EXHIBIT
99.1
CRYOLIFE,
INC.
2009
EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION
1
GENERAL
1.1
Purpose. The
CryoLife, Inc. 2009 Employee Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) has been
established by CryoLife, Inc. (the “Company”) to (i) attract and retain persons
eligible to participate in the Plan; (ii) motivate Participants (as defined in
Section 1.2 below), by means of appropriate incentives, to achieve long-range
goals; (iii) provide incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive
with those of other similar companies; and (iv) further identify Participants’
interests with those of the Company’s stockholders through compensation that is
based on the Company’s common stock; and thereby promote the long-term financial
interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as defined in Section 9(h),
including the growth in value of the Company’s equity and enhancement of
long-term stockholder return. Pursuant to the Plan, Participants may receive
Options, SARs, or Other Stock Awards, each as defined herein (collectively
referred to as “Awards”). The Plan is designed so that Awards
granted hereunder intended to comply with the requirements for
“performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), may comply with such requirements, and
the Plan and such Awards shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such
requirements.
1.2
Participation.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee (as defined in
Section 6) shall determine and designate, from time to time, from among the
Eligible Grantees, as defined in Section 9(f), those persons who will be granted
one or more Awards under the Plan, and thereby become “Participants” in the
Plan. In the discretion of the Committee, a Participant may be granted any Award
permitted under the provisions of the Plan, and more than one Award may be
granted to a Participant. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.2(e), Awards
may be granted as alternatives to or replacement of awards outstanding under the
Plan, or any other plan or arrangement of the Company or a Subsidiary (including
a plan or arrangement of a business or entity, all or a portion of which is
acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary).
1.3
Operation,
Administration, and Definitions. The operation and administration of the
Plan, including the Awards made under the Plan, shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 5 (relating to operation and administration). Capitalized
terms in the Plan shall be defined as set forth in the Plan (including the
definition provisions of Section 9 of the Plan).
SECTION
2
OPTIONS
AND SARS
2.1
Definitions.
(a)
The grant of an “Option” entitles the Participant to purchase shares of Stock at
an Exercise Price established by the Committee. Options granted under this
Section 2 may either be Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) or Non-Qualified
Options (“NQOs”), as determined in the discretion of the Committee. An “ISO” is
an Option that is intended to satisfy the requirements applicable to an
“incentive stock option” described in Section 422(b) of the Code. An “NQO” is an
Option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” as that term is
described in Section 422(b) of the Code.
(b)
A stock appreciation right (a “SAR”) entitles the Participant to receive, in
cash or Stock (as determined in accordance with Subsection 2.5), value equal to
(or otherwise based on) the excess of: (a) the Fair Market Value (as defined in
Section 9) of a specified number of shares of Stock at the time of exercise;
over (b) an Exercise Price established by the Committee.
2.2
Exercise Price.
The Exercise Price of each Option and SAR granted under this Section 2 shall be
not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of
grant of the Award. Unless a higher price is established by the Committee or
determined by a method established by the Committee at the time the Option or
SAR is granted, the Exercise Price for each Option and SAR shall be equal to
100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of the Award.
2.3
Exercise. An
Option and a SAR shall be exercisable in accordance with such terms and
conditions and during such periods as may be established by the Committee,
before or after grant.
2.4
Payment of Option
Exercise Price. The payment of the Exercise Price of an Option granted
under this Section 2 shall be subject to the following:
(a)
Subject to the following provisions of this Subsection 2.4, the full Exercise
Price for shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of any Option shall be
paid at the time of such exercise (except that, in the case of an exercise
arrangement approved by the Committee and described in paragraph 2.4(c), payment
may be made as soon as practicable after the exercise).
(b)
The Exercise Price shall be payable in cash or by tendering (by actual delivery
of shares) unrestricted shares of Stock that are acceptable to the Committee,
valued at Fair Market Value as of the day the shares are tendered, or in any
combination of cash or shares, as determined by the Committee.
(c)
To the extent permitted by applicable law, a Participant may elect to pay the
Exercise Price upon the exercise of an Option by irrevocably authorizing a third
party to sell shares of Stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired
upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the
sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise Price and any tax withholding resulting
from such exercise.
