematology, oncology and biochemistry at the University of Iowa.
 
Edward Hurwitz has served as a director of Alta Partners, a venture capital firm, since June 2002.  From June 1997 to October 2002, Mr. Hurwitz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Affymetrix, Inc., a microarray technology company. From April 1994 to June 1997, Mr. Hurwitz was a biotechnology research analyst for Robertson Stephens & Company, and from April 1992 to April 1994 was a biotechnology research analyst for Smith Barney Shearson. From November 1990 to April 1992, Mr. Hurwitz practiced commercial law at Cooley Godward LLP.  Mr. Hurwitz holds a B.A. in Molecular Biology from Cornell University, a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business. Mr. Hurwitz was appointed as a director pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement executed in connection with Alta Partners’ purchase of our securities in the Private Placement.  See “ Item 13: Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence ” for a description of this agreement.
 
Dayton Misfeldt is an Investment Partner at Bay City Capital LLC, a venture capital firm, and focuses on biopharmaceutical investment opportunities. Prior to joining Bay City Capital in May 2000, Mr. Misfeldt was a Vice President at Roth Capital Partners where he worked as a sell-side analyst covering the biopharmaceutical industry. Mr. Misfeldt has also worked as a Project Manager at LifeScience Economics. Mr. Misfeldt received a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, San Diego. Mr. Misfeldt was appointed as a director pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement executed in connection with Bay City Capital’s purchase of our securities in the Private Placement.  See “ Item 13: Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence ” for a description of this agreement.
 
There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers and directors.
 
19

 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
 
Set forth below is information regarding each of our executive officers as of April 10, 2009. Biographical information with regard to Mr. Swisher is set forth under “ Directors of the Company ” above.
 
Name
 
Age
 
Position
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr. 
 
46
 
CEO, President and Director
Eric H. Bjerkholt
 
49
 
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Steven B. Ketchum, Ph.D.
 
46
 
Senior Vice President, Research and Development
 
The principal occupations and positions for at least the past five years of our executive officers, other than Mr. Swisher, are as follows:
 
Eric H. Bjerkholt has served as our Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Finance and Chief Financial Officer since February 2007. From January 2004 to January 2007, he served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. From January 2002 to January 2004, Mr. Bjerkholt served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at IntraBiotics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of antibacterial and antifungal drugs for the treatment of serious infectious diseases. Mr. Bjerkholt was a co-founder of LifeSpring Nutrition, Inc., a privately held nutraceutical company, and from May 1999 to March 2002 served at various times as its Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer. From 1990 to 1997, Mr. Bjerkholt was an investment banker at J.P. Morgan & Co. Mr. Bjerkholt is a member of the Board of Directors of StemCells, Inc., a biotechnology company. Mr. Bjerkholt holds a Cand. Oecon degree in Economics from the University of Oslo and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
 
Steven B. Ketchum, Ph.D. has served as our Senior Vice President, Research and Development since June 2008.  From May 2005 to May 2008, Dr. Ketchum served as Senior Vice President, Research & Development and Medical Affairs of Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company.  From June 2002 to April 2005, Dr. Ketchum served as Senior Vice President, Operations and Regulatory Affairs for IntraBiotics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Ketchum also held positions at ALZA Corporation from November 1994 to May 2002, most recently as Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Ketchum earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from University College London (funded by the Sandoz Institute for Medical Research) and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University.
 
20

 
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
 
To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of reports furnished to us, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2008, our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements.
 
CERTAIN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS
 
Code of Business Conduct & Ethics
 
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct & Ethics which applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct & Ethics can be found on our website, www.sunesis.com , in the section titled “ Investors and Media ” under the subsection titled “ Corporate Governance .” Information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this report. In addition, we intend to promptly disclose (1) the nature of any amendment to our Code of Business Conduct & Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or persons performing similar functions and (2) the nature of any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of our Code of Business Conduct & Ethics that is granted to one of these specified officers, the name of such person who is granted the waiver and the date of the waiver on our website in the future.
 
Material Changes to Procedures for Recommending Directors
 
No material changes have been made to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors.
 
Identification of Audit Committee and Financial Expert
 
Our Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee with a written charter approved by our Board of Directors that reflects the applicable standards and requirements adopted by the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC, or NASDAQ. A copy of each charter can be found on our website, www.sunesis.com , in the section titled “ Investors and Media ” under the subsection titled “ Corporate Governance. ” Information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this report.
 
The Audit Committee is chaired by Mr. Fust, and also includes Mr. Hurwitz and Dr. Stump. Anthony B. Evnin, Ph.D., and Steven Goldby served on the Audit Committee until their respective resignations from the Board of Directors on April 3, 2009. The Board of Directors reviews the NASDAQ definition of “independence” for Audit Committee members on an annual basis and has determined that all members of our Audit Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(c)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of the NASDAQ listing requirements). The Board of Directors has also determined that Mr. Fust qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in applicable SEC rules. The Board of Directors made a qualitative assessment of Mr. Fust’s level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including his formal education and experience as a chief financial officer for public reporting companies.
 
ITEM 11:   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATION
 
Summary Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth the compensation information for our Chief Executive Officer and our two most highly compensated executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2008, as well as two former executive officers who would have qualified as our most highly compensated executive officers during 2008, but were no longer serving as our executive officers as of December 31, 2008. Such individuals are referred to as our “named executive officers” for the year ended December 31, 2008. All compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our named executive officers are included in the table below for the years indicated.
 
21

 
Name and Principal Position
 
   Year
   
Salary (1)
($)
   
Bonus (2)
($)
   
Option
Awards (3)
($)
   
All Other
Compensation (4)
($)
 
Total
($)
 
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr .
Chief Executive Officer and President
   
2008
2007
    $
403,125
386,250
    $
105,000
    $
405,414
465,737
    $
930
1,140
    $
809,469
958,127
 
                                                 
Eric H. Bjerkholt
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
   
2008
2007
     
321,458
283,125
     
60,000
     
221,412
257,486
     
930
883
     
543,800
601,494
 
                                                 
Valerie L. Pierce (5)
 Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
   
2008
2007
     
318,958
185,682
     
45,000
     
109,113
61,477
     
630
408
     
428,701
292,567
 
                                                 
Daniel C. Adelman, M.D. (6)
Former Senior Vice President, Development and Chief Medical Officer
   
2008
2007
     
135,000
298,125
     
50,000
     
163,922
226,043
     
234,421
1,306
     
533,343
575,474
 
                                                 
Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D. (7)
Former Vice President, Research
   
2008
2007
     
156,040
253,750
     
33,313
50,000
     
104,895
131,778
     
134,233
583
     
395,168
436,111
 
 

(1)
Includes amounts earned but deferred at the election of the named executive officer, such as salary deferrals under our 401(k) Plan established under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
 
(2)
Cash bonus earned in 2007 and paid in February 2008 under our bonus program.  No cash bonuses were earned in 2008. See “ Narrative to Summary Compensation Table   Cash Bonuses in 2008 ” below.
 
(3)
This column represents the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the 2008 and 2007 fiscal years for the fair value of stock options granted to each of the named executive officers in such years in accordance with FASB Statement No. 123 (revised), “ Share-Based Payment ,” or FAS 123R. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. For additional information on the valuation assumptions, refer to Note 13, “ Stock-Based Compensation ” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009, which identifies assumptions made in the valuation of option awards in accordance with FAS 123R. These amounts reflect our accounting expense for these awards and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the named executive officers.
 
(4)
Represents group term life insurance premiums, reimbursements of up to $420 for health club memberships, and up to $300 for airline club fees, each as applicable.
 
(5)
Ms. Pierce’s employment with us began in April 2007 and terminated as of April 10, 2009.
 
(6)
Dr. Adelman’s employment with us terminated as of June 6, 2008.  “All Other Compensation” for 2008 includes a severance payment of $234,000.
 
(7)
Dr. McDowell’s employment with us terminated as of August 4, 2008.  “All Other Compensation” for 2008 includes a severance payment of $133,250.
 
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Narrative to Summary Compensation Table
 
Stock Option Grants in 2008
 
See “ Outstanding Equity Awards Table at December 31, 2008   below for the terms of the stock options granted to certain of our named executive officers in 2008.
 
Executive Severance Benefits Agreements
 
We entered into executive severance benefits agreements with each of our named executive officers to provide certain benefits upon a termination of employment.  The agreements with Messrs. Swisher and Bjerkholt and Dr. Ketchum were amended in April 2009 in connection with our adoption of a Change of Control Payment Plan.  See “ Post-Termination Compensation – Change of Control Severance Protections ” for a more detailed discussion of the benefits under such plan and pursuant to the executive severance benefits agreements, as amended, in connection with a change of control transaction.
 
The Compensation Committee believes such agreements help us attract and retain employees in a marketplace where such protections are commonly offered by our peer companies. We also believe that severance protections offered upon terminations arising in connection with a change of control allow our executives to assess a potential change of control objectively, without regard to the potential impact of the transaction on their own job security. At the time we originally entered into the executive severance benefits agreements with each of the named executive officers, the Compensation Committee determined that the terms of such executive severance benefits agreements reflected industry standard severance payments, benefits and equity acceleration.
 
Mr. Swisher.     Under the executive severance benefits agreement with Mr. Swisher, if Mr. Swisher is terminated without cause or he is constructively terminated, he is entitled to receive a payment equal to 12 months salary and continued health benefits for a maximum period of the first 12 months following termination (which may be terminated earlier upon his coverage by a new employer), subject to the execution of a general release in favor of Sunesis.  If such termination occurs within 12 months following a change of control transaction of Sunesis, he is entitled to receive, subject to the execution of a general release in favor of Sunesis: (i) a lump sum payment equal to 18 months of his base salary at the time of termination, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 150% of his target bonus for the year during which the termination occurs, and (iii) continued health benefits for a maximum period of the first 18 months following termination (which may be terminated earlier upon his coverage by a new employer).  In connection with our adoption of the Change of Control Payment Plan, Mr. Swisher’s executive severance benefits agreement was amended in April 2009 to eliminate the severance benefits described in the immediately preceding sentence, which would have been payable in the event of Mr. Swisher’s termination following a change of control transaction of Sunesis.  In addition, this agreement, as amended, also provides that in the event that Mr. Swisher is terminated by an acquirer within six months after a change of control transaction, the above-described severance benefits payable in the event Mr. Swisher is terminated without cause or constructively terminated would be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amount paid or payable to Mr. Swisher pursuant to the Change of Control Payment Plan.   Under Mr. Swisher’s executive severance benefits agreement he will also be eligible for certain option acceleration benefits, as described in more detail under “ Post-Termination Compensation – Change of Control Severance Protections ” below.
 
Mr. Bjerkholt and Dr. Ketchum.     Under the respective executive severance benefits agreements with Mr. Bjerkholt and Dr. Ketchum, if such executive is terminated without cause or is constructively terminated, each is entitled to receive a payment equal to nine months salary and continued health benefits for a maximum period of the first nine months following termination (which may be terminated earlier upon his coverage by a new employer), subject to the execution of a general release in favor of Sunesis.  If such termination occurs within 12 months following a change of control transaction of Sunesis, such executive is entitled to receive, subject to the execution of a general release in favor of Sunesis: (i) a lump sum payment equal to 14 months of his base salary at the time of termination, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 117% of his target bonus for the year during which the termination occurs, and (iii) continued health benefits for a maximum period of the first 14 months following termination (which may be terminated earlier upon his coverage by a new employer). In connection with our adoption of the Change of Control Payment Plan, these executive severance benefits agreements were amended in April 2009 to eliminate the severance benefits described in the immediately preceding sentence, which would have been payable in the event of Mr. Bjerkholt’s or Dr. Ketchum’s, as the case may be, termination following a change of control transaction of Sunesis.  In addition, these agreements, as amended, also provide that in the event that Mr. Bjerkholt or Dr. Ketchum, as the case may be, is terminated by an acquirer within six months after a change of control transaction, the above-described severance benefits payable in the event the executive is terminated without cause or constructively terminated would be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amount paid or payable to the executive pursuant to the Change of Control Payment Plan.   Under Mr. Bjerkholt’s and Dr. Ketchum’s respective executive severance benefits agreements they will also be eligible for certain option acceleration benefits, as described in more detail under Post-Termination Compensation – Change of Control Severance Protections below.
 
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Drs. Adelman and McDowell and Ms. Pierce .   The employment of Dr. Adelman terminated on June 6, 2008, the employment of Dr. McDowell terminated August 4, 2008 and the employment of Ms. Pierce terminated on April 10, 2009.  Each of these former executive officers received or are entitled to receive the following severance benefits pursuant to their executive severance benefits agreements with Sunesis in connection with the termination of their employment:
 
Name
 
Cash
 Severance
($)
   
Health
Benefits
($)
 
Valerie L. Pierce
  $ 255,000
(1)
  $ 19,723
(3)
                 
Daniel C. Adelman, M.D.
    234,000
(1)
    18,963
(3)
                 
Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D.
    133,250
(2)
    2,377
(4)
 

(1)
Represents nine months of base salary at time of termination.
 
(2)
Represents six months of base salary at time of termination.
 
(3)
Represents nine months of health care benefits (which may be terminated earlier upon coverage of the executive by a new employer).
 
(4)
Represents six months of health care benefits (which may be terminated earlier upon coverage of the executive by a new employer).
 
Cash Bonuses in 2008
 
Given the recommendation by our CEO not to pay our executive officers cash bonuses for performance in the year 2008, which recommendation was approved by our Compensation Committee and, in the case of our CEO, by a committee of those directors qualifying as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and as “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, no cash bonuses were awarded to our executive officers for performance in 2008.
 
Outstanding Equity Awards Table at December 31, 2008
 
The following information sets forth the outstanding stock options held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2008, none of our named executive officers held unearned equity incentive awards or stock awards.
 
24

 
   
Option Awards
Name
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
   
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
   
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
 
Option
Expiration
Date
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr.
                   
