UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

 

 

 

 

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XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting (the “Meeting”) of the holders of common shares (“Common Shares”) of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Xenon” or the “Corporation”) will be held at the offices of McCarthy Tétrault LLP at Suite 2400 – 745 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT) for the following purposes:

The accompanying Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular provides additional information as to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting and is deemed to form a part of this Notice. Shareholders of record at the close of business on April 4, 2017 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting.

Registered shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting in person and who wish to ensure that their Common Shares will be voted at the Meeting are requested to complete, date and execute the enclosed form of proxy and deliver it in accordance with the instructions set out in the form of proxy and in the Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular.

Proxies to be used at the Meeting must be received by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, not later than 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 (or, if the Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, preceding the time of such adjourned Meeting). Proxies may be submitted by one of the following alternative methods:

By Internet: http://www.voteproxy.com and follow the on-screen instructions or scan the QR code provided on the form of proxy;

By Telephone: 1-800-PROXIES (1-800-776-9437) (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-718-921-8500 and enter the 11 digit control number printed on the form of proxy;

By Email: Complete, date and sign your proxy and email a scanned copy to proxy@amstock.com;

By Fax: Complete, date and sign your proxy and fax a copy to 718-765-8730; or

By Mail: Complete, date and sign your proxy and mail a copy to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, United States.

 

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If you hold your Common Shares in a brokerage account you are not a registered shareholder. Non-registered shareholders who plan to attend the Meeting must follow the instructions set out in the voting instruction form provided to them by their broker or other intermediary to ensure that their Common Shares will be voted at the Meeting.

DATED at Burnaby, British Columbia this 27^th day of April, 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

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XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

PROXY STATEMENT AND

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

to be held on Thursday, June 1, 2017

GENERAL PROXY INFORMATION

Information in this Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular (this “Circular”) is provided as of April 4, 2017, unless otherwise indicated. In this Circular, “we”, “us”, “our”, “Xenon” and the “Corporation” refers to Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Xenon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. All references in this Circular to “$” or “USD$” are to U.S. dollars and all references to “CAD$” are to Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. “Xenon,” the Xenon logo, and “Extreme Genetics” are trademarks of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. They are registered in the United States and used or registered in various other jurisdictions.

Solicitation of Proxies

This Circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the board of directors and management of the Corporation for use at the annual meeting (the “Meeting”) of shareholders of the Corporation to be held at the offices of McCarthy Tétrault LLP at Suite 2400 – 745 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT). The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Corporation. The address of the principal executive office of Xenon is 200 – 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 4W8, Canada. This Circular, the accompanying notice and the enclosed form of proxy are expected to first be mailed to shareholders on or about Thursday, April 27, 2017.

Management expects that proxies will be solicited primarily by mail. Employees and directors of Xenon may also solicit proxies personally or by telephone. If you hold your common shares of the Corporation (the “Common Shares”) in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee, please see the section of this Circular entitled “Beneficial Shareholders” below.

Appointment of Proxyholders

The persons named in the accompanying form of proxy are officers of the Corporation.

A shareholder has the right to appoint a person or company to attend and act for the shareholder and on that shareholder’s behalf at the Meeting other than the persons designated in the enclosed form of proxy. A shareholder wishing to exercise this right should strike out the names now designated in the enclosed form of proxy and insert the name of the desired person or company in the blank space provided. The desired person need not be a shareholder of the Corporation.

Only a registered shareholder at the close of business on April 4, 2017 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to vote, or grant proxies to vote, his, her or its Common Shares at the Meeting.

If your Common Shares are registered in your name, then you are a registered shareholder. However, if, like most shareholders, you keep your Common Shares in a brokerage account, then you are a beneficial shareholder. The process for voting is different for registered shareholders and beneficial shareholders. Registered shareholders and beneficial shareholders should carefully read the instructions herein if they wish to vote their Common Shares at the Meeting.

Voting of Shares Represented by Proxy

Proxies can be voted on a vote by show of hands or on a vote where a poll is required. All Common Shares represented by proxy will be voted for, voted against or withheld from voting on each motion, as applicable, on which a poll is taken at the Meeting in accordance with the direction of the shareholder who completed the proxy.

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If the persons designated in the enclosed form of proxy are appointed as proxy holders and no choice is specified by the shareholder, the Common Shares represented by such proxy will be voted FOR the matters described herein. The form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to amendments or variations to matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Meeting and to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. If any matters which are not now known should properly come before the Meeting, persons named in the form of proxy will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgement. At the time of printing this Circular, management of the Corporation is not aware of any amendment, variation or other matters which are to come before the Meeting other than those matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Meeting.

Validity of Proxy

Proxies to be used at the Meeting must be received by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, in accordance with the instructions contained in the accompanying form of proxy, not later than 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 (or, if the Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, preceding the time of such adjourned Meeting). A proxy form will not be valid unless completed and deposited in accordance with the instructions set out in the enclosed form of proxy.

Revocation of Proxies

A registered shareholder executing the accompanying form of proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised. The revocation of a proxy by a registered shareholder may be effected by the registered shareholder either (a) attending the Meeting and voting in person, or (b) giving written notice of the revocation executed by the registered shareholder in the same manner as provided for the deposit of the instrument of proxy. To be effective, the written notice of revocation must be deposited (i) with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, in the manner for the deposit of proxies set forth herein and in the accompanying form of proxy or at the registered office of the Corporation at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, or (ii) with the Chair of the Meeting, on the date of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, and upon deposit the proxy will be revoked. A proxy may also be revoked by the giving of a subsequent proxy with a later date. To be effective, the subsequent proxy must be deposited (i) (in original form or by internet, telephone, email or fax in accordance with the instructions in the proxy) at any time up to 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, May 31, 2017; or (ii) at the Meeting, with the Chair of the Meeting before the commencement of the Meeting (or any adjournment thereof).

Beneficial Shareholders

The following information is of significant importance to shareholders who do not hold Common Shares in their own name. If Common Shares are listed in an account statement provided to a shareholder by an intermediary, then in almost all cases those Common Shares will not be registered in the shareholder’s name on the records of the Corporation and such shareholder will be considered a beneficial shareholder. Such Common Shares will more likely be registered under the names of the shareholder’s intermediary or an agent of that intermediary. In the United States, the vast majority of shares are registered under the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (which acts as depositary for many U.S. brokerage firms and custodian banks), and in Canada, under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms).

Beneficial shareholders should note that the only proxies that can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting are those deposited by registered shareholders (those whose names appear on the records of the Corporation as the registered holders of Common Shares). Beneficial shareholders who wish to vote their Common Shares at the Meeting should follow the instructions set out in this section.

Beneficial shareholders will receive instructions from their intermediary as to how to vote their Common Shares. Every intermediary has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients. Beneficial shareholders who wish to vote at the Meeting should follow the instructions of their intermediary carefully to ensure that their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting. Generally, intermediaries will provide beneficial shareholders with either: (a) a voting instruction form for completion and execution by the beneficial shareholder, or (b) a proxy form, executed by the intermediary and restricted to the number of Common Shares owned by the beneficial shareholder, but otherwise uncompleted. These procedures permit beneficial shareholders to direct the voting of the Common Shares that they beneficially own.

If a beneficial shareholder wishes to attend and vote in person at the Meeting, he, she or it must insert their own name in the space provided for the appointment of a proxyholder on the voting instruction form or proxy form provided by the intermediary, and carefully follow the intermediary’s instructions for return of the executed form or other method of response.

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If a beneficial shareholder does not provide voting instructions to its intermediary, the beneficial shareholder’s Common Shares will not be voted at the Meeting on any matter on which the intermediary does not have discretionary authority to vote. Under current rules, certain intermediaries may not have discretionary authority to vote Common Shares at the Meeting on matters relating to the election of directors. We encourage all beneficial shareholders to provide instructions to the securities broker, financial institution, trustee, custodian or other nominee who holds Common Shares on their behalf by carefully following the instructions provided.

Voting and Broker Non-Votes

All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative, negative and withheld votes. Withheld votes represent a shareholder’s affirmative choice to decline to vote on the applicable matter.

Broker non-votes occur when a broker or intermediary holding Common Shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular matter because such intermediary does not have discretionary authority to vote on that matter and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Intermediaries typically do not have discretionary authority to vote on non-routine matters. Under the securities laws of the U.S., and the applicable rules (the “NYSE Rules”) of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), which apply to all NYSE-licensed intermediaries who have record ownership of listed company stock (including stock such as our Common Shares that are listed on The NASDAQ Global Market (the “NASDAQ”)), intermediaries have discretionary authority to vote on routine matters when they have not received timely voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Items 3 and 4 (Appointment and Remuneration of Auditor) set forth in the Notice of Meeting are considered “routine” matters under NYSE Rules and, as such, we do not expect to receive any broker non-votes at the Meeting on these matters. Item 2 in the Notice of Meeting (election of directors) is considered a non-routine matter on which the intermediaries do not have discretionary authority to vote and broker non-votes could result.

Quorum

The quorum for the Meeting shall be one person present in person holding or representing by proxy not less than 33⅓% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares entitled to be voted at the Meeting. Only a shareholder of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote, or grant proxies to vote, his, her or its Common Shares at the Meeting (subject, in the case of voting by proxy, to the timely deposit of his, her or its executed form of proxy as described herein). Broker non-votes are included in the calculation of the number of votes considered to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, but otherwise will not affect the voting outcome of the matters to be acted upon at the Meeting.

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VOTING SHARES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SHARES

The authorized capital of the Corporation consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares issuable in series. Our Common Shares are listed for trading on the NASDAQ. As of the Record Date, the Corporation had 17,996,680 Common Shares and no preferred shares issued and outstanding.

At the Meeting, each holder of Common Shares as of the Record Date is entitled to one vote per Common Share held in connection with each matter to be acted upon at the Meeting. Item 2, electing the directors, and Item 3, appointing the auditor (each item as set out in the Notice of Meeting), must receive votes cast “FOR” such Items by holders of our Common Shares, in person or by proxy at the Meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), in order to be passed. Item 4 in the Notice of Meeting, authorizing our Audit Committee of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) to fix the remuneration to be paid to KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants (“KPMG”), must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the Common Shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) and cast on the item in order to be passed. There are no broker non-votes expected on Items 3 or 4. An automated system administered by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC tabulates the votes.

To the knowledge of the directors and officers of the Corporation, as of the Record Date, no person (or group of persons) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, shares carrying more than 5% of the voting rights attached to any class of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the Meeting, except the following:

 

 

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EXPENSES

Xenon will pay all of the expenses of soliciting proxies for management. In addition to the mailing of the proxy material, such solicitation may be made in person or by telephone by directors, officers and employees of Xenon, whose directors, officers and employees will receive no compensation for such solicitation other than their regular salaries or fees. Xenon also will make arrangements with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxy materials to beneficial owners. Xenon will, upon request, reimburse these institutions for their reasonable charges and expenses incurred in forwarding this proxy material to beneficial owners of Common Shares.

PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON

 

 

ITEM 1 – RECEIPT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The audited annual financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the report of the auditor will be placed before shareholders at the Meeting.

ITEM 2 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The directors of the Corporation are elected each year at the annual meeting of the Corporation and hold office until their successors are elected or appointed. The Board proposes to nominate each of the nine persons listed below for election as a director of the Corporation and the persons named as proxyholders in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote for the election of these nominees. The current term of office for each of our current directors will end at the conclusion of the Meeting.

Each nominee elected to the Board at the Meeting will hold office until the next annual meeting of the Corporation, subject to earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

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The following table sets out the names of the nominees for election as directors of the Corporation, all major offices and positions with the Corporation each now holds, each nominee’s principal occupation, business or employment for the five preceding years, the period of time during which each has been a director of the Corporation and the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by each nominee, directly or indirectly, or over which each exercised control or direction, in accordance with National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations, as of the Record Date.

 

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YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS:

 

A VOTE “FOR” ELECTION OF THE PROPOSED DIRECTORS

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Penalties, Sanctions and Orders

As at the date of this Circular and within the past 10 years, other than disclosed herein, no proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation:

Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) Gary Patou was a director of Oscient Pharmaceuticals, Corp. (“Oscient”) and ceased to be a director of that company effective October 21, 2008. Oscient filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts on July 13, 2009; (b) Mohammad Azab was a director of Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. (“Chemokine”) and ceased to be a director of that company effective December 4, 2007. On December 5, 2008, Chemokine and its subsidiary Chemokine (B.C.) Ltd. filed Notices of Intention to make proposals under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, and a trustee was subsequently appointed under said proposals. Such proposals and the sale of Chemokine and Chemokine (B.C.) Ltd.’s assets were approved by orders of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. In addition, a Chapter 15 petition was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, and by order on April 28, 2009, the U.S. Court recognized the prior Canadian order. Cease trade orders were issued against Chemokine by the Manitoba Securities Commission on April 20, 2009 and the Alberta Securities Commission on July 9, 2009; and (c) Frank Holler was a director of Allon Therapeutics Inc. (“Allon”) and ceased to be a director of that company effective July 16, 2013. On July 5, 2013, Allon made a proposal to its creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and a reorganization of its share structure was approved by order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Following such Supreme Court approval, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Allon were acquired by Paladin Labs Inc. The common shares of Allon were delisted from the TSX on June 28, 2013. Mr. Holler was a director of Contech Enterprises Inc. (“Contech”) until March 6, 2015. On December 23, 2014, Contech made a proposal to its creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and a reorganization of its capital structure was approved by an order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on January 27, 2015. This proposal was intended to facilitate a financing by a new lender and a debt restructuring that, together, would enable Contech to carry on its business profitably for the foreseeable future. However, on March 6, 2015, the Court of Appeal overturned the approval of the proposal by the Supreme Court of British Columbia and Contech was automatically deemed bankrupt. On March 20, 2015, Deloitte Restructuring Inc. was appointed Receiver Manager of Contech by the Supreme Court of British Columbia and then proceeded to sell certain assets of Contech and to distribute the net proceeds from such sales to certain secured creditors. On February 25, 2016, the Supreme Court of British Columbia approved a final distribution to certain secured creditors, the fees and disbursements of the Receiver and its legal counsel and the discharge of Deloitte. The bankruptcy and receivership have now been finalized.

No proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation has been subject to:

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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date for:

The percentage of beneficial ownership shown in the table is based upon 17,996,680 Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date.

Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, executive officer and, to the knowledge of the Corporation, each beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Shares. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules take into account Common Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options that are either immediately exercisable or exercisable on or before the 60^th day after the Record Date. These Common Shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the persons holding the stock options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the beneficial ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Common Shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable common property laws.

Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each person or entity listed in the table is c/o Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 200 - 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 4W8.

 

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Information about the Board and Corporate Governance

Our Board oversees the management of the business and affairs of Xenon as required under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ and under applicable Canadian laws. Our Board conducts its business through meetings of the Board and three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. A copy of the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines is attached hereto as Schedule A.

Our Board has established guidelines for determining director independence, and all current directors, with the exception of Drs. Pimstone and Hayden, have been determined by our Board to be independent under applicable NASDAQ rules, the Board’s governance principles and Canadian securities laws. Dr. Pimstone is not considered independent due to his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Dr. Hayden is not considered independent due to his role as the Chief Scientific Officer and President of Global Research & Development of Teva, with whom the Corporation has an active collaboration agreement.

Xenon has also adopted a written Code of Conduct in order to help directors, officers and employees resolve ethical issues in an increasingly complex business environment. The Code of Conduct applies to all of our and our subsidiaries’ directors, officers and employees. The Code of Conduct covers topics including, but not limited to, conflicts of interest, confidentiality and compliance with laws. In addition, our Board adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines as a framework within which the Board and its committees conduct business. The Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer is responsible for overseeing and monitoring compliance with the Code of Conduct. The Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer reports directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer with respect to these matters and also will make periodic reports to the Corporation’s Audit Committee regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the Code of Conduct as well as the policies and procedures put in place to ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct.

In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews actual and potential conflicts of interests of officers and members of our Board, other than related party transactions, which are reviewed by our Audit Committee. The Corporation is committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and this philosophy is continually communicated by our Board to management which in turn is emphasized to the employees of the Corporation on a continuous basis.

A copy of the most up-to-date version of our Code of Conduct is available within the “Investors” section on Xenon’s website located at http://www.xenon-pharma.com and on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. A copy of our Code of Conduct is also available free of charge in print to any shareholder upon written request to 200 – 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 4W8, Canada, Attention: Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations.

Risk Management

Our Board has an active role, as a whole and also at the committee level, in overseeing the management of our risks. Our Board is responsible for general oversight of risks and regular review of information regarding our risks, including credit risks, liquidity risks and operational risks. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to our executive compensation plans and arrangements. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to accounting matters and financial reporting. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks associated with the independence of our Board and potential conflicts of interest. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire Board is regularly informed through discussions from committee members about such risks. Our Board believes its administration of its risk oversight function has not affected the Board’s leadership structure.

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Meetings

Our Board held six (6) meetings in 2016. Michael Tarnow, Frank Holler, Steven Gannon, Gary Patou, Richard Scheller and Simon Pimstone attended each of these meetings. Mohammad Azab attended five (5) of these meetings. Michael Hayden attended three (3) of these meetings. Dawn Svoronos attended the one (1) meeting that was held after she was appointed a director of the Board. Other than Dr. Hayden, no director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and the committees of which he or she was a member.

The three standing Board committees met the number of times shown in parentheses: Audit Committee (4); Compensation Committee (5); and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (2). Each incumbent director attended all meetings of all Board committees on which they served during such period. Xenon has a formal policy regarding attendance by directors at its annual meetings of shareholders which states that all directors are expected to attend, provided that a director who is unable to attend such a meeting is expected to notify the Chair of the Board in advance of any such meeting. Four (4) directors attended Xenon’s 2016 annual general meeting.

Our Board held two (2) meetings in 2017 up to the Record Date. All directors attended both meetings, except for Richard Scheller who attended one (1) of them.

Committees of the Board

Our Board currently has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee. Our Board has not adopted descriptions for the positions of Chair of the Board or Chair for each of the Board committees; however the roles and responsibilities for each of the committees of the Board is set forth in the charter for each committee of the Board, which are summarized below.

Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process. Among other matters, our Audit Committee:

The current members of our Audit Committee are Frank Holler, Steven Gannon and Michael Tarnow. Mr. Holler serves as the chair of our Audit Committee. All members of our Audit Committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ and under applicable Canadian securities laws. Each of Mr. Holler (chair) and Mr. Gannon is an Audit Committee financial expert, as that term is defined under the SEC rules implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and possesses financial sophistication, as defined under NASDAQ rules. Under the rules of the SEC and NASDAQ, members of our Audit Committee must also meet heightened independence standards. Our Board has determined that each of Frank Holler (chair), Steven Gannon and Michael Tarnow meet these heightened independence standards, as well as the independence standards of Canadian securities laws. See the biographies for each member of our Audit Committee under the section of this Circular entitled “Item 2 – Election of Directors” for more information regarding their respective skills and experience with respect to financial statements, accounting principles and financial reporting.

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Our Audit Committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ and applicable Canadian securities laws. The Audit Committee’s current charter is attached hereto as Schedule B and is available under the “Investors” tab on Xenon’s website at http://www.xenon-pharma.com. The Corporation will disclose any amendments to, or waivers of, the charter on its website at http://www.xenon-pharma.com in accordance with applicable law and the requirements of the NASDAQ corporate governance standards.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees and assists our Board in reviewing and recommending nominees for election as directors. Among other matters, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

The current members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Gary Patou, Michael Tarnow and Dawn Svoronos. Dr. Patou serves as the Chair of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each member of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is an independent director under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ and applicable Canadian securities laws.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ and applicable Canadian securities laws. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s current charter is available under the “Investors” tab on Xenon’s website at http://www.xenon-pharma.com. The Corporation will disclose any amendments to, or waivers of, the charter on its website at http://www.xenon-pharma.com in accordance with applicable law and the requirements of the NASDAQ corporate governance standards.

Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee oversees our compensation policies, plans and benefits programs. Among other matters, our Compensation Committee:

The current members of our Compensation Committee are Mohammad Azab, Gary Patou and Richard Scheller. Dr. Azab serves as the Chair of our Compensation Committee. Each of the members of our Compensation Committee is an independent director under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ and applicable Canadian securities laws and an outside director within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). See the biographies for each member of our Compensation Committee under the section of this Circular entitled “Item 2 – Election of Directors” for more information regarding their respective skills and senior management and board experience related to compensation policies and practices in our industry.

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Our Compensation Committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ and applicable Canadian securities laws. Our Compensation Committee’s current charter is available under the “Investors” tab on Xenon’s website at http://www.xenon-pharma.com. The Corporation will disclose any amendments to, or waivers of, the charter on its website at http://www.xenon-pharma.com in accordance with applicable law and the requirements of the NASDAQ corporate governance standards.

Our Board may from time to time establish other committees.

Director Nominations

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies, selects and recommends to the Board individuals qualified to serve both on the Board and on Board committees, including persons suggested by shareholders and others. Please see “— Shareholder Recommendations for Nominations to the Board of Directors” below for additional information.

In identifying candidates for nominations to the Board, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to maintain at all times a Board with a diverse range of experience, talent, expertise and background appropriate for the business of the Corporation. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not require any specific minimum qualifications or specific qualities or skills, but reviews each person’s qualifications on the whole, including a candidate’s particular experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, business judgment, time availability in light of other commitments, dedication, conflicts of interest and such other relevant factors that our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers appropriate in the context of the needs of the Board. Following that review, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee then selects nominees and recommends them to the Board for election by the shareholders or appointment by the Board, as the case may be. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also reviews the suitability of each Board member for continued service as a director when that member’s term expires or that member experiences a significant change in status (for example, a change in employment). Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has not implemented any particular additional policies or procedures to address suggestions received from shareholders with respect to Board or committee nominees because the Committee intends to use the same criteria and manner of review to evaluate candidates (as outlined above), whether or not they are suggested by shareholders.

Pursuant to its charter, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may conduct or authorize investigations or studies into matters within its scope of responsibilities and may retain, at the Corporation’s expense, such independent counsel or other consultants or advisers as it may deem necessary from time to time.

The term of each director expires at the end of each annual meeting of shareholders, or when the successor of such director is elected or appointed to the Board, subject to earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal of such director. The Corporation does not impose term limits on its directors as it takes the view that term limits are an arbitrary mechanism for removing directors which can result in valuable, experienced directors being forced to leave the Board solely because of length of service. Instead, the Corporation believes that directors should be assessed based on their ability to continue to make a meaningful contribution. Our Board’s annual assessment of directors reviews the strengths and weaknesses of directors and is, in the Board’s view, together with annual elections by the shareholders, a more meaningful way to evaluate the performance of directors and to make determinations about whether a director should be removed due to under-performance.

Diversity

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that having a diverse Board and senior management team offers a depth of perspective and enhances Board and management operations. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes gender into consideration as part of its overall recruitment and selection process in respect of its Board and senior management. However, the Corporation does not have a formal policy on the representation of women on the Board or senior management of the Corporation as our Board does not believe that a formal policy will necessarily result in the identification or selection of the best candidates. In searches for new directors and senior management, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider the level of female representation and diversity on the Board and in management and this will be one of several factors used in its search process.

The Corporation has not yet set measurable objectives for achieving gender diversity. Our Board does not support fixed percentages for any selection criteria, as the composition of the Board is based on the numerous factors established by the selection criteria and it is ultimately the skills, experience, character and behavioral qualities that are most important in determining the value which an individual could bring to the Board. There are currently no female executive officers of the Corporation and one (1) of nine (9) directors on our Board is female.

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Shareholder Recommendations for Nominations to the Board of Directors

One or more shareholders holding in the aggregate not less than five per cent (5%) of our Common Shares may make a shareholder proposal for the nomination of a director in accordance with the requirements of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “CBCA”). Upon receipt of a proposal in compliance with the requirements of the CBCA, the Corporation must set out such proposal in the proxy statement and management information circular sent to shareholders in advance of the Corporation’s next annual meeting.

Nominations for directors not made in accordance with the shareholder proposal requirements of the CBCA shall be considered by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with the requirements of our by-laws. Under our by-laws, shareholders of record may nominate a candidate for election as a director at an annual meeting of the Corporation by submitting a notice to our Corporate Secretary not less than 30 days and not more than 65 days prior to an annual meeting; provided however that in the event that the annual meeting is held less than 50 days after the first public announcement of the annual meeting is made, notice by shareholders must be given to the Corporation not later than 10 days following the date of such public announcement. A notice providing a nomination must include, among other things, certain prescribed information about the nominee and the recommending shareholder; a certification by the recommending shareholder that the recommending shareholder’s notice does not contain an untrue statement and does not omit to state a material fact; and written consent of the nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, if elected. Shareholders should refer to Section 5.5 of our by-laws for more details relating to the requirements for such notice.

Any nomination or shareholder proposal for the nomination of directors should be sent in writing to 200 - 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5G 4W8, Canada, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Shareholder proposals for the nomination of a director at our 2018 annual meeting must be received by us on or before December 28, 2017 pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. Shareholders who do not wish to use the mechanism provided by the Exchange Act may submit proposals to be considered at the 2018 annual meeting of our shareholders under the provisions of the CBCA no later than January 26, 2018. Nominations for directors pursuant to our by-laws must be received by us no earlier than March 28, 2017 and no later than May 2, 2017 for consideration at the Meeting. Shareholders wishing to nominate a director for election should review the relevant provisions of the CBCA and our by-laws.

Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors

Shareholders wishing to communicate with a non-management member of our Board may do so by writing to such director, and mailing the correspondence to: Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 200 - 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5G 4W8, Canada, Attention: Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations. The Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations will forward the messages to the appropriate member of our Board.

Director Independence

Under NASDAQ rules, independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within a specified period of the completion of its initial public offering. In addition, NASDAQ rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and governance committees be independent. Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Under NASDAQ rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of that company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.

To be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors or any other board committee: (1) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries; or (2) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.

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Our Board has undertaken a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independence of directors and considered whether any director has a material relationship with us that could compromise his or her ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our Board has determined that none of Mohammad Azab, Steven Gannon, Frank Holler, Gary Patou, Michael Tarnow, Richard Scheller or Dawn Svoronos, being seven of our nine current directors, has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under NASDAQ rules and Canadian securities laws. Our Board also determined that Frank Holler (chair), Steven Gannon and Michael Tarnow, who comprise our Audit Committee, Mohammad Azab (chair), Gary Patou and Richard Scheller who comprise our Compensation Committee, and Gary Patou (chair), Michael Tarnow and Dawn Svoronos who comprise our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, satisfy the independence standards for those committees established by applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules and Canadian securities laws.

