UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

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

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King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

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Brian A. Markison

 

Chairman of the Board, President

and Chief Executive Officer

 

April 15, 2010

 

To the Shareholders of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of shareholders of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to be held on May 26, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, at The Umstead Hotel, 100 Woodland Pond, Cary, North Carolina 27513. At the meeting, you will be asked to:

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission rules allow us to furnish proxy materials to our shareholders through the Internet. We are pleased to take advantage of these rules and believe that they enable us to provide our shareholders with the information that they need while lowering the cost of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of our annual meeting.

 

In connection with the annual meeting, on or about April 15, 2010, we mailed you a Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials, which provides instructions on how to obtain a proxy statement and a form of proxy through the Internet or, if you wish, in printed form.

 

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please promptly vote using the available Internet or telephone voting systems or, if you have obtained a printed proxy card, by completing, signing, dating and returning your proxy card by mail. Instructions for using these alternatives are enclosed. I urge you to vote as soon as possible.

 

Detailed information relating to King’s activities and operating performance during 2009 is contained in our annual report. The annual report is available for viewing at the website indicated on the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials, but it is not a part of the proxy soliciting material. If you would like to obtain a printed copy of the annual report, please see the instructions contained in the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Brian A. Markison
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

KING PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
501 Fifth Street
Bristol, Tennessee 37620

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 26, 2010

 

 

The annual meeting of shareholders of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, at The Umstead Hotel, 100 Woodland Pond, Cary, North Carolina 27513, for the following purposes:

 

 

Only those shareholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2010 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and any adjournment thereof. On that day, 249,601,215 shares of our common stock were outstanding. Each share entitles the holder thereof to one vote.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James W. Elrod

Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

 

April 15, 2010

 

 

 

 

KING PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
501 Fifth Street
Bristol, Tennessee 37620

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT
For 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

 

 

The Board of Directors of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“King” or “the company”) requests that you allow your shares of common stock to be represented at the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders by the proxies named on the proxy card available on the Internet or, upon your request, that has been mailed to you. The Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials was sent to you in connection with this request and was mailed to all shareholders beginning on or about April 15, 2010.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

Why did you provide me this proxy statement?

 

We have made these proxy materials available to you through the Internet, or, upon your request, have delivered printed versions of these materials to you by mail. We are furnishing this proxy statement in connection with the solicitation by our Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders. This proxy statement, along with the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, describes the purposes of the meeting and the information you need to know to vote at the meeting.

 

When is the annual meeting?

 

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

 

Where will the annual meeting be held?

 

The meeting will be held at The Umstead Hotel, 100 Woodland Pond, Cary, North Carolina 27513.

 

What items will be voted on at the meeting?

 

You will be voting on the following matters:

 

 

Who can vote?

 

You are entitled to vote your shares of common stock if our records show that you held your shares as of the close of business on the record date, March 30, 2010. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on that date. On the record date, there were 249,601,215 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

How do I vote by proxy?

 

You may choose one of the following ways to vote by proxy:

 

Vote by Internet:  You may vote using the Internet site listed on the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials. This site will give you the opportunity to make your selections and confirm that your voting instructions have been followed. Internet voting procedures authenticate your identity by use of a unique control number found on the Notice. To vote through the Internet, you must subscribe to one of the various commercial services that offer access to the Internet. Costs normally associated with electronic access, such as usage and telephone charges, will be borne by you. King does not charge any separate fees for access to the Internet voting web site.

 

Vote by Telephone:  Registered and beneficial shareholders can also vote by telephone (toll-free for calls originating in the United States). To do so, you must obtain the voting telephone number by either visiting the Internet site listed on the Notice of Availability Proxy Materials or by requesting printed proxy materials. Instructions for obtaining printed materials appear on the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials. You may then vote by calling the voting telephone number, entering your unique control number (listed on your Notice of Availability Proxy Materials) and following the simple recorded instructions. Note that requests for printed proxy materials must be received by May 12, 2010.

 

Vote by Mail:  If you choose to vote by mail, you must request printed proxy materials. Instructions for obtaining these materials appear on the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials. Once you receive your proxy card, simply mark it and then sign, date and return it in the envelope provided. Note that requests for printed proxy materials must be received by May 12, 2010.

 

If you hold your shares beneficially in street name through a nominee (such as a bank or broker), you may be able to vote by telephone or the Internet as well as by mail. You should follow the instructions you receive from your nominee to vote these shares.

 

How long do I have to vote?

 

If you choose to cast your vote using the Internet or by telephone, you must do so by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, the day before the annual meeting. Votes submitted by mail must be received prior to the annual meeting. If you hold your shares beneficially in street name through a nominee, you should follow the instructions you receive from your nominee.

 

What are my voting options?

 

For the election of directors, you may vote for (1) all of the nominees, (2) none of the nominees, or (3) all of the nominees except those you designate. For the other proposals, you may vote “For” or “Against” or you may “Abstain” from voting.

 

What are the Board’s recommendations?

 

The Board recommends that you vote:

 

 

 

If you return a signed proxy card but do not specify how you want to vote your shares, we will vote them according to the recommendations of the Board described above.

 

If any matters other than those set forth above are properly brought before the annual meeting, the individuals named on your proxy card may vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations of management.

 

How do I change or revoke my proxy?

 

You can change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting by:

 

 

If you choose to change or revoke your vote via the Internet or by telephone, you must do so by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, the day before the annual meeting. Changes or revocations submitted by mail must be received prior to the annual meeting.

 

Will my shares be voted if I do not vote by proxy?

 

If your shares are registered in your name or if you have stock certificates, your shares will not be voted if you do not vote at the meeting in person or as described above under “How do I vote by proxy?”

 

If your shares are held in “street name” through a nominee (such as a bank or broker) and you do not provide voting instructions to the nominee that holds your shares, the nominee has the discretionary authority to vote your unvoted shares on certain matters. A “broker non-vote” arises when a broker, financial institution or other holder of record that holds shares in street name does not receive instructions from the beneficial owner of those shares and does not have the discretionary authority to vote on a particular item. Under current New York Stock Exchange rules, brokers have discretionary authority to vote on the proposal regarding the amendment to our charter and the proposal regarding the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm. Brokers do not, however, have discretionary authority to vote on any of the other matters expected to be considered at the annual meeting.

 

We encourage you to provide voting instructions to your nominee. Doing so will ensure that your shares will be voted in the manner you desire.

 

Who will count the votes?

 

A representative from Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will count the votes and serve as our inspector of election. The inspector of election will be present at the meeting.

 

How many votes are required?

 

If a quorum is present at the annual meeting:

 

 

What constitutes a “quorum” for the meeting?

 

A majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, present or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum. A quorum is necessary to conduct business at the annual meeting. You are part of the quorum if you have voted by proxy. Abstentions, broker non-votes and votes withheld from director nominees count as “shares present” at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum.

 

What are the effects on the voting results of abstentions and broker non-votes?

 

So long as a quorum is present, abstentions and broker non-votes do not count in the voting result for, and will have no effect on the result of the vote on, the proposal to elect directors, the reauthorization of performance goals listed within our Incentive Plan, the proposal to ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm or the non-binding shareholder proposal requesting the elimination of supermajority voting requirements applicable to shareholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote against the proposed charter amendment to adopt a majority voting standard in uncontested elections of directors.