2.5
Settlement of
Award. Shares of Stock delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Option or
a SAR shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the
Committee may establish in the applicable Award Agreement. Settlement of SARs
may be made in shares of Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value at the time of
exercise), in cash, or in a combination thereof, as determined in the discretion
of the Committee. The Committee, in its discretion, may impose such conditions,
restrictions and contingencies with respect to shares of Stock acquired pursuant
to the exercise of an Option or a SAR as the Committee determines to be
desirable.
2.6
Restrictions on
Options and SAR Awards. Each Option and SAR shall be subject to the
following:
(a) The
term of any Option or SAR granted under the Plan shall not exceed seven years
from the date of grant.
(b) Any
such Award shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies
as the Committee shall determine.
(c) The
Committee may designate whether any such Awards being granted to any Participant
are intended to be “performance-based compensation” as that term is used in
Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such Awards designated as intended to be
“performance-based compensation” shall be conditioned on the achievement of one
or more “Performance Measures.” The Performance Measures that may be used by the
Committee for such Awards shall be based on any one or more of the following,
which shall not be required to be calculated in accordance with GAAP, as
selected by the Committee: return on capital or increase in pretax earnings of
the Company and/or one or more divisions and/or subsidiaries, return on
stockholders’ equity of the Company, increase in earnings per share of the
Company, sales of the Company and/or one or more products or service offerings,
divisions and/or subsidiaries, pretax earnings of the Company and/or one or more
divisions and/or subsidiaries, net earnings of the Company and/or one or more
divisions and/or subsidiaries, control of operating and/or non-operating
expenses of the Company and/or one or more divisions and/or subsidiaries,
margins of the Company and/or one or more divisions and/or subsidiaries, market
price of the Company’s securities, and, solely for an Award not intended to
constitute “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code,
other factors directly tied to the performance of the Company and/or one or more
divisions and/or subsidiaries or other performance criteria. For Awards intended
to be “performance-based compensation,” the grant of the Awards and the
establishment of the Performance Measures shall be made during the period
required under Code Section 162(m).
SECTION
3
OTHER
STOCK AWARDS
3.1
Definitions.
The term "Other Stock Awards" means any of the following:
(a)
A “Stock Unit” Award is the grant of a right to receive shares of Stock in the
future.
(b)
A “Performance Share” Award is a grant of a right to receive shares of Stock or
Stock Units, which is contingent on the achievement of performance or other
objectives during a specified period.
(c)
A “Restricted Stock” Award is a grant of shares of Stock, and a “Restricted
Stock Unit” Award is the grant of a right to receive shares of Stock in the
future, with such shares of Stock or right to future delivery of such shares of
Stock subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon
the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the
Participant, or achievement of performance or other objectives, as determined by
the Committee.
3.2
Restrictions on Other
Stock Awards. Each Stock Unit Award, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted
Stock Unit Award and Performance Share Award shall be subject to the
following:
(a)
Any such Award shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and
contingencies as the Committee shall determine.
(b)
The Committee may designate whether any such Awards being granted to any
Participant are intended to be “performance-based compensation” as that term is
used in Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such Awards designated as intended to be
“performance-based compensation” shall be conditioned on the achievement of one
or more Performance Measures.
SECTION
4
STOCK
SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1
Awards Subject to
Plan. Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
following:
(a)
Subject to the following provisions of this Subsection 4.1, the maximum number
of shares of Stock that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries
under the Plan shall be 2 million shares of Stock. Shares of Stock
issuable hereunder may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares
or shares of Stock that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in
the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, with respect to SARs that are settled in Stock, the aggregate number
of shares of Stock subject to the SAR grant shall be counted against the shares
available for issuance under the Plan as one share for every share subject
thereto, regardless of the number of shares used to settle the SAR upon
exercise.
