Definitive Proxy Statement
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

  ¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement
  ¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
  x Definitive Proxy Statement
  ¨ Definitive Additional Materials
  ¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12

EnteroMedics 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):

 

  x No fee required
  ¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

 

  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

 

  (5) Total fee paid:

 

 

 

  ¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

¨       Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  (1) Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

 

  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

  (3) Filing Party:

 

 

 

  (4) Date Filed:

 

 


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LOGO

2800 Patton Road

St. Paul, MN 55113

(651) 634-3003

April 1, 2011

Dear Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to join us for our 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at 3:00 p.m., Central Time, in the Minnesota Room at the offices of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. For your convenience, a map showing the location of Dorsey & Whitney LLP is provided on the back of the accompanying proxy statement. Holders of record of our common stock as of March 18, 2011, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2011 annual meeting.

The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the proxy statement that follow describe the business to be conducted at the meeting.

We hope you will be able to attend the meeting. However, even if you plan to attend in person, please vote your shares promptly to ensure that they are represented at the meeting. You may submit your proxy vote by telephone or internet as described in the following materials or by completing and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the envelope provided. If you decide to attend the meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so automatically by voting in person at the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.

Sincerely,

LOGO

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

President, Chief Executive Officer and

Chairman of the Board


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LOGO

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Date and Time:    Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 3:00 p.m., Central Time
Place:   

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Minnesota Room

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Items of Business:   

1.      The election of three Class I directors for a three-year term.

  

2.      Approve an amendment to the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares authorized under the plan by 2,000,000 from 2,300,000 to 4,300,000.

  

3.      Any other business that may properly be considered at the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.

Record Date:    You may vote at the meeting if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on March 18, 2011.
Voting by Proxy:    If you cannot attend the annual meeting in person, you may vote your shares by telephone or internet by no later than 12:00 p.m. Central Time on May 4, 2011 (as directed on the enclosed proxy card), or by completing, signing and promptly returning the enclosed proxy card by mail. We encourage you to vote by telephone or internet in order to reduce our mailing and handling expenses. If you choose to submit your proxy by mail, we have enclosed an envelope addressed to our transfer agent, Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, for which no postage is required if mailed in the United States.

By Order of the Board of Directors:

LOGO

Greg S. Lea

Secretary

April 1, 2011


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PROXY STATEMENT

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

     1   

What is the purpose of the meeting?

     1   

Who is entitled to vote at the meeting?

     1   

What are my voting rights?

     1   

How many shares must be present to hold the meeting?

     1   

How do I vote my shares?

     1   

What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a “street name” holder?

     2   

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

     2   

Can I vote my shares in person at the meeting?

     2   

What vote is required for a proposal to be approved?

     2   

How are votes counted?

     2   

How will the proxies vote on any other business brought up at the meeting?

     3   

Who will count the vote?

     3   

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

     3   

What if I do not specify how I want my shares voted?

     3   

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

     3   

Where and when will I be able to find the results of the voting?

     3   

Who pays for the cost of proxy preparation and solicitation?

     4   

What are the deadlines for submitting stockholder proposals for the 2012 annual meeting?

     4   

How can I communicate with EnteroMedics’ Board of Directors?

     4   

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     5   

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     7   

PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF CLASS I DIRECTORS

     8   

Nominees

     8   

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     12   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

     15   

Director Independence

     15   

Director Qualifications and Selection Process

     15   

Board Leadership Structure

     16   

Board Meetings and Committees

     16   

Executive Sessions of the Board

     18   

Attendance at the Annual Meeting

     18   

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

     18   

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     18   

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

     18   

Review of Related Person Transactions

     19   

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     21   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     22   

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     22   

Compensation Committee Report

     29   

Summary Compensation Table

     30   

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

     31   

Employment Agreements

     31   

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

     33   

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

     34   

Pension Benefits

     34   

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

     34   

Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control

     34   

 

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PROPOSAL 2—AMENDMENT TO THE 2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AUTHORIZED UNDER THE PLAN

     37   

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT AND PAYMENT OF FEES TO PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT

     42   

Audit Committee Report

     42   

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     42   

Administration of Engagement of Independent Auditor

     43   

ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS AND FORM 10-K

     43   

“HOUSEHOLDING” OF PROXY MATERIALS

     43   

OTHER MATTERS

     44   

 

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PROXY STATEMENT

2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 5, 2011

The Board of Directors of EnteroMedics Inc. is soliciting proxies for use at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 5, 2011, and at any adjournment of the meeting. This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card are first being mailed or given to stockholders on or about April 1, 2011.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

What is the purpose of the meeting?

At our annual meeting, stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including the election of three Class I directors and an amendment to the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares authorized under the plan by 2,000,000 shares. Also, management will report on our performance during the last fiscal year and, once the business of the annual meeting is concluded, respond to questions from stockholders, as time permits.

Who is entitled to vote at the meeting?

The Board has set March 18, 2011, as the record date for the annual meeting. If you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on March 18, 2011, you are entitled to vote at the meeting.

As of the record date, 27,892,388 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and, therefore, eligible to vote at the meeting.

What are my voting rights?

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Therefore, a total of 27,892,388 votes are entitled to be cast at the meeting. There is no cumulative voting.

How many shares must be present to hold the meeting?

In accordance with our bylaws, shares equal to a majority of all of the shares of the outstanding common stock as of the record date must be present at the meeting in order to hold the meeting and conduct business. This is called a quorum. Your shares are counted as present at the meeting if:

 

   

you are present and vote in person at the meeting; or

 

   

you have properly submitted a proxy card by mail, telephone or internet.

How do I vote my shares?

If you are a stockholder of record as of the record date, you can give a proxy to be voted at the meeting in any of the following ways:

 

   

over the telephone by calling a toll-free number;

 

   

electronically, via the internet; or

 

   

by completing, signing and mailing the enclosed proxy card.

The telephone and internet procedures have been set up for your convenience. We encourage you to save corporate expense by submitting your vote by telephone or internet. The procedures have been designed to authenticate your identity, to allow you to give voting instructions, and to confirm that those instructions have been recorded properly. If you are a stockholder of record and you would like to submit your proxy by telephone or internet, please refer to the specific instructions provided on the enclosed proxy card. If you wish to submit your proxy by mail, please return your signed proxy card to us before the annual meeting.


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If you hold your shares in “street name,” you must vote your shares in the manner prescribed by your broker or other nominee. Your broker or other nominee has enclosed or otherwise provided a voting instruction card for you to use in directing the broker or nominee how to vote your shares, and telephone and internet voting is also encouraged for stockholders who hold their shares in street name.

What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a “street name” holder?

If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares.

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank, trust or other nominee, then the broker, bank, trust or other nominee is considered to be the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. However, you still are considered the beneficial owner of those shares, and your shares are said to be held in “street name.” Street name holders generally cannot vote their shares directly and must instead instruct the broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote their shares using the method described above.

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

If you receive more than one proxy card, it means that you hold shares registered in more than one account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, sign and return each proxy card or, if you submit your proxy vote by telephone or internet, vote once for each proxy card you receive.

Can I vote my shares in person at the meeting?

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote your shares in person at the meeting by completing a ballot at the meeting. Even if you currently plan to attend the meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting.

If you are a street name holder, you may vote your shares in person at the meeting only if you obtain a signed letter or other proxy from your broker, bank, trust or other nominee giving you the right to vote the shares at the meeting.

What vote is required for a proposal to be approved?

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. A plurality means that the nominees with the greatest number of votes are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the meeting.

Each other matter that may be acted upon at the meeting will be determined by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote.

How are votes counted?

You may either vote “FOR” or “WITHHOLD” authority to vote for each nominee for the Board of Directors. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on the other proposals.

If you submit your proxy but abstain from voting or withhold authority to vote on one or more matters, your shares will be counted as present at the meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum. Your shares also will be counted as present at the meeting for the purpose of calculating the vote on the particular matter with respect to which you abstained from voting or withheld authority to vote.

If you abstain from voting on a proposal, your abstention has the same effect as a vote against that proposal. Withholding authority to vote for one or more of the directors will have no effect on the voting for the election of any director who is among the three nominees receiving the highest number of votes FOR his election.

 

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If you hold your shares in street name and do not provide voting instructions to your broker or other nominee, your shares will be considered to be “broker non-votes” and will not be voted on any proposal on which your broker or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Shares that constitute broker non-votes will be counted as present at the meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum, but will not be considered entitled to vote on the proposal in question. Your broker or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote your shares on any of the proposals being presented at the annual meeting.

How will the proxies vote on any other business brought up at the meeting?

By submitting your proxy card, you authorize the proxies to use their judgment to determine how to vote on any other matter brought before the meeting. We do not know of any other business to be considered at the meeting.

The proxies’ authority to vote according to their judgment applies only to shares you own as the stockholder of record.

Who will count the vote?

Representatives of Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, our transfer agent, will tabulate votes and act as independent inspectors of election.

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

You will vote on the following management proposals:

 

   

Election of the following three Class I directors: Carl Goldfischer, M.D., Anthony P. Jansz and Jon T. Tremmel, each to serve a three-year term.

 

   

Amendment of Section 4(a) of the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance by 2,000,000 shares from 2,300,000 to 4,300,000.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of each of the nominees for Class I director as well as the proposed amendment to the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.

What if I do not specify how I want my shares voted?

If you submit a signed proxy card or submit your proxy by telephone and do not specify how you want to vote your shares, we will vote your shares FOR the election of all of the nominees for Class I director as well as FOR the amendment to the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

Yes. You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the annual meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote by submitting a later-dated proxy by telephone, internet or mail, or by voting in person at the meeting. To request an additional proxy card, or if you have any questions about the annual meeting or how to vote or revoke your proxy, you should contact Wells Fargo Shareowner Services at 1-800-468-9716.

Where and when will I be able to find the results of the voting?

Preliminary results will be announced at the meeting. We will publish the final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than four business days after the date of our annual meeting.

 

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Who pays for the cost of proxy preparation and solicitation?

We pay for the cost of proxy preparation and solicitation, including the reasonable charges and expenses of brokerage firms, banks or other nominees for forwarding proxy materials to street name holders. We are soliciting proxies primarily by mail. In addition, our directors, officers and regular employees may solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile or personally. These individuals will receive no additional compensation for their services other than their regular salaries.

What are the deadlines for submitting stockholder proposals for the 2012 annual meeting?

In order for a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2012 annual meeting, the written proposal must be received at our principal executive offices at 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113, Attention: Secretary, on or before December 7, 2011. The proposal must comply with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials.

Our bylaws provide that a stockholder may present from the floor a proposal that is not included in the proxy statement if proper written notice is received by the Secretary of EnteroMedics at our principal executive offices in St. Paul, Minnesota, no less than 90 days and no more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the last annual meeting. For the 2012 annual meeting, director nominations and stockholder proposals must be received on or after January 6, 2012 and on or before February 5, 2012. The proposal must contain the specific information required by our bylaws. In the event that the 2012 annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days of the anniversary date of the 2011 annual meeting, stockholder proposals must be received in accordance with the timeline set forth in our bylaws. You may request a copy of our bylaws by contacting our Secretary, EnteroMedics Inc., 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113, telephone (651) 634-3003. Stockholder proposals that are received by us after February 5, 2012, may not be presented in any manner at the 2012 annual meeting.

How can I communicate with EnteroMedics’ Board of Directors?

Stockholders may communicate with our Board of Directors by sending a letter addressed to the Board of Directors, all independent directors or specified individual directors to: EnteroMedics Inc., c/o Secretary, 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113. All communications will be compiled by the Secretary and submitted to the Board or the specified directors on a periodic basis.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 5, 2011

This proxy statement and the Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 are available at http://ir.enteromedics.com/annual-proxy.cfm

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table shows the beneficial ownership of our common stock by each person or group who beneficially owned five percent or more of our common stock, each of our directors and our director nominee, each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement and our directors and executive officers as a group, as of February 28, 2011. Percentage ownership calculations for beneficial ownership are based on 27,892,388 shares outstanding as of February 28, 2011. The information regarding the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock is based upon information supplied to us by our directors, officers and principal stockholders or on Schedules 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Unless otherwise noted, the stockholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock owned by them and their address is c/o EnteroMedics Inc., 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Amount and
Nature of Beneficial
Ownership(1)
     Percent of
Class
 

Bay City Capital(2)(3)(4)

     5,827,922         19.7

750 Battery Street, Suite 400

San Francisco, CA 94111

     

MPM Capital Funds(3)(5)

     2,523,171         8.8   

c/o MPM Asset Management

The John Hancock Tower

200 Clarendon Street, 54th Floor

Boston, MA 02116

     

T. Rowe Price(3)(6)

     2,433,077         8.7   

100 E. Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

     

Whitebox Advisors LLC(7)

     1,932,600         6.9   

3033 Excelsior Blvd.

Minneapolis, MN 55416

     

TIAA CREF Investment Management LLC(8)

     1,849,546         6.6   

730 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10017

     

Kevin Douglas(9)

     1,700,000         6.1   

125 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Suite 400

Larkspur, CA 94939

     

Aberdare Ventures(3)(10)

     1,446,364         5.1   

One Embarcadero Center, Suite 4000

San Francisco, CA 94111

     

Ardsley Advisory Partners(11)

     1,403,600         5.0   

262 Harbor Drive, 4th Floor

Stamford, CT 06902

     

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.(2)(3)

     206,316         *   

Greg S. Lea(2)(3)

     65,290         *   

Adrianus (Jos) Donders(2)

     52,604         *   

Daniel L. Cohen(2)

     35,746         *   

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D.(2)

     47,232         *   

Luke Evnin, Ph.D.(2)(3)(5)

     2,529,350         8.8   

Catherine Friedman(2)

     11,855         *   

Carl Goldfischer, M.D.(2)(3)(4)

     5,834,101         19.7   

Bobby I. Griffin(2)(3)

     105,793         *   

Donald C. Harrison, M.D.(2)(3)

     563,196         2.0   

Paul H. Klingenstein(2)(3)

     1,495,275         5.3   

Nicholas L. Teti, Jr.(2)(3)

     52,586         *   

Jon T. Tremmel(2)

     7,811         *   

Anthony P. Jansz(12)

     25,000         *   

All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)(13)

     11,007,155         34.7   

 

* The percentage of shares of common stock beneficially owned does not exceed one percent of the outstanding shares of common stock.

 

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(1) For purposes of this table, a person or group of persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of any shares of common stock which that person has the right to acquire within 60 days following February 28, 2011. For purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of common stock held by each person or group of persons named above, any shares which that person or persons has or have the right to acquire within 60 days following February 28, 2011, is deemed to be outstanding, but is not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

(2) Includes the following shares subject to options exercisable currently or within 60 days of February 28, 2011: Dr. Knudson, 138,650 shares; Mr. Lea, 50,666 shares; Mr. Donders, 52,604 shares; Mr. Cohen, 35,746 shares; Dr. Tweden, 46,179 shares; Dr. Evnin, 6,179 shares; Ms. Friedman, 9,855 shares; Dr. Goldfischer, 6,179 shares; Mr. Griffin, 33,651 shares; Dr. Harrison, 6,179 shares; Mr. Klingenstein, 6,179 shares; Mr. Teti, 30,906 shares; and Mr. Tremmel 5,398 shares. Dr. Goldfischer has assigned the shares underlying his options to Bay City Capital Fund IV upon the exercise of these options.

 

(3) Includes the following shares subject to warrants exercisable currently or within 60 days of February 28, 2011: Bay City Capital (see footnote (4)), 1,763,472 shares; MPM Capital (see footnote (5)), 853,417 shares; T. Rowe Price (see footnote (6)), 210,007 shares; Aberdare Ventures (see footnote (10)), 509,596 shares; Dr. Knudson, 5,498 shares; Mr. Lea, 1,374 shares; Dr. Evnin, 853,417 shares; Dr. Goldfischer, 1,763,472 shares; Mr. Griffin, 17,182 shares; Dr. Harrison, 216,802 shares; Mr. Klingenstein, 526,121 shares; and Mr. Teti, 10,840 shares.

 

(4) Consists of information supplied to us or filed with the SEC by Bay City Capital LLC (“BCC”) on behalf of Bay City Capital Fund IV, L.P. (“Fund IV”), Bay City Capital Fund IV Co-Investment Fund, L.P. (“Co-Investment IV”) and Bay City Capital Management IV LLC (“Management IV”), each of which has shared voting power and shared dispositive power of 5,827,922 shares. BCC is the manager of Management IV, which is the general partner of Fund IV and Co-Investment IV. BCC is also an advisor to Fund IV and Co-Investment IV. Carl Goldfischer, a Managing Director of BCC and a member of Management IV, is a member of our Board of Directors and has sole voting and dispositive power of 6,179 shares.