 

Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?

 

We will pay the cost of preparing, printing and mailing material in connection with this solicitation of proxies. In addition to solicitation by mail, regular employees of King and paid solicitors may make solicitations personally and by telephone or otherwise. We will, upon request, reimburse brokerage firms, banks and others for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of stock or otherwise in connection with this solicitation of proxies. We have retained Georgeson Inc. to assist in the solicitation for a fee of $8,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

 

When are 2011 shareholder proposals due?

 

Proposals by shareholders to be considered for inclusion in the materials related to solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors for the annual meeting in 2011 must be received by our Assistant Secretary, William L. Phillips III, at 501 Fifth Street, Bristol, Tennessee 37620, no later than 120 days prior to the date that is one year from the date on which the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials was first mailed to shareholders, April 15, 2010. The use of certified mail, return receipt requested, is advised. To be eligible for inclusion, a proposal must also comply with Rule 14a-8 and all other applicable provisions of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

Shareholder proposals not submitted for inclusion in the Board of Directors’ proxy statement but which are received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day prior to May 26, 2011, the one-year anniversary of the date of the 2010 annual meeting, may be eligible to be presented at the meeting. In the event that the 2011 annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after May 26, 2011, notice of a shareholder proposal, to be timely, must be received by King’s Assistant Secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which notice of the date of the 2011 annual meeting is mailed or public disclosure of the date is made. Shareholder proposals which are received outside of these required periods will be considered untimely. The Chairman may exclude an untimely proposal from consideration or, if the proposal is considered, any proxy given pursuant to the Board’s solicitation of proxies will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of management.

 

 

 

King is a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company that performs basic research and develops, manufactures, markets and sells branded prescription pharmaceutical products and animal health products. Our branded prescription pharmaceuticals include neuroscience products (primarily pain medicines), hospital products, and legacy brands, all of which are for use in humans. Our auto-injector business manufactures acute care medicines for use in humans that are delivered using an auto-injector. The animal health business of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Alpharma Inc., is focused on medicated feed additives and water-soluble therapeutics primarily for poultry, cattle and swine.

 

Our corporate strategy is focused on specialty markets, particularly specialty-driven branded prescription pharmaceutical markets. We believe our target markets have significant potential and our organization is aligned to focus on these markets. Our growth in specialty markets is achieved through both acquisitions and organic growth. Our strategy focuses on growth through the acquisition of novel branded prescription pharmaceutical products and technologies that we believe complement the commercial footprint we have established in the neuroscience and hospital markets. We strive to be a leader in developing and commercializing innovative, clinically-differentiated therapies and technologies in these target, specialty-driven markets. We may also seek company acquisitions that add commercialized products or products in development, technologies or sales and marketing capabilities to our existing platforms or that otherwise complement our operations. We also have a commitment to research and development and advancing the products and technologies in our development pipeline.

 

We work to achieve organic growth by maximizing the potential of our currently marketed products through sales and marketing and product life-cycle management. By “product life-cycle management,” we mean the extension of the economic life of products, including seeking and obtaining necessary governmental approvals, by securing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration additional approved uses for our products, developing and producing different strengths, producing different package sizes, developing new dosage forms, and developing new product formulations.

 

We market our branded prescription pharmaceutical products, primarily through a dedicated sales force, to general/family practitioners, internal medicine physicians, neurologists, pain specialists, surgeons and hospitals across the United States and in Puerto Rico.

 

Through a team of internal sales professionals, our auto-injector business markets a portfolio of acute care auto-injector products to the pre-hospital emergency services market, which includes U.S. federal, state and local governments, public health services, emergency medical personnel and first responders and approved foreign governments.

 

The animal health products of our wholly-owned subsidiary Alpharma Inc. are marketed through a staff of trained sales and technical service and marketing employees, many of whom are veterinarians and nutritionists. Sales offices are located in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia.

 

 

 

King is led by Brian A. Markison, who serves as our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to Mr. Markison, whose detailed biography appears on page 8, the following individuals serve as King’s executive leadership team.

 

Joseph Squicciarino, age 54, has served as King’s Chief Financial Officer since June 2005. Prior to joining King, Mr. Squicciarino was Chief Financial Officer — North America for Revlon, Inc., beginning in March 2005. From February 2003 until March 2005 he served as Chief Financial Officer — International for Revlon International, Inc. He held the position of Group Controller Pharmaceuticals — Europe, Middle East, Africa with Johnson & Johnson from October 2001 until October 2002. He held a variety of positions with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and its predecessor, the Squibb Corporation, from 1979 until 2001, including Vice President Finance, International Medicines; Vice President Finance, Europe Pharmaceuticals & Worldwide Consumer Medicines; Vice President Finance, Technical Operations; and Vice President Finance, U.S. Pharmaceutical Group. Mr. Squicciarino also serves on the Board of Directors of Zep, Inc., a publicly-held company. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Squicciarino graduated from Adelphi University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

 

Stephen J. Andrzejewski, age 44, has served as Chief Commercial Officer since October 2005. He was previously Corporate Head, Commercial Operations, commencing in May 2004. Prior to joining King, Mr. Andrzejewski was Senior Vice President, Commercial Business at Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., starting in June 2003. He previously served in various positions with Schering-Plough Corporation beginning in 1987, including Vice President of New Products and Vice President of Marketing, and had responsibility for launching the Claritin^® product. Mr. Andrzejewski graduated cum laude from Hamilton College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 and in 1992 graduated from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a Master of Business Administration degree.

 

Frederick Brouillette, Jr., age 59, has served as Corporate Compliance Officer since August 2003. He was Executive Vice President, Finance from January 2003 until August 2003 and, prior to that, Vice President, Risk Management beginning in February 2001. Before joining King, Mr. Brouillette, a Certified Public Accountant, was with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 4 years, serving most recently in that firm’s Richmond, Virginia office providing internal audit outsourcing and internal control consulting services. He was formerly a chief internal audit executive for two major public corporations and served for 12 years in the public accounting audit practice of Peat, Marwick Mitchell & Co., the predecessor firm to KPMG. Mr. Brouillette is a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Institute of Internal Auditors. He graduated with honors from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

 

Eric J. Bruce, age 53, has served as President, Alpharma Animal Health since February 2009. He was King’s Chief Technical Operations Officer from June 2005 until February 2009. Prior to joining King, Mr. Bruce was Vice President of Operations for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a position he had occupied since 2000. Previously, he was Vice President of Manufacturing for Kendall Health Care from 1997 until 2000, and from 1996 until 1997 he held various positions with INBRAND, including that of Senior Vice President of Manufacturing. Mr. Bruce graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management.

 

Eric G. Carter, M.D., Ph.D., age 58, has served as King’s Chief Science Officer since January 2007. Prior to joining King, Dr. Carter held several positions with GlaxoSmithKline commencing in 1999, most recently as Vice President and Global Head, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Gastroenterology, R&D. His earlier experience at GlaxoSmithKline included North American responsibility for Gastroenterology and for emerging therapeutic areas. Dr. Carter has served as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina for the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, School of Medicine. He previously held academic positions with the University of California, where he was responsible for establishing and directing many research programs. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of London, Dr. Carter received his medical degree from the University of Miami and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge. He obtained board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition and has authored or co-authored more than 50 scientific publications.

