UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

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DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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June 23, 2010

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to be held at the Company’s headquarters at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

 

The business of the meeting is described in the accompanying Notice of Meeting and proxy statement. We are also enclosing our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and a proxy card.

 

There will be a management presentation at the meeting to those shareholders who attend the meeting.

 

Your participation in the meeting is important regardless of the number of shares you hold. If you cannot attend the meeting, please grant a proxy to vote your shares by marking, signing and dating the proxy card and returning it by no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in the manner described in the proxy statement. Your proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised as explained in the proxy statement.

 

If you plan to attend, please bring photo identification. Also, if your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee, please bring with you a proxy or letter from the broker or nominee confirming your ownership as of the record date.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Robert F. Doman
President and
Chief Executive Officer

 

 

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, MA 01887 - Phone 978.657.7500, Fax 978.657.9193

 

 

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
25 Upton Drive
Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING
TO BE HELD JULY 29, 2010

 

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at the Company’s offices located at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts to consider and act upon the following matters:

 

 

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on June 16, 2010 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at the meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

 

The proxy statement for our 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and our annual report to shareholders on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 are available on our website at www.dusapharma.com under “For Investors”.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote. If you hold shares in your own name, please fill in, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope. If your broker or other nominee holds your shares, please follow their instructions to vote. The prompt return of your proxy will assist us in preparing for the Annual Meeting. The proxy does not require any postage if it is mailed in the United States or Canada.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

Nanette W. Mantell, Esq.
Secretary

 

Dated: June 23, 2010

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Why I am receiving these proxy materials?

 

You are receiving these proxy materials because the Board of Directors of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“DUSA” or the “Company”), a New Jersey corporation, is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Company’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., at the Company’s principal executive offices at 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887. If properly signed and returned, and not revoked, your proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions it contains. The persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote the proxy for the Board of Directors’ slate of directors and for the other matters listed on the proxy as recommended by the Board of Directors unless contrary instructions are given.

 

This proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being mailed to shareholders on or about June 23, 2010. DUSA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2009, including financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, but excluding certain exhibits, is being mailed to shareholders at the same time. A copy of the exhibits will be provided upon request and payment to DUSA of reasonable expenses.

 

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

 

Only shareholders of record of shares of DUSA common stock at the close of business on June 16, 2010 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any and all adjournments or postponements of the meeting. On the record date, there were 24,207,965 shares of common stock without par value (“Common Stock”) outstanding and entitled to vote. These shares were the only shares outstanding of the Company.

 

What am I voting on?

 

There are two matters scheduled for a vote at the annual meeting:

 

 

How many votes do I have?

 

Each share owned on June 16, 2010, the record date for the meeting, entitles its owner to one vote on each matter to be voted upon. As of the record date, the Company’s management owned approximately 0.54% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.

 

What is the quorum requirement?

 

The holders of one-third of the shares that are outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be present, in person or represented by proxy, to constitute a quorum for all matters to come before the meeting.

 

How do I vote?

 

Shareholder of Record: Shares Registered in your name.

 

If you are a shareholder of record (that is, a shareholder who holds shares in your own name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company), you can vote by attending the Annual Meeting in person, or at any adjournment thereof, or by signing, dating and returning your proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you sign and return your proxy card but do not give voting instructions, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted “FOR” Proposals 1 and 2 and will be voted in the proxy holder’s discretion as to other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting.

 

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank or Other Nominee.

 

If your shares are held in “street name” (that is, in an account at a bank, brokerage firm or other holder of record), then you are the beneficial owner of the shares and these proxy materials, including instructions that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

How are votes counted?

 

Other than the vote for the election of directors, which requires a plurality of the votes cast, each matter to be submitted to the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting for such matter. For purposes of determining the number of votes cast with respect to a particular matter, only those votes cast “FOR” OR “AGAINST” are included. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted only for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting. A broker “non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. If you do not give instructions to your broker, bank, or other agent, it can vote your shares with respect to discretionary items, but not with respect to non-discretionary items. Discretionary items are proposals considered routine under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange on which your broker, bank or other agent may vote shares held in street name in the absence of your voting instructions, and include the ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm. On non-discretionary items for which you do not give instructions to your broker, bank or other agent, which include the election of directors, the shares will be treated as broker non-votes. With respect to the election of directors, a shareholder may vote “FOR” OR “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY.” Votes indicating “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” will be counted as a vote against the nominee. For all other proposals, a shareholder may indicate “FOR,” “AGAINST” OR “ABSTAIN.” Management knows of no other matter to be voted upon other than with respect to the election of directors and ratification of the selection of Deloitte and Touche LLP. However, if any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, one of the individuals named on your proxy card as your proxy will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.

 

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

 

Yes. If you are a shareholder of record, you may change your vote at any time before the proxy is exercised, by executing and delivering a timely and valid later-dated proxy, by voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting or by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not have the effect of revoking a proxy unless you give proper written notice of revocation to the Secretary before the proxy is exercised or you vote by written ballot at the Annual Meeting.

 

If you are a beneficial owner of shares in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank or other agent, or, if you have obtained a valid proxy card from your broker, bank or other agent giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

 

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

 

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. In addition, we have retained our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company to assist in the distribution of proxy materials and solicitation of votes for a fee not to exceed $10,000 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

 

How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

 

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in our Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within three business days after the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. If the final voting results are not available within three business days after the conclusion of the meeting, we will provide the preliminary results in the Form 8-K and the final results in an amendment to the Form 8-K within four business days after the final voting results are known to us.

 

There are eight (8) nominees for election as directors who will hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and/or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The persons named on the accompanying proxy will vote all shares for which they have received proxies FOR the election of the nominees named below unless contrary instructions are given. In the event that any nominee should become unavailable, shares will be voted for a substitute nominee unless the number of directors constituting a full board is reduced. Directors are elected by plurality vote. All of the nominees were elected to the Board of Directors at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and are currently serving, except for Alfred Altomari, Paul J. Hondros and David M. Wurzer.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH NOMINEE.