 

(5) Consists of information supplied to us or filed with the SEC by MPM BioVentures III, L.P. (“BV III”), MPM BioVentures III-QP, L.P. (“BV III QP”), MPM BioVentures III Parallel Fund L.P. (“BV III PF”), MPM Bio Ventures III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG (“BV III KG”), MPM Asset Management Investors 2002 BVIII LLC (“AM LLC”), MPM BioVentures III GP, L.P. (“BV III GP”), MPM BioVentures III LLC (“BV III LLC”), and Luke Evnin, Ansbert Gadicke, Nicholas Galakatos, Michael Steinmetz, Kurt Wheeler, Nicholas Simon III, and Dennis Henner. BV III has the sole power to vote and sole power to dispose of 141,172 shares, BV III QP has the sole power to vote and sole power to dispose of 2,099,657 shares, BV III PF has the sole power to vote and sole power to dispose of 63,433 shares, BV III KG has the sole power to vote and sole power to dispose of 177,428 shares and AM LLC has the sole power to vote and sole power to dispose of 41,481 shares. BV III GP and BV III LLC each have shared power to vote and shared power to dispose of 2,481,690 shares. BV III GP and BV III LLC are the direct and indirect general partners of BV III QP, BV III, BV III PF and BV III KG. Dr. Evnin and Messrs. Gadicke, Galakatos, Steinmetz, Wheeler, Simon and Henner each have shared power to vote and shared power to dispose of 2,523,171 shares. Dr. Evnin and Messrs. Gadicke, Galakatos, Steinmetz, Wheeler, Simon and Henner are each a member of BV III LLC and a manager of AM LLC, and each disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interests therein. Dr. Evnin is a member of our Board of Directors and has sole voting and dispositive power of 6,179 shares.

 

(6) Based on information contained in a Schedule 13G that T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”), T. Rowe Price New Horizons Fund, Inc. (“New Horizons”) and T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund, Inc. (“Health Sciences”) jointly filed with the SEC on January 10, 2011. Price Associates has sole voting power with respect to 213,067 shares and 27,983 warrants, New Horizons has sole voting power with respect to 908,400 shares and Health Sciences has sole voting power with respect to 1,000,000 shares and 166,666 warrants. Price Associates serves as investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power to dispose of the 2,433,077 shares and warrants held by Price Associates, New Horizons and Health Sciences. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such securities.

 

(7)

Based on information contained in a Schedule 13G that Whitebox Advisors LLC (“WA”) filed with the SEC on February 11, 2011. WA, acting as an investment advisor, has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,932,600 shares. Whitebox Multi-Strategy Advisors, LLC (“WMSA”), Whitebox Multi-Strategy Partners, L.P. (“WMSP”), Whitebox Multi-Strategy Fund, L.P. (“WMSFLP”) and Whitebox Multi-Strategy Fund Ltd. (“WMFSLTD”) have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,231,502 shares. Whitebox Small Cap Long Short Equity Advisors, LLC (“WSCLSEA”), Whitebox Small Cap Long Short Equity Partners, L.P. (“WSCLSEP”), Whitebox Small Cap Long Short Equity Fund, L.P. (“WSCLSEFLP”) and Whitebox Small Cap Long Short Equity Fund, Ltd. (“WSCLSEFLTD”) have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 193,847 shares. Pandora Select Advisors, LLC (“PSA”), Pandora Select Partners, L.P. (“PSP”), Pandora Select Fund, L.P. (“PSFLP”) and Pandora Select Fund, Ltd. (“PSFLTD”) have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 371,429 shares. HFR RVA Combined Master Trust (“HFR”) has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 135,822 shares. WA, WMSA, WMSFLP,

 

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WMSFLTD, WSCLSEA, WSCLSEFLP, WSCLSEFLTD, PSA, PSFLP and PSFLTD may be deemed to possess indirect beneficial ownership of the shares beneficially owned by each of WMSP, WSCLSEP, PSP and HFR. WA, WMSA, WMSFLP, WMSFLTD, WSCLSEA, WSCLSEFLP, WSCLSEFLTD, PSA, PSFLP and PSFLTD each disclaim indirect beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

 

(8) Based on information contained in Schedule 13Gs that TIAA CREF Investment Management LLC (“Investment Management”) and College Retirement Equities Fund (“CREF”) filed with the SEC on February 11, 2011. Investment Management is the investment adviser to CREF, a registered investment company, and may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the 1,849,546 shares owned by CREF.

 

(9) Based on information contained in a Schedule 13G that Kevin Douglas, Michelle Douglas and their family trusts filed with the SEC on December 17, 2010. Kevin Douglas and his wife, Michelle Douglas, have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 510,000 shares held by the K&M Douglas Trust and 850,000 shares held by the James Douglas and Jean Douglas Irrevocable Descendants’ Trust. Mr. Douglas has shared dispositive power with respect to 340,000 shares held by the Douglas Family Trust.

 

(10) Consists of information supplied to us or filed with the SEC by Aberdare Ventures II, L.P. (“Aberdare II”), Aberdare Ventures II (Bermuda), L.P. (“Aberdare Bermuda”), Aberdare II Annex Fund, L.P. (“Aberdare II Annex”), Aberdare GP II, L.L.C. (“Aberdare GP II”) and Paul H. Klingenstein. Mr. Klingenstein serves as Manager of Aberdare GP II, which serves as the general partner of Aberdare II, which holds 238,566 shares, Aberdare II Bermuda, which holds 4,951 shares, and Aberdare II Annex, which holds 1,202,847 shares, and has voting and investment control of 1,446,364 shares owned, and may be deemed to own beneficially such shares. Mr. Klingenstein has sole voting and dispositive power of 48,911 shares. Mr. Klingenstein is a member of our Board of Directors.

 

(11) Based on information contained in a Schedule 13G that Ardsley Advisory Partners filed with the SEC on January 14, 2011. Ardsley Partners Fund II, L.P. (“AP II”) has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 628,000 shares, Ardsley Partners Institutional Fund, L.P. (“Ardsley Institutional”) has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 552,200 shares and Ardsley Offshore Fund Ltd. (“Ardsley Offshore”) has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 63,400 shares. Ardsley Advisory Partners, serves as Investment Manager of Ardsley Offshore and as Investment Adviser of AP II and Ardsley Institutional, and has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the 1,243,600 shares held by those funds. Ardsley Partners I (“Ardsley Partners”), serves as General Partner of AP II and Ardsley Institutional and has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the 1,180,200 shares held by those funds. Philip J. Hempleman is Managing Partner of Ardsley and Ardsley Partners and has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the 1,403,600 shares held by AP II, Ardsley Institutional, Ardsley Offshore and shares owned by certain accounts managed by Mr. Hempleman directly. Mr. Hempleman disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.

 

(12) Consists of 25,000 shares held by Kathdav Pty Ltd ATF Jansz Family Trust. Mr. Jansz has voting and dispositive power of the shares held by the trust, but disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

 

(13) Includes 3,823,077 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options and warrants currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2011, inclusive of the options and warrants exercisable as described in footnotes (2)  and (3), respectively.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers and directors to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our securities with the SEC. Executive officers and directors are required to furnish us with copies of these reports. Based solely on a review of the Section 16(a) reports furnished to us with respect to 2010 and written representations from the executive officers and directors, we believe that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our executive officers and directors during 2010 were satisfied except that the Form 4’s reporting the granting of stock options to Drs. Evnin, Goldfischer and Harrison, Ms. Friedman and Messrs. Griffin, Klingenstein, Teti and Tremmel on May 6, 2010 were filed late.

 

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PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF CLASS I DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors currently has nine members: Luke Evnin, Ph.D., Catherine Friedman, Carl Goldfischer, M.D., Bobby I. Griffin, Donald C. Harrison, M.D., Paul H. Klingenstein, Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D., Nicholas L. Teti, Jr. and Jon T. Tremmel, divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Donald C. Harrison, M.D. has decided to retire and not stand for re-election at this year’s annual meeting. As such, proxies will be solicited to re-elect Carl Goldfischer, M.D. and Jon T. Tremmel as Class I directors and to elect Anthony P. Jansz, also as a Class I director, each to serve until the 2014 annual meeting or until their successors are elected and qualified. Each of these nominees has agreed to serve as a director if elected. Proxies may not be voted for more than three Class I directors. If, for any reason, any nominee becomes unable to serve before the election, the persons named as proxies will vote your shares for a substitute nominee selected by the Board of Directors. Alternatively, the Board of Directors, at its option, may reduce the number of directors comprising the Board of Directors.

The affirmative vote of a plurality of the common stock present and entitled to vote at the annual meeting with respect to the election of directors is required for the election of the nominees to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR election of the nominated Class I directors.

Nominees

The following information has been provided with respect to the members of EnteroMedics’ Board of Directors, including Drs. Goldfischer and Mr. Tremmel, who have been nominated by the Board of Directors for re-election as Class I Directors at the 2011 annual meeting, and Mr. Jansz, who has been nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a Class I Director at the 2011 annual meeting.

 

 

CLASS I DIRECTORS—Nominees for re-election and election at the 2011 Annual Meeting

 

 

Carl Goldfischer, M.D., age 52, has served as one of our directors since July 2004. Dr. Goldfischer is currently an Investment Partner and Managing Director of Bay City Capital, serving as a member of the Board of Directors and executive committee, and has been with the firm since December 2000. His background includes extensive public and private investment and transaction work, as well as clinical trial development knowledge. Prior to joining Bay City Capital, Dr. Goldfischer was, until mid-2000, Chief Financial Officer of ImClone Systems Incorporated, a publicly-held biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutic oncology products, where he oversaw financial operations and strategic planning. Previously, he was a Research Analyst with the Reliance Insurance Company, helping to establish its portfolio and presence in the health care investment community. Dr. Goldfischer is a member of the Board of Directors of Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company focused on commercializing innovative oncology products, and MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly-held company focused on developing proprietary drug candidates for delivery via the respiratory tract, and also serves on the boards and audit committees of several private companies.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Dr. Goldfischer’s experience managing a venture investment fund that was an early investor in EnteroMedics, as well as his accounting and financial reporting background, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Anthony P. Jansz, age 50, served as Chairman of the Australian Institute of Weight Control (AIWC), the largest network of bariatric surgery clinics in Australia and a collaboration partner with respect to our commercialization efforts in Australia, from 2008 to March 2011. Mr. Jansz is also a director and shareholder of IWC, the Sydney based clinic of the AIWC, and a director and major shareholder of The Medical Finance Company, which provides finance programs for patients undertaking bariatric procedures in Australia. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Jansz served as a Managing Director for The Carlyle Group where he established Carlyle’s Venture and

 

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Growth Capital funds in Asia. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Jansz worked for Intel Corporation in several management positions across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and from 1998 to 2000, Mr. Jansz served as Director, Corporate Business Development for Intel Capital where he established and oversaw investment teams and country investment strategies throughout Asia and sat on a number of investment company boards. Prior joining to Intel, Mr. Jansz spent many years working in the information technology industry at Compaq Computer, Borland International, ComputerLand and Tandy Corporation.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Mr. Jansz’s experience and connections with bariatric surgery clinics in Australia where we plan to begin commercialization of the Maestro System, as well as his extensive management and investment experience with U.S. companies in Australia and Asia, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Jon T. Tremmel, age 64, has served as one of our directors since January 2009. Mr. Tremmel has been retired and acting as an independent consultant since 2007. Over the course of his career at Medtronic, Inc., Mr. Tremmel served in a variety of senior management positions, including President of the Neurological Division from 2003 to 2007, President of the Physio Control Division, President of the Tachyarrhythmia Management Division and President of the Interventional Vascular Division. Mr. Tremmel currently serves on the board of Cyberonics, Inc., a publicly-held company that designs, develops and markets implantable medical devices for the treatment of epilepsy and other debilitating neurological disorders, and a number of corporate and civic organizations.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Mr. Tremmel’s lengthy career and leadership positions at a leading global implantable medical device company, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

CLASS II DIRECTORS—Continuing in office until the 2012 Annual Meeting

 

 

Luke Evnin, Ph.D., age 47, has served as one of our directors since inception in 2002. Dr. Evnin has served as a Managing Director at MPM Capital since he co-founded MPM’s asset management business in 1997. Prior to joining MPM, Dr. Evnin was at Accel Partners for over seven years including four as a General Partner. He was involved in biopharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare service companies for Accel’s funds III, IV and V. Dr. Evnin currently serves as a director of Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly-held company that develops and commercializes new pharmaceutical products based on its proprietary drug delivery technology, and has served on the Board of Directors of several public companies, including Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corp. and Restore Medical, Inc. (acquired by Medtronic, Inc.). Dr. Evnin is currently or has been a director of several private healthcare companies in both the medical device and biopharmaceutical sectors.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Dr. Evnin’s experience managing venture investment funds, including co-founding a fund that was one of the initial investors in EnteroMedics, as well as his experience working with companies in the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Bobby I. Griffin, age 73, has served as one of our directors since September 2006. In 1998, Mr. Griffin retired from a 25 year career with Medtronic, Inc., where he held various positions, including Executive Vice President from 1985 to 1998 and President of Medtronic’s Pacemaker Business from 1991 to 1998. Since his retirement, Mr. Griffin has been a private investor, managing his own fund of companies as well as serving on the advisory boards of Affinity Capital Management Fund III and IV and Sapient Capital Management Fund, in which he also invests. In addition, Mr. Griffin has served on the Board of Directors of several public companies, including MTS Systems Corporation and Urologix, Inc., and is currently a director of several private companies.

 

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Areas of Relevant Experience: Mr. Griffin’s lengthy career in the biomedical industry and senior leadership positions at a leading global implantable medical device company, as well as his experience with managing venture investments, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Paul H. Klingenstein, age 55, has served as one of our directors since July 2006. Mr. Klingenstein has served as Managing Partner of Aberdare Ventures since he founded it in 1999. Formerly, he served as a General Partner of Accel Partners, as a consultant to the Rockefeller Foundation, and as an employee of E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co. Mr. Klingenstein currently serves as a director of Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly-held company that develops and commercializes novel small molecule therapeutics derived from its novel boron chemistry platform, and has served on the Board of Directors of several public companies, including Aviron, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pharmion Corporation and Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. Mr. Klingenstein currently serves on the boards and audit committees of several private companies.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Mr. Klingenstein’s experience managing venture investment funds, including founding a fund that was an early investor in EnteroMedics, as well as his accounting and financial reporting background, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

CLASS III DIRECTORS—Continuing in office until the 2013 Annual Meeting

 

 

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D., age 62, has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since December 2002. Dr. Knudson also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Venturi Group, LLC and Venturi Development, Inc., positions he held from 1999 and 2001 until their dissolutions in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Dr. Knudson served as Chairman of the board of Restore Medical, Inc., a publicly-held medical device company focused on the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, from 1999 through July 2008 when it was acquired by Medtronic, Inc. Dr. Knudson was also a member of the audit committee of Restore Medical.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Dr. Knudson’s experience as the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of EnteroMedics, as well as his technical and financial experience, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Catherine Friedman, age 50, has served as one of our directors since May 2007. Ms. Friedman currently is an independent financial consultant serving public and private companies in the lifesciences. Prior to that, Ms. Friedman held numerous positions over a 23 year investment banking career with Morgan Stanley. Ms. Friedman held the position of Managing Director at Morgan Stanley from 1997 to 2006 and Head of West Coast Healthcare and Co-Head of the Biotechnology Practice at Morgan Stanley from 1993 to 2006. Ms. Friedman serves on the Board of Directors and is a member of the audit committee of XenoPort Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company that develops product candidates that utilize the body’s natural nutrient transport mechanisms to improve the therapeutic benefits of existing drugs.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Ms. Friedman’s lengthy career in investment banking in the healthcare and biotechnology industry, as well as her accounting and financial reporting expertise, makes her well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

Nicholas L. Teti, Jr., age 58, has served as one of our directors since May 2007. Mr. Teti currently serves as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Suneva Medical, Inc., a privately-held aesthetic medical device company. He also serves as an independent consultant to public and private health care companies. From April 2009 to January 2011, Mr.Teti also served in a consultancy capacity to the Chief Executive Officer of EnteroMedics. From June 2009 to the present, Mr. Teti has served on the Cowen Royalty Partners Strategic Advisory Board. Since February 2009 he has served on the Board of CAVU, a “start-up”

 

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obesity research company. From January 2008 to March 2009, Mr. Teti was Chief Executive Officer of Den-Mat, a dental aesthetics company focused on developing non-invasive techniques. Since June 2006, Mr. Teti also served as Chairman of the Board of Isolagen, Inc., a biotechnology company which develops emergent, novel skin and tissue rejuvenation technologies. From June 2006 to January 2008, he also was Chief Executive Officer of Isolagen. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Teti was President and Chief Executive Officer of Inamed Corporation, a healthcare products manufacturer focused on marketing breast implants, dermal fillers to correct facial wrinkles, and devices to treat severe and morbid obesity, including the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System. Mr. Teti served on the board of Inamed during 2001 and was Chairman of the Board from 2002 to 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Teti spent 25 years at DuPont and DuPont Merck where he held a number of senior management positions including President and Chief Executive Officer of DuPont Pharmaceuticals.