      117,647           $ 2.55  
02/06/12
      11,765             2.55  
02/06/12
      47,059             2.55  
04/16/13
      70,589             2.55  
01/21/14
      21,176             2.55  
06/24/14
      181,145
(1)
    53,855
(1)
    5.25  
11/29/15
      65,000
(2)
    55,000
(2)
    4.85  
10/13/16
      48,437
(3)
    106,563
(3)
    2.59  
09/13/17
                           
Eric H. Bjerkholt
                         
      58,824             2.55  
01/21/14
      17,647             2.55  
06/09/14
      92,500
(1)
    27,500
(1)
    5.25  
11/29/15
      32,500
(2)
    27,500
(2)
    4.85  
10/13/16
      28,125
(3)
    61,875
(3)
    2.59  
09/13/17
      8,437
(4)
    59,063
(4)
    1.44  
06/30/18
                           
Valerie L. Pierce
                         
      50,000
(5)
    70,000
(5)
    4.60  
04/30/17
      14,062
(3)
    30,938
(3)
    2.59  
09/13/17
      8,437
(4)
    59,063
(4)
    1.44  
06/30/18
                           
Daniel C. Adelman, M.D. (6)
    47,059             2.55  
6/30/09
      11,765             2.55  
6/30/09
      18,824             2.55  
6/30/09
      104,999
(1)
          5.25  
6/30/09
      38,750
(2)
          4.85  
6/30/09
      37,499
(3)
          2.59  
6/30/09
                           
Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D. (7)
    12,941             2.55  
6/30/09
      18,824             2.55  
6/30/09
      4,706             2.55  
6/30/09
      14,118             2.55  
6/30/09
      50,416
(1)
          5.25  
6/30/09
      34,374
(2)
          4.85  
6/30/09
      27,499
(3)
          2.59  
6/30/09
 

(1)
This stock option was granted on November 29, 2005 pursuant to our 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and vests monthly during the 48-month period measured from the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued service with Sunesis.
 
(2)
This stock option was granted on October 13, 2006 pursuant to our 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and vests monthly during the 48-month period measured from the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued service with Sunesis.
 
(3)
This stock option was granted on September 13, 2007 pursuant to our 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and vests monthly during the 48-month period measured from the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued service with Sunesis.
 
(4)
This stock option was granted on June 30, 2008 pursuant to our 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and vests monthly during the 48-month period measured from the grant date, subject to the holder’s continued service with Sunesis.
 
(5)
This stock option was granted on April 30, 2007 pursuant to our 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and 25% of the shares subject to the option vest one year from the date of the grant and the remaining shares vest monthly during the subsequent 36-month period thereafter, subject to the holder’s continued service with Sunesis.
 
(6)
Dr. Adelman’s employment with us terminated as of June 6, 2008. Pursuant to the Acceptance of Option Amendment by and between us and Dr. Adelman, dated June 6, 2008, the post-termination exercise period of Dr. Adelman’s outstanding options that had vested as of June 6, 2008, together with options that vested in connection with his severance, were extended until the earlier of (i) the original end of the term of each such option or (ii) June 30, 2009.
 
(7)
Dr. McDowell’s employment with us terminated as of August 4, 2008.  Pursuant to the Acceptance of Option Amendment by and between us and Dr. McDowell, dated June 27, 2008, the post-termination exercise period of Dr. McDowell’s outstanding options that had vested as of August 4, 2008, together with options that vested in connection with his severance, were extended until the earlier of (i) the original end of the term of each such option or (ii) June 30, 2009.
 
Post-Termination Compensation
 
Retirement Savings
 
We encourage our executives and employees generally to plan for retirement compensation through voluntary participation in our 401(k) Plan. All of our employees, including our executives, may participate in our 401(k) Plan by making pre-tax contributions from wages of up to 60% of their annual cash compensation, up to the current Internal Revenue Service limits. During 2008, we did not make matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan. All of our executives can participate in the 401(k) Plan on the same terms as our employees. We believe this program is comparable with programs offered by our peer companies and assists us in attracting and retaining our executives.
 
 
25

 

Medical Benefits
 
On April 3, 2009, Dr. Young retired as our Executive Chairman. In connection with his resignation, we agreed to cover Dr. Young’s medical benefits for a period of 12 months; however, Dr. Young is not otherwise entitled to any severance in connection with his resignation pursuant to the terms of his Second Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement with us, dated December 23, 2008.
 
Change of Control Severance Protections
 
Change of Control Payment Plan
 
On April 3, 2009, we adopted a Change of Control Payment Plan, or the Plan, pursuant to which 10.5 to 12.0% of the transaction value, or the Plan Pool, of a change of control transaction of Sunesis would be allocated to our eligible employees, including our named executive officers remaining employed by Sunesis, pursuant to the terms of such Plan.  The aggregate proceeds available for distribution to eligible employees under the Plan is as follows:
 
 
Transaction Value ($)
 
Aggregate Plan Pool (%)
 
 
$30 million
    10.5 %
 30  million but less than 45 million
    11.0  
≥ 
 45  million but less than 60 million
    11.5  
≥ 
 60  million
    12.0  

In order for an employee to be eligible to participate in the Change of Control Payment Plan, the individual must be a full-time regular U.S. employee and designated in writing by our Board of Directors, subject to certain limitations.  Each participant shall be allocated a percentage of the Plan Pool.  The percentage allocations of the Plan Pool for our executive officers are as follows:

Title of Executive Officer
 
Pro Rata Share (%)
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors
    3.0 %
Chief Executive Officer
    20.0  
Senior Vice Presidents
 
12.5 each, 25.0 in the aggregate
 
 
Our Vice Presidents and other employees are also eligible to participate in the Plan.  If the number of employees at a level of Vice President or higher participating in the Plan changes after April 3, 2009, the Plan Pool allocations shown above shall be reallocated by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, or the Compensation Committee, on a pro rata basis without increasing or decreasing the aggregate Plan Pool. If there are significant decreases in the number of eligible employees below the level of Vice President, the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion but considering the recommendation of our CEO, may reallocate a portion of the Plan Pool to other allocation categories (including those at or above the level of Vice President) without increasing or decreasing the aggregate Plan Pool.
 
If a change of control occurs, a participant in the Plan shall receive, in exchange for a general release of claims against us, a payment under the Plan in the same consideration received by us or our stockholders in the transaction if the participant is still an eligible employee on the date that payments pursuant to the Plan are scheduled to be made, and any cash severance payments owed by us in the future to the participant on account of a termination by us without cause or a constructive termination by us within six months following the change of control transaction under any severance agreement shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by any payments pursuant to the Plan.  If the participant has been terminated by us without cause or constructively terminated by us at the time payments under the Plan are scheduled to be made, we shall still provide the participant with such participant’s allocated portion of the Plan Pool, but any cash severance payments otherwise payable to the participant by us shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by such allocated portion of the Plan Pool, which shall be paid in cash to the extent of the cash severance payments that have been so reduced.  The application of the Plan to amounts that are paid from escrow or pursuant to earn-out or other contingencies shall be determined at a future date in the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, recognizing that it is the present intention of our Board of Directors to apply the Plan to such amounts in the same manner as it applies to amounts payable immediately upon the effective date of the change of control, subject, however, to the requirements for either compliance with or exemption from Section 409A of the Code.
 
                In general, a “change of control” under the Plan includes an acquisition transaction in which a person or entity (with certain exceptions) becomes the direct or indirect beneficial owner of more than 50% of our voting stock, as well as the consummation of certain types of corporate transactions, such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, business combination or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, pursuant to which our stockholders own, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of Sunesis or our successor, or if our stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of Sunesis. However, a cash financing transaction will not constitute a change of control transaction pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
 
 
26

 

The Plan shall remain in effect until the earlier of the conclusion of a change of control transaction and payout under the Plan or six months after the earlier of (a) the common equity closing of the Private Placement or (b) the conversion of our outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock; provided, however, that our obligation to make payments pursuant to a change of control transaction that occurs on or prior to such termination shall be unaffected by such termination.  For more information on these events, see Note 17 “ Subsequent Events ” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009. We reserve the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the consent of any adversely affected participant.
 
Executive Severance Benefits Agreements
 
In general, a “change of control” under these executive severance benefits agreements, as amended, includes an acquisition transaction in which a person or entity (with certain exceptions described in the agreements) becomes the direct or indirect beneficial owner of more than 50% of our voting stock, as well as the consummation of certain types of corporate transactions, such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, business combination or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, pursuant to which our stockholders own, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of Sunesis or our successor, or if our stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of Sunesis.  However, a cash financing transaction will not constitute a change of control transaction pursuant to the terms of the executive severance benefits agreements.
 
Each of the executive severance benefits agreements provides that, in the event that any benefits provided in connection with a change of control (or a related termination of employment) would be subject to the 20% excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, the executive officer will receive the greater, on an after-tax basis (taking account of all federal, state and local taxes and excise taxes), of such benefits or such lesser amount of benefits as would result in no portion of the benefits being subject to the excise tax. An executive officer’s receipt of any severance benefits is subject to his execution of a release in favor of Sunesis. Any benefits under the executive severance benefits agreement would terminate immediately if the executive officer, at any time, violates any proprietary information or confidentiality obligation to us. See “ Narrative to Summary Compensation Table – Executive Severance Benefits Agreements ” above for a description of the other terms of the executive severance benefits agreements.
 
Stock Option Acceleration
 
Under the executive severance benefits agreements, as amended, with Messrs. Swisher and Bjerkholt and Dr. Ketchum, in connection with a change of control of Sunesis, the vesting of 50% of each such executive officer’s outstanding option awards is automatically accelerated immediately prior to the effective date of such change of control. In the event of a termination without cause or a constructive termination of any of these executives officers (i) within 12 months following a change of control, 100% of such executive officer’s outstanding awards would automatically accelerate on the date of termination, or (ii) if prior to or more than 12 months following a change of control, the outstanding awards that would have vested over the 12 month period following the date of termination would automatically accelerate for such executive officer.
 
Change of Control Equity Incentive Plan Protections
 
Our 1998 Stock Plan and our 2001 Stock Plan both provide that in the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a merger of Sunesis with or into another corporation in which we are not the surviving corporation, each outstanding award shall be assumed or an equivalent award substituted by such successor corporation, unless the successor corporation does not agree to assume the award, in which case, the award shall terminate upon the consummation of the merger or sale of assets.
 
Our 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan provide that upon any change of control of Sunesis, our Board of Directors (or any committee delegated authority by our Board) may, in its discretion, make adjustments it deems appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and type of awards that may be issued under the applicable plan, (ii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding awards, and (iii) and the grant or exercise price of any outstanding awards. If outstanding awards are not assumed by the surviving or successor entity and such successor entity does not substitute substantially similar awards for those awards outstanding under the 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and the 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan, such outstanding awards shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable and all forfeiture restrictions on such outstanding awards shall lapse.
 
 
27

 

In addition, our 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan include change in control provisions, which may result in the accelerated vesting of outstanding awards. In the event of a change in control of our company, for example, if we are acquired by merger or asset sale, each outstanding award under the 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan will accelerate and immediately vest with respect to 50% of the award, and if the remainder of the award is not to be assumed by the successor corporation, the full amount of the award will automatically accelerate and become immediately vested. Additionally, in the event the remainder of the award is assumed by the successor corporation, any remaining unvested shares would accelerate and immediately vest in the event the optionee is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within 12 months following such change in control. Pursuant to amendments to the 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan approved by our Board in March 2009, a cash financing will not constitute a change of control. In order to make the treatment of outstanding options granted under the 1998 Stock Plan and 2001 Stock Plan for then-current employees identical to the treatment of options granted under the 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan and 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan, all options outstanding under the 1998 and 2001 plans were amended to reflect identical change in control provisions.
 
We believe that the terms of our equity incentive plans described above are consistent with industry practice.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control
 
The following table illustrates potential payments to our named executive officers under our executive severance benefits agreements in connection with a change of control event or with respect to a termination without good cause or resignation for good reason subsequent to a change of control event, as if such change of control event or covered termination occurred as of December 31, 2008:

       
Potential Payments in Connection With:
 
Name
 
Type of Benefit
 
A Change of
Control
($)
   
Termination
Within 12
Months
Following a
Change of
Control
($)
   
Covered
Termination
Prior to or
More
than 12
Months
Following a
Change of
Control
($)
 
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr.
                     
   
Equity Award Acceleration
  $
(1)
  $
(2)
  $
(9)
   
Salary
          604,688
(3)
    403,125
(10)
   
Bonus
          241,875
(4)
     
   
Health Benefits
          39,447
(5)
    26,298
(11)
   
      Total:
          886,010       429,423  
Eric H. Bjerkholt
                           
   
Equity Award Acceleration
   
(1)
   
(2)
   
(9)
   
Salary
          375,034
(6)
    241,094
(12)
   
Bonus
          112,510
(7)
     
   
Health Benefits
          17,056
(8)
    10,965
(13)
   
      Total:
          504,600       252,059  
Valerie L. Pierce
                           
   
Equity Award Acceleration
   
(1)
   
(2)
   
(9)
   
Salary
          372,118
(6)
    239,219
(12)
   
Bonus
          111,635
(7)
     
   
Health Benefits
          30,681
(8)
    19,723
(13)
   
      Total:
          514,434       258,942  
Daniel C. Adelman, M.D.
                           
   
Equity Award Acceleration
               
(14)
   
Salary
                234,000
(12)
   
Bonus
                 
   
Health Benefits
                18,582
(13)
   
      Total:
                252,582  
Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D.
                           
   
Equity Award Acceleration
               
(15)
   
Salary
                133,250
(16)
   
Bonus
                33,313
(17)
   
Health Benefits
                2,299
(18)
   
      Total:
                168,862  
 
 
28

 


 
(1)
Represents the amount of the benefit each of our named executive officers would have received pursuant to the terms of our executive severance benefits agreements with them from the acceleration of 50% of such executive’s aggregate outstanding unvested stock options, assuming a change of control event occurred on December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2008, none of our named executive officers held in-the-money stock options as determined by the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2008 as reported by NASDAQ, which was $0.32, and, as a result, none of our named executive officers would have received any benefit from such provisions under our executive severance benefits agreements with them if a change of control had occurred as of December 31, 2008.
 
 
(2)
Represents the amount of the benefit each of our named executive officers would have received pursuant to the terms of our executive severance benefits agreements with them from the acceleration of 100% of such executive’s aggregate outstanding unvested stock options, assuming such executive’s employment with us terminated on December 31, 2008 within 12 months of a change of control event. As of December 31, 2008, none of our named executive officers held in-the-money stock options as determined by the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2008 as reported by NASDAQ, which was $0.32, and, as a result, none of our named executive officers would have received any benefit from such provisions under our executive severance benefits agreements with them if their employment terminated as of December 31, 2008 within 12 months of a change of control event.
 
(3)
Represents 18 months of base salary at time of termination.
 
(4)
Represents a lump sum equal to 150% of such named executive officer’s applicable target bonus for 2008.
 
(5)
Represents 18 months of healthcare benefits.
 