 

 

 

 

Jay M. Haft, Esq., 74, who serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chairman of our Compensation Committee is also a member of our Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. He was first elected to the Board on September 16, 1996. He is a strategic and financial consultant for growth-stage companies. He has served as Chairman of the Board since December 1, 2008. Mr. Haft also served as Chairman of the Board from June 2003 to December 2004 and Vice Chairman and Lead Director from December 2004 to December 2008. Since 2005, Mr. Haft has been a partner and a member of the Investment Committee of Columbus Nova, a private investment arm of the Renova Group. He was a senior corporate partner of the law firm of Parker, Duryee, Rosoff & Haft from 1989 to 1994 and was of counsel to Parker, Duryee, Rosoff & Haft from 1994 until 2002. Mr. Haft was a director of Encore Medical prior to its acquisition by the Blackstone Group in 2006 and is a current member of the Board of Directors of Kingstone Companies Inc. He is also active in international corporate finance mergers and acquisitions, having extensive experience in the Russian market, where he has worked on growth strategies for companies looking to internationalize their business assets and enter international capital markets. Mr. Haft has served on approximately 30 corporate boards, including his tenure as Chairman of the Emerson Radio Corporation, and director at CompuComp Systems, Inc. He has served as a founder, consultant and/or director of Imatron Inc. (a CT scanner company whose technology is now owned by GE), Cardiac Resuscitator Corp. (technology now own by Medtronic, Inc.) and Encore Orthopedics Corp. (technology acquired by the Blackstone Group). Currently Mr. Haft is a director of Ballantyne Cashmere, SpA as well as an advisor to Montezemolo & Partners, an Italian family investment group. He also serves on the board of the U.S.-Russia Business Council, and The Link of Times Foundation, a private cultural historical foundation. Mr. Haft is also active in the non-profit sector as well, particularly in the areas of education and art. He has served as a director of the Florida International University (FIU) Foundation and a member of the Advisory Board of the Wolfsonian Museum and the FIU Law School. He was previously appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the Florida Commission for the Governmental Accountability to the People, and served as a National Trustee and Treasurer of the Miami City Ballet and on the board of the Concert Association of Florida. Mr. Haft earned his Bachelor’s degree and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University and earned his law degree from Yale Law School. The Board believes that Mr. Haft is qualified to serve as a director due to his wealth of knowledge and insight into the challenges faced by emerging growth companies, including successful companies in the medical device field as well as his expertise in counseling companies on strategic matters.

 

Alfred Altomari 51, who is a candidate for election to the Board of Directors, is not currently a member of the Board of Directors or any of the Committees of the Company. Most recently Mr. Altomari was Chief Executive Officer of Barrier Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, since April of 2008 and a member of the company’s Board of Directors since January 2008, until the sale of the company to GlaxoSmithKline plc in August 2008. Mr. Altomari joined Barrier as a Chief Commercial Officer in 2003 and became Chief Operating Officer in 2006. Prior to joining Barrier, he had served in numerous executive roles in general management, commercial operations, business development, product launch preparation and finance within Johnson & Johnson from 1982 to 2003. Prior to his tenure at Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Altomari was Vice President/Franchise Head of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical’s Women’s Health Care Franchise. He completed his undergraduate studies at Drexel University earning a Bachelors of Science degree with a dual major in finance and accounting, and subsequently received a Masters in Business Administration from Rider University. Mr. Altomari currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. and three privately held companies including Agile Therapeutics, Quinnova Pharmaceutical, and Signum Biosciences. Mr. Altomari is also currently serving as a member of the advisory board of Le Bow College, the Business School of Drexel

University. The Board believes that Mr. Altomari is qualified to serve as a director due to his prior senior management experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as his breadth of experience in the development and marketing of specialty pharmaceuticals.

 

David M. Bartash, 67, retired, who serves as the Vice Chairman, Lead Director and Chairman of our Acquisition and Business Development Committee and is also a member of our Audit and Compensation Committees. He was first elected to the Board on November 16, 2001. He was the President and founder of Bartash and Company, a consulting company which, from 1990 to 2009, provided financial and scientific consulting services to the healthcare industry. He has personally advised pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the United States, Canada, and Australia; investment firms in the United States and Great Britain; and investment banking firms in the United States. Mr. Bartash also serves on the Board of Directors of the Developmental Disabilities Institute, a not-for-profit organization providing educational, residential, and medical services to over 1500 individuals with autism spectrum disorders. He served as Chairman for the Board of DDI until 2009, and currently serves on the Executive, Finance, and Building Committees. Mr. Bartash also serves on the Board of Directors of the DDI Foundation. Prior to founding Bartash & Company, Mr. Bartash spent over 20 years as a research analyst, and primarily as a pharmaceutical analyst, at several major investment firms representing both the buy and the sell sides of Wall Street. His last two positions, prior to forming Bartash & Company, were as senior pharmaceutical analyst at Dean Witter and Citibank. Mr. Bartash earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his Master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College. The Board believes that Mr. Bartash is qualified to serve as a director as a result of his significant experience in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly stemming from his years of providing investment advice and financial analysis of business and product opportunities, as well as his diversity of view-points.

 

Alexander W. Casdin, 42, who is a member of our Audit, Compensation and Acquisition and Business Development Committees, was first elected to the Board on January 29, 2009. He is also Vice President, Finance of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a position he has held since November, 2009. Prior to his position at Amylin, Mr. Casdin was founder of Casdin Advisors LLC, formed in 2007, where he served as a strategic advisor to companies in the life sciences industry. From October 2005 until he founded Casdin Advisors, Mr. Casdin was Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager of Cooper Hill Partners, LLC, a healthcare investment fund, and from 2001 to October 2005, he was Co-Portfolio Manager at Cooper Hill Partners. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Casdin was employed by Pequot Capital Management, LLC as an analyst and then portfolio manager where he oversaw the Pequot Capital Healthcare Fund. Prior to joining Pequot Capital Management, Mr. Casdin was a Senior Managing Analyst at Dreyfus Corporation focusing on the healthcare industry. In the non-profit sector, Mr. Casdin is a member of the Social Enterprise Program at Columbia Business School, a member of the Advisory Board of Hassenfeld Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders based at New York University’s Langone Medical Center and a member of the Artists Council of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Mr. Casdin earned his Bachelor’s degree from Brown University and earned his Master’s in Business Administration, Beta Gamma Sigma, from Columbia Business School. The Board believes Mr. Casdin is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and his business and financial expertise, particularly arising from his years analyzing investment opportunities in the healthcare field.

 

Robert F. Doman, 60, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since June 2007 and as our President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2005 to June 2007. He was first elected to the Board on June 15, 2006. From 2000 until 2004, Mr. Doman served as President of Leach Technology Group, the medical device division of Leach Holding Corporation which was sold to Easterline Technologies in 2004. From 1999 to 2000, he was President, Device Product Development of West Pharmaceutical Services, a manufacturer of systems and device components for parentally administered medicines and drugs. Prior to joining West Pharmaceutical Services, he worked for the Convatec division of Bristol-Myers Squibb from 1991 to 1999 in positions that included: Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Business Development; Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Wound and Skin Care; and Vice President, U.S. Operations. From 1976 to 1990, he held sales, marketing and business development roles of increasing responsibilities at Critikon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. Mr. Doman earned his Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University. The Board believes that Mr. Doman is qualified to serve as a director due to his prior extensive diverse international and domestic experience in senior management positions at pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including in the field of dermatology, with respect to general management, business development, building sales and marketing capabilities, new product development and strategic planning.