(b)
Subject to adjustment in accordance with Subsections 4.2 and 4.3, the following
additional maximums are imposed under the Plan:
(i)
Subject to the proviso contained in this paragraph, the maximum number of shares
of Stock that may be issued in conjunction with Other Stock Awards granted
pursuant to Section 3 shall be up to 500,000 shares; provided, however, that for
every share of Stock in excess of 500,000 awarded
hereunder in respect of Other Stock Awards, the maximum number of shares
reserved for grant hereunder shall be reduced by 1.5 shares. By way
of example, if only grants of Other Stock Awards are made under the Plan, the
maximum number of shares that may be issued is 1,500,000.
(ii)
The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be covered by Awards granted to
any one individual pursuant to Section 2 (relating to Options and SARs) shall be
400,000 during any fiscal year and the maximum number of shares of Stock that
may be covered by Other Stock Awards pursuant to Section 3 shall be 250,000
during any fiscal year; and
(c)
To the extent any shares of Stock covered by an Award are not delivered to a
Participant or beneficiary because the Award is forfeited or canceled, or the
shares of Stock are not delivered because the Award is settled in cash, such
shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining
the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the
Plan. To the extent that shares of Stock subject to Other Stock
Awards, and the issuance of which reduced the maximum number of shares
authorized for issuance under the Plan by 1.5 shares, are forfeited or
cancelled, or if such an Award terminates or expires without a distribution of
shares to the Participant, the number of shares of Stock remaining for Award
grants hereunder shall be increased by 1.5 for each share forfeited, cancelled
or otherwise not delivered. Shares of Stock shall not again be
available if such shares are surrendered or withheld as payment of either the
exercise price of an Award and/ or withholding taxes in respect of an Award.
Awards that are settled solely in cash shall not reduce the number of shares of
Stock available for Awards. Upon the exercise of any Award granted in tandem
with any other Award, such related Awards shall be cancelled to the extent of
the number of shares of Stock as to which the Award is exercised and,
notwithstanding the foregoing, such number of shares shall no longer be
available for Awards under the Plan. The maximum number of shares of Stock
available for delivery under the Plan shall not be reduced for shares subject to
plans assumed by the Company in an acquisition of an interest in another
company.
4.2 Adjustments for Changes in
Capitalization. If the outstanding shares of Stock are changed
into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities
of the Company by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split,
stock dividend, combination, subdivision or similar transaction, or if the
Company makes an extraordinary dividend or distribution to its stockholders
(including without limitation to implement a spinoff) (each, a “Corporate
Transaction”) then, subject to any required action by the stockholders of the
Company, the number and kind of shares of Company stock available under the Plan
or subject to any limit or maximum hereunder shall automatically be
proportionately adjusted, with no action required on the part of the Committee
or otherwise. Subject to any required action by the stockholders, the number and
kind of shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the price per share in
each such Award, shall also be automatically proportionately adjusted for any
increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of the Company resulting
from a Corporate Transaction or any other increase or decrease in the number of
such shares, or any decrease in the value of such shares, effected without
receipt of consideration by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
fractional shares shall be issued or made subject to an Option, SAR or Stock
Award in making the foregoing adjustments. All adjustments made pursuant to this
Section shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the holders of Options, SARS
and Stock Awards.
