Exhibit 99.1
LANDEC
CORPORATION
2009 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN
SECTION
1. INTRODUCTION
.
1 The
Landec Corporation 2009 Stock Incentive Plan will be
effective (the “Effective Date) upon its approval
by an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares
that are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the
2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company. The Plan shall
supersede the Existing Equity Plan effective as of the Effective
Date such that no further awards shall be made under the Existing
Equity Plan on or after such date. However, this
Plan shall not, in any way, affect awards that are outstanding as
of the Effective Date under the Existing Equity Plan or any other
equity award plan of the Company. If the Company’s
stockholders do not approve this Plan, no Awards will be made under
this Plan and the Existing Equity Plan will continue in effect in
accordance with its terms.
2 The
purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the
Company and the creation of Stockholder value by offering Key
Service Providers an opportunity to share in such long-term success
by acquiring a proprietary interest in the Company.
3 The
Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for discretionary
long-term incentive Awards in the form of Options (which may
constitute Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options),
Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Grants and Stock Units.
4 The
Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Delaware (except its choice-of-law
provisions), and with the applicable requirements of the stock
exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is listed or
entered for trading, in each case as determined by the Committee.
Capitalized terms shall have the meaning provided in Section 2
unless otherwise provided in this Plan or any related Stock Option
Agreement, SAR Agreement, Stock Grant Agreement or Stock Unit
Agreement.
SECTION
2. DEFINITIONS.
(a)
“Affiliate” means any entity other than a Subsidiary if
the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries have a controlling
interest in such entity. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
except as the Committee may otherwise determine subject to the
requirements of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E)(1), the
term “controlling interest” has the same meaning as
provided in Treas. Reg. §1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), provided that
the words “at least 50 percent” are used instead of the
words “at least 80 percent” each place such words
appear in Treas. Reg. §1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i). The Company may at
any time by amendment provide that different ownership thresholds
(consistent with Section 409A of the Code) apply but any such
change shall not be effective for twelve (12) months. In addition,
any Affiliate must also meet the requirements of subsection (c)
under Rule 701 of the Securities Act.
(b)
“Award” means any award of an Option, SAR, Stock Grant
or Stock Unit under the Plan.
(c)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as
constituted from time to time.
(d)
“Cashless Exercise” means, to the extent that a Stock
Option Agreement so provides and as permitted by applicable law,
(i) a program approved by the Committee in which payment may be
made all or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the
Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to
sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the
Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price and any
applicable tax withholding obligations relating to the Option or
(ii) the withholding of that number of Shares otherwise deliverable
upon exercise of the Option whose aggregate Fair Market Value is
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option.
(e) “Cause” means, except
as may otherwise be provided in a Participant’s employment
agreement or Award agreement, any of the following events: (i)
Participant’s willful failure substantially to perform his or
her duties and responsibilities to the Company or deliberate
violation of a Company policy; (ii) Participant’s commission
of any act of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty or any other willful
misconduct that has caused or is reasonably expected to result in
material injury to the Company; (iii) unauthorized use or
disclosure by Participant of any proprietary information or trade
secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant
owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her
relationship with the Company; or (iv) Participant’s willful
breach of any of his or her obligations under any written agreement
or covenant with the Company. The determination as to whether a
Participant is being terminated for Cause shall be made in good
faith by the Committee and shall be conclusive and binding on the
Participant. The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the
Company’s ability to terminate a Participant’s Service
at any time as provided in Section 12(a), and the term
“Company” will be interpreted to include any
Subsidiary, Parent, Affiliate, or any successor thereto, if
appropriate.
(f)
“Change In Control” except as may otherwise be provided
in a Participant’s employment agreement or Award agreement,
means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the consummation
of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another
entity or any other corporate reorganization if more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the continuing or surviving
entity’s securities outstanding immediately after such
transaction is owned by persons who were not stockholders of the
Company immediately prior to such transaction; (ii) the sale,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets; (iii) the direct or indirect sale or
exchange in a single transaction or series of related transactions
by the stockholders of the Company of more than 50% of the voting
stock of the Company to an unrelated person or entity if more than
50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity’s
securities outstanding immediately after such transaction is owned
by persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately
prior to such transaction; or (iv) a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
A transaction
shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to
change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create
a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same
proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities
immediately before such transactions.
(g)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations and interpretations promulgated
thereunder.
(h)
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the
Board or a subcommittee thereof or such other committee as may be
designated by the Board to administer the Plan.
(i)
“Common Stock” means the common stock, of the
Company.
(j)
“Company” means Landec Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.
(k)
“Consultant” means an individual who provides bona fide
services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate,
other than as an Employee or Director or Non-Employee
Director.
(l)
“Covered Employees” means those persons who are subject
to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(m)
“Director” means a member of the Board who is also an
Employee.
(n)
“Disability” means that the Participant is classified
as disabled under a long-term disability policy of the Company or,
if no such policy applies, the Participant is unable to engage in
any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to
result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for
a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
(o)
“Employee” means any individual who is a common law
employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate.