 

Paul J. Hondros, 61, who is a candidate for election to the Board of Directors, is not currently a member of the Board of Directors or any of the Committees of the Company. He is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of AlphaOne Capital Partners, LLC, and its affiliate companies. Prior to founding AlphaOne in December 2008, he was the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Gartmore Global Investments and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gartmore Group, a global asset management company. In 1998 he founded Villanova Capital, Inc., which operated until 2003, when it was

merged into Gartmore Investment Management plc. Prior to founding Villanova Capital, Inc., he served briefly as President and Chief Operating Officer of Pilgrim Baxter & Associates, Ltd. From 1990 to 1997 he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Investments’ Institutional Services Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of its Individual Investors groups. Early in his career, Mr. Hondros worked with SEI Investments, Inc., a global investment management, software, and mutual fund services company, where he was employed as a computer programmer, eventually rising to Executive Vice President of its Financial Services Division. Mr. Hondros also serves as the Chairman of the board of trustees of St. Joseph’s University, from which he earned his bachelor’s degree in history, and where he and his wife recently founded The Kinney Center for Autism Studies. The Board believes that Mr. Hondros is qualified to serve as a director due to his management experience and his investment expertise regarding the analysis of corporate performance.

 

Magnus Moliteus, 71, who is a member of our Audit, Compensation and Acquisition and Business Development Committees, was first elected to the Board on July 25, 2003. He also has been a consultant to the healthcare industry and Chairman of COM Consulting, a privately held firm, which enhances Swedish-American relations particularly between health care companies, since 2001. From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Moliteus served as Executive Director of Invest in Sweden Agency, U.S., a Swedish government agency. From 1973 to 1976 he was President of Pharmacia France S.A. From 1977 to 1990, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacia, Inc. (now owned by Pfizer, Inc.) and from 1990 to 1995 he was Chief Executive Officer of Procordia US Inc. Mr. Moliteus served as Chairman of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. between 1988 and 1991 and remains an honorary director. Also, from 1989 to 1995, Mr. Moliteus was a member of the Board of the Health Industry Manufacturers Association (HIMA). Currently Mr. Moliteus is a member of the Advisory board of Eon Reality, Inc. and of e-pill, LLC. He is also senior advisor to Pharmadule Inc. and head of KAEL-Gemvax US and European operations. Mr. Moliteus earned his Master’s degree from Uppsala University. The Board believes that Mr. Moliteus is qualified to serve as a director based on his extensive senior executive management positions with a global pharmaceutical company and his role as an advisor to numerous other companies in the industry.

 

David M. Wurzer, CPA, 51, who is a candidate for election to the Board of Directors, is not currently a member of the Board of Directors or any of the committees of the Company. He is currently the Managing Director of Investments at Connecticut Innovations, the State of Connecticut’s “venture capital arm,” where he has been in such a position since November 2009. From September 1997 until December 2007, he served as the Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of CuraGen Corporation, a publically traded bio-pharmaceutical company developing protein, antibody and small molecule therapeutics in oncology. Prior to his employment with CuraGen, from 1991 to 1997, he held management and executive level positions with Value Health, Inc., focusing on business synergy, cost savings, and mergers and acquisitions, including being named the Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer from February 1994 until September 1997. Additionally, from 1980 to 1991, Mr. Wurzer held managerial and accounting positions at Coopers & Lybrand, and its successor by merger PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Wurzer graduated in 1980 from the University of Notre Dame, with a BBA in Accounting. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Strategic Diagnostics, Inc., a NASDAQ listed public company, three privately held life sciences companies, including Polybiotics, LLC, Axerion Therapeutics, Inc., and CyVek, Inc., and the not-for-profit theatre management company Playhouse Theatre Group. Since 2008 Mr. Wurzer has periodically provided consulting services relating to capital raising, expense reductions cost analysis and business productivity strategies. The Board believes that Mr. Wurzer is qualified to serve as a director due to his prior accounting experience, investment manager’s perspective on the analysis of corporate performance and his senior management experience in the bio-pharmaceutical industry.

 

According to the terms of an agreement dated as of May 13, 2010 by and among DUSA and SRB Management, L.P., SRB Greenway Opportunity Fund, (QP), L.P., SRB Greenway Opportunity Fund, L.P., BC Advisors, LLC, Steven R. Becker and Matthew A. Drapkin, DUSA has agreed to nominate Mr. Wurzer, as well as Mr. Altomari and Mr. Hondros for election to the Board at the Company’s 2010 and 2011 Annual Meetings of Shareholders.

 

Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement dated as of December 30, 2005, as amended, by and among DUSA, Sirius Laboratories, Inc. and certain shareholders of Sirius, Sirius has the right to nominate one director to our Board. Sirius’s initial representative on our Board, Dr. Neal Penneys, resigned on April 10, 2007 for personal reasons and has not been replaced by the Sirius shareholder representatives. DUSA’s obligation to nominate a director candidate recommended by the Sirius shareholder representatives, continues through the expiration of the period of time that any milestone payment may be paid to former Sirius shareholders under the terms of the merger agreement.

Directors Whose Term Will End As of the 2010 Annual Meeting

 

Set forth below are the names of each of our other current directors whose term will end as of the 2010 Annual Meeting.

 

John H. Abeles, MD, 64, who serves as the Chairman of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and is also a member of our Audit, Compensation and Acquisition and Business Development Committees, was first elected to the Board on August 2, 1994. He is also the President and founder of MedVest, Inc. which, since 1980, has provided consulting services to health care and high technology companies. Dr. Abeles practiced medicine before joining the pharmaceutical industry as a senior medical executive with Sterling Drug, Pfizer Inc. and Revlon Health Care in the early 1970s. In 1975, he became the first, full-time healthcare analyst in Wall Street with medical degree qualifications, at Kidder Peabody, where he worked until 1980 when he formed MedVest Inc. MedVest is a privately owned healthcare consulting firm concentrating in medical product development, research and development strategy and venture financing. He is the General Partner of Northlea Partners, a family office fund with numerous venture and private equity investments in emerging medical companies. Since 2005, Dr. Abeles has been a Managing Member of ProMed Capital LLC, a New York investment group promulgating Israeli medical venture companies and investments. He also serves on several boards of private companies in the healthcare industry. Dr. Abeles serves as an Advisory Board Member of the College of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, London. He is a professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics of the International University of the Health Sciences since 1998 and was Adjunct Instructor, Clinical Pharmacology, Mt. Sinai Medical School from 1978 to 1982. In the non-profit sector, Dr. Abeles is a Director of the International Opera Alliance in New York and a member of the Players Club in New York. He is also on the board of The New Group, a theater organization in New York. Dr. Abeles is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Oryx Technology, CytoCore, Inc. and CombiMatrix Corporation. He was a member of the Boards of Directors of I-Flow Corporation, a manufacturer of medical infusion devices, prior to its sale to Kimberly-Clark Corporation in 2009. He earned his medical degree as well as a degree in pharmacology from the University of Birmingham, England. He also has a diploma in music from the Royal Schools of Music in piano and violin. The Board believes that Dr. Abeles is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive expertise in the medical field, in the development and commercialization of drugs and medical devices and his membership on public and private companies’ boards of directors.

