UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 26, 2017

 

 

Seattle Genetics, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   0-32405   91-1874389

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

21823 30 th Drive SE

Bothell, Washington 98021

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(425) 527-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


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

On January 26, 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) of Seattle Genetics, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the Senior Executive Annual Bonus Plan (the “Plan”), an annual incentive compensation program designed to motivate, retain and reward the Company’s executive officers by promoting a connection between the performance of the Company and the compensation of senior executives of the Company. Under the Plan, which is administered by the Compensation Committee, executives at the Vice President level or higher (each, a “Participant”) are eligible to receive an annual performance-based cash bonus for each calendar year based on the achievement of specified Company goals and, as applicable, an assessment of individual performance. The amount of a Participant’s bonus is based on a target percentage of such Participant’s annual base pay as of the last day of the applicable Plan year, which target percentages are determined by the Compensation Committee for each of the Company’s executive officers. The target percentage for Dr. Siegall has been set at 100% for the 2017 Plan year. The target percentages for the Company’s other executive officers have been set at 50% for the 2017 Plan year in the case of Todd Simpson, Eric Dobmeier, Jonathan Drachman and Vaughn Himes, and at 45% for the 2017 Plan year in the case of Jean Liu and Darren Cline. Under the Plan, this target percentage is then adjusted, in the case of executive officers other than Dr. Siegall and Mr. Dobmeier, based 60% on the Company’s performance and 40% on the individual Participant’s performance as determined by the Compensation Committee. Additionally, Mr. Dobmeier’s percentage adjustment is based 80% on the Company’s performance and 20% on individual performance as determined by the Compensation Committee, and Dr. Siegall’s performance percentage will be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. It is expected that Dr. Siegall’s performance percentage will be based principally on the achievement of Company goals, but the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to take into account other factors in determining Dr. Siegall’s performance percentage, including individual performance and annual bonuses of chief executive officers at the Company’s peer group companies and other compensation data made available to it. For any Plan year, the Company performance percentage and/or individual performance percentage may exceed 100% in the event the Company or the individual Participant exceeds expected goals or performance, provided that neither percentage may exceed 150%. The Company goals under the Plan may include sales or commercial goals; research development and clinical activities; milestones and go/no go decisions; operational, hiring and retention goals, alliances and objectives; acquisitions and licensing or partnering transactions; international expansion goals; government affairs and public policy goals; manufacturing and supply goals; quality goals; regulatory goals; expense and cost reduction goals; debt reduction; improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; financings; implementation or completion of projects or processes; and financial metrics, including stock price performance, profitability, cash flow or net income. The Company goals for the 2017 Plan year are primarily based on the achievement of commercial, clinical, development, regulatory and operational objectives related to ADCETRIS, as well as development and clinical trial objectives related to SGN-CD33A, ASG-22ME and the Company’s other product candidates. Additional Company goals for the 2017 Plan year include operational, hiring and retention goals, strategic transaction objectives and stock price performance. Individual performance may be assessed by the Compensation Committee based on the individual Participant’s contributions toward the achievement of Company goals, department goals for a Participant’s area of accountability or responsibility, or other individual goals derived from or related to Company goals. The Compensation Committee may determine in its sole discretion that the Company did not satisfactorily complete sufficient goals in an applicable Plan year and in that case, determine that no bonus shall be paid to Participants for such Plan year. Likewise, the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to take into account significant corporate events or other significant accomplishments that were not contemplated at the beginning of a Plan year in determining the relevant Company and individual achieved performance percentages for the relevant Plan year, and to also, in its discretion, modify or otherwise change goals and performance objectives during the applicable Plan year. The Plan is effective January 1, 2017. Bonus payments for each Plan year will be made by February 15 th following the end of such plan year. The above description of the terms of the Plan is only a brief summary of such terms, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

 

10.1    Seattle Genetics, Inc. Senior Executive Annual Bonus Plan


SIGNATURES

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

 

    SEATTLE GENETICS, INC.
Date: February 1, 2017     By:   /s/ Clay B. Siegall
      Clay B. Siegall
      President and Chief Executive Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

10.1    Seattle Genetics, Inc. Senior Executive Annual Bonus Plan

Exhibit 10.1

SEATTLE GENETICS, INC.

Senior Executive Annual Bonus Plan

This Senior Executive Annual Bonus Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to enhance stockholder value by promoting a connection between the performance of Seattle Genetics, Inc. (the “Company”) and the compensation of senior executives of the Company and to promote retention of participating senior executives.

1. Executives of the Company at the Vice President level and above (“Participants”) are eligible to receive annual bonuses for each calendar year (each, a “Plan Year”) according to this Plan. The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”). The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary to administer the Plan including any adjustments, amendments and modifications to the Plan or its application to all or any participants and to control its operation and may delegate responsibilities to Company officers as it deems appropriate. Participants are eligible to receive bonuses for each Plan Year based on their individual performance and the Company’s performance during such Plan Year. A Participant who does not demonstrate satisfactory individual performance (50% or higher) during any Plan Year, however, will not be eligible for any portion of his or her bonus for such Plan Year, including the portion based on Company performance.