Areas of Relevant Experience: Mr. Teti’s executive leadership experience in the medical device field, specifically with the research, marketing and commercialization of medical devices that treat morbid obesity, makes him well-suited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

 

 

* Donald C. Harrison, M.D., served as one of our Class I directors starting in September 2003. Dr. Harrison decided to retire and not stand for re-election at the 2011 annual meeting and will no longer be a member of the Board of Directors effective May 5, 2011.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

To determine director compensation, we periodically review director compensation information for a peer group of comparably sized publicly-traded medical device companies. Compensation for our directors is designed to result in compensation that is competitive with that provided by the peer group.

Our director compensation program includes the payment of cash fees for the services of our non-employee directors. Pursuant to this program, each non-employee director is entitled to receive an annual retainer of $7,500 for serving on the Board and each non-employee director who serves on the Audit Committee, other than the chairperson of the Audit Committee, is entitled to receive an additional annual retainer of $1,500. The chairperson of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee are also entitled to receive additional annual retainers of $10,000, $4,000 and $4,000, respectively. These annual retainer fees are paid on a quarterly basis to the directors. In addition, each non-employee director is entitled to receive $2,500 per meeting of the Board of Directors attended in person or $1,000 per meeting attended telephonically, and each committee member is entitled to receive $750 per meeting attended of their respective committees.

We also grant stock option awards to our non-employee directors as compensation for their service on our Board. Each non-employee director who becomes a member of our Board of Directors will be granted an option to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock under our 2003 Stock Incentive Plan. Twenty-five percent of these options will vest immediately with the remainder vesting in 36 equal monthly installments following the date of grant. Each non-employee director that continues to serve as a non-employee director will be entitled to receive an annual option grant to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock. Twenty-five percent of these options will vest immediately with the remainder to vest in 36 equal monthly installments following the date of grant. Each such option will have an exercise price equal to the closing sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market on the date of grant and will have a ten-year term subject to earlier termination in the event of a termination of directorship. We intend to grant these annual stock option awards to our eligible non-employee directors each year at or around the time of our annual meeting of stockholders.

On May 6, 2010 the Board of Directors approved annual option grants to purchase 1,666 shares of our common stock under our 2003 Stock Incentive Plan to each of Drs. Evnin, Goldfischer and Harrison, Ms. Friedman and Messrs. Griffin, Klingenstein, Teti and Tremmel. These options were granted at an exercise price equal to the closing sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market of $2.52 and vested such that twenty-five percent of the options vested immediately with the remainder vesting in 36 equal monthly installments following the date of grant. These options have a ten-year term subject to earlier termination in connection with a termination of directorship.

On May 28, 2009 the Board of Directors approved entering into a one-year consulting agreement effective June 1, 2009 with Mr. Teti. Pursuant to the consulting agreement, Mr. Teti agreed to devote 160 hours per month to providing strategic advice to the company’s management with respect to our commercialization planning, business and corporate development activities and investor relations. In exchange for these services, Mr. Teti was entitled to receive a consulting fee of $275,000 per year. In connection with the consulting agreement, we also granted Mr. Teti an option to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock under our 2003 Stock Incentive Plan. This option was granted at an exercise price equal to the closing sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market of $13.80 and vests in 36 equal monthly installments following the date of grant. These options have a ten-year term subject to earlier termination in connection with a termination of a relationship with the company.

On February 10, 2010, the company entered into a new consulting agreement with Mr. Teti, which was effective as of February 1, 2010. In connection with entering into the new consulting agreement, Mr. Teti and the

 

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company agreed to terminate Mr. Teti’s prior consulting agreement. However, the options that Mr. Teti received in connection with the prior consulting agreement will continue to vest in accordance with their terms. Pursuant to the new consulting agreement, Mr. Teti agreed to devote 160 hours per month to providing strategic advice to the company’s management with respect to the company’s commercialization planning, business and corporate development activities and investor relations. In exchange for these services, Mr. Teti is entitled to receive a consulting fee of $15,416.67 per month and one-third of Mr. Teti’s administrative assistant expenses. In connection with the new consulting agreement, we also granted an option to purchase 12,500 shares of our common stock under our 2003 Stock Incentive Plan to Mr. Teti. This option was granted at an exercise price equal to the closing sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market of $3.24 and vested such that one-third of the options vested immediately with the remainder vesting in 36 equal monthly installments following the date of grant. These options have a ten-year term subject to earlier termination in connection with a termination of a relationship with the company.

On August 1, 2010, the company entered into a new agreement with Mr. Teti, which was effective from August 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011. Pursuant to this agreement, in exchange for consulting services provided, Mr. Teti is entitled to receive a consulting fee of $7,000 per month and reimbursement of one-third of Mr. Teti’s administrative assistant expenses.

On October 1, 2010, the company amended the August 1, 2010 agreement with Mr. Teti, which was effective from October 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011. Pursuant to this agreement, in exchange for up to ten hours of consulting services provided per month, Mr. Teti is entitled to receive a consulting fee of $175 an hour. Reimbursement of Mr. Teti’s administrative assistant expenses was eliminated with this amendment.

We reimburse all of our non-employee directors for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in attending Board of Directors and committee meetings. Directors who also serve as employees of the company receive no additional compensation for serving as a director. Dr. Knudson is currently the only director who serves as an employee of EnteroMedics.

The following table shows the compensation of the non-employee members of our Board of Directors during fiscal year 2010.

Director Compensation

 

Name(1)

   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)(2)
    Option
Awards
($)(3)
     All Other
Compensation
($)(4)
     Total ($)  

Luke Evnin, Ph.D.

   $ 18,750      $ 3,575       $ —         $ 22,325   

Catherine Friedman.

     29,500        3,575         —           33,075   

Carl Goldfischer, M.D.

     18,500 (5)      3,575         —           22,075   

Bobby I. Griffin

     15,000        3,575         —           18,575   

Donald C. Harrison, M.D.

     16,750 (6)      3,575         —           20,325   

Paul H. Klingenstein

     22,500 (7)      3,575         —           26,075   

Nicholas L. Teti, Jr.

     16,500        3,575         222,759         242,834   

Jon T. Tremmel

     22,000        3,575         —           25,575   

 

(1) Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D., who serves as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer is not included in this table because he is an employee of EnteroMedics and thus received no compensation for his services as a director. The compensation he received as an employee of EnteroMedics is shown in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

 

(2) The amounts in this column include the annual Board and committee retainer amounts described above under the heading “Director Compensation” and meeting fees for the Board and committee meetings held in 2010.

 

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(3) The amounts in this column represent the grant date fair value based on the Black-Scholes model of option valuation, as prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The assumptions used to arrive at the Black-Scholes value are disclosed in Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The directors held options as of December 31, 2010, as follows:

 

Name

   Vested Options      Unvested Options  

Luke Evnin, Ph.D.

     5,641         1,857   

Catherine Friedman

     9,299         1,944   

Carl Goldfischer, M.D.

     5,641         1,857   

Bobby I. Griffin

     33,113         1,857   

Donald C. Harrison, M.D.

     5,641         1,857   

Paul H. Klingenstein

     5,641         1,857   

Nicholas L. Teti, Jr.

     27,480         19,596   

Jon T. Tremmel

     4,773         2,725   

 

(4) The amount in this column represents the amount payable to Mr. Teti in connection with his consulting agreement with the company effective June 1, 2009 and as amended February 10, 2010, August 1, 2010 and October 1, 2010 and the associated option granted February 10, 2010, as discussed in more detail above under the heading “Director Compensation.” The full grant date fair value of the option grant was $38,500. The amount in this column includes both the full grant date fair value of the option grant and $184,259 for fees and expenses paid to Mr. Teti for consulting services rendered in 2010.

 

(5) Dr. Goldfischer requested that such amount be paid to Bay City Capital LLC, of which Dr. Goldfischer is an Investment Partner and Managing Director.

 

(6) Dr. Harrison requested that such amount be paid to Charter Venture Capital, of which Dr. Harrison is a Managing Partner.

 

(7) Mr. Klingenstein requested that such amount be paid to Aberdare Management Co., LLC, of which Mr. Klingenstein is a Managing Partner.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Director Independence

Our Board of Directors reviews at least annually the independence of each director. During these reviews, our Board of Directors considers transactions and relationships between each director (and his or her immediate family and affiliates) and our company and its management to determine whether any such transactions or relationships are inconsistent with a determination that the director was independent. This review is based primarily on responses of the directors to questions in a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire regarding employment, business, familial, compensation and other relationships with EnteroMedics and our management. In March 2011, our Board of Directors determined that no transactions or relationships existed that would disqualify any of our directors under NASDAQ Stock Market rules or require disclosure under SEC rules, with the exception of Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D., our President and Chief Executive Officer, because of his employment relationship with EnteroMedics, and Nicholas L. Teti, Jr., because of his consulting relationship with EnteroMedics beginning June 1, 2009 and ending January 31, 2011. Based upon that finding, the Board determined that Drs. Evnin, Goldfischer and Harrison, Ms. Friedman and Messrs. Griffin, Klingenstein, and Tremmel are “independent” and the composition of our Board of Directors meets the requirements for independence under the NASDAQ Stock Market. Each of our Audit, Nominating and Governance and Compensation Committees is composed only of independent directors. If Mr. Jansz is elected to be a Class I director at the annual meeting, we expect, based on information supplied by Mr. Jansz, that he will not be an “independent” director under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market and the SEC due to his position as a director and shareholder of IWC, the Sydney based clinic of the AIWC, which has received payments from the company in excess of $200,000 in any of the past three years in connection with our U.S. Food and Drug Administration pivotal trial and other clinical trials.

Director Qualifications and Selection Process

The Nominating and Governance Committee determines the required selection criteria and qualifications of director nominees based upon the needs of the company at the time nominees are considered. Directors should possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of EnteroMedics’ stockholders. In evaluating a candidate for nomination as a director of the company, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider criteria including business and financial expertise; experience in the medical device industry or other fields of scientific or medical endeavor; experience as a director of a public company; gender and ethnic diversity on the Board; and general criteria such as ethical standards, independent thought, practical wisdom and mature judgment. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider these criteria for nominees identified by the committee, by stockholders, or through some other source. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not have a policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees.

These general criteria are subject to modification and the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be able, in the exercise of its discretion, to deviate from these general criteria from time to time, as the committee may deem appropriate or as required by applicable laws and regulations.

The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider qualified candidates for possible nomination that are submitted by EnteroMedics’ stockholders. Stockholders wishing to make such a submission may do so by sending the following information to the Nominating and Governance Committee c/o Secretary at 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113: (1) name of the candidate and a brief biographical sketch and resume; (2) contact information for the candidate and a document evidencing the candidate’s willingness to serve as a director if elected; and (3) a signed statement as to the submitting stockholder’s current status as a stockholder and the number of shares currently held.

The Nominating and Governance Committee makes a preliminary assessment of each proposed nominee based upon the resume and biographical information, an indication of the individual’s willingness to serve and other background information. This information is evaluated against the criteria set forth above and the

 

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company’s specific needs at that time. Based upon a preliminary assessment of the candidate(s), those who appear best suited to meet the company’s needs may be invited to participate in a series of interviews, which are used as a further means of evaluating potential candidates. On the basis of information learned during this process, the Nominating and Governance Committee determines which nominee(s) to recommend to the Board to submit for election at the next annual meeting. The Nominating and Governance Committee uses the same process for evaluating all nominees, regardless of the original source of the nomination.

No candidates for director nominations were submitted to the Nominating and Governance Committee by any stockholder in connection with the 2011 annual meeting. Any stockholder desiring to present a nomination for consideration by the Board of Directors prior to our 2012 annual meeting must do so prior to February 5, 2012, in accordance with our bylaws, in order to provide adequate time to duly consider the nominee.

Board Leadership Structure

Our President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Knudson, also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors believes that this leadership structure is appropriate because Dr. Knudson founded EnteroMedics and has the most comprehensive institutional knowledge of any member of the Board of Directors and is thus best positioned to develop agendas that ensure that the Board’s time and attention are focused on the most critical matters. Dr. Knudson’s combined role also provides decisive leadership, ensures clear accountability and enhances the company’s ability to communicate its message and strategy clearly and consistently to our stockholders, employees, clinical investigators and investors, which is particularly important because we are still in the development phase. We do not have a lead independent director.

Each of the directors other than Dr. Knudson and Mr. Teti are independent and our Board believes that the independent directors provide effective oversight of management. Moreover, in addition to feedback provided during the course of Board meetings, the independent directors have regular executive sessions. Following an executive session, one of the independent directors acts as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman regarding any specific feedback or issues, provides the Chairman with input regarding agenda items for Board and Committee meetings and coordinates with the Chairman regarding information to be provided to the independent directors in performing their duties. Our Board believes that this approach appropriately and effectively complements the combined Chairman/President/Chief Executive Officer structure.

Our Board periodically evaluates whether the leadership structure of our Board continues to be optimal for the company and our stockholders. Although we believe that the combination of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles is appropriate in our current circumstances, the Board has the flexibility to modify the Board leadership structure in the future if it determines that to be appropriate.

Board Meetings and Committees

The Board of Directors conducts its business through meetings of the Board and the following standing committees: Audit, Nominating and Governance, and Compensation. The standing committees regularly report on their activities and actions to the full Board. Each of the standing committees has the authority to engage outside experts, advisors and counsel to the extent it considers appropriate to assist the committee in its work. Each of the standing committees has adopted and operates under a written charter. These charters can be found on the Corporate Governance section of the Investors page on our website at www.enteromedics.com. Stockholders may request a free printed copy of any of these charters by contacting our Secretary at EnteroMedics Inc., 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113.

The Board of Directors held six meetings during fiscal year 2010. Each director attended at least 75% of the total meetings of the Board and Board committees on which the director served during the fiscal year, except for Mr. Griffin who attended 70% of the total meetings of the Board and Board committees on which he served.

 

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The following table reflects the current membership of each Board committee.

Committee Membership

 

Name     Current Term  
Expiration
    Audit       Nominating and  
Governance
     Compensation

Luke Evnin, Ph.D.

  2012       ü   ü

Catherine Friedman

  2013   Chair        

Carl Goldfischer, M.D.

  2011       Chair    

Bobby I. Griffin

  2012           ü

Donald C. Harrison, M.D.*

  2011   ü        

Paul H. Klingenstein

  2012   ü   ü    

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

  2013            

Nicholas L. Teti, Jr.

  2013            

Jon T. Tremmel

  2011           Chair

 

* Dr. Harrison served as a member of the Audit Committee in fiscal 2010. Dr. Harrison decided to retire and not stand for re-election at the 2011 annual meeting and will no longer be a member of the Audit Committee effective May 5, 2011. Following Dr. Harrison’s resignation, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board of Directors intend to recommend and appoint one of our other directors to fill the vacancy on the Audit Committee.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in monitoring the quality and integrity of our consolidated financial statements, our internal controls, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent auditor. The Audit Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate the independent auditor and is directly responsible for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor. The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management and the independent auditor the annual audited and quarterly consolidated financial statements (including the disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010), reviews the integrity of the financial reporting processes, both internal and external, reviews the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditor, and prepares the Audit Committee Report included in the proxy statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. All of the Audit Committee members meet the existing independence and experience requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market and the SEC. Our Board of Directors has identified Catherine Friedman, our Audit Committee Chair, as the audit committee’s financial expert under the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee held three meetings during 2010. During the meetings, the Audit Committee met in private session with our independent auditor and alone in executive session without members of management present.

