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LANDEC CORPORATION 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Equity Incentive Plan Agreement

LANDEC CORPORATION 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN | Document Parties: LANDEC CORP \CA\ | LANDEC CORPORATION You are currently viewing:
This Equity Incentive Plan Agreement involves

LANDEC CORP \CA\ | LANDEC CORPORATION

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Title: LANDEC CORPORATION 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 10/19/2009
Industry: Crops     Sector: Consumer/Non-Cyclical

LANDEC CORPORATION 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, Parties: landec corp \ca\ , landec corporation
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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.

 

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

(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.

 

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

(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.

 

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

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.

 

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

(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.

 

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

(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.

 

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

(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.

 

 

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

 

(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


 
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