James W. Elrod, age 49, has served as Chief Legal Officer since January 2009 and Secretary since May 2005. He was General Counsel from February 2006 until January 2009 and Acting General Counsel from February 2005 to February 2006. Mr. Elrod previously served in various positions within King’s Legal Department, beginning in September 2003, including Vice President, Legal Affairs. Prior to joining King, he served in various capacities at Service Merchandise Company, Inc. including Vice President, Legal Department. He previously practiced law in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Elrod earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Berea College.

 

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to Tennessee law, our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. The Board has responsibility for establishing broad corporate policies and for King’s overall performance and direction, but is not involved in day-to-day operations. Members of the Board keep informed of our business by participating in Board and committee meetings, by reviewing analyses and reports sent to them regularly, and through discussions with our executive officers and independent registered public accounting firm.

 

We currently have ten directors, all of whom stand for election annually.

 

Kevin S. Crutchfield, age 49, was appointed as a director in February 2010. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Natural Resources, a supplier and exporter of metallurgical and thermal coal, since July 2009. He previously served as its President, beginning in January 2007, and was appointed to its board of directors in November 2007. Prior to that time he served as Executive Vice President since the company’s formation in November 2004. Mr. Crutchfield has held many other senior executive positions during his tenure in the energy industry, including service as Vice President of El Paso Corporation, as President of Coastal Coal Company LLC, as President and CEO of AMVEST Corporation and as Chairman and CEO of Cyprus Australia Coal Company. He also serves on the boards of several private organizations, including the Kentucky Coal Association, the West Virginia and Virginia Coal Associations, the Wellmont Foundation and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Mr. Crutchfield received a bachelor of science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and he graduated from the University of Virginia, Colgate Darden School of Business Executive Program in 1994.

 

Mr. Crutchfield’s service as a senior executive for a variety of companies, including his current service as Chief Executive Officer of a growing, acquisition-oriented company, and his experience as a director of Alpha Natural Resources, allow him to add valuable perspectives to the discussions of our Board and to offer advice and insight to management regarding King’s growth.

 

Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr., age 72, has served as a director since May 2000. In 2002, he retired as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Eastman Chemical Company, where he was employed in various capacities since 1960. He was Chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers in 1998 and is currently a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Mr. Deavenport is also a member of the boards of directors of Zep, Inc. and Regions Financial Corporation, each a publicly-held company. He has served as the Lead Director of Regions Financial Corporation and, since April 1, 2010, serves as its Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Deavenport graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science degree in Management in 1985 and from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1960.

 

Mr. Deavenport’s experience as an executive, including as a Chief Executive Officer, of a large and diverse company, as well as his experience as a director of many public and private enterprises across a range of industries, allow him to provide invaluable guidance to our Board and management team. In addition, his knowledge of compensation-related matters, and his service on the compensation committees of a number of public-company boards of directors has particularly qualified him to serve as the chair of the Board’s Compensation and Human Resources Committee.

 

Elizabeth M. Greetham, age 60, has served as a director since November 2003. She retired as the Chief Executive Officer and President of ACCL Financial Consultants Ltd. in December 2007, a position she held since 2004. From 1998 until 2004 she was a director of DrugAbuse Sciences, Inc. and served as its Chief Executive Officer from August 2000

until 2004 and as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Business Development from April 1999 to August 2000. Prior to joining DrugAbuse Sciences, Inc., Ms. Greetham was a portfolio manager with Weiss, Peck & Greer, an institutional investment management firm, where she managed the WPG Life Sciences Funds, L.P., which invests in select biotechnology stocks. She was previously a consultant to F. Eberstadt & Co. In total, Ms. Greetham has over 25 years of experience as a portfolio manager and health care analyst in the United States and Europe. Ms. Greetham earned a Master of Arts (Honours) degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1971.

 

Ms. Greetham’s detailed knowledge of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, her service as a senior executive and her experience with and participation in business acquisitions and combinations combine to qualify her to serve as a director of King. Further, her extensive experience with public-company financial analysis allows her to serve as one of the Board’s Audit Committee Financial Experts.

 

Philip A. Incarnati, age 56, has served as a director since November 2006. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Health Care Corporation, an integrated health care system, since 1989. Before joining McLaren, Mr. Incarnati held top-level executive positions with the Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center, and Horizon Health System. Mr. Incarnati also serves on the board of Medical Staffing Network, Inc., a publicly-traded company, and on the boards of two privately-held companies, PHNS, Inc. and Reliant Renal Care Inc. Mr. Incarnati earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in management and finance from Eastern Michigan University (EMU). He has been a member of the EMU Board of Regents since 1992, when he was appointed by then-Michigan Governor John Engler, serving as its Chairman from 1995 until 2005.

 

Mr. Incarnati has served in many healthcare-related executive positions throughout his career, and his long service as President and Chief Executive Officer of a health care system has equipped him with detailed knowledge of the operations of a complex entity. Further, Mr. Incarnati’s ability to provide to King’s Board and its management the perspectives of healthcare providers and administrators is important in the development and review of our strategic plans.

 

Gregory D. Jordan, Ph.D., age 58, has served as a director since June 2001. He has served as President of King College in Bristol, Tennessee since 1997, having joined the King College faculty in 1980. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Belhaven College in 1973; his Master of Arts and Divinity degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1976 and 1977, respectively; his Doctorate in Hebraic and Cognate Studies from Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in 1987; and his Master of Business Administration degree from the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University in 2004.

 

Dr. Jordan has overseen a significant expansion of the scope of the operations of King College during his tenure as President, and he is thus able to offer valuable guidance concerning the management of significant organizational growth, development and governance. He is also closely connected with the Bristol, Tennessee / Virginia area, the location of the Company’s corporate headquarters and the work location of many of its employees.

 

Brian A. Markison, age 50, was elected as Chairman of the Board in May 2007. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director since July 2004. He joined King as Chief Operating Officer and served in that position from March 2004 until July 2004. Previously, Mr. Markison held various positions with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company beginning in 1982, most recently as President of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Oncology, Virology and Oncology Therapeutics Network businesses. Between 1998 and 2001, he served variously as Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Senior Vice President, Neuroscience/Infectious Disease; President, Neuroscience/Infectious Disease/Dermatology; and Vice President, Operational Excellence and Productivity. He also held various sales and marketing positions. Mr. Markison is a member of the Board of Directors of Immunomedics, Inc., a publicly-held corporation. He graduated from Iona College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

 

Mr. Markison’s intimate knowledge of King’s operations through his service as its Chief Executive Officer, and the experience gained during the many and varied executive positions he has held throughout his career in the pharmaceutical industry, make him an essential member of King’s Board and a vital interface between King’s management and the Board.

 

R. Charles Moyer, Ph.D., age 64, has served as a director since December 2000. Dr. Moyer presently serves as Dean of the College of Business at the University of Louisville, a position he has held since August 2003. He is Dean Emeritus of the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University, having served as Dean from 1996 until his retirement from this position in August 2003, and as a professor from 1988 until 2005. Dr. Moyer held the GMAC Insurance Chair of Finance at Wake Forest University. Prior to joining the faculty at Wake Forest in 1988, Dr. Moyer was

Finance Department Chairman at Texas Tech University. Dr. Moyer earned his Doctorate in Finance and Managerial Economics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971, his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Howard University in 1967.