 

Marvin E. Lesser, 68, was first elected to the Board on June 9, 2009. He is a member of our Audit and Compensation Committees. Mr. Lesser has been Managing Partner of Sigma Partners, L.P., a private investment partnership, since 1993. Also, since 2000 he has been the President of Alpina Management, LLC, the investment adviser to St. Moritz 2000 Fund, Ltd., a private investment fund. Since 1992 he has periodically provided consulting services in finance, compensation and organizational matters. He is a director of USG Corporation, Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. and St. Moritz 2000 Fund, Ltd, and from 2002 to 2007 was a director of Pioneer Companies, Inc. He has experience serving on audit, compensation, finance, governance and CEO search committees, and has been the chair of audit committees and a CEO search committee. Mr. Lesser’s background and experience include both public accounting and law, but he is currently not practicing in either profession. Mr. Lesser holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania and Master of Laws degree from New York University. The Board believes that Mr. Lesser is qualified to serve as a director due to his prior and current experience on public company boards, his knowledge of public company accounting and financial matters and his investment manager’s perspective on the analysis of corporate performance and the domestic and global economic environments.

 

Richard C. Lufkin, 63, who serves as the Chairman of our Audit Committee and is also a member of our Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, was first elected to the Board on January 27, 1992. Since 2005 he has served as a co-founder, director, and the Chief Financial Officer of Anima Cell Metrology, Inc., a development-stage, privately-held biotechnology firm focused on proteomics. From 1995 to 2004 Mr. Lufkin was co-founder and President of Linguagen Corp. (now Redpoint Bio Corp.), a publicly-traded biotechnology firm developing products deriving from its expertise in the molecular biology of taste signaling. From 1992 to 2003 he was co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of SynectiQ Corporation, a medical device contract research and development firm. From 1986 until it was acquired by IVAX Corporation in 1991, Mr. Lufkin was President and Chief Operating Officer of Medical Market Specialties, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical firm concentrating on the latter stage development, regulatory approval, and marketing of orphan drugs. He is the principal of Enterprise Development Associates, a proprietorship formed in 1985 which provides consulting and venture support services, licensing, strategic planning, FDA regulatory affairs and marketing management to early stage technology-based companies, principally in the life sciences sector. From 1980 to 1985, he held management positions with Johnson & Johnson handling business development of professional and consumer wound and oral care products, orthopedics, athletic products, ostomy, and adult incontinence

products, as well as establishing business terms for numerous product acquisition, distribution, license, option, and funded research agreements. Prior to this time, he was Assistant Vice President of the American Research and Development, Division of Textron, Inc. managing venture capital investments including seed capital, second and third round financings and leveraged buy-outs for portfolio companies, on many of which he served as a board member. Early in his career he worked at Corning, Inc. following his service as a Naval officer. Mr. Lufkin’s other current activities include serving as a director for the New Jersey Chapter, National Association of Corporate Directors, member of the Technology Advisory Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and President of the MIT Club of Northern New Jersey. Mr. Lufkin earned his Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his Master in Business Administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Lufkin is qualified to serve as a director due to his strong entrepreneurial experience in developing and commercializing new products for the pharmaceutical and medical device markets.

 

Directors who are members of management receive no cash compensation for service as a director or as member of any committee. Non-employee directors receive $25,000 per year, as annual compensation, regardless of the number of Board or Committee meetings they attend. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional $10,000 per year, and the Vice-Chairman of the Board receives $1,000 per meeting in which he acts in the absence of the Chairman of the Board. Directors serving on the Audit Committee receive an additional $5,000 per year. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional $5,000 per year. Directors are also reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses related to their attendance at meetings of the Board and Committees. Under the Company’s 2006 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended, all non-employee directors are awarded options to purchase up to 15,000 shares of Common Stock on June 30th of their first year of service or as of the close of business thirty (30) days following their election, whichever shall first occur, and options to purchase up to 10,000 shares of Common Stock on June 30th of each year following their re-election. All options granted to non-employee directors vest immediately. As further discussed under “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” below, in 2009 Messrs. Abeles, Bartash, Lufkin and Moliteus received a special, one-time grant of 7,500 restricted shares for their extraordinary service during the year. Mr. Haft received a special, one-time grant of 15,000 restricted shares for his extraordinary service during the year. These awards of restricted shares vest at a rate of 25% per year over four years.

 

The following table sets forth the annual compensation to non-employee directors for 2009:

 

 

 

 

Independence of Directors

 

The Board has determined that all of the non-employee directors are independent, as independence is defined under the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, there were fourteen (14) meetings of the Board of Directors. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of all of the committees on which he serves. The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Compensation Committee and Acquisition and Business Development Committee. Mr. Haft, the Chairman of the Board, normally presides at Board meetings, and, in his absence, Mr. Bartash, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, presides.

 

All of the non-employee directors are members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Lufkin serves as its Chairman. All of the members are independent directors in accordance with the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market and applicable federal securities laws and regulations. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Lufkin and Mr. Haft both qualify as audit committee financial experts and has designated Mr. Lufkin to fill that role. The Audit Committee provides oversight of the Company’s accounting functions and acts as liaison between the Board of Directors and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee reviews with the independent auditors the Company’s unaudited quarterly financial statements, the planning and scope of the audits of the Company’s financial statements, the results of those audits and the adequacy of internal accounting controls, and monitors other corporate and financial policies. In performing these functions, the Audit Committee meets periodically with the independent auditors (including in private sessions) and with management. In addition, the Audit Committee selects the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit A and is also available on the Company’s website at www.dusapharma.com. The Committee met five (5) times during 2009.

 

The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently are Dr. Abeles, who serves as its Chairman, and Messrs. Haft and Lufkin. All of the members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors in accordance with the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s purpose is to identify and evaluate the qualifications of individuals to become members of the Board of Directors, to select the director nominees, to develop and recommend corporate governance principles to the Board of Directors and to provide oversight and guidance to the Board of Directors to assure compliance with its corporate governance policies and principles. There were six (6) meetings of this Committee in 2009. Shareholders who wish to suggest qualified candidates to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for director should write to: Administrator, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 25 Upton Drive, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887 stating, in detail, the suggested nominee’s biography and qualifications of such person for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. You should also enclose a written statement from each proposed nominee consenting to be named as a nominee and, if nominated and elected, to serve as a director. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter is located on the Company’s website at www.dusapharma.com.

 

Among the central purposes of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors, reviewing the qualifications of candidates and selecting the director nominees to be voted on at each annual meeting of shareholders. When the need to recruit a director arises, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consult the other directors and the Chief Executive Officer and may retain fee-paid third party recruiting firms to identify potential candidates. Mr. Wurzer’s nomination was proposed by Steven Becker, who, through investment funds controlled by him, owns 6.56% of DUSA’s common stock and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of approximately 7.33% of DUSA’s common stock. Mr. Altomari was recommended by a shareholder and Mr. Hondros was recommended by Mr. Doman. The candidate evaluation process may include inquiries as to the candidate’s reputation and background, examination of the candidate’s experiences and skills in relation to the Board of Director’s requirements at the time, consideration of the candidate’s independence as measured by the Board of Director’s independence standards, and other considerations as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems appropriate at the time. In addition, the Committee considers the diversity of professional experience, education, skill sets and viewpoints of the Board of Directors, as a whole, when considering the individual qualities of a potential nominee, with the goal of promoting a balance of perspectives. Prior to formal consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, any candidate who passes such screening would be interviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or its Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer. In effectuating those purposes, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is charged with ensuring that the nominees for membership on the Board of Directors are of the highest possible caliber and are able to provide insightful, intelligent and effective guidance to the management of the Company. The following criteria have been identified by the

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and adopted by the Board of Directors, to guide the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in selecting nominees:

 

 

The Committee applies the same criteria to all nominees for the Board irrespective of the source of such nominee.