4.3 Certain Mergers and Other
Extraordinary Events. If the Company merges or consolidates
with another corporation, or if the Company is liquidated or sells or otherwise
disposes of substantially all of its assets while unexercised Options or other
Awards remain outstanding under this Plan, (A) subject to the provisions of
clause (C) below, after the effective date of the merger, consolidation,
liquidation, sale or other disposition, as the case may be, whether or not the
Company is the surviving corporation, each holder of an outstanding Option or
other Award shall be entitled, upon exercise of that Option or Award or in place
of it, as the case may be, to receive, at the option of the Committee and in
lieu of shares of Stock, (i) the number and class or classes of shares of Stock
or other securities or property to which the holder would have been entitled if,
immediately prior to the merger, consolidation, liquidation, sale or other
disposition, the holder had been the holder of record of a number of shares of
Stock equal to the number of shares of Stock as to which that Option may be
exercised or are subject to the Award or (ii) shares of stock of the company
that is the surviving corporation in such merger, consolidation, liquidation,
sale or other disposition having a value, as of the date of payment under
Subsection 4.3(i) as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, equal
to the value of the shares of Stock or other securities or property otherwise
payable under Subsection 4.3(i); (B) whether or not the Company is the surviving
corporation, if Options or other Awards have not already become exercisable, the
Board of Directors may waive any limitations set forth in or imposed pursuant to
this Plan so that all Options or other Awards, from and after a date prior to
the effective date of that merger, consolidation, liquidation, sale or other
disposition, as the case may be, specified by the Board of Directors, shall be
exercisable in full; and (C) all outstanding Options or SARs may be cancelled by
the Board of Directors as of the effective date of any merger, consolidation,
liquidation, sale or other disposition, provided that with respect to a merger
or consolidation the Company is not the surviving company,
and provided further that any optionee or SAR holder shall have the
right immediately prior to such event to exercise his or her Option or SAR to
the extent such optionee or holder is otherwise able to do so in accordance with
this Plan or his individual Option or SAR agreement; provided, further, that any
such cancellation pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall be contingent upon the
payment to the affected Participants of an amount equal to (i) in the case of
any out-of-the-money Option or SAR, cash, property or a combination thereof
having an aggregate value equal to the value of such Option or SAR, as
determined by the Committee or the Board of Directors, as applicable, in its
sole discretion, and (ii) in the case of an in-the-money Option or SAR, cash,
property or a combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the excess
of the value of the per-share amount of consideration paid pursuant to the
merger, consolidation, liquidation, sale or other disposition, as the case may
be, giving rise to such cancellation, over the exercise price of such Option or
SAR multiplied by the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option or
SAR.
Any adjustments pursuant to this
Subsection 4.3 shall be made by the Board or Committee, as the case may be,
whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive,
regardless of whether or not any such adjustment shall have the result of
causing an ISO to cease to qualify as an ISO.
4.4 Changes
in Par Value. In the event of a change in the shares of the
Company as presently constituted, which is limited to a change of all of its
authorized shares with par value into the same number of shares with a different
par value or without par value, the shares resulting from any such change shall
be deemed to be the shares within the meaning of this Plan.
4.5 Limitation on Grantees’
Rights. Except as hereinbefore expressly provided in this
Section 4, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or
consolidation of shares of stock of any class or the payment of any stock
dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of
any class or by reason of any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation
or spin-off of assets or stock of another corporation, and any issue by the
Company of shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by
reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of
Stock subject to an Award, unless the Committee shall otherwise
determine.
4.6 Company
Right and Power. The grant of any Award pursuant to this Plan
shall not adversely affect in any way the right or power of the Company (A) to
make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital
or business structure, (B) to merge or consolidate, (C) to dissolve, liquidate
or sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets or (D) to issue
any bonds, debentures, preferred or other preference stock ahead of or affecting
the Stock.
4.7 Fractional
Shares. If any action described in this Section 4 results in a
fractional share for any Participant under any Award hereunder, such fraction
shall be completely disregarded and the Participant shall be entitled only to
the whole number of shares resulting from such adjustment.
SECTION
5
OPERATION
AND ADMINISTRATION
5.1
Effective Date;
Duration. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its approval by
the stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”). The Plan shall have a
duration of seven years from the Effective Date; provided that in the event of
Plan termination, the Plan shall remain in effect as long as any Awards under it
are outstanding; provided further, however, that no Award may be granted under
the Plan on a date that is more than seven years from the Effective
Date.
5.2
Vesting. Except
as set forth below and in Section 4.3, and other than Options, SARs,
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock Awards conditioned upon
the attainment of Performance Goals that relate to performance periods of at
least one fiscal year, and except to the extent accelerated by the Committee
upon death, disability, retirement or Change in Control, no Award granted
hereunder may vest in excess of 1/3 of the number of shares
subject to the Award per year for the first three years after the grant date.
Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the date on which the Committee
adopts a resolution expressly granting an Award shall be considered the day on
which such Award is granted. The term of any Award granted under the Plan
will not exceed seven years from the date of grant.
5.3
Uncertificated
Stock. To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of
stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Stock, the issuance may
be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by
applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.