(6)
Represents 14 months of base salary at time of termination.
 
(7)
Represents a lump sum equal to 117% of such named executive officer’s applicable target bonus for 2008.
 
(8)
Represents 14 months of healthcare benefits.
 
(9)
Represents the amount of the benefit each of our named executive officers would have received pursuant to the terms of our executive severance benefits agreements from the acceleration with respect to an additional 12 months of vesting of such executive’s aggregate outstanding unvested stock options, assuming such executive’s employment with us terminated on December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2008, none of our named executive officers held in-the-money stock options as determined by the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2008, as reported by NASDAQ, which was $0.32, and, as a result, none of our named executive officers would have received any benefit from such provisions under our executive severance benefits agreements with them if their employment terminated as of December 31, 2008.
 
(10)
Represents 12 months of base salary at time of termination.
 
(11)
Represents 12 months of healthcare benefits.
 
(12)
Represents nine months of base salary at time of termination.
 
(13)
Represents nine months of healthcare benefits.
 
(14)
Dr. Adelman’s employment with us was terminated as of June 6, 2008.  This amount represents the benefit Dr. Adelman received pursuant to the terms of his executive severance benefits agreement from the acceleration with respect to an additional 12 months of vesting of his aggregate outstanding unvested stock options.  As of June 6, 2008, none of Dr. Adelman’s stock options were in the money as determined by the closing price of our common stock on June 6, 2008 as reported by NASDAQ, which was $1.80, and, as a result, he did not receive any benefit from such provision under his executive severance benefits agreement.
 
 
29

 

(15)
Dr. McDowell’s employment with us was terminated as of August 4, 2008.  This amount represents the benefit Dr. McDowell received pursuant to the terms of his executive severance benefits agreement from the acceleration with respect to an additional 12 months of vesting of his aggregate outstanding unvested stock options.  As of August 4, 2008, none of Dr. McDowell’s stock options were in the money as determined by the closing price of our common stock on August 4, 2008 as reported by NASDAQ, which was $1.55, and, as a result, he did not receive any benefit from such provision under his executive severance benefits agreement.
 
(16)
Represents six months of base salary at time of termination.
 
(17)
Represents a lump sum equal to 12.5% of Dr. McDowell’s base salary at time of termination.
 
(18)
Represents six months of healthcare benefits.
 
See “ Narrative to Summary Compensation Table   and   Post-Termination Compensation – Change of Control Severance Protections ” above   for a discussion of the Change of Control Payment Plan we adopted in April 2009 and the related amendments to our executive’s executive severance benefits agreements.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
Board and Committee Fees and Awards    
 
On the date of our annual meeting of stockholders each year, each non-employee director of our Board of Directors, except the Chairman of our Board of Directors, is entitled to receive $20,000 in connection with his services as a director. A non-employee Chairman of our Board of Directors is entitled to receive $50,000 in connection with his services as a director and chair of our Board of Directors. Additionally, each non-employee director who serves on a committee is entitled to receive an annual payment of $5,000 for service as chairman of a committee and $3,000 for service as a member on a committee. At the same time, each continuing non-employee director receives a non-qualified stock option grant to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock. These options vest in equal installments over a 12-month period from the grant date. Newly elected non-employee directors are granted, in addition to the Board and committee fees discussed above, an initial grant of non-qualified stock options to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock upon first being elected to our Board of Directors. These options vest over a two-year period with 50% annual vesting on each anniversary of the grant date. Our employee directors did not receive any compensation in 2008 for their service on our Board of Directors.
 
Consulting Arrangements
 
  We have entered into consulting agreements with Drs. Pearce and Stump.
 
In August 2006, we entered into a consulting agreement with Dr. Pearce under which his services include reviewing, assessing and advising us on our development plans and strategies. Pursuant to the consulting agreement, Dr. Pearce is entitled to receive up to $3,000 a day, prorated at an hourly rate of $375 an hour, for his consulting services. Total payments to Dr. Pearce under this agreement may not exceed $40,000 during any one-year period.
 
In September 2006, we entered into a consulting agreement with Dr. Stump under which his services include reviewing, assessing and advising us on our development plans and strategies. Pursuant to the consulting agreement, Dr. Stump is entitled to receive up to $3,000 a day, prorated at an hourly rate of $375 an hour, for his consulting services. Total payments to Dr. Stump under this agreement may not exceed $40,000 during any one-year period.
 
2008 Director Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth the compensation information for our non-employee directors, as well as Dr. Young, the current Chairman of our Board and former Executive Chairman, for the year ended December 31, 2008. The compensation received by Mr. Swisher, as a named executive officer, is set forth in “ Executive Compensation and Related Information ” on page 21 above.
 
 
30

 
 
Name
 
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
   
Option
Awards
($)  (2)(3)
   
All Other
Compensation
($)
   
Total
 ($)
 
Anthony B. Evnin, Ph.D. (6)  
  $ 28,000     $ 17,235     $     $ 45,235  
Stephen P.A. Fodor, Ph.D. (7)  
    25,000       17,235             42,235  
Matthew K. Fust
    28,000       17,235             45,235  
Steven D. Goldby (8)
    26,000       17,235             43,235  
Jonathan S. Leff (9)
    23,000       17,235             40,235  
Homer L. Pearce, Ph.D. 
    23,000       48,135       6,563
(4)
    77,698  
David C. Stump M.D. 
    20,000       48,135       6,563
(5)
    74,698  
James A. Wells, Ph.D. (10)  
    20,000
(1)
    11,784             31,784  
James W. Young, Ph.D. (11)
          207,530       202,772       410,302  
 

(1)
The annual retainer of $20,000 otherwise payable to Dr. Wells for serving on our Board was paid to The Regents of the University of California in accordance with an agreement between Dr. Wells and The Regents of the University of California.
 
(2)
This column represents the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in 2008 for the fair value of stock options granted to each of our non-employee directors and Dr. Young in 2008, as well as in prior years, in accordance with FAS 123R. Pursuant to SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. These amounts reflect Sunesis’ accounting expense for these awards and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by our directors. For additional information on the valuation assumptions, refer to Note 13 “ Stock-Based Compensation ” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009, which identifies assumptions made in the valuation of option awards in accordance with FAS 123R.
 
(3)
On June 5, 2008, each non-employee director received a stock option to purchase 10,000 shares. The grant date fair value of these awards was $1.08 per share for a total grant date fair value of $10,813 per grant, calculated in accordance with FAS 123R. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 13 “ Stock-Based Compensation ” to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009.  As of December 31, 2008, each non-employee director held stock options to purchase the following aggregate number of shares of our common stock: Dr. Evnin held options to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock; Dr. Fodor held options to purchase 63,530 shares of our common stock; Mr. Fust held options to purchase 60,000 shares of our common stock; Mr. Goldby held options to purchase 63,530 shares of our common stock; Mr. Leff held options to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock; Dr. Pearce held options to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock; Dr. Stump held options to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock; and Dr. Wells held options to purchase 142,354 shares of our common stock.
 
(4)
This amount reflects payments to Dr. Pearce under his consulting agreement with us for consulting services performed in 2008.
 
(5)
This amount reflects payments to Dr. Stump under his consulting agreement with us for consulting services performed in 2008.
 
(6)
Dr. Evnin resigned effective as of April 3, 2009.
 
(7)
Dr. Fodor resigned effective as of April 3, 2009.
 
(8)
Mr. Goldby resigned effective as of April 3, 2009.
 
(9)
Mr. Leff resigned effective as of February 3, 2009.
 
(10)
Dr. Wells resigned effective as of June 25, 2008.
 
 
31

 

(11)
Until April 2009, Dr. Young served as our Executive Chairman.  As noted above, our employee directors did not receive any compensation in 2008 for their service on our Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2008, Dr. Young held stock options to purchase 329,118 shares of our common stock. He did not receive any equity awards in 2008. “All Other Compensation” includes Dr. Young’s annual salary of $200,000 and group term life insurance payments of $2,772.
 
ITEM 12:   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
OWNERSHIP OF SUNESIS SECURITIES
 
The following table sets forth, as of April 10, 2009, information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
 
 
·
each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock;
 
 
·
each of our named executive officers;
 
 
·
each of our directors; and
 
 
·
all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
 
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC and generally means that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power of that security, and includes options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.  Shares of common stock subject to stock options and warrants currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009 are deemed to be outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding these options and warrants and the percentage ownership of any group of which the holder is a member, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.  Except as indicated by footnote, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
 
This table lists applicable percentage ownership based on 34,409,768 shares of common stock outstanding and 2,898,544 shares of Series A preferred stock outstanding, or an aggregate of 37,308,312 shares of capital stock, as of April 10, 2009.  Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the beneficial owners in the table below is c/o Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 395 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, California 94080.
 
   
Beneficial Ownership  (1)
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
 
Shares of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (#)(2)
   
Percentage
of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (%)
   
Shares of
Preferred
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (#)
   
Percentage
of
Preferred
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (%)
 
5% Stockholders:
                       
Entities affiliated with Alta Partners (3)
    6,143,853       16.0 %     333,165       11.5 %
Entities affiliated with Bay City Capital (4)
    6,672,421        16.2       666,333       23.0  
Biogen Idec (5)
    2,912,022       8.5       -       0.0  
Caxton Advantages Life Sciences Fund, L.P. (6)
    1,665,830       4.6       166,583       5.8  
Entities affiliated with Credit Suisse First Boston (7)
    3,406,590        9.9       -       0.0  
Entities affiliated with Deerfield (8)
    2,148,102       6.2       -       0.0  
Fidelity Management & Research Company (9)
    3,156,200        9.2       -       0.0  
Growth Equity Opportunities Fund, LLC (10)
    6,663,330        16.2       666,333       23.0  
Entities affiliated with Merlin Biomed (11)
    4,906,351        13.0       339,830       11.7  
 
 
32

 

   
Beneficial Ownership  (1)
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
 
Shares of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (#)(2)
   
Percentage
of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (%)
   
Shares of
Preferred
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (#)
   
Percentage
of
Preferred
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (%)
 
ONC General Partnership Limited (12)
    3,331,660       8.8       333,166       11.5  
Entities Affiliated with Venrock Associates (13)
    2,474,404        6.9       133,266       4.6  
Vision Opportunity Master Fund, Ltd. (14)
    1,999,000        5.5       199,900       6.9  
Entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus LLC (15)
    4,545,621       13.1       -       0.0  
Named Executive Officers and Directors:
                               
James W. Young, Ph.D. (16)
    413,421       1.2       0       0.0  
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr. (17)
    795,066       2.3       13,326       *  
Eric H. Bjerkholt (18)
    345,912       1.0       6,663       *  
Valerie L. Pierce (19)
    148,684       *       0       0.0  
Daniel C. Adelman, M.D. (20)
    263,906       *       0       0.0  
Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D. (21)
    188,760       *       0       0.0  
Matthew K. Fust (22)
    60,000       *       0       0.0  
Homer L. Pearce, Ph.D. (23)
    50,000       *       0       0.0  
David C. Stump, M.D. (24)
    50,000       *       0       0.0  
Dayton Misfeldt (25)
    6,672,421       16.2       666,333       23.0  
Edward   Hurwitz (26)
    6,143,873       16.0       333,165       11.5  
All executive officers and directors as a group (9 persons)
    14,597,323       31.4       1,026,150       35.4  
 

*
Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of our capital stock.

(1)
This table is based upon information provided to us by our executive officers and directors and upon information about principal stockholders known to us based on Schedules 13G and 13D filed with the SEC.

(2)
Includes shares issuable pursuant to stock options and warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.

(3)
Includes (i) 137,323 shares of our common stock, 20,493 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 240,591 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Alta BioPharma Partners III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG, (ii) 2,044,750 shares of our common stock, 305,152 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 3,582,512 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Alta BioPharma Partners III, L.P., and (iii) 50,391 shares of our common stock, 7,520 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 88,286 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners III, LLC.  Alta Partners III, Inc. provides investment advisory services to Alta BioPharma Partners III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG, Alta BioPharma Partners III, L.P. and Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners III, LLC, which we refer to collectively as the Alta Funds.  The managing directors of Alta BioPharma Management III, LLC, which is a general partner of Alta BioPharma Partners III, L.P. and the managing limited partner of Alta BioPharma Partners III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG, and the managers of Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners III, LLC exercise sole dispositive and voting power over the shares owned by the Alta Funds.  Certain principals of Alta Partners III, Inc., Jean Deleage, Alix Marduel, Farah Campsi, Edward Penhoet and Edward Hurwitz, are managing directors of Alta BioPharma Management III, LLC and managers of Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners III, LLC.  These individuals may be deemed to share dispositive and voting power over the shares held by the Alta Funds.  Each of these individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein.  The address of Alta Partners III, Inc. and its affiliates is One Embarcadero Center, 37th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111.

(4)
Includes (i) 9,091 shares of our common stock held by Bay City Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BCC”), (ii) 653,873 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 6,538,730 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Bay City Capital Fund V, L.P. (“Fund V”), and (iii) 12,460 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 124,600 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Bay City Capital Fund V Co-Investment Fund, L.P. (“Co-Investment V”).  BCC is the manager of Bay City Capital Management V, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Management V”).  Management V is the general partner of Fund V and Co-Investment V.  BCC is also an advisor to Fund V and Co-Investment V.   Dayton Misfeldt is a partner of BCC. The address of the principal business and office of Bay City Capital and its affiliates is 750 Battery Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, California 94111.
 
 
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(5)
Biogen Idec MA, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen Idec Inc., a biotechnology company.  James C. Mullen, Bruce R. Ross and Peter N. Kellogg are the directors and executive officers of Biogen Idec MA, Inc.  These individuals may be deemed to share dispositive and voting power over the shares which are, or may be, deemed to be beneficially owned by Biogen Idec MA, Inc.  Each of these individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

(6)
Includes 166,583 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 1,665,830 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding owned by Caxton Advantages Life Sciences Fund, L.P. (“Caxton”).  The principal address for Caxton is c/o Caxton Advantage Venture Partners, L.P., 500 Park Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

(7)
Includes (i) 175,775 shares of our common stock held by EMA Partners Fund 2000, L.P. (“EMA Partners”), (ii) 233,004 shares of our common stock held by EMA Private Equity Fund 2000, L.P. (“EMA Private”), (iii) 654,387 shares of our common stock held by Credit Suisse First Boston Equity Partners (Bermuda), L.P. (“CSFB Bermuda”), (iv) 2,341,061 shares of our common stock held by Credit Suisse First Boston Equity Partners, L.P. (“CSFB-EP”), and (v) 2,263 shares of our common stock held by Credit Suisse First Boston U.S. Executive Advisors, L.P. (“CSFB U.S.”).  Credit Suisse First Boston Advisory Partners, LLC, or CSFB Advisory, manages the investments of CSFB-EP, CSFB Bermuda and CSFB U.S.  EMA Partners and EMA Private each must invest in and dispose of its portfolio securities simultaneously with CSFB-EP on a pro rata basis.  CFSB Advisory may be deemed to have dispositive and voting power over the shares held by CSFB-EP, CSFB Bermuda, CSFB U.S., EMA Partners and EMA Private.  Credit Suisse Group, through a wholly owned subsidiary, is a parent of CSFB Advisory, and may be deemed to have dispositive and voting power over the shares held by CSFB-EP, CSFB Bermuda, CSFB U.S., EMA Partners and EMA Private.  Credit Suisse Group disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by such investment partnerships.  The address of Credit Suisse First Boston and its affiliates is Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010.