 

Absent extenuating circumstances, each member of the Board of Directors is expected to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All of the directors, who were directors at such time, attended the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

All of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors are members of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Haft serves as its Chairman. The Compensation Committee considers matters related to the compensation of the Company’s key officers and directors. The Committee also considers employee benefits which may be appropriate as the Company grows and develops policies and procedures. The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting and administering the policies which govern annual executive salaries and cash bonus awards, and under the 2006 Equity Compensation Plan approves the amounts of stock option or other equity awards awarded to all grantees. The Compensation Committee evaluates, on a yearly basis, the performance, and determines the compensation of, the executive officers of DUSA, including the named executive officers. DUSA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert F. Doman, is not a member of the Compensation Committee, however, the Compensation Committee seeks input from him regarding the performance and proposed compensation of DUSA’s other executive officers. Mr. Doman and Richard C. Christopher, DUSA’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, are present, at the invitation of the Compensation Committee, at its meetings, other than during consideration of their own compensation. The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain, at the Company’s expense, independent counsel or other advisers as it deems necessary in connection with its responsibilities. In 2009, the Compensation Committee engaged WNB Consulting LLC to review and analyze DUSA’s executive compensation program, including benefit plans, to prepare a benchmarking analysis and to recommend appropriate levels of cash and equity compensation for DUSA’s executive officers, including the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and to recommend ways to enhance long-term incentives for the Company’s management team. The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for the engagement of WNB Consulting, and all work performed by WNB Consulting on behalf of DUSA is initiated and supervised by the Compensation Committee, except to the extent delegated by the Compensation Committee to management. The Compensation Committee met six (6) times in 2009. It also met two (2) times in 2010 to discuss cash and equity compensation for 2010 and to consider cash bonuses for 2009. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.dusapharma.com.

 

 

We have adopted a written Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Officers that applies to our senior officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions. We have posted the Code of Ethics on our website, which is located at www.dusapharma.com. In addition, we intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers

from, any provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of the directors on the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or employee of the Company or had any relationship or related person transaction requiring disclosure under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Compensation Committee. In addition, none of our executive officers serves as a member for the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors.

 

The members of the Acquisition and Business Development Committee are Dr. Abeles, Mr. Bartash, Mr. Moliteus and Mr. Casdin. Mr. Bartash serves as its Chairman. The Acquisition and Business Development Committee reviews potential business acquisition candidates, potential business combinations and potential therapies that DUSA is considering or should consider for in-licensing. The Acquisition and Business Development Committee has no charter and meets on an ad hoc basis. The Acquisition and Business Development Committee did not meet during 2009.

 

Structure and Risk Oversight Function of the Board of Directors

 

The leadership structure of the Board currently consists of an independent Chairman of the Board who oversees the Board meetings and works with our Chief Executive Officer to establish meeting agendas and a Vice-Chairman of the Board and Lead Director. Our Chairman, Mr. Haft, does not serve as our principal executive officer as we believe this structure enhances the independence of our Board. As noted above, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Doman, is the only member of our Board who has not been deemed to be independent by the Board. Further, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are held by the same person, the Board shall designate a Lead Director who will organize and lead meetings of the Board’s independent directors. Our Audit and Compensation Committees are comprised of all of the independent directors. All Board committees are chaired by independent directors who report to the full Board whenever necessary. We believe this leadership structure helps facilitate efficient decision-making and communication among our directors and fosters efficient Board functioning at regularly scheduled meetings.

 

Our management is primarily responsible for managing the risks we face in the ordinary course of operating our business. The Board oversees potential risks and our risk management activities by receiving operational and strategic presentations from management which include discussions of key risks to our business. The Board also periodically discusses with management important compliance and quality issues. In addition, the Board has delegated risk oversight to each of its key committees within their areas of responsibility. For example, the Audit Committee assists the Board in its risk oversight function reviewing and discussing with management certain financial risks, such as our system of disclosure controls and risks associated with our cash investment policies. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in its risk oversight function by overseeing strategies with respect to our incentive compensation programs and key employee retention issues. We believe our Board leadership structure facilitates the division of risk management oversight responsibilities among the Board committees and enhances the Board’s efficiency in fulfilling its oversight function with respect to different areas of our business risks and our risk mitigation practices.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The Company had the following securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2009:

 

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors selected Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the 2010 fiscal year. Shareholder ratification of the appointment is not required under the laws of the State of New Jersey, but the Audit Committee has decided to ascertain the position of the shareholders on the appointment. The Board of Directors will reconsider the appointment if it is not ratified. A majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders is required for ratification. Abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. The ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP is a matter on which a broker or nominee has discretionary voting authority, so broker non-votes will not result from this proposal. A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the meeting to answer questions from shareholders and will have the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of the firm, if he or she so desires.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL.

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal years 2009 and 2008 were $478,500 and $600,200, respectively.

 

Audit Related Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP during fiscal year 2009 for the review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to the Company’s filing of a Post-effective Amendment to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 were $14,000. The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP during fiscal year 2008 for the review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to the Company’s filing of Registration Statements on Forms S-3 and S-8 were $37,200.

 

Fees for Tax Services

 

The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte Tax LLP for tax services rendered in support of an Internal Revenue Code Section 382 analysis were $170,000. No fees for tax services were incurred for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

 

All Other Fees

 

There were no other fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for professional services rendered to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

In considering the nature of the services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, all of which were pre-approved in accordance with procedures required by the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with the independent auditors and Company management to determine that Deloitte & Touche LLP is permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) assists the Board of Directors by providing oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process and its independent registered public accounting firm. Management is responsible for preparing the Company’s financial statements and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the conduct of these activities by the Company’s management and selecting the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Directors. A brief description of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee is set forth above under the caption “Meetings and Committees of the Board.”

 

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 with management. The Audit Committee also discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, “Communication with Audit Committees.” In addition, the Audit Committee received from Deloitte & Touche LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence from the Company and its management. Additionally, the Audit Committee considered whether their provision of services to the Company beyond those rendered in connection with their audit and review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements was compatible with maintaining their independence and the fees and costs billed and to be billed for those services as shown on page 11 of this proxy statement. The Audit Committee concluded that Deloitte & Touche LLP’s provision of such services is compatible with Deloitte & Touche LLP’s independence.

 

Based on its review and the discussions with the Company’s management and its independent auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

John H. Abeles, MD

David M. Bartash

Alexander W. Casdin

Jay M. Haft, Esq.