5.4
Tax
Withholding. All distributions under the Plan are subject to withholding
of all applicable taxes, and the Committee may condition the delivery of any
shares or other benefits under the Plan on satisfaction of the applicable
withholding obligations. The Committee, in its discretion, and subject to such
requirements as the Committee may impose prior to the occurrence of such
withholding, may permit such withholding obligations to be satisfied through
cash payment by the Participant, through the surrender of shares of Stock which
the Participant already owns, or through the surrender of unrestricted shares of
Stock to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan, but only to
the extent of the minimum amount required to be withheld under applicable
law.
5.5
Use of Shares.
Subject to the overall limitation on the number of shares of Stock that may be
delivered under the Plan, the Committee may use available shares of Stock as the
form of payment for compensation, grants or rights earned or due under any other
compensation plans or arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary, including the
plans and arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary assumed in business
combinations.
5.6
Dividends and Dividend
Equivalents. An Award (including without limitation an Option or SAR
Award) may provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend payments
or dividend equivalent payments with respect to Stock subject to the Award (both
before and after the Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested, or acquired),
which payments may be either made currently or credited to an account for the
Participant, and may be settled in cash or Stock as determined by the Committee.
Any such settlements, and any such crediting of dividends or dividend
equivalents or reinvestment in shares of Stock, may be subject to such
conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall establish,
including the reinvestment of such credited amounts in Stock
equivalents. In the event an Award is conditioned on the achievement
of one or more Performance Measures, any dividend payments or dividend
equivalent payments will only be earned, vested or acquired to the extent the
underlying Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested or
acquired.
5.7
Payments.
Awards may be settled through cash payments, the delivery of shares of Stock,
the granting of replacement Awards, or any combination thereof as the Committee
shall determine. Any Award settlement, including payment deferrals, may be
subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee
shall determine. The Committee may permit or require the deferral of any Award
payment, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish.
5.8
Transferability.
Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, Awards under the Plan are not
transferable except as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution.
5.9
Form and Time of
Elections. Unless otherwise specified herein, each election required or
permitted to be made by any Participant or other person entitled to benefits
under the Plan, and any permitted modification, or revocation thereof, shall be
in writing filed with the Committee at such times, in such form, and subject to
such restrictions and limitations, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan,
as the Committee shall require.
5.10
Agreement With
Company. An Award under the Plan shall be subject to such terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee shall, in its sole
discretion, prescribe. The terms and conditions of any Award to any Participant
shall be reflected in such form of written document as is determined by the
Committee. A copy of such document shall be provided to the Participant, and the
Committee may, but need not, require that the Participant sign a copy of such
document. Such document is referred to in the Plan as an “Award Agreement”
regardless of whether any Participant signature is required.
5.11
Action by Company or
Subsidiary. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Company
or any Subsidiary shall be by resolution of its Board of Directors, or by action
of one or more members of the Board (including a committee of the Board) who are
duly authorized to act for the Board, or (except to the extent prohibited by
applicable law or applicable rules of any stock exchange) by a duly authorized
officer of such company.
5.12
Gender and
Number. Where the context admits, words in any gender shall include any
other gender, words in the singular shall include the plural and the plural
shall include the singular.
5.13
Limitation of Implied
Rights.
(a)
Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in
the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of the
Company or any Subsidiary whatsoever, including, without limitation, any
specific funds, assets, or other property which the Company or any Subsidiary,
in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the
Plan. A Participant shall have only a contractual right to the Stock or amounts,
if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any
Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that
the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any
benefits to any person.
(b)
The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment, and selection as a
Participant will not give any participating employee the right to be retained in
the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary, nor any right or claim to any
benefit under the Plan, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued
under the terms of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award
under the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof any rights as a stockholder
of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions
for receipt of such rights.
5.14
Evidence.
Evidence required of anyone under the Plan may be by certificate, affidavit,
document or other information which the person acting on it considers pertinent
and reliable, and shall be signed, made or presented by the proper party or
parties.
5.15 Termination of Employment
Following Change In Control. In the event
that the employment of a Participant who is an employee of the Company or a
Subsidiary is terminated by the Company during the six-month period following a
Change in Control, all of such Participant’s outstanding Options and SARs may
thereafter be exercised by the Participant, to the extent that such Options and
SARs were exercisable as of the date of such termination of employment
(x) for a period of six months from such date of termination or
(y) until expiration of the stated term of such Option or SAR, whichever
period is the shorter.