(8)
Includes (i) 1,077,262 shares of our common stock and 305,314 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Deerfield Special Situations Fund International, Ltd.,   and (ii) 587,748 shares of our common stock and 177,778 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P.  James Flynn, investment manager of each of Deerfield International Limited, Deerfield Partners, L.P., Deerfield Special Situations Fund International, Ltd. and Deerfield Special Situations Fund, L.P. has dispositive and voting power over the shares owned by these funds. All such warrants are immediately exercisable.  Mr. Flynn disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The address of Deerfield and its affiliates is 780 Third Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

(9)
Fidelity Management & Research Company (“Fidelity”), a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC (“FMR”) and an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is the beneficial owner of 3,156,200 shares of our common stock as a result of acting as investment adviser to various investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).  The ownership of one investment company, Fidelity Growth Company Fund (“Fidelity”), amounted to 3,156,200 shares of the common stock outstanding.  Edward C. Johnson 3d and FMR, through its control of Fidelity and the funds, each has sole power to dispose of the 3,156,200 shares owned by the funds. Members of the family of Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR, are the predominant owners, directly or through trusts, of shares of Series B voting common stock of FMR, representing approximately 49% of the voting power of FMR. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders have entered into a shareholders’ voting agreement under which all shares of Series B voting common stock will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of shares of Series B voting common stock. Accordingly, through their ownership of voting common stock and the execution of the shareholders’ voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the Investment Company Act, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR.  Neither FMR nor Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR, has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the funds, which power resides with the funds’ boards of trustees.  Fidelity carries out the voting of the shares under written guidelines established by the Funds’ Board of Trustees.   The address of Fidelity is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

(10)
Includes 666,333 shares of our  Series A preferred stock and 6,663,330 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding owned by Growth Equity Opportunities Fund, LLC (“GEO”).  The sole member of GEO is New Enterprise Associates 12, Limited Partnership (“NEA 12”). NEA Partners 12, Limited Partnership (“NEA Partners 12”), is the general partner of NEA 12 and NEA 12 GP, LLC (“NEA 12 GP”), and Michael James Barrett, Peter J. Barris , Forest Baskett, Ryan D. Drant, Patrick J. Kerins, Krishna Kolluri, C. Richard Kramlich, Charles M. Linehan, Charles W. Newhall III, Mark W. Perry, Scott D. Sandell and Eugene A. Trainor III (collectively, the “Managers”) are the individual managers of NEA 12 GP, GEO, NEA 12, NEA Partners 12 and NEA 12 GP.  Each of the above named entities and persons, except GEO, disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein, if any.  The address for GEO is 119 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

(11)
Includes (i) 1,000,000 shares of our common stock, 139,930 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 1,399,300 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding owned by Nexus Gemini, L.P. (“Gemini”), (ii) 508,051 shares of our common stock owned by Merlin Nexus II L.P. (“Nexus II”) and (iii) 199,900 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 1,999,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding owned by Merlin Nexus III, L.P. (“Nexus III”). Merlin BioMed Private Equity Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merlin”), is the investment adviser to Gemini, Nexus II and Nexus III.  Dominique Semon is the controlling principal and chief investment officer of Merlin.  Merlin and Mr. Semon share voting power and dispositive power over the shares held by Gemini, Nexus II and Nexus III.  The principal address for Merlin and it affiliates is 230 Park Avenue, Suite 928, New York, New York 10169.
 
 
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(12)
Includes 333,166 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 3,331,660 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding owned by ONC General Partner Limited (“ONC”).  The principal address for ONC is 26 New Street, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands JE4 8PP.

(13)
Includes (i) 467,380 shares of our common stock, 54,639 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 546,390 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Venrock Associates, (ii) 649,955 shares of our common stock, 78,627 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 786,270 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Venrock Associates II, L.P., and (iii) 24,409 shares of our common stock held by Venrock Entrepreneur’s Fund, L.P.  Dr. Evnin, Michael C. Brooks, Eric S. Copeland, Bryan E. Roberts, Ray A. Rothrock, Michael F. Tyrrell and Anthony Sun are the general partners of Venrock Associates and Venrock Associates II, L.P.  These individuals may be deemed to share dispositive and voting power over the shares which are, or may be, deemed to be beneficially owned by Venrock Associates and Venrock Associates II, L.P.  Each of these individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein.  The general partner of Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund, L.P. is Venrock Management LLC.  Dr. Evnin, Michael C. Brooks, Eric S. Copeland, Bryan E. Roberts, Ray A. Rothrock, Michael F. Tyrrell and Anthony Sun are the members of Venrock Management LLC.  These individuals may be deemed to share dispositive and voting power over the shares which are, or may be, deemed to be beneficially owned by Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund, L.P.  Dr. Evnin disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the above-referenced entities, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The principal address for the Venrock Associates and its affiliates is 530 Fifth Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10036.

(14)
Includes 199,900 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 1,999,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding owned by Vision Opportunity Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands company (the “Vision Fund”).  Vision Capital Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is the investment manager of the Vision Fund and Adam Benowitz is the Managing Member of the investment manager.  The Vision Fund directly beneficially owns all of the shares reported in this table.  Mr. Benowitz and the investment manager may be deemed to share with the Vision Fund voting and dispositive power with respect to such shares.  The principal address of the Vision Fund is c/o Citi Hedge Fund Services (Cayman) Limited, P.O. Box 1748, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, 5th Floor, Grand Cayman KY1-1109, Cayman Islands.

(15)
Includes (i) 4,183,939 shares of our common stock and 228,261 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Warburg, Pincus Equity Partners, L.P. (“WPEP”), (ii) 109,214 shares of our common stock and 12,077 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Warburg, Pincus Netherlands Equity Partners I, C.V. (“WP Netherlands I”), and (iii) 10,922 shares of our common stock and 1,208 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding held by Warburg, Pincus Netherlands Equity Partners III, C.V. (“WP Netherlands III”). Warburg Pincus Partners, LLC, a subsidiary of Warburg, Pincus & Co., is the sole general partner of WPEP, WP Netherlands I and WP Netherlands III.  Warburg Pincus LLC manages WPEP, WP Netherlands I and WP Netherlands III.  Mr. Leff is a Partner of Warburg Pincus & Co. and a Member and Managing Director of Warburg Pincus LLC.  Charles R. Kaye and Joseph P. Landy are Managing General Partners of Warburg, Pincus & Co. and Managing Members and Co-Presidents of Warburg Pincus LLC.  Messrs. Kay, Landy and Leff may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in an indeterminate portion of the shares held by the Warburg Pincus entities.  Each of these individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The address of Warburg Pincus and its affiliates is 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

(16)
Includes 11,765 shares of our common stock held by family members of  Dr. Young.  Dr. Young disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  Also includes options held by Dr. Young to purchase 156,873 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.

(17)
Includes options held by Mr. Swisher to purchase 615,941 shares of our common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.  Also includes 13,326 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 133,260 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding that are held in the Swisher Revocable Trust for which Mr. Swisher is the trustee.

(18)
Includes options held by Mr. Bjerkholt to purchase 273,187 shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.  Also includes 6,663 shares of our Series A preferred stock and 66,630 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding that are held in the Bjerkholt/Hahn Family Trust for which Mr. Bjerkholt is the trustee.

(19)
Includes options held by Ms. Pierce to purchase 145,156 shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.

(20)
Includes options held by Dr. Adelman to purchase 258,896 shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.
 
 
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(21)
Includes options held by Dr. McDowell to purchase 162,878 shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.

(22)
Includes options held by Mr. Fust to purchase 60,000 shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.

(23)
Includes options held by Dr. Pearce to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.

(24)
Includes options held by Dr. Stump to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2009.

(25)
Includes the shares of our common stock, Series A preferred stock and shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding detailed in Note (4) above held by the entities affiliated with BCC.  Mr. Misfeldt is a partner of BCC.  BCC is the manager of Management V.  Management V, the general partner of Fund V and Co-Investment V, has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the securities held by Fund V and Co-Investment V.  BCC, as the manager of Management V, is also an advisor to Fund V and Co-Investment V and has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the securities held by Fund V and Co-Investment V. The address for Mr. Misfeldt is c/o Bay City Capital, 750 Battery Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, California 94111.

(26)
Includes the shares of common stock, Series A preferred stock and shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding detailed in Note (3) above held by the entities affiliated with Alta Partners.  Mr. Hurwitz is a principal of Alta Partners III, Inc., one of the managing directors of Alta BioPharma Management III, LLC, and a manager of Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners III, LLC.  He may be deemed to share dispositve and voting power over the shares held by the Alta Funds.  Mr. Hurwitz disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The address of Mr. Hurwitz is c/o Alta Partners III, Inc., One Embarcadero Center, 37th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111.
 
 
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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
 
   
(A)
   
(B)
   
(C)
 
Plan Category
 
Number of Securities
to be Issued
upon Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
   
Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column A)
 
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders (1)
    4,193,894
(2)
  $ 3.48       2,373,569
(3)
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders (4)
    457,061       3.05       67,939  
     Total:
    4,650,955     $ 3.44       2,441,508  
 

(1)
Includes our 1998 Stock Plan, or 1998 Plan, 2001 Stock Plan, or 2001 Plan, 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan, or 2005 Plan, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP.
 
(2)
Includes (i) 1,018,642 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted under our 1998 Plan, all of which were exercisable as of December 31, 2008, (ii) 148,304 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted under our 2001 Plan, all of which were exercisable as of December 31, 2008, and (iii) 3,026,948 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted under our 2005 Plan, 1,833,135 of which were exercisable as of December 31, 2008. Excludes purchase rights currently accruing under the ESPP. Offering periods under the ESPP are 12-month periods, which are comprised of two six-month purchase periods. Eligible employees may purchase shares of common stock at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the common stock at the beginning of each offering period or the end of each semi-annual purchase period. Participation is limited to 20% of an employee’s eligible compensation, subject to limitations under the Code.
 
(3)
Includes (i) 2,121,116 shares of common stock available for issuance under our 2005 Plan and (ii) 252,453 shares of common stock available for issuance under our ESPP.  Beginning in 2006, the number of shares of common stock reserved under the 2005 Plan automatically increases on the first trading day each year by an amount equal to the least of: (i) four percent of our outstanding shares of common stock outstanding on such date, (ii) 1,082,352 shares, or (iii) a lesser amount determined by the Board of Directors. The number of shares of common stock reserved under our ESPP automatically increases on the first trading day each year by an amount equal to the least of: (i) 0.5% of our outstanding shares of common stock outstanding on such date, (ii) 135,294 shares, or (iii) a lesser amount determined by our Board of Directors.
 
(4)
Represents our 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan.
 
ITEM 13:   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
Other than as described below, there were no other related party transactions during 2008 with our executive officers, directors and beneficial owners of five percent or more of our securities.
 
Executive Severance Benefits Agreements
 
We have entered into executive severance benefits agreements and related amendments with our executive officers. See “ Executive Compensation and Related Information   for further discussion of these arrangements.
 
Stock Option Grants
 
We have granted stock options to our executive officers and our non-employee directors. See “ Executive Compensation and Related Information ” and “ Director Compensation ” for further discussion of these awards.
 
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
 
We have entered into indemnity agreements with our executive officers and directors which provide, among other things, that we will indemnify such executive officer or director, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for therein, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he or she may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he or she is or may be made a party by reason of his or her position as a director, executive officer or other agent of Sunesis, and otherwise to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and our bylaws. We also intend to execute these agreements with our future executive officers and directors.
 
 
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There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or executive officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or executive officer.
 
Consulting Agreements
 
We have entered into consulting agreements with two of our directors, Drs. Pearce and Stump. See “ Director Compensation ” for further discussion of these agreements.
 
Purchases of Our Securities
 
On March 31, 2009, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with accredited investors, including certain members of management, providing for a private placement of our securities, or the Private Placement. The Private Placement contemplates the sale of up to $15.0 million of units, consisting of Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase common stock in two closings, and a common stock closing of up to $28.5 million.  $10.0 million in units were sold at the initial closing on April 3, 2009.   The participation in the Private Placement by some of our executive officers was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of the Directors.
 
The shares of Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase common stock set forth in the table below were issued and sold in the initial closing of the Private Placement held on April 3, 2009 to entities affiliated with certain of our executive officers and entities affiliated with Alta Partners, one of our principal stockholders. We believe the terms obtained or consideration that we received in connection with the Private Placement were comparable to terms available or the amounts that would be received by us in arm’s-length transactions.
 
Investor
 
Executive Officer
Affiliation (if any)
   
Series A
Preferred
Stock
   
Warrants
   
Initial
Closing
Investment
Amount ($)
   
Total
Participation
Amount ($) (1)
 
Entities affiliated with Alta Partners
   
      333,165
(2)
    3,331,650
(3)
  $ 1,149,425     $ 5,000,000  
Swisher Revocable Trust
 
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr.
      13,326       133,260       45,978       200,000  
Bjerkholt / Hahn Family Trust
 
Eric H. Bjerkholt
      6,663       66,630       22,989       100,000  
Steven B. Ketchum, Ph.D.
 
Self
      6,663       66,630       22,989       100,000  
 

(1)
Reflects the total dollars that such entities and individual could invest in the aggregate in the Private Placement.
 
(2) 
Consists of (i) 305,152 shares purchased by Alta BioPharma Partners III, L.P., (ii) 20,493 shares purchased by Alta BioPharma Partners III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG, and (iii) 7,520 shares purchased by Alta EmbarcaderoBioPharma Partners III, LLC.  In addition, the entities affiliated with Alta Partners may participate in the subsequent closings of the Private Placement with an additional investment of up to approximately $3,850,000.
 