Marvin E. Lesser

Richard C. Lufkin (Chairman)

Magnus Moliteus

 

 

 

Philosophy and Objectives - All of our compensation programs and policies are designed to attract, retain, and reward key employees to align compensation with DUSA’s performance and to motivate executive officers to achieve the Company’s business objectives. Our programs are geared to rewarding both short and longer-term performance with the ultimate objective of increasing shareholder value over time.

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee” or the “Committee”) believes that compensation should reflect the success of our executives as a management team, so we consider both individual and corporate strategic and financial goals in determining compensation. We believe that executive compensation should not be based on the short-term performance of our stock, but that the price of our stock will, in the long-term, reflect our operating performance and management of the Company by our executives. We seek to have the long-term performance of our stock reflected in executive compensation through our stock option and restricted stock award programs.

 

Throughout this proxy statement, the individuals who served as our as our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer during fiscal year 2009, as well as other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 18, are referred to as “named executive officers.”

 

Overview of Compensation and Process - The Compensation Committee is composed of all of the independent non-employee directors. The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting and administering the policies which govern annual executive salaries and cash bonus awards, and under the 2006 Equity Compensation Plan, the Committee approves the amounts of stock option or other equity awards to all grantees. The Compensation Committee evaluates, on a yearly basis, the performance, and determines the compensation of, the executive officers of DUSA, including the named executive officers. DUSA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Doman, is not a member of the Compensation Committee, however, the Compensation Committee seeks input from him regarding the performance of DUSA’s other executive officers. Mr. Doman and Richard C. Christopher, DUSA’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, are present, at the invitation of the Compensation Committee, at its meetings, other than during consideration of their own compensation or other executive sessions.

 

In 2007, the Compensation Committee retained an independent compensation consultant, WNB Consulting LLC to review and analyze DUSA’s executive compensation programs, to prepare a benchmarking analysis, and to recommend appropriate levels of cash and equity compensation for DUSA’s executive officers, including its President and Chief Executive Officer. WNB Consulting was retained in both 2008 and 2009 for similar purposes, which included updating the information that the firm had provided to the Committee in 2007. The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for the engagement of WNB Consulting, and all work performed by WNB Consulting is initiated and supervised by the Compensation Committee, except to the extent delegated by the Compensation Committee to management. The Committee discussed the recommendations of WNB Consulting with the consultant when setting 2008, 2009 and 2010 salaries, and when making decisions about bonus levels and equity compensation awards. While input from the consultant is carefully considered, ultimate decision making authority rests with the Compensation Committee which retains discretion over salary, cash bonus, and equity compensation determinations based upon its subjective view of an executive’s performance.

 

DUSA’s executive compensation programs consist of base salary, discretionary cash bonus incentives based on annual individual and corporate goals, grants under the Company’s equity plan, a 401(k) plan, a deferred compensation plan, and certain other perquisites and benefits generally available on the same basis as benefits provided to its other employees. Typically, during the first quarter of each year, our Compensation Committee meets to consider and, if deemed appropriate, approve cash bonuses for our executives based on the prior fiscal year’s performance and base salaries for the new fiscal year, and to consider and, if deemed appropriate, grant equity awards, in the form of stock options and restricted stock awards, to all of the executive officers. On occasion, as occurred during 2007, compensation adjustments are made during the year to reflect a change in roles or responsibilities of our executives.

 

DUSA does not currently provide any pension benefits to its named executive officers or employees.

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the corporation’s chief executive officer and four other most highly paid executive officers. We periodically review the potential consequences of Section 162(m) and may structure performance-based compensation to comply with certain exemptions. However, we have not done so to date.

 

Base Salary - With regard to base salary, the Compensation Committee believes that DUSA’s officers should be compensated at levels comparable to the base salary of executive officers at similar public biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. Base salaries are paid at competitive levels to attract and retain talented management personnel. During 2008 and 2009, the Compensation Committee used survey data

reporting the salaries and bonuses for executives of companies in these groups which was prepared by WNB Consulting LLC. In addition, the Committee has referred to survey data or analyses of survey data from the Radford Biotechnology Survey, Mercer Executive Compensation Survey, Watson Wyatt’s Executive Compensation Survey, TSG Management Survey, SIRS Executive Survey ORC’s Executive Compensation Survey and TSG Biotechnology Survey. The Committee uses this information to assist it in setting executive compensation but does not have a pre-established policy or target for the allocation between either cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive compensation.

 

The Committee also takes note of the cost of living increase in determining base salary increases, as well as the general performance of the Company. In June 2007, the Committee increased Mr. Doman’s salary in connection with his promotion to the position of Chief Executive Officer. In early 2007, the Committee approved base salary increases in the range of 2.5% to 10.8% for the other named executive officers. Following the analysis by WNB Consulting which indicated that several of the named executive officers’ base salaries were below the low end range of competitiveness, the Committee, in April 2008, approved a base salary increases in the range of 3.5% to 14.6%, including 10% for Mr. Doman and 14.6% for Mr. Christopher. For 2009, all base salaries company-wide remained at 2008 levels in order to preserve cash resources during uncertain economic times. However, for 2010, the Committee approved base salary increases for the named executive officers, other than Mr. Doman, in the range of 2.0% to 6.4% which includes certain market adjustments for two of the named executive officers based on recommendations from WNB Consulting. The Committee granted an increase of 4% to Mr. Doman in light of his very strong performance and guidance of the Company to achieve both positive cash flow and profitability during the fourth quarter of 2009

 

Bonuses - Under the terms of its employment agreements with its officers, DUSA’s Vice Presidents are eligible to receive a range of up to 35% to 40% of their base salary as a discretionary cash bonus award to be set by the Board of Directors. These percentage opportunities reflect increases of 5%-10% which the Committee made in April 2008 upon the recommendation and analysis of WNB Consulting. In June 2007, in connection with his promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer, the Committee determined that Mr. Doman should be eligible to receive up to 50% of his base salary as a cash bonus. In some cases, the agreements provide that the Board may award a cash bonus in excess of the stated percentage for outstanding performance. DUSA believes that the cash bonus is an important incentive to its officers and assists DUSA in reaching its corporate goals.

 

Financial and strategic business goals are typically set by management, and approved by the Board of Directors, usually during the fourth quarter of the previous year. The primary financial goals relate to achievement of net revenue and income statement improvement milestones. Management recommends these goals to incentivize its named executive officers to perform at consistent high levels, however, these goals are not set at levels which management believes are likely to be unattainable. For 2007, attainment of corporate goals represented 70% of the bonus opportunity for the executives and attainment of individual goals represented 30% of the bonus opportunity, except that corporate financial goals had to be achieved in order for any bonus payment to be granted. In prior years, the Committee used various combinations of attainment of corporate goals, individual goals and stock performance as a basis for determining bonuses. No bonuses were paid for 2007 performance because management did not achieve its corporate goals primarily due to the consequences of a litigation matter that was settled in October 2007. For 2008 and 2009, the Committee used a more flexible, subjective approach in its consideration of cash bonus incentives. While management made recommendations to the Committee in light of certain corporate performance, including increases in total revenues and reduction in operating loss, no formal metrics were adopted by the Committee. The Committee also considered other factors, such as regulatory action in 2008 against certain of the Company’s products and the manner in which management successfully responded, and the attainment of positive cash flow and profitability in the fourth quarter of 2009, despite a difficult economic environment. In February 2010, the Committee using its discretion, based on the experience of its members and in light of performance during 2009, determined that bonuses should be paid in amounts ranging from approximately 10% to approximately 30% of base salary. The Committee believes that in light of the Company’s stage of development, a flexible approach is fairer and provides a greater incentive for the Company’s executives to achieve both short and long term objectives.