(p)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the
Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or
regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section,
and any comparable provision of any future legislation or
regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or
regulation.
(q)
“Exercise Price” means, in the case of an Option, the
amount for which a Share may be purchased upon exercise of such
Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.
“Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, means an
amount, as specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is
subtracted from the Fair Market Value in determining the amount
payable upon exercise of such SAR.
(r)
“Existing Equity Plan” means the Company’s 2005
Stock Incentive Plan.
(s) “Fair
Market Value” means the market price of a Share as determined
in good faith by the Committee. Such determination shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons. The Fair Market Value shall
be determined by the following: (i) if the Shares are admitted to
trading on any established national stock exchange or market
system, including without limitation the NASDAQ Global Market
System, on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall
be equal to the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on
such national exchange or system on such date; or (ii) if the
Shares are admitted to quotation on NASDAQ or are regularly quoted
by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not
reported on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall
be equal to the mean between the bid and asked prices of the Shares
reported for such date.
In each case,
the applicable price shall be the price reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
provided, however, that if there is no such reported price for the
Shares for the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall
be equal to the price reported on the last preceding date for which
such price exists. If neither (i) or (ii) are applicable,
then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in
good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate, consistent with
the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code, to the
extent applicable.
(t)
“Fiscal Year” means the Company’s fiscal
year.
(u)
“Grant” means any grant of an Award under the
Plan.
(v)
“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an
incentive stock option described in Section 422 of the
Code.
(w) “Key
Service Provider” means an Employee, Director, Non-Employee
Director or Consultant who has been selected by the Committee to
receive an Award under the Plan.
(x)
“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who
is not an Employee.
(y)
“Nonstatutory Stock Option” or “NSO” means
a stock option that is not an ISO.
(z)
“Option” means an ISO or NSO granted under the Plan
entitling the Optionee to purchase Shares.
(aa)
“Optionee” means an individual, estate or other entity
that holds an Option.
(bb)
“Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company)
in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if
each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock
possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A
corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the
adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of
such date.
(cc)
“Participant” means an individual or estate or other
entity that holds an Award under the Plan.
(dd)
“Performance Goals” means one or more objective
measurable performance factors as determined by the Committee with
respect to each Performance Period based upon one or more factors,
including, but not limited to: (i) operating income;
(ii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (“EBITDA”); (iii) earnings;
(iv) cash flow; (v) market share; (vi) sales or
revenue; (vii) expenses; (viii) cost of goods sold; (ix)
profit/loss or profit margin; (x) working capital;
(xi) return on equity or assets; (xii) earnings per share;
(xiii) economic value added (“EVA”);
(xiv) price/earnings ratio; (xv) debt or debt-to-equity;
(xvi) accounts receivable; (xvii) writeoffs;
(xviii) cash; (xix) assets; (xx) liquidity;
(xxi) operations; (xxii) intellectual property (e.g.,
patents); (xxiii) product development; (xxiv) regulatory
activity; (xxv) manufacturing, production or inventory;
(xxvi) mergers and acquisitions or divestitures; and/or
(xxvii) financings, each with respect to the Company and/or
one or more of its Parent, Subsidiaries, Affiliates or operating
units. Awards issued to persons who are not Covered Employees may
take into account other factors. To the extent consistent with the
requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation
exception under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may
provide in the case of any Award intended to qualify for such
exception that one or more of the Performance Goals applicable to
such Award will be adjusted in an objectively determinable manner
to reflect events (for example, but without limitation,
acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the Performance
Period that affect the applicable Performance Goals.
(ee)
“Performance Period” means any period not exceeding
36 months as determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion. The Committee may establish different Performance
Periods for different Participants, and the Committee may establish
concurrent or overlapping Performance Periods.
(ff)
“Plan” means this Landec Corporation 2009 Stock
Incentive Plan as it may be amended from time to time.
(gg)
“Re-Price” means that the Company has lowered or
reduced the Exercise Price of outstanding Options and/or
outstanding SARs for any Participant(s) in a manner described by
Item 402(i)(1) of SEC Regulation S-K (or its successor
provision).
(hh) “SAR
Agreement” means the agreement described in Section 7
evidencing each Award of a Stock Appreciation Right.
(ii)
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(jj)
“Section 16 Persons” means those officers,
directors or other persons who are subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act.
(kk)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. Reference to a specific section of the
Securities Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section
or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section,
and any comparable provision of any future legislation or
regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or
regulation.
(ll)
“Service” means service as an Employee, Director,
Non-Employee Director or Consultant. A Participant’s Service
does not terminate if he or she is an Employee and goes on a bona
fide leave of absence that was approved by the Company in writing
and the terms of the leave provide for continued service crediting,
or when continued service crediting is required by applicable law.