(3) 
Consists of warrants to purchase (i) 3,051,520 shares of common stock purchased by Alta BioPharma Partners III, L.P., (ii) 204,930 shares of common stock purchased by Alta BioPharma Partners III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG,and (iii) 75,200 shares of common stock purchased by Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners III, LLC.
 
In addition, entities affiliated with Bay City Capital LLC participated in the initial closing of the Private Placement with an investment in the amount of $2,298,851 and may participate in the subsequent closings of the Private Placement with an additional investment of up to approximately $7,700,000. In connection with and immediately subsequent to the Private Placement, affiliates of each of Alta Partners and Bay City Capital were appointed to our Board of Directors. The director on our Board of Directors designated by Alta Partners is Edward Hurwitz, a director of Alta Partners, and the director designated by Bay City Capital is Dayton Misfeldt, an investment partner of Bay City Capital. See “ Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management ” for more information regarding the holdings of each of these individuals and entities.
 
Investor Rights Agreements
 
Eighth Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement
 
We have entered into an Eighth Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated August 30, 2004 and as subsequently amended, with the prior holders of our convertible preferred stock and certain holders of warrants to purchase convertible preferred stock, including entities with which certain of our directors are affiliated. As of December 31, 2008, the holders of 4,304,075 shares of our common stock and 241,546 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants are entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration of their shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of such agreement. These registration rights were waived with respect to the issuance of our securities contemplated by the Private Placement. All registration rights under this agreement will terminate on or about May 4, 2009.
 
 
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Investor Rights Agreement
 
In connection with the initial closing of the Private Placement, we entered into an Investor Rights Agreement on April 3, 2009 with the investors in the Private Placement, pursuant to which we granted to the investors certain registration rights with respect to the securities issued and sold pursuant to the Private Placement. As of April 10, 2009, the holders of  2,898,544 shares of our preferred stock and 28,985,440 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants are entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration of their shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of such agreement.

Pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, we also granted to the investors certain rights of first refusal with respect to certain future issuances of our securities, including as part of a future equity financing, subject to customary exclusions. If we determine to issue any such securities not subject to such exceptions, then we must provide notice and an offer to sell the securities to the purchasing stockholders on the same terms as we propose to sell such securities to other investors a pro rata amount of such securities, based on such investors’ respective percentage ownership of our outstanding common stock, calculated as if all shares of Series A preferred stock (including any dividends thereon) had been converted into shares of common stock immediately following the original issuance of our Series A preferred stock.

The Investor Rights Agreement also includes an agreement between the parties with respect to the size and composition of our board of directors. Specifically, following the initial closing, the size of our board of directors was set at eight members, and the holders of a majority of the Series A preferred stock have the right to designate, and we are required to nominate, three members to our board of directors.  Alta BioPharma Partners III, L.P. (“Alta”), Bay City Capital LLC (“Bay City Capital”) and Growth Equity Opportunities Fund, LLC (“GEO”), together with their respective affiliates, each have the right to designate one such investor designee. As a result, our Board of Directors elected Messrs. Hurwitz and Misfeldt to our Board of Directors on April 3, 2009 as designees of Alta and Bay City Capital, respectively. To date, GEO has not exercised its right to designate a director for election to our Board of Directors, but may exercise such right in the future subject to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement.  Following the earlier to occur of (a) the second closing of the Private Placement, (b) the common equity closing of the Private Placement or (c) the closing of a qualifying alternative common stock financing, provided the investors exercise their preemptive rights and beneficially own greater than a majority of our voting stock as of such applicable closing, the size of our Board of Directors would be increased to nine members pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, and the holders of a majority of our Series A preferred stock would be entitled to designate, and we would be required to nominate, five members to our Board of Directors.  Alta, Bay City Capital and GEO, together with their respective affiliates, would each have the right to designate one such investor designee.
 
INDEPENDENCE OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
The laws and rules governing public companies and The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, or NASDAQ, listing requirements obligate our Board of Directors to affirmatively determine the independence of its members. The Board of Directors consults with our corporate counsel to ensure that the Board’s determinations are consistent with relevant securities and other laws and regulations regarding the definition of “independent,” including those set forth in NASDAQ listing requirements, as in effect from time to time.
 
Consistent with these considerations, after a review of all relevant transactions or relationships between each director, or any of his family members, and Sunesis, our senior management and our independent registered public accounting firm, the Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that Drs. Pearce and Stump and Messrs. Fust, Hurwitz and Misfeldt, a majority of our Board of Directors, are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable NASDAQ listing requirements. In addition, the Board has affirmatively determined that Anthony B. Evnin, Ph.D., Stephen P.A. Fodor, Ph.D, Steven D. Goldby and Jonathan S. Leff were independent directors within the meaning of the applicable NASDAQ requirements until their respective resignations from the Board.
 
In making its determination of independence, the Board considered our consulting relationships with Drs. Pearce and Stump and the relationships of Messrs. Hurwitz and Misfeldt with certain of our principal stockholders, which are described under   Related Party Transactions ” above. In 2008, Drs. Pearce and Stump each received consulting fees of $6,563 pursuant to these arrangements, which is significantly below the $120,000 threshold contained in the NASDAQ listing requirements. Our Board of Directors does not believe that these stockholder relationships or these consulting arrangements interfere with Dr. Pearce, Dr. Stump, or Messrs. Hurtwitz and Misfeldt's exercise of independent judgment in carrying out their responsibilities as directors.
 
 
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ITEM 14:   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
 
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
The following is a summary of the aggregate fees billed to us by Ernst & Young LLP for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 for each of the following categories of professional services:
 
   
Year Ended
 
Fee Category
 
December 31,
2008
   
December 31,
2007
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Audit Fees (1)
  $ 320,872     $ 519,647  
Audit-Related Fees
           
Tax Fees
           
Other Fees (2)
    1,320       1,500  
Total Fees:
  $ 322,192     $ 521,147  
 

 
(1)
Audit fees for 2008 and 2007 included the aggregate fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our financial statements, review of our interim financial statements, review of our registration statements on Forms S-3 and Form S-8, an opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the issuance of comfort letters and consents.
 
(2)
Other fees in 2008 and 2007 were a subscription for Ernst & Young’s online research services tool.
 
All of the fees described above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
 
Pre-approval Policies
 
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. This policy generally provides that we will not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by the Audit Committee or the engagement is entered into pursuant to pre-approval procedures established by the Audit Committee, including policies for delegating authority to a member of the Audit Committee. Any service that is approved pursuant to a delegation of authority to a member of the Audit Committee must be reported to the full Audit Committee at a subsequent meeting.
 
The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of the services other than audit services by Ernst & Young LLP as described above is compatible with maintaining their independence.
 
PART IV
 
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A or as part of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009 :
 
1.
Financial Statements:
 
See Item 8 of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009.
 
2.
Financial Statement Schedules:
 
See Item 8 of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009. All other schedules were omitted because they are inapplicable or the requested information is shown in the consolidated financial statements of the registrant or related notes thereto.
 
 
40

 

3.
Exhibits:
 
A list of exhibits filed with this report or incorporated herein by reference is found in the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this report.
 
 
41

 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on April 30, 2009.
 
   
SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
     
   
By:
 
/s/ Eric H. Bjerkholt
       
Eric H. Bjerkholt
       
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
       
and Finance, Chief Financial Officer
 
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 thereunto duly authorized.
 
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
         
*
 
Chairman of the Board
 
April 30, 2009
James W. Young, Ph.D.
       
         
/s/ Daniel N. Swisher, Jr.
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and
 
April 30, 2009
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr.
 
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
   
         
/s/ Eric H. Bjerkholt
 
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
 
April 30, 2009
Eric H. Bjerkholt
 
and Finance, Chief Financial Officer
   
   
(Principal Financial Officer
   
   
and Principal Accounting Officer)
   
         
*
 
Director
 
April 30, 2009
Matthew K. Fust
       
         
*
 
Director
 
April 30, 2009
Edward Hurwitz
       
         
*
 
Director
 
April 30, 2009
Dayton Misfeldt
       
         
*
 
Director
 
April 30, 2009
Homer L. Pearce, Ph.D.
       
         
*
 
Director
 
April 30, 2009
David C. Stump, M.D.
       

*By:
        /s/ Eric H. Bjerkholt
 
              Eric H. Bjerkholt
 
              Attorney-in-Fact
 
 
42

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
 
Description
3.1
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Delaware (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on May 23, 2007).
3.2
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2007).
3.3
 
Certificate of Designation of the Series A preferred stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2009).
4.1
 
Specimen Common Stock certificate of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
4.2
 
Investor Rights Agreement, dated April 3, 2009, by and among the Registrant and the purchasers identified on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2009).
10.1
*
1998 Stock Plan and Form of Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.2
*
2001 Stock Plan and Form of Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
10.3
*
2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as amended.
10.4
*
Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Enrollment Form (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2006).
10.5
*
Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
10.6
*
Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005, by and between the Registrant and James A. Wells (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on September 1, 2005).
10.7
 
Eighth Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated August 30, 2004, by and among the Registrant and certain stockholders and warrant holders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
10.8
*
Warrant, dated April 9, 1998, issued to James A. Wells (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
10.9
 
Warrant, dated December 1, 1999, issued to Three Crowns Capital (Bermuda) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
10.10
 
Warrant, dated July 7, 2000, issued to Broadview Ltd. Limited and Amendment No. 1 thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
10.11
 
Warrant, dated June 11, 2003, issued to General Electric Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on December 23, 2004).
10.12
 
Warrant, dated June 21, 2004, issued to General Electric Capital Corporation and Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated December 16, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on April 29, 2005).
10.13
 
Agreement for Termination of Lease and Voluntary Surrender of Premises, dated as of January 15, 2009, by and between the Registrant and ARE-Technology Center, SSF, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
10.14
Collaboration Agreement, dated December 18, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Biogen Idec MA Inc. (successor to Biogen Inc.) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.15
Amendment No. 1 to Collaboration Agreement, dated June 17, 2003, between the Registrant and Biogen Idec MA Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.16
Amendment No. 2 to Collaboration Agreement, dated September 17, 2003, between the Registrant and Biogen Idec MA Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
 
 
43

 


 10.17
Collaboration Agreement, dated August 25, 2004, between the Registrant and Biogen Idec, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on April 29, 2005).
10.18
† 
Collaboration Agreement, dated May 3, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.19
Amendment to Collaboration Agreement, dated December 15, 2002, between the Registrant and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.20
 
Notice of Extension and Second Amendment to Collaboration Agreement, dated December 15, 2003, between the Registrant and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.21
Third Amendment to Collaboration Agreement, dated December 22, 2004, between the Registrant and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on April 29, 2005).
10.22
License and Collaboration Agreement, dated February 12, 2003, by and between the Registrant and Merck & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.23
License and Research Collaboration Agreement, dated July 22, 2004, by and between the Registrant and Merck & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on January 27, 2005).
10.24
License Agreement, dated October 14, 2003, by and between the Registrant and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on April 29, 2005).
10.25
License Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2005, between the Registrant and Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on September 1, 2005).
10.26
 
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2005, between the Registrant and Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on April 29, 2005).
10.27
 
Amendment to Eighth Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2005, among the Registrant and investors listed on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on April 29, 2005).
10.28
 
Amendment to Eighth Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2005, among the Registrant and the investors listed on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on September 1, 2005).
10.29
 
Warrant, dated August 25, 2005, issued to Horizon Technology Funding Company II LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on September 1, 2005).
10.30
 
Warrant, dated August 25, 2005, issued to Horizon Technology Funding Company III LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on September 1, 2005).
10.31
 
Warrant, dated August 25, 2005, issued to Oxford Finance Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC File No. 333-121646) filed on September 1, 2005).
10.32
Amended and Restated 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan.
10.33
 
Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2006, among the Registrant and the investors listed on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 22, 2006).
    10.34
 
Form of Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 22, 2006).
10.35
Sublease, dated December 22, 2006, by and between the Registrant and Oncology Therapeutics Network Joint Venture, L.P., for office space located at 395 Oyster Point Boulevard, South San Francisco, California (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 17, 2008).
 
44

 
10.36
Amendment, dated December 21, 2005, to the Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005, by and between the Registrant and James A. Wells, Ph. D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2007).
10.37
*
Consulting Agreement, dated August 17, 2006, by and between the Registrant and Homer L. Pearce, Ph. D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2007).
10.38
*
Consulting Agreement, dated September 2, 2006, by and between the Registrant and David C. Stump, M. D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2007).
10.39
*
Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.52 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 19, 2007).
10.40
*
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2008 Executive Bonus Program (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008).
10.41
*
Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the Amended and Restated 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.71 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2008).
10.42
*
Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement, dated December 23, 2008, by and between the Registrant and Steven B. Ketchum, Ph.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
10.43
*
Second Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement, dated December 24, 2008, by and between Registrant and Daniel N. Swisher, Jr. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
10.44
*
Second Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement, dated December 24, 2008, by and between Registrant and Eric H. Bjerkholt  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
10.45
*
Second Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement, dated December 23, 2008, by and between Registrant and James W. Young, Ph.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
10.46
*
Second Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement, dated December 24, 2008, by and between Registrant and Valerie L. Pierce  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
10.47
*
Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement, dated May 27, 2008, by and between Registrant and Daniel C. Adelman, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.63 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008).
10.48
*
Amended and Restated Executive Severance Benefits Agreement, dated May 28, 2008, by and between Registrant and Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.64 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008).
10.49
*
Release Agreement, dated June 6, 2008, by and between Registrant and Daniel C. Adelman, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.65 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008).
10.50
*
Release Agreement, dated August 4, 2008, by and between Registrant and Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.66 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008).
10.51
*
Acceptance of Option Amendment, dated June 6, 2008, by and between Registrant and Daniel C. Adelman, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008).
10.52
*
Acceptance of Option Amendment, dated June 27, 2008, by and between Registrant and Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008).
10.53
*
Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement for Automatic Grants to Outside Directors under the 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.69 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2008).
10.54
*
Consulting Agreement, dated August 5, 2008, and First Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, by and between Registrant and Robert S. McDowell, Ph.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.70 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2008).
10.55
 
Intellectual Property Assignment and License Termination Agreement by and between the Registrant and SARcode Corporation, dated March 6, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.72 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 10, 2009).
 