 

Dr. Moyer’s career-long experience with matters of business and finance informs the Board’s consideration of potential strategic transactions, many of which involve complex financing arrangements. In addition, his service as a department chair at two major universities has prepared Dr. Moyer not only for service as chair of King’s Audit Committee but also as one of its Audit Committee Financial Experts.

 

D. Greg Rooker, age 62, has served as a director since October 1997. Mr. Rooker is the former owner and President of Family Community Newspapers of Southwest Virginia, Inc., which consisted of six community newspapers and a national monthly motor sports magazine. He retired from this position in 2000. He is a co-founder of The Jason Foundation and Brain Injury Services of SWVA, Inc., each a non-profit organization providing services to brain injury survivors. Mr. Rooker serves as Secretary/Treasurer of The Jason Foundation and as a member of the Board of Directors of Brain Injury Services of SWVA, Inc. Mr. Rooker graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Journalism in 1969.

 

Mr. Rooker offers to King’s Board the knowledge and experience gained from many years of owning and operating his own business. Further, through his charitable efforts following retirement, he has assisted numerous brain-injury patients in receiving care to which they may not have otherwise obtained access. This experience provides Mr. Rooker with the necessary expertise to advise King’s Board and management regarding the perspectives of patients who may use, and health care providers who may prescribe, King’s products.

 

Derace L. Schaffer, M.D., age 62, was appointed as a director in February 2010. Dr. Schaffer has served as Chief Executive Officer of The Lan Group, a venture capital firm he founded that specializes in healthcare and high technology investments, since 1990. He is also the founder of Partners Imaging, L.P. and has served as its Chairman since its formation in March 2005. From April 2005 until August 2007, Dr. Schaffer served as Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Acquisition Corporation, a publicly-held company, and he continues to serve as a member of the board of directors of the publicly-held PharmAthene, Inc., which was acquired by Healthcare Acquisition Corporation in 2007. He also currently serves as a director of another publicly-held company, American Caresource Holdings, Inc., and as a director of several privately-held companies, including Careguide, Inc., Source Medical Solutions and Partners Imaging. He has previously served as a director or executive of numerous healthcare companies, including several health systems and more than ten healthcare services and technology companies, including Allion Healthcare, Inc., a publicly-held company. During the past 25 years, Dr. Schaffer has founded over 15 companies, principally focused on the life sciences, and he has often served as a director or executive of these companies. Dr. Schaffer received a bachelor of arts degree in Biology from Hamilton College in 1969 and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Honor Society. He received his medical degree from Albany Medical College in 1973 and completed his residency in radiology, including service as Chief Resident in Radiology, at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he also received his fellowship training. He has held clinical professorships at both the University of Rochester and Cornell medical schools.

 

Dr. Shaffer is a physician with extensive experience in both the practice of medicine and the creation, operation and growth of business enterprises focused on the life sciences. As a result of his experience, Dr. Schaffer is able to advise the Board and management not only regarding strategic and operational business issues, but also concerning the perspectives of physicians and other healthcare providers who use King’s products in caring for their patients.

 

Ted G. Wood, age 72, has served as a director since August 2003 and as Lead Independent Director since May 2007. Mr. Wood was the Non-Executive Chairman from May 2004 until May 2007. He is retired from The United Company in Bristol, Virginia, where he served as Vice Chairman from January 2003 until August 2003. He previously served as President of the United Operating Companies from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Wood was previously a director of King from April 1997 to May 2000. From 1993 to 1994, he was President of KV Pharmaceutical Company in St. Louis, Missouri. From 1992 to 1993, he was President of Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceutical Corporation in Rockville, Maryland. From 1975 to 1991, he was employed by SmithKline Beecham Corporation where he served as President of Beecham Laboratories from 1988 to 1989 and Executive Vice President of SmithKline from 1990 to 1991. Mr. Wood is a member of the board of directors of Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., a publicly-held corporation. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce in 1960. In 1986 he completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

Mr. Wood has several decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, much of it in senior executive positions, and he is therefore able to offer insight and guidance into nearly all aspects of the operations of a company such as King. This experience, as well as his current and past service as a director of a number of publicly-held companies, well qualifies Mr. Wood to serve not only as director of King but also in the roles of both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

The Board has determined that all of King’s directors other than Mr. Markison are independent from the company under the independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

The Board’s non-management directors regularly meet separately from the Board as a whole. King’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Chairman of the Board, if independent of King, shall serve as presiding director at meetings of the non-management directors. If the Chairman is not an independent director, then the non-management directors annually elect one of their members to serve as Lead Independent Director.

 

Mr. Markison, King’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), was appointed as Chairman of the Board in May 2007. It is the Board’s view that Mr. Markison’s service as both Chairman and CEO is important for effective coordination and communication between the Board and management. Mr. Wood was elected, at the same time as Mr. Markison’s appointment as Chairman, to serve as Lead Independent Director, and he has been re-elected to this position each year since, most recently in May 2009.

 

The duties of the Lead Independent Director include: meeting regularly with the Chairman; advising the Chairman as to an appropriate schedule of Board meetings; consulting with the Chairman in establishing agendas for Board meetings and consulting with the chair of each committee in establishing agendas for committee meetings; facilitating communications with other members of the Board; acting as the presiding director at meetings of the non-management directors; serving as a non-voting member of each committee on which he does not serve as a regular member; serving as a point of contact for shareholders who wish to contact the Company other than through its management; directing the provision of any materials to the Board that he or she determines to be necessary for the independent directors to effectively and responsibly perform their duties; coordinating the Board’s annual self-evaluation process; and other duties as prescribed from time to time by King’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

 

Interested parties may contact the Board of Directors:

 

 

Communications should specify whether they are intended for all directors, all non-management directors, only the Chairman, or only the Lead Independent Director. Any message which does not specify its intended recipients will be treated as if intended for the entire Board. All messages will be reviewed by King’s Legal Department and its Compliance Office and any message deemed by either department to be substantive will be forwarded to the intended recipients.

 

In 2009, the Board met ten times. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all of the Board meetings and meetings held by committees of which they were members.

 

The Board has appointed an Audit Committee, a Compensation and Human Resources Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each member of these committees has been determined by our Board of Directors to be independent of King pursuant to NYSE listing standards. Each of these committees operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by our Board of Directors. These charters are available through our website, www.kingpharm.com, by first choosing “Investors” and then “Governance”. The Board has also formed an Enterprise Risk Management Committee.

 

Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee currently consists of R. Charles Moyer (Chair), Elizabeth M. Greetham, Philip A. Incarnati and D. Greg Rooker. The Audit Committee has the authority and responsibility, among other obligations, to select, retain, compensate, terminate and oversee the work of our independent registered public accounting firm; to assess the qualifications and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm; to pre-approve auditing, audit-related and permitted non-auditing services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm; to discuss with the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the annual audit and quarterly reviews of financial statements; to review and evaluate management’s conduct of King’s financial reporting processes (including the development and maintenance of systems of internal accounting and financial control); to oversee King’s compliance with certain legal and regulatory requirements; to oversee the performance of King’s internal audit function; to monitor compliance with King’s investment policy; and to make reports to the Board periodically with respect to its work. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence, experience and other qualification requirements of the NYSE and the SEC and that Dr. Moyer and Ms. Greetham, each of whom serves on the Audit Committee, are “audit committee financial experts,” as defined by the rules of the SEC. None of the Committee’s members serves on more than three public company audit committees. The Audit Committee met five times during 2009. For additional information regarding the Audit Committee, please see the Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors that begins on page 13.