Nominating and Governance Committee

The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for assisting the Board by identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and recommending to the Board the nominees for election as directors at the next annual meeting of stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee also manages the performance review process for our current directors, recommends qualified members of the Board for membership on committees, conducts a preliminary assessment of the independence of all Board members, reviews the charters of all Board committees, reviews and evaluates succession plans for executive officers, reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding our corporate governance principles and processes and makes recommendations to the Board regarding any stockholder proposals. All of the Nominating and

 

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Governance Committee members meet the existing independence requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Nominating and Governance Committee held two meetings in 2010. During the meetings, the Nominating and Governance Committee held an executive session without members of management present.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is responsible for assisting the Board by overseeing the administration of our compensation programs and reviewing and approving the compensation paid to our executive officers. The Compensation Committee approves corporate goals related to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, evaluates the Chief Executive Officer’s performance and compensates the Chief Executive Officer based on this evaluation. All of the Compensation Committee members meet the existing independence requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Compensation Committee held four meetings in 2010. During the meetings, the Compensation Committee held an executive session without members of management present.

Executive Sessions of the Board

Our non-employee directors meet in executive session at each regular meeting of the Board without the Chief Executive Officer or any other member of management present.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting

Our Board of Directors encourages each of its members to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. Seven of the directors who were serving at the time of the 2010 annual meeting attended that meeting.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We have adopted the EnteroMedics Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all of our employees, officers and directors. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics includes particular provisions applicable to our senior financial management, which includes our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller and other employees performing similar functions. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Corporate Governance section of the Investors page on our website at www.enteromedics.com. We intend to post on our website any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to any director or officer, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller and other persons performing similar functions, promptly following the date of such amendment or waiver.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers serves as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. None of the current members of the Compensation Committee of our Board has ever been one of our employees.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Our management has responsibility for managing day-to-day risk and for bringing the most material risks facing the company to the Board’s attention. The Board takes an active role in risk oversight related to the company both as a full Board and through its committees. To facilitate the Board’s risk oversight responsibility, management provides the Board with information about its identification, assessment and management of critical risks and its risk mitigation strategies. This information is communicated to our Board and committees at regular and special meetings, through reports, presentations and discussions with key management personnel and representatives of outside advisors, such as our independent auditors, as appropriate. These matters are further

 

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discussed by the Board and committees in executive sessions without the presence of management. The primary areas of risk oversight that our Board and committees are responsible for are summarized below:

 

Board/Committee

  

Primary Areas of Risk Oversight

Full Board

   Strategic, financial and execution risks and exposures associated with the annual capital plan and strategic plans (including capital allocation); litigation and regulatory exposures; other current matters that may present material risk to our operations, plans, prospects or reputation; and senior management succession planning.

Audit Committee

   Risks and exposures associated with financial matters, particularly financial reporting, tax, accounting, disclosure, internal control over financial reporting, financial policies, investment guidelines and credit and liquidity matters.

Compensation Committee

   Risks and exposures associated with leadership assessment, management succession planning and executive compensation programs and arrangements, including incentive plans.

Nominating and Governance Committee

   Risks and exposures associated with corporate governance, legal compliance and director succession planning.

Review of Related Person Transactions

In accordance with its written charter, our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing all related party transactions as they are presented, and the approval of the Audit Committee will be required for all such transactions. The term “related party transactions” refers to transactions required to be disclosed in our filings with the SEC pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K. In considering related party transactions, our Audit Committee is guided by its fiduciary duty to our stockholders. Our Audit Committee does not have any written or oral policies or procedures regarding the review, approval and ratification of transactions with related parties. Additionally, each of our directors and executive officers are required to annually complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions. Our Nominating and Governance Committee and Board of Directors annually review all transactions and relationships disclosed in the director and officer questionnaires, and the Board makes a formal determination regarding each director’s independence.

We describe below transactions and series of similar transactions that have occurred during our last fiscal year to which we were a party or a party in which:

 

   

the amounts involved, exceeded or will exceed $120,000; and

 

   

a director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our common stock or any member of their immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Consulting Agreement

On June 1, 2009, we entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Teti who is a member of our Board of Directors. On February 10, 2010, we entered into a new consulting agreement with Mr. Teti, which was effective as of February 1, 2010. This new consulting agreement superseded and replaced the June 1, 2009 consulting agreement. On August 1, 2010, we entered into a new consulting agreement with Mr. Teti, which was effective from August 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011. This consulting agreement was amended on October 1, 2010 by a new consulting agreement with Mr. Teti which was effective from October 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011. The details of the consulting agreements are described above under the heading “Director Compensation.”

 

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Private Placement

The following officers, directors and principal stockholders each purchased shares of Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock and common stock warrants in our private placement on September 29, 2010 at a price of $1.72 per share and $0.125 per share, respectively. The shares and warrants purchased, together with the proceeds, before expenses to the company, are shown in the table below:

 

Beneficial Owner

   Shares
Purchased
     Warrants
Purchased
     Net Proceeds, before
expenses, to the Company
 

MPM Capital

     704,607         704,607       $ 1,300,000   

Bay City Capital

     1,626,016         1,626,016         3,000,000   

Aberdare Ventures

     406,504         406,504         750,000   

Charter Life Sciences

     216,802         216,802         400,000   

Paul H. Klingenstein

     16,525         16,525         30,488   

Nicholas L. Teti, Jr.

     10,840         10,840         20,000   

Luke Evnin, Ph.D. is one of our directors and is a member of MPM BioVentures III LLC and a manager of MPM Asset Management Investors 2002 BVIII LLC. Carl Goldfischer, M.D. is one of our directors and is a managing director of Bay City Capital LLC. Paul H. Klingenstein is one of our directors and is a managing partner of the Aberdare Funds. Donald C. Harrison, M.D. is one of our directors and is a managing partner of Charter Life Sciences, L.P. Nicholas L. Teti, Jr. is one of our directors.

Public Offering

The following officers, directors and principal stockholders each purchased shares of common stock and common stock warrants in our public offering on December 14, 2010 at a price of $1.74 per share and $0.01 per share, respectively. The shares and warrants purchased, together with the proceeds, before expenses to the company, are shown in the table below:

 

Beneficial Owner

   Shares
Purchased
     Warrants
Purchased
     Net Proceeds, before
expenses, to the Company
 

Bay City Capital

     1,700,000         1,700,000       $ 2,975,000   

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

     25,000         25,000         43,750   

Greg S. Lea

     10,000         10,000         17,500   

Carl Goldfischer, M.D. is one of our directors and is a managing director of Bay City Capital LLC. Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D. is our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Greg S. Lea is our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Indemnification Agreements

Upon the closing of our initial public offering on November 20, 2007, we entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. We also entered into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Tremmel after his appointment to our Board of Directors. Each indemnification agreement provides that we will indemnify the director or executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as our director, officer, employee or agent, provided that he or she acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. If the claim is brought by us or on our behalf, we will not be obligated to indemnify the director or executive officer if he or she is found liable to us, unless the court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability, in view of all the circumstances of the case the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity. In the event that we do not assume the defense of a claim against our director or executive officer, we are required to advance his or her expenses in connection with his or her defense, provided that he or she undertakes to repay all amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by us. We plan to enter into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Jansz if he is elected to be a Class I director at the annual meeting.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers, including their ages, as of March 31, 2011:

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

     62       President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director

Greg S. Lea

     58       Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Adrianus (Jos) Donders

     57       Senior Vice President of Operations

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D.

     50       Vice President of Research and Clinical

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D., has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board since December 2002. Dr. Knudson also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Venturi Group, LLC and Venturi Development, Inc., positions he held from 1999 and 2001 until their dissolutions in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Dr. Knudson served as Chairman of the board of Restore Medical, Inc., a publicly-held medical device company focused on the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, from 1999 through July 2008 when it was acquired by Medtronic, Inc. Dr. Knudson was also a member of the audit committee of Restore Medical. Dr. Knudson received a Bachelor of Science in biology from Pacific Lutheran University and a Ph.D. in physiology from Washington State University.

Greg S. Lea, has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since May 21, 2007. Prior to joining us, Mr. Lea served as Chief Financial Officer of Pemstar Inc. from July 2002 through January 2007 when it was acquired by Benchmark Electronics, Inc. Mr. Lea also served as a director of Pemstar from April 2001 through January 2007 and held the position of Corporate Controller from April 2002 through July 2002. From 1993 to April 2002, Mr. Lea served as a corporate Vice President for Jostens Corporation, a commemorative and affiliation products manufacturer, serving most recently as corporate Vice President-Business Ventures. Prior to that, Mr. Lea held several financial management and administrative positions at IBM Corporation from 1974 to 1993 and was President and a director of the Ability Building Center, Inc. from 1981 to 1993. Mr. Lea holds a B.S. in Accounting/Business Management from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Adrianus (Jos) Donders, has served as our Senior Vice President of Operations since April 2005. From September 2003 to April 2005, Mr. Donders was Director Communication Systems Engineering for Medtronic USA. From June 2000 to August 2003, Mr. Donders served as Director Clinical Study Management and Research and Development Europe for Medtronic Europe. Mr. Donders received a degree equivalent to a Masters of Electrical Engineering from the Institute of Technology Eindhoven Netherlands.

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D., has served as our Vice President of Research since January 2003 and Vice President of Research and Clinical since September 2008. From November 2002 to January 2003, Dr. Tweden was a consultant to Venturi Group, a medical device incubator company. From January 2003 through August 2004, Dr. Tweden worked for Venturi Development Inc. as a consultant to us. From July 1997 to October 2002, Dr. Tweden held positions including Director of Research and Vice President of Research for HeartStent Corporation. From September 1990 to June 1997, Dr. Tweden held the positions of Senior Research Scientist and Principal Research Scientist at St Jude Medical, Inc. Dr. Tweden received a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Masters degree and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Iowa State University.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the compensation policies and programs for our named executive officers, who consist of our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, and our three next most highly paid executive officers as determined under the rules of the SEC. In 2010, our three next most highly paid executive officers were Adrianus (Jos) Donders, Senior Vice President of Operations, Daniel L. Cohen, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Health Policy and Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Clinical.

Compensation Determination Process

Commencing April 27, 2007, our Board of Directors appointed independent directors to the Compensation Committee, formally adopted a charter outlining the responsibilities of the committee and granted the committee the authority to oversee our compensation programs. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the compensation programs and all forms of compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and recommends for approval by our Board of Directors the compensation programs and all forms of compensation for our other executive officers. The Chief Executive Officer’s compensation package is set by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. Although our Chief Executive Officer does not make a recommendation as to his own compensation, he may respond to the Compensation Committee’s proposal for his compensation, which the Compensation Committee may, but is not required to, consider. The Chief Executive Officer is also permitted to make compensation recommendations for the other executive officers, which the Compensation Committee may, but is not required to, consider. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer may participate as an observer at the Compensation Committee’s meetings when the committee invites him to attend its meetings. Other than these rights granted to the Chief Executive Officer, management does not participate in the determination of the amount or form of executive compensation.

Commencing in 2007, the Compensation Committee adopted a practice of reviewing each element of total compensation on an annual basis in the first half of the year in connection with the review of our annual performance. In 2008, the Compensation Committee asked our Chief Financial Officer to analyze the base salaries, percentage equity ownership and percentage cash incentives paid to our executive officers at the level of vice president and above against the compensation awarded to such officers at comparable companies. The comparable companies (CNS, Inc., Conor Medsystems, Inc., Hansen Medical, Inc., Helicos Biosciences Corporation, Insulet Corporation, Northstar Neuroscience, Inc., Restore Medical, Inc., Urologix, Inc. and Xtent, Inc.) were selected by our Chief Financial Officer and consisted of medical device companies that were publicly-traded and comparably-sized. In addition the peer group of selected companies was compared to three national third-party surveys: (1) Top Five Data Services, 2006 MEDIC Executive Compensation Survey; (2) Compstudy, a joint E&Y / Harvard study; and (3) The Management Association of Illinois’ 2007 National Executive Compensation Survey. The Chief Financial Officer presented the results of this analysis and his findings with respect to the competitiveness of the elements of our compensation program to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee primarily uses the comparative analysis as a starting point in its annual review of executive compensation to benchmark each executive’s current compensation package against compensation packages offered to similar executive officers by the peer group companies. In general, the Compensation Committee tries to keep each executive’s base salary and total compensation at the midpoint of the range of base salaries and total compensation paid to similar executive officers at the peer group companies and may make recommendations to adjust an executive’s compensation accordingly. The goal of this review is to try to maintain base salaries and total compensation packages that are market competitive, so the company can attract and retain executive talent. However, the Compensation Committee may deviate from this benchmark as it considers other factors such as each executive’s individual performance and responsibilities, the company’s overall strategy and performance and the pool of resources available for compensation adjustments each year. These factors, especially the company’s desire to reward individual efforts and performance, weigh much more heavily in the Compensation Committee’s final recommendations with respect to compensation adjustments and were the

 

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primary drivers behind the base salary increases that were recommended and approved for Mr. Lea and Dr. Tweden in 2010. Since the company’s intent with respect to stock-based compensation relates more to aligning executives’ interests with those of the company and encouraging their efforts for the long-term growth and success of the company, the peer group analysis generally plays a role as a reference point in the Compensation Committee’s decisions to make additional awards of stock options to the executives. More importantly, the Compensation Committee considers individual performance and experience, contributions and achievements, stock option grants previously awarded to each executive and the Compensation Committee’s view of the appropriate levels of equity compensation for individuals with certain responsibilities, professional expertise and experience.

In 2010, the Compensation Committee asked to look at current compensation packages being paid to our executive officers compared to the analysis prepared in 2008. After reviewing the analysis prepared by our Chief Financial Officer, the Compensation Committee approved base salary increases of 6.0% and 4.5% to Mr. Lea and Dr. Tweden, respectively. There were no additional changes recommended or approved to the compensation packages of our executive officers. To date for 2011, the Compensation Committee has not asked for an updated detailed compensation review nor has it recommended to the Board of Directors any adjustments to our executive officers’ base salaries or the Management Incentive Plan. However, on February 16, 2011, the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved the granting of stock options to our executive officers as a means of continuing to provide long-term incentives to motivate and retain our executive officers.

The Compensation Committee has the authority to use outside compensation consultants to assist it in analyzing our compensation programs and determining appropriate levels of compensation and benefits or to retain outside counsel and other advisors to assist it in the performance of its functions. The decision to retain consultants and, if so, which consultants to retain, is made solely by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has not used the services of a compensation consultant to date; however, it will continue to consider the need to retain a compensation consultant in connection with each annual review of compensation.

Compensation Philosophy and Components

We are committed to attracting, hiring and retaining an experienced management team. Our fundamental executive compensation philosophy is to provide executive officers with compensation we believe to be comparable with similarly situated executives in other companies of similar size and stage of development operating in the medical device industry, taking into account our relative performance and our own strategic goals. Our objective is to have each executive officer’s total compensation be contingent upon both our overall company performance and each executive officer’s individual performance. To achieve this objective, our Compensation Committee has maintained and expects to continue to implement and maintain compensation programs that tie a portion of the executives’ overall compensation to key strategic, financial and operational goals, such as clinical trial progress, continued research and development, continued establishment of intellectual property and implementation of appropriate financing strategies, while also recognizing not only individual executive responsibilities and breadth of experience but also competitive market compensation paid by other companies for similar positions. Accordingly, the compensation package for each executive officer is comprised of three elements: (i) a base salary that reflects individual responsibilities and experience and is intended to be competitive in the context of base salaries paid by comparable companies for similar positions; (ii) cash incentive payments under our Management Incentive Plan that are contingent upon our achievement of specific pre-determined performance objectives as communicated to the executives following their determination by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors on an annual basis, thereby allowing such objectives to vary from year to year; and (iii) stock-based incentive awards, which reward long-term performance and align the mutuality of interests between our executive officers and our stockholders.

Base Salary

Base salaries are designed to provide recurring compensation for the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities associated with job roles, and are paid in cash on a semi-monthly basis. The base salaries for our

 

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executive officers are structured to be market-competitive and to attract and retain these key employees. An executive’s base salary is also determined by reviewing the executive’s other compensation to ensure that the executive’s total compensation is in line with our overall compensation philosophy. In 2010 the Compensation Committee reviewed each individual’s experience, each individual’s performance during the prior year and the base salaries paid to our executive officers at the level of vice president and above in 2009 against the base salaries paid to such officers at comparable companies selected as part of a survey prepared by our Chief Financial Officer in 2008 at the request of the committee. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee approved increases of 6.0% and 4.5% to Mr. Lea and Dr. Tweden, respectively, effective March 1, 2010. The committee did not recommend any other adjustments to executive officers’ base salaries for 2010.