In making this determination, our Board considered the relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our Board deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our Common Shares by each non-employee director.

The Chair of our Board is Michael Tarnow. Michael Tarnow is “independent” as that term is defined under NASDAQ rules and Canadian securities laws. The roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our Board are currently separated in recognition of the differences between the two roles. We believe that it is in the best interests of our shareholders for the Board to make a determination regarding the separation or combination of these roles each time it elects a new Chair or appoints a Chief Executive Officer, based on the relevant facts and circumstances applicable at such time.

In accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines, meetings of the independent directors of the Corporation, without the presence of non-independent directors and members of management, are generally held following each regularly scheduled Board meeting and at such other times as requested by independent directors. The independent directors met four (4) times without the presence of non-independent directors and members of management during 2016. To date during 2017, our Board has met one (1) time without the presence of non-independent directors and members of management.

Orientation and Continuing Education

The Corporation has traditionally retained experienced people as directors and hence the orientation needed is minimized. When new directors are appointed, they are acquainted with the Corporation’s operations, its charters and policies, and the expectations of directors. All new and continuing directors are encouraged to review the Board materials prepared by the Corporation consisting of filings, the charters of the Board’s committees, the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Corporation’s Code of Conduct. Board meetings regularly include presentations or discussions with respect to the Corporation’s corporate governance policies. Board meetings generally also include presentations by the Corporation’s senior management in order to give the directors full insight into the Corporation’s operations.

Assessments

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee annually assesses the participation, contributions and effectiveness of the Chair and the individual members of the Board on an annual basis. Our Board also monitors the effectiveness of the Board and its committees and the actions of the Board as viewed by the individual directors and senior management.

Serving on other Boards

The following directors are also directors of the following public companies:

 

Michael Tarnow, Mohammad Azab, Michael Hayden, Gary Patou, Simon Pimstone, and Richard Scheller do not currently serve on the board of directors of any other publicly listed company.

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Overseeing the Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Simon Pimstone, our President and Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for managing the affairs of the Corporation. In accordance with its charter, our Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Board, annually establishes corporate objectives for our Chief Executive Officer and evaluates the performance our Chief Executive Officer against these corporate objectives. Our Board has not developed a written position description of the Chief Executive Officer role.

Director Compensation Policy for Fiscal Year 2016

In August 2013, our Board approved a policy (the “director compensation policy”) with respect to the compensation of directors that became effective on November 4, 2014 in connection with our initial public offering (the “IPO”), and replaced our previous director compensation policy. For the purposes of the director compensation policy, our Board classified each director into one of the three following categories: (1) a “management director” is a director who is also an officer or otherwise employed by us in a management role; (2) a “non-management director” is a director who is not an officer and not otherwise employed by us in a management role; and (3) the chair of the Board.

Non-management directors and the chair of our Board are eligible to receive compensation in the form of equity and cash under the director compensation policy, as described below. Management directors receive no compensation for their services on our Board.

In September 2015, our Board amended our director compensation policy (the “amended director compensation policy”) to change the currency of cash compensation from U.S. dollars to Canadian dollars and to increase the equity compensation component of the director compensation policy.

Equity Compensation

Pursuant to the amended director compensation policy, new directors receive an option to purchase 5,144 Common Shares upon joining the Board, each non-management director (including the chair of our Board) is eligible to receive, on an annual basis, an option to purchase 3,500 Common Shares and the chair of our Board is eligible to receive, on an annual basis, an option to purchase an additional 1,250 Common Shares.

The exercise price per share of each of the above grants will be the fair market value of one of our Common Shares (determined pursuant to our then-effective equity plan) on the date of the grant.

All of the above stock options granted to our non-management directors (including the chair of our Board) will be under our then-effective equity plan. The stock options underlying the above initial and annual grants to each non-management director will vest as to one-third of the total stock options on the one year anniversary of the grant date, one-third of the total stock options on the two year anniversary of the grant date and the balance of the total stock options on the three year anniversary of the grant date. The stock options underlying the additional grant to the chair of our Board will vest fully on the one year anniversary of the grant date.

The vesting of each grant described above will be subject to the recipient’s continued service as a director through each vesting date and the other terms and conditions of our then-effective equity plan and the applicable stock option agreement with that director.

Cash Compensation

Pursuant to the amended director compensation policy, for each fiscal year, each non-management director (including the chair of our Board) will receive an annual cash retainer of CAD$47,000 for serving on the Board. In addition to the annual retainer, the chair of our Board will receive an additional annual cash retainer of CAD$34,000.

The chairs of the three standing committees of our Board will be entitled to the following cash retainers for each fiscal year as follows:

 

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The non-chair members of the three standing committees of our Board will be entitled to the following cash retainers for each fiscal year as follows:

 

All cash payments will be payable in four equal installments on the date of our annual meeting and on the last day of the third month, sixth month and ninth month thereafter, during which such individual served as a director or chair of our Board or of the applicable committee (such payments to be prorated for service during a portion of such quarter).

All directors will be reimbursed for standard travel expenses incurred in their capacities as directors and/or committee members.

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation paid or accrued for services rendered to us by members of our Board for the year ended December 31, 2016. Dr. Simon Pimstone, our President and Chief Executive Officer, did not receive any additional compensation for service on our Board. Compensation paid or accrued for services rendered to us by Dr. Pimstone in his role as Chief Executive Officer is included in our disclosures related to executive compensation under the section of this Circular entitled “Executive Compensation.”

 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Year End

The following table sets forth information regarding all outstanding stock options held by our non-management directors as of December 31, 2016.

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Value Vested or Earned during 2016

The following table sets forth the value vested for all outstanding option-based and share-based awards and the value earned for all non-equity incentive compensation during the twelve month period ended December 31, 2016. In 2016, none of our non-management directors held any restricted shares or other share-based awards that were subject to vesting and none of our non-management directors were eligible to participate in a company-sponsored non-equity incentive compensation plan.

 

 

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Executive Officers

The following table sets forth information about our executive officers as of the Record Date:

 

The biography of Dr. Pimstone can be found under “Item 2 – Election of Directors.”  The biographies of our other executive officers are as follows:

Ian C. Mortimer, M.B.A., CPA, CMA has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 2013, and our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer since March 2015 and additionally as Corporate Secretary since June 2015. Prior to joining us, Mr. Mortimer served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Tekmira”) (now Arbutus Biopharma Corporation), a NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company, from 2007 until October 2013. Mr. Mortimer was responsible for all aspects of Tekmira’s finance and capital markets activities and led Tekmira’s listing on NASDAQ in 2010. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Mortimer was Chief Financial Officer at Inex Pharmaceuticals and held various other positions at Inex Pharmaceuticals from 1997 to 2004. Mr. Mortimer has an M.B.A. from Queen’s University, a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant.

Y. Paul Goldberg, MBChB, Ph.D., FRCPC has served as our Senior Vice President, Clinical Development since March 2017, as our Vice President, Clinical Development since February 2010, as our Senior Director, Clinical Biology and Target Discovery from 2002 until February 2010, as our Senior Director, Scientific Programs from 2001 until 2002, and as our Director and Senior Scientist from 2000 until 2002. Since 2000 Dr. Goldberg has also worked at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Medical Genetics as a Medical Geneticist, Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Goldberg received his MBChB and Ph.D. from the University of Cape Town, and he obtained his specialization in clinical genetics, FRCPC from the University of British Columbia.

Robin P. Sherrington, Ph.D. has served as our Senior Vice President, Business & Corporate Development since February 2012, as our Vice President, Business & Corporate Development from January 2010 to February 2012, and has held various positions in business development and other departments since joining us in March 2001. Prior to joining us, Dr. Sherrington worked at Pfizer, Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, as a neuroscientist from 1999 to 2001. Dr. Sherrington also previously served as Director of Neuroscience, from 1996 to 1999, at the biotechnology companies Axys Pharmaceuticals and Sequana Therapeutics. Prior to 1996 Dr. Sherrington was a post-doctoral fellow at University of Toronto and received his Ph.D. from the University College London, and his B.Sc. with honors from University of Reading.

Charles J. Cohen, Ph.D. has served as our Vice President, Biology since January 2008. Prior to joining us, Dr. Cohen worked at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Vertex”) as a Research Fellow II from 2004 to 2008. In this position he led biology teams targeting neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation. From 1986 to 2004, Dr. Cohen worked at Merck Research Laboratories (“MRL”). From 2000 to 2004, he served as Director of Neuroscience and was world-wide coordinator of MRL’s research on multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammation. From 1986 to 2000, Dr. Cohen was a member of the Ion Channel department, advancing to the level of Senior Investigator. Prior to MRL, Dr. Cohen served as a Senior Scientist at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Cohen received his Ph.D. in Biophysics and Theoretical Biology from the University of Chicago and received post-doctoral training in the Department of Cardiology at the University of Chicago and the Department of Physiology at Yale University.

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James R. Empfield, Ph.D. has served as our Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery since February 2016. Prior to joining us, Dr. Empfield served as Vice President, Drug Discovery and Chemistry; Co-Site Head of Research, Boston at Vertex from 2011 until August 2015. At Vertex, Dr. Empfield was jointly responsible for the entire Boston research organization and for delivery of lead optimization projects into preclinical development. From 2006 to 2011, Dr. Empfield was Director, CNS Chemistry Department at Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and held various other positions at Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals from 1990 to 2006. Dr. Empfield has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, a M.S. in Chemistry from Bucknell University and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Lebanon Valley College.

Raymond J. Winquist, Ph.D. has served as our Head, Translational Research since April 2016. Prior to joining us, Dr. Winquist served as Vice President, Integrated Biology; Co-Site Head for Research at Vertex from 2012 until August 2015. At Vertex, Dr. Winquist was jointly responsible for the entire Boston research organization and for delivery of lead optimization projects into preclinical development. Also at Vertex, Dr. Winquist was the Vice President, Integrated Biology from 2010 to 2012 and the Vice President of Pharmacology from 2005 to 2010. Dr. Winquist has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed his NIH postdoctoral fellowship in the department of Physiology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Winquist received his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned his Master’s degree from the school’s department of Physics.

Our executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our Board. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Discussion of Executive Compensation Practices

This discussion of our compensation program for named executive officers should be read in conjunction with the accompanying tables below and text disclosing the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the named executive officers. The information set forth in this discussion captioned “Discussion of Executive Compensation Practices” has been provided to comply with National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations and is not otherwise required to be disclosed by an emerging growth company pursuant to Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Executive Summary

This section discusses the principles underlying our policies and decisions with respect to the compensation of our executive officers and the most important factors relevant to an analysis of these policies and decisions. This section also describes the material elements of compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our “named executive officers” for 2016, consisting of the following persons:

Specifically, Dr. Pimstone, Mr. Mortimer and Dr. Empfield are included in this Circular as “named executive officers” for 2016 for purposes of Item 402 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC and National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Requirements. Our other most highly compensated executive officers, including Drs. Goldberg and Sherrington, are also included in this Circular as “named executive officers” for 2016 to comply with National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Requirements. However, neither Dr. Goldberg nor Dr. Sherrington shall be considered a “named executive officer” for purposes of Item 402 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC or any future disclosure requirements regarding “named executive officers” including, without limitation, disclosure required by Form 8-K. In addition, this section provides qualitative information regarding the manner and context in which compensation is awarded to and earned by our executive officers and is intended to place in perspective the data presented in the tables and narrative that follow.

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Our Compensation Committee oversees our policies governing the compensation of our executive officers. In this role, our Compensation Committee reviews and, following consultation with the remaining non-management directors, approves all compensation decisions relating to our executive officers. Our Compensation Committee consists of three members of our Board, all of whom have extensive experience in our industry and each of whom is an independent director. Our Compensation Committee uses its judgment and experience and considers the recommendations of our President and Chief Executive Officer when determining the amount and appropriate mix of compensation for each of our executive officers. Specifically, our President and Chief Executive Officer provides input and recommendations, via an annual review of executive performance and otherwise, regarding salary adjustments, the corporate and individual goals used to determine annual performance-based cash bonuses and appropriate equity incentive compensation levels. Our President and Chief Executive Officer provides input to the Compensation Committee on his own compensation, but has not had any control over setting the amount or mix of his compensation and is not present when the Compensation Committee discusses and determines his compensation. See the section of this Circular entitled “Information about the Board and Corporate Governance — Committees of the Board — Compensation Committee” for additional information as to the composition and skills of our Compensation Committee.

Our Compensation Committee periodically evaluates the need for revisions to our executive compensation program to ensure our program is competitive with the companies with which we compete for executive talent.

Objectives and Philosophy of Our Executive Compensation Program

The primary objectives of our Compensation Committee with respect to executive compensation are to:

To achieve these objectives, our Compensation Committee evaluates our executive compensation program with the goal of setting compensation at levels that are justifiable based on each executive’s level of experience, performance and responsibility and that our Compensation Committee believes are competitive with those of other companies in our industry and our region that compete with us for executive talent. In addition, our executive compensation program ties a portion of each executive’s overall compensation to the achievement of key corporate and for certain executives, to the achievement of individual goals. We provide a portion of our executive compensation in the form of stock options that vest over time, which we believe helps to retain our executives and aligns their interests with those of our shareholders by allowing them to participate in the longer term success of the Corporation as reflected in the appreciation of the price of our Common Shares.