 

Compensation and Human Resources Committee.  The Compensation and Human Resources Committee currently consists of Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr. (Chair), Elizabeth M. Greetham, Gregory D. Jordan and Ted G. Wood. The Committee has the authority and responsibility, among other obligations, to establish and periodically review a general compensation philosophy for our executive officers; to annually review and approve the corporate goals and objectives upon which the compensation of our CEO is based, evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of these goals and objectives and determine the CEO’s compensation; to review and approve the recommendations of the CEO with regard to the compensation and benefits of the executive officers; in conjunction with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, to review annually and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation (including any equity-based compensation) of non-employee directors; to oversee the management development process, including an annual review of plans for executive officer succession; and to oversee regulatory compliance with respect to compensation matters. In 2009, the Committee was advised with respect to executive compensation matters by an independent outside consultant, James F. Reda & Associates, LLC, retained by the Committee. The Compensation and Human Resources Committee met nine times during 2009. For additional information regarding the Compensation and Human Resources Committee and compensation matters generally, please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and related information that begins on page 15.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Ted G. Wood (Chair), Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr., Gregory D. Jordan and R. Charles Moyer. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the authority and responsibility, among other obligations, to locate, evaluate and recommend to the Board persons to be nominated for election or appointment as directors; to recommend to the Board a chair and members for each of the Board’s committees; to assist the Board and its committees in the development and implementation of performance evaluation processes; to review annually our Corporate Governance Guidelines and recommend to the Board any changes that the Committee determines to be necessary or desirable; to assist the Board with the orientation of new directors and continuing education for existing directors; in conjunction with the Compensation and Human Resources Committee, to annually review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation (including equity-based compensation) of non-employee directors; and to examine annually the independence from King of each non-employee director and deliver to the Board the results of its review. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met seven times during 2009.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider, in evaluating potential director nominees, any of the following factors, or other factors, which it determines to be relevant:

 

 

If reviewing the qualifications of an incumbent director, the Committee also considers the past performance of the incumbent director.

 

King does not have a formal policy regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. However, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee actively attempts to identify and nominate candidates with a variety of backgrounds and complementary skills so that the Board, as a whole, will have the experience needed to oversee King’s business.

 

Shareholders may recommend candidates to the Committee by submitting a written recommendation to the Chief Legal Officer, 501 Fifth Street, Bristol, Tennessee 37620. The Chief Legal Officer will direct all such correspondence to the Committee.

 

In order for a written shareholder recommendation to be evaluated by the Committee, it must include all information about the candidate that is required to be disclosed in a solicitation of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. The written recommendation must also be accompanied by the candidate’s written consent to be named in a proxy statement as a nominee, if recommended by the Committee and nominated by the Board, and to serve as a director if appointed or elected. Additional information about the candidate may be requested by the Committee from time to time, either from the recommended person or from the recommending shareholder.

 

The shareholder must also disclose, with the written recommendation, the number of shares of King’s common stock beneficially owned by the shareholder, the percentage of all outstanding common stock which the shares represent and the period of time the shareholder has beneficially owned the shares. If the shareholder is part of a group of shareholders that is making the recommendation, the shareholder must also disclose the names of the other members of the group and, for each member of the group, the number of shares of King’s common stock beneficially owned by the member, the percentage of all outstanding common stock which the shares represent and the period of time the member has beneficially owned the shares.

 

Once the Committee has received all required or requested information regarding a particular shareholder-recommended candidate, the Committee will evaluate that candidate according to its established evaluation practices and, based on the results of that evaluation, will determine whether to recommend the candidate to the Board for nomination for election or appointment as a director.

 

The procedure described above does not preclude a shareholder of record from making nominations of director candidates, provided such nominations are in accordance with King’s bylaws as then in effect.

 

From time to time, including in 2009, the Committee has retained and paid consultants to assist it in the process of identifying or evaluating Board candidates. No candidates have been recommended to serve on the Board of Directors by a shareholder or group of shareholders who beneficially owned more than 5% of our common stock.

 

Enterprise Risk Management Committee.  In 2009, the Enterprise Risk Management Committee consisted of all then-serving directors, and it was co-chaired by Mr. Markison and Mr. Incarnati. This Committee is responsible for oversight of King’s risk management processes; risk assessments; risk mitigation activities; the adoption of risk tolerances; and for reviewing the activities and reports of management’s Enterprise Risk Management Committee. The enterprise risk management approach applied by the Committee is designed to identify, assess, mitigate and manage material risks, and it supports the Board’s corporate governance goals and the efforts of management to achieve strategic objectives.

 

 

 

 

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

 

The Audit Committee is typically appointed by the Board immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders. Since the time of the May 2009 annual meeting, R. Charles Moyer (Chair), Elizabeth M. Greetham, Philip A. Incarnati and D. Greg Rooker have served on the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence, experience and other qualification requirements of the NYSE and the SEC. None of the Committee’s members serves on more than three public company audit committees. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors which is available on our website, www.kingpharm.com.

 

Management is responsible for internal controls and the financial reporting process. The company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of our financial statements and company’s systems of internal control, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), and for expressing an opinion about those statements and controls based upon its audit. The Audit Committee, on behalf of the Board, monitors and reviews the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm and the quality and integrity of internal accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices. The Audit Committee’s other chief duties include:

 

 

During 2009, the Audit Committee met five times and regularly held separate executive sessions with the independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PricewaterhouseCoopers”), and also with the Chief Financial Officer, the Corporate Compliance Officer, the Vice President for Internal Audit and among the Audit Committee members. There were also numerous informal meetings and communications among the Chair, various Audit Committee members, the independent registered public accounting firm and members of management.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Audit Committee has also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, (“Communication with Audit Committees”) as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) in Rule 3200T, and, with and without management present, discussed and reviewed the results of the independent registered public accounting firm’s examination of King’s financial statements and internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee has also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the quality of King’s accounting policies.

 

The Audit Committee has obtained from PricewaterhouseCoopers a formal written statement describing all relationships between that firm and King that might bear on the accounting firm’s independence. This statement conforms to Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as amended, “Independence Discussions with Audit Committees” as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) in Rule 3600T. The Audit Committee has also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers any relationships that may impact its objectivity and independence. The Audit Committee has also considered whether provision of the services described under the section “Audit Fees” is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

In October 2005, as part of the settlement of a government pricing investigation, the company entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement (the “CIA”) with the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. In December 2005, the Audit Committee approved management’s recommendation to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers to serve as the independent review organization (“IRO”) in connection with the requirements of the CIA. PricewaterhouseCoopers acted as IRO during 2009. The Audit Committee has considered whether the service of PricewaterhouseCoopers as IRO is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

The Audit Committee is satisfied that PricewaterhouseCoopers is independent of King.

 

Based upon the results of the inquiries and actions discussed above, in reliance upon information from management and PricewaterhouseCoopers, and subject to the limitations of its role, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for filing with the SEC.

 

The Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2010. In the event the shareholders do not ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee will reconsider its appointment.