However, for purposes of determining whether an Option is entitled
to continuing ISO status, an Employee’s Service will be
treated as terminating 90 days after such Employee went on leave,
unless such Employee’s right to return to active work is
guaranteed by law or by a contract. Service terminates in any event
when the approved leave ends, unless such Employee immediately
returns to active work. The Committee determines which leaves count
toward Service, and when Service terminates for all purposes under
the Plan. Further, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a
Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated
merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant
provides service to the Company, a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate,
or a transfer between entities (the Company or any Parent,
Subsidiary, or Affiliate); provided that there is no interruption
or other termination of Service.
(mm)
“Share” means one share of Common Stock.
(nn)
“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a
stock appreciation right awarded under the Plan.
(oo)
“Stock Grant” means Shares awarded pursuant to Section
8 of the Plan.
(pp)
“Stock Grant Agreement” means the agreement described
in Section 8 evidencing each Award of a Stock
Grant.
(qq)
“Stock Option Agreement” means the agreement described
in Section 6 evidencing each Award of an Option.
(rr)
“Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing the
equivalent of one Share, as awarded pursuant to Section 9 of the
Plan.
(ss)
“Stock Unit Agreement” means the agreement described in
Section 9 evidencing each Award of a Stock Unit.
(tt)
“Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the
Company) or other entity in a chain of corporations or other
entities in which each corporation or other entity has a
controlling interest in another corporation or other entity in the
chain, beginning with the Company and ending with such corporation
or other entity. For purposes of the preceding sentence, except as
the Committee may otherwise determine subject to the requirements
of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E)(1), the term
“controlling interest” has the same meaning as provided
in Treas. Reg. §1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), provided that the words
“at least 50 percent” are used instead of the words
“at least 80 percent” each place such words appear in
Treas. Reg. §1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i). The Company may at any time
by amendment provide that different ownership thresholds
(consistent with Section 409A of the Code) apply but any such
change shall not be effective for twelve (12) months. In addition,
any Subsidiary must also meet the requirements of subsection (c)
under Rule 701 of the Securities Act. A corporation or other entity
that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the
adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as
of such date.
(uu)
“10-Percent Stockholder” means an individual who owns
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
outstanding stock of the Company, its Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules
of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.
SECTION
3. ADMINISTRATION
.
(a) The
Committee. The Committee shall administer the
Plan.
(b) Delegation
by the Committee. The Committee, on such terms and
conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or any part of its
authority and powers under the Plan to one or more Directors or
officers of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with
respect to Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may
not delegate its authority and powers with respect to such Awards
if such delegation would cause the Awards to fail to so qualify.
The Committee may delegate its authority and power under the Plan
to one or more officers of the Company, subject to guidelines
prescribed by the Committee, but only with respect to Participants
who are not Section 16 Persons.
(c) Authority
of the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have full authority and sole discretion to take any
actions it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of
the Plan. Such actions shall include, without limitation: (i)
selecting Key Service Providers who are to receive Awards under the
Plan; (ii) determining the type, number, vesting requirements and
other features and conditions of such Awards and amending such
Awards; (iii) correcting any defect, supplying any omission, or
reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award agreement;
(iv) accelerating the vesting, or extending the post-termination
exercise term, of Awards at any time and under such terms and
conditions as it deems appropriate; (v) interpreting the Plan; (vi)
making all other decisions relating to the operation of the Plan;
and (vii) adopting such plans or subplans as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate to provide for the participation by
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates who
reside outside the U.S., which plans and/or subplans shall be
attached hereto as Appendices.
The Committee
may adopt such rules or guidelines as it deems appropriate to
implement the Plan. In the case of any Award intended to be
eligible for the performance-based compensation exception under
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee will exercise its
discretion consistent with qualifying the Award from that
exception. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan
shall be final and binding on all persons.
(d)
Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law,
each member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified
and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any
loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or
reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting
from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may
be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any
action taken or failure to act under the Plan or any Award
agreement, and (ii) from any and all amounts paid by him or
her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or
paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such
claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he
or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense,
to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle
and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of
indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of
indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, by
contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any power that
the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them
harmless.
SECTION
4. GENERAL
.
(a) General
Eligibility. Only Employees, Directors, Non-Employee Directors and
Consultants shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
Eligibility shall be further limited, subject to such express
exceptions, if any, as the Committee may establish, to those
persons as to whom the use of a Form S-8 registration statement is
permissible.
(b) Incentive
Stock Options. Only Key Service Providers who are Employees of the
Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant
of ISOs. In addition, a Key Service Provider who is a 10-Percent
Stockholder shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless
the requirements set forth in Section 422(c)(5) of the Code
are satisfied.
(c)
Restrictions on Shares. Any Shares issued pursuant to an Award
shall be subject to such rights of repurchase, rights of first
refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Committee may
determine, in its sole discretion. Such restrictions shall apply in
addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares
generally and shall also comply to the extent necessary with
applicable law. In no event shall the Company be required to issue
fractional Shares under this Plan.
(d)
Beneficiaries. Unless stated otherwise in an Award agreement, a
Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries to whom any
vested Award shall be paid or issued in the event of the
Participant’s death by timely