Use of Compensation Consultants and Market Benchmarking

In designing our executive compensation program, our Compensation Committee considers publicly available compensation data for national and regional companies in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry to help guide its executive compensation decisions at the time of hiring and for subsequent adjustments in compensation. Our Compensation Committee has also retained the services of Radford, an Aon Hewitt company (“Radford”), an independent compensation consultant, to provide it with additional comparative data on executive compensation practices in our industry and to advise it on our executive compensation program generally. Although our Compensation Committee considers Radford’s advice and recommendations about our executive compensation program, our Compensation Committee ultimately makes its own decisions about these matters. None of our Compensation Committee members and none of our executive officers or directors have any relationship with Radford or the individual consultants employed by Radford. Radford has not provided any other services to the Corporation other than compensation consulting services to the Compensation Committee for executive compensation analysis and to management for non-executive compensation analysis. Our Compensation Committee has determined that no conflicts of interest exist between the Corporation and Radford.

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Radford was originally retained by the Corporation in 2013 and 2015 and was most recently retained in January 2017 to provide our Compensation Committee with comparative data showing where our total compensation and each element of our compensation ranked among (1)  public companies in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry generally, according to compensation data from Radford, and (2) a peer group of publicly traded companies in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry at a stage of development, market capitalization or company size comparable to ours at the time with which our Compensation Committee believed we competed for executive talent, according to publicly available compensation data.

The peer group is used for purposes of gathering data to compare against our existing executive compensation practices and for guiding future compensation decisions. Radford also makes suggestions for changes to our executive compensation practices based on the data they provide to us as well as compensation trends in our industry. However, although our Compensation Committee may consider peer group and other industry compensation data and the recommendations of Radford when making decisions related to executive compensation, to date, it has not made and does not intend to make adjustments to overall executive compensation or any element thereof solely or primarily either to target a specified threshold level of compensation or market benchmark within the peer group, our larger industry or some other group of comparable companies or to act on the recommendations of Radford.

For the 2015 annual compensation review, the companies included in the peer group in the Radford January 2015 analysis were Ardelyx, BIND Therapeutics, Bio Blast Pharma, Calithera Biosciences, Cerulean Pharma, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Dermira, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Endocyte, Epizyme, Flexion Therapeutics, Ignyta, Stemline Therapeutics, Arbutus Biopharma (formerly Tekmira Pharmaceuticals), TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals, Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Trevena, Verastem, Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Xencor and XOMA.

For the 2016 annual compensation review, the Compensation Committee confirmed that the peer group identified by Radford in January 2015 remained the same for 2016, reviewed the public disclosures made throughout 2015 by those companies and other relevant data, and performed an internal update of the data used in 2015.

In anticipation of its 2017 annual compensation review, the companies included in the peer group in the Radford 2017 analysis are Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Arbutus Biopharma, Asterias Biotherapeutics, Calithera Biosciences, Cidara Therapeutics, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Endocyte, Epizyme, Fate Therapeutics, Flex Pharma, Flexion Therapeutics, GlycoMimetics, Ignyta, Novan, Revance Therapeutics, Sierra Oncology, Stemline Therapeutics, Trevena and Zogenix.

The following table sets forth the fees paid to Radford in 2016 and 2015:

 

 

Annual Compensation Review Process

After the end of each calendar year, we evaluate each executive’s performance for the completed year. Our President and Chief Executive Officer, with respect to each executive other than himself, prepares a written evaluation based on his evaluation of the executives and input from others within the Corporation. Our President and Chief Executive Officer also prepares his own self-assessment. This process leads to a recommendation by our President and Chief Executive Officer to our Compensation Committee with respect to each executive officer, including himself, as to:

These recommendations are reviewed by our Compensation Committee and are taken into account when it makes a final determination on all such matters.

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Components of Our Executive Compensation Program

The primary elements of our executive compensation program are:

We do not have a formal or informal policy for allocating between long-term and short-term compensation, between cash and non-cash compensation or among different forms of non-cash compensation. Instead, our Compensation Committee, after reviewing information provided by Radford and other relevant data, determines subjectively what it believes to be the appropriate level and mix of the various compensation components. We generally strive to provide our executive officers with a balance of short-term and long-term incentives to encourage consistently strong performance. Ultimately, the objective in allocating between long-term and currently paid compensation is to ensure adequate base compensation to attract and retain personnel, while providing incentives to maximize long-term value for the Corporation and our shareholders. Therefore, we provide cash compensation in the form of base salary to meet competitive salary norms and reward good performance on an annual basis and in the form of bonus compensation to incent and reward superior performance based on specific annual goals. To further focus our executives on longer-term performance and the creation of shareholder value, we rely upon equity-based awards that vest over a meaningful period of time. In addition, we provide our executives with benefits that are generally available to our salaried employees and severance benefits to incentivize them to continue to strive to achieve shareholder value in connection with change of control situations.

Base salary

We use base salaries to recognize the experience, skills, knowledge and responsibilities of our employees, including our executive officers. Base salaries for our executive officers are typically established through arm’s length negotiation at the time the executive is hired, taking into account the position for which the executive is being considered and the executive’s qualifications, prior experience and prior salary. None of our executive officers is currently party to an employment agreement that provides for automatic or scheduled increases in base salary.

However, on an annual basis, our Compensation Committee reviews and evaluates, with input from our President and Chief Executive Officer, the need for adjustment of the base salaries of our executives based on changes and expected changes in the scope of an executive’s responsibilities, including promotions, the individual contributions made by and performance of the executive during the prior fiscal year, the executive’s performance over a period of years, overall labor market conditions, the relative ease or difficulty of replacing the executive with a well-qualified person, our overall growth and development as a company and general salary trends in our industry and among our peer group and where the executive’s salary falls in the salary range presented by that data. In making decisions regarding salary increases, we may also draw upon the experience of members of our Board with other companies. No formulaic base salary increases are provided to our executive officers, and we do not target the base salaries of our executive officers at a specified compensation level within our peer group or other market benchmark. All of our executive officer’s base salaries are benchmarked to the U.S. dollar, with Canadian resident executive officers paid in Canadian dollars and U.S. resident executive officers paid in U.S. dollars.

Please refer to the sections of this Circular entitled “— Summary Compensation Table” and “— Executive Employment Arrangements” for a listing of the base salaries of each of our named executive officers.

Annual Performance-Based Cash Bonuses

We have designed our annual performance-based cash bonus program to emphasize pay-for-performance and to reward our executive officers for (1) the achievement of specified annual corporate objectives and (2) the achievement of specified annual individual performance objectives for certain executives. Each executive officer is eligible to receive an annual performance-based cash bonus, which we refer to as an annual cash bonus, in an amount up to a fixed percentage of his base salary, or bonus percentage.

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The annual corporate objectives component of the annual cash bonus focuses on the achievement of specific research, clinical, regulatory, operational and financial milestones, with a focus on the advancement of our product candidates in preclinical and clinical development, the pursuit of various internal initiatives and ensuring the adequate funding of the Corporation. The corporate objectives are proposed by senior management each year in our annual operating plan that is reviewed and approved, following consultation with the non-management directors, by our Compensation Committee, with such modifications as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. In determining whether the corporate objectives for each year have been met, our Compensation Committee takes into consideration the percentage achievement of each specific corporate objective, including in circumstances where achievement of the particular goal was exceeded, as well as any additional objectives that were not contemplated when the corporate objectives were initially determined.

The annual individual performance objectives component of the annual cash bonus focuses on contributions made by each individual executive officer within their respective areas of responsibility that facilitate the achievement of our corporate objectives.

Our Compensation Committee has the authority to shift both corporate and individual goals to subsequent fiscal years and eliminate them from the current year’s bonus calculation if it determines that circumstances that were beyond the control of the executive were the primary cause of a goal being unattainable. The corporate and individual objectives are designed to require significant effort and operational success on the part of our executives and the Corporation, but also to be achievable with hard work and dedication.

Please see the section of this Circular entitled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation & Bonuses” for a summary of the bonus payments made to each executive officer.

Equity Incentive Awards

Our equity award program is the primary vehicle for offering long-term incentives to our executives. While we do not currently have any equity ownership guidelines for our executives, we believe that equity grants provide our executives with a strong link to our long-term performance, create an ownership culture and help to align the interests of our executives and our shareholders. Because our executives profit from stock options only if the price per share of our Common Shares increases relative to the stock option’s exercise price, we believe that stock options provide meaningful incentives to our executives to achieve increases in the value of our Common Shares over time. In addition, the vesting feature of our equity grants contributes to executive retention by providing an incentive to our executives to remain employed by us during the vesting period.

We use stock options to compensate our executive officers both in the form of initial grants in connection with the commencement of employment and generally on an annual basis thereafter. Our Compensation Committee may also make additional discretionary grants, typically in connection with the promotion of an employee, to reward an employee, for retention purposes or for other circumstances recommended by management. Typically, one quarter of the stock options that we grant to our executive officers vest on the one-year anniversary of grant, with the remaining three-quarters of the stock options vesting in equal monthly installments over the next three years. Vesting and exercise rights cease shortly after termination of employment, except in the case of mutual agreement, death or disability. Prior to the exercise of a stock option, the holder has no rights as a shareholder with respect to the Common Shares subject to such stock option, including voting rights or the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalents.

The exercise price of all stock options granted since the closing of our IPO is equal to the fair market value of our Common Shares on the date of grant, which generally is determined by reference to the closing market price of our Common Shares on the date of grant. It is our intention to grant equity awards on, at minimum, an annual basis.

In determining the size of the annual stock option grants to our executive officers, our Compensation Committee considers recommendations developed by Radford, including information regarding comparative stock ownership of and equity grants received by the executives in our peer group and our industry. In addition, our Compensation Committee considers our corporate performance, the potential for enhancing the creation of value for our shareholders, the amount of equity previously awarded to the executives and the vesting of such awards.

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Benefits and Other Compensation

We believe that establishing competitive benefit packages for our employees is an important factor in attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel. We maintain broad-based benefits that are provided to all employees, including medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long term disability insurance, paramedical coverage and contributions equivalent to 5% of base salary intended for retirement savings. All of our executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, in each case on the same basis as other employees. Certain of our executive officers are also entitled to supplemental long-term disability insurance, life insurance and critical illness insurance coverage that is not available to our other employees of the Corporation. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, we intend to continue to maintain our current benefits for our executive officers. Our Compensation Committee in its discretion may revise, amend or add to the executive officer’s benefits and perquisites if it deems it advisable.

In particular circumstances, we sometimes award cash signing bonuses when executive officers first join us or cash bonuses in connection with the achievement of major corporate objectives. Such cash signing bonuses typically must be repaid in full if the executive officer voluntarily terminates employment with us prior to the first anniversary of the date of hire. Whether a signing bonus is paid and the amount of the bonus is determined on a case-by-case basis under the specific hiring circumstances. For example, we will consider paying signing bonuses to compensate for amounts forfeited by an executive upon terminating prior employment, to assist with relocation expenses or to create additional incentive for an executive to join the Corporation in a position where there is high market demand. Cash bonuses made outside of our annual performance-based cash bonus program are sometimes awarded in connection with the achievement of major corporate objectives.

Severance and Change of Control Benefits

Pursuant to employment agreements we have entered into with our executive officers, our executive officers are entitled to specified benefits in the event of the termination of their employment under specified circumstances. Please refer to the section of this Circular entitled “— Executive Employment Arrangements — Termination Benefits” for a more detailed discussion of these benefits. We have provided estimates of the value of the severance payments and other benefits that would have been made or provided to executive officers under various termination circumstances under the section of this Circular entitled “— Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below.

We believe that providing these benefits helps us compete for executive talent. After reviewing the practices of companies represented in the compensation peer group, we believe that our severance and change of control benefits are generally in-line with severance packages offered to executives of the companies in our peer group.

Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Program

Our Compensation Committee has reviewed and evaluated the philosophy and standards on which our compensation plans have been developed and implemented across the Corporation. It is our belief that our compensation programs do not encourage inappropriate actions or risk taking by our executive officers. We do not believe that any risks arising from our employee compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation. In addition, we do not believe that the mix and design of the components of our executive compensation program encourage management to assume excessive risks. We believe that our current business process and planning cycle fosters the behaviors and controls that would mitigate the potential for adverse risk caused by the action of our executives, including the following:

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Limits on Hedging and Pledging

As part of our insider trading policy, all employees, including executive officers, and members of our Board are prohibited from engaging in transactions in publicly-traded options, such as puts and calls, and other derivative securities with respect to the Corporation’s securities. This prohibition extends to any hedging or similar transaction designed to decrease the risks associated with holding Corporation securities. Stock options, share appreciation rights, other securities issued pursuant to Corporation benefit plans or other compensatory arrangements with the Corporation, and broad-based index options, futures or baskets are not subject to this prohibition. Our insider trading policy also prohibits certain types of pledges of our securities by certain of our employees, including executive officers, and members of our Board, specifically holding our securities in margin accounts or pledging our securities as collateral for a loan.

Performance Graph

This performance graph shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or incorporated by reference into any filing of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

The following graph illustrates a comparison of the cumulative total shareholder return on our Common Shares from November 5, 2014, which is the date our Common Shares commenced trading on the NASDAQ, through December 31, 2016, to two indices: the NASDAQ Composite Index and the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100 on November 5, 2014, and that any dividends were reinvested. This comparison is not intended to forecast or be indicative of possible future performance of our Common Shares.