45

 
  10.56
 
Form of Amended and Restated Convertible Secured Promissory Notes issued by SARcode Corporation to the Registrant, dated March 6, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.73 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 10, 2009).
10.57
 
Summary of Non-Employee Director Cash Compensation Arrangements  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
10.58
† 
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated March 31, 2009, by and among the Registrant and the purchasers identified on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2009).
10.59
 
Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2009).
21.1
 
Subsidiaries of the Registrant  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
23.1
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 23.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
24.1
 
Power of Attorney (included in the signature page to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 31.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
31.2
   
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 31.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
31.3
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
31.4
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
32.1
#
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Exchange Act (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 32.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on April 3, 2009).
 

*
Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
Portions of the exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The omitted informationhas been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
  #
In accordance with Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K and SEC Release Nos. 33-8238 and 34-47986, Final Rule; Management’s Reports on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Certification of Disclosure in Exchange Act Periodic Reports, the Certification furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto is deemed to accompany this Form 10-K and will not be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. Such certification will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.
 
 
46

 
EXHIBIT 10.3

SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
(Amended and Restated June 27, 2007)
(Amended and Restated April 3, 2009)

ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
 
1.1   General . The purpose of the Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “ Plan ”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Company ”) by linking the personal interests of the members of the Board, employees, consultants, officers, and executives of the Company and any Subsidiary, to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members of the Board, employees, consultants, officers, and executives of the Company upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.
 
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
 
2.1   Definitions . The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)  “ Award ” means an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Stock Appreciation Right award, a Performance Share award, a Dividend Equivalents award, a Stock Payment award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, or a Performance-Based Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.
 
(b)  “ Award Agreement ” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
 
(c)  “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
(d)  “ Cause ” includes one or more of the following: (i) the commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by a Participant that has a material adverse impact on the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof; (ii) a conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony by a Participant; (iii) any unauthorized use or disclosure by a Participant of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof that has a material adverse impact on any such entity or (iv) any other intentional misconduct by a Participant that has a material adverse impact on the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof. However, if the term or concept of “Cause” has been defined in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof, then “Cause” shall have the definition set forth in such agreement. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof to discharge or dismiss any Participant in the service of such entity for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of this Plan, to constitute grounds for termination for Cause.
 
 
1

 
(e)  “ Change of Control ” means and includes each of the following:
 
(1)  the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any “person” or “group” (as those terms are defined in Sections 3(a)(9), 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) of “beneficial ownership” (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“voting securities”) of the Company that represent 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities, other than:
 
(A)  an acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any person controlled by the Company or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any person controlled by the Company, or
 
(B)  an acquisition of voting securities by the Company or a corporation owned, directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the stock of the Company;
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following event shall not constitute an “acquisition” by any person or group for purposes of this subsection (e): an acquisition of the Company’s securities by the Company that causes the Company’s voting securities beneficially owned by a person or group to represent 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;   provided, however,   that if a person or group shall become the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities by reason of share acquisitions by the Company as described above and shall, after such share acquisitions by the Company, become the beneficial owner of any additional voting securities of the Company, then such acquisition shall constitute a Change of Control; or
 
(2)  during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clauses (1) or (3) of this subsection (e)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
 
(3)  the consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:
 
 
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(A)  which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “ Successor Entity ”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and 
 
(B)  after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity;   provided, however,   that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this clause (B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
 
(4)  the Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 
The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change of Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change of Control and any incidental matters relating thereto.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control if it is a transaction effected primarily for the purpose of financing the Company with cash, whether such transaction is effectuated by a merger, equity financing or otherwise (unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion).
 
(f)  “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
(g)  “ Committee ” means the committee of the Board described in Article 12.
 
(h)  “ Covered Employee ” means an Employee who is, or could be, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
(i)  “ Disability   means, for purposes of this Plan, that the Participant qualifies to receive long-term disability payments under the Company’s long-term disability insurance program, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
(j)  “ Dividend Equivalents ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Stock) of dividends paid on Stock.
 
(k)  “ Employee ” means any officer or other employee (as defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
(l)  “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
 
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(m)  “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean, as of any date, the value of Stock determined as follows:
 
(1)  If the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for such date, or if no bids or sales were reported for such date, then the closing sales price (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) on the trading date immediately prior to such date during which a bid or sale occurred, in ease case, as reported in   The Wall Street Journal   or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; 
 
(2)  If the Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Stock on the date prior to the date of determination as reported in   The Wall Street Journal   or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or
 
(3)  In the absence of an established market for the Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.
 
(n)  “ Good Reason ” means a Participant’s voluntary resignation following any one or more of the following that is effected without the Participant’s written consent: (i) a change in his or her position following the Change of Control that materially reduces his or her duties or responsibilities, (ii) a reduction in his or her base salary following a Change of Control, unless the base salaries of all similarly situated individuals are similarly reduced, or (iii) a relocation of such Participant’s place of employment following a Change of Control by more than fifty (50) miles from such Participant’s place of employment prior to a Change of Control. However, if the term or concept of “Good Reason” has been defined in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof, then “Good Reason” shall have the definition set forth in such agreement.
 
(o)  “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
 
(p)  “ Non-Employee Director ” means a member of the Board who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board.
 
(q)  “ Non-Qualified Stock Option ” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
 
(r)  “ Option ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 5 of the Plan to purchase a specified number of shares of Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
 
(s)  “ Participant ” means a person who, as a member of the Board, consultant to the Company or any Subsidiary or Employee, has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
 

 
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(t)  “ Performance-Based Award ” means an Award granted to selected Covered Employees pursuant to Articles 6 and 8, but which is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Article 9. All Performance-Based Awards are intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.
 
(u)  “ Performance Criteria ” means the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Participant for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: net earnings (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), net losses, sales or revenue, operating earnings, operating cash flow, return on net assets, return on stockholders’ equity, return on assets, return on capital, stockholder returns, gross or net profit margin, earnings per share, price per share of Stock, and market share, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group. The Committee shall, within the time prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period for such Participant. 
 
(v)  “ Performance Goals ” means, for a Performance Period, the goals established in writing by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business unit, or an individual. The Committee, in its discretion, may, within the time prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, adjust or modify the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Period in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event, or development, or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions.
 
(w)  “ Performance Period ” means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance-Based Award.
 
(x)  “ Performance Share ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8, to receive cash, Stock, or other Awards, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals established by the Committee.
 
(y)  “ Plan ” means this Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
(z)  “ Public Trading Date ” means the first date upon which Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

 
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(aa)  “ Qualified Performance-Based Compensation ” means any compensation that is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
 
(bb)  “ Restricted Stock ” means Stock awarded to a Participant pursuant to Article 6 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.
 
(cc)  “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right to receive a specified number of shares of Stock during specified time periods pursuant to Article 8. 
 
(dd)  “ Stock ” means the common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 11.
 
(ee)  “ Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR ” means a right granted pursuant to Article 7 to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR was granted as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
(ff)  “ Stock Payment ” means (a) a payment in the form of shares of Stock, or (b) an option or other right to purchase shares of Stock, as part of any bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, made in lieu of all or any portion of the compensation, granted pursuant to Article 8.
 
(gg)  “ Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
 
ARTICLE 3
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
 
3.1   Number of Shares .
 
(a) Subject to Article 11, the aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be one million seven hundred seventy-nine thousand three hundred ninety-six (1,779,396) shares, plus the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each option granted under the Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1998 Stock Plan and the Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2001 Stock Plan (the “ Existing Plans ”) before the Public Trading Date that expire or are canceled without having been exercised in full or shares of Stock that are repurchased by the Company pursuant to the terms of such options.   In addition to the foregoing, subject to Article 11, commencing on the first day of the Company’s 2006 fiscal year and on the first day of each fiscal year thereafter during the term of the Plan, the number of shares of Stock which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be increased by that number of shares of Stock equal to the least of (i) four percent (4%) of the Company’s outstanding shares of Stock on such date, (ii) one million eighty-two thousand three hundred fifty-two (1,082,352) shares of Stock or (iii) a lesser amount determined by the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan during the term of the Plan is eleven million two hundred ninety-four thousand one hundred twelve (11,294,112) shares, subject to Article 11. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the Plan.
 
 
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(b) To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any shares of Stock subject to the Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. Additionally, any shares of Stock tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, shares of Stock issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be counted against shares of Stock available for grant pursuant to this Plan. 
 
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1 no shares of Stock may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422.
 
3.2   Stock Distributed . Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.
 
3.3   Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards . Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Article 11, the maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one Participant during a calendar year shall be two hundred thirty-five thousand two hundred ninety-four (235,294).
 
ARTICLE 4
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
 
4.1   Eligibility .
 
(a)  General. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include Employees, consultants to the Company or any Subsidiary and all members of the Board, as determined by the Committee.
 
(b)  Foreign Participants. In order to assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed in foreign countries, the Committee may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose;   provided, however , that no such supplements, amendments, restatements, or alternative versions shall increase the share limitations contained in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the Plan.

 
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4.2   Actual Participation . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to this Plan.
 
ARTICLE 5
STOCK OPTIONS
 
5.1   General . The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
 
(a)  Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement;   provided   that the exercise price for any Option shall not be less than par value of a share of Stock on the date of grant. 
 
(b)  Time And Conditions Of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part,   provided   that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years, and provided further,   that in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such Option shall be exercisable for one year after the date of the Participant’s death, provided that this one (1) year period does not exceed the Option’s ten (10) year term, as described above. The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.
 
(c)  Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without limitation, cash, promissory note bearing interest at no less than such rate as shall then preclude the imputation of interest under the Code, shares of Stock held for longer than six months having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, or other property acceptable to the Committee (including through the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price,   provided   that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale), and the methods by which shares of Stock shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a member of the Board or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option in any method which would violate Section 13(k).
 
(d)  Evidence Of Grant. All Options shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
 
 
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5.2   Incentive Stock Options . Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Employees who are employed by the Company or any subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Code Section 424(f) and the terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to the Plan must comply with the following additional provisions of this Section 5.2:
 
(a)  Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock shall be set by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
 
(b)  Expiration Of Option. An Incentive Stock Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:
 
(1)  Ten years from the date it is granted, unless an earlier time is set in the Award Agreement.
 
(2)  One year after the date of the Participant’s termination of employment or service on account of Disability or death, unless in the case of death a shorter or longer period is designated in the Award Agreement. Upon the Participant’s Disability or death, any Incentive Stock Options exercisable at the Participant’s Disability or death may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or representatives, by the person or persons entitled to do so pursuant to the Participant’s last will and testament, or, if the Participant fails to make testamentary disposition of such Incentive Stock Option or dies intestate, by the person or persons entitled to receive the Incentive Stock Option pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
 
(c)  Individual Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000.00 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.
 
(d)  Ten Percent Owners. An Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent and subsidiary corporations, within the meaning of Code Section 424(e) and (f)) only if such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more than five years from the date of grant.
 
(e)  Transfer Restriction. The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares of Stock acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within (1) two years from the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option or (2) one year after the transfer of such shares of Stock to the Participant.
 
(f)  Expiration Of Incentive Stock Options. No Award of an Incentive Stock Option may be made pursuant to this Plan after the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 13.2).
 

 
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(g)  Right To Exercise. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.
 
5.3   Granting Of Options To Independent Directors .
 
(a)  During the term of the Plan, a person who first becomes a Non-Employee Director after the Public Trading Date automatically shall be granted an Option to purchase 30,000 shares of Stock (an “Initial Option”). Following the Public Trading Date and commencing on the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of the stockholders, Non-Employee Directors automatically shall be granted an Option to purchase 10,000 shares of Stock effective as of each annual meeting of the stockholders (an “Annual Option”);   provided , he or she continues to serve as member of the Board as of such date. For the avoidance of doubt, an Non-Employee Director elected for the first time to the Board at an annual meeting of stockholders shall only receive an Initial Option in connection with such election, and shall not receive an Annual Option on the date following such meeting as well. Members of the Board who are employees of the Company who subsequently retire from the Company and remain on the Board will not receive an Initial Option grant but to the extent they are otherwise eligible, will receive, at each annual meeting of stockholders after his or her retirement from employment with the Company, an Annual Option grant. 
 
(b)  Options granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be Non-Qualifed Stock Options. The per Share price of each Option granted to an Non-Employee Director shall equal 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted. Initial Options shall become vested and exercisable in two (2) equal annual installments over the two (2) year period commencing with the date of grant. Annual Options shall become vested and exercisable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments over the twelve (12) month period following their date of grant. The term of each Option granted to an Non-Employee Director shall be ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted. Upon a Director’s termination of membership on the Board for any reason, his or her Option granted under Section 5.3(a) shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following his or her termination of membership on the Board (or such longer period as the Board may determine in its discretion on or after the date of grant of such Option). Unless otherwise determined by the Board on or after the date of grant of such Option, no portion of an Option granted under Section 5.3(a) which is unexercisable at the time of an Non-Employee Director’s termination of membership on the Board shall thereafter become exercisable.
 
ARTICLE 6
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
 
6.1   Grant of Restricted Stock . The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock to any Participant selected by the Committee in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by a written Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
 
6.2   Issuance and Restrictions . Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.
 
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6.3   Forfeiture . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited;   provided, however , that the Committee may provide in any Restricted Stock Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock.
 
6.4   Certificates For Restricted Stock . Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse. 
 
ARTICLE 7
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
7.1  Grant of Stock Appreciation   Rights .   A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Participant selected by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (a) in connection and simultaneously with the grant of an Option, (b) with respect to a previously granted Option, or (c) independent of an Option. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
 
7.2  Coupled Stock Appreciation Rights .
 
(a) A Coupled Stock Appreciation Right (“ CSAR ”) shall be related to a particular Option and shall be exercisable only when and to the extent the related Option is exercisable.
 
(b) A CSAR may be granted to a Participant for no more than the number of shares subject to the simultaneously or previously granted Option to which it is coupled.
 
(c) A CSAR shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Option pursuant to the Plan) to surrender to the Company unexercised a portion of the Option to which the CSAR relates (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the Option exercise price from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the CSAR by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the CSAR shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose.
 
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7.3  Independent Stock Appreciation Rights .
 
(a) An Independent Stock Appreciation Right (“ ISAR ”) shall be unrelated to any Option and shall have a term set by the Committee. An ISAR shall be exercisable in such installments as the Committee may determine. An ISAR shall cover such number of shares of Stock as the Committee may determine. The exercise price per share of Stock subject to each ISAR shall be set by the Committee;   provided, however , that, the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that the ISAR may be exercised subsequent to a termination of employment or service, as applicable, or following a Change of Control of the Company, or because of the Participant’s retirement, death or disability, or otherwise.
 