 

The Compensation Committee discusses and adjusts the written recommendations of the President and Chief Executive Officer of DUSA in awarding discretionary cash bonuses, as well as base salary increases for the other executives. For 2008, the then current Chairman of the Board discussed a recommendation with the Committee for the compensation of the then current President and Chief Executive Officer which was considered by the Committee. The Compensation Committee exercises subjective judgment and discretion in the granting of the amount of bonuses and in setting base salaries.

 

In February 2010, the Committee met with Mr. Doman and Mr. Christopher who reviewed the contributions of each of the named executive officers, and Mr. Doman provided his recommendations for base salaries for 2010 and proposed a cash bonus opportunity that should be paid to each of the named executive officers other than himself. In making its decision, the Committee discussed and evaluated the

recommendations of Mr. Doman regarding 2010 salaries and cash bonus opportunities, as well as the base salary and bonus for Mr. Doman, in conjunction with WNB Consulting.

 

Equity Awards - DUSA has awarded stock options to its executive officers on initial hire, sometimes at the time of a promotion, and generally, on an annual basis at a meeting of the Compensation Committee during the first quarter of the year. During 2008 and 2009, in conjunction with the recommendation of WNB Consulting, the Committee also provided its executives with restricted stock awards. The Compensation Committee believes that a strong stock ownership program, aligns executive officers with shareholders interests and is essential to the long-term growth of the Company by providing executives with incentives to increase shareholder value over time. The Compensation Committee uses survey data and recommendations of consultants to monitor and evaluate the amount of long-term incentive compensation levels of its officers. There is no formula for the number of grants which are issued. Also recently, the amount of the grants has been limited due to the number of grants that are available under the 2006 Equity Compensation Plan, since the Board of Directors believes that no more than 20% of the shares of common stock outstanding should be subject to equity awards. In addition, the Board has decided to grant equity awards every year in order to take into account the volatility of DUSA’s stock price from year to year. WNB Consulting has recommended to the Compensation Committee that going forward, DUSA should increase the level of equity compensation DUSA pays to its executive officers to better align executive officers interest with shareholders and maintain the effectiveness of DUSA’s goal of retaining and motivating its executive officers through the use of equity compensation since historical equity compensation has been significantly below that of similarly situated companies. WNB Consulting has advised that DUSA’s current equity compensation does not meet desired levels of competitive long-term compensation based on its analysis.

 

WNB Consulting also provided survey data indicating that the members of DUSA’s Board of Directors receive less compensation than their peers, particularly with respect to equity compensation and committee activities. Although the Committee decided that annual compensation should remain at current levels, in light of the extraordinary time and effort required of the members of the Committee during 2008, the Board awarded a special grant of restricted shares to Committee members. Messrs. Abeles, Bartash, Lufkin and Moliteus each received an award of 7,500 restricted shares and Mr. Haft received 15,000 restricted shares.

 

Stock options have typically been granted as of the close of business on the date of grant. In December 2006, the Board of Directors determined that all grants should be made two days following the release of quarterly earnings by DUSA.

 

DUSA also maintains a 401(k) plan for all employees which provides a match of $0.50 for each dollar contributed up to 2.5% of base salary. In 2006, DUSA adopted a deferred compensation plan which was available to operating director-level employees and above, however since only one executive officer is currently enrolled, the plan has been suspended for the time being. DUSA adopted these plans in order to provide competitive benefits to its upper level employees.

 

In some cases, the Committee has altered a proposed amount of a cash bonus or option grant to provide a particular award for excellent performance. This is an example of the discretion which is contemplated in the employment agreements between the Company and the named executive officers.

 

Currently, DUSA does not have any stated policy regarding an adjustment or recovery of awards or payments if a performance measure upon which such award or payment may have been based were to be restated.

 

Perquisites - As provided in his employment agreement, DUSA provides its President and Chief Executive Officer with local housing, including utilities, since his permanent residence is in a state different from the location of DUSA’s principal offices in Massachusetts. In addition, DUSA covers the amount of tax that the officer pays on the amount of the rent which constitutes compensation to him. This form of compensation did affect the level of base salary that the officer was offered and agreed upon when he joined DUSA in 2005.

 

Other Compensation -

 

Generally Available Benefits

 

We provide the following benefits to our named executive officers generally on the same basis as the benefits provided to all employees:

 

 

We believe that these benefits are consistent with those offered by other similarly situated companies.

 

Severance Benefits

 

All of the named executive officers have a provision in their employment agreements providing for a severance benefit equal to twelve (12) months of the officer’s then current salary. DUSA has received information from its employment consultant that the provision of twelve (12) months severance for termination without cause is relatively common, and DUSA believes that the provision assists it in attracting key management to the Company.

 

Change of Control

 

DUSA provides a change of control provision in its named executive officers’ employment agreements. The provision provides for the payment of three (3) times an officer’s then current salary under certain change of control circumstances. DUSA believes that the change of control provisions would serve to retain DUSA’s senior management talent and to focus management’s attention on DUSA’s operations during a change of control transaction. DUSA also provided a change of control provision in a consulting agreement with its former Chairman of the Board. The provision provides for the payment of three (3) times the consultant’s annual consulting fee under certain change of control circumstances subject to certain terms and conditions.

 

Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code impose certain adverse tax consequences on compensation treated as excess parachute payments. An executive is treated as having received excess parachute payments if he receives compensatory payments or benefits that are contingent on a change in control, and the aggregate amount of such payments and benefits equal or exceeds three times the executive’s base amount. The portion of the payments and benefits in excess of one times base amount are treated as excess parachute payments and are subject to a 20% excise tax, in addition to any applicable federal income and employment taxes. Also, our compensation deduction in respect of the executive’s excess parachute payments is disallowed. If we were to be subject to a change of control, certain amounts received by our executives could be excess parachute payments under Section 380G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Deferred Compensation

 

On the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, DUSA adopted the DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) effective October 18, 2006. The Plan is intended to be a non-qualified, supplemental retirement plan. It is intended primarily for the purpose of allowing a select group of management, including the named executive officers and members of the Board of Directors (the “Participants”) the option of having a portion of their compensation deferred, pursuant to Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and, as such, to be exempt from the provisions of Parts II, III, and IV of Title I of ERISA. Participants may defer up to 80% of their compensation. A Participant will be 100% vested in all of the amounts he or she defers as well as in the earnings attributable to a Participant’s deferred account. A Participant may elect to receive distributions from the deferred account at various times, either in a lump sum or in up to ten annual installments. DUSA’s obligation to pay the Participant an amount from his or her deferred account is an unsecured promise and benefits will be paid out of the general assets of the Company. While DUSA has established a Rabbi Trust to segregate the Participants’ deferred amounts, the Participants will be general creditors of DUSA. The Compensation Committee acts as the administrator of the Plan. The trustee of the Participants’ deferred accounts is Bankers Trust Company. Although, as noted above, this plan has been suspended for lack of enrollees, we believe that this plan is beneficial in assisting DUSA to retain and attract key individuals for the long-term benefit of the Company.