 

As outlined in the section of this Circular entitled “Discussion of Executive Compensation Practices,” the Compensation Committee evaluates the annual corporate objectives and provides bonuses and grants stock options based on performance against these objectives. The movement in the price of our Common Shares as compared to other indices is not considered wholly representative of the actions that our compensation program is designed to reward.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides information regarding the compensation of our named executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

 

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Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation & Bonuses

2016 Non-Equity Incentive Plan Payments

Our 2016 Non-Equity Incentive Plan provides our named executive officers with an opportunity for an annual incentive compensation payment upon consideration of achievement of our corporate and individual objectives. The target awards are set based on a percentage of the executive’s base salary. Please refer to the sections of this Circular entitled “— Summary Compensation Table” and “— Executive Employment Arrangements” for more detail. The annual non-equity incentive payments are then calculated by weighting corporate goal attainment and individual goal attainment for each named executive officer. For 2016, the corporate and individual weighting was 100% corporate for Dr. Pimstone, Mr. Mortimer and Dr. Sherrington and 75% corporate and 25% individual for Drs. Empfield and Goldberg.

Our 2016 corporate-level goals included: achievement of the TV-45070 project goals in our Teva partnership; continued execution on our Genentech Nav1.7 collaboration, including the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial; continued progress with our XEN801 program, including completion of a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in moderate to severe acne; selection of a development track candidate from our Nav1.6 program, which is focused on rare, severe childhood epilepsy disorders, to prepare for an Investigational New Drug Application filing in the first half of 2017; advancement of our next discovery program into late stage lead optimization; identification of our next target for discovery; continued progress in our genetics collaboration with Genentech; execution against our capital markets plan; and managing to budget.

Our Compensation Committee considered all of the information available to it at the time and determined that we achieved 70% of our 2016 corporate-level goals. In addition, our Compensation Committee determined that Drs. Empfield and Goldberg achieved 75% and 58% of their individual objectives, respectively. As a result, 70% of each named executive’s bonus eligibility, with the exception of Drs. Empfield and Goldberg who earned 71% and 67%, respectively, was earned for achievement of objectives during fiscal 2016.

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For 2016, the target incentive amounts and the aggregate annual payments earned by our named executive officers under our 2016 Non-Equity Incentive Plan were the following:

 

 

 

 

 

Our 2017 corporate-level objectives include: achievement of the TV-45070 project goals in our Teva partnership, including the top-line readout from the ongoing Phase 2b clinical trial; continued execution on our Genentech Nav1.7 collaboration, including the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial; continued progress with our XEN801 program, including the top-line readout from a Phase 2 clinical trial in moderate to severe acne; continued progress within our XEN901 Nav1.6 program, which is focused on rare, severe childhood epilepsy disorders, including the filing of an Investigational New Drug Application; advancement of our next discovery program into late stage lead optimization; identification of our next target for discovery; execution against our capital markets plan; and managing to budget.

 

2015 Non-Equity Incentive Plan Payments

Our 2015 Non-Equity Incentive Plan provides our named executive officers with an opportunity for an annual incentive compensation payment upon consideration of achievement of our corporate and individual objectives. The target awards are set based on a percentage of the executive’s base salary. Please refer to the sections of this Circular entitled “— Summary Compensation Table” and “— Executive Employment Arrangements” for more detail. The annual non-equity incentive payments are then calculated by weighting corporate goal attainment and individual goal attainment for each named executive officer. For 2015, the corporate and individual weighting was 100% corporate for Dr. Pimstone, Mr. Mortimer and Dr. Sherrington and 75% corporate and 25% individual for Drs. Goldberg and Cohen.

Our 2015 corporate-level goals included: achievement of the TV-45070 project goals in our Teva partnership; continued execution on our Genentech collaboration; initiation of a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial for XEN801; continued progress towards the selection of a development track candidate from our Nav1.6 Dravet Syndrome program focused on rare, severe childhood epilepsy disorders; identifying our next ion channel program for discovery; continued progress in genetics target discovery both internally and with Genentech; execution against our capital markets plan; and managing to budget.

Our Compensation Committee considered all of the information available to it at the time and determined that we achieved 64% of our 2015 corporate-level goals. In addition, our Compensation Committee determined that Drs. Goldberg and Cohen achieved 64% and 85% of their individual objectives, respectively. As a result, 64% of each named executive’s bonus eligibility, with the exception of Dr. Cohen who earned 69%, was earned for achievement of objectives during fiscal 2015.

 

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For 2015, the target incentive amounts and the aggregate annual payments earned by our named executive officers under our 2015 Non-Equity Incentive Plan were the following:

 

 

 

2014 Non-Equity Incentive Plan Payments

Our 2014 Non-Equity Incentive Plan provided our named executive officers with an opportunity for an annual incentive compensation payment upon consideration of achievement of our corporate objectives and individual objectives. For 2014, the target incentive amounts and the aggregate annual payments earned by our named executive officers under our 2014 Non-Equity Incentive Plan were the following:

 

 

The annual incentive payments were calculated by weighting corporate goal attainment and individual goal attainment for each named executive officer. For 2014, the corporate and individual weighting was 100% corporate for Dr. Pimstone, Mr. Mortimer and Dr. Sherrington and 75% corporate and 25% individual for Dr. Goldberg and Ms. Corraini.

Our 2014 corporate-level goals included: finalizing Teva’s commitment to a broad development plan for TV-45070; continuing execution on our collaboration with Genentech; selecting one internal development track candidate by the end of 2014; advancing two internal programs to lead optimization by the end of 2014; advancing internal programs supporting the identification of one validated target and a causal gene by the end of 2014; concluding one new partnership or expanding the partnership with an existing partner; preparation for our IPO; and managing to budget.

Our Compensation Committee considered all of the information available to it at the time and determined that we achieved 100% of our 2014 corporate-level goals. In addition, our Compensation Committee determined that Dr. Goldberg and Ms. Corraini achieved 100% of their individual objectives. As a result, 100% of each named executive’s bonus eligibility was earned for achievement of objectives during fiscal 2014.

Discretionary Bonuses

Our Board may, in certain circumstances, authorize the payment of discretionary bonuses to our executive officers and other employees. For 2015, Dr. Goldberg was awarded a discretionary bonus by our Board in recognition of his efforts related to our IPO. No discretionary bonuses were awarded in 2014 and 2016.

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Executive Employment Arrangements

Dr. Simon N. Pimstone

We entered into an offer letter agreement on October 3, 2014, with Dr. Pimstone, our President and Chief Executive Officer. The offer letter agreement is for an indefinite term. Dr. Pimstone’s annual base salary for 2016 was CAD$432,246, and he is eligible for an annual incentive payment up to 50% of his base salary, subject to achievement of performance metrics. Effective January 1, 2017, Dr. Pimstone’s base salary was increased to CAD$517,712 and his annual incentive payment eligibility has not changed. Dr. Pimstone’s salary increase was based on a number of factors, including an analysis of our updated peer group. As our peer group is benchmarked to the U.S. dollar, Dr. Pimstone’s base salary was converted at a current foreign exchange rate to arrive at his Canadian dollar base salary. Dr. Pimstone has also entered into an employee non-disclosure, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement that deals with confidentiality and the ownership of intellectual property developments. Additionally, the offer letter agreement provides for severance benefits if Dr. Pimstone is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason in connection with a change of control. For details regarding our current obligations under such circumstances, please see the section of this Circular entitled “Termination Benefits” below.

Mr. Ian C. Mortimer

We entered into an offer letter agreement on October 3, 2014, with Mr. Mortimer, our Chief Financial Officer, who has also served as our Chief Operating Officer since March 2015 and Corporate Secretary since June 2015. The offer letter agreement is for an indefinite term. Mr. Mortimer’s annual base salary for 2016 was CAD$346,254, and he is eligible for an annual incentive payment up to 40% of his base salary, subject to achievement of performance metrics. Effective January 1, 2017, Mr. Mortimer’s base salary was increased to CAD$404,174 and his annual incentive payment eligibility has not changed. Mr. Mortimer’s salary increase was based on a number of factors, including an analysis of our updated peer group. As our peer group is benchmarked to the U.S. dollar, Mr. Mortimer’s base salary was converted at a current foreign exchange rate to arrive at his Canadian dollar base salary. Mr. Mortimer has also entered into an employee non-disclosure, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement that deals with confidentiality and the ownership of intellectual property developments. Additionally, the offer letter agreement provides for severance benefits if Mr. Mortimer is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason in connection with a change of control. For details regarding our current obligations to Mr. Mortimer under such circumstances, please see the section of this Circular entitled “Termination Benefits” below.

Dr. James R. Empfield

We entered into an offer letter agreement on February 5, 2016, with Dr. Empfield, our Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery. On March 7, 2017, Dr. Empfield entered into an amended and restated offer letter agreement with our wholly-owned subsidiary, Xenon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., which was retroactively effective to January 1, 2017. The amended and restated offer letter agreement is for an indefinite term. Dr. Empfield’s annual base salary for 2016 was CAD$315,000, and he is eligible for an annual incentive payment up to 40% of his base salary, subject to achievement of performance metrics. Effective January 1, 2017, Dr. Empfield’s base salary was changed to USD$249,716 and his annual incentive payment eligibility has not changed. Dr. Empfield’s salary adjustment was based on a number of factors, including an analysis of our updated peer group which is benchmarked to the U.S. dollar. Dr. Empfield has also entered into a confidentiality agreement that deals with confidentiality and the ownership of intellectual property developments. Additionally, the amended and restated offer letter agreement provides for severance benefits if Dr. Empfield is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason in connection with a change of control. For details regarding our current obligations under such circumstances, please see the section of this Circular entitled “Termination Benefits” below.

Dr. Y. Paul Goldberg

We entered into an offer letter agreement on October 3, 2014, with Dr. Goldberg, our Senior Vice President, Clinical Development. The offer letter agreement is for an indefinite term. Dr. Goldberg’s annual base salary for 2016 was CAD$317,675, and he is eligible for an annual incentive payment up to 35% of his base salary, subject to achievement of performance metrics. Effective January 1, 2017, Dr. Goldberg’s base salary was increased to CAD$361,141 and his annual incentive payment eligibility has not changed. Dr. Goldberg’s salary increase was based on a number of factors, including an analysis of our updated peer group. As our peer group is benchmarked to the U.S. dollar, Dr. Goldberg’s base salary was converted at a current foreign exchange rate to arrive at his Canadian dollar base salary. Dr. Goldberg has also entered into an employee non-disclosure, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement that deals with confidentiality and the ownership of intellectual property developments. Additionally, the offer letter agreement provides for severance benefits if Dr. Goldberg is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason in connection with a change of control. For details regarding our current obligations under such circumstances, please see the section of this Circular entitled “Termination Benefits” below.

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Dr. Robin P. Sherrington

We entered into an offer letter agreement on October 3, 2014, with Dr. Sherrington, our Senior Vice President, Business & Corporate Development. The offer letter agreement is for an indefinite term. Dr. Sherrington’s annual base salary for 2016 was CAD$316,999, and he is eligible for an annual incentive payment up to 35% of his base salary, subject to achievement of performance metrics. Effective January 1, 2017, Dr. Sherrington’s base salary was increased to CAD$353,937 and his annual incentive payment eligibility has not changed. Dr. Sherrington’s salary increase was based on a number of factors, including an analysis of our updated peer group. As our peer group is benchmarked to the U.S. dollar, Dr. Sherrington’s base salary was converted at a current foreign exchange rate to arrive at his Canadian dollar base salary. Dr. Sherrington has also entered into an employee non-disclosure, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement that deals with confidentiality and the ownership of intellectual property developments. Additionally, the offer letter agreement provides for severance benefits if Dr. Sherrington is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason in connection with a change of control. For details regarding our current obligations under such circumstances, please see the section of this Circular entitled “Termination Benefits” below.

Termination Benefits

Our offer letter agreements with each of Dr. Pimstone, Mr. Mortimer, and Drs. Empfield, Goldberg and Sherrington provide that we may terminate the applicable executive’s employment without cause upon providing the executive with working notice of termination, a lump sum payment of base salary in lieu of such notice in the amount of 12 months plus one additional month for every one year of consecutive service with us, up to a combined maximum of 18 months (the “Payment Period”), or an equivalent combination of working notice and such payment. If we provide the executive with any base salary payment in lieu of notice, we will (i) arrange for continued coverage for the executive under our group benefits insurance until the Payment Period ends or the executive commences full-time employment, subject to the applicable insurer’s terms of coverage (and if the insurer does not continue coverage, pay the executive an amount equal to what the monthly premiums for such continued coverage would have cost), (ii) pay the executive a pro-rated portion of his Average Bonus (as defined below), (iii) pay the executive the contributions equivalent to 5% of base salary intended for retirement savings that we would have paid on his behalf for the balance of the Payment Period, (iv) provide for stock options granted under our Stock Option Plan (as defined below) to continue to vest during the Payment Period and remain exercisable for three months following the end of the Payment Period, and (v) provide for stock options and other deferred compensation granted under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (as defined below) or any subsequent incentive compensation plan to continue to vest for three months following the date the executive’s employment terminates and remain exercisable for up to six months following termination of employment. “Average Bonus” means an amount that is (i) the sum of the annual bonus awards (expressed as a percentage of the applicable year’s base salary) that the executive earned in each of the three completed calendar years preceding the date the executive’s employment terminates, divided by (ii) three, and multiplied by (iii) the executive’s base salary at the time his employment terminates. If the executive’s employment is terminated after an event constituting grounds for Good Reason (as such term is defined in the executives’ offer letter agreement) occurs either (1) prior to but in connection with a Change of Control (as such terms are defined in the offer letter agreement) or (2) within 12 months after a Change of Control, we will (i) pay the executive his base salary for the Payment Period, (ii) pay the executive a pro-rated portion of his Average Bonus, (iii) arrange for continued coverage for the executive under our group benefits insurance until the Payment Period ends or the executive commences full-time employment, subject to the applicable insurer’s terms of coverage (and if the insurer does not continue coverage, pay the executive an amount equal to what the monthly premiums for such continued coverage would have cost), (iv) pay the executive any unpaid contributions equivalent to 5% of base salary intended for retirement savings for the period leading up to the termination of employment and the contributions equivalent to 5% of base salary intended for retirement savings that we would have paid during the Payment Period, (v) fully accelerate the vesting of all of the executive’s unvested stock options and other deferred compensation awards, and (vi) provide for the continued exercisability of the executive’s stock options and other deferred compensation awards for (A) 90 days from the end of the Payment Period for such stock options and awards granted under our Stock Option Plan or (B) the longer of the period stipulated in the applicable plan or grant and six months from the termination of the executive’s employment for such stock options and awards granted under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan or any subsequent deferred compensation plan.