(b) An ISAR shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the ISAR pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the ISAR (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of the ISAR from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the ISAR by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the ISAR shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose. 
 
7.4  Payment and Limitations on Exercise .
 
(a) Payment of the amounts determined under Section 7.2(c) and 7.3(b) above shall be in cash, in Stock (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.
 
(b) To the extent any payment under Section 7.2(c) or 7.3(b) is effected in Stock it shall be made subject to satisfaction of all provisions of Article 5 above pertaining to Options.

ARTICLE 8
OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS
 
8.1  Performance Share Awards .   Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Performance Share awards which may be denominated in a number of shares of Stock or in a dollar value of shares of Stock and which may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.
 
8.2  Dividend Equivalents .  
 
(a) Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on the shares of Stock that are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional shares of Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee.
 
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(b) Dividend Equivalents granted with respect to Options or SARs that are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be payable, with respect to pre-exercise periods, regardless of whether such Option or SAR is subsequently exercised.
 
8.3  Stock Payments .
 
Any Participant selected by the Committee may receive Stock Payments in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee. The number of shares shall be determined by the Committee and may be based upon the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, determined on the date such Stock Payment is made or on any date thereafter. 
 
8.4  Restricted Stock Units .  
 
Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted an award of Restricted Stock Units in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee. The number of Restricted Stock Units shall be determined by the Committee and may be linked to the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Unit award will not be issued until the Restricted Stock Unit award has vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule or performance criteria set by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant awarded Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Restricted Stock Units until such time as the Restricted Stock Units have vested and the Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units has been issued.
 
8.5  Term .
 
The term of any Award of Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payments or Restricted Stock Units shall be set by the Committee in its discretion.
 
8.6  Exercise or Purchase Price .
 
The Committee may establish the exercise or purchase price of any Award of Performance Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Stock Payments;   provided, however , that such price shall not be less than the par value of a share of Stock, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.
 
 
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8.7  Exercise Upon Termination of Employment or Service .   An Award of Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Restricted Stock Units and Stock Payments shall only be exercisable or payable while the Participant is an Employee, consultant to the Company or a member of the Board, as applicable; provided, however, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that an Award of Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payments or Restricted Stock Units may be exercised or paid subsequent to a termination of employment or service, as applicable, or following a Change of Control of the Company, or because of the Participant’s retirement, death or disability, or otherwise; provided, however, that any such provision with respect to Performance Shares shall be subject to the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code that apply to Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.
 
8.8  Form of Payment .
 
Payments with respect to any Awards granted under this Article 8 shall be made in cash, in Stock or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.
 
8.9  Award Agreement . All Awards under this Article 8 shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement.
 
ARTICLE 9
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS
 
9.1   Purpose . The purpose of this Article 9 is to provide the Committee the ability to qualify Awards other than Options and SARs and that are granted pursuant to Articles 6 and 8 as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation. If the Committee, in its discretion, decides to grant a Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee, the provisions of this Article 9 shall control over any contrary provision contained in Articles 6 or 8;   provided, however , that the Committee may in its discretion grant Awards to Covered Employees that are based on Performance Criteria or Performance Goals but that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 9. 
 
9.2   Applicability . This Article 9 shall apply only to those Covered Employees selected by the Committee to receive Performance-Based Awards. The designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive an Award for the period. Moreover, designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Covered Employee as a Participant in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one Covered Employee as a Participant shall not require designation of any other Covered Employees as a Participant in such period or in any other period.
 
9.3   Procedures With Respect to Performance-Based Awards . To the extent necessary to comply with the Qualified Performance-Based Compensation requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award granted under Articles 6 and 8 which may be granted to one or more Covered Employees, no later than ninety (90) days following the commencement of any fiscal year in question or any other designated fiscal period or period of service (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (i) designate one or more Covered Employees, (ii) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance Period, (iii) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period, and (iv) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned by a Covered Employee, the Committee shall have the right to reduce or eliminate (but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period.
 
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9.4   Payment of Performance-Based Awards . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on the day a Performance-Based Award for such Performance Period is paid to the Participant. Furthermore, a Participant shall be eligible to receive payment pursuant to a Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period only if the Performance Goals for such period are achieved. In determining the amount earned under a Performance-Based Award, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance-Based Award earned for the Performance Period, if in its sole and absolute discretion, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.
 
9.5   Additional Limitations . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, any Award which is granted to a Covered Employee and is intended to constitute Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code (including any amendment to Section 162(m) of the Code) or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for qualification as qualified performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, and the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements. 
 
ARTICLE 10
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
 
10.1   Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards . Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
 
10.2   Award Agreement . Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participant’s employment or service terminates, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.
 
10.3   Limits on Transfer . No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or a Subsidiary. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award shall be assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee by express provision in the Award or an amendment thereto may permit an Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option) to be transferred to, exercised by and paid to certain persons or entities related to the Participant, including but not limited to members of the Participant’s family, charitable institutions, or trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of the Participant’s family and/or charitable institutions, or to such other persons or entities as may be expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish. Any permitted transfer may be subject to the condition that the Committee receive evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes (or to a “blind trust” in connection with the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary to assume a position with a governmental, charitable, educational or similar non-profit institution) and on a basis consistent with the Company’s lawful issue of securities.
 
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10.4   Beneficiaries . Notwithstanding Section 10.3, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse as his beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee. 
 
10.5   Stock Certificates . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded. All Stock certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.
 
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ARTICLE 11
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 
11.1   Adjustments . In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Stock or the share price of the Stock, the Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3); (ii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (iii) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan. Any adjustment affecting an Award intended as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
11.2   Effect of a Change of Control When Awards Are Not Assumed . If a Change of Control occurs and a Participant’s Awards are not assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary and such successor does not substitute substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan, such Awards shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable, and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse. Upon, or in anticipation of, a Change of Control, the Committee may cause any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall give each Participant the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether an Award has been assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or whether such successor has substituted substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan in connection with a Change of Control. 
 
11.3   Effect of Change of Control When Awards Are Assumed; Termination Following Change of Control .
 
(a) In the event of a Change of Control where a Participant’s Awards are assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or such successor substitutes substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan, then fifty percent (50%) of such Participant’s unvested Awards shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable, and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse, immediately prior to such Change of Control.
 
(b) In the event of a Change of Control where a Participant’s Awards are assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or such successor substitutes substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan, if within twelve (12) months following such Change of Control (i) the Participant’s employment or service with the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary is terminated without Cause or (ii) such Participant voluntarily terminates such Participant’s employment or service with Good Reason, then such Participant’s remaining unvested Awards (including any substituted awards) shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable, and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards (including any substituted awards) shall lapse, on the date of termination. Such Awards (including any substituted awards) shall remain exercisable, as applicable, until the earlier of the expiration date of the Award or three (3) months following such Participant’s cessation of employment or service.
 
 
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11.4   Outstanding Awards - Certain Mergers . Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation), each Award outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities that a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have received in such merger or consolidation.
 
11.5   Outstanding Awards - Other Changes . In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Article 11, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
 
11.6   No Other Rights . Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award. 
 
ARTICLE 12
ADMINISTRATION
 
12.1   Committee . Unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee as set forth below, the Plan shall be administered by the Board. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, from and after the Public Trading Date, a Committee of the Board shall administer the Plan and the Committee shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board each of whom is both an “outside director,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, and a Non-Employee Director. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may (i) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not “outside directors,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code the authority to grant awards under the Plan to eligible persons who are either (1) not then “covered employees,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and are not expected to be “covered employees” at the time of recognition of income resulting from such award or (2) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code and/or (ii) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors, the authority to grant awards under the Plan to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and/or revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board. Vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board.
 
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12.2   Action by the Committee . A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by a majority 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 any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
 
12.3   Authority of Committee . Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
 
(a)  Designate Participants to receive Awards; 
 
(b)  Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
 
(c)  Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Stock to which an Award will relate;
 
(d)  Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any reload provision, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;   provided, however , that the Committee shall not have the authority to accelerate the vesting or waive the forfeiture of any Performance-Based Awards;
 
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(e)  Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
 
(f)  Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
 
(g)  Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
 
(h)  Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
 
(i)  Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement; and
 
(j)  Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.
 
12.4  Decisions Binding . The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
 
ARTICLE 13
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
 
13.1   Effective Date . The Plan is effective as the Public Trading Date; provided that the Plan has been approved by the Company’s stockholders prior to such date.
 
13.2   Expiration Date . The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to the Plan after, the earlier of the tenth anniversary of (i) the date this Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders or (ii) the date this Plan is approved by the Board (the “ Expiration Date ”). Any Awards that are outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement shall provide that it will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of the Award to which it relates. 
 
ARTICLE 14
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
 
14.1   Amendment, Modification, and Termination . With the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or modify the Plan;   provided, however , that (i) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, and (ii) shareholder approval is required for any amendment to the Plan that (A) increases the number of shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by Article 11), (B) permits the Committee to grant Options with an exercise price that is below Fair Market Value on the date of grant, or (C) permits the Committee to extend the exercise period for an Option beyond ten years from the date of grant.
 
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14.2   Awards Previously Granted . No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant.
 
ARTICLE 15
GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
15.1   No Rights to Awards . No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.
 
15.2   No Stockholders Rights . No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
 
15.3   Withholding . The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result of this Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of shares of Stock) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of shares of Stock which may be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award (or which may be repurchased from the Participant of such Award within six months after such shares of Stock were acquired by the Participant from the Company) in order to satisfy the Participant’s federal, state, local and foreign income and payroll tax liabilities with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of the Award shall be limited to the number of shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income. 
 
15.4   No Right to Employment or Services . Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
15.5   Unfunded Status of Awards . The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
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15.6   Indemnification . To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her,   provided   he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
 
15.7   Relationship to Other Benefits . No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
 
15.8   Expenses . The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
 
15.9   Titles and Headings . The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
 
15.10   Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.
 
15.11   Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule. 
 
15.12   Government And Other Regulations . The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any of the shares of Stock paid pursuant to the Plan. If the shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
 
15.13   Governing Law . The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT 10.32

 
SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
2006 EMPLOYMENT COMMENCEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
 
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON NOVEMBER 29, 2005
 
EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2006
 
(AMENDED AND RESTATED ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006,
DECEMBER 6, 2006, DECEMBER 5, 2007, DECEMBER 18, 2008 AND APRIL 3, 2009)
 
 
ARTICLE 1
 
PURPOSE
 
1.1           General.
 
(a)             Eligible Stock Award Recipients. Only Eligible Participants may receive Awards under the Plan.
 
(b)             General Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Company ”) by linking the personal interests of Eligible Participants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Eligible Participants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation will be largely dependent.
 
ARTICLE 2
 
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
 
2.1             Definitions.   The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)            “ Award ” means an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Stock Appreciation Right award, a Performance Share award, a Dividend Equivalents award, a Stock Payment award, or a Restricted Stock Unit award granted to an Eligible Participant pursuant to the Plan.
 
(b)            “ Award Agreement ” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
 
(c)            “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
 
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(d)            “ Cause ” includes one or more of the following: (i) the commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by a Participant that has a material adverse impact on the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof; (ii) a conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony by a Participant; (iii) any unauthorized use or disclosure by a Participant of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof that has a material adverse impact on any such entity or (iv) any other intentional misconduct by a Participant that has a material adverse impact on the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof. However, if the term or concept of “Cause” has been defined in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof, then “Cause” shall have the definition set forth in such agreement. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof to discharge or dismiss any Participant in the service of such entity for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of this Plan, to constitute grounds for termination for Cause.
 
(e)            “ Change of Control ” means and includes each of the following:
 
(1)            the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any “person” or “group” (as those terms are defined in Sections 3(a)(9), 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) of “beneficial ownership” (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (“voting securities”) of the Company that represent 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities, other than:
 
(A)            an acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any person controlled by the Company or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any person controlled by the Company, or
 
(B)            an acquisition of voting securities by the Company or a corporation owned, directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the stock of the Company;
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following event shall not constitute an “acquisition” by any person or group for purposes of this subsection (e): an acquisition of the Company’s securities by the Company that causes the Company’s voting securities beneficially owned by a person or group to represent 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; provided, however , that if a person or group shall become the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities by reason of share acquisitions by the Company as described above and shall, after such share acquisitions by the Company, become the beneficial owner of any additional voting securities of the Company, then such acquisition shall constitute a Change of Control; or
 
(2)            during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clauses (1) or (3) of this subsection (e)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
 
 
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(3)            the consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:
 
(A)            which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “ Successor Entity ”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and
 
(B)            after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however , that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this clause (B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
 
(4)            the Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 
The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change of Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change of Control and any incidental matters relating thereto.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control if it is a transaction effected primarily for the purpose of financing the Company with cash, whether such transaction is effectuated by a merger, equity financing or otherwise (unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion).
 
(f)            “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
(g)            “ Committee ” means the Board or a committee of the Board described in Article 11.
 
(h)            “ Director ” means a member of the Board.
 
(i)            “ Disability ” means, for purposes of the Plan, that the Participant qualifies to receive long-term disability payments under the Company’s long-term disability insurance program, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
(j)            “ Dividend Equivalents ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Stock) of dividends paid on Stock.
 
 
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(k)            “ Eligible Participant ” means any Employee who has not previously been an Employee or Director of the Company or a Subsidiary, or is commencing employment with the Company or a Subsidiary following a bona fide period of non-employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, if he or she is granted an Award in connection with his or her commencement of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary and such grant is an inducement material to his or her entering into employment with the Company or a Subsidiary. The Board may in its discretion adopt procedures from time to time to ensure that an Employee is eligible to participate in the Plan prior to the granting of any Awards to such Employee under the Plan (including, without limitation, a requirement, that each such Employee certify to the Company prior to the receipt of an Award under the Plan that he or she has not been previously employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, or if previously employed, has had a bona fide period of non-employment, and that the grant of Awards under the Plan is an inducement material to his or her agreement to enter into employment with the Company or a Subsidiary).
 
(l)            “ Employee ” means any officer or other employee (as defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
(m)            “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
(n)            “ Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of Stock determined as follows:
 
(1)            If the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for such date, or if no bids or sales were reported for such date, then the closing sales price (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) on the trading date immediately prior to such date during which a bid or sale occurred, in each case, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
 
(2)            If the Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Stock on such date, or if no closing bid and asked prices were reported for such date, the date immediately prior to such date during which closing bid and asked prices were quoted for the Stock, in each case, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or
 
(3)            In the absence of an established market for the Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.
 