 

The Members of the Audit Committee
of the Board of Directors

 

R. Charles Moyer, Chair
Elizabeth M. Greetham
Philip A. Incarnati
D. Greg Rooker

 

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

 

The Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth below. Taking this review and discussion into account, the undersigned Committee members recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

 

The Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors

 

Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr., Chair
Elizabeth M. Greetham
Gregory D. Jordan
Ted G. Wood

 

 

 

 

The fundamental goal of our compensation program is to build long-term shareholder value. In order to build long-term shareholder value, we must attract and retain exceptionally talented and capable executives, and we must provide those executives with incentives that motivate and reward them for achieving King’s immediate and longer-term operational, financial and scientific goals and strategic objectives. To this end, our executive compensation program is guided by the following key principles:

 

 

The decisions of, and guidance we receive from, the Committee are vital to our compensation program. The Committee is composed entirely of directors who are independent of King under the independence standards established by the NYSE, the securities exchange on which our common stock is traded.

 

The Committee has the authority and responsibility to establish and periodically review our executive compensation principles, described above. Importantly, the Committee also has sole responsibility for determining the corporate goals and objectives upon which the compensation of the CEO is based, for evaluating (in consultation with all non-management directors) the CEO’s performance in light of these goals and objectives and for determining the CEO’s compensation and benefits, including his equity-based compensation.

 

The Committee also reviews and approves the recommendations of the CEO with regard to the compensation and benefits of other executive officers. In accomplishing this responsibility, the Committee meets regularly with the CEO, approves cash and equity incentive objectives for the other executive officers, reviews with the CEO the accomplishment of these objectives and approves the base salary and other elements of compensation for the executive officers. The Committee has full discretion to modify the recommendations of the CEO in the course of its approval of executive officer compensation.

 

The Committee also annually reviews, and makes recommendations to the Board about, the compensation of non-employee directors, a function it performs in conjunction with the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

Our Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders in May 2005, provides for the grant of various equity awards, such as stock options, restricted stock and performance share units, as well as cash incentive awards, to King’s employees and directors. The Committee is responsible for administering this Plan and it has sole authority to make awards to the CEO or any other executive officer. Our Board of Directors has sole authority to make grants to directors under the Incentive Plan.

In conjunction with its responsibilities related to executive compensation, the Committee also oversees King’s talent management process, reviews plans for executive officer succession and performs various other functions.

 

For additional information about the Committee, please see the section entitled “Board Committees”, beginning on page 11.

 

The Committee consults regularly with an independent outside compensation consulting firm retained by the Committee. As it makes decisions about executive compensation, the Committee frequently obtains data from its consultant and from third party surveys regarding current compensation practices and trends among United States companies in general, and pharmaceutical and biosciences companies in particular, and reviews this information with its consultant. The Committee also discusses various other compensation matters with its consultant, both during the course of the Committee’s regular meetings and in private meetings. In addition, the Chairman of the Committee is in regular contact with the consultant and with management outside of Committee meetings regarding matters being considered or expected to be considered by the Committee.

 

During 2009, the Committee was advised by James F. Reda & Associates, LLC, an independent executive compensation consulting firm. The Committee retained this firm, and the firm did not provide any other services to King other than assisting management in calculating the results of certain performance-based awards approved by the Committee.

 

The elements of executive compensation for 2009 were:

 

 

In 2009, based on the grant date fair values for equity incentives, base salary accounted for approximately 26% of the total compensation of the named executive officers, equity-based incentive compensation accounted for approximately 47%, non-equity incentive compensation accounted for approximately 24% and all other compensation accounted for approximately 3%.

 

Information about each compensation element and its purposes appears in the section below entitled “Summary of 2009 Compensation Elements”.

 

The individuals who served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during 2009, as well as the other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 29, are referred to as the “named executive officers.” At some points in the discussion we also refer more generally to our “executive officers,” the larger group of executives whose compensation requires the approval of the Committee under the terms of its charter.

Summary of 2009 Compensation Elements

 

The table below provides detailed information regarding each element of the 2009 compensation program.

 

 

 

Market Data and Our Comparator Group

 

In determining 2009 compensation for the named executive officers, the Committee relied on market data provided by its consultant, James F. Reda & Associates LLC. This information was principally related to a group of 19 pharmaceutical and healthcare companies similar in size to King (we refer to this group of companies as the “Comparator Group”), but it also included third-party compensation survey results. This group had median 2008 revenues of approximately $2.1 billion. Information about these companies was obtained from publicly-available information appearing in their proxy statements, supplemented with pharmaceutical industry information from published and third-party survey sources. The members of the Comparator Group for 2009 were:

 

 

The Committee evaluates and approves the Comparator Group annually, revising it as necessary to ensure that it continues to be appropriate for benchmarking our executive compensation program.

 

In evaluating appropriate compensation program designs, the Committee also considered the approaches employed by larger pharmaceutical companies, but information related to these companies was not used in making decisions about the amount of compensation to be provided to any executive officer.

Base Salary

 

As discussed above, base salaries for the named executive officers are intended to approximate median salaries for similarly situated executives among Comparator Group companies. The Committee considers a number of additional factors, however, in determining base salary, such as the executive’s individual performance, his or her experience and tenure, internal compensation consistency, the need to attract new, talented executives, and the company’s overall annual budget. Base salaries are generally reviewed on an annual basis, early in the calendar year. Adjustments to base salary, if any, are typically effective in late March or early April of the same year.

 

Until March 22, 2010, when the Committee approved base salary increases for Mr. Markison and each of our named executive officers, Mr. Markison’s base salary had been unchanged since March 25, 2008. His base salary is lower than the median base salary of the chief executive officers among our Comparator Group. The 2009 base salaries for the other named executive officers approximated the median base salary of similarly situated officers among our Comparator Group. Effective March 22, 2010, following reviews of the 2009 activities and performance of the named executive officers, the Committee approved the following base salaries:

 

 

Individual performance was one of several material factors considered by the Committee in connection with adjustments to executive base salaries related to 2009. In assessing individual performance, the Committee focused upon the degree of an executive’s accomplishment of corporate objectives and strategic goals, including, as applicable to various executives, goals related to: manufacturing, product quality, research and development, product sales, talent management and development, risk management, cost-saving initiatives, achievement of operational efficiencies, the advancement of business development opportunities and similar objectives.

 

2009 Executive Management Incentive Award (EMIA)

 

Potential Payouts

 

The 2009 Executive Management Incentive Award (“EMIA”) program allowed executives the opportunity to earn cash awards upon the accomplishment of predetermined 2009 financial objectives. Potential target EMIA awards approximated the 50th percentile for short-term cash awards provided to similarly situated executives among Comparator Group companies, based on market data provided by the Committee’s consultant.

 

The table below shows the overall potential payout amounts approved by the Committee for each of the named executive officers, expressed as percentages of base salary.

 

 

Objectives

 

Beginning in mid-2008, the Committee and members of management began discussing potential performance goals for the 2009 EMIA program. In late 2008, King acquired Alpharma Inc. (“Alpharma”), a global specialty pharmaceutical company that developed and produced products for humans and animals. In connection with this acquisition, King incurred approximately $625 million in new debt obligations. Mr. Markison advised the Committee that rapid repayment of these new debt obligations was a key objective for 2009 because it would reduce interest expense and better position King to pursue future business development opportunities. He therefore recommended to the Committee that it adopt objectives that would encourage and reward the generation and saving of cash that could be used to prepay King’s debt obligations. After discussing various corporate objectives with Mr. Markison, and after consultation with King’s Chief

Financial Officer, in March 2009 the Committee approved EMIA goals for the named executive officers related to maximizing King’s cash from operations and operating income within the animal health business. In June 2009 management recommended, and the Committee approved, amendments to the Animal Health objective that increased the threshold, target and stretch goals. The objectives approved by the Committee are detailed in the table below.