Our named executive officers are not entitled to additional benefits upon a Change of Control, except for the potential vesting acceleration of their stock options in accordance with the terms of the Stock Option Plan or the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as applicable. For a description of such benefits, see the section of this Circular entitled “Outstanding Equity Awards of Fiscal Year-End.”

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

The following tables set forth information regarding potential payments that each named executive officer who was serving as an executive officer as of December 31, 2016, would have received if the named executive officer’s employment had terminated as of December 31, 2016, under the circumstances set forth below.

 

 

 

 

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table presents information concerning all equity awards held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2016.

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Value Vested or Earned during 2016

The following table sets forth the value vested for all outstanding option-based and share-based awards and the value earned for all non-equity incentive compensation during the twelve month period ended December 31, 2016.

 

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table contains information about our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, we have two equity compensation plans, both of which were approved by our shareholders: our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2014 Equity Incentive Plan”) and our Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”). In connection with our IPO, we ceased granting stock options pursuant to the Stock Option Plan.

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

 

Employee Benefit and Stock Plans

2014 Equity Incentive Plan

In October 2013, our Compensation Committee adopted our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which was amended by our Board in April 2014. The 2014 Equity Incentive Plan was approved by our shareholders in June 2014 and became effective on November 3, 2014. Our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, which are “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to our employees and any subsidiary corporations’ employees, and for the grant of non-statutory stock options, restricted share, restricted share units, share appreciation rights, and performance shares to our employees, officers, directors and consultants.

The 2014 Equity Incentive Plan will continue in effect for a term of ten years from the date adopted, unless terminated earlier as permitted under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan’s provisions.

Authorized Shares. As of December 31, 2016, we have reserved a total of 936,522 Common Shares for issuance pursuant to the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, of which options to purchase 871,390 Common Shares are issued and outstanding. The number of Common Shares available for issuance under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan is subject to an annual increase on the first business day of each fiscal year beginning in 2015 by an amount which shall be determined by the Board on or before the first business day of each fiscal year, such amount to be equal to the least of:

In January 2017, the number of Common Shares reserved under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan was increased by 500,000 Common Shares.

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Plan Administration. Our Board, or one or more committees appointed by our Board, administers the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Subject to the provisions of our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator has the power to determine the eligible persons to whom awards may be granted, the number of Common Shares to be covered by each award, the exercise price (provided that such exercise price may not be less than the lowest permitted under all applicable law), the forms of award agreements for use under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, and terms and conditions of any award. In the case of awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the committee will consist of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m). In addition, if our Board determines it is desirable to qualify transactions under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan as exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, such transactions will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3. Subject to the provisions of our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator has the power to administer the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, including but not limited to, the power to interpret the terms of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and awards granted under it, to create, amend and revoke rules relating to the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, including creating sub-plans, and to determine the terms of the awards, including the exercisability of the awards and the form of consideration, if any, payable upon exercise. The administrator also has the authority to amend existing awards to reduce or increase their exercise price, to allow participants the opportunity to transfer outstanding awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the administrator, and to institute an exchange program by which outstanding awards may be surrendered in exchange for awards of the same type which may have a higher or lower exercise price or different terms, awards of a different type and/or cash.

In addition, the Compensation Committee has delegated to our Chief Financial Officer or, if the Chief Financial Officer is unavailable, the Chief Executive Officer, the authority to approve grants of stock options to newly hired non-executive employees. The stock options granted pursuant to this delegation may not exceed a certain number for each new employee and a certain aggregate number for each fiscal quarter, must have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our Common Shares as defined in our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and may not deviate from the standard vesting terms provided for in our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.

Stock Options. We may grant stock options and stock options that qualify as incentive stock options under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. The exercise price of stock options granted under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan must at least be equal to the fair market value of our Common Shares on the date of grant, provided that such price may not be less than the lowest exercise price permitted under applicable law. The term of a stock option may not exceed ten years and the term of an incentive stock option may not exceed ten years, except that with respect to any participant who owns 10% or more of the voting power of all classes of our outstanding shares, the term must not exceed five years and the exercise price must equal at least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date. The administrator will determine the methods of payment of the exercise price of a stock option, which may include cash, shares or other property acceptable to the administrator, as well as other types of consideration permitted by applicable law. After the termination of service of an employee, director or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her stock option for the period of time stated in his or her stock option agreement. Generally, the stock option will remain exercisable for 365 days if termination is due to death or disability, for 180 days if termination is due to retirement or for 90 days following termination without cause or resignation. The stock option will be forfeited immediately in the event of a termination for cause. However, in no event may a stock option be exercised later than the expiration of its term except in certain circumstances where the expiration occurs during a blackout period as described more fully in the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Subject to the provisions of our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of stock options.

Share Appreciation Rights. We may grant share appreciation rights under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Share appreciation rights allow the recipient to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our Common Shares between the exercise date and the date of grant. Share appreciation rights may not have a term exceeding ten years. After the termination of service of an employee, director or consultant, the same expiration rules described above for stock options apply to share appreciation rights. Subject to the provisions of our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of share appreciation rights, including when such rights become exercisable and whether to pay any increased appreciation in cash or with our Common Shares, or a combination thereof, except that the per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a share appreciation right will be no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.

Restricted Shares. We may grant restricted share awards under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Restricted share awards are grants of Common Shares that vest in accordance with terms and conditions established by the administrator. The administrator will determine the number of restricted share awards granted to any employee, director or consultant and, subject to the provisions of our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. The administrator may impose whatever conditions to vesting it determines to be appropriate (for example, the administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals or continued service to us); provided, however, that the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. Recipients of restricted share awards generally will have voting and dividend rights with respect to such shares upon grant without regard to vesting, unless the administrator provides otherwise. Restricted share awards that do not vest are subject to our right of repurchase or forfeiture.

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Restricted Share Units. We may grant restricted share units under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Restricted share units are bookkeeping entries representing an amount equal to the fair market value of one of our Common Shares. Subject to the provisions of our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator determines the terms and conditions of restricted share units, including the vesting criteria (which may include accomplishing specified performance criteria or continued service to us) and the form and timing of payment (which may consist of any combination of cash or Common Shares). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administrator, in its sole discretion may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

Performance Shares. We may grant performance shares under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Performance shares are awards that will result in a payment to a participant only if performance goals established by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. The administrator will establish organizational or individual performance goals or other vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or the value of performance shares to be paid out to participants. After the grant of performance shares, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance criteria or other vesting provisions for such performance shares. Performance shares shall have an initial value equal to the fair market value of our Common Shares on the grant date. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned performance shares in the form of cash, in Common Shares or in some combination thereof.

Outside Directors. Our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan provides that all outside directors will be eligible to receive all types of awards (except for incentive stock options) under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. In connection with our IPO, we implemented a formal policy pursuant to which our outside directors are eligible to receive equity awards under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan provides that in any given year an outside director will not receive (i) cash-settled awards having a grant date fair value greater than $500,000, increased to $1,000,000 in connection with his or her initial service; and (ii) share-settled awards having a grant date fair value greater than $500,000, increased to $1,000,000 in connection with his or her initial service, in each case, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles.

Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless the administrator provides otherwise, our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan generally does not allow for the transfer of awards and only the recipient of an award may exercise an award during his or her lifetime.

Certain Adjustments. In the event of certain changes in our capitalization, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the administrator will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares covered by each outstanding award, and the numerical share limits set forth in the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.

Merger or Change of Control. Our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan provides that in the event of a merger or change of control, as defined under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, each outstanding award will be treated as the administrator determines, except that if a successor corporation or its parent or subsidiary does not assume or substitute an equivalent award for any outstanding award, then such award will fully vest, all restrictions on such award will lapse, all performance goals or other vesting criteria applicable to such award will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and such award will become fully exercisable, if applicable, for a specified period prior to the transaction. The award will then terminate upon the expiration of the specified period of time. If the service of an outside director is terminated on or following a change of control, other than pursuant to a voluntary resignation, his or her stock options and share appreciation rights will vest fully and become immediately exercisable, all restrictions on his or her restricted shares and restricted share units will lapse, and with respect to his or her performance shares, all performance goals or other vesting requirements will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.

Amendment, Termination. The administrator will have the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan provided such action does not impair the existing rights of any participant. Our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan will automatically terminate in 2024, unless we terminate it sooner pursuant to the provisions of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.

Stock Option Plan

Our Stock Option Plan was initially adopted by our Board and shareholders in June 1999. Our Stock Option Plan permitted the grant of stock options to our directors, officers and other Service Providers (as defined in the Stock Option Plan). Our Stock Option Plan was most recently amended and restated in September 2014. In connection with our IPO in November 2014, we terminated our Stock Option Plan with respect to any future grant of stock options and as such, no other securities will be granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan; however, our Stock Option Plan will continue to govern the terms and conditions of outstanding stock options granted thereunder.

Authorized Shares. As of December 31, 2016, the maximum aggregate number of our Common Shares reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Plan was 1,039,433 Common Shares. Any Common Shares for which a stock option had been exercised are not included in determining whether the maximum number of Common Shares had been reached.

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Plan Administration. Subject to the provisions of our Stock Option Plan, our Board has the power to determine the directors, officers and other Service Providers to whom stock options may be granted; to determine terms and conditions of stock options; and to extend the period of time following an optionee’s termination of service within which the optionee’s stock option may be exercised.

Stock Options. The per share exercise price of each stock option equals the market price of our Common Share on the date of grant, and each stock option has a term of up to ten years, subject to earlier termination upon an optionee’s termination of service. After an optionee’s termination of service, the optionee may exercise his or her stock option, to the extent vested as of such date of termination, (i) until 5:00 p.m. Vancouver time on the date of termination if the optionee’s service was terminated for cause (as determined by us in our sole discretion), (ii) for 365 days following a termination of the optionee’s service due to death or disability, or (iii) 90 days following a termination of the optionee’s service for any other reason. In no event may a stock option be exercised later than the expiration of its term except in certain circumstances where the expiration occurs during a blackout period as described in greater detail in the Stock Option Plan. Our Board determined the remaining terms and conditions of a stock option, as our Board, in its discretion, deemed to be consistent with the Stock Option Plan. The specific terms of any grant of shares are set forth in an award agreement between us and the recipient.

Transferability. Optionees may not assign their stock options or their rights under the Stock Option Plan.

Certain Adjustments. In the event of certain changes in our capitalization, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under the Stock Option Plan, our Board may make proportional adjustments to the number of Common Shares that may be delivered under the Stock Option Plan and/or the number and price of shares covered by each outstanding stock option.

Merger, Dissolution, Liquidation, or other Change of Control. Our Stock Option Plan provides that in the event of a dissolution, liquidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets; merger, consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement or reorganization in which we are not the surviving corporation; reverse merger in which we are the surviving corporation but our Common Shares are converted into other property; or an acquisition by any person, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act of our securities representing at least 35% of the combined voting power entitled to vote in an election of directors, which we collectively refer to as a Change of Control, any successor corporation shall assume our obligations in respect of all outstanding stock options under our Stock Option Plan or shall substitute an equivalent stock option for all outstanding stock options under the Stock Option Plan. If a successor corporation does not assume or substitute for an outstanding stock option, then any stock options held by persons who are directors, officers, or Service Providers generally will fully vest and the time during which such stock option may be exercised shall be accelerated prior to the completion of the Change of Control. All stock options that are not assumed or are not substituted for will terminate unless exercised prior to the Change of Control. In the event of our merger into another corporation or other entity or any other Change of Control in which the stock options are assumed or substituted for by a successor corporation, the assumed stock options or the substitute stock options held by a director, officer or Service Provider will become fully vested and exercisable if, within 12 months following the Change of Control, either (i) the optionee’s service is terminated by us or the successor corporation other than for Cause (as defined in the Stock Option Plan) or (ii) the optionee resigns for Good Reason (as defined in the Stock Option Plan).

Plan Amendment. Subject to any required regulatory approval, we may amend the Stock Option Plan at any time, provided that such amendment does not impair the existing rights of any optionee under any then-outstanding option.

Pension Benefits

We do not maintain any defined benefit or defined contribution pension plans.

Retirement and Pension Benefits

We provide our employees with contributions equal to 5% of their base salary intended for retirement savings, including for example contributions to an RRSP, a Canadian retirement plan with features similar to a 401(k) plan, or an individual retirement account administered in the United States. All of our named executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, in each case on the same basis as other employees.

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, Drs. Azab and Patou and Mr. Tarnow served as members of our Compensation Committee. No such person is currently, or has been at any time, one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serve, or have served during the last completed three fiscal years, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has or had one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Compensation Committee.