2. For each Plan Year, Company performance shall be determined by the Committee based on the Company’s ability to meet or exceed Company goals for such Plan Year, as set forth by the Board of Directors of the Company, which may include such factors as: sales or commercial goals; research, development and clinical activities, milestones and go/no go decisions; hiring, retention, development of plans and other operational goals; strategic alliances and acquisitions; acquisitions and licensing or partnering transactions; international expansion goals, government affairs and public policy goals; manufacturing and supply goals; quality goals; regulatory goals; expense and cost reduction goals; debt reduction; improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; financings; implementation or completion of projects or processes; and financial metrics, including stock price performance, profitability, cash flow or net income. For clarification, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that the Company did not satisfactorily complete enough goals for the applicable Plan Year and in that case, the Committee may determine that no bonus shall be paid to Participants for such Plan Year. For each Plan Year, individual performance of the Participants who are senior executives on the Executive Committee and, if applicable, any other employee who is an “officer” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act (each, an “Executive Officer”), shall be determined by the Committee upon review and recommendation to the Committee by the Head of Human Resources and the Chief Executive Officer, except for the individual performance of the Chief Executive Officer, which shall be determined by the Committee. For each Plan Year, individual performance of Participants who are not Executive Officers (“Other Officers”) will be reviewed and determined by the CEO. In all cases, awards shall be based on the individual Participant’s satisfactory completion of individual performance goals established for the applicable Plan Year (if and to the extent applicable) and/or the individual Participant’s contribution to the Company’s success in achieving the Company goals for such Plan Year.


3. To be eligible for a bonus for any Plan Year, a Participant must be on the Company’s payroll prior to November 1 of such Plan Year and must be employed by the Company as of the date of payment of the bonus. A Participant hired after commencement of any Plan Year shall be eligible for a pro-rated bonus for such Plan Year. A Participant who, during any Plan Year, is promoted into a position with a higher bonus target will have a pro-rated bonus based on his or her time in each position during such Plan Year and the applicable individual performance targets for such positions for such Plan Year, but calculated based on the Participant’s annual base pay as of the last day of such Plan Year.

4. A Participant who has taken an approved leave of absence pursuant to the Company’s policies of longer than 90 calendar days during any Plan Year shall receive a pro-rated bonus for such Plan Year, calculated by excluding the number of days that exceed 90 calendar days during such Plan Year that he or she was on an approved leave of absence. For example, a person on an approved leave of absence for 100 days is eligible for a pro-rated bonus by subtracting 10 days from the bonus calculation.

5. A Participant who is on an approved leave of absence on the date the bonus payment for any Plan Year is made will be eligible to receive a bonus for such Plan Year on the bonus payment date, provided that such bonus will be pro-rated as calculated above if he or she was on an approved leave of absence for longer than 90 calendar days during such Plan Year.

6. The amount of a Participant’s bonus for each Plan Year is based on a target percentage of such Participant’s annual base pay as of the last day of such Plan Year. This target percentage shall be determined by the Committee in the case of Executive Officers or the CEO in the case of a Participant who is an Other Officer at the beginning of each Plan Year. The target percentage for such Plan Year shall then be adjusted based on the Company’s performance and the individual Participant’s performance over the course of such Plan Year to arrive at a final performance percentage for such Plan Year. For all Participants who are Other Officers, the final performance percentage for each Plan Year shall be based 50% on the Company’s performance and 50% on each Participant’s individual performance. For those Participants that are Executive Officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Operating Officer, the final performance percentage for each Plan Year shall be based 60% on the Company’s performance and 40% on each Participant’s performance. The Chief Operating Officer’s final performance percentage for each Plan Year shall be based 80% on the Company’s performance and 20% on the Participant’s performance and the Chief Executive Officer’s final performance percentage for each Plan Year shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. For any Plan Year, the Company performance percentage and/or the individual performance percentage may exceed 100% in the event the Company or the individual Participant exceeds expected goals, provided that neither percentage may exceed 150%. For example, for an applicable Plan Year, assuming the Company has met 100% of its goals, a Participant who is an Other Officer, who has met 150% of his or her individuals goals, has a target percentage of 25% and has a base pay rate of $100,000 will receive a bonus of $31,250 for such Plan Year (100% x 0.5 + 150% x 0.5 = 125%; and 125% x 25% = 31.25%; and 31.25% of Participant’s base pay rate of $100,000 = $31,250). A Participant’s bonus for any Plan Year may be paid in cash or stock or a combination of both at the discretion of the Committee. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee or the CEO as applicable shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.


7. This Plan is effective as of January 1, 2017. Bonus payments for each Plan Year will be made by February 15 th following the end of such Plan Year.

8. The Company shall provide a copy of this Plan to each Participant and communicate to each Participant his or her target percentage for each Plan Year as determined by the Committee at the beginning of such Plan Year.

9. This Plan supersedes all prior bonus plans or any written or verbal representations regarding the subject matter of this Plan and is the entire understanding between the Company and the Participant regarding the subject matter of this Plan. Participation in this Plan for any Plan Year will not convey any entitlement to participate in this Plan for any future Plan Year or in any future plans or to the same or similar future bonus payments. The Committee may at any time amend, suspend, or terminate this Plan, including amendment of the target percentages for each Participant and amendment so as to ensure that no amount paid or to be paid hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 409(a)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that the Plan satisfy the exemption from the application of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder and any state law of similar effect provided under Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations, and the Plan shall be administered and interpreted to the greatest extent possible in compliance therewith.

10. The Company shall withhold all applicable taxes from any bonus payment, including any federal, state and local taxes.

11. Nothing in this Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any Participant’s employment or service at any time, with or without cause. Nothing in these guidelines should be construed as an employment agreement or an entitlement to any Participant for any incentive payment hereunder.

12. This Plan and all awards shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

13. Payments under this Plan shall be unsecured, unfunded obligations of the Company. To the extent a Participant has any rights under this Plan, the Participant’s rights shall be those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.