 

 

 

Weighting of Objectives

 

The relative weighting of these objectives for each executive depended upon the executive’s ability to effect the accomplishment of the objective. Actual payouts thus depended not only upon the degree to which objectives were accomplished but also upon the weight accorded to each objective for that executive. The relative weights of the objectives for each named executive officer are shown below.

 

 

The Committee also determined that, if results were between the threshold and target objectives, or between the target and maximum objectives, straight-line interpolation would be applied to determine the appropriate payout percentage. The program also provided that no payout would occur under any objective if the company failed to achieve at least threshold Corporate Cash from Operations.

 

Program Results

 

All payouts to executive officers under the 2009 EMIA program were contingent upon the Committee’s review and certification of the degree to which King achieved each objective. In early 2010, the Committee reviewed King’s 2009 financial results for purposes of the EMIA program. It determined that the result under the Corporate Cash from Operations objective was approximately $431 million, or 121.1% of the target objective. The result under the Animal Health Operating Income objective was approximately $58 million, or 62.5% of the target objective.

 

The Committee also reviewed the results of our debt repayment efforts, noting that, as of December 31, 2009, we had already repaid approximately $533 million, or 85%, of the debt incurred in connection with the Alpharma acquisition, an amount approximately $309 million higher than required by our repayment schedule as of that date.

 

The table below shows the amounts paid to the named executive officers based upon achievement of objectives under the 2009 EMIA program.

 

2009 Long Term Incentive Awards (LTIA)

 

Design

 

The Committee believes that long-term equity incentives are an important part of a complete compensation package because they focus executives on achieving King’s long-term goals, align the interests of executives with those of shareholders, encourage sustained stock performance and help to retain executives.

 

In March 2009, the Committee granted four different types of incentive awards to executives, each designed to emphasize certain elements of the company’s long-term objectives and/or to retain key executives. We refer to these four grants collectively as the 2009 Long Term Incentive Awards (“LTIA”). The four types of grants were as follows:

 

 

The Committee assessed the appropriate overall value of these equity grants to executives by reviewing information about the value of equity grants made to similarly situated executives in Comparator Group companies and third-party compensation survey results provided by its consultant. The overall value of LTIA grants for each executive was determined by multiplying the executive’s base salary by a percentage that approximates the median percentage used for similarly situated executives in the Comparator Group. In establishing the specific percentage for each executive, the Committee also considered the potential value of equity compensation relative to other elements of the executive’s total compensation. These percentages were 350% of base salary for Mr. Markison, 200% for Mr. Squicciarino and 160% for Mr. Bruce, Mr. Elrod and Dr. Carter. Mr. Markison’s percentage was lower than the median percentage for similarly situated chief executive officers within the Comparator Group.

 

The Committee likewise assessed the appropriate distribution of value among the four award types, as well as the corporate objectives each type of grant was intended to encourage executives to address. (Please see the section above called “Summary of 2009 Compensation Elements” for more information about the purposes of each award type.) It was the judgment of the Committee that appropriate promotion of King’s objectives throughout the duration of the awards would be best accomplished by the following distribution of the total estimated equity grant value among the four award types: 35% in the form of One-Year PSUs (assuming target performance), 15% in the form of Three-Year PSUs (assuming target performance), 30% in the form of stock options and the remaining 20% in the form of restricted stock. This relative weighting of these awards results in a greater percentage of King’s awards being performance-based than is typical among our Comparator Group.

 

One-Year Performance Share Units (PSUs)

 

The objective of the One-Year PSUs is to promote King’s growth, as measured by its earnings per share results. The Committee reviewed and approved these earnings per share objectives in March 2009 following discussions with management, a review of King’s historical results, considerations of the various circumstances facing the company during 2009, including the need to successfully integrate Alpharma into King’s operations, and also taking into account the

earnings per share expectations of our annual plan. The objectives approved by the Committee are detailed in the table below.

 

 

 

The exact number of One-Year PSUs that could be earned by each executive depended upon the degree to which the earnings per share objective was accomplished. The Committee established, for each executive officer, a target number of One-Year PSUs, taking into account the value of the PSUs relative to other elements of the 2009 LTIA program and based on the executive’s base salary. The target numbers of One-Year PSUs for the named executive officers appear in the table below.

 

 

The Committee also determined that executives would have the opportunity to earn the following payouts, depending upon the degree of accomplishment of the established objectives, with performance falling between defined objective levels determined by straight-line interpolation between the defined levels.

 

 

The information above notwithstanding, the Committee also determined that no payout of One-Year PSUs would occur if the company failed to achieve at least 85% of target earnings per share. It also reserved the right to reduce or eliminate any payout of One-Year PSUs if the Committee determined that it was in King’s best interest to do so.

 

All 2009 One-Year PSU awards were contingent upon the Committee’s review and certification of the degree to which King achieved the predetermined financial objective.

 

In early 2010, the Committee reviewed King’s earnings per share results for purposes of the 2009 One-Year PSUs. It determined that King earned $0.66 per share, above the stretch objective. Based on this outcome, the named executive officers received the following numbers of One-Year PSUs, which are now subject to a two-year holding period that ends on December 31, 2011, after which these awards will be settled in shares of common stock.

 

 

Three-Year Performance Share Units

 

Each executive officer has the opportunity to earn Three-Year PSUs, the exact number of which depends upon King’s total shareholder return for a three-year period relative to the companies making up the Dow Jones U.S. Pharmaceutical Index.

Three-Year PSUs for 2009-2011.  In 2009, the Committee determined for each executive officer a target number of Three-Year PSUs, taking into account the value of the PSUs relative to other elements of the 2009 LTIA program and based on the executive’s base salary. The target numbers of Three-Year PSUs for the named executive officers appear in the table below.

 

 

Under the terms of these awards, achievement of the predetermined objectives below would result in payouts of Three-Year PSUs as follows, with performance falling between defined objective levels determined by straight-line interpolation between the defined levels.

 

 

The results for the 2009 Three-Year PSUs will not be known until the completion of the three-year performance period on December 31, 2011, but King’s total shareholder return performance for 2009 placed it in the 48th percentile relative to the companies in the Dow Jones U.S. Pharmaceutical Index. If this percentile represented King’s performance during the entire performance period for the 2009 Three-Year PSUs, the payout under these awards would be 95% of the target number of Three-Year PSUs.

 

Three-Year PSUs for 2008-2010.  The results for the 2008 Three-Year PSUs will not be known until the completion of the three-year performance period on December 31, 2010, but King’s cumulative total shareholder return performance for 2008 and 2009 placed it in the 78^th percentile relative to the companies in the Dow Jones U.S. Pharmaceutical Index. If this percentile represented King’s performance during the entire performance period for the 2008 Three-Year PSUs, the payout under these awards would be 200% of the target number of Three-Year PSUs.

 

Three-Year PSUs for 2007-2009.  King’s cumulative total shareholder return performance for 2007 through 2009 for the Three-Year PSUs granted in 2007 placed it in the 22nd percentile relative to the companies in the Dow Jones U.S. Pharmaceutical Index. There was therefore no payout under the 2007 Three-Year PSU awards.