Indemnification Agreements and Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

Under the CBCA, we may indemnify our current or former directors or officers or any other individuals who act or have acted at our request as a director or officer, or an individual acting in a similar capacity, of another entity, against all costs, charges, and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by the individual in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which the individual is involved because of his or her association with us or the other entity. The CBCA also provides that we may advance moneys to a director, officer or other individual for costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with such a proceeding. The individual shall repay the moneys to us if indemnification of the individual is ultimately prohibited under the CBCA, as described below.

Indemnification is prohibited under the CBCA unless the individual:

Our by-laws require us to indemnify each of our directors, officers, former directors or officers or persons who act or acted at our request as a director or officer, or an individual acting in a similar capacity, of another body corporate to the fullest extent permitted under the CBCA. We will indemnify such individual against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or proceeding to which the individual is made a party by reason of being or having been a director of officer of us or such body corporate. However, we shall not indemnify such individual if the individual did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to our best interests or, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, the individual did not have reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers. As provided by our by-laws, these agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify each director and officer to the fullest extent permitted under the CBCA.

Our by-laws authorize us, with the approval of our Board, to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any persons our board of directors may from time to time determine.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

In addition to the arrangements described below, we have also entered into the arrangements which are described where required in the section of this Circular entitled “Executive Compensation — Executive Employment Arrangements.”

Related Person Transaction Policy

Pursuant to a formal, written policy, which became effective on November 4, 2014, our executive officers, directors, holders of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, and any member of the immediate family of or any entities affiliated with any of the foregoing persons, are not permitted to enter into a related party transaction with us without the prior approval or, in the case of pending or ongoing related party transactions, ratification of our Audit Committee. For purposes of our policy, as amended from time to time, a related party transaction is a transaction, arrangement or relationship where we were, are or will be involved and in which a related party had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than transactions available to all of our employees.

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Consulting Services Provided by Genworks

Genworks is controlled by Dr. Michael Hayden, one of our directors. Prior to 2014, consulting fees were paid to Genworks in consideration of certain scientific consulting services provided by Dr. Hayden. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we neither incurred cash consulting fees nor granted stock options to Genworks.

In addition to certain stock options granted to Genworks in years prior to 2014, our Board awarded a performance bonus to Genworks in acknowledgment of services provided prior to September 1, 2012 relating to our sublicense agreement with uniQure Biopharma B.V. (“uniQure”). Pursuant to the terms of this performance bonus award, in the event that we receive royalty payments from uniQure satisfying certain pre-specified thresholds, Genworks has a right to receive a portion of such royalty payments, totaling up to CAD$600,000. Excluding any amounts owing to Genworks pursuant to the performance bonus relating to uniQure, as of September 1, 2012, no further cash consulting fees are payable to Genworks under such consulting agreement as Genworks no longer provides consulting services to Xenon.

Investor Rights Agreement

We have entered into an amended and restated investor rights agreement, dated December 6, 2006, as amended, with certain holders of our Common Shares, including entities affiliated with InterWest Partners, August J. Troendle, and Stein Family LLC, each of which held greater than 5% of our outstanding Common Shares according to Schedule 13G filings filed with the SEC in 2016. The amended and restated investor rights agreement provides these holders with, among other things, certain rights relating to the registration of our Common Shares. As of December 31, 2016, the holders of approximately 2.6 million Common Shares are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their Common Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Indebtedness of Directors and Officers

No current or former director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or any associate of any such individual, is, or was at any time during the most recently completed financial year, indebted to the Corporation, nor is any indebtedness of any such person to another entity the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Corporation.

Other Transactions

We have granted stock options to our named executive officers, other executive officers and certain of our directors.

 

 

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REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the section captioned “Executive Compensation” that appears above, with management and, based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to our Board that this “Executive Compensation” section be included in this Circular and incorporated by reference into the Corporation’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the SEC.

Respectfully submitted by the members of the Compensation Committee of the Board:

 

 

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD

The following Report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing by Xenon under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent Xenon specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein.

The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in serving as an oversight to Xenon’s accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions. The Audit Committee has implemented procedures to ensure that during the course of each fiscal year, it devotes the attention that it deems necessary or appropriate to each of the matters assigned to it under its charter including, whenever appropriate, meeting in executive sessions with Xenon’s independent auditors without the presence of Xenon’s management.

Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, including the system of internal controls, and for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Corporation’s independent auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with GAAP. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to oversee and review the financial reporting process.

In overseeing the preparation of Xenon’s financial statements, the Audit Committee met with both management and Xenon’s outside auditors to review and discuss all financial statements prior to their issuance and to discuss significant accounting issues. Management advised the Audit Committee that all financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Audit Committee discussed the statements with both management and the outside auditors.

With respect to Xenon’s outside auditors, the Audit Committee, among other things, discussed with KPMG matters relating to its independence, and received from KPMG written disclosures and a letter from KPMG as required by Rule 3520 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by PCAOB Standard No. 16, “Communications with Audit Committee,” as amended, which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the annual audit of Xenon’s financial statements.

On the basis of their reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Board approve (and the Board has approved) the inclusion of Xenon’s audited financial statements in Xenon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, for filing with the SEC and the securities commissions in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

Effective November 15, 1999, the Corporation engaged KPMG as its independent registered public accounting firm. The decision to engage KPMG was made by the Audit Committee and the Board. The Committee and the Board have also approved, and submitted for shareholder approval, the selection of KPMG as Xenon’s independent auditors to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation.

The Audit Committee’s current charter is appended to this Circular as Schedule B.

 

 

 

 

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ITEM 3 AND ITEM 4 – APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION OF AUDITOR

The Corporation proposes that KPMG be appointed as auditors of the Corporation for the ensuing year and that the Audit Committee of the Board be authorized to fix their remuneration. KPMG has been the auditor of the Corporation since November 15, 1999. Prior to KPMG being appointed as auditors of the Corporation, shareholders of the Corporation waived the appointment of an auditor. Representatives of KPMG will be present at the Meeting, and they will have an opportunity to make statements and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

There have been no reportable events between the Corporation and KPMG for the purposes of National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Requirements.

In addition to retaining KPMG to audit the Corporation’s annual financial statements, the Corporation retained KPMG to provide audit and tax services in 2015 and 2016.

The following tables set forth the aggregate fees billed to the Corporation by KPMG for professional services in fiscal years 2016 and 2015:

 

Notes:

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

Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee must review and approve, in advance, the scope and plans for the audits and the audit fees and approve in advance (or, where permitted under the rules and regulations of the SEC and applicable Canadian securities laws, subsequently) all non-audit and tax services to be performed by the independent auditor, or any other registered public accounting firm, that are not otherwise prohibited by law or regulation and any associated fees. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more members of the Audit Committee the authority to pre-approve permissible non-audit and tax services, as long as the pre-approved services are presented to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee may, in accordance with applicable law, adopt specific policies and procedures for the engagement of the independent auditor for non-audit services, provided that the pre-approval policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service, the Audit Committee is informed of each non-audit service, and the procedures do not include delegation of the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to management. In considering whether to pre-approve any non-audit services, the Audit Committee or its delegates shall consider whether the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the auditor. During 2015 and 2016, all services billed by KPMG LLP were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with this policy.

 

 

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YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS:

A VOTE “FOR” THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP

AS AUDITORS OF THE CORPORATION

AND

A VOTE “FOR” THE REMUNERATION OF THE AUDITORS

TO BE SET BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD.

INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS

Except as otherwise disclosed herein, no director, officer, shareholder holding 5% or more of our Common Shares (or any director or officer or principal shareholder thereof), nor any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the beginning of the Corporation’s most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which, in either such case, has materially affected or will materially affect the Corporation.

THIRD PARTY COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

None of our directors is a party to any agreement or arrangement that would require disclosure pursuant to NASDAQ Rule 5250(b)(3).

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Corporation’s directors, executive officers and any persons holding 10% or more of our Common Shares are required to report their ownership of Common Shares and any changes in that ownership to the SEC and to furnish the Corporation with copies of such reports. Specific due dates for these reports have been established and the Corporation is required to report in this Circular any failure to file on a timely basis by such persons. To the Corporation’s knowledge, based solely upon a review of copies of such reports received by the Corporation which were filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and upon written representations from such persons that no other reports were required, the Corporation has been advised that all reports required to be filed under Section 16(a) have been timely filed with the SEC.

INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON

Except as otherwise disclosed herein, no current director or officer of the Corporation, no person who has been a director or officer of the Corporation at any time since the beginning of the Corporation’s last completed financial year and no associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing has any other material interest, direct or indirect, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Shareholder proposals to be considered at the 2018 annual meeting of our shareholders must be received by the Corporation no later than December 28, 2017 in order to be included in the proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. Shareholders who do not wish to use the mechanism provided by the Exchange Act may submit proposals to be considered at the 2018 annual meeting of our shareholders under the provisions of the CBCA. Such shareholder proposals must be received at the principal offices of the Corporation no later than January 26, 2018 in order to be included in the proxy materials for such annual meeting pursuant to the requirements of the CBCA. Please see “— Shareholder Recommendations for Nominations to the Board of Directors” for additional information regarding shareholder nominees to the board of directors.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information relating to the Corporation, including financial information provided in the Corporation’s annual financial statements and related management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2016, is available on http://www.sedar.com under the Corporation’s profile. We also make available, free of charge, through our website at http://www.xenon-pharma.com, our annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports, proxy statements and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed or furnished with the SEC and the securities commissions in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Our internet website and information contained therein or incorporated therein is not intended to be incorporated into this Circular.

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Copies of all exhibits to the annual report for the year ended December 31, 2016, may be obtained for a nominal fee, which fee will not exceed our reasonable expenses in furnishing such copies, by contacting: Investor Relations, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 200 - 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5G 4W8, email: investors@xenon-pharma.com.

Copies of the Corporation’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, including the auditor’s report thereon, and the Corporation’s management discussion and analysis, as well as other reports of the Corporation, may be obtained, free of charge, by contacting: Investor Relations, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 200 - 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5G 4W8, email: investors@xenon-pharma.com.

In addition, the public may read and copy any materials we file or furnish with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Moreover, the SEC maintains and internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding reports that we file or furnish with them electronically at http://www.sec.gov.

GENERAL

The Board is not aware of any other matters which it anticipates will come before the Meeting as of the date of mailing of this Circular. The contents and the sending of the Notice of Meeting and this Circular have been approved by the directors of the Corporation.

DATED as of April 27, 2017.

 

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES

 

The following Corporate Governance Guidelines have been approved and adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Xenon” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Corporation”) for the purpose of establishing the corporate governance policies pursuant to which the Board intends to conduct its oversight of the business of the Corporation in accordance with its fiduciary responsibilities.

The role of the Board is to oversee the performance of the chief executive officer (“CEO”) and other senior management and to assure that the best interests of shareholders are being served and that all such officers are creating a culture of integrity throughout the Corporation. To satisfy this responsibility, the directors are expected to take a proactive approach to their duties and function as active monitors of corporate management. Accordingly, the directors provide oversight in the formulation of the long term strategic, financial and organizational goals of the Corporation and of the plans designed to achieve those goals. In addition, the Board reviews and approves standards and policies to ensure that the Corporation is committed to achieving its objectives through the maintenance of the highest standards of responsible conduct and ethics and to assure that management carries out their day-to-day operational duties in a competent and ethical manner. Furthermore, the Board or a Board committee will identify and document the financial risks and other risks that the Corporation faces in the course of its business and work with management to monitor and control the identified risks. The Board reports to the shareholders of the Corporation.

The day-to-day business of the Corporation is carried out by its employees, managers and officers, under the direction of the CEO and the oversight of the Board, to enhance the long term value of the Corporation for the benefit of shareholders. The Board and management also recognize that creating long term enterprise value is advanced by considering the interests and concerns of other stakeholders, including the Corporation’s employees, customers, creditors and suppliers as well as the community generally.

The Board understands that effective directors act on an informed basis after thorough inquiry and careful review, appropriate in scope to the magnitude of the matter being considered. The directors know their position requires them to ask probing questions of management and outside advisors. The directors also rely on the advice, reports and opinions of management, counsel and expert advisers. In doing so, the Board evaluates the qualifications of those it relies upon for information and advice and also looks to the processes used by managers and advisors in reaching their recommendations. In addition, the Board has the authority to hire outside advisors at the Corporation’s expense if they feel it is appropriate.

The Board shall appoint the Chair of the Board on an annual basis and shall fill the CEO position based upon the Board’s view of what is in the best interests of the Corporation. The CEO and Chair may, but need not be, the same person.

In order to facilitate communication between management and the independent directors, in the event that the Chair of the Board is not an independent Director, the Board should elect a “Lead Independent Director”, who will have the responsibility to schedule and prepare agendas for meetings of independent directors. The Lead Independent Director will communicate with the CEO, disseminate information to the rest of the Board in a timely manner and raise issues with management on behalf of the independent directors when appropriate. In addition, the Lead Independent Director may have other responsibilities, including calling meetings of independent directors when necessary and appropriate, being available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication with the Corporation’s shareholders, building a productive relationship between the Board and the CEO, ensuring that the Board fulfills its oversight responsibilities in Corporation strategy, risk oversight and succession planning, and performing such other duties as the Board may from time to time designate. All members of the Board are encouraged to communicate with the CEO. As long as the Chair of the Board is an independent, non-employee director, the “Lead Independent Director” responsibility may be assigned to the Chair.