5.16 Section 409A. It is
intended that all Options and SARs granted under the Plan shall be exempt from
the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and that all Other Stock Awards
under the Plan, to the extent that they constitute “non-qualified deferred
compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, will comply
with Section 409A of the Code (and any regulations and guidelines issued
thereunder). The Plan and any Award Agreements issued hereunder may be amended
in any respect deemed by the Board or the Committee to be necessary in order to
preserve compliance with Section 409A of the Code.
5.17 Regulations and Other
Approvals.
(a) The obligation of the
Company to sell or deliver Stock with respect to any Award granted under the
Plan or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan shall be subject
to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal
and state securities laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933) and all applicable requirements of any securities
exchange or similar entity, and the obtaining of all such approvals by
governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the
Committee.
(b) Each Award is subject to
the requirement that, if at any time the Committee determines, in its absolute
discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Stock issuable
pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state
or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body
is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of
an Award or the issuance of Stock, no such Award shall be granted or payment
made or Stock issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration,
qualification, consent or approval, as applicable, has been effected or obtained
free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.
(c) In the event that the
disposition of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then
current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and is not
otherwise exempt from such registration, such Stock shall be restricted against
transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
regulations thereunder, and applicable state securities laws, and the Committee
may require a Participant receiving Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition
precedent to receipt of such Stock, to represent to the Company in writing that
the Stock acquired by such Participant is acquired for investment only and not
with a view to distribution.
(d) With respect to persons
subject to section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions
under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of
Rule 16b-3.
5.18 Awards to Employees Subject
to Taxation Outside of the United
States. Without amending the Plan, Awards may be granted to
Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed outside the United
States or both, on such terms and conditions different from those specified in
the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to
further the purposes of the Plan. Such different terms and conditions may be
reflected in Addenda to the Plan or in the applicable Award Agreement. However,
no such different terms or conditions shall be employed if such terms or
conditions constitute, or in effect result in, an increase in the aggregate
number of shares which may be issued under the Plan or a change in the
definition of Eligible Grantee.
SECTION
6
COMMITTEE
6.1
Administration.
The authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan
shall be vested in a committee (the “Committee”) in accordance with this Section
6. The Committee shall be selected by the Board, and shall consist solely of two
or more members of the Board who are non-employee Directors within the meaning
of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are
outside Directors within the meaning of Code Section 162(m). If the Committee
does not exist, or for any other reason determined by the Board, the Board may
take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the
Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, CryoLife’s Compensation
Committee shall be designated as the “Committee” hereunder.
6.2
Powers of
Committee. The Committee’s administration of the Plan shall be subject to
the following:
(a)
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the authority and
discretion to select from among the Eligible Grantees those persons who shall
receive Awards, to determine the time or times of receipt, to determine the
types of Awards and the number of shares covered by the Awards, to establish the
terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions, and other provisions of
such Awards, and (subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 7) to cancel or
suspend Awards, and to waive or otherwise modify any vesting or other
restrictions contained in awards. The Committee may also, without obtaining
stockholder approval, amend any outstanding award to provide the holder thereof
with additional rights or benefits of the type otherwise permitted by the Plan,
including without limitation, extending the term thereof; provided, however,
that in no event may the term of any Option or SAR exceed seven
years.
(b)
The Committee will have the authority and discretion to interpret the Plan, to
establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to
determine the terms and provisions of any Award Agreement made pursuant to the
Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan.
(c)
Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by it
under the Plan is final and binding on all persons.
(d)
In controlling and managing the operation and administration of the Plan, the
Committee shall take action in a manner that conforms to the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of the Company, and applicable state corporate
law.
(e) Subject
to Section 4.2 hereof, neither the Board, the Committee nor their
respective delegates shall have the authority to (i) reprice (or cancel and
regrant) any Option, SAR or, if applicable, other Award at a lower exercise,
base or purchase price without first obtaining the approval of the Company’s
stockholders, (ii) take any other action (whether in the form of an
amendment, cancellation or replacement grant, or a cash-out of underwater
options) that has the effect of repricing an Option, SAR or other Award, or
(iii) grant any Option, SAR or other Award that contains a so-called
“reload” feature under which additional Options, SARs or other Awards are
granted automatically to the Grantee upon exercise of the original Option, SAR
or Award.