 

Stock Options and Restricted Stock

 

The stock options and shares of restricted stock granted as part of the 2009 LTIA program were designed to reward sustained stock price appreciation and to encourage executive retention during a three-year vesting term and, in the case of stock options, a ten-year option life. Grants of stock options and restricted stock were not contingent upon any performance conditions. Stock options become exercisable approximately in thirds on the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the executive’s continued employment with King. Restricted stock vests in full on the third anniversary of the date of grant if the executive remains employed by King as of that date. For more information about these stock option and restricted stock awards, please see “2009 Grants of Plan Based Awards” on page 31.

 

Benefits

 

We provide executive officers with benefits that we believe are reasonable and consistent with our overall compensation program to better enable us to attract and retain superior employees for key positions. The Committee periodically reviews the benefits provided to executive officers.

 

During 2009, King matched employees’ contributions to the King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, typically up to 5% of an employee’s base salary, subject to regulatory limits. Contributions by the named executive

officers were matched in this way, subject to the limitations of the plan and applicable law. The named executive officers participate in other qualified benefit plans, such as medical insurance plans, in the same manner as all other employees. Highly compensated employees, such as the named executive officers, pay a larger portion of the premiums for these benefit plans than lower-compensated employees pay.

 

King provides life insurance coverage to all employees. For the named executive officers, this insurance would, in the event of death, pay $500,000 to designated beneficiaries. Premiums paid for coverage above $50,000 are treated as imputed income to the executive. King also provides short-term and long-term disability insurance to all employees. For the named executive officers, this insurance would, in the event of disability, provide short-term disability payments equal to 100% of the officer’s base salary for up to 26 weeks. If the disability lasted longer than 26 weeks, the officer would receive long-term disability payments of 60% of base salary, not to exceed $20,000 per month.

 

The King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan is a tax-deferred compensation program for a limited number of executives, including the named executive officers. It provides a tax-favorable vehicle for deferring cash compensation, including base salary and awards pursuant to the EMIA program. Under the plan, an executive may defer up to 75% of his or her base salary and up to 90% of annual incentive pay. Deferred balances are credited with gains or losses which mirror the performance of benchmark investment funds selected by the participant from among twelve available funds and eleven target date funds. Deferred amounts are paid, at the participant’s option, either in a lump sum or in annual installments over a period of up to ten years for retirement or termination distributions, or up to five years for scheduled in-service withdrawals. King matches contributions to this plan to the extent that deferrals reduce matching contributions otherwise available under the 401(k) plan. In 2009, none of the named executive officers other than Dr. Carter deferred any compensation under our Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

Perquisites

 

We provide executive officers with limited perquisites that we believe are reasonable and consistent with our overall compensation program to better enable us to attract and retain superior employees for key positions. The Committee periodically reviews the perquisites provided to executive officers.

 

The Committee is responsible for determining the general parameters for personal use of corporate aircraft by executives, and the Committee regularly reviews such usage, including usage by the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee has adopted a policy permitting limited personal use of corporate aircraft by the named executive officers and others. Personal use must not conflict with the needs of the company and each use must be specifically approved by the Chief Executive Officer. Personal flights are treated as income to the employee pursuant to the Standard Industry Fare Level standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The incremental cost to King of any personal aircraft use by the named executive officers is included in column (i) of the Summary Compensation table and the additional tables detailing “All Other Compensation” beginning on page 29.

 

The named executive officers are also provided financial planning assistance, the costs of which (approximately $10,000 per executive in 2009) are grossed-up for income tax purposes.

 

We believe that reasonable severance and change in control benefits are necessary in order to recruit and retain effective senior executives and are generally required by the competitive recruiting environment within our industry. These severance benefits reflect the fact that it may be difficult for such executives to find comparable employment within a short period of time and are designed to alleviate an executive’s concerns about the loss of his or her position without cause. We also believe that a change in control arrangement will help facilitate change in control transactions that could be in the best interests of our shareholders. For a detailed discussion of potential severance and change of control benefits, see “Post-Termination Payments,” beginning on page 35.

 

The Committee has, on approximately an annual basis, considered the adoption of share ownership guidelines, discussing the matter with management and with its compensation consultant. The Committee has also reviewed information about the use of these guidelines in companies of King’s size and among pharmaceutical companies generally.

Based on these reviews, the Committee has determined not to adopt ownership guidelines but to review the issue periodically.

 

The Committee typically holds five regular meetings each year, and the timing of these meetings is generally established during the prior year. The Committee holds special meetings from time to time as its workload requires. Typically, annual grants of equity awards have been made at a meeting of the Committee in March of each year. The 2009 LTIA grants were made by the Committee in March of that year. Individual grants (for example, associated with the hiring of a new executive officer) may occur at other times of the year. We do not coordinate the timing of equity award grants with the release of material non-public information. The exercise price of each stock option awarded to our executive officers is the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant.

 

We have adopted a policy that addresses the procedures for review and adoption of equity incentive plans, offers of equity grants to employees, prospective employees, directors and prospective directors. The policy defines the processes through which these grants are reviewed and approved, and it also addresses SEC reporting obligations, notification of grant recipients, recordkeeping requirements, tax requirements and other matters. Key elements of the policy include the following:

 

 

If the CEO wishes to use this authority to make a grant of stock options or restricted stock, the policy requires that he first approve all material terms of the proposed equity grant and submit these terms to an Equity Grant Completion Committee (or “EGCC”) for review. The EGCC is composed of two members of management, one from the Human Resources Department and an attorney from the Legal Department, and it operates pursuant to a written charter. The EGCC is required to verify that the terms of the proposed equity grant, if the grant were completed, conform with legal requirements, with the authority delegated to the CEO by the Committee, with company policies, with the applicable equity incentive plan and with other applicable requirements. If the EGCC determines unanimously that all of these requirements are met, then the grant is made, with a grant date of the 15th day of the month following the month during which the EGCC approved the terms of the grant. The EGCC’s approval of a grant may be withheld only if completion of the equity grant would not conform with the requirements described above, and the EGCC has no independent authority to make equity grants.

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, precludes the deductibility of an executive officer’s compensation that exceeds $1.0 million per year unless the compensation is paid under a performance-based plan that has been approved by shareholders. The Committee generally prefers that the compensation of our executive officers complies with the requirements of Section 162(m) through, for example, the use of our Incentive Plan. However, to maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner that attracts, rewards and retains high quality individuals, the Committee may elect to provide compensation outside of those requirements when it deems appropriate. The Committee believes that shareholder interests are best served by not restricting the Committee’s discretion in this regard, even though such compensation may result in non-deductible compensation expense to the company.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table summarizes the compensation paid to the company’s named executive officers for 2009, 2008 and 2007. The named executive officers were not entitled to receive payments which would be characterized as “Bonus” payments for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

 

There are no above-market or preferential earnings on deferred compensation. Consequently, the table does not include earnings on deferred amounts. None of the named executive officers is eligible for pension benefits as King does not have any defined benefit programs in which the named executive officers are eligible to participate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table contains information on the company’s equity and non-equity incentive plan awards to named executive officers during 2009.

 

 

 

The following table discloses information relating to stock options, restricted stock and performance share units held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2009.