 

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code requires that “nonqualified deferred compensation” be deferred and paid under plans or arrangements that satisfy the requirements of the statute with respect to the timing of deferral elections, timing of payments and certain other matters. Failure to satisfy these requirements can expose employees and other service providers to accelerated income tax liabilities and penalty taxes and interest on their vested compensation under such plans. It is our intention to design and administer our compensation and benefits plans and arrangements for all of our employees and other service providers, including the named executive officers, so that they are either exempt from, or satisfy the requirements of, Section 409A. With respect to our compensation and benefit plans that are subject to Section 409A, in accordance with Section 409A and regulatory guidance issued by the IRS, we are currently operating such plans in compliance with Section 409A based upon our good faith, reasonable interpretation of the statute and the IRS’s regulatory guidance.

 

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the contents of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with the Company’s management. Based on this review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

By the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

 

John H. Abeles, MD

David M. Bartash

Alexander W. Casdin

Jay M. Haft, Esq. (Chairman)

Marvin E. Lesser

Richard C. Lufkin

Magnus Moliteus

 

 

 

The name, age, current position and date first elected as an executive officer of the Company of each executive officer who is not a director of the Company is listed below, followed by summaries of their backgrounds and principal occupations. Executive officers are elected annually, and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Mark C. Carota has been employed by the Company since October 1999 and has served as our Vice President, Operations since February 2000. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Carota was Director of Operations from November 1998 to October 1999 for Lavelle, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of orthopedic instrumentation. From July 1998 to November 1998, Mr. Carota was employed as Director of Quality Assurance by CGI Inc. Prior to joining CGI Inc., Mr. Carota was employed by Allergan Inc. from February 1997 to July 1998 where he had responsibility for quality assurance, engineering and facilities.

 

Richard C. Christopher has been employed by the Company since December 2000 and has served as our Vice President, Finance and CFO since January 2005. Prior to his promotion to his current position in January 2005, he held the positions of Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis from January 2004 to January 2005 and Director, Financial Analysis from December 2000 to January 2004. Prior to joining the Company, he was the North American Cost Accounting Manager for Grace Construction Products, a unit of W.R. Grace & Co., from April 1999 to December 2000. Prior to joining Grace Construction Products, Mr. Christopher was employed by the Boston Edison Company from March 1996 to April 1999.

Scott L. Lundahl has been employed by the Company since May 1998 and has served as our Vice President, Intellectual Property and Regulatory Affairs since January 2004. In addition to his current position, he has held the positions of Vice President, Technology and Director of Technology Development. In 1994, Mr. Lundahl co-founded and became Vice President of Lumenetics, Inc., a privately-owned medical device development company, which, prior to May 1998, provided the Company with consulting services in the light device technology area.

 

Stuart L. Marcus, MD, Ph.D has been employed by the Company as our Vice President, Scientific Affairs and Chief Medical Officer since October 1993. Prior to joining the Company, he was Director of the Hematology/Oncology Department of Daiichi Pharmaceuticals Inc., and prior thereto he held positions in the Medical Research Division of the American Cyanamid Company, directing photodynamic therapy clinical development, among other assignments.

 

William F. O’Dell has been employed by the Company as our Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing since April 2006. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. O’Dell was Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Business Development at West Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from October 2005 to April 2006. Mr. O’Dell also served at West Pharmaceuticals as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Americas Region from January 2002 to October 2005 and as Vice President of Global Marketing from December 1999 to December 2001.

 

Michael J. Todisco, CPA, has been employed by the Company since May 2005 and has served as our Vice President, Controller since September 2006. Prior to his promotion to his current position, he held the position of Controller. Prior to joining the Company, he was the Director of Finance at Art Technology Group, Inc. from March 2003 through May 2005. Prior to joining Art Technology Group, Mr. Todisco was the Director of Treasury Services at American Tower Corporation from March 2001 through March 2003.

 

The following table shows, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, certain information regarding the annual and long-term compensation paid by DUSA to those persons who were, at any time during the year (i) our principal executive officer, (ii) our principal financial officer, and (iii) the three most highly compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer and principal financial officer who were serving DUSA at the end of the year. All amounts are stated in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. For more information about the elements of each named executive officer’s compensation, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DUSA’s named executive officers each have employment agreements with DUSA. The material terms of these agreements are discussed under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control.”

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table provides information about equity and non-equity awards granted to the named executive officers for 2009.

 

 

 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards for our named executive officers at December 31, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

The following table shows information with respect to each named executive officer regarding the value of options exercised during 2009. No shares were acquired on exercise of any options for any of the named executive officers during 2009.

 

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

 

The following table shows that none of the named executive officers are currently participating in the DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, an unfunded, unsecured deferred compensation plan:

 

 

The Company has employment agreements with each of its named executive officers. According to the terms of these agreements, the named executive officers are entitled to receive compensation as determined by the Board of Directors and are eligible to receive the benefits generally made available to employees of the Company. The Company may terminate any of these agreements at any time, with or without cause on sixty (60) days prior written notice. If employment is terminated without cause, the Company has agreed to pay a severance allowance equivalent to twelve (12) months of the named executive officer’s then-current base salary payable in either: (i) a lump sum, within sixty (60) days following the date of termination; or (ii) equal monthly installments, depending on the terms of the named executive officer’s employment agreement.

 

In the event a named executive officer should die while employed by the Company, his heirs or beneficiaries will be entitled to any Company paid death benefits in force at the time of such death and will also be entitled to exercise any vested but unexercised stock options which were held by him at the time of his death, within a period of one (1) year from the date of death.

 

These employment agreements also provide for certain severance benefits following a change in control of the Company and termination of employment. Upon any “change of control,” as defined in the agreements, the Company shall pay to the named executive officer a lump sum payment equal to three (3) times his base salary for the last fiscal year within five (5) days after such termination. In addition, Mr. Doman’s agreement provides that he shall be entitled to receive a change of control payment equal to three (3) times his base salary less the amount of salary paid from the date of the consummation of the change of control to the effective date of a termination, if the termination is effective within the three years of the change of control.

 

Under the Company’s equity plans, upon a change of control, unless the Company determines otherwise, all outstanding options not fully vested automatically accelerate and become immediately exercisable and the restrictions and conditions on all outstanding stock awards immediately lapse. The date on which such accelerated vesting, immediate exercisability and lapse of restrictions and conditions would occur, is the date of the occurrence of the change of control.

ESTIMATED TERMINATION PAYMENT

 

The table below reflects amounts payable to the named executive officers, assuming that their employment was terminated on December 31, 2009, both prior to and following a change in control of the Company, or assuming a change in control of the Company occurred on December 31, 2009.