(f) Anything
in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Board nor the Committee
may accelerate the payment or vesting of any Option, SAR or other Award except
in the event of death, disability, retirement or a Change in
Control.
6.3
Delegation by
Committee. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the
applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Committee may allocate all or any
portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and
may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers hereunder,
including without limitation, the power to designate Participants hereunder and
determine the amount, timing and terms of Awards hereunder, to any person or
persons selected by it, including without limitation, any executive officer of
the Company. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee
at any time.
6.4
Information to be
Furnished to Committee. The Company and Subsidiaries shall furnish the
Committee with such data and information as it determines may be required for it
to discharge its duties. The records of the Company and Subsidiaries as to an
employee’s or Participant’s employment, termination of employment, leave of
absence, reemployment and compensation shall be conclusive unless the Committee
determines such records to be incorrect. Participants and other persons entitled
to benefits under the Plan must furnish the Committee such evidence, data or
information as the Committee considers desirable to carry out the terms of the
Plan.
6.5
Indemnification. Each person who
is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or the Board, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from 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 and against and 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
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 be in addition to any other rights of
indemnification or elimination of liability to which such persons may be
entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter
of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them
or hold them harmless.
SECTION
7
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION
(a)
The Plan may be terminated or amended by the Board of Directors at any time,
except that the following actions may not be taken without stockholder
approval:
(i)
any increase in the number of shares that may be issued under the Plan (except
by certain adjustments provided for under the Plan);
(ii)
any change in the class of persons eligible to receive Awards under the
Plan;
(iii)
any change in the requirements of Section 2.2 hereof regarding the Exercise
Price of Options and SARs;
(iv) any
repricing or cancellation and regrant of any Option or, if applicable, other
Award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price, whether in the form of an
amendment, cancellation or replacement grant, or a cash-out of underwater
options or any action that provides for Awards that contain a so-called “reload”
feature under which additional Options or other Awards are granted automatically
to the Grantee upon exercise of the original Option or Award; or
(v)
any other amendment to the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s
stockholders under applicable law, regulation or rule.
Notwithstanding
any of the foregoing, adjustments pursuant to paragraph 4.2 shall not be subject
to the foregoing limitations of this Section 7.
(b)
Options, SARs and other Awards may not be granted under the Plan after the date
of termination of the Plan, but Options and SARs granted prior to that date
shall continue to be exercisable according to their terms and other Awards shall
continue to vest in accordance with their terms.
SECTION
8
CHANGE IN
CONTROL
Subject
to the provisions of paragraph 4.2 (relating to the adjustment of shares), and
except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the Award Agreement reflecting the
applicable Award, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control as defined in
Section 9:
(a)
All outstanding Options (regardless of whether in tandem with SARs) shall become
fully exercisable.
(b)
All outstanding SARs (regardless of whether in tandem with Options) shall become
fully exercisable.
(c)
All Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares
and other Awards shall become fully vested.
SECTION
9
DEFINED
TERMS
In
addition to the other definitions contained herein, the following definitions
shall apply:
(a) Affiliated Company.
The term “Affiliated Company” means any company controlled by, controlling or
under common control with the Company.
(b) Award. The term
“Award” shall mean any award or benefit granted under the Plan, including,
without limitation, the grant of Options, SARs, Stock Unit Awards, Restricted
Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Performance Share
Awards.
(c) Board. The term
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) Change in Control.
“Change of Control” means a change in the ownership or effective control of, or
in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of, the Company, as
described in paragraphs (i) through (iii) below.
(i) Change in Ownership of the
Company. A change in the ownership of the Company shall occur
on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group
(within the meaning of paragraph (iv)), acquires ownership of the Company stock
that, together with the Company stock held by such person or group, constitutes
more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the
Company.