We have also entered into executive employment agreements and amendments to the agreements with Drs. Knudson and Tweden and Messrs. Lea and Donders that establish certain guaranteed minimum base salary and incentive compensation thresholds and provide other benefits described in more detail below under the heading “Executive Employment Agreements and Severance Benefits.” The base salaries recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board for Drs. Knudson and Tweden and Messrs. Lea and Donders have been consistent with these agreements since they were executed.

The Compensation Committee may adjust base salaries as warranted throughout the year for promotions or other changes in the scope or breadth of an executive’s role or responsibilities. In 2010, no such adjustments were made.

Annual Cash Incentives

Our Management Incentive Plan is designed to provide executive officers with annual incentive compensation based on the achievement of certain pre-established performance objectives. By utilizing a combination of objective and subjective performance factors critical to our success, this program incentivizes our executive officers to achieve results that benefit them and the company.

At the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee recommends and the Board of Directors approves new “Base Plan” and “Incremental Plan” corporate objectives for the Management Incentive Plan. The objectives are established and measured on an annual basis to better align personal objectives with the direction and objectives of the company. When these objectives are established and approved, each objective, and, if applicable, the subparts to each objective, is weighted and assigned a percentage value relative to the “Base Plan” or “Incremental Plan” corporate objectives taken as a whole. At that time, the Compensation Committee also establishes the maximum bonus amount for each of our executive officers, based on a set percentage of each executive officer’s base salary, that the “Base Plan” and “Incremental Plan” corporate objectives are worth (see table below). The Compensation Committee may modify or re-weight the objectives during the course of the fiscal year, if necessary, to reflect changes in our business plan. To date, the Compensation Committee has not made any mid-year modifications to the objectives.

Under the terms of the Management Incentive Plan, if participants achieve the designated “Base Plan” objectives, they are entitled to receive a bonus equal to a “Base Plan” percentage of their base salary for the year. In addition, to the “Base Plan” bonus amount, participants are also eligible to receive an additional bonus equal to the designated “Incremental Plan” percentage of their base salary if certain additional “Incremental Plan” objectives are achieved. The bonus percentages that may be paid to the named executive officers under the 2010 “Base Plan” and “Incremental Plan” are set forth in the table below:

 

Title

   “Base Plan”
(bonus as
percentage
of salary)
    “Incremental Plan”
(bonus as
percentage of
salary)
    Maximum Bonus
(as a percentage
of salary)
 

President and CEO

     40     10     50

Chief Financial Officer

     32     8     40

Senior Vice President

     32     8     40

Vice President

     24     6     30

 

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The Compensation Committee’s decision to include “Base Plan” and “Incremental Plan” bonuses and performance objectives in conjunction with bonus award percentages that may be earned by the named executive officers was based on its determination that such an incentive plan is necessary to strategically align the company’s compensation with that of similarly positioned publicly-traded medical device companies and to increase the company’s ability to attract and retain talented executive management. Additionally, the “Incremental Plan” objectives were designed as an extension of certain “Base Plan” objectives in order to provide additional incentive for achievement.

The Management Incentive Plan includes corporate and individual performance goals for all participants, except the Chief Executive Officer, whose bonus is based entirely on corporate objectives. The weighting of the corporate to individual performance goals for the named executive officers under the Management Incentive Plan is set forth in the table below:

 

Title

   Corporate Objective
Weighting
    Individual Objective
Weighting
 

President and CEO

     100     0

Chief Financial Officer

     90     10

Senior Vice President

     80     20

Vice President

     75     25

These percentages were weighted based upon the Compensation Committee’s determination that the achievement of the company’s strategic corporate goals was a more meaningful measure of performance for senior executive officers than the achievement of individual goals and that such weighting yielded an incentive that was most beneficial to the company’s overall performance.

At the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee, with input from the Chief Executive Officer, reviews the performance objectives that were established for the prior year’s Management Incentive Plan and assesses whether the objectives were fully achieved, not achieved or partially achieved. If an objective was fully achieved, 100% credit is given for the objective. If an objective was not achieved, 0% credit is given for the objective. If an objective was partially achieved, the Compensation Committee, with input from the Chief Executive Officer, will review the objective and the company’s performance to determine whether any partial credit is appropriate. In some cases, for example where an objective has subparts and one or more of the subparts was achieved, even though the main objective was not achieved, partial credit may be given for the subparts that were achieved. Since each of the objectives was assigned a weighting when it was established, the Compensation Committee adds the percentages for the objectives that were achieved to determine the total percentage of the “Base Plan” and “Incremental Plan” corporate objectives that were achieved for the year. Then, if there were any executive officers who did not serve as executive officers for the full year and had an agreement with the company to receive a pro-rated amount of the Management Incentive Plan, like Mr. Cohen did in 2010 for his change in status to part-time beginning November 1, 2010, the Compensation Committee will calculate the pro-rated percentage of the bonus award that such executive officer is entitled to receive. Finally, the Compensation Committee calculates the bonus award amount for each executive officer by first multiplying (i) the total percentage amount that the “Base Plan” corporate objective was achieved by the maximum “Base Plan” bonus amount for that officer, (ii) the total percentage amount that the “Incremental Plan” corporate objective was achieved by the maximum “Incremental Plan” bonus amount for that officer and (iii) for all of the executive officers except the Chief Executive Officer, the total percentage amount that the individual objective was achieved by the maximum individual bonus amount for that officer and then adding the amounts together. Based on these calculations, the Compensation Committee recommends the bonus award amounts to be paid to each of the executive officers and the Board of Directors reviews and approves the payment of the awards.

In the first quarter of 2010, the individual performance objectives under the Management Incentive Plan were set separately and specifically for each participating executive officer by the Chief Executive Officer. With respect to the corporate performance component, on February 4, 2010, the Compensation Committee established

 

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objectives for both the “Base Plan” and the “Incremental Plan.” The “Base Plan” corporate performance objectives established by the Compensation Committee for fiscal year 2010 consisted of: (1) the achievement of certain milestones in 2010 with respect to the company’s proposed U.S. pivotal trial of the Maestro System using the RC2 device, including submission of an IDE application for the trial, approval of the IDE application by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and initiation of implants for the trial, (2) publication in 2010 of 12-month data for sub-study results relating to type 2 diabetes and hypertension in the company’s VBLOC-RC2 feasibility study, (3) the development of a strategic financing plan for the company, and (4) the achievement of the fiscal 2010 capital plan. The “Incremental Plan” corporate performance objectives for fiscal year 2010 consisted of: (1) obtaining the capital necessary to finance the company into 2011, (2) receipt of IDE approval from the FDA for the U.S. pivotal trial of the Maestro System, and (3) initiation of implants for this trial assuming receipt of FDA’s approval of the IDE. The “Incremental Plan” objectives are designed as an extension of certain “Base Plan” objectives in order to provide additional incentive for achievement. In the event that some, but not all, of the “Base Plan” or “Incremental Plan” corporate goals are achieved, the Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may determine to award partial or full payment of annual cash incentive compensation.

At its January 6, 2011 meeting, the Compensation Committee reviewed the achievement of the corporate and individual objectives in awarding bonuses under the Management Incentive Plan, and concluded that 100% of the 2010 “Base Plan” corporate performance objectives and 100% of the 2010 “Incremental Plan” corporate objectives had been met for all of the named executive officers. Additionally, our Chief Executive Officer, as authorized by the Compensation Committee, concluded that on average 90.75% of the individual performance objectives for the Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Vice President were achieved. The Compensation Committee also factored into this assessment the fact that Mr. Cohen’s bonus was to be prorated 91.64% based on his change of status to part-time beginning November 1, 2010. Based on these assessments, the Compensation Committee recommended and the Board of Directors approved 2010 bonus awards of $168,500, $110,000, $90,530, $87,274 and $75,240 for Dr. Knudson, Mr. Lea, Mr. Donders, Mr. Cohen and Dr. Tweden, respectively. These bonus awards were paid to the named executive officers in January 2011.

In the first quarter of 2011, the individual performance objectives under the Management Incentive Plan were set separately and specifically for each participating executive officer by the Chief Executive Officer. With respect to the corporate performance component, on January 6, 2011, the Compensation Committee established objectives for both the “Base Plan” and the “Incremental Plan.” The 2011 “Base Plan” corporate objectives consist of: (1) the achievement of certain milestones in 2011 related to the company’s clinical development, including the commencement and completion of implants for the company’s U.S. pivotal trial of the Maestro RC System (the ReCharge trial) by certain dates, Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of a glucose study and publication of 24-month data for the company’s VBLOC-DM2 trial; (2) the achievement of certain milestones in 2011 related to the company’s commercialization strategy, including obtaining European CE Mark certification for the Maestro RC System and receiving Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approval of the Maestro RC System; (3) development of a reimbursement plan and a commercialization plan for key European countries and (4) the achievement of certain financial targets. The 2011 “Incremental Plan” corporate objectives consist of: (1) reviewing the strategic partnership plan or reimbursement plan for other countries outside of the United States with the Board of Directors; (2) realizing a designated revenue target and (3) early commencement of the initial implants for the ReCharge trial.

Long-Term Incentives

Our 2003 Stock Incentive Plan allows us the opportunity to grant stock options, restricted stock and other equity-based awards. Currently, long-term incentives are awarded to our executive officers through the grant of stock options. Our stock option grants are designed to align the long-term interests of each executive officer with those of our stockholders by providing executive officers with an incentive to manage our business from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors have used stock options, rather than other forms of long-term incentives, because they create value for executive officers only if stockholder value is increased through an increased share price. In general, we view

 

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stock option grants as incentives for future performance and not as compensation for past accomplishments. We also believe that equity awards reward continued employment by an executive officer, with an associated benefit to us of employee continuity and retention. Since our initial public offering and the commencement of the trading of our common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market on November 15, 2007, the exercise price of stock options awarded by the Compensation Committee has been and will continue to be the closing sales price of our common stock on the date of grant.

Executive officers are granted stock options at the time they commence their employment with us. New hire grants occur at regularly scheduled Board meetings. Executive officers are also eligible for annual grants thereafter, which are expected to occur at the first regularly scheduled Board meeting of each fiscal year. Stock options granted to our executive officers at the time of hire generally vest twenty-five percent on the first anniversary of the date of hire and then 1/36th per month for 36 months thereafter and expire ten years after the date of grant subject to earlier termination in the event of a termination of employment. The vesting of additional stock options issued to our executive officers is at the discretion of our Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors and may be in accordance with this schedule or may be monthly over different periods of time or may have a component of immediate vesting or may be tied to specified performance milestones. Stock option grants are made with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Prior to May 1, 2006, the grant date was the same as an employee’s hire date, the date an agreement was entered into with a consultant or the date the Board of Directors approved the option grant. Since May 1, 2006, the stock option grant date has consistently been the day the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors approves the option grant.

The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors do not award stock options according to a prescribed formula or target, although they review equity data from comparable companies to inform their decisions. In determining the number of stock options granted to executive officers, individual responsibilities and experience, as well as contributions and achievements are considered, and, in appropriate circumstances, the Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer. The objectives utilized to assess individual contributions and achievements vary depending on the individual executive, but relate generally to strategic factors such as clinical trial progress and enrollment, research and development, continued establishment of intellectual property and implementation of appropriate financing strategies. While the Chief Executive Officer may provide recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the number of stock option grants awarded to other executive officers from time to time, he does not make a recommendation as to his stock options. Although our Chief Executive Officer may respond to the Compensation Committee’s proposal regarding whether and the amount of stock options he should be granted, to date he has not done so and has accepted the initial proposal of the Compensation Committee. Beginning in 2007, a review of each component of the executive’s compensation is conducted when determining annual equity awards to ensure that an executive’s total compensation is in line with our overall compensation philosophy.

On October 29, 2010, we completed our stock option exchange program. This program allowed our employees, including our named executive officers, to exchange some or all of their outstanding options to purchase our common stock for fewer new options with exercise prices equal to the closing price per share of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market on the date of grant. A stock option was eligible for exchange if: (i) it had an exercise price of greater than $6.00 per share; (ii) it was not granted in connection with the performance of consulting services for us; (iii) it was held by an employee of who was eligible to participate in the program; and (iv) it remained outstanding (i.e. unexpired and unexercised) as of the date of grant of the new options (such options are referred to herein as Eligible Options). Pursuant to the stock option exchange program, we granted new options to purchase 384,629 shares of the company’s common stock in exchange for the cancellation of 481,288 tendered Eligible Options. The exercise price of the new stock options is $1.90 and the new options vest such that one-third of the shares underlying the option are immediately vested on the date of grant and the remaining shares vest monthly for 24 months. The new options also provide for accelerated vesting upon a change in control of the company (as defined in the stock option agreements) with 50% of the unvested portion of the option vesting immediately upon a change in control and 100% of the unvested portion of the

 

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option vesting immediately upon a change in control in which the employee’s employment is terminated. Each new option is a non-qualified stock option for U.S. federal income tax purposes and has a term of seven years from the date of grant. The stock option exchange program was designed:

 

   

to address our concern over the number of employees with underwater outstanding common stock options (stock options with exercise prices higher than the current market price per share of our common stock) and

 

   

to create better incentives for employees to remain at EnteroMedics and contribute to achieving our business objectives.

During fiscal year 2010, the only option awards granted to our named executive officers were those granted pursuant to the stock option exchange program. 153,937, 51,339, 31,212, 33,069 and 25,301 shares were granted to Dr. Knudson, Mr. Lea, Mr. Donders, Mr. Cohen and Dr. Tweden, respectively. Further details about our stock option exchange program are included in the Schedule TO-I we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2010, as amended.

Other Compensation

We provide our executive officers with benefits, including health insurance, life and disability insurance and dental insurance, that we believe are reasonable, competitive and consistent with our overall executive compensation program in order to attract and retain talented executives. Specifically, we fund the executive’s Flex Spending Accounts and we pay 100% of the health and dental insurance premium costs for the families of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the levels of benefits provided to executive officers.

We provide a 401(k) retirement savings plan in which all full-time employees, including the executive officers, may participate. Eligible employees may elect to reduce their current compensation by an amount no greater than the statutorily prescribed annual limit and may have that amount contributed to the 401(k) plan. Participation of the executive officers is on the same terms as any other participant in the plan. Matching contributions may be made by us to the 401(k) plan at the discretion of our Board of Directors. To date, we have not made any matching contributions to the 401(k) plan.

Executive Employment Agreements and Severance Benefits

We have entered into executive employment agreements with Drs. Knudson and Tweden and Messrs. Lea and Donders. These agreements establish a specified minimum base compensation and a maximum percentage of annual incentive compensation that may be earned as a bonus by each of these executive officers in a given year. On April 3, 2008, in connection with the approval of the bonus award percentages for 2008 under the Management Incentive Plan, the company formally waived the maximum annual incentive compensation percentages set forth in these agreements in order to permit the maximum potential cash bonus awards under the Management Incentive Plan. On May 4, 2009 and April 13, 2010, we entered into an amended and restated executive employment agreements with Dr. Knudson and Mr. Lea, respectively, which superseded and replaced their prior executive employment agreements. These agreements also provide for the payment of severance benefits upon certain termination events with Drs. Knudson and Tweden and Messrs. Lea and Donders and for the right to certain benefits upon a change in control of EnteroMedics. The purpose of these agreements is to attract and retain high caliber executive officers, recognizing that termination and change in control protections are commonly provided at comparable companies with which we compete for executive talent. In addition, the Compensation Committee believes change in control protections enhance the impartiality and objectivity of the executive officers in the event of a change in control transaction and better ensure that stockholder interests are protected. A more complete description of the executive employment agreements, as amended, is found in the sections entitled “Employment Agreements” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

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Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)

As a result of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), we are not allowed a federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to certain executive officers to the extent that compensation exceeds $1.0 million per officer in any one year. This limitation applies to all compensation paid to the covered executive officers which is not considered to be performance-based. Compensation which qualifies as performance-based compensation does not have to be taken into account for purposes of this limitation.

