Employee Incentive Plan Compensation
Each of our executive officers is eligible for an annual bonus under our Employee Incentive Plan and has an established target bonus amount as set forth in the section titled “—Employment Arrangements with Our Named Executive Officers.” For fiscal 2020, our Board determined each eligible executive officer’s actual bonus based upon an assessment of achievement of corporate goals, which included specified clinical study, pipeline and financial goals.
Amount earned in fiscal 2020 were paid in 2021. Dr. Mack received a payment of $275,678, Mr. Kung received a payment of $181,397 and Dr. Alland received a payment of $184,675.
Process and Procedure for Compensation Decisions
Our compensation committee is primarily responsible for establishing and reviewing our general compensation strategy. In addition, the compensation committee oversees our compensation and benefit plans and policies, administers our equity incentive plans and reviews and approves annually all compensation decisions relating to all of our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer. The compensation committee considers recommendations from our Chief Executive Officer regarding the compensation of our executive officers other than himself. Under its charter, our compensation committee has the right to retain or obtain the advice of compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other advisers.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control
Change of Control and Severance Policy. Each of our named executive officers are participants in our Change in Control and Severance Policy. In August 2020, we entered into amended and restated change of control and severance participation agreements with Dr. Mack, Mr. Kung and Dr. Alland, which supersede all previous arrangements we had previously entered into with our named executive officers. Under each of these agreements, if, within the period three months prior to and 12 months following a “change of control” (such period, the change in control period), we terminate the employment of the applicable named executive officer other than for “cause”, death or “disability” or the applicable named executive officer terminates his or her employment for “good reason”, (as such terms are defined in the named executive officer’s change of control and severance agreement) and the named executive officer executes a separation agreement and release of claims that becomes effective and irrevocable within 60 days following the named executive officer’s termination, the named executive officer is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum severance payment, less applicable withholdings, equal to 100% of the named executive officer’s base salary, as then in effect, or 150% for Dr. Mack, (ii) a lump sum payment, less applicable withholdings, equal to 100% of the named executive officer’s target bonus for the performance year in which such termination occurred, or 150% for Dr. Mack, (iii) payment or reimbursement of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA) for the employee and the named executive officer’s dependents through 12 months following such termination, or 18 months for Dr. Mack, and (iv) accelerated vesting as to 100% of the employee’s outstanding unvested equity awards.
In addition, under each of these agreements, if, outside of the change in control period, we terminate the employment of the applicable named executive officer other than for cause, death or disability, and the named executive officer executes a separation agreement and release of claims that becomes effective and irrevocable within 60 days following the employee’s termination, the employee is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum severance payment, less applicable withholdings, equal to 9 months of the named executive officer’s base salary, as then in effect, or 12 months for Dr. Mack, (ii) payment or reimbursement of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA) for the employee and the named executive officer’s dependents through 9 months following such termination, or 12 months for Dr. Mack, and (iii) accelerated vesting of time-based equity awards granted prior to the effective date of the first registration statement that is filed by the Company and declared effective pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934, with respect to the Company’s common stock in an amount that would have vested had the named executive officer’s employment continued through 6 months following such termination, or 12 months in the case of Dr. Mack.
Under each of these agreements, in the event any payment to, or benefits received by, the applicable employee pursuant to his or her change of control and severance agreement would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”) (as a result of a payment being classified as a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code), the employee will receive such payment as would entitle the