(o)            “ Good Reason ” means a Participant’s voluntary resignation following any one or more of the following that is effected without the Participant’s written consent: (i) a change in his or her position following the Change of Control that materially reduces his or her duties or responsibilities, (ii) a reduction in his or her base salary following a Change of Control, unless the base salaries of all similarly situated individuals are similarly reduced, or (iii) a relocation of such Participant’s place of employment following a Change of Control by more than fifty (50) miles from such Participant’s place of employment prior to a Change of Control. However, if the term or concept of “Good Reason” has been defined in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof, then “Good Reason” shall have the definition set forth in such agreement.
 
 
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(p)            “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto. Incentive Stock Options may not be granted under the Plan.
 
(q)            “ Independent Director ” means a Director who is not an Employee of the Company and who qualifies as “independent” within the meaning of NASD Rule 4200(a)(15), if the Company’s securities are traded on the Nasdaq National Market, or the requirements of any other established stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are traded, as such rules or requirements may be amended from time to time.
 
(r)            “ NASD ” means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
 
(s)            “ Non-Qualified Stock Option ” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
 
(t)            “ Option ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 5 of the Plan to purchase a specified number of shares of Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option must be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
 
(u)            “ Participant ” means an Eligible Participant who has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
 
(v)            “ Performance Share ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8, to receive cash, Stock, or other Awards, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals established by the Committee.
 
(w)            “ Plan ” means this Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2006 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
(x)            “ Restricted Stock ” means Stock awarded to a Participant pursuant to Article 6 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.
 
(y)            “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right to receive a specified number of shares of Stock during specified time periods pursuant to Article 8.
 
(z)            “ Stock ” means the common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article 10.
 
(aa)            “ Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR ” means a right granted pursuant to Article 7 to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR was granted as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
 

 
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(bb)            “ Stock Payment ” means (a) a payment in the form of shares of Stock, or (b) an option or other right to purchase shares of Stock, as part of any bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, made in lieu of all or any portion of the compensation, granted pursuant to Article 8.
 
(cc)            “ Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
 
ARTICLE 3
 
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
 
3.1           Number of Shares.
 
(a)            Subject to Article 10, the aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be 625,000 shares.
 
The payment of Dividend Equivalents in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the Plan.
 
(b)            To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any shares of Stock subject to the Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. Additionally, any shares of Stock tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, shares of Stock issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be counted against shares of Stock available for grant pursuant to the Plan.
 
3.2             Stock Distributed. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.
 
ARTICLE 4
 
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
 
4.1             Eligibility .
 
(a)             General . Awards may be granted only to Eligible Participants. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
 
(b)             Foreign Participants . In order to assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed in foreign countries, the Committee may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose; provided, however, that no such supplements, amendments, restatements, or alternative versions shall increase the share limitations contained in Sections 3.1 of the Plan.
 
 
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4.2             Actual Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
 
ARTICLE 5
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
5.1             General. Options may be granted to Eligible Participants on the following terms and conditions:
 
(a)             Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that the exercise price for any Option shall not be less than Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant.
 
(b)             Time And Conditions Of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part; provided , that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years; and provided, further , that such Option shall be exercisable for not less than one year after the date of the Participant’s death. The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.
 
(c)             Payment . The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without limitation, cash, promissory note bearing interest at no less than such rate as shall then preclude the imputation of interest under the Code, shares of Stock held for longer than six months having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, or other property acceptable to the Committee (including through the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided , that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale), and the methods by which shares of Stock shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a member of the Board or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option in any method which would violate Section 13(k).
 
(d)             Evidence Of Grant . All Options shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
 

 
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ARTICLE 6
 
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
 
6.1             Grant of Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock may be awarded to any Eligible Participant in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by a written Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
 
6.2             Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.
 
6.3             Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however , that the Committee may provide in any Restricted Stock Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock.
 
6.4             Certificates For Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
 
ARTICLE 7
 
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
7.1             Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Eligible Participant selected by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (a) in connection and simultaneously with the grant of an Option, (b) with respect to a previously granted Option, or (c) independent of an Option. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
 
7.2             Coupled Stock Appreciation Rights .
 
(a)            A Coupled Stock Appreciation Right (“ CSAR ”) shall be related to a particular Option and shall be exercisable only when and to the extent the related Option is exercisable.
 

 
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(b)            A CSAR may be granted to a Participant for no more than the number of shares subject to the simultaneously or previously granted Option to which it is coupled.
 
(c)            A CSAR shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Option pursuant to the Plan) to surrender to the Company unexercised a portion of the Option to which the CSAR relates (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the Option exercise price from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the CSAR by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the CSAR shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose.
 
7.3             Independent Stock Appreciation Rights .
 
(a)            An Independent Stock Appreciation Right (“ISAR”) shall be unrelated to any Option and shall have a term set by the Committee. An ISAR shall be exercisable in such installments as the Committee may determine. An ISAR shall cover such number of shares of Stock as the Committee may determine. The exercise price per share of Stock subject to each ISAR shall be set by the Committee; provided, however , that, the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that the ISAR may be exercised subsequent to a termination of employment or service, as applicable, or following a Change of Control, or because of the Participant’s retirement, death or Disability, or otherwise.
 
(b)            An ISAR shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the ISAR pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the ISAR (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of the ISAR from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the ISAR by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the ISAR shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose.
 
7.4             Payment and Limitations on Exercise .
 
(a)            Payment of the amounts determined under Section 7.2(c) and 7.3(b) above shall be in cash, in Stock (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.
 
(b)            To the extent any payment under Section 7.2(c) or 7.3(b) is effected in Stock it shall be made subject to satisfaction of all provisions of Article 5 above pertaining to Options.
 
ARTICLE 8
 
OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS
 
8.1             Performance Share Awards. Any Eligible Participant selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Performance Share awards which may be denominated in a number of shares of Stock or in a dollar value of shares of Stock and which may be linked to any one or more specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.
 
 
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8.2             Dividend Equivalents. Any Eligible Participant selected by the Committee may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on the shares of Stock that are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional shares of Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee.
 
8.3             Stock Payments. Any Eligible Participant selected by the Committee may receive Stock Payments in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee. The number of shares shall be determined by the Committee and may be based upon specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, determined on the date such Stock Payment is made or on any date thereafter.
 
8.4             Restricted Stock Units. Any Eligible Participant selected by the Committee may be granted an award of Restricted Stock Units in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee. The number of Restricted Stock Units shall be determined by the Committee and may be linked to the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Unit award will not be issued until the Restricted Stock Unit award has vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule or performance criteria set by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant awarded Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Restricted Stock Units until such time as the Restricted Stock Units have vested and the Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units has been issued.
 
8.5             Term .  The term of any Award of Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payments or Restricted Stock Units shall be set by the Committee in its discretion.
 
8.6             Exercise or Purchase Price. The Committee may establish the exercise or purchase price of any Award of Performance Shares, Restricted Stock Units or Stock Payments; provided, however, that such price shall not be less than the par value of a share of Stock, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.
 
8.7             Exercise Upon Termination of Employment or Service. An Award of Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Restricted Stock Units and Stock Payments shall only be exercisable or payable while the Participant is an Employee or Director of the Company or a Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that an Award of Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payments or Restricted Stock Units may be exercised or paid subsequent to a termination of employment or service, as applicable, or following a Change of Control, or because of the Participant’s retirement, death or Disability, or otherwise.
 

 
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8.8             Form of Payment. Payments with respect to any Awards granted under this Article 8 shall be made in cash, in Stock or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.
 
8.9             Award Agreement. All Awards under this Article 8 shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement.
 
ARTICLE 9
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
 
9.1             Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards . Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
 
9.2             Award Agreement. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participant’s employment or service terminates, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.
 
9.3             Limits on Transfer. No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or a Subsidiary. No Award shall be assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
 
9.4             Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding Section 9.3, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse as his beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.
 

 
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9.5             Stock Certificates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded. All Stock certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.
 
ARTICLE 10
 
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 
10.1             Adjustments. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Stock or the share price of the Stock, the Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1); (ii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (iii) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
 
10.2             Effect of a Change of Control When Awards Are Not Assumed. If a Change of Control occurs and a Participant’s Awards are not assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary and such successor does not substitute substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan, such Awards shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable, and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse. Upon, or in anticipation of, a Change of Control, the Committee may cause any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall give each Participant the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether an Award has been assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or whether such successor has substituted substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan in connection with a Change of Control.
 

 
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10.3           Effect of Change of Control When Awards Are Assumed; TerminationFollowing Change of Control.
 
(a)            In the event of a Change of Control where a Participant’s Awards are assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or such successor substitutes substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan, then fifty percent (50%) of such Participant’s unvested Awards shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable, and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse, immediately prior to such Change of Control.
 
(b)            In the event of a Change of Control where a Participant’s Awards are assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or such successor substitutes substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the Plan, if within twelve (12) months following such Change of Control (i) the Participant’s employment or service with the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary is terminated without Cause or (ii) such Participant voluntarily terminates such Participant’s employment or service with Good Reason, then such Participant’s remaining unvested Awards (including any substituted awards) shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable, and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards (including any substituted awards) shall lapse, on the date of termination. Such Awards (including any substituted awards) shall remain exercisable, as applicable, until the earlier of the expiration date of the Award or three (3) months following such Participant’s cessation of employment or service.
 
10.4             Outstanding Awards - Certain Mergers. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive securities of another corporation), each Award outstanding on the date of such merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities that a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have received in such merger or consolidation.
 
10.5             Outstanding Awards - Other Changes. In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Article 10, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
 
10.6             No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
 
 
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ARTICLE 11
 
ADMINISTRATION
 
11.1             Committee. Unless and until the Board delegates administration to the Committee as set forth below, the Plan shall be administered by the Board, which shall, in such event, constitute the “Committee” for the purposes of the Plan. Any action taken by the Board in connection with the administration of the Plan shall not be deemed approved by the Board unless such actions are approved by a majority of the Independent Directors. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to the Committee, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated; provided, however , that such Committee be comprised of a majority of or solely two or more Independent Directors. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in the Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board.
 
The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. Any action taken by the Board in connection with the administration of the Plan shall continue to not be deemed approved by the Board unless such actions are approved by a majority of the Independent Directors. Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board. Vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board.
 
11.2             Action by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by a majority 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 any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
 
11.3             Authority of Committee. Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
 
(a)            Adopt procedures from time to time in the Committee’s discretion to ensure that an Employee is eligible to participate in the Plan prior to the granting of any Awards to such Employee under the Plan (including, without limitation, a requirement, if any, that each such Employee certify to the Company prior to the receipt of an Award under the Plan that he or she has not been previously employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, or if previously employed, has had a bona fide period of non-employment, and that the grant of Awards under the Plan is an inducement material to his or her agreement to enter into employment with the Company or a Subsidiary);
 

 
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(b)            Designate Participants to receive Awards;
 
(c)            Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
 
(d)            Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Stock to which an Award will relate;
 
(e)            Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any reload provision, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
 
(f)            Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
 
(g)            Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
 
(h)            Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
 
(i)            Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
 
(j)            Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement; and
 
(k)            Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.
 
12.4            Decisions Binding. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
 
ARTICLE 12
 
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
 
12.1             Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of the date of its adoption by the Board (the “ Effective Date ”).
 
12.2             Expiration Date. The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to the Plan after December 31, 2015 (the “ Expiration Date ”). Any Awards that are outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement shall provide that it will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of the Award to which it relates.
 
 
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ARTICLE 13
 
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
 
13.1             Amendment, Modification, and Termination. With the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however , that to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
 
13.2             Awards Previously Granted. No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant.
 
ARTICLE 14
 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
14.1             No Rights to Awards. No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.
 
14.2             No Stockholders Rights. No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
 
14.3             Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result of the Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of shares of Stock) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of shares of Stock which may be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award (or which may be repurchased from the Participant of such Award within six months after such shares of Stock were acquired by the Participant from the Company) in order to satisfy the Participant’s federal, state, local and foreign income and payroll tax liabilities with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of the Award shall be limited to the number of shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.
 
14.4             No Right to Employment or Services. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
 
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14.5             Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.
 
14.6             Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided , he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
 
14.7             Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
 
14.8             Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
 
14.9             Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the Articles and Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
 
14.10           Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.
 
14.11           Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
 
 
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14.12           Government And Other Regulations. The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any of the shares of Stock paid pursuant to the Plan. If the shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
 
14.13           Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
14.14           SECTION 409A OF THE CODE. In the event any provision of the Plan, or the application thereof, is or becomes inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder, such provision shall be void or unenforceable or in the sole discretion of the Committee shall be deemed amended to comply with Section 409A and any regulations promulgated thereunder. The other provisions of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.
 
ARTICLE 15
 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
15.1             STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED. It is expressly intended that approval of the Company’s stockholders not be required as a condition of the effectiveness of the Plan, and the Plan’s provisions shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent for all purposes. Specifically, Rule 4350(i) promulgated by the NASD generally requires stockholder approval for stock option plans or other equity compensation arrangements adopted by companies whose securities are listed on the Nasdaq National Market pursuant to which stock awards or stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees, or consultants of such companies. NASD Rule 4350(i)(1)(A)(iv) provides an exception to this requirement for issuances of securities to a person not previously an employee or director of the issuer, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to the individual’s entering into employment with the issuer; provided , such issuances are approved by either the issuer’s compensation committee comprised of a majority of independent directors or a majority of the issuer’s independent directors. Awards under the Plan may only be made to Eligible Participants who have not previously been an Employee or director of the Company or a Subsidiary, or following a bona fide period of non-employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, as an inducement material to the Eligible Participant’s entering into employment with the Company or a Subsidiary. Awards under the Plan will be approved by (i) the Company’s Compensation Committee comprised of a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors or (ii) a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors. Accordingly, pursuant to NASD Rule 4350(i)(1)(A)(iv), the issuance of Awards and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise or vesting of such Awards pursuant to the Plan are not subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders.
 
 
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Exhibit 31.3

CERTIFICATION

I, Daniel N. Swisher, Jr., certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.

Date: April 30, 2009
   
 
/s/ Daniel N. Swisher, Jr.
 
 
Daniel N. Swisher, Jr.
 
 
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
 
 
 
 

 
Exhibit 31.4

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Eric H. Bjerkholt, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.

Date: April 30, 2009
   
 
/s/ Eric H. Bjerkholt
 
 
Eric H. Bjerkholt
 
 
Senior Vice President, Corporate
Development and Finance, Chief
Financial Officer