Section 162(m) of the Code did not affect the deductibility of compensation paid to our executive officers in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and it is anticipated it will not affect the deductibility of such compensation expected to be paid in the foreseeable future. The Compensation Committee will continue to monitor this matter and may propose additional changes to the executive compensation program if warranted.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has discussed and reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based upon this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of EnteroMedics

 

Jon T. Tremmel, Chair                Luke Evnin, Ph.D.                    
     Bobby I. Griffin

 

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Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation earned by our named executive officers during our fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal Position

   Year      Salary ($)      Bonus
($)(1)
     Option
Awards

($)(2)
     Non-
equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
($)(3)
     All  Other
Compen-
sation
($)(4)
     Total ($)  

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

     2010       $ 337,000       $ —         $ —         $ 168,500       $ 4,633       $ 510,133   

President and Chief Executive Officer

    

 

2009

2008

  

  

    

 

337,000

335,065

  

  

    

 

—  

—  

  

  

    

 

1,366,881

2,261,145

  

  

    

 

44,933

155,445

  

  

    

 

4,466

5,341

  

  

    

 

1,753,280

2,756,996

  

  

Greg S. Lea

     2010         260,925         —           —           110,000         4,633         375,558   

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    

 

2009

2008

  

  

    

 

248,500

248,357

  

  

    

 

—  

—  

  

  

    

 

443,677

341,622

  

  

    

 

32,471

91,699

  

  

    

 

4,466

4,602

  

  

    

 

729,114

686,280

  

  

Adrianus (Jos) Donders

     2010         253,500         —           1,786         90,530         5,972         351,788   

Senior Vice President of Operations

    

 

2009

2008

  

  

    

 

253,500

252,890

  

  

    

 

—  

—  

  

  

    

 

214,709

570,892

  

  

    

 

22,984

93,544

  

  

    

 

5,638

5,216

  

  

    

 

496,831

922,542

  

  

Daniel L. Cohen(5)

     2010         227,083         —           —           87,274         9,049         323,406   

Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Health Policy

     2009         69,723         —           1,104,987         18,416         88,825         1,281,951   

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D.

     2010         249,000         —           —           75,240         7,882         332,122   

Vice President of Research and Clinical

    

 

2009

2008

  

  

    

 

240,000

221,273

  

  

    

 

—  

—  

  

  

    

 

496,959

112,984

  

  

    

 

28,560

61,601

  

  

    

 

6,263

5,471

  

  

    

 

771,782

401,329

  

  

 

(1) Under current reporting rules, only discretionary or guaranteed bonuses are disclosed in this column.

 

(2) The amount in this column represents the grant date fair value as well as any modification charge based on the Black-Scholes model of option valuation, as prescribed by GAAP. The assumptions used to arrive at the Black-Scholes value are disclosed in Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, excluding the impact of forfeitures. Mr. Cohen’s amount for 2009 also includes the grant date fair value of $52,391 for 4,166 stock options granted pursuant to the terms of his consulting agreement effective June 1, 2009.

 

(3) Represents bonuses earned under our Management Incentive Plan. All of our executive officers participate in the Management Incentive Plan. The details of the Management Incentive Plan are discussed further above under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

(4) The amounts in this column include company contributions to each executive officer’s Flex Spending Account (FSA) and premiums paid by the company for health care and dental coverage for the dependents of each of our executive officers. With respect to the FSA spending contribution, the maximum contribution amount is included regardless of actual amounts used by the executives. With respect to the dependent health care and dental coverage, the amounts only include the 20% additional coverage paid by the company for executive officers as the company covers 80% of this expense for all employees. In addition, Mr. Cohen’s amount includes a total of $87,290 in consulting and expense payments made in 2009 pursuant to a consulting agreement entered into on March 1, 2009 and amended on June 1, 2009. The consulting agreement with Mr. Cohen was terminated on September 21, 2009 upon the commencement of Mr. Cohen’s employment with EnteroMedics.

 

(5) Mr. Cohen joined the company on September 21, 2009.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The table below sets forth information regarding all plan-based awards granted to our named executive officers during fiscal year 2010, including new options granted pursuant to the stock option exchange program that we completed on October 29, 2010.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

            Estimated future payouts under
non-equity incentive plan awards(1)
     All other
option awards:
number of
securities
underlying
options (#)
     Exercise
or base
price of
option
awards
($/Sh)
     Grant date
fair value
of option
awards
($)(2)
 

Name

   Grant
Date
     Threshold
($)
     Target
($)
     Maximum
($)
          

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

     2/4/10       $ —         $ 134,800       $ 168,500         —         $ —         $ —     
     10/29/10         —           —           —           153,937         1.90         —     

Greg S. Lea

     2/4/10         —           84,291         105,364         —           —           —     
     10/29/10         —           —           —           51,339         1.90         —     

Adrianus (Jos) Donders

     2/4/10         —           81,120         101,400         —           —           —     
     10/29/10         —           —           —           31,212         1.90         1,786   

Daniel L. Cohen(3)

     2/4/10         —           79,360         99,200         —           —           —     
     10/29/10         —           —           —           33,069         1.90         —     

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D.

     2/4/10         —           60,192         75,240         —           —           —     
     10/29/10         —           —           —           25,301         1.90         —     

 

(1) Represents bonuses earned under our Management Incentive Plan. The target bonus for each executive officer is a percentage of the respective base salary for the executive officer. Under the Management Incentive Plan for 2010, Dr. Knudson could have earned a bonus up to 50% of his base salary with a target of 40% of his base salary. Messrs. Lea, Donders and Cohen could have earned a bonus up to 40% of their respective base salary with a target of 32% of their respective base salaries. Dr. Tweden could have earned a bonus up to 30% of her base salary with a target of 24% of her base salary. Under the Management Incentive Plan, there are no guaranteed minimum payouts. In other words, the minimum level of payout or the threshold level is zero. While the Management Incentive Plan allows for payouts at less than the target level, all such payments are made at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors. The bonus awards are reviewed by the Compensation Committee and, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved by the Board of Directors. The actual awards earned by the named executive officers in fiscal 2010 are reported in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column in the Summary Compensation Table and are discussed further above under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

 

(2) The amounts shown represent the grant date fair value as well as any modification charge based on the Black-Scholes model of option valuation, as prescribed by GAAP. The assumptions used to arrive at the Black-Scholes value are disclosed in Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, excluding the impact of forfeitures.

Employment Agreements

Executive Employment Agreement with Mark B. Knudson

On May 4, 2009, we entered into an amended and restated executive employment agreement with Dr. Knudson, our President and Chief Executive Officer, which amended the prior executive employment agreement entered into on June 22, 2005. The agreement has an initial term of two years and automatically renews for successive one year terms unless either party delivers written notice 90 days prior to the expiration of the current term or unless it is earlier terminated as described below. Pursuant to the agreement, Dr. Knudson is

 

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entitled to a base salary of not less than $300,000, or a higher annual rate if approved by the Board of Directors, and to cash and equity awards pursuant to our incentive compensation plan, contingent on Dr. Knudson meeting certain annual objectives agreed to by him and the Compensation Committee. The agreement establishes that the target amount of Dr. Knudson’s annual incentive compensation may not be less than 30% of his base salary for that year. Dr. Knudson’s executive employment agreement also provides for the receipt of certain benefits upon the occurrence of particular termination events or a change in control. See the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a more detailed discussion of these benefits. In addition, Dr. Knudson’s agreement includes a non-disclosure and assignment provision and non-competition, non-solicitation and no recruitment commitments each lasting for a period of one year following termination.

Executive Employment Agreements with Greg S. Lea, Adrianus (Jos) Donders and Katherine Tweden

In 2007 and 2008, we also entered into executive employment agreements with Mr. Lea, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Donders, our Senior Vice President of Operations and Dr. Tweden, our Vice President of Research and Clinical. On April 13, 2010, we entered into an amended and restated executive employment agreement with Mr. Lea, which amended the prior executive employment agreement entered into on May 21, 2007. These agreements have an initial term of one year and automatically renew for successive one year terms unless either party delivers written notice 90 days prior to the expiration of the current term or unless it is earlier terminated as described below. Pursuant to these agreements, these executive officers are entitled to a base salary, as set forth in the table below, or a higher annual rate if approved by the Board of Directors, and to cash and equity awards pursuant to our incentive compensation plan, contingent on the executive officers meeting certain annual objectives agreed to by them and the Chief Executive Officer. The agreements for Messrs. Lea and Donders establish that the target amount of these executives’ annual incentive compensation may not exceed 25% of their respective base salary for that year. On April 3, 2008, in connection with the approval of the bonus award percentages for 2008 under the Management Incentive Plan, the company formally waived the maximum annual incentive compensation percentages set forth in these agreements in order to permit the maximum potential cash bonus awards under the Management Incentive Plan. The agreement for Dr. Tweden establishes that the target amount of her annual incentive compensation may not be less than 24% of her base salary for that year.

 

Greg S. Lea

   $ 245,000   

Adrianus (Jos) Donders

     235,000   

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D.

     218,000   

These agreements also provide for the receipt of certain benefits upon the occurrence of particular termination events or a change in control. See the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” for a more detailed discussion of these benefits. In addition, these agreements include non-disclosure and assignment provisions and non-competition, non-solicitation and no recruitment commitments each lasting for a period of one year following termination.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table summarizes the outstanding equity award holdings held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2010, including new options granted pursuant to the stock option exchange program that we completed on October 29, 2010.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

     Option awards  

Name

   Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
     Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
 

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

     11,575         —   (1)    $ 2.76         8/16/14   
     7,915         —   (2)      2.76         4/27/15   
     6,776         —   (3)      2.76         4/20/16   
     20,833         —   (4)      3.78         11/18/19   
     59,864         94,073 (8)      1.90         10/29/17   

Greg S. Lea

     16,666         —   (4)      3.78         11/18/19   
     19,965         31,374 (8)      1.90         10/29/17   

Adrianus (Jos) Donders

     14,652         —   (5)      2.76         4/11/15   
     3,663         —   (2)      2.76         4/27/15   
     5,769         —   (3)      2.76         4/20/16   
     11,666         —   (4)      3.78         11/18/19   
     12,137         19,075 (8)      1.90         10/29/17   

Daniel L. Cohen

     2,199         1,967 (7)      13.80         5/28/19   
     16,666         —   (4)      3.78         11/18/19   
     12,860         20,209 (8)      1.90         10/29/17   

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D.

     10,192         —   (6)      2.76         8/16/14   
     183         —   (2)      2.76         4/27/15   
     2,655         —   (3)      2.76         4/20/16   
     16,666         —   (4)      3.78         11/18/19   
     9,840         15,461 (8)      1.90         10/29/17   

 

(1)

Stock options vest 5,494 shares immediately upon the date of grant, which was August 16, 2004, and then 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 1/36th per month for 36 months thereafter.

 

(2) Stock options vest 100% upon the achievement of a milestone, which was defined for purposes of these grants as the implant of the Maestro RF System in 12 patients. These grants did not provide for any time restrictions with respect to the milestone, except the ten-year term of the option. The milestone was achieved in March 2006.

 

(3)

Stock options vest 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 1/36th per month for 36 months thereafter.

 

(4) Stock options vest 25% immediately upon the date of grant and the remaining 75% vest on November 15, 2010.

 

(5)

Stock options vest 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 1/36th per month for 36 months thereafter. Since these grants were made prior to May 1, 2006, the date of grant for these options is the hire date, rather than the Board approval date. See the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for further detail. Mr. Donders’ hire date related to this option grant is April 11, 2005.

 

(6)

Stock options vest 3,406 shares immediately upon the date of grant, which was August 16, 2004, and then 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 1/36th per month for 36 months thereafter.

 

(7)

Stock options vest 1/36th per month for 36 months from the date of grant.

 

(8)

Stock options granted pursuant to the stock option exchange program vest 1/3rd immediately upon the date of grant, which was October 29, 2010, and then 1/24th per month for 24 months thereafter.

 

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

There were no option exercises or restricted stock awards that vested during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Pension Benefits

None of our named executive officers participate in or have account balances in qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans sponsored by us.

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

We currently do not have any non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans.

Potential Payments and Benefits Upon Termination or Change in Control

We are a party to Executive Employment Agreements with Mark B. Knudson, Greg S. Lea, Adrianus (Jos) Donders and Katherine S. Tweden that provide for the receipt of certain payments and benefits upon particular termination events or change in control.

These agreements may be terminated prior to the expiration of the term by mutual written agreement of the parties, in the event of death or disability, by us for cause (i.e., for uncured willful breach of duties or this agreement, conviction of any felony or crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or participation in any fraud against or affecting us or any of our subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, clients, agents or employees or an act of personal dishonesty intended to result in personal enrichment at our expense or any other act we determine constitutes gross or willful misconduct) or by these executives for good reason (i.e., a significant change and substantial reduction in their responsibilities or a relocation to more than 25 miles from our current facility). In addition, either party may terminate the executive’s employment at any time for any reason or no reason, including after a change in control, with 30 days written notice. For purposes of these agreements, a change in control includes: (1) a change in beneficial ownership of our securities after the date of the agreement resulting in a new beneficial owner holding 50% or more of the combined voting power of our securities; (2) a majority of the Board ceases to be composed of continuing directors (as defined in the agreement); (3) any consolidation or merger involving the company where the company is not the surviving corporation or the shares of the company’s capital stock are converted into cash, securities or other property, except if the company is the surviving corporation and its stockholders immediately prior to the transaction maintain a proportionate ownership in the company’s stock following the transaction; (4) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the company; (5) any liquidation or dissolution of the company; or (6) a majority of the continuing directors determine, in their sole and absolute discretion, that there has been a change in control.

Payments Made Upon Termination at End of Term.

In the event that Dr. Knudson is terminated at the end of the term of his agreement (as defined in the agreement), he is entitled to (1) receive base salary at the rate then currently in effect for a period of 12 months following the termination date, (2) exercise all vested options as of the termination date for a period of five years following his termination, and (3) receive continued health benefits for a period of 18 months following the termination date.

Payments Made Upon Termination Due to Death or Disability.

In the event that Dr. Knudson’s employment is terminated due to death or disability (as defined in the agreement), he, or in the event of his death, his then spouse, is entitled to 18 months of continued health benefits.

 

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In the event that Mr. Lea’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, he, or in the event of his death, his then spouse, is entitled to 12 months of continued health benefits. In the event that Mr. Donders’ or Dr. Tweden’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, each of them, or in the event of their death, their then spouses, are entitled to six months of continued health benefits.

Payments Made Upon Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason.

In the event that Dr. Knudson resigns for good reason or his employment is terminated without cause prior to the end of the term of his agreement, he is entitled to (1) receive base salary at the rate then currently in effect for a period of 18 months following the termination date, (2) exercise all vested options as of the termination date for a period of five years following his termination, and (3) receive continued health benefits for a period of 18 months following the termination date. In the event that Mr. Lea resigns for good reason or his employment is terminated without cause prior to the end of the term of his agreement, he is entitled to (1) receive base salary at the rate then currently in effect for a period of 12 months following the termination date, (2) exercise all vested options and those that would have vested within one year of the termination date for a period of five years following his termination, and (3) receive continued health benefits for a period of 12 months following the termination date. In the event that Mr. Donders or Dr. Tweden resigns for good reason or is terminated without cause prior to the end of the term of their agreements, they are entitled to (1) receive base salary at the rate then currently in effect for a period of six months following the termination date, (2) exercise all vested options and those that would have vested within one year of the termination date for a period of five years following their termination, and (3) receive continued health benefits for a period of six months following the termination date. Drs. Knudson and Tweden and Messrs. Lea and Donders’ severance pay is subject to signing, and not rescinding, a general release of all claims against the company.

Benefits Upon Change in Control.

In the event of a change in control, Dr. Knudson’s agreement provides that 100% of the remaining unvested portion of his stock options will automatically vest and be exercisable for a period of five years following the change in control regardless of whether Dr. Knudson’s employment is terminated in connection therewith. In addition, should Dr. Knudson resign for good reason or his employment be terminated without cause in connection with or within the first two years after a change in control, (1) he is entitled to receive base salary at the rate then currently in effect for a period of 18 months following the termination date and (2) the vesting schedule of any options issued to Dr. Knudson after the change of control will accelerate such that 100% of any unvested shares under the options shall immediately vest and be exercisable for a period of five years following the termination of employment. For Mr. Lea, in the event of a change in control in which his employment is not terminated, his agreement provides that 50% of the remaining unvested portion of his stock options will automatically vest and be exercisable for a period of five years following termination of employment. In addition, should Mr. Lea resign for good reason or his employment be terminated without cause in connection with or within the first two years after a change in control, the vesting schedule of any options held by Mr. Lea will accelerate such that 100% of any unvested shares under the options shall immediately vest and be exercisable for a period of five years following the termination of employment. For Mr. Donders and Dr. Tweden, in the event of a change in control in which the employment of these executive officers is not terminated, their agreements provide that 50% of the remaining unvested portion of their stock options will automatically vest and be exercisable for a period of five years following termination of employment. In the event of a change in control in which the employment of these executive officers is terminated, 100% of the remaining unvested portion of their options will immediately vest and be exercisable for a period of five years following termination of employment. However, with respect to any of these provisions, if these executive officers receive a cash payment for their options in connection with the change in control equal to the difference between the per share amount paid to the common stockholders in the transaction and the exercise price of the option, their options will be cancelled in exchange for the cash payment.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The table below shows our reasonable estimates of potential payments and benefits payable to the named executive officers upon termination without cause, resignation for good reason and change in control of EnteroMedics, with or without termination, based on the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market of $3.08, on December 31, 2010. The amounts shown assume that termination or change in control was effective as of December 31, 2010, the last business day of the fiscal year, and are estimates of the amounts that would be paid to the executive officer in addition to the base salary and bonus earned by the executives during 2010. Benefits payable to all employees, such as accrued vacation and life insurance premiums are excluded. The actual amounts to be paid can only be determined at the actual time of an executive officer’s termination.