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The Board has three standing committees:  the Audit Committee; the Compensation Committee; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board will continue to delegate substantial responsibilities to each committee, and each committee should consist solely of independent directors, as defined by the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq Rules”) and applicable Canadian securities laws, and in the case of the Audit Committee as defined by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC Rules”) and applicable Canadian securities laws. The members of these committees shall also meet the other membership criteria specified in the respective charters for these committees. Additional committees may be formed from time to time as determined by the Board.

Committees should be appointed (or re-appointed), and chairs of each committee designated, by the full Board, upon recommendation by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, annually. While the composition of the committees of the Board should be looked at each year in making certain that these committees are not stagnant or without fair representation, it is the Board’s belief that continuity of experience in the specific functions of these committees provides a significant benefit to the shareholders and to management.

Each committee chair, in consultation with committee members, will determine the frequency and length of meetings of his or her committee, considering all relevant factors such as the committee’s mandate, nature of current committee business to be discussed and the like. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each committee shall meet at least as frequently as is required by the applicable charter adopted by the Board for such committee. Moreover, the committee chair should feel free to call additional committee meetings at times other than the scheduled meetings of the full Board.

Each committee shall have its own charter, which will set forth the purpose, membership requirements, authority and responsibilities of the committee. Annually, the chair of each committee should review the existing committee charter and determine, in consultation with the rest of the committee, whether any amendments are required. Committee charters should be within the scope of authority granted by the Board and should be approved by the Board. The chair of the committee, in consultation with appropriate members of management and staff, should develop the overall annual agenda to the extent it can be foreseen. In addition, each committee chair should prepare an agenda prior to each committee meeting and should consult with appropriate members of management for additional items which should be included in the agenda. Any committee of the Board is authorized to engage its own outside advisors at the Corporation’s expense, including legal counsel or other consultants, as required, provided that the committee shall promptly advise the full Board of such engagement.

The charters of the Corporation’s committees will be available on the Corporation's website at www.xenon-pharma.com, and will be made available to shareholders on written request.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Audit Committee shall periodically review and approve the Corporation’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is applicable to directors, officers and employees; consider questions of possible conflicts of interest of directors and corporate officers; review actual and potential conflicts of interest (including corporate opportunities) of directors and corporate officers; and approve or prohibit any involvement of such persons in matters that may involve a conflict of interest or corporate opportunity. Directors may be asked from time to time to leave a Board meeting when the Board is considering a transaction in which the director (or another organization in which the director is a director or officer) has a financial or other interest. Directors shall disclose any such interests to the Board in advance of Board deliberation on the topic.

The Audit Committee shall review and approve any proposed related party transactions in compliance with the Corporation’s policies and Nasdaq Rules and must report material related party transactions to the full Board and review and approve the Corporation’s procedures for handling complaints regarding accounting or auditing matters.

 

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The Board shall have no less than four regularly scheduled meetings each year at which it reviews and discusses leadership continuity, management development, management reports on the performance of the Corporation, its plans and prospects, as well as more immediate issues facing the Corporation. If independent, the Chair of the Board will set the agenda for and act as chair for each Board meeting. If the Chair of the Board is not independent, as determined in accordance with the SEC Rules and applicable Canadian securities laws, the Lead Independent Director will set the agenda and act as chair for each Board meeting. Each director is free to suggest inclusion of items on the agenda. A representative from the Corporation’s outside counsel may be invited by the Board, when appropriate, to attend all or a portion of Board meetings. The Board will review the Corporation’s long-term strategic plans during at least one Board meeting per year.

To the extent possible, information and data which is important to the Board’s understanding of matters to be discussed at the meeting and the current status of the Corporation’s business should be distributed to the Board a sufficient number of days before the meeting to enable the directors to read and prepare for the meeting.

Directors are expected to prepare for, attend, and actively participate in all Board and committee meetings. As a general rule, preparation material on specific subjects should be sent to the directors in advance so that the Board meeting time may be conserved and discussion time focused on questions that the Board has about the material. Each director will review thoroughly the materials provided in connection with each Board and committee meeting and be adequately prepared for each meeting. On those occasions when the subject matter is too sensitive to be distributed, the subject will have to be introduced at the meeting. The Corporation strongly encourages directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders.

It is anticipated that certain members of management (e.g., the Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer and such other members of the executive staff as the CEO may from time to time designate) will attend Board meetings on a regular basis. Other members of management and staff will attend meetings and present reports from time to time. Specifically, the Board encourages management to schedule managers to be present at Board meetings who can provide additional insight into the items being discussed because of personal involvement in these areas. It is understood that Corporation personnel and others attending Board meetings may be asked to leave the meeting in order for the Board to meet in executive session.

It is the policy of the Board to regularly have separate meeting times for independent directors without management. Such meetings should be held at least twice per year, following regularly scheduled meetings and at such other times as requested by an independent director. The Chair of the Board or the Lead Independent Director shall preside at executive sessions.

 

In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board should meet periodically with the Corporation’s outside auditors without management present at such times as it deems appropriate.

Directors should have full access to members of management, either as a group or individually, and to Corporation information that they believe is necessary to fulfill their obligations as directors. The directors should use their judgment to ensure that any such contact or communication is not disruptive to the business operations of the Corporation.

The Compensation Committee should conduct an annual review of director compensation. This review will include input from the Corporation’s Human Resources department and may include input from outside consultants in order to evaluate director compensation compared to other companies of like size in the industry. Any change in Board compensation should be approved by the full Board. Ownership of shares by the directors is encouraged. Board members who are also employees shall not be separately compensated for their service on the Board.

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The size of the Board is established in accordance with the Corporation’s By-laws, subject to the minimum and maximum number of directors set out in the Corporation’s Articles of Continuance and under applicable corporate and securities laws. The size of the Board may vary based upon the size of the business and the availability of qualified candidates. Board size should facilitate active interaction and participation by all directors. The Board will review from time to time the appropriateness of its size.

The Board believes that, so long as the Corporation does not qualify as a “controlled company” under the rules of NASDAQ, as a matter of policy there should be a majority of independent directors on the Board. Within that policy, the mix of directors should provide a range of expertise and perspective in areas relevant to the Corporation’s business.

A director shall be considered “independent” for purposes of serving on the Board if he or she meets the criteria for independence established by applicable securities laws and the Nasdaq Rules. A director shall be considered “independent” for purposes of serving on a Board committee based on the definition of independence used in that committee’s charter, which shall conform to any requirements established for such a committee by the Nasdaq Rules, any applicable SEC Rules and any applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee should review issues of character, judgment, diversity, age, independence, expertise, corporate experience, length of service, understanding of the Corporation’s business, other commitments and the like, and the composition of the Board in the context of recommending a slate of directors for shareholder approval. Selection of new directors requires recommendation of a candidate by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to the full Board, which has responsibility for naming new members in the event of a vacancy or expansion of the Board between annual meetings of shareholders.

 

It is the policy of the Board that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consider both recommendations and nominations for candidates to the Board from shareholders so long as such recommendations and nominations comply with the Articles of Continuance, as amended, and the By-laws of the Corporation and applicable laws, including the SEC Rules and applicable Canadian securities laws. Shareholders may recommend director nominees for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee by writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and providing the information required in the Corporation’s By-laws. Following verification of the shareholder status of the person submitting the recommendation, all properly submitted recommendations will be promptly brought to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Shareholders who desire to nominate persons directly for election to the Board at the Corporation’s annual meeting of shareholders must meet the deadlines and other requirements set forth in the Corporation’s By-laws, the SEC Rules, and applicable Canadian securities laws.

Any proposal to decrease the size of the Board, or to substitute a new director for an existing director, should be made first by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, then approved by the full Board. After receipt of a recommendation from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Chair of the Board or the Lead Independent Director should notify the director of such recommendation prior to the meeting of the Board at which the slate of nominees is proposed to be approved.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee should establish an annual process for permitting the Board and each committee to conduct an assessment of its performance during the prior year. This assessment should focus on areas in which the Board or the committees believe contributions can be made going forward to increase the effectiveness of the Board or the committees. Each committee and the full Board will consider and discuss the findings of the assessments.

The Board will, in conjunction with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, assess the participation, contributions and effectiveness of the Chair, and individual board members on an annual basis.

Directors shall be subject to election at each annual meeting of shareholders in accordance with the Corporation’s By-laws. The Board shall fill vacancies or add new directors as provided in the Corporation’s By-laws and in accordance with applicable Canadian corporate laws.

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Meetings of the Board shall be designed to provide orientation for new directors to assist them in understanding the Corporation’s business as well as an introduction to the Corporation’s senior management. Further, the Corporation encourages directors to participate in continuing education programs focused on the Corporation’s business and industry, committee roles and responsibilities and legal and ethical responsibilities of directors.

The formal evaluation of the CEO and the other executive officers should be made in the context of annual compensation review by the Compensation Committee, with appropriate input from other directors, and should be communicated to the CEO by the Chair of the Board or the Lead Independent Director and the chair of the Compensation Committee.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in consultation with the full Board, is primarily responsible for CEO succession planning. In addition, it shall monitor succession plans for other key executives. Succession planning can be critical in the event the CEO or other key executives should cease to serve for any reason, including resignation or unexpected disability. The Board believes that establishment of a strong management team is the best way to prepare for an unanticipated executive departure.

In addition to its responsibilities related to executive succession planning, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall confer with the CEO to encourage management’s employee development programs.

The Board believes that management speaks for the Corporation. Individual directors may, from time to time, meet or otherwise communicate with various constituencies that are involved with the Corporation, but it is expected that directors would do this with knowledge of management and, in most instances, only at the request of management.

 

In cases where shareholders wish to communicate directly with the non-management directors, messages can be sent by mail to Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., 3650 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5G 4W8, Canada, Attn: Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer will forward the messages to the appropriate committee of the Board or non-management director.

 

The Corporation’s directors should not accept any gift of value that indicates an intent to influence improperly the normal business relationship between the Corporation and any supplier, customer or competitor.

The Board should provide oversight to management in formulating corporate strategy.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board should review these guidelines at least annually.

 

 

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SCHEDULE B

CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Xenon,” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Corporation”) in fulfilling its responsibilities for generally overseeing:

The Audit Committee is also responsible for preparing the report required by Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules to be included in Xenon’s proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders, and for performing such other duties and responsibilities as are enumerated in or consistent with this charter.

COMPOSITION

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RESPONSIBILITIES

The following are the principal recurring responsibilities of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may perform such other functions as are consistent with its purpose and applicable law, rules and regulations and as the Board or the Audit Committee deem appropriate. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee believes its policies and procedures should remain flexible, in order to best react to changing conditions and circumstances.

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The function of the Audit Committee is primarily one of oversight. The Corporation’s management is responsible for preparing the Corporation’s financial statements, and the independent auditor is responsible for auditing and reviewing those financial statements. The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in overseeing the conduct of these activities by management and the independent auditor. The Audit Committee is not responsible for providing any expert or special assurance as to the financial statements or the independent auditor’s work. It is recognized that the members of the Audit Committee are not full-time employees of the Corporation, that it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures or to set auditor independence standards, and that each member of the Audit Committee shall be entitled to rely on (i) the integrity of those persons and organizations within and outside the Corporation from which the Audit Committee receives information and (ii) the accuracy of the financial and other information provided to the Audit Committee, in either instance absent actual knowledge to the contrary.

MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES

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XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

Proxy Form - Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Corporation”)

held on June 1, 2017 (the “Meeting”)

Notes to Proxy

1.    This proxy must be signed by a holder or his or her or its attorney duly authorized in writing. If you are an individual, please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy. If the holder is a corporation, a duly authorized officer or attorney of the corporation must sign this proxy, and if the corporation has a corporate seal, its corporate seal should be affixed.

2.    If the common shares of the Corporation (the “Common Shares”) are registered in the name of an executor, administrator or trustee, please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy. If the Common Shares are registered in the name of a deceased or other holder, the proxy must be signed by the legal representative with his or her name printed below his or her signature, and evidence of authority to sign on behalf of the deceased or other holder must be attached to this proxy.

3.    A shareholder has the right to appoint a person to attend and act for him or her or it and on his or her or its behalf at the Meeting other than the persons designated in this form of proxy. Such right may be exercised by filling in the name of such person in the blank space provided and striking out the names of management’s nominees. A person appointed as nominee to represent a shareholder need not be a shareholder of the Corporation. A person appointed as your proxyholder must be present at the Meeting to vote.

4.    Beneficial holders may be forwarded either a form of proxy already signed by the intermediary or a voting instruction form to allow them to direct the voting of Common Shares they beneficially own. Beneficial holders should follow instructions for voting conveyed to them by their intermediaries. Some holders may own Common Shares as both a registered and a beneficial holder; in which case you may receive more than one Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular and will need to vote separately as a registered and beneficial holder.

5.    If Common Shares are held by two or more individuals, any one of them present or represented by proxy at the Meeting may, in the absence of the other or others, vote at the Meeting. However, if one or more of them are present or represented by proxy, they must vote together the number of Common Shares indicated on the proxy.

6.    This Proxy confers discretionary authority on the person appointed hereby to vote in his or her discretion with respect to amendments or variations to the matters identified in the Notice of Meeting accompanying this Proxy and any other matters which may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

All holders should refer to the Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular for further information regarding completion and use of this proxy and other information pertaining to the Meeting.

This proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the management and the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

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

 

 

 

 

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ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF

XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

June 1, 2017