(A) If
any one person or more than one person acting as a group (within the meaning of
paragraph (iv)), is considered to own more than 50% of the total
voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional the
Company stock by such person or persons shall not be considered to cause a
change in the ownership of the Company or to cause a change in the effective
control of the Company (within the meaning of paragraph (ii)
below).
(B) An
increase in the percentage of the Company stock owned by any one person, or
persons acting as a group (within the meaning of paragraph (iv)), as a result of
a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property,
shall be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this paragraph
(i).
(C) Except
as provided in (B) above, the provisions of this paragraph (i) shall apply only
to the transfer or issuance of the Company stock if such stock remains
outstanding after such transfer or issuance.
(ii) Change in Effective Control
of the Company.
(A) A
change in the effective control of the Company shall occur on the date that
either of (1) or (2) below occurs:
(1) Any
one person, or more than one person acting as a group (within the meaning of
paragraph (iv)), acquires (or has acquired during the 12 month period ending on
the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of
stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the
stock of the Company; or
(2) A
majority of the members of the the Company Board of Directors are replaced
during any 12 month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not
endorsed by a majority of the Board of Directors prior to the date of the
appointment or election.
(B) A
change in effective control of the Company also may occur with respect to any
transaction in which either of the Company or the other entity involved in a
transaction experiences a Change of Control event described in paragraphs (i) or
(iii).
(C)
If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (within the meaning
of paragraph (iv)), is considered to effectively control the Company (within the
meaning of this paragraph (ii)), the acquisition of additional control of the
Company by the same person or persons shall not be considered to cause a change
in the effective control of the Company (or to cause a change in the ownership
of the Company within the meaning of paragraph (i)).
(iii) Change in Ownership of a
Substantial Portion of the Company’s Assets. A change in the
ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets shall occur on the
date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (within the
meaning of paragraph (iv)), acquires (or has acquired during the 12 month period
ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons)
assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value (within the
meaning of paragraph (iii)(B)) equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair
market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such
acquisition or acquisitions.
(A) A
transfer of the Company’s assets shall not be treated as a change in the
ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to one or more of the
following:
(1) A
shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange
for or with respect to the Company stock;
(2) An
entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Company;
(3) A
person, or more than one person acting as a group (within the meaning of
paragraph (iv)) that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total
value or voting power of all of the outstanding stock of the Company;
or
(4) An
entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by a person described in paragraph
(iii)(A)(3).
For
purposes of this paragraph (iii)(A), and except as otherwise provided, a
person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of
assets.
(B) For
purposes of this paragraph (iii), gross fair market value means the value of all
the Company assets, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined
without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
(iv) For
purposes of this Section 9(d), persons shall be considered to be acting as a
group if they are owners of an entity that enters into a merger, consolidation,
purchase, or acquisition of assets, or similar business transaction with the
Company. If a person, including an entity shareholder, owns stock in
the Company and another entity with which the Company enters into a merger,
consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar business
transaction, such shareholder shall be considered to be acting as a group with
the other shareholders in a corporation only to the extent of the ownership in
that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with
respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. Persons
shall not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or
own stock of the Company at the same time, or as a result of the same public
offering of the Company’s stock.
(e) Code. The term “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. A reference to any
provision of the Code shall include reference to any successor provision of the
Code.
(f) Eligible Grantee. The
term “Eligible Grantee” shall mean any executive officer or employee of the
Company or a Subsidiary, as determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion. An Award may be granted to an employee, in connection
with hiring, retention or otherwise, prior to the date the employee first
performs services for the Company or the Subsidiaries, provided that such Award
shall not become vested prior to the date the employee first performs such
services.
(g) Fair Market Value.
For purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of a share of Stock as of
any date, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be the closing sale
price of the Stock on that date on the New York Stock Exchange.
(h) Subsidiaries. The
term “Subsidiary” means any present or future subsidiary corporation of the
Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code, and any present or
future business venture designated by the Committee in which the Company has a
significant interest, as determined in the discretion of the
Committee.
(i) Stock. The term
“Stock” shall mean shares of common stock of the Company.
SECTION
10
GOVERNING
LAW
This
Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Georgia, except to the extent that the Florida Business Corporation Act
shall be applicable.