 

Name(1)

  

Type of Payment

   Payments
Upon Change
in Control
With
Termination
($)(2)
     Payments
Upon Change
in Control
Without
Termination
($)(2)
     Payments Upon
Termination
Without
Cause or
Resignation for
Good Reason
($)
 

Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D.

   Severance Pay    $ —         $ —         $ 505,500   
   Value of Stock Options Accelerated(3)      111,006         111,006         —     
   Health Care Benefits(4)      —           —           20,946   
                             
   Total    $ 111,006       $ 111,006       $ 526,446   
                             

Greg S. Lea

   Severance Pay    $ —         $ —         $ 263,410   
   Value of Stock Options Accelerated(3)      37,021         18,511         20,193   
   Health Care Benefits(4)      —           —           13,964   
                             
   Total    $ 37,021       $ 18,511       $ 297,567   
                             

Adrianus (Jos) Donders

   Severance Pay    $ —         $ —         $ 126,750   
   Value of Stock Options Accelerated(3)      22,509         11,254         12,278   
   Health Care Benefits(4)      —           —           10,330   
                             
   Total    $ 22,509       $ 11,254       $ 149,358   
                             

Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D.

   Severance Pay    $ —         $ —         $ 124,500   
   Value of Stock Options Accelerated(3)      18,244         9,122         9,951   
   Health Care Benefits(4)      —           —           10,330   
                             
  

Total

   $ 18,244       $ 9,122       $ 144,781   
                             

 

(1) Daniel L. Cohen does not have an employment agreement with the company and is not entitled to any additional benefits in the event of termination or change of control.

 

(2) Assumes that options were not cashed out in connection with change in control. Additional amounts may be payable if the termination is without cause or is a resignation for good reason, as specified in the third column.

 

(3) Value computed based on the difference between $3.08, the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market on December 31, 2010, and the exercise price for each option accelerated. No value is included in the table where the option price is greater than the closing price of our common on the NASDAQ Capital Market of $3.08 on December 31, 2010.

 

(4) Amount represents the estimated full premiums to be paid by the company for health and dental coverage for the executive officer and his family for the duration of the severance period, as applicable, based on current premiums paid.

 

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PROPOSAL 2—AMENDMENT TO THE 2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AUTHORIZED UNDER THE PLAN

On February 16, 2011, our Board of Directors approved, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to the EnteroMedics Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan by 2,000,000 shares, from 2,300,000 shares to 4,300,000 shares. As of February 28, 2011, there were 1,860,979 shares that had been issued or which were subject to outstanding awards under the Plan, and there remained 374,897 shares available for grant under the Plan. We are asking our stockholders to approve the amendment to the Plan, as our Board of Directors and management believe that stock-based awards under the Plan are instrumental in attracting, motivating and retaining talented employees, management personnel and non-employee directors. The availability of stock-based compensation not only increases employees’ focus on the creation of stockholder value, but also enhances employee retention and generally provides increased motivation for our employees to contribute to the future success of EnteroMedics. The Plan is the only plan pursuant to which we can grant stock options and other forms of stock-based compensation, and the limited number of shares remaining available under the Plan restricts the Board of Directors’ ability to make stock-based awards. In addition, recent equity financing transactions have significantly diluted the ownership potential of our employees, directors and consultants and we do not have sufficient shares available under the Plan to award additional options to properly incentivize our employees, directors and consultants. For these reasons, our Board of Directors believes that approval of the amendment to the Plan to increase the number of authorized shares is needed and is in the best interests of the company and our stockholders.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the amendment of the Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan by 2,000,000 shares.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote and present at the annual meeting is necessary to approve this amendment to the Plan.

The following is a summary of the material terms of the Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan. A copy of the Plan, as amended to reflect Proposal 2, is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement and has been filed with the SEC and is available at www.sec.gov.

Description of the Plan

Administration

The Board of Directors has appointed the Compensation Committee to administer the Plan. As a result, the Compensation Committee has the authority to determine when and to whom awards will be granted, and the type, amount, form of payment and other terms and conditions of each award, consistent with the provisions of the Plan. In addition, the Compensation Committee can specify whether, and under what circumstances, awards to be received under the Plan or amounts payable under such awards may be deferred automatically or at the election of either the holder of the award or the Compensation Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Compensation Committee may amend or waive the terms and conditions, or accelerate the exercisability, of an outstanding award. The Compensation Committee has the authority to interpret the Plan and establish rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan.

The Compensation Committee may delegate its powers under the Plan to one or more officers of EnteroMedics or a committee of such officers, except that the Compensation Committee may not delegate its powers to grant awards to officers who are subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or in a way that would violate Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).

Eligible Participants

Any employee, officer, consultant, independent contractor or non-employee director providing services to us or any of our affiliates, who is selected by the Compensation Committee, is eligible to receive an award under the

 

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Plan. However, only employees of EnteroMedics or our subsidiary are eligible for grants of incentive stock options. As of February 28, 2011, approximately 30 employees and officers, 25 consultants and independent contractors and eight non-employee directors were eligible to participate in the Plan.

Shares Available for Awards

The Plan currently authorizes an aggregate of 2,300,000 shares of our common stock for issuance under all stock-based awards. If the proposed amendment to the Plan is approved by our stockholders, the maximum number of shares authorized under the Plan will be increased by 2,000,000 shares to 4,300,000 shares. The closing price of our stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market on February 28, 2011 was $2.79 per share. Certain awards under the Plan are subject to limitations as follows:

 

   

In any calendar year, no person may be granted awards, the value of which is based solely on an increase in the value of our common stock after the date of grant of the award, of more than 100,000 shares in the aggregate.

 

   

In any calendar year, the maximum amount payable pursuant to all performance awards to any participant will be $5,000,000 in aggregate value, whether payable in cash, shares or other property.

The Compensation Committee may adjust the Plan or outstanding awards in a manner it deems equitable or appropriate in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of such benefits or potential benefits in the case of a stock dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, stock split, merger, repurchase or exchange of shares of our common stock or other securities, issuance of warrants or other rights or other similar corporate transaction or event. As a result of such changes, and provided that the number of shares covered by any award or to which any award relates will always be a whole number, the Compensation Committee may adjust the number and type of shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding awards or that may be made the subject of future awards and/or the purchase or exercise price of any award.

If an award is terminated, forfeited or cancelled without the issuance of any shares or if shares covered by an award are not issued for any other reason, then the shares previously set aside for such award will be available for future awards under the Plan. The shares available for award under the Plan may also include shares previously reacquired by EnteroMedics and designated as treasury shares.

Types of Awards and Terms and Conditions

The Plan permits the granting of: stock options (including both incentive and non-qualified stock options), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalents, other stock grants and other stock-based awards. The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, may grant awards alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other award. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of another award. The specific terms of each award are provided in separate award agreements.

Stock Options. Stock options awarded under the Plan may be either “incentive” stock options or “non-qualified” stock options under the Code. Stock options allow the option holder to purchase shares of our stock for a per-share exercise price determined by the Compensation Committee on the date of grant. The exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date the option is granted, except in the case of persons who own more than 10% of the total voting power of our capital stock, in which case the exercise price of any incentive stock option must be at least 110% of the fair market value of our stock. The Compensation Committee sets the terms and vesting provisions of stock options, provided that no incentive stock option may have a term of greater than ten years and no incentive stock option granted to an employee owning more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of our stock may be exercisable by its terms after the expiration of five years from the date of grant. No incentive stock option is transferable by the holder, other than by the laws of descent and distribution. An incentive stock option may only be exercised by its holder during his or her lifetime. A nonqualified stock option is transferable by the holder to a family member, by will, or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution, or as otherwise permitted pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the SEC.

 

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The exercise price of outstanding stock options may not be lowered through re-pricing, or by canceling any previously granted stock option and replacing that option with a re-grant of the same award without prior approval of our stockholders.

Stock Appreciation Rights. SARs granted under the Plan entitle the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of stock underlying the SAR at the time of exercise over the exercise price for such shares without tendering any consideration. The exercise or strike price for SARs is determined by the Compensation Committee on the date of grant, and may not be less than the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date the SAR is granted. The Compensation Committee sets the terms and vesting provisions of SARs, provided that no SAR may have a term greater than 10 years. The Compensation Committee may, at its discretion, settle SARs in either cash or stock. A SAR may only be exercised by its holder during his or her lifetime. Except as otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee, a holder of an SAR may not sell, transfer, pledge or assign such any rights with respect to the SAR.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The holders of restricted stock own shares of our common stock subject to restrictions imposed by the Compensation Committee (including, for example, restrictions on the right to vote the restricted shares or to receive any dividends with respect to the shares) for a specified time period determined by the Compensation Committee. The holder of restricted stock units will have the right, subject to any restrictions imposed by the Compensation Committee, to receive shares of our common stock, or a cash payment equal to the fair market value of those shares, at some future date determined by the Compensation Committee. The restriction period begins on the date of grant and the restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at a time or times in such installments or otherwise as determined by the Compensation Committee and set forth in the award agreement. After the restrictions have lapsed, the holder has all of the rights of a stockholder of our common stock. If the holder’s employment or service to EnteroMedics terminates during the restriction period, the restricted stock and restricted stock units will be forfeited, unless the Compensation Committee determines that it would be in our best interest to waive the remaining restrictions. The holders of restricted stock awards may not sell, transfer, pledge or assign shares of restricted stock during the restriction period.

Performance Awards. Performance awards are exercisable upon the achievement of performance goals set forth in the agreements covering the performance awards. A performance award granted under the Plan may be payable in cash or in shares of common stock (including restricted stock), other securities, other awards or other property. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any award agreement, the length of the performance period, the performance goals to be achieved during the performance period, the amount of any performance award, the payment amount to be made pursuant to any performance award and any other terms and conditions of any performance award will be determined by the Compensation Committee.

Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents entitle the holder to receive payments equivalent to the amount of any cash dividends paid on shares of our common stock. A dividend equivalent may be denominated or payable in cash, shares of stock or other securities, or other awards or property determined in the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee will also determine any other terms and conditions applicable to the dividend equivalents.

Other Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to grant common stock under the Plan without restrictions as it deems consistent with the purpose of the Plan, as well as the authority to grant other stock-based awards, with methods of payment and other relevant terms as determined by the Compensation Committee.

Amendment and Termination

Our Board of Directors may amend, alter, or terminate the Plan at any time provided, however, that any Plan amendment will be submitted to our stockholders for approval if (i) required by law or by the securities exchange on which our stock is listed, (ii) the failure to obtain such consent causes Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the

 

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Code to be unavailable with respect to the Plan or (iii) the failure to obtain such consent causes us to be unable, under the Code, to grant incentive stock options under the Plan. No termination or amendment of the Plan will in any manner adversely affect an award previously granted under the Plan without the consent of the applicable award holder. While our Board of Directors retains the right to terminate the Plan as described above, the Plan will automatically terminate on October 1, 2013, the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan.

Change in Control

The Compensation Committee has discretion to provide in any award agreement under the Plan that the restrictions on the award may lapse, or mature or the award may become exercisable on an accelerated basis upon a change in control of EnteroMedics.

Federal Income Tax Matters

The following is a summary of the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences generally applicable to awards under the Plan.

Options and SARs. The grant of an option or SAR should not result in any taxable income for the recipient. The holder of an incentive stock option generally will have no taxable income upon exercising the incentive stock option (except that an alternative minimum tax liability may result), and the company will not be entitled to a tax deduction when an incentive stock option is exercised. Upon exercising a non-qualified stock option, the optionholder must recognize ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of company common stock acquired on the date of exercise over the exercise price, and the company will be entitled at that time to a tax deduction for the same amount. Upon the exercise of an SAR, the amount of any cash received and the fair market value on the exercise date of any shares of company common stock received are taxable to the recipient as ordinary income, and are deductible by the company.

The tax consequence to an optionholder upon a disposition of shares of company common stock acquired through the exercise of an option will depend on how long the shares have been held and whether the shares were acquired by exercising an incentive stock option or by exercising a non-qualified stock option or SAR. Generally, there will be no tax consequences to the company in connection with the disposition of shares acquired pursuant to an option. However, the company may be entitled to a tax deduction in the case of a disposition of shares acquired pursuant to an incentive stock option before the applicable incentive stock option holding periods set forth in the Code have been satisfied.

In each case, the company will be entitled to a tax deduction only if, and to the extent, the amount satisfies general rules concerning deductibility.

Other Awards. For other awards granted under the Plan that are payable in cash or shares of company common stock and that are either transferable or not subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, the holder of such an award must recognize ordinary income equal to the excess of (a) the cash or the fair market value of the shares of company common stock received (determined as of the date of such receipt) over (b) the amount (if any) paid for the shares of company common stock by the holder of the award. The company will be entitled at that time to a deduction for the same amount if and to the extent that amount satisfies general rules concerning deductibility of compensation.

For an award that is payable in shares of company common stock that are restricted as to transferability and subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, unless a special election is made pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code, the holder of the award must recognize ordinary income at the time the shares either became transferable or not subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier, equal to the excess of (x) the fair market value of the shares of company common stock received (determined as of the first time the shares became transferable or not subject to substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier) over (y) the amount (if any) paid for the shares of company common stock by the holder. The company will be entitled at that time to a tax deduction for the same amount if and to the extent that amount satisfies general rules concerning deductibility.

 

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Special Rules. Special rules may apply in the case of individuals subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In particular, unless a special election is made pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code, shares of company common stock received pursuant to the exercise of an option or SAR or otherwise in connection with an award may be treated as restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for a period of up to six months after the date of exercise. Accordingly, the amount of any ordinary income recognized, and the amount of the company’s tax deduction, may be determined as of the end of such period.

Deductibility of Executive Compensation Under Code Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits to $1,000,000 the amount that a publicly-held corporation is allowed each year to deduct for the compensation paid to each of the corporation’s chief executive officer and the corporation’s other four most highly compensated executive officers. However, “qualified performance-based qualified compensation” is not subject to the $1,000,000 deduction limit. In general, to qualify as performance-based compensation, the following requirements need to be satisfied: (1) payments must be computed on the basis of an objective, performance-based compensation standard determined by a committee consisting solely of two or more “outside directors,” (2) the material terms under which the compensation is to be paid, including the business criteria upon which the performance goals are based, and a limit on the maximum bonus amount which may be paid to any participant pursuant to any performance period, must be approved by a majority of the corporation’s shareholders and (3) the committee must certify that the applicable performance goals were satisfied before payment of any performance-based compensation.

Awards Under the Plan

Because future grants of awards under the Plan are subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, the future awards that may be granted to Plan participants cannot be determined at this time. During fiscal year 2010, option awards, including options granted pursuant to the stock option exchange program completed October 29, 2010, totaling: (i) 153,937 shares were granted to Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D., our President and Chief Executive Officer; (ii) 51,339 shares were granted to Greg S. Lea, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; (iii) 31,212 shares were granted to Adrianus (Jos) Donders, our Senior Vice President of Operations; (iv) 33,069 shares were granted to Daniel L. Cohen, our Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Health Policy; (v) 25,301 shares were granted to Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D., our Vice President of Research and Clinical; (vi) 294,858 shares were granted to all current executive officers as a group; (vii) 25,828 shares were granted to all current directors who are not executive officers as a group; and (viii) 103,103 shares were granted to all other employees as a group.

The following table sets forth information about our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2010, the end of our last completed fiscal year:

 

Plan Category

   Number of
Securities to be
Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
    Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
of Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
     Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Second
Column)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     812,515 (1)    $ 5.60         1,423,361 (2) 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

     —          —           —     
                         

Total

     812,515      $ 5.60         1,423,361   
                         

 

(1) Consists of options awarded under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

(2) Represents the maximum number of shares of common stock available to be awarded as of December 31, 2010.

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT AND PAYMENT OF FEES TO PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for assisting the Board in monitoring the integrity of the consolidated financial statements of EnteroMedics, compliance by EnteroMedics with legal and regulatory requirements, and the independence and performance of EnteroMedics’ internal and external auditors.

The consolidated financial statements of EnteroMedics for the year ended December 31, 2010, were audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for EnteroMedics.

As part of its activities, the Audit Committee has:

 

  1. Reviewed and discussed with management the audited consolidated financial statements of EnteroMedics;

 

  2. Discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under Rule 3526 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence), Statement of Auditing Standards No. 99 (Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit), and under the SEC, U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and NASDAQ Stock Exchange rules;

 

  3. Received the written disclosures and letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence; and

 

  4. Discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements of EnteroMedics for the year ended December 31, 2010, be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of EnteroMedics

 

Catherine Friedman, Chair    Donald C. Harrison, M.D.
   Paul H. Klingenstein

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following table represents aggregate fees billed to the company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the company’s principal accountant.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
     2010      2009  

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 330,839       $ 247,055   

Audit-related Fees

     —           —     

Tax Fees

     —           —     

All Other Fees(2)

     59,419         2,187   
                 

Total Fees

   $ 390,258       $ 249,242   
                 

 

(1) Includes fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements, review of interim consolidated financial statements and services that are normally provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements.

 

(2) Includes fees billed for international financing services rendered by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

 

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Administration of Engagement of Independent Auditor

The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing, setting compensation for and overseeing the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has established a policy for pre-approving the services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the auditor independence rules of the SEC. This policy requires the review and pre-approval by the Audit Committee of all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and an annual review of the financial plan for audit fees. To ensure that auditor independence is maintained, the Audit Committee annually pre-approves the audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and the related estimated fees for such services, as well as the nature and extent of specific types of audit-related, tax and other non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm during the year.

As the need arises, other specific permitted services are pre-approved on a case-by-case basis during the year. A request for pre-approval of services on a case-by-case basis must be submitted by our Chief Financial Officer, providing information as to the nature of the particular service to be provided, estimated related fees and management’s assessment of the impact of the service on the auditor’s independence. The Audit Committee has delegated to its Chair pre-approval authority between meetings of the Audit Committee. Any pre-approvals made by the Chair must be reported to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will not delegate to management the pre-approval of services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm.

All of the services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in 2010, including services related to the Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees described above, were approved by the Audit Committee under its pre-approval policies.

ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS AND FORM 10-K

Our 2010 Annual Report to Stockholders and Form 10-K, including consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, accompanies, or has been mailed to you immediately prior to, this proxy statement. Our Form 10-K is available to you, without charge, upon written request to Secretary, EnteroMedics Inc., 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113, and is also available on our website at www.enteromedics.com. If requested, we will provide you copies of any exhibits to the Form 10-K upon the payment of a fee covering our reasonable expenses in furnishing the exhibits. You can request exhibits to the Form 10-K by writing to Secretary, EnteroMedics Inc., 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113.

“HOUSEHOLDING” OF PROXY MATERIALS

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement or annual report, as applicable, addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies. Although we do not household for our registered stockholders, some brokers household EnteroMedics proxy materials and annual reports, delivering a single proxy statement and annual report to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement or annual report, or if you are receiving multiple copies of either document and wish to receive only one, please notify your broker. We will deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of our annual report and/or proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of either document was delivered. For copies of either or both documents, stockholders should write to Secretary, EnteroMedics Inc., 2800 Patton Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113, or call (651) 634-3003.

 

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OTHER MATTERS

We do not know of any other matters that may be presented for consideration at the annual meeting. If any other business does properly come before the annual meeting, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will vote as they deem in the best interests of EnteroMedics.

LOGO

Greg S. Lea

Secretary

Dated: April 1, 2011

 

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Appendix A

ENTEROMEDICS INC.

2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AS AMENDED

Section 1. Purpose.

The purpose of the EnteroMedics Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to aid in attracting and retaining employees, management personnel and other personnel and members of the Board of Directors who are not also employees (“Non-Employee Directors”) of EnteroMedics (the “Company”) capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such personnel and Non-Employee Directors incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company’s business and to afford such personnel and Non-Employee Directors an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.

Section 2. Definitions.

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee.

(b) “Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock Grant or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

(c) “Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan.

(d) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(e) “Committee” shall mean either the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee of the Board of Directors appointed by the Board of Directors to administer the Plan.

(f) “Company” shall mean EnteroMedics Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation.

(g) “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(e) of the Plan.

(h) “Eligible Person” shall mean any employee, officer, consultant, independent contractor or Non-Employee Director providing services to the Company or any Affiliate whom the Committee determines to be an Eligible Person.

(i) “Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to any property (including, without limitation, any Shares or other securities), the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of Shares on a given date for purposes of the Plan shall not be less than (i) the closing price as reported for composite transactions, if the Shares are then listed on a national securities exchange, (ii) the last sale price, if the Shares are then quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or (iii) the average of the closing representative bid and asked prices of the Shares in all other cases, on the date as of which fair market value is being determined. If on a given date the Shares are not traded in an established securities market, the Committee shall make a good faith attempt to satisfy the requirements of this clause and in connection therewith shall take such action as it deems necessary or advisable.


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(j) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

(k) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

(l) “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(m) “Other Stock Grant” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(f) of the Plan.

(n) “Other Stock-Based Award” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(g) of the Plan.

(o) “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Person designated to be granted an Award under the Plan.

(p) “Performance Award” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan.

(q) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association or trust.

(r) “Plan” shall mean the EnteroMedics Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

(s) “Restricted Stock” shall mean any Shares granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan.

(t) “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean any unit granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan evidencing the right to receive a Share (or a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share) at some future date.

(u) “Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company or such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Plan.

(v) “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan.

Section 3. Administration.

(a) Power and Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with) each Award; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement; (v) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement and accelerate the exercisability of Options or the lapse of restrictions relating to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or the Committee; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (ix) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award.

(b) Delegation. The Committee may delegate its powers and duties under the Plan to one or more officers of the Company or any Affiliate or a committee of such officers, subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion.

 

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Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.

(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under all Awards under the Plan shall be 4,300,000. If any Shares covered by an Award or to which an Award relates are not purchased or are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Shares, then the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, shall again be available for granting Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of Shares available for granting Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall not exceed 4,300,000, subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan and Section 422 or 424 of the Code or any successor provision.

(b) Accounting for Awards. For purposes of this Section 4, if an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan.

(c) Adjustments. In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, (ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards and (iii) the purchase or exercise price with respect to any Award; provided, however, that the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates shall always be a whole number.

Section 5. Eligibility.

Any Eligible Person of the Company or any Affiliate, shall be eligible to be designated a Participant. In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of any Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Eligible Persons, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company or such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to full or part-time employees (which term as used herein includes, without limitation, officers and directors who are also employees), and an Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to an employee of an Affiliate unless such Affiliate is also a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor provision.

Section 6. Awards.

(a) Options. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Options to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

(i) Exercise Price. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the purchase price of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.

(ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee; provided, however, that the term of an Incentive Stock Option may not extend more than ten years from the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option.

 

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(iii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price, which terms shall be set forth in the Award Agreement) in which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.

(iv) Ten Percent Shareholder Rule. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, if at the time an Option is otherwise to be granted pursuant to the Plan to a Participant who owns, directly or indirectly (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code), Common Stock of the Company possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any subsidiary, then any Incentive Stock Option to be granted to such Participant pursuant to the Plan shall satisfy the requirements of Section 422(c)(5) of the Code, and the exercise price of such Option shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered, and such Option by its terms shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such Option is granted.

(b) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a right to receive upon exercise thereof the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at any time during a specified period before or after the date of exercise) over (ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as specified by the Committee, which price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the grant price, term, methods of exercise, dates of exercise, methods of settlement and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Committee. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it may deem appropriate.

(c) Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

(i) Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, a waiver by the Participant of the right to vote or to receive any dividend or other right or property with respect thereto), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise as the Committee may deem appropriate.

(ii) Stock Certificates. Any Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. In the case of Restricted Stock Units, no Shares shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted.

(iii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment (as determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period, all Shares of Restricted Stock and all Restricted Stock Units at such time subject to restriction shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company at the original purchase price; provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interest of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. Upon the lapse or waiver of restrictions and the restricted period relating to Restricted Stock Units evidencing the right to receive Shares, such Shares shall be issued and delivered to the holders of the Restricted Stock Units.

(d) Performance Awards. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Performance Awards to Participants subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. A Performance Award granted under the Plan (i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock and

 

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Restricted Stock Units), other securities, other Awards or other property and (ii) shall confer on the holder thereof the right to receive payments, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee.

(e) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Participants, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, under which such Participants shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property as determined in the discretion of the Committee) equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to holders of Shares with respect to a number of Shares determined by the Committee.

(f) Other Stock Grants. The Committee is hereby authorized, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, to grant to Participants Shares without restrictions thereon as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan.

(g) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant to Participants subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan. Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 6(g) shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or forms (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), as the Committee shall determine.

(h) General.

(i) No Cash Consideration for Awards. Awards shall be granted for no cash consideration or for such minimal cash consideration as may be required by applicable law.

(ii) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any plan of the Company or any Affiliate other than the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any such other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

(iii) Forms of Payment under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents with respect to installment or deferred payments.

(iv) Limits on Transfer of Awards. No Award (other than Other Stock Grants) and no right under any such Award shall be transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that, with the approval of the Committee, a Participant may, in the manner established by the Committee, transfer Options (other than Incentive Stock Options) or designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the rights of the Participant and receive any property distributable

 

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with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant. Each Award or right under any Award shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. No Award or right under any such Award may be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

(v) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

(vi) Restrictions; Securities Exchange Listing. All Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, and to any applicable federal or state securities laws and regulatory requirements. The Committee may cause appropriate entries to be made or legends to be affixed to reflect such restrictions. If the Shares or other securities are listed on a securities exchange, the Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award until such Shares or other securities have been listed on such securities exchange.

Section 7. Amendment and Termination; Adjustments.

Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement or in the Plan:

(a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board of Directors of the Company may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made that, absent such approval:

(i) if a class of the Company’s securities is then listed on a securities exchange, would cause Rule 16b-3 or the provisions of Section 162(m)(4)(c) of the Code to become unavailable with respect to the Plan;

(ii) would violate the rules or regulations of the Nasdaq National Market, any other securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. that are applicable to the Company; or

(iii) would cause the Company to be unable, under the Code, to grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.

(b) Amendments to Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions of or rights of the Company under any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively. The Committee may not amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary thereof, except as otherwise herein provided or in the Award Agreement.

(c) Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.

Section 8. Income Tax Withholding; Tax Bonuses.

(a) Withholding. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of a Participant are withheld or collected from such Participant. In order to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the federal and state taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (i) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares

 

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otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes or (ii) electing to deliver to the Company Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes. The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

(b) Tax Bonuses. The Committee, in its discretion, shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award under this Plan or at any time thereafter, to approve cash bonuses to designated Participants to be paid upon their exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) Awards in order to provide funds to pay all or a portion of federal and state taxes due as a result of such exercise or receipt (or the lapse of such restrictions). The Committee shall have full authority in its discretion to determine the amount of any such tax bonus.

Section 9. General Provisions.

(a) No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Person, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons, Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect to different Participants.

(b) Award Agreements. No Participant will have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Company and, if requested by the Company, signed by the Participant.

(c) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(d) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate such employment at any time, with or without cause. In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.

(e) Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award, shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.

(f) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(h) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

 

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(i) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

(j) Other Benefits. No compensation or benefit awarded to or realized by any Participant under the Plan shall be included for the purpose of computing such Participant’s compensation under any compensation-based retirement, disability, or similar plan of the Company unless required by law or otherwise provided by such other plan.

Section 10. Effective Date of the Plan.

The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its approval and adoption by the Company’s shareholders. If the Company’s shareholders do not approve the Plan, the Plan shall be null and void.

Section 11. Term of the Plan.

Awards shall only be granted under the Plan during a 10-year period beginning on the effective date of the Plan. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond the end of such 10-year period, and the authority of the Committee provided for hereunder with respect to the Plan and any Awards, and the authority of the Board of Directors of the Company to amend the Plan and to waive any conditions or rights of the Company under any Award pursuant to 7(b) hereof, shall extend beyond the termination of the Plan.

Section 12. One-Time Option Exchange Offer.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, upon approval of the Company’s stockholders, the Committee may provide for, and the Company may complete, a one-time option exchange offer, pursuant to which certain outstanding options could, at the election of the person holding such option, be tendered to the Company on a grant-by-grant basis for cancellation in exchange for the issuance of a lesser amount of options with a lower exercise price, provided that such one-time option exchange offer is commenced within twelve months of the date of such stockholder approval.

 

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LOCATION OF ENTEROMEDICS ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. Central Time

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Minnesota Room

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

LOGO

Directions By Car:

 

From Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

 

Take 5 north to 55 west. Continue left onto 62. Exit onto I-35W north. Exit onto 11th St. South. Turn right on Hennepin Ave. Turn right on South 6th St. Parking ramp for 50 South 6th will be on your left.

 

From the East

 

Take I-94 west to South 5th St. (Metrodome) exit. Take a left onto Portland Ave. Proceed two blocks, then turn right onto 7th St. Follow 7th St. to Hennepin Ave. and turn right. Take another right on South 6th St. Parking ramp for 50 South 6th will be on your left.

 

From the West

 

Take I-394 east to South 6th St. exit. Proceed three blocks. Alternatively, take I-94 to the North 4th St. exit and turn right. Turn left on North 6th St. Parking ramp for 50 South 6th will be on your left.

  

From the North

 

From I-35W, take the Washington Ave. exit and turn right. Proceed to 1st Ave. and turn left. Take another left on South 6th St. Parking ramp for 50 South 6th will be on your left.

 

From the South

 

From I-35W, take the South 11th St. exit and proceed to Hennepin Ave., turn right. Turn right again on South 6th St. Parking ramp for 50 South 6th will be on your left.

 

Directions By Light Rail:

 

Board the train at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport or any point southeast of downtown Minneapolis and disembark at the Nicollet Mall/5th St. stop. Walk one block west to the building entrance at 6th and Nicollet. The ride is approximately 25 minutes from the airport.


Table of Contents

EnteroMedics Inc.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Thursday, May 5, 2011

3:00 p.m., Central Time

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Minnesota Room

50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

LOGO 

  

EnteroMedics Inc.

2800 Patton Road

St. Paul, Minnesota 55113

   proxy

 

This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting on May 5, 2011.

The shares of stock you hold in your account will be voted as you specify on the reverse side.

If no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted “FOR” Items 1 and 2.

By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Mark B. Knudson, Ph.D. and Greg S. Lea, and each of them, with full power of substitution, to vote your shares on the matters shown on the reverse side and any other matters which may come before the Annual Meeting and all adjournments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See reverse for voting instructions.


Table of Contents

 

LOGO

  

Wells Fargo Shareowner Services

P.O. Box 64873

St. Paul, MN 55164-0873

 

  

COMPANY #

  
       

There are three ways to vote your Proxy

Your telephone or internet vote authorizes the Named Proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

VOTE BY PHONE — TOLL FREE — 1-800-560-1965 — QUICK EASY IMMEDIATE

 

 

Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 p.m. (CT) on May 4, 2011.

 

Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or taxpayer identification number available. Follow the simple instructions the voice provides you.

VOTE BY INTERNET — http://www.eproxy.com/etrm/ — QUICK EASY IMMEDIATE

 

 

Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until 12:00 p.m. (CT) on May 4, 2011.

 

Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or taxpayer identification number available. Follow the simple instructions to obtain your records and create an electronic ballot.

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we’ve provided or return it to EnteroMedics Inc., c/o Shareowner ServicesSM, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN 55164-0873.

If you vote by Phone or Internet, please do not mail your Proxy Card.

ò  Please detach here   ò

The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Items 1 and 2.

 

1.  Election of Class 1 directors:  

01  Carl Goldfischer, M.D.

02  Anthony P. Jansz

  03   Jon T. Tremmel  

¨      Vote FOR
all nominees

 

¨      Vote WITHHELD
from all nominees

     

(except as marked)

(Instructions:  To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee,

write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.)

    
2.  Amendment to the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares authorized under the plan by 2,000,000 from 2,300,000 to 4,300,000.   ¨     Vote FOR   ¨     Vote AGAINST   ¨     ABSTAIN
3.  To transact such other business as may properly be considered at the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH PROPOSAL.

Address Change? Mark Box     ¨     Indicate changes below:

       Date                                                                        

 

   
   
 

 

Signature(s) in Box

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear on the Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons must sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy.