UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

 

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Harvard Bioscience, Inc.

 

Harvard Bioscience, Inc.

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HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.


84 October Hill Road


Holliston, Massachusetts 01746-1371

April 28, 20207, 2022

 

Dear Stockholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 20202022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Thursday, June 11, 2020Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. EDT.Due to the emerging public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, the The Annual Meeting will be held by virtual meeting only. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. To be admitted to the Annual Meeting at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HBIO2020,HBIO2022, you must enter the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice you previously received. You may vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting.At the meeting, we will be voting on the matters described in the accompanying proxy statement.

 

We are using the Internet as our primary means of furnishing the proxy materials to our stockholders. This process expedites the delivery of proxy materials, ensures materials remain easily accessible to stockholders, and allows stockholders to receive clear instructions for receiving materials and voting.

 

We are mailing the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to stockholders on or about April 28, 2020.7, 2022. The proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contains instructions for our stockholders’ use of this process, including how to access or receive copies of our proxy statement and 20192021 Annual Report and how to vote by Internet or mail. To the extent you receive a proxy card, such proxy card will also contain instructions on how to vote, including the option to vote by telephone.

 

If you are unable to attend the meeting virtually, it is still important that your shares be represented and voted. Therefore, regardless of the number of shares you own, PLEASE VOTE THROUGH THE INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE OR BY MAIL. Any stockholder who attends the meeting virtually may vote through the meeting website, even if he or she has already voted through the Internet, by telephone or by mail.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 17, 2020March 23, 2022 as the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. OUR ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD AS A VIRTUAL MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ONLINE, BY TELEPHONE OR BY COMPLETING, DATING, SIGNING AND PROMPTLY RETURNING YOUR PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE (WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE STOCKHOLDERS WHO REQUEST TO RECEIVE PAPER COPIES OF THESE MATERIALS BY MAIL) BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING SO THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

 

Sincerely,


  
 

James W. Green

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer



 

 

 

 

 

 

HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.


84 October Hill Road


Holliston, Massachusetts 01746-1371


(508) 893-8999

_______________


______________________

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS


To Be Held on Thursday, June 11, 2020

_______________Tuesday, May 17, 2022
_____________________

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 20202022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2020,May 17, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. EDT.Due to the emerging public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, the The Annual Meeting will be held by virtual meeting only. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. To be admitted to the Annual Meeting at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HBIO2020,HBIO2022, you must enter the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice you previously received. You may vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

 

1.The election of two Class III Directors named in the accompanying proxy statement, each nominated by the Board of Directors for a three-year term, such term to continue until the annual meeting of stockholders in 20232025 and until such Director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal;

2.The ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020;2022;

3.ApprovalAdoption and approval of an amendment to the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Fourth Amended and Restated 2000Employee Stock Option and IncentivePurchase Plan to among other things, increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stockcommon stock available for issuance thereunder by 3,700,000 and to reduce the fungible share ratio thereunder;500,000 shares of common stock;

4.Approval, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of our named executive officers; and

5.Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 17, 2020March 23, 2022 as the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Each of the items of business listed above is more fully described in the proxy statement that accompanies this notice.

 

The Board of Directors of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the nominees of the Board of Directors as Directors of Harvard Bioscience, Inc., “FOR” the proposal to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, “FOR” the proposal to adopt and approve an amendment to the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Fourth Amended and Restated 2000Employee Stock Option and IncentivePurchase Plan to among other things, increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stockcommon stock available for issuance thereunder by 3,700,000 and to reduce the fungible share ratio thereunder ,500,000 shares of common stock, and “FOR” the proposal to approve, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of our named executive officers.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on June 11, 2020:May 17, 2022: The proxy statement and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20192021 are available atwww.proxyvote.com. www.proxyvote.com. The Annual Report, however, is not part of the proxy solicitation material.material.

 

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,


  
 

James W. Green

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer



Holliston, Massachusetts
April 7, 2022

 

 

Holliston, Massachusetts

April 28, 2020

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. OUR ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD AS A VIRTUAL MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ONLINE, BY TELEPHONE OR BY COMPLETING, DATING, SIGNING AND PROMPTLY RETURNING YOUR PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE (WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE STOCKHOLDERS WHO REQUEST TO RECEIVE PAPER COPIES OF THESE MATERIALS BY MAIL) BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING SO THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvard Bioscience, Inc.


Proxy Statement

Table of Contents

ContentsPage

 

Page
Proxy Statement1
Proposal 1:1 Election ofOf Directors43
Information Regarding Directors4
Information Regarding theThe Board ofOf Directors and itsAnd Its Committees86
Code ofOf Business Conduct andAnd Ethics1311
Report of theOf The Audit Committee1312
Director Compensation1413
Information About Our Executive Officers1714
Compensation Discussion &and Analysis1815
2021 Summary Compensation Table2520
Outstanding Equity Awards atAt Fiscal Year-End 2019Year-End—20213021
Security Ownership ofOf Certain Beneficial Owners andAnd Management3324
Equity Compensation Plan Information3526
Transactions With Related Persons3526
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports3626
Stockholder Communications with theWith The Board ofOf Directors3626
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm3727
Proposal 2:2 Ratification ofOf Appointment ofOf Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm3827
Proposal 3:3 Approval of theOf An Amendment Of The Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Fourth Amended and Restated 2000Employee Stock Option and IncentivePurchase Plan3928
Proposal 4: Approval, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of Harvard Bioscience, Inc.’s named executive officers4 Advisory Vote On The Compensation Of Our Named Executive Officers4630
Submission ofOf Stockholder Proposals for the 2021For The 2023 Annual Meeting4731
Multiple Stockholders Sharing theThe Same Address4731
Other Matters47
Appendix A: Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Fourth Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amendedA-132

 

 

i

 

HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.


84 October Hill Road


Holliston, Massachusetts 01746-1371


(508) 893-8999


_______________

 

PROXY STATEMENTProxy Statement

_______________



Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on Thursday, June 11, 2020Tuesday, May 17, 2022

 

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) for use at the 20202022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Thursday, June 11, 2020,May 17, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. EDT, and any adjournments or postponements thereof.Due to the emerging public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders, the The Annual Meeting will be held by virtual meeting only. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

To be admitted to the Annual Meeting at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HBIO2020,HBIO2022, you must enter the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice you previously received. You may vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting.

 

At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company will be asked to consider and vote upon:

 

1.The election of two Class II Directors named in this proxy statement, each nominated by the Board of Directors (or the “Board”) for a three-year term, such term to continue until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2023 and until such Director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal;

1.       The election of two Class I Directors named in this proxy statement, nominated by the Board of Directors (or the “Board”) for a three-year term, such term to continue until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2025 and until such Director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal;

2.The ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020;

3.Approval of the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Fourth Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan to, among other things, increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock available for issuance thereunder by 3,700,000 and to reduce the fungible share ratio thereunder;

2.       The ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022;

4.Approval, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of our named executive officers; and

5.Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

3.       Adoption and approval of an amendment to the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock available for issuance by 500,000 shares of common stock;

4.       Approval, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of our named executive officers; and

5.       Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

We are furnishing proxy materials, which include our proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20192021 (the “Annual Report”), to our stockholders over the Internet, and providing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) by mail. We believe that this e-proxy process expedites stockholders’ receipt of proxy materials, including our proxy statement and Annual Report, while lowering the costs and reducing the environmental impact of our annual meeting. The Notice is first being mailed to stockholders of the Company on or about April 28, 2020,7, 2022, in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 17, 2020March 23, 2022 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”). Only holders of Common Stock, par value $.01$0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 38,375,13341,241,449 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and approximately 104 stockholders of record.Meeting. Each holder of a share of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record with respect to each matter properly submitted at the Annual Meeting.

 

1


The presence, virtually online or by proxy, of holders of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Shares held of record by stockholders or their nominees who do not return a signed and dated proxy, properly deliver proxies via the Internet or telephone, or attend the Annual Meeting virtually will not be considered present or represented at the Annual Meeting and will not be counted in determining the presence of a quorum. Consistent with applicable law, we intend to count abstentions and broker non-votes only for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

A broker “non-vote” refers to shares held by a broker or nominee that does not have the authority, either express or discretionary, to vote on a particular matter. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker or nominee can still vote the shares with respect to matters that are considered to be “routine,” but not with respect to “non-routine” matters. Proposal No. 2, the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020,2022, is considered “routine” under applicable rules. A broker or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters without voting instructions from beneficial owners, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with Proposal 2. The remaining proposals are considered “non-routine” under applicable rules. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and therefore there may be broker non-votes on those proposals. Accordingly, if you own shares in street name through a broker, bank or other nominee, please be sure to provide voting instructions to your nominee to ensure that your vote is counted on each of the proposals.

 

With respect to the election of two Class III Directors in Proposal No. 1, each such Director isDirectors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast if a quorum is present. Votes may be cast for or withheld from each Director.the Directors. In a plurality election, votes may only be cast in favor of or withheld from each nominee; votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect. This means that the two personsperson receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected as Directors.Director.

 

Approval of Proposal Nos. 2, 3 and 4 require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting virtually online or by proxy.

 

Any shares not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) will have no impact on the election of the Directors, except to the extent that the failure to vote for an individual results in another individual receiving a larger percentage of votes, and no impact on the voting results of each other matter expected to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

 

You will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request to receive these materials in hard copy by following the instructions provided in the Notice. Instead, the Notice will instruct you how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. The Notice also instructs you how you may submit your proxy via the Internet or mail. To the extent you receive a proxy card, such proxy card will also contain instructions on how you may also vote by telephone (in addition to voting by Internet or mail). If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice.

 

We encourage you to vote either online, by telephone or by completing, signing, dating and returning a proxy card, or if you hold your shares through a broker or nominee, by completing and returning a voting instruction form. This ensures that your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting and reduces the likelihood that we will be forced to incur additional expenses soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting.

 

2

Voting over the Internet, by telephone or mailing a proxy card will not limit your right to vote virtually online or to attend the Annual Meeting virtually. Any record holder as of the Record Date may attend the Annual Meeting virtually and may revoke a previously provided proxy at any time by: (i) submitting a new vote on the Internet or by telephone or submitting a properly completed proxy card with a later date; (ii) sending written notice that you are revoking your proxy to the corporate secretary at Harvard Bioscience, Inc., 84 October Hill Road, Holliston, Massachusetts 01746-1371, with such notice received by June 9, 2020;May 13, 2022; or (iii) attend the Annual Meeting virtually online and vote through the Annual Meeting website. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. If your shares are held by your broker or nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by such broker or nominee to revoke an earlier vote.

 


Beneficial holders who wish to attend the Annual Meeting virtually and vote through the Annual Meeting website should contact their brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution holding shares of Common Stock on their behalf in order to obtain a “legal proxy”, which will allow them to vote through the Annual Meeting website.

 

You will be able to participate in the Annual Meeting online and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HBIO2020.HBIO2022. To be admitted to the Annual Meeting, you must enter the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice you received. You also will be able to vote your shares electronically prior to or during the Annual Meeting.

If you want to submit a question during the Annual Meeting, log into http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ HBIO2020,HBIO2022, type your question into the “Ask a Question” field, and click “Submit.” Questions pertinent to meeting matters will be read and answered during the meeting, subject to time constraints.

 

If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the Virtual Shareholder Meeting log in page.

 

Our Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the nominees of the Board of Directors with respect to Proposal No. 1, and “FOR” on Proposal Nos. 2, 3 and 4. Proxies will be voted as specified. If your proxy is properly submitted, it will be voted in the manner you direct.If you submit a properly executed proxy but do not specify instructions with respect to any particular matter to be acted upon at the meeting, proxies will be voted in favor of the Board of Directors’ recommendations.recommendations.

 

We will pay the entire expense of soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting. In addition to solicitations by mail, certain of our Directors, officers and employees (who will receive no compensation for their services other than their regular compensation) may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram, personal interview, facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic communication. Additionally, the Company has retained Okapi Partners LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board for a fee not to exceed $60,000, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses. Banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and other fiduciaries have been requested to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock held of record by them as of the Record Date, and such custodians will be reimbursed for their expenses.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on Thursday, June 11, 2020:Tuesday, May 17, 2022: The proxy statement and Annual Report, are available atwww.proxyvote.com. The Annual Report, however, is not part of the proxy solicitation material.

 

3

PROPOSALProposal 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Election Of Directors

 

The Board of Directors of the Company currently consists of sevenfive members and is divided into three classes of Directors, with two Directors in Class I, two Directors in Class II and threeone Directors in Class III.

 

Once elected, Directors serve for three-year terms with one class of Directors being elected by our stockholders at each annual meeting to succeed the Directors of the same class whose terms are then expiring. Each nominee elected as a Director will continue in office until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.

 

At the Annual Meeting, two Class III Directors, each nominated by the Board of Directors, will stand for election to serve until the 20232025 annual meeting of stockholders. At the recommendation of the Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has nominated Mr. Thomas LoewaldJames W. Green and Ms. Katherine A. EadeMr. Bertrand Loy for election as the two Class III Directors of the Company. The nominees have each agreed to stand for election and, if elected, to serve as Director.Directors. However, if any person nominated by the Board of Directors is unable to serve or will not serve, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person or persons as the Governance Committee and the Board of Directors may recommend.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by holders of shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of the nominees as Class III Directors of the Company.

 


OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: THOMAS LOEWALDJAMES W. GREEN AND KATHERINE A. EADE.BERTRAND LOY.

 

INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTORSInformation Regarding Directors

 

Set forth below is certain information regarding the Directors of the Company, including the two Class III Directors who have been nominated for election at the Annual Meeting, based on information furnished to the Company by each Director.such Directors. The biographical descriptiondescriptions below for each Director includes his or herthe Directors include their age, all positions he or she holdsthey hold with the Company, his or hertheir principal occupation and business experience over at least the past five years, and the names of other publicly-held companies for which hethey currently serve as Directors or she currently serves as a Director or hashave served as a DirectorDirectors during at least the past five years. The biographical descriptiondescriptions below for each Directorthe Directors also includesinclude the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion by the Board of Directors that such personpersons should serve as a DirectorDirectors of the Company. In addition to such specific information, we also believe that all of our Directors have a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. Further, they have each demonstrated business acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment as well as a commitment of service to the Company and our Board.

 

Independence

 

The Board of Directors has determined that the incumbent Directors listed below, other than our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Green, are “independent” as such term is currently defined by applicable Nasdaq rules.

 

4

Recent Changes on the Board

On July 8, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed James Green as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company to succeed our former President and Chief Executive Officer in such roles. While Mr. Green continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors, as a non-independent Director he no longer serves on any of the Board’s standing committees. At the time of Mr. Green’s appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors appointed Bertrand Loy, an existing Director, as Lead Independent Director of the Board of Directors.

On September 3, 2019, the Board of Directors elected Mr. Alan Edrick as an additional Class III Director of the Company. In addition on such date, in order to ensure that each class of the Board of Directors as nearly equal in number of directors as reasonably possible as required by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Mr. John Kennedy resigned from his position as a Class II Director and the remaining members of the Board of Directors unanimously re-elected Mr. Kennedy as a Class III Director. Mr. Kennedy's resignation and re-election were effected solely to ensure that each class of directors would consist as nearly equal in number of directors as reasonably possible as required by our Certificate of Incorporation. For all other purposes, Mr. Kennedy's service on the Board is deemed to have continued uninterrupted without any break in service since he first joined the Board.

On April 6, 2020, the Board of Directors elected Susan Steele as an additional Class III Director of the Company. Ms. Steele will also be appointed as a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board, to become effective following the 2020 annual meeting.

Directors of Harvard Bioscience, Inc.

 

Name Age Principal Occupation 

Director

Since

 
Class I Directors—Term expires 2022       
James W. Green 

61

 

 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company 

2015

 

 
Bertrand Loy(AC)(GC) 

54

 

 President, CEO and a Director of Entegris Inc., Lead Independent Director of the Board of the Directors of the Company 

2014

 

 
        
Class II Directors—Term expires 2020; Nominated to Serve a Term Expiring 2023       
Thomas W. Loewald(CC)(GC) 57 President of the Flexible Packaging Division of ProAmpac 2017 
Katherine A. Eade (AC)(GC) 46 Vice President, Strategic Commercial Affairs at Align Technology 2017 
        
Class III Director—Term expires 2021       
John F. Kennedy(AC)(CC) 71 Retired President and Chief Financial Officer of Nova Ventures Corporation 2000 
Alan Edrick(AC) 52 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of OSI Systems, Inc. 2019 
Susan Steele 67 Chief Executive Officer of Steele & Partners LLC 2020 

Name

 

Age

 

Principal Occupation

 

Director Since

Class I Directors—Term expires 2022; Nominated to Serve a Term Expiring 2025      
James W. Green 63 President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company 2015
Bertrand Loy (CC)(GC) 56 President, CEO and a Director of Entegris, Inc., Lead Independent Director of the Board of the Directors of the Company 2014
Class II Directors—Term expires 2023      
Thomas W. Loewald (CC)(AC)(GC) 59 President and CEO of  Cambrex 2017
Katherine A. Eade (AC)(GC) 48 General Counsel of Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2017
Class III Director—Term expires 2024      
Alan Edrick (AC)(CC) 54 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of OSI Systems, Inc. 2019

_______________________________________

(AC) Member of the Audit Committee

(CC) Member of the Compensation Committee

(GC) Member of the Governance Committee

 

5

IncumbentNominees for Election as Class I Directors—Nominated to Serve Terms Expiring 20222025

 

James W. Greenhas served as a Director of the Company since April 2015 and was appointed Chairman on June 5, 2017. Mr. Green was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on July 8, 2019. Immediately prior to becoming our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Green served as President of Spacelabs Healthcare, a manufacturer of medical equipment, beginning in April 2018. Prior to that position, Mr. Green was General Partner of Grantchester Group, a private equity investment firm with experience in healthcare and technology. Mr. Green also previously served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Analogic Corporation, a leading publicly held advanced medical and security imaging company from 2007 until October 2016. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Green worked as Regional Vice President of Unilab Corp., a California division of Quest Diagnostics Corporation. From 1983 to 2005, Mr. Green worked in various other leadership positions at Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, St. Jude Medical Inc., Beckman Instruments, McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Northrop Advanced Systems. Mr. Green holds a B.S. from the University of Missouri at Columbia, an M.S. from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of the Stanford University Executive Program. We believe Mr. Green’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his executive leadership experience and global experience in technology, healthcare and life science industries in a variety of executive positions.

 


Bertrand Loyhas served as a Director of the Company since November 2014 and currently serves as the Lead Independent Director and is a member of the Governance Committee and the AuditCompensation Committee.  Since November 2012, Mr. Loy has served asbeen Chief Executive Officer, President CEO and a Directordirector of Entegris, Inc., a provider of yield-enhancing materials and solutions used in advanced high-tech manufacturing environments. Prior since November 2012. From July 2008 to that,November 2012, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Entegris, fromInc. From August 2005 until July 2008, to 2012 and Chief Administrative Officerhe served as the Executive Vice President of Entegris, from 2005 to 2008.Inc., in charge of its information technology, global supply chain and manufacturing operations. He previously workedserved as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mykrolis, Corp.a company spun out of Millipore Corporation, a life science products company, from January 2001 until its merger with Entegris inAugust 2005. From 1995Prior to 2000,that, Mr. Loy wasserved as the Chief Information Officer of Millipore Corporation during 1999 and 2000, and previously served in various strategic planning, global supply chain and financial roles with Millipore initially as the Director of Finance and Manufacturing for Millipore's Laboratory Water Division before moving to the position of Chief Information Officer. He began his career with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (now Novartis) where he held various positions in strategic planning, finance and audit in Europe, Japan and Latin America from 1989 to 1995., a pharmaceutical company. Since November 2012,July 2013, Mr. Loy has served asalso been on the Chairmanboard of directors of SEMI, athe global industry association representing the electronics manufacturing supply chain.chain, and currently acts as the chairman of the association. Mr. Loy earnedholds an M.B.A. atfrom ESSEC Business School in France. We believe Mr. Loy’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his extensive experience as a Chief Executive Officer, as well as his experience in operational management and his extensive international experience in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

 

Nominees for Election asIncumbent Class II Directors— Nominated to Serve Terms Expiring 2023

 

Thomas W. Loewald has served as a Director of the Company since October 2017. Mr. Loewald currently serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee and is a member of the Governance Committee and Audit Committee. Since September 2017,2020, Mr. Loewald has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cambrex, a leading private equity-owned Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization. Previously, Mr. Loewald served as President of the Flexible Packaging Division of ProAmpac, a private-equity owned flexible packaging company.company from September 2017 to September 2020. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a multinational biotechnology product development company. He previously worked in various roles of Thermo Fisher Scientific from 2002 to 2016. Prior to Thermo Fisher, Mr. Loewald led sales, marketing, and customer service for the adhesives division of Tyco International from 1998 to 2002. Prior to Tyco, Tom held a series of roles with General Electric’s Plastics and Materials businesses. Mr. Loewald holds a B.A. in economics from Middlebury College and an M.B.A. in business administration from The Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College. We believe Mr. Loewald’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his broad global business experience in a wide range of industries from commodity to high growth, his strong strategic management and leadership skills, and his extensive record of success in leading business growth and excellence.

 

Katherine A. Eade has served as a Director of the Company since October 2017. Ms. Eade currently serves as Chair of the Governance Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Eade is Vice President, Strategic Commercial Affairs at Align Technology, a position she has held since 2019, and prior to that was Deputy General Counsel of La-Z-Boy Incorporated from 2018 to 2019. Ms. Eade has more than 18 years of experience advising public companies on M&A and other significant corporate transactions, governance matters and capital markets. Ms. Eade is General Counsel of Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Previously, Ms. Eade served as Vice President, Strategic Commercial Affairs at Align Technology, a position she held from July 2019 to July 2020, and prior to that was Deputy General Counsel of La-Z-Boy Incorporated from 2018 to 2019. Prior to joining La-Z-Boy, Ms. Eade was the Director, M&A Law and Transactions for Corning Incorporated and Division Counsel for Corning’s Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical Technologies divisions. Her life science acquisitions for Corning included the $730 million purchase of BD’s Discovery Labware business. Previous to her work at Corning, Ms. Eade was an attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, a leading international law firm, for over seven years. Earlier in her career, she served as a law clerk for Judge Morton I. Greenberg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Ms. Eade earned a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Government, summa cum laude, from Cornell University. We believe Ms. Eade’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include her significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, including in the life sciences industry, and her extensive experience in capital markets and corporate governance.

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Incumbent Class III Director—Terms Expiring 2021

John F. Kennedy has served as a Director of the Company since October 2000.  Mr. Kennedy currently serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Compensation Committee. From June 2006 until his retirement in October 2008, Mr. Kennedy served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Nova Ventures Corporation, the management company providing executive management services to the operating companies of Nova Holdings LLC, Nova Analytics Corporation and Nova Technologies Corporation. From July 2002 to June 2006, Mr. Kennedy served as the President and Chief Financial Officer of Nova Analytics Corporation, a worldwide supplier and integrator of analytical instruments. From August 1999 to April 2002, Mr. Kennedy served as the Senior Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of RSA Security Inc., an e-business security company. Prior to joining RSA Security, Mr. Kennedy was Chief Financial Officer of Decalog, NV, a developer of enterprise investment management software, from 1998 to 1999. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Kennedy served as Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Natural MicroSystems Corporation, a telecommunications company. Mr. Kennedy, a former CPA, also practiced as a public accountant at KPMG for 6 years. Mr. Kennedy holds an M.S.B.A. in accounting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. We believe Mr. Kennedy’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his executive leadership experience, his significant operating, accounting and financial management expertise and the knowledge and understanding of our Company that he has acquired over seventeen years of service on our Board.2024

 

Alan Edrickhas served as a Director of the Company since September 2019. Mr. Edrick currently serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the AuditCompensation Committee. Mr. Edrick has over 25 years of financial management and public accounting experience, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial planning and analysis, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Edrick has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of OSI Systems, Inc., a publicly traded multinational company with leading market positions in homeland security, patient monitoring and optoelectronics, since 2006. Between 2004 and 2006, Mr. Edrick served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BioSource International, Inc. until its sale to Invitrogen Corporation. Between 1998 and 2004, Mr. Edrick served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of North American Scientific, Inc., a medical device and specialty pharmaceutical company. Between 1989 and 1998, Mr. Edrick was employed by Price Waterhouse LLP in various positions including Senior Manager, Capital Markets. Mr. Edrick earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics/business from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Master of Business Administration from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. We believe Mr. Edrick’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his executive leadership experience as a Chief Financial Officer, as well as his significant operating, accounting and financial management expertise, including in the life sciences industry.

 

Susan Steele has served as a Director of the Company since April 2020. Ms. Steele is the Chief Executive Officer of Steele & Partners LLC, a consulting firm specializing in program management and supply chain performance, and sits on theInformation Regarding The Board of Hill International (NYSE: HIL). Previously, Ms. Steele served as Senior Vice President of Global Supply Management at Jacobs Engineering, where she was responsible for the company’s worldwide supply chain. Prior to that, she worked for CH2M as Vice President of Business Development for Manufacturing and Life Sciences. She also served as the Program Director for the MASDAR development program in the UAE. Ms. Steele holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Miami, FL, and a Bachelor of Science from Auburn University, AL. Ms. Steele has held leadership roles with the Construction Industry Institute (CII) Board of Advisors and Executive Committee, the EPC Procurement Executives Group, and the Society for Maintenance & Reliability. We believe Ms. Steele’s qualifications to sit on our Board ofOf Directors include her corporate governance expertise and her background in supply chain management.

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INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEESAnd Its Committees

 

During the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, our Board of Directors held thirteensix meetings. Each of the Directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors held while he or she was a Director and of the committees of which he or she was a member. The Board of Directors generally encourages Directors to attend in person the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, or Special Meeting in lieu thereof, or, if unable to attend in person, to participate by other means, if practicable. In light of the unique circumstances related to COVID-19, theThe Board of Directors encourages Directors to participate virtually for the 20202022 Annual Meeting. In recognition of this policy, the Board of Directors typically schedules a regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held on the date of, and immediately following, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Aside from Mr. Kennedy, allAll of the Directors in office at the time attended in person or by telephone, the 20192021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 16, 2019.18, 2021. The non-employee Directors meet regularly in executive sessions outside the presence of management.

 

CEO Transition

As previously disclosed, in July 2019 the Company transitioned from its former President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey A. Duchemin, to Mr. Green. Prior to such transition, the Board of Directors discussed critically necessary attributes for the incoming Chief Executive Officer. The Board determined that key attributes of the incoming Chief Executive Officer included:

Significant public company chief executive officer experience;

Track record of turning around underperforming businesses;

Demonstrated ability to drive organic growth and operational improvements within a global, middle market life science manufacturing business;

Experience leading technology and product development, manufacturing, sales and marketing; and

In-depth knowledge of global healthcare and life science markets.

The decision was made by the Board of Directors (with Mr. Green recused) to appoint Mr. Green as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 8, 2019. His background and turnaround experience was considered an excellent match to the attributes listed.

Board Leadership Structure

 

Our Board leadership structure consists of a Chairman of the Board who is also our Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Mr. Green being appointed Chief Executive Officer, the roles of Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer were separate. Our Board of Directors does not have a current requirement that the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board be either combined or separated, because the Board of Directors currently believes it is in the best interests of our Company to make this determination based on the position and direction of our Company and the constitution of the Board and management team. From time to time, the Board of Directors will evaluate whether the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board should be combined or separated. Both the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions are currently held by Mr. Green and as noted above, Mr. Loy has been appointed and currently serves as the Lead Independent Director.

 

The Lead Independent Director has broad responsibility and authority, including to:

 

·Preside at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent Directors.

·Call meetings of independent Directors.

·Serves as the principal liaison between the Chairman and the independent Directors.

 

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·Approve all information sent to the Board, including the quality, quantity, appropriateness and timeliness of such information.

·Approve meeting agendas for the Board.

·Approve the frequency of Board meetings and meeting schedules, assuring there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items.


·Recommend to the Governance Committee and to the Chairman, selection for the membership and chairman position for each Board committee.

·Interview along with the chair of the Governance Committee, all Director candidates and make recommendations to the Governance Committee.

·Be available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication with stockholders.

·Retain outside advisors and consultants who report directly to the Board on Board-wide issues.

·On an annual basis, in consultation with the independent directors, the Lead Independent Director will review his responsibility and authority and recommend to the Board for approval any modifications or changes.

 

Our Board of Directors has determined that its current structure, with combined Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles and a Lead Independent Director is in the best interests of our Company and its stockholders at this time.

 

A number of factors support the leadership structure chosen by the Board, including, among others:

 

·Our Chief Executive Officer has extensive knowledge of all aspects of our company and its business and risks, its industry and its customers.

·Our Chief Executive Officer is intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of our company and is best positioned to elevate the most critical business issues for consideration by the Board.

·The Board believes having our Chief Executive Officer serve in both capacities allows him to more effectively execute our company’s strategic initiatives and business plans and confront its challenges.

·A combined Chairman and Chief Executive Officer structure provides our company with decisive and effective leadership with clearer accountability to our stockholders and customers, especially within the context of an aggressive turnaround situation in which rapid decision making is a critical success factor.

·This structure allows one person to speak for and lead the company and the Board.

·The combined role is both counterbalanced and enhanced by the effective oversight and independence of our Board and the independent leadership provided by our Lead Independent Director and independent committee chairs.

·The Board believes that the appointment of a strong Lead Independent Director and the use of regular executive sessions of the non-management Directors, along with the Board'sBoard’s strong committee system and all Directors being independent except for Chief Executive Officer, allow it to maintain effective oversight of management.

·In our view, splitting the roles would potentially make our management and governance processes less effective through undesirable duplication of work and possibly lead to a blurring of clear lines of accountability and responsibility.

 

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Board Diversity Matrix (As of March 23, 2022)

Total Number of Directors5
Part I. Gender IdentityFemaleMaleNon-BinaryDid Not Disclose Gender
Directors14--
Part II. Demographic Background    
African American or Black----
Alaskan Native or Native American----
Asian----
Hispanic or Latinx----
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander----
White14--
Two or More Races or Ethnicities----
LGBTQ+----
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background----

Board Committees

 

The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”), a Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) and a Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”). The charters of each our committees are available on the Corporate Governance page in the Investor Relations section of our website atwww.harvardbioscience.com. Please note that the information contained on the Company website is not incorporated by reference in, or considered to be a part of, this proxy statement.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs.Mr. Edrick, Kennedy and Loy,Mr. Loewald and Ms. Eade. Mr. KennedyEdrick serves as the Chairman.Chair. The Audit Committee is comprised entirely of independent Directors and it operates under a Board-approved charter that sets forth its duties and responsibilities. The Audit Committee met sevenfive times during 2019.2021.

 

Under its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

·reviewing our financial statements and related disclosures included in quarterly and annual financial statements, as well as quarterly earnings releases;

·reviewing the adequacy of our internal controls, and financial systems and management practices;

·appointing, retaining and terminating, and determining compensation of, our independent auditors;

·overseeing our independent auditors and the evaluation of the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence;

·assuring the regular rotation of audit partners, including any lead and concurring partners, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations;

·reporting matters that arise relating to quality or integrity of our financial statements and other matters to the Board and reviewing such matters with the Board.

 

The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee discuss matters relating to risks that arise or may arise. The Audit Committee has also established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment, on a confidential basis, of complaints received by the Company.

 


The Audit Committee is also responsible for, and has established policies and procedures with respect to, the pre-approval of all services provided by the independent auditors. When assessing the independence of our auditors, the Audit Committee considers the independent registered public accounting firm’s provision of non-audit services to the Company.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs.Mr. Edrick, KennedyMs. Eade and Loy, and Ms. Eade,Mr. Loewald are “independent” as such term is currently defined by Nasdaq rules for purposes of service on the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has also determined that each of Messrs.Mr. Edrick Kennedy and Loy qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as this term has been defined under the rules of the SEC.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. KennedyMr. Loewald, Mr. Loy and Loewald.Mr. Edrick. Mr. Loewald serves as the Chair. Ms. Steele will be appointed to the Compensation Committee following the Annual Meeting. The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent Directors and it operates under a Board approved charter that sets forth its duties and responsibilities. The Compensation Committee met sixthree times during 2019.2021.

 

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The Compensation Committee determines and oversees the execution of our compensation philosophy and oversees the administration of our executive compensation programs. Its responsibilities also include overseeing the Company’s compensation and benefit plans and policies, retaining or terminating committee advisors, independence evaluation of compensation advisors, administering its stock plans (including reviewing and approving equity grants) and reviewing and approving annually all compensation decisions for the Company’s executive officers, including the CEO and the other executive officers named in the 20192021 Summary Compensation Table. See “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” later in this proxy statement for information concerning the Compensation Committee’s role, processes and activities in overseeing executive compensation.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Kennedy,Loewald, Mr. LoewaldLoy and Ms. SteeleMr. Edrick are “independent” as such term is currently defined by Nasdaq rules for purposes of service on the Compensation Committee.

 

Governance Committee

 

The current members of the Governance Committee are Messrs.Mr. Loewald, andMr. Loy and Ms. Eade. Ms. Eade is the Chair. The Governance Committee is comprised entirely of independent Directors and it operates under a Board approved charter that sets forth its duties and responsibilities. The Governance Committee met fivetwice times during 2019.2021.

 

Under the terms of its charter, the Governance Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become Board members, consistent with criteria recommended by the Governance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, and recommending that the Board of Directors select the Director candidates for election at each annual meeting of stockholders. Its responsibilities also include recommending to the Board of Directors the criteria for membership on Board Committees. The Governance Committee is also responsible for assisting the Board of Directors with such corporate governance matters as the Board of Directors may request.

 

In identifying and evaluating nominees for the Board of Directors, the Governance Committee may solicit recommendations from any or all of the following sources: non-management Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, other executive officers, third-party search firms or any other source it deems appropriate. At the Annual Meeting, Mr. LoewaldGreen and Ms. EadeMr. Loy will be standing for election by the stockholders for the first time. Mr. Loewald was first identified as a candidate for Director by a non-management member of our Board of Directors and Ms. Eade was first identified as a candidate for Director by our former Chief Executive Officer.stockholders.

 


The Governance Committee has established procedures for stockholders to recommend Director candidates. All stockholder recommendations for Director candidates must be submitted in writing to our Chief Financial Officer at 84 October Hill Road, Holliston, Massachusetts 01746, who will forward all recommendations to the Governance Committee. All stockholder recommendations for Director candidates must be submitted to the Company not less than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the date on which our proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting. All stockholder recommendations for Director candidates must include:

 

·the name and address of record of the stockholder,

·a representation that the stockholder is a record holder of our securities, or if the stockholder is not a record holder, evidence of ownership in accordance with Rule 14a-8(b)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,

·the name, age, business and residential address, educational background, public company directorships, current principal occupation or employment, and principal occupation or employment for the preceding five full fiscal years of the proposed Director candidate,

·a description of the qualifications and background of the proposed director candidate which addresses the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board of Directors and set forth in the Governance Committee Charter,

·a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the proposed Director candidate,

 

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·the consent of the proposed Director candidate to be named in the proxy statement, to have all required information regarding such Director candidate included in the proxy statement, and to serve as a Director if elected, and

·any other information regarding the proposed Director candidate that is required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.Commission (the “SEC”).

 

The Governance Committee will evaluate all such proposed Director candidates, including those recommended by stockholders, in compliance with the procedures established by the Governance Committee, in the same manner, with no regard to the source of the initial recommendation of such proposed Director candidate. When considering a potential candidate for membership on the Board of Directors, the Governance Committee may consider, in addition to the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board of Directors, all facts and circumstances that the Governance Committee deems appropriate or advisable, including, among other things, the skills of the proposed Director candidate, his or her availability, depth and breadth of business experience or other background characteristics, his or her independence and the needs of the Board of Directors. At a minimum, each candidate must have high personal and professional integrity, have demonstrated ability and judgment, and be effective, in conjunction with the other Directors and candidates, in collectively serving the long-term interests of the stockholders. In addition, the Governance Committee will recommend that the Board select candidates for nomination to help ensure that a majority of the Board shall be “independent” in accordance with Nasdaq rules and that each of its Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees shall be comprised entirely of independent Directors, subject to certain exceptions under the Nasdaq rules to such requirement. Although there is no specific policy regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying Director candidates, the Governance Committee may consider whether the candidate, if elected, assists in achieving a mix of Board members that represents a diversity of background and experience. The Governance Committee also may consider whether the candidate has direct experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and/or life science research industries or in the markets in which the Company operates.

 

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

Risks to the Company are discussed by the Board of Directors during the year. Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks we face, while the Board, as a whole and through its Committees, oversees risk management. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewingBoard reviews and discussing with management our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee review and discuss,discusses, including with management, risks that arise or may arise, including in relation to legal, compliance and cyber-security matters, as well as novel risks that arise such as the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. For example, the Audit CommitteeBoard discusses financial risk, including with respect to financial reporting and internal controls, with management and our independent registered public accounting firm and the steps management has taken to minimize those risks. Our Board of Directors also administers its risk oversight function through the required approval by the Board (or a Committee of the Board) of significant transactions and other material decisions.

 


Risk Considerations in our Compensation Programs

 

The Compensation Committee believes that risks arising from our policies and practices for compensating employees are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Non-Employee Director Ownership Guidelines

 

Our Board has implemented equity ownership guidelines with respect to our non-employee Directors. The ownership guidelines require each non-employee member of the Board of Directors, within five years from their initial election to the Board to own shares of our Common Stock having a value of at least three times the annual retainer of the non-employee Directors. With respect to satisfying the guidelines, unvested awards of restricted stock units are included in the calculation while stock options are excluded. All of our Directors are currently in compliance with these equity ownership guidelines.

 

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CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICSCode Of Business Conduct And Ethics

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all Directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries including the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer, controller and any person performing similar functions. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Corporate Governance page in the Investor Relations section of our website atwww.harvardbioscience.com. We intend to post any amendments to or waivers from our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics at this location on our website.

 

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE


Report Of The Audit Committee

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate this proxy statement or any future filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in whole or in part, the following report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any such filing.

 

The undersigned members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company submit this report in connection with the committee’s review of the financial reports of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192021 as follows:

 

1.1.The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.2021.

2.2.The Audit Committee has discussed with representatives of Grant Thornton LLP the matters required to be discussed with them by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC.

3.3.The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountant required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence.

 

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192021 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Submitted by the Audit Committee:

John F. Kennedy, Chairman



Alan Edrick, Chair
Katherine A. Eade

Alan Edrick

Bertrand LoyThomas W. Loewald

 

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATIONDirector Compensation

 

Our Board of Directors has the authority to approve all compensation payable to our Directors, although our Compensation Committee is responsible for making recommendations to our Board regarding Board compensation. Our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee annually review our Board compensation to evaluate whether it remains competitive such that we are able to recruit and retain qualified Directors. We use a mix of cash and/or stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on our Board. As described below, our Director Compensation program currently utilizes only stock-based incentive compensation. In setting Board compensation, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee consider the significant amount of time that Directors expend in fulfilling their duties to the Company as well as the skill-level required by the Company of members of the Board. The Board compensation program described below remained at the same levels as compared to 2018 except with the introduction of a separate annual retainer for the individual serving as Lead Independent Director as a result of the 2019 management transitions.

 

Directors who are also employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for service as a Director. Non-employee Directors receive the compensation described below.

 

Compensation of Non-Employee Directors Upon Initial Election to the Board

 

Each new non-employee Director, will beupon his or her initial election to the Board, is entitled to receive a non-qualifiedrestricted stock optionunit (“RSU”) award having an aggregate Black-Scholesa grant date fair value of $134,400, rounded to the nearest 100 shares, provided that in no case shall such stock option be less than 25,000 shares.$150,000. Such option shall be for the purchase of Common Stock of the Corporation and shallRSU award will vest annually over three years and be granted on the fifth business day following his or her initial election to the Board.

 

Annual Compensation of Non-Employee Directors

 

Annual Board and Committee Retainers

Each non-employee Director will beis entitled to receive an annual retainer, amountspaid in RSUs, for each respective rolesuch Director’s service on the Board.Board of Directors. Such retainer award is granted on the fifth business day following each annual meeting of stockholders and will vest in full on the earlier of (i) immediately prior to the Company’s next annual meeting and (ii) one year from the date of grant, subject to the Director’s continued service through the applicable vesting date. The Lead Independent Director receives an additional retainer paid in RSUs which has the same date of grant and vesting schedule as the annual Board retainers. Further, each non-employee Director is entitled to receive cash retainers for such Director’s service on committees of the Board of Directors. Such committee retainers are paid quarterly in arrears.

As a result of its annual review of the Company’s non-employee Director compensation program in 2021, the Board of Directors approved certain changes to the compensation amounts. In lieuaddition, while annual Board and committee retainers were historically paid on a calendar year basis, the Board determined that following the 2021 annual meeting of cash, such aggregatestockholders, annual retainer amounts shallretainers would be paid in accordance with a Board year that commences on the date of each be satisfied byannual meeting of stockholders and ends on the issuancedate of restricted stock unit awards as described herein.the next annual meeting. As part of this transition from the calendar year to the Board year, for the 2021-2022 Board year, each non-employee Director received certain pro-rated transition awards.

 

The respectivecurrent annual retainer valuevalues for each particular role on the Board are as follows:

 

Role Annual Retainer Value Annual Retainer Value
Non-employee Director $35,280  $45,000 
Lead Independent Director $35,280  $35,000 
Chairman of the Board $35,280 
Audit Committee chair $18,144  $17,500 
Audit Committee member $9,072  $10,000 
Compensation Committee chair $12,096  $7,000 
Compensation Committee member $6,048  $7,000 
Governance Committee chair $5,040  $5,000 
Governance Committee member $5,040  $5,000 

 

The annual retainer awards (each a “Retainer Award”) are generally granted on the first trading day of January (the “Grant Date”) and vest quarterly over the calendar year on each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, subject to the Director’s continued service through the applicable vesting date. The number of shares of Common Stock to be granted as a Retainer Award is equal to the quotient of (i) the dollar value of the award as set forth above, divided by (ii) the average daily closing market price of the Common Stock during the preceding month of November, rounded to the nearest 100 shares.

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Additional Board Member or Board Roles: In the event that a non-employee Director is added to the Board, or is named Lead Independent Director or chairman (of the board or any committee), or joins any committee during a fiscal year after the Grant Date, such Director shall be granted a Retainer Award (the “Additional Retainer Award”), in relation to such additional roles and respective retainer amounts pro-rated for the remainder of such year. Such Additional Retainer Award shall be granted on the first trading day of the month after the individual is appointed to such roles. The Additional Retainer Award shall vest in equal amounts spread over the remaining quarterly vesting dates of the Retainer Awards for such calendar year subject to continued service as a non-employee Director on the applicable vesting dates. The number of shares of Common Stock to be granted as an Additional Retainer Award is equal to the quotient of (i) the dollar value of the award as set forth above (pro-rated for the remainder of the fiscal year following the appointment to the additional role), divided by (ii) the average daily closing market price of the Common Stock during the calendar month that is two months prior to the month the Director was appointed to the additional roles, rounded to the nearest 100 shares (for example, a director appointed to additional roles in August would use the average daily closing market price for the preceding June).

Reduced Board Roles: In the event a Director’s service (including as a Board or committee member, as chairman of the Board or any committee, or as Lead Independent Director) ends during a particular quarter, the vesting date for such quarter in relation to the portion of the award attributable to such roles that are ending, shall be the last day of the Director’s term in the respective role, and the pro-rated portion of the quarterly amount attributable to such roles shall vest on that earlier vesting date, with the remaining unvested portion of the award attributable to such roles being forfeited.

Annual Equity Award

 

Each non-employee Director will also be entitled to receive an equity award in the form of restricted stock units having an aggregate cash value of $80,640, rounded to$100,000, which is granted on the nearest 100 shares, vesting fullyfifth business day following each annual meeting of stockholders and will vest in full on the earlier to occur of (i) the date of the Corporation’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders after the grant date, immediately prior to the commencementCompany’s next annual meeting of such meeting,stockholders, and (ii) one year from the date of grant, subject to the Director’s continued service through the applicable vesting date, and granted on the fifth business day following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  date.

 

Expenses

In addition, non-employee Directors shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending Board and Committee meetings.

 

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20192021 Director Compensation Table

 

The following table presents the compensation provided by us to the non-employee Directors who served during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.2021.

 

Name Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) Stock Awards ($) (1)(2) Option Awards ($) (3) Total ($)
Katherine A. Eade     164,152      164,152 
Alan Edrick  4,336   172,216      176,552 
John F. Kennedy     19,247      19,247 
Thomas W. Loewald  6,194   168,184      174,378 
Bertrand Loy     191,368      191,368 
Susan Steele     15,782      15,782 

  Option Restricted Stock  
Name (1) Awards (2), (3) Awards (4) Total
       
Katherine Eade $-  $132,956  $132,956 
Alan Edrick  134,400   13,054   147,454 
James Green  -   141,876   141,876 
John F. Kennedy  -   149,184   149,184 
Thomas Loewald  -   136,501   136,501 
Bertrand Loy  -   152,130   152,130 

____________________

 

(1)The compensation for Mr. Green set forth in the table pertains to the period in fiscal 2019 prior to him becoming the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  Jeffrey A. Duchemin, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer is not included in this table as he was an employee of the Company and thus received no additional compensation for his service as a Director.  The compensation received by Mr. Green and Mr. Duchemin in their respective roles as an employee of the Company is shown in the 2019 Summary Compensation Table later in this proxy statement.

(2)(1)Based on the aggregate grant date fair value computed awards in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation”. Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are included in Note 1310 to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192021 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC on March 16, 2020.11, 2022.

 

(3)(2)The aggregate number of unvested RSU awards outstanding at December 31, 2021 and held by the non-employee Directors were as follows: 14,400 awards for Ms. Eade; 14,400 awards for Mr. Edrick; 14,000 awards for Mr. Loewald; 14,400 awards for Mr. Loy.

(3)The aggregate number of option awards outstanding at December 31, 2019,2021 and held by the non-employee Directors were as follows: 86,70087,600 options for Ms. Eade; 101,800 options for Mr. Edrick; 37,059 options for Mr. Kennedy; 87,600 options for Mr. Loewald; and 55,300 options for Mr. Loy. Information regarding the options held by Mr. Green, who served as our President and Chief Executive Officer as of December 31, 2019, is disclosed in the table below entitled “Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End—2019”.

(4)The aggregate number of restricted stock unit awards outstanding at December 31, 2019, and held by the non-employee Directors were as follows: 35,100 for Ms. Eade; 0 for Mr. Edrick; 35,100 awards for Mr. Kennedy; 35,100 awards for Mr. Loewald and 35,100 awards for Mr. Loy.  Information regarding the awards held by Mr. Green, who served as our President and Chief Executive Officer as of December 31, 2019, is disclosed in the table below entitled “Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End—2019”.

 

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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERSInformation About Our Executive Officers

 

The following table shows information about our executive officers:

 

Name

Age

Position

James W. Green6163President, Chief Executive Officer President and DirectorChairman of the Board of Directors
Michael Rossi4648Chief Financial Officer
Yash Singh46

Executive Vice President,

Cellular & Molecular Technologies

Kenneth Olson5860

Vice President and General Manager,

Data Sciences International

Chief Operating Officer

 

Biographical information for Mr. Green is provided above under the heading “Directors of Harvard Bioscience, Inc.”

 

Michael Rossi was named Chief Financial Officer in July 2019. Immediately prior to becoming Chief Financial Officer of the Company, Mr. Rossi served as Chief Financial Officer of Laborie Medical Technologies from August 2018 to May 2019, a manufacturer of urology and gastrointestinal diagnostic equipment. Prior to that role, he was Chief Financial Officer of Medical Specialties Distributors, a healthcare supply chain management solutions company, for over three years. Mr. Rossi brings significant experience with turnarounds and driving financial and operational improvements within complex middle market manufacturing and distribution businesses. He also has over fifteen years of public company accounting and reporting experience as well as experience managing debt and liquidity during both periods of growth and business downturns. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rossi held finance roles of increasing responsibility at various public companies, including Haemonetics Corporation, The Princeton Review, Inc., American Tower Corporation, Sonus Networks and Manufacturers’ Services Limited. He began his professional career as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Rossi earned a B.S. in accounting from Babson College and an MBA from Babson College’s Olin School of Management.

 

Yash Singh was named Executive Vice President, Cellular & Molecular Technologies in October 2019. Prior to joining the Company, he served in various executive roles at Analogic Corporation (“Analogic”) from 2009 to 2019, most recently as President of Analogic’s Power and Motion Business. Analogic is focused on the design and manufacture of imaging and signal processing technologies. Prior to joining Analogic, Mr. Singh was a senior associate at Booz & Company. Mr. Singh earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, India and an MBA from Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.


Kenneth Olson served as Chief Operating Officer from April 2020 to January 2022 and was namedresponsible for global manufacturing, supply chain and research and development. Prior to becoming Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Olson served as Vice President and General Manager, Data Sciences International infrom October 2019.2019 to April 2020. Prior to joining DSI, Mr. Olson served as the Senior Vice President of Global Engineering and Operations at Spacelabs Healthcare, a patient monitoring and diagnostic cardiology companies, from May 2017 to October 2019. From July 2013 until October 2019, Mr. Olson ran a successful management consulting firm in the medical device space. Mr. Olson previously served as Vice President of Research & Development at ABT Molecular Imaging from December 2010 to July 2013. Mr. Olson has significant experience in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), with over 40 issued patents in cardiology and resuscitation products. He served as Vice President of Research and Development for Medtronic Physio-Control from May 2006 to December 2010, where he oversaw the development of the LP15 Monitor/Defibrillator. Prior to Medtronic, Olson was the Chief Technical Officer for Cardiac Science, after a merger with Survivalink Corporation where he had served as the VP of R&D from its inception. Mr. Olson earned a B.S. in electrical engineering and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Our most recently completed fiscal year 2019 was a year of significant change for the Company. It became increasingly evident during the first part of 2019 that a change in Company strategy and leadership was necessary for Harvard Bioscience to thrive in our highly competitive industry. As a result, on July 8, 2019, we announced the transition of the executive leadership of our Company from our former President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey A. Duchemin, to our then-serving non-Executive Chairman of the Board, James Green. At the time, Mr. Green was not only the Harvard Bioscience non-Executive Chairman, he was also the President of Spacelabs Healthcare, one of the largest patient monitoring companies in the world, based in Seattle, Washington. Having been hired by Spacelabs only 15 months earlier, Mr. Green was in the process of leading a highly successful improvement in the financial results of Spacelabs with operating profit expanding significantly during his tenure. Prior to his role at Spacelabs, Mr. Green was the Chairman and CEO of Analogic Corporation for nearly 10 years. Under his leadership, Analogic navigated the great recession while increasing its revenues by approximately 50% and dramatically improved key financial metrics such as revenue per employee, operating margin and earnings per share.

In order to attract Mr. Green to take on the leadership role for Harvard Bioscience and lead our Company through the necessary large scale management change process we required, we needed to offer a compensation package that was compelling enough for Mr. Green to take on the role, relocate back to the Boston area and walk away from his existing compensation package from Spacelabs. The Compensation Committee used CEO pay data that had previously been provided by the Compensation Committee’s consultant, Arthur J. Gallagher and Co., to inform its offer level as well as our knowledge of the value of his existing compensation package.

Ten days after the announcement of Mr. Green as our new Chief Executive Officer, we named Michael Rossi as our new Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Rossi also brings a significant experience with turnarounds and driving financial and operational improvements within complex middle market manufacturing and distribution businesses. Mr. Rossi also brings over fifteen years of public company accounting and reporting experience as well as experience managing debt and liquidity during both periods of growth and business downturns. The Compensation Committee considered his experience as essential to our successful turnaround.

During the period since Mr. Green’s appointment in July 2019 through December 31, 2019, with our new leadership team in place, our Company has undergone significant change and already shown tangible results.Discussion AND Analysis

 

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis, which should be read together with the executive compensation tables set forth below, provides information regarding our executive compensation program for our named executive officers. Our current named executive officers arefor 2021 were James Green, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Rossi, our Chief Financial Officer, and Yash Singh,Kenneth Olson, our Executive Vice President, CellularChief Operating Officer. Mr. Olson resigned from his position as Chief Operating Officer effective January 31, 2022, but will assist on various projects and Molecular Technologies.  This proxy statement also includes disclosures required with respect to Jeffrey A. Duchemin, our former President andin the transition of the Chief ExecutiveOperating Officer and Kam Unninayar, our former Chief Financial Officer, who served in such capacities during fiscal year 2019role until their respective resignations.his departure from the Company on December 31, 2022.

 

Our Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the compensation payable to our executive officers. Our Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to our Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of all executive officers, excluding his own, but our Compensation Committee is ultimately responsible for approving this compensation. Generally, our Chief Executive Officer recommends the terms of an annual corporate bonus plan to our Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee then, after considering the recommendations made by our Chief Executive Officer, determines the terms and amount of compensation to pay to each of our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, and the terms of any corporate bonus plans and related targets and objectives. Such determination is made in reliance on a number of other factors, including analysis and guidance provided by an independent executive compensation consultant from time to time, as well as compensation for comparable executive positions at peer group companies and our historical practices.

 

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Objectives of Our Executive Compensation Programs

 

Our compensation programs for our executive officers are designed to achieve the following key objectives:

 

attract and retain high performing and experienced executives;
·attract and retain high performing and experienced executives;

motivate and reward executives whose knowledge, skills and performance are deemed critical to our success;
·motivate and reward executives whose knowledge, skills and performance are deemed critical to our success;

align the interests of our executives and stockholders by motivating executives to increase stockholder value and rewarding executives when stockholder value increases;
·align the interests of our executives and stockholders by motivating executives to increase stockholder value and rewarding executives when stockholder value increases;

foster a shared commitment among executives by coordinating their goals; and
·foster a shared commitment among executives by coordinating their goals; and

motivate our executives to manage our business to meet our short and long-term objectives, and reward them for meeting these objectives, including growing our revenues, earnings per share, total market capitalization and share price.
·motivate our executives to manage our business to meet our short- and long-term objectives, and reward them for meeting these objectives, including growing our revenues, earnings per share, total market capitalization and share price.

 


Role of Independent Executive Compensation Consultant

 

From time to time, our Compensation Committee has engaged an independent executive compensation consultant to provide guidance with respect to the development and implementation of our compensation programs. The Compensation Committee utilizes the reports, recommendations and insight of the independent executive compensation consultant, along with a variety of additional factors, including input from the Chief Executive Officer as to the other executive officers, in determining the appropriate compensation, including salary, bonus and equity grants, with respect to our named executive officers. Most recently, in October 2018,The Compensation Committee engaged Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FW Cook”) as its independent compensation consultant for 2021.

After consideration of the independence assessment factors provided under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Market, the Compensation Committee obtained analysis and recommendations from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (“Gallagher”) pertaining todetermined that the compensation including salary, bonusconsultant is independent and equity grants,that the work performed in 2021 did not raise any conflicts of interest.

In consultation with respect to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The data from this most recent Gallagher analysis informedFW Cook, in September 2020, the Compensation Committee’s decisionCommittee selected the peer group used for 2021 compensation decisions as follows, focusing on the offer made to both Mr. Green and Mr. Rossi when they were hired in July 2019. The companies represented in the Gallagher study from October 2018 (the “Peer Group”) represented public companies from both the life sciences and industrial sectors, with a focus on companies that produce and provide equipment, and consisted of:market capitalization, revenues, industry:

 

Life Science Peer Group CompaniesIndustrial Peer Group Companies
Teligent,Champions Oncology, Inc.Gencor Industries Inc.
Jounce Therapeutics, Inc.Northwest Pipe Co.
Recro Pharma, Inc.Eastern Co.
Fluidigm Corp.Fluent, Inc.
Oxford Immunotec Global PlcHurco Companies Inc.
Nanostring Technologies Inc.BG Staffing, Inc.
Castlight Health, Inc.Willdan Group, Inc.
Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Willis Lease Finance Corp.
Fortress Biotech, Inc.Plug Power Inc.
RTI Surgical, Inc.Allied MotionOraSure Technologies, Inc.
Insys Therapeutics,Electromed, Inc.NL IndustriesPro-Dex, Inc.
EndologixEnzo Biochem, Inc.Eagle Bulk ShippingQuanterix Corporation
Fluidigm CorporationSurgalign Holdings, Inc.
Computer Programs & SystemsGenMark Diagnostics, Inc.Surmodics, Inc.
Veracyte,IRIDEX CorporationT2 Biosystems, Inc.
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.Transcat, Inc.
Meridian Bioscience, Inc.UFP Technologies, Inc.

Compensation Practices

Our executive compensation practices include the following, each of which the Compensation Committee believes reinforces our executive compensation objectives:

·market comparison of executive compensation against a relevant peer group;

·use of an independent compensation consultant reporting directly to the Compensation Committee and providing no other services to the Company;

·double-trigger vesting for equity awards in the event of a change in control;

·limited perquisites;

·executive stock ownership guidelines;

·clawback policy;

·anti-short selling, anti-margin and hedging policies; and

·annual say-on-pay vote.

 

The Peer Group companies had fiscal year 2017 revenues of between $67 million and $280 million and, as of August 31, 2018, had market capitalizations of between $106 million and $492 million.

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Gallagher also provides medical benefits consulting services to one of the Company’s subsidiaries, for which it received commission-based fees from insurers of $54,401 and fees paid by the Company of $1,495 during fiscal year 2019. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Gallagher pursuant to the Nasdaq rules and the Company concluded that the work performed by Gallagher for the Compensation Committee did not raise any conflict of interest.

Shareholder Engagement

At the request of the Board, our management team led an extensive shareholder outreach initiative during fiscal year 2019 and early fiscal year 2020. This outreach initiative was designed to assist our Board in fully understanding the perspectives of our shareholders. We also consulted any publicly-available policies of our major shareholders to better understand their views on corporate governance and executive compensation. This effort supplemented the ongoing communications between our management and shareholders through various engagement channels, including direct meetings, analyst conferences and road shows. These meetings provided the management and the Board with valuable insights into our shareholders’ perspectives.

During this engagement, we reached out to our top 30 shareholders representing more than 78% of our shares outstanding. Mr. Green, our new Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Rossi, our new Chief Financial Officer, held at least one telephonic meeting with shareholders representing 46% of our shares outstanding. We provided an open forum to each shareholder to discuss and comment on any aspects of the Company’s overall strategy, corporate governance, and executive compensation. Overall, we received positive feedback from the shareholders who engaged with us, and they expressed confidence in the new management team. Following this engagement with our shareholders, we agreed to keep in contact with them, as well as the other shareholders who chose not to engage with us, in order to continue to receive whatever feedback they may have on our strategy, corporate governance, and executive compensation.

Compensation Elements

 

The elements of executive compensation include base salary, annual cash incentive bonuses, long-term equity incentive compensation, employment agreements, and broad-based benefits programs. We have not adopted any formal guidelines for allocating total compensation between long-term and short-term compensation, cash compensation and non-cash compensation, or among different forms of non-cash compensation.

 


Base Salary

 

We pay our executive officers a base salary, which our Compensation Committee reviews and determines annually. We believe that a competitive base salary is a necessary element of any compensation program that is designed to attract and retain talented and experienced executives. We also believe that attractive base salaries can motivate and reward executives for their overall performance. The 20192021 annualized base salary of each of Messrs. Green, Rossi and Singh and our former executive officers, Mr. Duchemin and Ms. UnninayarOlson were:

 

Current Executive Officers

2021 Base Salary

Increase over 2020

James Green$573,7100%
Michael Rossi$340,0000%
Kenneth Olson$290,0000%

Current Executive Officers 2019 Base Salary Increase over 2018
James Green 573,100 N/A
Michael Rossi 340,000 N/A
Yash Singh 320,000 N/A
     
Former Executive Officers    
Jeff Duchemin 573,000 2.90%
Kam Unninayar 340,000 N/A

In connection with the cost management measures undertaken to address the evolving coronavirus pandemic, for the period beginning on April 13, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2020, Mr. Green and Mr. Rossi voluntarily agreed to have their salaries reduced by 50%.

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Annual Cash Incentive Bonuses

 

Consistent with our emphasis on performance-based incentive compensation programs, our executives are eligible to receive annual cash incentive bonuses. The Compensation Committee has the authority to provide such bonuses for a given fiscal year based on the performance of our executive officers with respect to key performance areas and targets established by the Compensation Committee for such period. These bonuses are primarily based upon our Company meeting certain growth targets, which most recently have been measured by exceeding targets relating to revenue growth and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share excludes certain charges noted in the footnote of the table below. In addition to the primary bonus components that may be earned based on the achievement of specific performance areas and targets set byMarch 2021, the Compensation Committee adopted the bonus also often includes a discretionary component. When assessing any such discretionary component, the Compensation Committee considers other performance goals, current economic conditions and exceptional and/or inadequate performances by each executive officer.2021 Annual Incentive Plan as set forth below:

 

MetricWeightingRationale for Metric
Revenue Growth50%Strategic goal to return the Company to organic growth
Adjusted Operating Income (1)50%Achievement of Adjusted Operating Income targets designed to significantly improve the core profitability of the business and invest in products and revenue growth activities.

In 2019, the Compensation Committee established performance targets with respect to the annual cash incentive bonuses for the named executive officers, including our former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.____________________

MetricWeightingTarget (100% Payout)Actual ResultsActual Payout
HBIO Revenue40%$125.3M$116.2M$0
HBIO Non-GAAP EPS (1)30%$0.22$0.18$0
Discretionary30%N/AN/A$0

 

(1)Metric adjustedAdjusted operating income is a non-GAAP measure and excludes certain expenses and income primarily resulting from purchase accounting or events that management does not believe are related to exclude,the underlying operations of the business such as amortization of intangibles related to acquisitions, costs related to acquisition, disposition and integration initiatives, impairment charges, relating to stock-based compensation; severance, restructuring and related costs; intangible assets amortizationother business transformation expenses, and impairments; non-cash adjustments related to acquisition accounting; and corresponding adjustments to income taxes.stock-based compensation expense. The effect of the current year’s annual cash incentive bonus is also excluded from adjusted operating income.

 

As a result of their departure,The Compensation Committee evaluated our former Chief Executive Officerperformance against these goals and, former Chief Financial Officer did not receive an annual incentive bonus with respect to fiscal year 2019.

In connection with the compensation packages they receivedbased upon their hiringthat evaluation and in 2019, eachconsideration of our currentoverall performance, the Compensation Committee awarded each named executive officers agreed that eligibility for annual cash bonuses would not commence until fiscal year 2020. As such, our current named executive officers did not receive anyofficer a 2021 annual cash incentive bonus forthat equaled 68% of his target. The Compensation Committee believes these payouts are appropriate due to the performance of the Company in 2021, particularly in light of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and each participating named executive officer’s contribution to the Company’s performance.

For fiscal year 2019, provided that when his employment commenced2021, Mr. Green received a pro-rated, time-based RSU, as described below, equal to a minimum annual bonus attributable to fiscal year 2019. This grant, along with a two year cliff based equity award granted to Mr. Green at such time, were designed to offset the loss a bonus that would have expected to have been paid to Mr. Green by his former employer, Spacelabs Healthcare.

Commencing in fiscal year 2020, Mr. Green iswas eligible to receive cash incentive compensation equal to 100% of his base salary, upon achievement of his financial targets, with a maximum of 150% of his base salary, and each of Messrs. Rossi and Singh areOlson were eligible to receive cash incentive compensation equal to 50% of their respective base salaries, with a maximum of 75% of the applicabletheir respective base salary.salaries.

 

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Our Performance Metrics that apply to each of our executive officers for the 2020 HBIO Annual Cash Incentive Plan are as set forth below. For 2020, the Compensation Committee eliminated the discretionary component of the annual incentive program. The Performance Metrics identified below have financial targets that were pre-established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The financial targets were established based on financial goals communicated publicly in September 2019.

MetricWeightingRationale for Metric
HBIO Revenues20%Strategic goal to return the Company to organic growth
HBIO Adjusted Operating Income (Non-GAAP Measure)80%Achievement of Adjusted Operating Income targets designed to significantly improve the core profitability of the business, enable HBIO to pay down debt, and invest in products and revenue growth activities.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation

 

We place a significant emphasis on performance-based incentive compensation. We grant long-term equity incentive awards in the form of stock option awards and/or restricted stock units (“RSUs”)RSUs to executives as part of our total compensation package. These awards generally represent a significant portion of total executive compensation. We use long-term equity incentive awards in order to align the interests of our executives and our stockholders by providing our executives with strong incentives to increase stockholder value and a significant reward for doing so.

 


The Compensation Committee’s long-term incentive strategy allows for use of a portfolio approach when granting awards. Each element of the portfolio is intended to address a different aspect of long-term incentive compensation, as set forth below:

 

Time-based RSUs serve as a retentive device and provide an interest in the value of the Company’s shares, because, even though they vest over time, they provide recipients with a certain equity interest, assuming continued employment. In addition to promoting retention, time-based RSUs further align executives’ interests with the interests of shareholders and provide a long-term ownership mentality as well as motivation to succeed in the long-term because the value of RSUs does not solely depend upon increases in the market price of our shares, which may occur over a short period of time. An RSU is a grant representing the right to receive a share of Common Stock upon vesting of the RSU and satisfaction of other conditions. A holder of an RSU does not have any rights of a stockholder until the RSU vests and is converted to Common Stock. The fair value of RSUs is based on the market price of our stock on the date of grant.
·Time-based RSUs serve as a retentive device and provide an interest in the value of the Company’s shares, because, even though they vest over time, they provide recipients with a certain equity interest, assuming continued employment. In addition to promoting retention, time-based RSUs further align executives’ interests with the interests of shareholders and provide a long-term ownership mentality as well as motivation to succeed in the long term. An RSU is a grant representing the right to receive a share of Common Stock upon vesting of the RSU and satisfaction of other conditions. A holder of an RSU does not have any rights of a stockholder until the RSU vests and is converted to Common Stock.

 

Stock options reward recipients based upon the appreciation in value of the Common Stock following the grant date, and there is no value to these awards if our share price does not increase. Stock options provide our executive officers with the right to purchase shares of our Common Stock at a fixed exercise price typically for a period of up to ten years. Stock options are earned based on continued service to us and generally vest over a range of one to four years, subject to continued employment with our Company. The exercise price of each stock option award granted under our Third Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Equity Plan”) is based on the fair market value of our Common Stock on the grant date. We do not have any program, plan or practice of setting the exercise price based on a date or price other than the fair market value of our Common Stock on the grant date.
Market condition RSUs provide an additional incentive for executive officers to create shareholder value, as these awards only vest if the relative total shareholder return, or TSR, of our Common Stock as compared to companies in the utilized index exceeds the performance goals established by the Committee. The Committee believes that measuring TSR on a relative, rather than on an absolute, basis provides a more relevant measure of the performance of the Company’s stock. By mitigating the impact of macroeconomic factors (both positive and negative) that are beyond the control of the Company and its executives, we believe relative TSR provides rewards that are better aligned with relative performance through varying economic cycles.  The maximum number of shares, relative to target, that can be earned under this TSR plan is 150%.
·Performance-based RSUs provide an additional incentive for executive officers to create shareholder value, as these awards only vest if the relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) of our Common Stock as compared to companies in the utilized index exceeds the performance goals established by the Committee. The Committee believes that measuring TSR on a relative, rather than on an absolute, basis provides a more relevant measure of the performance of the Company’s stock. By mitigating the impact of macroeconomic factors (both positive and negative) that are beyond the control of the Company and its executives, we believe relative TSR provides rewards that are better aligned with relative performance through varying economic cycles. The maximum number of shares, relative to target, that can be earned under this TSR plan is 150%.

 

Our decisions regarding the amount and type of long-term equity incentive compensation and relative weighting of these awards among total executive compensation have also been based on our understanding of market practices of our Peer Companies and take into account additional factors such as level of individual responsibility, experience and performance. The vesting of our long-term equity incentive compensation is typically subject to continued employment with our Company, and in some instances, to acceleration in connection with certain termination events and a change-in-control.

 

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In the first quarter of 2019,2021, the Compensation Committee granted a mix of stock options, time-based RSU awards and market conditionperformance-based RSUs to Mr. DucheminMessrs. Green, Rossi, and Ms. Unninayar,Olson, each with vesting subject, among other things, to the executive’s continued employment with the Company on the vesting dates.

 

NameTime-based RSUs (#)¹Options (#)²Market condition RSUs (#)³
Jeffrey Duchemin113,034271,13956,517
Kam Unninayar37,99591,13918,997

Name

Time-Based RSUs
(1)

Performance-Based RSUs
(2)

James W. Green194,698186,674
Michael A. Rossi38,46236,876
Kenneth Olson32,80531,453
 265,965255,003

____________________

 

(1)Each of theseThese time-based RSUs was granted on March 1, 2021 and options were to vestvests in fourthree equal installments on January 1, 2020,each of December 29, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

(2)Options had an exercise price of $3.79, being the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the grant date.
(3)The market conditionThese performance-based RSUs were to vest in equal installmentsgranted on March 7, 2020,1, 2021 and 2022, and were linkedsubject to relative TSR vesting conditions. These RSUs will vest upon the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of ourthe Common Stock during the period from March 7, 20191, 2021 to the earlier of (i) March 7, 2020 orDecember 31, 2023, and (ii) uponthe date of a change of control (measured(the “Measurement Period”), measured relative to the Nasdaq BiotechnologyRussell 2000 index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date).beginning on the first day of the Measurement Period and ending on the last day of the Measurement Period.

 

While these options, time-based RSUs and market condition RSUs were granted to our former named executive officers on March 7, 2019, these awards were forfeited upon the respective executive’s resignation as the vesting was subject to the executive’s continued employment with our Company.

In connection with the hiring of our current named executive officers in 2019, Messrs. Green, Rossi and Singh, such executives were granted long-term equity incentive grants to align their interest with the Company’s stockholders and our long-term performance. Such awards were granted on the respective employment commencement dates, being July 8 for Mr. Green, July 18 for Mr. Rossi and October 31 for Mr. Singh in the following amounts:

Stock OptionsMarket Condition RSUsTime-Based RSUs
James GreenN/A418,360 at target, based on HBIO TSR relative to Nasdaq Biotechnology Index over a one-year performance period, which represents a portion of the regular long-term incentive award

·      418,360 vesting in four equal annual installments beginning in January 2020, which represents a portion of the regular long-term incentive compensation award

·      202,875 vesting in July 2020 in lieu of annual incentive bonus (pro-rata)

·      243,072 vesting in July 2021 as an inducement to join the Company

Michael Rossi

111,842

Exercise Price = $1.78

47,753 at target, based on HBIO TSR relative to Nasdaq Biotechnology Index over a one-year performance periodN/A
Yash Singh

86,614

Exercise Price = $2.80

39,286 at target, based on HBIO TSR relative to Nasdaq Biotechnology Index over a one-year performance periodN/A


With respect to Mr. Green, the portion of such awards attributable to long-term incentive compensation as described below were intended to be amounts attributable to a twelve-month period beginning on the anniversary of his hire date.

For each of the options, the exercise prices were the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the respective grant date, and they vest in four equal annual installments commencing one year from the grant date, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment through the applicable vesting date.

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The market conditionperformance-based RSUs, for our current named executive officers vest in three equal installments commencing on the anniversary of the grant date, and are linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the our Common Stock from the respective grant date to the earlier of (i) the applicable anniversary of the grant or (ii) upon a change of control (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date, or for a change of control, the per share purchase price in such change of control).

With respect to all of the market condition RSUs described above, including those that have been forfeited in relation to our former named executive officers and those granted to our current named executive officers, the target number of these restricted stock unitsRSUs that may be earned is reported above; the maximum amount that may be earned is 150% of the target number, with a cap of 100% in the event of negative TSR. The TSR calculations will be adjusted to reflect stock splits, recapitalizations and other similar events. The market conditionperformance-based RSUs will vest at target—the amount reported in the table above—if the TSR of the Company’s Common Stock is at the 50th percentile of companies in the Nasdaq Biotechnology index.Russell 2000 Index. A payout at maximum, which is 150% of the target award, may be achieved if the relative TSR is at or above the 75th percentile of companies in the Nasdaq Biotechnology index.Russell 2000 Index. In order to receive a payout of at equal toleast 50% of the target award, the relative TSR must be at or above the 33rd25th percentile of companies in the Nasdaq Biotechnology index.Russell 2000 Index. If the relative TSR of the Company’s Common Stock is below the 20th25th percentile, the market conditionperformance-based RSUs will not vest and the awards will be forfeited. The complete payout matrix for the market conditionperformance-based RSUs granted in fiscal 20192021 is presented in the table below:

 

Relative TSR Percentile Rank

Performance Factor(1)Factor
20thBelow 25th percentile or lower0%
21st25th to 32nd50th percentilefor each 1 percentile in range above 20th percentile, 4%
33rd percentile50%
34th to 49th percentile50%, plus an additional 1.923% for each 1whole percentile in range above 33rd25th percentile an additional 3%
50th51st to 74th percentile100%
51st to 74th percentile100%, plus an additional 2.083% for each 1whole percentile in range above 5051thst percentile an additional 2%
75th75th percentile or higher150%

Employment Agreements

 

See “2021 Summary Compensation Table—Employment Agreements” and “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control” later in this proxy statement for a summary of the material terms of the Company’s employment agreements with Mr. Green and Mr. Rossi and the Company’s separation agreement with Mr. Olson.

Broad-Based Benefits Programs

 

All full-time employees in the United States, including our named executive officers, may participate in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan and in our health and welfare benefit programs, including medical coverage, dental coverage, disability insurance, life insurance and our 401(k) plan. The 401(k) plan provides for matching contributions equal to 100% of each dollar contributed up to 1% of eligible compensation plus 50% of each additional 1% of eligible compensation up to 6% for a maximum matching contribution of 3.5%. We offer similar plans in certain foreign countries.

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

 

At the recommendation of our Compensation Committee, our Board of Directors has implemented updated executive stock ownership guidelines with respect to our named executive officers. Such ownership guidelines require, within five years from their initial appointment or designation as named executive officers, our named executive officers to own our Common Stock with a market value equal to at least three times their respective annual base salary. With respect to satisfying such guidelines, stock options are excluded in the calculation while shares owned outright or beneficially owned (as defined under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), while restricted shares, including shares granted but not vested;vested, shares issuable upon the settlement of RSUs and shares held inacquired pursuant to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan are all included. The Compensation Committee will monitor compliance with the stock ownership guidelines, including approving any hardship exceptions or implementing any non-compliance penalties.

Clawbacks

Awards under the Company’s 2021 Incentive Plan and any shares issued pursuant to such awards will be subject to recovery or “clawback” by the Company if and to the extent that the vesting of such awards was determined or calculated based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other material inaccurate performance metric criteria; or if the Company or its subsidiaries terminate a grantee’s service relationship due to the grantee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or determine there are grounds for such a termination (whether or not such actions also constitute “cause” under an award agreement), any awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan, whether or not vested, as well as any shares of stock issued pursuant to awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan shall be subject to forfeiture, recovery and “clawback.” In addition, the 2021 Incentive Plan provides that if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with the financial reporting requirements of the securities laws, in certain cases the Compensation Committee may require the repayment of amounts paid under the 2021 Incentive Plan in excess of what the employee would have received under the accounting restatement.

Further, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws as a result of misconduct, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are required to reimburse the Company for any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation received by such officer from the Company during the twelve-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC (whichever first occurs) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and any profits realized from the sale of securities of Company during such twelve-month period.


Anti-Short Selling, Anti-Margin and Anti-MarginHedging Policies

The Company’s Insider Trading Guidelines explicitly prohibit Directors,directors, officers, employees, contractors and employeespart-time and temporary workers in possession of material non-public information from (i) buying, selling, or otherwise transacting in Company’s securities, including common stock, options and any other securities ofthat the Company that are not owned bymay issue, such person atas preferred stock, notes, bonds and convertible securities, as well as derivative securities; (ii) disclosing information to another individual for the timepurpose of enabling such individual to trade in the sale, (ii) buyingCompany’s securities on the basis of such information; (iii) engaging in transactions designed to hedge or selling puts, calls or options in respectoffset economic risks of owning the Company’s securities, including short sales of the Company’s securities at any time, and (iii)selling security futures related to the Company’s securities; (iv) trading in options or derivatives related to the Company’s securities; and (v) and purchasing anythe Company’s securities on margin (i.e. borrowing money to fund the stock purchase) other than the cashless exercises of the Company on margin.

employee stock options.

 

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2019 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE2021 Summary Compensation Table

 

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid or earned by each of the named executive officers noted below for services rendered in all capacities, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, and our Executive Vice President, Cellular and Molecular Technologies, as well as our former Chief Executive Officer and Chief FinancialOperating Officer during 2019,2021, all during the fiscal years ended December 31, 20192021 and 2018.2020. As a smaller reporting company, we are only required to provide two years of compensation information for our named executive officers.

 

Name and Principal Position Year Salary
($)
 Stock Awards
($)(1)
 Option Awards
($)(1)
 Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(2)
 All Other Compensation
($)
 Total
($)
James W. Green  2021   573,710   1,721,140      390,123   52,481(3)  2,737,454 
President and Chief Executive Officer  2020   573,710   1,223,771   573,710   215,304   33,958   2,620,453 
Michael A. Rossi  2021   340,000   340,000      115,600   23,150(4)  818,750 
Chief Financial Officer  2020   340,000   241,752   113,333   63,798   19,278   778,161 
Kenneth Olson (5)  2021   290,000   290,000      98,600   25,711(6)  704,311 
Chief Operating Officer  2020   285,263   206,196   96,667   54,416   186,540   829,082 

        Option Stock All Other  
Name and
Principal Position
 Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) Awards ($)(1) Awards ($)(1) Compensation ($) Total ($)
               
James W. Green 2019 $264,789  $-  $-  $1,972,503  $43,431(2) $2,280,723 
Chairman of the Board,                          
President and Chief Executive Officer                          
                           
Michael A. Rossi 2019 $145,157  $-  $85,000  $88,821  $1,569(3) $320,547 
Chief Financial Officer                          
                           
Yash Singh 2019 $45,539  $-  $110,000  $119,037  $-  $274,576 
Executive Vice President,                          
Cellular and Molecular Technologies                          
                           
Jeffrey A. Duchemin 2019 $305,461  $-  $428,400  $663,510  $447,986(4) $1,845,357 
Former President and 2018  551,580   367,620   -  $815,996   24,109   1,759,305 
Chief Executive Officer                          
                           
Kam Unninayar 2019 $150,385  $-  $144,000  $223,029  $2,877(5) $520,290 
Former Chief Financial Officer 2018  26,154   10,000   69,998  $69,998   -   176,150 

____________________

 

(1)Based on the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718, Compensation—“Compensation—Stock Compensation”. Under FASB ASC 718, the vesting condition related to the market conditionperformance-based RSUs is considered a market condition and not a financial performance condition. Accordingly, there is no grant date fair value below or in excess of the amount reflected in the table above for the named executive officers that could be calculated and disclosed based on achievement of the underlying market condition. Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are set forth in Note 1310 to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019,2021, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC on March 16, 2020.11, 2022.

 

(2)Represent amounts earned under the annual cash incentive plan.

(3)Includes $5,000$12,000 for personal usage of Company leased automobile allowance, $25,000 for housing, $9,900 for relocation expenses(as calculated in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines and $3,531included as compensation on the W-2), $21,769 in Company medical, dental and other insurance matching, $8,562 in president's club travel, and $10,150 in matching contributions made by the Company to Mr. Green'sGreen’s tax-qualified 401(k) Savings Plan account.

 

(3)(4)Includes $1,569$21,769 in Company medical, dental and other insurance matching, and $1,381 in matching contributions made by the Company to Mr. Rossi'sRossi’s tax-qualified 401(k) Savings Plan account.

 

(4)(5)Mr. Olson resigned from his position as Chief Operating Officer effective January 31, 2022.

(6)Includes $6,000$8,400 for personal usage of Company leased automobile allowance, $10,600(as calculated in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines and included as compensation on the W-2), $8,103 in Company medical, dental and other insurance matching, and $9,208 in matching contributions made by the Company to Mr. Duchemin'sOlson’s tax-qualified 401(k) Savings Plan account, $2,499 for life insurance purchased for Mr. Duchemin's benefit and $428,887 representing severance for Mr. Duchemin's benefit paid through December 31, 2019. Mr. Duchemin’s total severance was $862,500 with the remaining $433,613 to be paid during the year ended December 31, 2020 subject to his continuing obligations described in his separation agreement.  Mr. Duchemin departed from his roles as President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2019.

(5)

Includes $2,877 in matching contributions made by the Company to Ms. Unninayar's tax-qualified 401(k) Savings Plan account.  Ms. Unninayar resigned from her role as Chief Financial Officer in May 2019.

 

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Employment Agreements

 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS—2019

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the individual grants of equity awards to the named executive officers who received such grants during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. These awards identified in the table below are also reported in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End—2019 included within the proxy statement.

          Grant Date  
      Number of   Fair Value of  
  Award Grant Shares of Stock or   Option  
Name Type Date Units (#)   Awards ($)  
             
James W. Green Market Condition RSU 7/8/2019 418,360 (1) $598,255  (15)
  Time Based RSU 7/8/2019 202,875 (2)  322,571  (16)
  Time Based RSU 7/8/2019 243,072 (3)  386,484  (16)
  Time Based RSU 7/8/2019 418,360 (4)  665,192  (16)
               
Michael A. Rossi Market Condition RSU 7/18/2019 47,753 (5) $88,821  (15)
  Stock Option Award 7/18/2019 111,842 (6)  85,000  (17)
               
Yash Singh Market Condition RSU 10/31/2019 39,286 (7) $119,037  (15)
  Stock Option Award 10/31/2019 86,614 (8)  110,000  (17)
               
Jeffrey A. Duchemin Market Condition RSU 3/7/2019 56,517 (9) $235,111  (15)
  Time Based RSU 3/7/2019 113,034 (10)  428,399  (16)
  Stock Option Award 3/7/2019 271,139 (11)  428,400  (17)
               
Kam Unninayar Market Condition RSU 3/7/2019 18,997 (12) $79,028  (15)
  Time Based RSU 3/7/2019 37,995 (13)  144,001  (16)
  Stock Option Award 3/7/2019 91,139 (14)  144,000  (17)

(1)These market condition restricted stock units were granted on July 8, 2019 with performance based vesting conditions. The RSUs vest in three equal annual installments on July 8, 2020, July 8, 2021 and July 8, 2022, and are linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Issuer's Common Stock from July 8, 2019 to the earlier of July 8, 2020 or upon a change of control (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date, or for a change of control, the per share purchase price in such change of control). The target number of these RSUs that may be earned is noted in the table above; the maximum amount is 150% of the number reported.

(2)These restricted stock units were granted on July 8, 2019 and vest in full on July 8, 2020. The vesting of all restricted stock units is subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company, and is also subject, in some instances, to acceleration in connection with certain termination events and a change-in-control as described in "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control."

(3)These restricted stock units were granted on July 8, 2019 and vest in full on July 8, 2021. The vesting of all restricted stock units is subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company, and is also subject, in some instances, to acceleration in connection with certain termination events and a change-in-control as described in "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control."

(4)These restricted stock units were granted on July 8, 2019 and vest in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of January 1, 2019. The vesting of all restricted stock units is subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company, and is also subject, in some instances, to acceleration in connection with certain termination events and a change-in-control as described in "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control."

(5)These market condition restricted stock units were granted on July 18, 2019 with performance based vesting conditions. The RSUs vest in three equal annual installments on July 18, 2020, July 18, 2021 and July 18, 2022, and are linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Issuer's Common Stock from July 18, 2019 to the earlier of July 18, 2020 or upon a change of control (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date, or for a change of control, the per share purchase price in such change of control). The target number of these RSUs that may be earned is noted in the table above; the maximum amount is 150% of the number reported.

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(6)This stock option award was granted on July 18, 2019 and vests in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of July 18, 2019. The fair value of the stock option award was based on the Black Scholes value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant multiplied by the total number of the shares underlying the option granted to Mr. Rossi.

(7)These market condition restricted stock units were granted on October 31, 2019 with performance based vesting conditions. The RSUs vest in three equal annual installments on October 31, 2020, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2022, and are linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Issuer's Common Stock from October 31, 2019 to the earlier of October 31, 2020 or upon a change of control (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date, or for a change of control, the per share purchase price in such change of control). The target number of these RSUs that may be earned is noted in the table above; the maximum amount is 150% of the number reported.

(8)This stock option award was granted on October 31, 2019 and vests in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of October 31, 2019. The fair value of the stock option award was based on the Black Scholes value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant multiplied by the total number of the shares underlying the option granted to Mr. Singh.

(9)These market condition restricted stock units were granted on March 7, 2019 with performance based vesting conditions. Due to Mr. Duchemin's departure, the full award was forfeited on July 7, 2019.

(10)These restricted stock units were granted on March 7, 2019 with vesting in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of January 1, 2019. The vesting of all restricted stock units is subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company, and is also subject, in some instances, to acceleration in connection with certain termination events and a change-in-control as described in "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control." Due to Mr. Duchemin's departure, 28,258 shares had accelerated vesting on July 7, 2019. The remaining shares were forfeited on July 7, 2019.

(11)This stock option award was granted on March 7, 2019 and vests in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of January 1, 2019. The fair value of the stock option award was based on the Black Scholes value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant multiplied by the total number of the shares underlying the option granted to Mr. Duchemin. Due to Mr. Duchemin's departure, 67,784 underlying shares had accelerated vesting on July 7, 2019. The remaining shares underlying the option were forfeited on July 7, 2019.

(12)These market condition restricted stock units were granted on March 7, 2019 with performance based vesting conditions. Due to Ms. Unninayar's departure, the full award was forfeited on May 31, 2019.

(13)These restricted stock units were granted on March 7, 2019 with vesting in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of January 1, 2019. The vesting of all restricted stock units is subject to the executive's continued employment with the Company, and is also subject, in some instances, to acceleration in connection with certain termination events and a change-in-control as described in "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control." Due to Ms. Unninayar's departure, the shares were forfeited on May 31, 2019.

(14)This stock option award was granted on March 7, 2019 and vests in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of January 1, 2019. The fair value of the stock option award was based on the Black Scholes value of the Company's stock on the date of the grant multiplied by the total number of the shares underlying the option granted to Ms. Unninayar. Due to Ms. Unninayar's departure, the option was forfeited on May 31, 2019.

(15)The fair value of the market condition RSU's are based on the Monte-Carlo simulated value on the grant date.

(16)The fair value of the RSUs is based on the closing market price of the Company's stock on the date of the grant multiplied by the total number of the RSUs granted to each of the named executive officers of the Company.

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(17)Based on the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718, "Compensation- Stock Compensation". Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are set forth in Note 13 to the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2020.

Employment Agreements

Chief Executive Officer

We have entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Green, dated July 2, 2019, which provides for a term of two years from his commencement date of July 8, 2019, which such term shall automatically be extended for two additional years on each anniversary of the commencement date unless, not less than 90 days prior to each such date, either party shall have given written notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In addition, the agreement provides for an annual base salary, which is subject to review annually by our Board of Directors andor Compensation Committee. Furthermore, commencing with fiscal year 2020, Mr. Green is eligible to receive cash incentive compensation on an annual basis of up to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of his base salary upon meeting objectives as determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee from time to time. Mr. Green is also eligible to participate in other incentive compensation plans as the Board of Directors or Committee shall provide for the Company’s senior executive officers.

 


Chief Financial Officer

 

We have entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Rossi, dated July 18, 2019, which provides for a term of one year, which such term shall automatically be extended for one additional year on each anniversary of the commencement date unless, not less than 90 days prior to each such date, either party shall have given written notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In addition, the agreement provides for an annual base salary, which is subject to review annually by our Board of Directors andor Compensation Committee. Furthermore, commencing with fiscal year 2020, Mr. Rossi is eligible to receive cash incentive compensation on an annual basis of up to fifty percent (50%) of his Base Salary upon meeting objectives as determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee from time to time. Mr. Rossi is also eligible to participate in other incentive compensation plans as the Board of Directors or Committee shall provide for the Company’s senior executive officers.

Executive Vice President, Cellular & Molecular Technologies

We have entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Singh, dated October 31, 2019, which provides for a term of one year, which such term shall automatically be extended for one additional year on each anniversary of the commencement date unless, not less than 90 days prior to each such date, either party shall have given written notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the agreement. In addition, the agreement provides for an annual base salary, which is subject to review annually by our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee. Furthermore, commencing with fiscal year 2020, Mr. Singh is eligible to receive cash incentive compensation on an annual basis of up to fifty percent (50%) of his Base Salary upon meeting objectives as determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee from time to time. Mr. Singh is also eligible to participate in other incentive compensation plans as the Board of Directors or Committee shall provide for the Company’s senior executive officers.

Former Chief Executive Officer

Prior to his departure in 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Duchemin, dated August 26, 2013.  This agreement, as amended, provided for a term ending August 26, 2020, which would automatically be extended for two additional years following the end of the term then in effect unless, not less than 90 days prior to each such date, either party gave written notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the agreement. As amended, Mr. Duchemin’s employment agreement provided for an annual base salary, as well as eligibility to receive cash incentive compensation on an annual basis of up to a one hundred fifty percent (150%) of his base salary upon meeting objectives as determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, which could include non-GAAP earnings per share (on a pro-forma basis, as applicable), revenue growth, and EBITDA, each exclusive of one-time charges, and other discretionary factors.   Under the employment agreement, the base salary amount was subject to review annually by our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee.  Mr. Duchemin was also eligible to participate in other incentive compensation plans as the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee provided for our senior executive officers. In connection with his hiring, Mr. Duchemin also received an inducement stock option grant of 500,000 options.

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The employment agreement with Mr. Duchemin also required us to provide certain payments and benefits to him in the event of a termination of his employment by us without cause, by him for good reason or upon his death or disability. In return, Mr. Duchemin covenanted not to compete with us or solicit our employees for one year following the termination of his employment.

Former Chief Financial Officer

Prior to her departure in 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Unninayar, dated October 18, 2018.  The agreement provided for an initial term ending November 26, 2019, which would automatically be extended for two additional years following the end of the term then in effect unless, not less than 90 days prior to each such date, either party gave written notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the agreement. Ms. Unninayar’s employment agreement provided for an annual base salary (initially $340,000) and eligibility to receive cash incentive compensation on an annual basis of up to a fifty percent (50%) of her base salary upon meeting objectives as determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee from time to time, which such bonus was subject to a 0 to 2x multiplier depending on individual and Company performance as determined by the Board or a Committee thereof.   Under the employment agreement, the base salary amount was subject to review annually by our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee.  Ms. Unninayar was also eligible to participate in other incentive compensation plans as the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee provided for our senior executive officers. The employment agreement also included a customary best net/modified economic cutback 280G provisions. In connection with her hiring, Ms. Unninayar also received inducement equity awards having an aggregate value at issuance of $140,000, consisting of $70,000 in non-qualified stock options, and $70,000 in deferred stock awards of restricted stock units.

The employment agreement with Ms. Unninayar also required us to provide certain payments and benefits to the executive in the event of a termination of her employment by us without cause, by her for good reason or upon her death or disability. In return, Ms. Unninayar covenanted not to compete with us or solicit our employees for one year following the termination of employment.  

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END—2019Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End—2021

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the number and value of exercisable and unexercisable options to purchase Common Stock, and the number of time-based and market conditionperformance-based RSUs held by the applicable named executive officers noted below as of December 31, 2019.2021.

 

   

Option Awards

 Stock Awards 
   

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable

   

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable

   

Option Exercise Price ($)

  Option Expiration Date Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)  

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(1)

  Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)  

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(1)

 
James W. Green  60,000      5.27  5/5/2025 209,180 (2)  1,474,719  186,674 (3)  1,316,052 
   117,563   235,127 (4)   2.63  6/11/2030 109,070 (5)  768,944       
                129,799 (6)  915,083       
                218,140 (7)  1,537,887       
                209,179 (8)  1,474,712       
Michael A. Rossi  55,920   55,922 (9)   1.78  7/18/2029 21,545 (5)  151,892  36,876 (3)  259,976 
   46,448   46,448 (4)   2.63  6/11/2030 25,641 (6)  180,769       
                23,877 (10)  168,333       
                43,092 (11)  303,799       
Kenneth Olson  18,518   18,519 (12)   2.95  11/1/2029 18,378 (5)  129,565  31,453 (3)  221,744 
   39,618   39,617 (4)   2.63  6/11/2030 21,870 (6)  154,184       
                36,756 (13)  259,130       
                5,029 (14)  35,454       

  Option Awards Stock Awards
                      
               Market Equity Incentive   Equity Incentive
  Number of Number of       Number of  Value of Plan Awards:   Plan Awards:
  Securities Securities       Shares or  Shares or Number of   Market or Payout
  Underlying Underlying       Units of  Units of Unearned Shares,   Value of Unearned
  Unexercised Unexercised   Option Option Stock That  Stock That Units or Other   Shares, Units or
  Options (#) Options (#)   Exercise Expiration Have Not  Have Not Rights That Have   Other Rights That
  Exercisable Unexercisable   Price ($) Date Vested (#)  Vested ($)(1) Not Vested (#)   Have Not Vested ($)(1)
                      
James W. Green 60,000 -   $5.27  5/5/2025 35,100(2) $107,055 418,360 (6) $1,275,998
              202,875(3) $618,769       
              243,072(4) $741,370       
              418,360(5) $1,275,998       
                          
Michael A. Rossi - 111,842 (7) $1.78  7/28/2029 -   - 47,753 (8) $145,647
                          
Yash Singh - 86,614 (9) $2.80  10/31/2029 -   - 39,286 (10) $119,822
                          
Jeffrey A. Duchemin 67,784 -   $3.79  1/10/2021 -   - -    -
  130,000 -   $5.56  1/10/2021 -   - -    -
  300,000 -   $4.12  1/10/2021 -   - -    -
  350,000 -   $4.31  1/10/2021 -   - -    -

____________________

 

(1)(1)Based on a closing stock price of $3.05$7.05 per share on December 31, 2019.2021.

(2)These RSUs were granted on May 23, 2019 in connection with Mr. Green’s Board service and, assuming continued service with the Company, the RSUs vest in full on May 23, 2020.
(3)These RSUs were granted on July 8, 2019 and, assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested RSUs vest in full on July 8, 2020.
(4)These RSUs were granted on July 8, 2019 and, assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested shares vest in full on July 8, 2021.
(5)These RSUs were granted on July 8, 2019 and, assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested shareswill vest in equal installments on each of January 1, of each of 2020, 2021, 2022 and January 1, 2023.

(6)(3)These market conditionperformance-based RSUs were granted on July 8, 2019 with performance-basedMarch 1, 2021 subject to relative TSR vesting conditions. The RSUs will vest in three equal installmentsfull on July 8, 2020, July 8, 2021 and July 8, 2022,December 31, 2023, and are linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Company's Common Stock from July 8, 2019March 1, 2021 to the earlier of July 8, 2020December 31, 2023 or uponthe date of a change of control (measured relative to the Russell 2000 Index and based on the 20-day trading average beginning on the first day of the measurement period and ending on the last day of the measurement period). The target number of these RSUs that may be earned is noted above; the maximum amount is 150% of the amount reported.


(4)These options were granted on June 11, 2020 and, assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested options will become exercisable in equal installments on each of December 29, 2022 and December 29, 2023.

(5)These RSUs were granted on June 11, 2020 and, assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested shares will vest in equal installments on each of December 29, 2022 and December 29, 2023.

(6)These RSUs were granted on March 1, 2021 and, assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested shares will vest in equal installments on each of December 29, 2022 and December 29, 2023.

(7)These RSUs were granted on June 11, 2020 with performance-based vesting conditions linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Common Stock from June 11, 2020 to June 11, 2021 (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date, or for a change of control, the per share purchase price in such change of control)date). The targetmaximum number of these RSUs that may bewas earned is notedon June 11, 2021 and an additional 109,070 shares were added to the award. Assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested shares will vest in equal installments on each of June 11, 2022 and June 11, 2023.

(8)These performance-based RSUs were granted on July 8, 2019 subject to relative TSR vesting conditions linked to the table above; the maximum amount is 150%achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Company’s Common Stock from July 8, 2019 to July 8, 2020 (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date). The maximum number reported.of RSUs was earned on July 8, 2020 and an additional 209,179 shares were added to the award. The unvested shares will vest on July 8, 2022

(7)(9)These options were granted on July 18, 2019 and, assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested options will become exercisable in equal installments on each of July 18, of each of 2020, 2021, 2022 and July 18, 2023.

 

30

(8)(10)These market condition RSUs were granted on July 18, 2019 with performance-based vesting conditions.  The RSUs vest in three equal installments on July 18, 2020, July 18, 2021 and July 18, 2022, and areconditions linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Company's Common Stock from July 18, 2019 to the earlier of July 18, 2020 or upon a change of control (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date, or for a change of control, the per share purchase price in such change of control)date). The targetmaximum number of these RSUs that may bewas earned is noted inon July 18, 2020 and an additional 23,877 shares were added to the table above; the maximum amount is 150% of the number reported.
(9)The option was granted on October 31, 2019 and, assumingaward. Assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested options become exercisable in equal installmentsshares will vest on October 31 of each of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.July 18, 2022.

(10)(11)These market condition RSUs were granted on October 31, 2019June 11, 2020 with performance-based vesting conditions.  The RSUs vest in three equal installments on October 31, 2020, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2022, and areconditions linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Company’s Common Stock from October 31, 2019June 11, 2020 to the earlier of October 31, 2020 or upon a change of controlJune 11, 2021 (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date, or for a change of control, the per share purchase price in such change of control)date). The targetmaximum number of these RSUs that may bewas earned is notedon June 11, 2021 and an additional 21,546 shares were added to the award. Assuming continued employment with the Company, the unvested shares will vest in equal installments on each of June 11, 2022 and June 11, 2023.

(12)These options were granted on November 1, 2019 and the table above;unvested options will become exercisable in equal installments on each of November 1, 2022 and November 1, 2023.

(13)These RSUs were granted on June 11, 2020 with performance-based vesting conditions linked to the maximum amount is 150%achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Common Stock from June 11, 2020 to June 11, 2021 (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date). The maximum number reported.of RSUs was earned on June 11, 2021 and an additional 18,378 shares were added to the award. The unvested shares will vest in equal installments on each of June 11, 2022 and June 11, 2023.

(14)These RSUs were granted on November 1, 2019 with performance-based vesting conditions linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Common Stock from November 1, 2019 to November 1, 2020 (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index and based on the 20-day trading average price before each such date). The performance factor on November 1, 2020 was 89% and 1,863 shares were forfeited from the award. The unvested shares will vest on November 1, 2022.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control

 

Termination Arrangements with Current Named Executive Officers

 

The employment agreements with each of our named executive officersMr. Green and Mr. Rossi also require the Company to provide certain payments and benefits in the event of a termination of the executive’s employment by us without cause, by the executive for good reason, upon death or disability or in relation to a change-in-control. The events constituting cause, good reason and a change-in-control are specified in the respective agreement. Such benefits include, without limitation, accrued and unpaid base salary to the date of termination, accrued and unused vacation, and if to the extent required by law, any bonuses or other compensation actually earned for periods ended prior to the termination event. These employment agreements also provide change-in-control benefits, and have customary best net/modified economic cutback provisions in relation to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. In some instances, the executive’s receipt of such payments and other benefits in connection with such a termination is subject to the executive signing a general release of claims, as provided in the respective employment agreement.

 


With respect to termination due to death or disability, all equity awards of the named executive officers shall accelerate and fully vest and we shall also pay a cash lump sum equal to the value of COBRA premiums for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination that may be used by the executive or his spouse and dependents, as applicable, to pay for health insurance coverage that is substantially similar to the coverage executive and his eligible dependents received prior to the termination.

 

In the case of a termination by the executive for good reason, or by us without cause, and subject to the terms of the agreement, (i) we shall pay the executive an amount equal to eighteen (18) months for Mr. Green, and twelve (12) months for each of Mr. Rossi and Mr. Singh, of his respective base salary rate in equal installments over the period of one year from the date of termination in accordance with our payroll procedures and (ii) any stock options or other stock based grants which would otherwise vest within 12 months of the date of termination shall become fully vested or non-forfeitable (provided that with respect to Mr. Green, as to the time-based RSUs granted in connection with his hiring, such period shall be 24 months, and with respect to the market conditionperformance-based RSUs granted in connection with his hiring, the performance period would be measured as to the period from grant through the termination event). Further, following any such termination, we shall reasonably determine what annual bonus the executive would have received had he remained employed throughout the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, and if any such annual bonus would have been earned, we shall pay the executive a pro rata portion of such determined annual bonus by a lump-sum cash payment. In addition, following the termination we shall also pay a cash lump sum equal to the value of COBRA premiums for a period of eighteen (18) months for Mr. Green, and twelve (12) months for Mr. Rossi, and Mr. Singh, following the termination that may be used by the respective executive to pay for health insurance coverage that is substantially similar to the coverage executive and his eligible dependents received prior to the termination.

 

31

In the event that the executive is terminated within three months prior to, or twelve months after, a change in control (as described in his employment agreement), we shall pay the executive a single lump sum in cash equal to twenty-four (24) months as to Mr. Green, and eighteen (18) months as to Mr. Rossi, and Mr. Singh, of his respective base salary, and all stock options and other stock-based awards granted to the executive shall immediately accelerate and become exercisable or non-forfeitable as of the date of the change in control (and as to Mr. Green, with respect to the market conditionperformance-based RSUs granted in connection with his hiring, the performance period would be measured as to the period from grant through the change of control event). In addition, following such termination we shall also pay a cash lump sum equal to the value of COBRA premiums for a period of twenty four (24) months for Mr. Green, and eighteen (18) months for Mr. Rossi, and Mr. Singh, following the termination that may be used by the respective executive to pay for health insurance coverage that is substantially similar to the coverage executive and his eligible dependents received prior to the termination.

 

We believe that it is fair to provide for accelerated vesting because equity grants generally provide a high proportion of the total compensation of our executive officers. Very often, senior management lose their jobs in connection with a change-in-control. By agreeing up front to protect these executive officers from losing their equity in the event of a change-in-control, we believe we can reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of our executive officers to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of an actual or threatened change-in-control. This protection also aligns the interests of such executive officers with that of our stockholders.

 

Termination ArrangementsSeparation Agreement with Mr. DucheminOlson

 

In July 2019 we transitionedOn January 26, 2022, in connection with Mr. Olson’s resignation from our former President andhis position as Chief ExecutiveOperating Officer, Jeffrey A. Duchemin, to Mr. Green. As previously disclosed, Mr. Duchemin transitioned out of his roles as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company entered into a Separation Agreement and receivedRelease with Mr. Olson. Under the terms of such separation benefits he was contractually entitled to under his employment agreement, in relation to a termination without cause, which consisted of (i) a severance amount equal to 18 months of his base salary rate in equal installments over the period of one year from the date of termination; (ii) any stock options or other stock based grants which would otherwise vest within 12 months of the date of termination shall become fully vested or non-forfeitable; and (iii) a cash lump sum equal to the value of COBRA premiums for a period of eighteen (18) months following the termination that may be used by executive to pay for health insurance coverage that is substantially similar to the coverage executive and his eligible dependents received prior to the termination. In addition, the Company agreed thatwill, among other things, continue to employ Mr. Duchemin’s vested options will be exercisable throughOlson and including January 10, 2021,pay him his current salary until December 31, 2022 in exchange for his remote assistance on projects and he is entitled to monthly reimbursementthe transition of expenses pertaining to out-placement services up to an aggregate amount of $25,000.

Termination Arrangements with Ms. Unninayar

In May 2019 Kam Unninayar, our former Chief Financial Officer, resigned. In connection with her resignation, Ms. Unninayar received the accrued compensation she was contractually entitled to under her employment agreement, which consisted of accrued and unpaid base salary, vacation time and to the extent required by law, any other compensation actually earned for periods ended prior to the date of her resignation.  duties, unless earlier terminated.

 

 

32


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENTSecurity Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our outstanding Common Stock as of April 17, 2020March 23, 2022 by: (i) all persons known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our Common Stock; (ii) each of our Directors and nominees for Director; (iii) each of the named executive officers; and (iv) all of our Directors and executive officers as a group.

 

The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder is determined under rules issued by the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power and includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days after April 17, 2020March 23, 2022 through the exercise of any warrant, stock option or other right. The inclusion in this proxy statement of such shares, however, does not constitute an admission that the named stockholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of such shares. Common stock subject to options currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2020,March 23, 2022, are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding those options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares of Common Stock, except to the extent spouses share authority under community property laws.

 

  Common Stock Beneficially Owned
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) Shares Percent (2)
Greater than 5% Holders      
Engine Capital Management, LP and affiliates 3,209,490 8.4% (3)
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor      
New York, NY 10105      
       
Chane Graziano 2,546,107 6.6% (4)
23610 Peppermill Court      
Bonita Springs, FL 34134      
       
Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP 2,132,796 5.6% (5)
6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One      
Austin, TX 78746      
       
Potomac Capital Management, Inc. and affiliates 2,087,401 5.4% (6)
299 Park Avenue, 21st Floor      
New York, NY 10171      
       
Non-Employee Directors (1)      
John F. Kennedy 358,702 * (7)
Bertrand Loy 324,759 * (8)
Thomas Loewald 166,775 * (9)
Katherine Eade 184,740 * (10)
Alan Edrick 35,725 * (11)
Susan Steele - *  
       
Named Executive Officers (1)      
James Green 384,368 * (12)
Michael A. Rossi -    
Yash Singh -    
       
All Executive Officers and Directors, as a group (9 persons); 1,455,069 3.7% (13)
   

Common Stock Beneficially Owned

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)  

Shares

   

Percent (2)

 
Greater than 5% Holders        
BlackRock, Inc.
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
  3,063,190   7.4% (3)
Chane Graziano
23610 Peppermill Court
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
  2,546,107   6.2%(4)
Portolan Capital Management, LLC
2 International Place, FL 26
Boston, MA 02110
  2,538,799   6.2% (5)
Punch & Associates Investment Management, Inc.
7701 France Ave. So., Suite 300
Edina, MN 55435
  2,166,775   5.3% (6)
         
Non-Employee Directors        
Bertrand Loy  416,482   1.0% (7)
Katherine A. Eade  289,041   *(8)
Thomas W. Loewald  273,226   *(8)
Alan Edrick  202,093   *(9)
         
Named Executive Officers        
James Green  1,197,664   2.9% (10)
Michael A. Rossi  175,432   *(11)
Kenneth Olson  104,723   *(12)
All Executive Officers and Directors, as a group (6 persons)  2,553,938   6.2% (13)

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of our outstanding Common Stock.____________________

 

33*Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of our outstanding Common Stock.

(1)(1)The address for all non-employee Directorsdirectors and named executive officers is c/o Harvard Bioscience, Inc., 84 October Hill Road, Holliston, Massachusetts 01746.

(2)(2)Based on 38,375,13341,241,449 shares outstanding on April 17, 2020March 23, 2022 together with the applicable options and restricted stock units for each stockholder.

(3)(3)This information is based solely upon a Schedule 13D/13G/A filed by Engine Capital Management, LP (“Engine Management”) and certain affiliatesBlackRock, Inc. with the SEC on February 19, 2020.  Engine Capital, L.P. (“Engine Capital”) reported3, 2022, reporting sole voting power over 2,630,0733,003,360 shares and sole dispositive power over 2,630,0733,063,190 shares.  Engine Jet Capital, L.P. (“Engine Jet”) reported sole voting power over 579,417 shares and sole dispositive power over 579,417 shares. Engine Management reported sole voting power over 3,209,490 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,209,490 shares. Engine Capital Management GP, LLC (“Engine GP”) reported sole voting power over 3,209,490 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,209,490 shares.  Engine Investments, LLC (“Engine Investments”) reported sole voting power over 3,209,490 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,209,490 shares. Arnaud Ajdler reported sole voting power over 3,209,490 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,209,490 shares. Engine Management is the investment manager of each of Engine Capital and Engine Jet. Engine GP serves as the general partner of Engine Management. Engine Investments serves as the general partner of each of Engine Capital and Engine Jet. Mr. Ajdler serves as the managing partner of Engine Management and the managing member of each of Engine GP and Engine Investments.


(4)(4)This information is based solely upon a Schedule 13G/A filed by Chane Graziano with the SEC on May 13, 2019, reporting sole voting power over 2,546,107 shares and sole dispositive power over 2,546,107 shares.

(5)(5)This information is based solely upon a Schedule 13G/A filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, LPPortolan Capital Management, LLC and George McCabe with the SEC on February 12, 2020,11, 2022, reporting sole voting power over 2,009,539 shares and sole dispositive power over 2,132,7962,538,799 shares.

(6)(6)This information is based solely upon a Schedule 13G/A13G filed by Potomac CapitalPunch & Associates Investment Management, Inc. (“Potomac Capital”) and certain affiliates with the SEC on February 7, 2020.  Paul J. Solit reported14, 2022, reporting sole voting power over 2,087,401 shares, soleand dispositive power over 2,087,4012,166,775 shares. Potomac Capital reported sole voting power over 1,832,268 shares and sole dispositive power over 1,832,268 shares.  Potomac Capital Management V LLC (the “Potomac General Partner”) reported sole voting power over 1,832,268 shares and sole dispositive power over 1,832,268 shares. Potomac Capital Partners V, LP (“Potomac V”) reported sole voting power over 1,832,268 shares and sole dispositive power over 1,832,268 shares. Potomac V is a private investment vehicle. Potomac Capital is the investment manager of Potomac V. Potomac General Partner is the general partner of Potomac V. Mr. Solit is the principal and controlling person of Potomac Capital and Potomac General Partner.

(7)Includes options to acquire 37,059 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2020 and 18,100 restricted stock units that will fully vest within 60 days after April 17, 2020.
(8)(7)Includes options to acquire 55,300 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2020,March 23, 2022, as well as 18,10018,889 restricted stock units that will fully vest within 60 days after April 17, 2020.March 23, 2022.

(9)(8)Includes options to acquire 58,40087,600 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2020,March 23, 2022, as well as 35,10016,925 restricted stock units that will fully vest within 60 days after April 17, 2020.March 23, 2022.

(10)(9)Includes options to acquire 58,40067,867 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2020,March 23, 2022, as well as 35,10016,925 restricted stock units that will fully vest within 60 days after April 17, 2020.March 23, 2022.

(11)Includes 35,725 shares of Common Stock.
(12)(10)Includes options to acquire 60,000177,563 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2020,March 23, 2022.

(11)Includes options to acquire 102,368 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after March 23, 2022.

(12)Includes options to acquire 58,136 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after March 23, 2022.

(13)Includes options to acquire 578,298 shares that are exercisable within 60 days after March 23, 2022 as well as 18,10069,664 restricted stock units that will fully vest within 60 days after April 17, 2020.
(13)Includes options to acquire 269,159March 23, 2022. Does not include shares that are exercisable within 60 days after April 17, 2020,beneficially owned by Kenneth Olson, who resigned from his position as well 175,500 restricted stock units that will fully vest within 60 days after April 17, 2020.Chief Operating Officer effective January 31, 2022.

 

 

 

34


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 20192021 concerning the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under our existing equity compensation plans.

 

Plan Category Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Restricted Stock Units, Warrants and Rights Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, And Rights Remaining Available For Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected In Column (a))
   (a)   (b)   (c) 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)  3,406,135  $3.10   4,246,710 (2) 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders         
Total  3,406,135       4,246,710 

      Number of Securities
    Weighted Remaining Available
  Number of Securities to Average Exercise For Future Issuance
  be Issued Upon Exercise Price of Under Equity
  of Outstanding Options, Outstanding Compensation Plans
  Restricted Stock Units, Options, Warrants, (Excluding Securities
Plan Category Warrants and Rights And Rights Reflected In Column (a))
  (a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans            
approved by security holders (1)  4,100,568  $4.09   785,952(2)
             
Equity compensation plans            
not approved by security holders  285,495  $2.23   - 
             
Total  4,386,063       785,952 

____________________

 

(1)(1)Consists of the EquityHarvard Bioscience, Inc. Fourth Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. 2021 Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) and the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended, the “ESPP”). NumberThe number of securities in column (a) for plans approved by security holders consists of 2,067,6661,404,816 outstanding stock options and 2,032,902 RSUs. Number of securities in column (a) for plans not approved by security holders consists of 198,456 outstanding stock options and 87,0392,001,319 RSUs.

(2)Represents 467,3564,149,876 shares available for future issuance under the 20002021 Plan and 318,59696,834 shares available for future issuance under the ESPP.

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONSTransactions With Related Persons

 

The Audit Committee charter sets forth the standards, policies and procedures that we follow for the review, approval or ratification of any related person transaction that we are required to report pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. UnderPursuant to the Audit Committee charter, which is in writing, the Audit Committee must conduct an appropriate review ofreviews these related person transactions on an ongoing basis and the approval of the Audit Committee is required for all such transactions. The Audit Committee relies on management to identify related person transactions and bring them to the attention of the Audit Committee. We do not have any formal policies and procedures regarding the identification by management of related person transactions.

 

Aside from the indemnification agreements we have entered into with each of our Directors, each of which provides that we will indemnify our Directors for expenses incurred because of their status as a Director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws, during the 20192021 fiscal year, we were not a participant in any related person transactions that required disclosure under this heading.

 

35

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTSDelinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

Our executive officers, Directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our Common Stock are required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of those reports must also be furnished to us.

 

Based solely on a review of the copies of the reports furnished to us, and written representations from certain reporting persons that no other reports were required, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, the reporting persons complied on a timely basis with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them, other than (i) Mr. Duchemin and Ms. Unninayar, our former named executive officers, who each had one late filing reporting their annual long-term incentive equity grants in the first quarter of 2019, (ii) Mr. Edrick, who had one late filing reporting his pro-rata retainer award in connection with being added to the Audit Committee, (iii) Mr. Rossi, our Chief Financial Officer, whose Form 3 and initial Form 4 reporting his inducement equity grants, were each late due to delays in receiving the required filing codes, and (iv) Mr. Singh, our Executive Vice President, Cellular & Molecular Technologies, and Mr. Kenneth Olson, our Vice President and General Manager, Data Sciences International, each of whose initial Form 4 reporting his respective inducement equity grant, was late due to delays in receiving the required filing codes.them.

 

STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSStockholder Communications With The Board Of Directors

 

Stockholders and other interested parties wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors may do so by sending a written communication to any Director at the following address: Harvard Bioscience, Inc., 84 October Hill Road, Holliston, Massachusetts 01746. The mailing envelope should contain a notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Board Communication.” All such letters should clearly state whether the intended recipients are all members of the Board of Directors or certain specified individual Directors. Our Secretary or his or her designee will make a copy of any such communication so received and promptly forward it to the Director or Directors to whom it is addressed.

 

 

36


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMIndependent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The following table presents fees for professional services provided by Grant Thornton LLP for the audits of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the last two fiscal years, in each of the following categories is as set forth in the table below.

 

  2021 2020
Audit Fees (1) $1,027,304  $1,026,037 
Audit-Related Fees      
Tax Fees (2)  7,218   34,353 
Other      
Total Fees $1,034,522  $1,060,390 

  2019 2018
Audit Fees (1) $1,246,414  $1,308,776 
Tax Fees (2)  204,161   162,177 
Other  -   - 
Total Fees (3) $1,450,574  $1,470,953 

____________________

 

(1)(1)Audit Fees included fees billed or expected to be billed for professional services associated with the annual audit of our consolidated financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting and the reviews of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and fees related to the registration statementsstatement on Form S-3 and S-8.

(2)Tax Fees included domestic and international tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
(3)All Other Fees consist of fees for products and services other than the services reported above.

 

All of the services performed in the year ended December 31, 20192021 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. It is the Audit Committee’s policy to pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided to us by the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee’s authority to pre-approve non-audit services may be delegated to one or more members of the Audit Committee, who shall present all decisions to pre-approve an activity to the full Audit Committee at its first meeting following such decision. The Audit Committee has delegated this pre-approval authority to its Chairman (currently John Kennedy) for non-audit services with aggregate fees of $30,000 or less.services. In addition, the Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the non-audit services above is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

 

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PROPOSALProposal 2

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ratification Of Appointment Of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2022. Grant Thornton LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 2017. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, retention, termination, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work.firm. To execute this responsibility, the Audit Committee engages in a comprehensive annual evaluation ofannually evaluates the independent auditor’s qualifications, performance and independence and whether the independent registered public accounting firm should be rotated, and considers the advisability and potential impact of selecting a different independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Although ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP to our stockholders for ratification because we value the views of our stockholders. In the event that our stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP. Even if the appointment is ratified, the ratification is not binding and the Audit Committee may in its discretion select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.

 

A representative of Grant Thornton LLP is expected to be present virtually at the Annual Meeting. He or she will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 


Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the Annual Meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2022.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020.2022.

 

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PROPOSALProposal 3

APPROVAL
approval Of AN AMENDMENT OF THE HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000Harvard Bioscience, Inc. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVEPURCHASE PLAN

 

We are proposingThe Board of Directors is requesting that our stockholders approve an amendment and restatementvote in favor of amending the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2000Company’s Employee Stock Option and IncentivePurchase Plan (as amended, before the amendment and restatement, the “Equity Plan” and as amended and restated, the “Amended Equity Plan”“ESPP”) to among other things,add 500,000 shares under the ESPP to increase by 3,700,000 shares the number of authorized shares available for issuance thereunder (the “Amendment”). The Plan is intended to constitute an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Common Stock availableSection 423(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The primary purpose of the ESPP is to provide employees with the tax-qualified opportunity to acquire an ownership stake in the Company through participation in a payroll deduction-based employee stock purchase plan. The Company believes that by increasing the total number of authorized shares for issuance under the Amended Equity Plan from 20,908,929 shares to 24,608,929 shares.ESPP, it can retain our employees with a market-competitive benefit. The Amended Equity Plan is designed to attract, motivate and retain officers, employees, non-employee Directors and other key persons (including consultants) of the Company and to further the growth and financial success of the Company by aligning the interests of such persons through ownership with the interests of our stockholders.

The Equity Plan currently authorizes the grant of stock options and other stock-based awards to officers, employees, non-employee Directors and other key persons (including consultants and prospective employees) of the Company and its subsidiaries. Currently, 20,908,929 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Equity Plan. As of March 31, 2020, only 275,419 shares remained available for issuance under the Equity Plan. On February 25, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the Amended Equity Plan, subject to stockholder approval. The Board’s approval was also recommended by the Compensation Committee, and including an analysis of ISS Corporate Solutions and multiple factors, including stock overhang, burn rate, shareholder value transfer and plan features. The Amended Equity Plan makes the following changes, among others, to the Equity Plan:

increases the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the Equity Plan by 3,700,000 shares to 24,608,929 shares of Common Stock;

reduces the fungible share ratio from 1.79 to 1.49, resulting in 1.49 shares being deducted from the Amended Equity Plan for each share subject to deferred stock awards (i.e., restricted stock unit awards), restricted stock awards, unrestricted stock awards, performance share awards or other awards under our Equity Plan for which the full value of such share is transferred by us to the award recipient, excluding an option or stock appreciation right;

eliminates certain tax related provisions as affected by the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017;
eliminates the provision that provides for the automatic grant of a non-qualified stock option to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock to non-employee Directors; and
makes other clarifying and updating changes.

Our Board of Directors believes that the proposed Amended Equity Plan is in the best interests of, and will provide long-term advantages to, us and our stockholders and recommends its approval by our stockholders. With only 275,419 shares remaining available for issuance under the Equity Plan as of March 31, 2020, our Board of Directors believes that the proposed Amended Equity Plan will enable us to achieve our compensation objectives. These objectives include using long-term equity incentive awards in order to further align the interests of our executives and our stockholders by providing our executives with strong incentives to increase stockholder value and a significant reward for doing so. In addition, the proposed Amended Equity Plan will enable us to attract, retain and motivate top quality employees and non-employee members of our Board of Directors which is material to our success. In particular, without the proposed Amended Equity Plan, we would not have sufficient shares available under the Equity Plan to issue our long term incentive grants to our executives and other employees for fiscal 2020 and thereafter. Accordingly, we are seeking stockholder approval of the proposed Amended Equity Plan. In the event that the proposed Amended Equity Plan is not approved by stockholders, the Equity Plan will continue in effect but would have up to 275,419 shares remaining available for issuance thereunder, without giving effect to any expiration or forfeiture of any awards currently outstanding under the Equity Plan.

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Based solely on the closing price of our Common Stock of $2.21 per share, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on March 31, 2020, the maximum aggregate market value of the 3,700,000 additional shares that could potentially be issued under the proposed Amended Equity Plan, is approximately $8.2 million. Such calculation assumes that all the 3,700,000 additional shares were issued as options or other non-full value awards. Based on the revised fungible share provision in the Amended Equity Plan, if all 3,700,000 additional shares were allocated to full value awards (which would result in the lesser amount of approximately 2,483,221 shares being issued), the maximum aggregate market value of such 2,483,221 additional shares based on such closing price is approximately $5.5 million. The shares issued by us under the proposed Amended Equity Plan will be authorized but unissued shares.

As of March 31, 2020: (i) 275,419 shares of our Common Stock remained available for future awards under our Equity Plan; (ii) 1,876,285 shares of our Common Stock were subject to unvested restricted stock unit awards under our Equity Plan (which is based on time-based awards, as well as the maximum potential award amount that can be earned under market condition awards); and (iii) 2,060,965 shares of our Common Stock were subject to outstanding options under our Equity Plan (with the outstanding options having a weighted average exercise price of $4.09 per share and a weighted average term to maturity of 5.6 years). During fiscal year 2019, our Board of Directors approved the grant of 2,170,686 restricted stock units and options to purchase 744,968 shares of Common Stock under our Equity Plan. With respect to burn rate, our three-year average burn rate was high relative to peers and benchmarks due in part to the impact of our low stock price during portions of such fiscal years which resulted in the share amounts of long-term incentive grants, as well as inducement grants with respect to the hiring of executive officers in 2019, being higher than anticipated when issuing awards. We anticipate that based on current valuations of our Common Stock, the proposed Amended Equity Plan, if approved by the stockholders, would provide sufficient availability to grant stock options and other stock-based awards for 2020.

A summary of the material termsESPP is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text of the proposed Amended Equity Plan, reflecting the changes described above, is included below.ESPP, as set forth on Appendix A. Stockholders are urged to read the actual text of the Equity Plan,ESPP, as proposed to be amended, byand form of the Amended Equity Plan (with the provisions being amended provided with red bold italics for additions, and astrike-through of text being eliminated),Amendment, which isare respectively set forth as Appendix A and Appendix B to this proxy statementProxy Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Total Shares Authorized to Date Under ESPP1,400,000
Shares Issued Through December 31, 2021 Under ESPP1,303,166
Estimated Shares Available Under the ESPP as of December 31, 2021 (a)96,834
Additional Shares Requested Under this Amendment (b)500,000
Common Stock Outstanding as of the Record Date (c)41,241,449
ESPP Shares as a Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding (a+b)/c1.4%

Vote Required

Background on ESPP

 

The proposal to approve the Amended Equity Plan will be approved upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast for and against such matter. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not included in the number of votes cast for and against a matter and therefore have no effect on the vote on such matter.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN.

Summary of the proposed Amended Equity Plan

The following description of certain features of the Amended Equity Plan is intended to be a summary only. The summary is qualified in its entiretyESPP was adopted by the full textBoard of Directors on October 26, 2000 and was approved by the Amended Equity Plan that is attached hereto as Appendix A.

Shares Available. The maximum number of shares authorized proposed for issuance under the Amended Equity Plan is 24,608,929Company’s stockholders in November 2000. An amendment to add an additional 250,000 shares of Common Stock which isto the ESPP was approved by our Board of Directors on February 26, 2013 and our stockholders on May 23, 2013. An amendment to add an increase of 3,700,000 shares from the number of shares currently authorized for issuance under the Equity Plan. No more than 1,000,000additional 300,000 shares of Common Stock may be subject to options or stock appreciation rights granted to any one individual grantee during any one calendar year period. The shares underlying any awards that expire or terminate or are surrendered or forfeited (other than by exercise) under the Equity Plan will be added back to the shares authorized for issuance under the Equity Plan, provided that each share underlying a full-value award issued on or after May 25, 2011 that is surrendered or forfeited will count as 1.49 shares available for subsequent issuance under our Equity Plan. Shares tendered or held back upon exercise of an option or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding will not be available for future issuance under the Equity Plan. In addition, upon exercise of stock appreciation rights, the gross number of shares exercised shall be deducted from the total number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Equity Plan. Any shares underlying full-value awards granted on or after May 25, 2011 will be counted against the foregoing authorized reserve of shares under the Equity Plan as 1.49 shares.

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As described above, if the proposed Amended Equity Plan isESPP was approved by our Board of Directors on March 31, 2017 and our stockholders on May 18, 2017. An amendment to add an additional 350,000 shares of Common Stock to the ESPP was approved by our Board of Directors on February 26, 2019 and our stockholders on May 16, 2019. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 332 employees were eligible to participate in the ESPP.

Under the ESPP, participating employees can authorize the Company to withhold a portion of their base pay during consecutive six-month payment periods for the purchase of shares of the Company’s Common Stock. At the conclusion of the period, participating employees can purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price that is not less than 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock at the Annual Meeting,beginning or end of the fungible share provision which deducts from shares availableperiod. Shares are issued under the plan for grant under our Equity Plan 1.79 shares for each share that underlies an award granted under our Equity Plan for restricted stock unit awards, restricted stock awards, unrestricted stock awards, performance share awards or other awards under our Equity Plan for which the full value of such share is transferred by us to the award recipient, will be revised such that the ratio will be reduced to 1.49.six-month periods ending June 30 and December 31.

Key Terms

 

Types of Awards. The Amended Equity Plan permits us to make grants of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, deferred stock awards (i.e., restricted stock unit awards), restricted stock awards, unrestricted stock awards, performance share awards, cash-based awardsEnrollment and dividend equivalent rights.Participation

 

Plan Administration. The Amended Equity Planfirst offering under the ESPP commenced on January 1, 2001 and ended on June 30, 2001. Subsequent offering periods commenced on each January 1 and July 1 thereafter and will be administered by the Compensation Committeehave a duration of six months. Generally, all employees of the Board of Directors. The administratorCompany and certain U.S. and U.K. subsidiaries who are customarily employed for more than 20 hours per week as of the Amended Equity Plan has full power and authority to select the participants to whom awards will be granted, to make any combination of awards to participants, to accelerate the exercisability or vesting of any award, subject to limitations, and to determine the specific terms and conditions of each award, subject to the provisionsfirst day of the Amended Equity Plan. The administrator may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the authority to grant awards to employees, other than individuals who are subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provided that the administrator includes a limitation as to the number of shares that may be awarded and provides specific guidelines regarding such awards.

Eligibility and Limitations on Grants. All full-time and part-time officers, employees, non-employee Directors and other key persons (including consultants and prospective employees)applicable offering period are eligible to participate in the Equity Plan, subjectESPP. Any employee who owns or is deemed to the discretionown shares of stock representing in excess of 5% of the administrator. Approximately, 3 officers, 506 employees and 5 non-employee Directors are eligible tocombined voting power of all classes of the Company’s stock may not participate in the Amended Equity Plan, if selected by the Compensation Committee.ESPP.

 

Stock Options. The exercise price of stock options awarded


During each offering, an employee may purchase shares under the Amended Equity Plan mayESPP by authorizing payroll deductions of up to 10% of his or her base pay during the offering period. Unless the employee has previously withdrawn from the offering, his or her accumulated payroll deductions will be used to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock on the last business day of the offering period at a price that is not be less than 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the datefirst or last day of the option grant. offering period, whichever is lower. In accordance with applicable tax rules, an employee may purchase no more than $25,000 worth of the Company’s Common Stock in any calendar year under the ESPP.

Transferability

The termrights under the ESPP are not transferable by participating employee other than by will or the laws of eachdescent and distribution, and are exercisable during the employee’s lifetime only by the employee.

Withdrawal

An employee may withdraw from participation in the ESPP by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to his or her designated payroll personnel. The employee’s withdrawal will be effective as of the next business day. Following an employee’s withdrawal, the Company will promptly refund to him or her, the entire account balance under the ESPP. Partial withdrawals are not permitted.

Administration

The ESPP is administered by the Company’s Compensation Committee.

Amendment and Termination of the Plan

The Board of Directors may at any time, and from time to time, amend the ESPP in any respect, except that without the approval, within 12 months of such Board action, by the stockholders, no amendment shall be made increasing the number of shares approved for the ESPP or making any other change that would require stockholder approval in order for the ESPP to qualify as a “employee stock optionpurchase plan” under Section 423(b) of the Code.

The Board of Directors may also terminate the ESPP at any time.

U.S. Federal Tax Consequences

The following summary is intended only as a general guide as to the United States federal income tax consequences under current law of participation in the ESPP and does not exceed 10 years fromattempt to describe all possible federal or other tax consequences of such participation. Furthermore, the date of grant. The administrator will determine at what time or times each option may be exercisedtax consequences are complex and subject to the provisionschange, and a taxpayer’s particular situation may be such that some variation of the Amended Equity Plan,described rules is applicable. This summary assumes that the exercise of a purchase right under the ESPP constitutes an exercise pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423(b) of the Code.

Purchase Rights. Generally, there are no tax consequences to an employee of either becoming a participant in the ESPP or purchasing shares under the ESPP. The tax consequences of a disposition of shares vary depending on the period such stock is held before its disposition. If a participant disposes of time, if any,shares within two years of the offering date, or within one year after retirement, death, disability or terminationthe transfer of employment during which options may be exercised. Additionally, during the participant’s lifetime, all stock options are exercisable only bypurchased shares to the ESPP participant (a “disqualifying disposition”), the participant orrecognizes ordinary income in the participant’s legal representative.

To qualify as incentive stock options, stock options must meet additional federal tax requirements, including a $100,000 limityear of such disqualifying disposition in an amount equal to the gain on the valuesale, i.e. the excess of the amount received on the shares subject to incentiveover the purchase price. ESPP stock options which first become exercisable in any one calendar year, andissued at a shorter term and higher minimum exercise price indiscount is also taxed as ordinary income on the casedisposition of certain large stockholders.the stock.

 

If the administrator so determines, stock options may be granted in lieuparticipant disposes of cash compensation at the optionee’s election, subject to such terms and conditions as the administrator may establish.

Stock Appreciation Rights. The administrator may award a stock appreciation right independently of a stock option. The administrator may award stock appreciation rights subject to such conditions and restrictions as the administrator may determine, provided that the exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and no stock appreciation right may be exercisableshares more than 10two years after the dategranting of grant. Additionally, during the participant’s lifetime, all stock appreciation rights are exercisable only byoption or more than one year after the transfer of the purchased shares to the participant, or the participant’s legal representative.

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Restricted Stock. The administrator may awardparticipant dies while holding shares to participants subject to(whether or not within such conditions and restrictions asperiods) the administrator may determine. These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals and/or continued employment with the Company through a specified restricted period. However, in the event these awards to employees have a performance-based goal, the restriction period will be at least one year, and in the event these awards to employees have a time-based restriction, the restriction period will be at least three years: provided, however, that restricted stock awards with a time-based restriction may become vested incrementally over such three-year period.

Restricted Stock Units. The administrator may award restricted stock units to participants subject to such conditions and restrictions as the administrator may determine. These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals and/or continued employment with the Company through a specified restricted period. However, in the event these awards to employees have a performance-based goal, the restriction period will be at least one year, and in the event these awards to employees have a time-based restriction, the restriction period will be at least three years; provided, however, that restricted stock units with a time-based restriction may become vested incrementally over such three-year period. At the end of the deferral period, the participants shall be paid, to the extent vested, in shares.

The administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a grantee to elect to receive a portion of the cash compensation or restricted stock award otherwise due to such grantee in the form of a restricted stock unit award.

Unrestricted Stock. The administrator may grant shares (at par value or for a purchase price determined by the administrator) that are free from any restrictions under the Amended Equity Plan. Unrestricted stock may be issued to participants in recognition of past services or other valid consideration, and may be issued in lieu of cash compensation to be paid to such individuals. The aggregate number of shares of unrestricted stock issuable pursuant under the Amended Equity Plan, when combined with the number of shares of underlying unvested stock options accelerated by the administrator under certain conditions, is limited to 10% of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Amended Equity Plan. The aggregate number of shares of unrestricted stock issuable pursuant under the Amended Equity Plan, when combined with the number of shares of underlying unvested stock options accelerated by the administrator under certain conditions, is limited to 10% of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Amended Equity Plan.

Performance Shares. The administrator may grant performance share awards that entitle the recipient to acquire shares of Common Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The administrator determines the performance goals, performance periods and other terms of any such awards. However, performance share awards to employees will have a restriction period of at least one year.

Cash-Based Awards. Each cash-based award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the administrator. Payment, if any, with respect to a cash-based award may be made in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as the administrator determines.

Dividend Equivalent Rights. The administrator may award dividend equivalent rights under the Amended Equity Plan subject to such conditions and restrictions as the administrator may determine, provided that dividend equivalent rights may only be granted in tandem with restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance share awards or unrestricted stock awards. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents.

Tax Withholding. Participants in the Amended Equity Plan are responsible for the payment of any federal, state or local taxes that we are required by law to withhold upon any option exercise or vesting of other awards. Subject to approval by the administrator, participants may elect to have the minimum tax withholding obligations satisfied either by authorizing us to withhold shares to be issued pursuant to an option exercise or other award, or by transferring to us shares having a value equal to the amount of such taxes.

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Change of Control Provisions. In the event of a merger, sale or dissolution of the Company, or a similar “sale event” (as defined in the Amended Equity Plan) and upon a “change of control” (as defined in the Amended Equity Plan), all stock options and stock appreciation rights will automatically become fully exercisable and all other awards with conditions and restrictions relating solely to the passage of time will become fully vested and non-forfeitable as of the effective time of the sale event or change of control, except as may be otherwise provided in the relevant award agreement. In addition, upon a sale event, all outstanding awards under the Amended Equity Plan will terminate unless the parties to the transaction, in their discretion, provide for assumption, continuation or appropriate substitutions or adjustments of such awards. In the event of such termination in connection with a sale event, each holder of an option or a stock appreciation right will be permitted to exercise such award for a specified period prior to the consummation of the sale event. The administrator may also provide for a cash payment with respect to outstanding options and stock appreciation rights in exchange for the cancellation of such awards.

Term. No awards of incentive stock options may be granted under the Amended Equity Plan after April 20, 2030, being the 10-year anniversary of the date that the Amended Equity Plan was approved by the Board of Directors. No other awards may be granted under the Amended Equity Plan after June 11, 2030, being the 10-year anniversary of the date that the Amended Equity Plan was approved by stockholders.

Amendments. Stockholder approval will be required to amend the Amended Equity Plan if the administrator determines that this approval is required to ensure that incentive stock options qualify as such under the Code or as required under the applicable securities exchange or market system rules. Otherwise, the Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the Amended Equity Plan at any time, and the administrator may amend or cancel any outstanding award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, provided that no such amendment may adversely affect the rights under any outstanding award without the holder’s consent.

Repricing. Other than in the event of a necessary adjustment in connection with a change in our stock or a merger or similar transaction, the administrator may not “reprice” or otherwise reduce the exercise price of outstanding stock options or stock appreciation rights without stockholder approval.

Effective Date of the Amended Equity Plan. On April 20, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the Amended Equity Plan, which is being submitted for approval by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting on June 11, 2020.

Tax Aspects Under the Code

The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences of certain transactions under the Amended Equity Plan. It does not describe all federal tax consequences under the Amended Equity Plan, nor does it describe state or local tax consequences.

Incentive Options. No taxable income is generally realized by the optionee upon the grant or exercise of an incentive option. If shares issued to an optionee pursuant to the exercise of an incentive option are sold or transferred after two years from the date of grant and after one year from the date of exercise, then (i) upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the option price (the amount paid for the shares) will be taxed to the optionee as a long-term capital gain, and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss, and (ii) there will be no deduction for us for federal income tax purposes. The exercise of an incentive option will give rise to an item of tax preference that may result in alternative minimum tax liability for the optionee.

If shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive option are disposed of prior to the expiration of the two-year and one-year holding periods described above (a “disqualifying disposition”), generally (i) the optionee will realizeparticipant recognizes ordinary income in the year of disposition or death in an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the shares at exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on a sale of such shares) over the option price thereof, and (ii) we will generally be entitled to deduct such amount, subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code. Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the incentive option is paid by tendering shares.

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If an incentive option is exercised at a time when it no longer qualifies for the tax treatment described above, the option is treated as a non-qualified option. For example, an incentive option will not be eligible for the tax treatment described above if it is exercised more than three months following termination of employment (or one year in the case of termination of employment by reason of disability). In the case of termination of employment by reason of death, the three-month rule does not apply.

Non-Qualified Options. No income is realized by the optionee at the time the option is granted. Generally (i) at exercise, ordinary income is realized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, and we generally receive a tax deduction fordisposition or death over the same amount, subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code, and (ii) at disposition, appreciationpurchase price, or depreciation after the date of exercise is treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on how long the shares have been held. Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the non-qualified option is paid by tendering shares. Upon exercise, the optionee will also be subject to Social Security taxes on(2) the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the offering date over the exercisepurchase price. For this purpose, if the purchase price of the option.

Stock Appreciation Rights. The recipient of a grant of stock appreciation rights will not realize taxable income and we will notcannot be entitled to a deduction with respect to such grant ondetermined at the date of such grant. Upon the exercise of stock appreciation rights,option grant, then the recipient will realize ordinary income equal topurchase price is determined as though the amount of cash (including the amount of any taxes withheld) and the fair market value of any shares received at the time of exercise. In general, we will be entitled to a corresponding deduction, equal to the amount of income realized, subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code. Upon disposition of any shares acquired through an award of stock appreciation rights,option were exercised when granted. Any additional gain recognized by the participant will recognize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending uponon the sale price and holding period of the shares.

Restricted Stock. A participant who receives a grant of restricted stock will not recognize any taxable income at the time of the award, provided the shares are subject to restrictions (that is, they are nontransferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture). A participant’s rights in restricted stock awarded under the plan are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture if the rights to full enjoymentdisposition of the shares are conditioned, directly or indirectly, upon the future performance of substantial services by the participant or the achievement of performance conditions. However, the participant may elect under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to recognize compensation income in the year of the award in an amount equal tois a capital gain. If the fair market value of the shares on the date of disposition is less than the award, determined without regard topurchase price (as so determined), there is no ordinary income and the restrictions, less any amount paid by the participant for such shares. loss recognized is a capital loss.


If the participant does not make a Section 83(b) election within 30 days of receipt of the restricted shares, the fair market valuedisposes of the shares onin a disqualifying disposition, the date the restrictions lapse, less any amount paid by the participant for such shares, will be treated as compensation income to the participant and will be taxable in the year the restrictions lapse. We generally will be entitled to a compensation deduction for the amount of compensation income the participant recognizes, subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code. Upon disposition of any shares acquired through a restricted stock award, the participant will recognize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon the sale price and holding period of the shares.

Restricted Stock Units. A participant will not recognize income, and our Company is not entitled to a deduction upon a grant of restricted stock units. Upon the delivery to a participant of Common Stock or cash in respect of restricted stock units, a participant generally recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the fair market valueamount of the shares as of the date of delivery or the cash amount less the purchase price (if any) paidordinary income recognized by the participant. When the participant recognizes ordinary income, generally we will be entitled toas a tax deduction in the same amount,result, subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) ofDeduction Limit discussed below. In all other cases, no deduction is allowed the Code. Upon disposition of any shares acquired through a restricted stock unit award, the participant will recognize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon the sale price and holding period of the shares.Company.

 

Performance Share Awards. A participant will not recognize income, and our Company is not entitled to a deduction, upon a grant of a performance share award. At the time a performance share award is settled, following the determination that the performance targets have been achieved, the fair market value of the stock delivered on that date, plus any cash that is received, constitutes ordinary income, and generally we will be entitled to a deduction for that amount, subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code. Upon disposition of any shares acquired through a performance share award, the participant will recognize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon the sale price and holding period of the shares.

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Other Types of AwardsDeduction Limit. With respect to other awards under the Amended Equity Plan generally when the participant receives payment with respect to an award, the amount of cash and fair market value the stock or of any other property received will be ordinary income to the participant, and the Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount. Upon disposition of any shares acquired through other awards granted under the Amended Equity Plan, the participant will recognize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon the sale price and holding period of the shares.

Parachute Payments. The vesting of any portion of an option or other award that is accelerated due to the occurrence of a change of control may cause a portion of the payments with respect to such accelerated awards to be treated as “parachute payments” as defined in the Code. Any such parachute payments may be non-deductible to us, in whole or in part, and may subject the recipient to a non-deductible 20% federal excise tax on all or a portion of such payment (in addition to other taxes ordinarily payable).

Limitation on the Company’s Deductions. As a result of Section 162(m) of the Code (as amended bylimits the Tax Cuts and Jobs Actdeduction allowed to a publicly-held employer for the applicable remuneration of 2017), our deduction for certain awards under the Amended Equity Plan may be limiteda “covered employee” to the extent that the amount of such remuneration for the taxable year for such employee exceeds $1 million. Employees covered by this limitation are each individual who was at any covered employee, includingtime during the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other current or formertaxable year either the principal executive officer whose compensationor the principal financial officer, among the three highest compensated officers for the taxable year (other than the principal executive officer or principal financial officer), or was a “covered employee” for such employer (or any predecessor) in any preceding taxable year beginning after 2016 (each a “Covered Employee”). Income to a Covered Employee resulting from the disqualifying disposition of shares acquired upon exercise of purchase rights under the ESPP is or after December 31, 2016 was requiredsubject to be reported in the summary compensation table, receives compensation in an applicable year in excessDeduction Limit under Section 162(m) of $1 million a year, including performance-based compensation.the Code.

 

New Plan Benefits

 

The numberamounts of stock options and other forms of Awards that will be grantedfuture purchases under the Amended Equity Plan isESPP are not currently determinable because participation is voluntary, participation levels depend on each participant’s elections and the restrictions of Code Section 423 and the ESPP, and the per-share purchase price depends on the future value of our equity award grants are discretionary in nature. Wecommon stock. No purchases have not granted any awards asbeen made with respect to the additional shares to be reserved for issuance under the ESPP.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a majority of the date hereof that are contingent uponvotes cast by holders of shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval of the Amended EquityAmendment of our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Information about awards granted to our named executive officers and directors during 2019 can be found under the heading “Compensation Discussion & Analysis – Grants of Plan-Based Awards – 2019” and Director Compensation – 2019 Director Compensation Table”, respectively. During 2019, under the Equity Plan, awards with respect to 1,925,474 shares of Common Stock were granted to our executive officers, awards with respect to 365,200 shares of Common Stock were granted to our non-employee directors and awards with respect to 672,308 shares of Common Stock were granted to our other employees.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.

 

45

PROPOSALProposal 4

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF

OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

(“SAY-ON-PAY VOTE”)
Advisory Vote On The Compensation Of
Our Named Executive Officers

 

Background

 

The SEC adopted final rules on January 26, 2011 to implement Section 951 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requiring public companies to provide stockholders with periodic advisory votes on executive compensation (“Say-on-Pay Proposal”). Accordingly, we are seeking an advisory vote from our stockholders to approve our named executive officer compensation, as set forth below. The Board of Directors welcomes our stockholders’ views on this subject, and will carefully consider the outcome of this vote consistent with the best interests of all stockholders. As an advisory vote, however, the outcome is not binding on us or the Board of Directors. Consistent with the preference of our stockholders as determined by the last vote to approve the frequency of our Say-on-Pay Proposal, we intend to conduct a Say-on-Pay Proposal annually.

 

As described in detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” our executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain high performing and experienced executives; motivate and reward executives whose knowledge, skills and performance are critical to our success; align the interests of our executives and stockholders by motivating executives to increase stockholder value and rewarding executives when stockholder value increases; foster a shared commitment among executives by coordinating their goals; and motivate our executives to manage our business to meet our short and long-term objectives, and reward them for meeting these objectives. The elements of executive compensation include base salary, annual cash incentive bonuses, employment agreements, long-term equity incentive compensation and broad-based benefits programs. Please read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for additional details about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 20192021 compensation of our named executive officers. Specifically, we are seeking a vote on the following resolution:

 

RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and related narrative discussion.

 

Recommendation


Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval of the resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

 

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SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETINGSubmission Of Stockholder Proposals For The 2023 Annual Meeting

 

In order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for our 20212023 annual meeting, stockholder proposals intended to be presented at our 20212023 annual meeting of stockholders must be received by us on or before December 29, 20208, 2022 and otherwise comply with the requirements set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. These proposals must also comply with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission governing the form and content of proposals in order to be included in our proxy statement and form of proxy and should be mailed to: Secretary, Harvard Bioscience, Inc., 84 October Hill Road, Holliston, Massachusetts 01746.

 

To the extent a stockholder of record wishes to have a stockholder proposal or Director nomination considered at an annual meeting even though such proposal is not included in our proxy statement, our Bylaws provide that such stockholder of record must provide written notice of such proposal or nomination and appropriate supporting documentation, as set forth in the Bylaws, to our Secretary at our principal executive office not less than 90 days or not more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting. For the 20212023 annual meeting of stockholders, such proposal or nomination must be received no earlier than February 11, 2021January 17, 2023 and no later than March 13, 2021.February 16, 2023.

 

MULTIPLE STOCKHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME ADDRESSIn addition to the notice and information requirements contained in our Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than March 18, 2023.

Multiple Stockholders Sharing The Same Address

 

Owners of Common Stock in street name may receive a notice from their broker or bank stating that only one notice of internet availability of proxy materials, annual report or proxy statement will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce printing and postage costs. However, if any stockholder residing at such an address wishes to receive a separate notice of internet availability of proxy materials, annual report or proxy statement, we will promptly deliver a separate copy to any stockholder upon written or oral request to our investor relations department at Harvard Bioscience, Inc., 84 October Hill Road, Holliston, Massachusetts 01746-1371 or by telephone at 508-893-8066 or by e-mail at info@harvardbioscience.com. In addition, any stockholder who receives multiple copies at the same address can request delivery of a single copy by notifying our investor relations department pursuant to the contact information provided above.

 

OTHER MATTERS


Other Matters

 

The Board of Directors does not know of any matters, other than those described in this proxy statement that will be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. If other matters are duly presented, proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the proxy holders.

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ONLINE, BY TELEPHONE OR BY COMPLETING, DATING, SIGNING AND PROMPTLY RETURNING YOUR PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE (WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE STOCKHOLDERS WHO REQUEST PAPER COPIES OF THESE MATERIALS BY MAIL) BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING SO THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT. THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT AND ANY EXHIBITS THERETO TO ANY STOCKHOLDER, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC., 84 OCTOBER HILL ROAD, HOLLISTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01746-1371. A LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY STOCKHOLDERS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS AT OUR OFFICES AND THE OFFICES OF OUR TRANSFER AGENT DURING THE TEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING AS WELL AS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

 

47


APPENDIXAppendix A

 

HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.

FOURTHTHIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

2000EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVEPURCHASE PLAN

 

1)

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

(As Amended)

 

The namepurpose of the plan is the Harvard Bioscience, Inc.FourthThird Amended and Restated 2000 Employee Stock Option and IncentivePurchase Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers,provide eligible employees Independent Directors and other key persons (including consultants) of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conductcertain of its businesssubsidiaries with opportunities to acquire a proprietary interestpurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). One Million Nine Hundred Thousand (1,900,000)One Million Four Hundred Thousand (1,400,000) shares of Common Stock in the Company. Itaggregate have been approved and reserved for this purpose. The Plan is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake inintended to constitute an “employee stock purchase plan” within the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identificationmeaning of their interests with thoseSection 423(b) of the Company, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

“Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

“Administrator” is defined in Section 2(a).

“Award” or“Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Deferred Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cash-Based Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive a cash-denominated payment.

“Change of Control” is defined in Section 19.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any successor Code,shall be interpreted in accordance with that intent.

1. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan will be administered by the person or persons (the “Administrator”) appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for such purpose. The Administrator has authority to make rules and related rules, regulations for the administration of the Plan, and interpretations.

“Committee” means the Compensation Committeeits interpretations and decisions with regard thereto shall be final and conclusive. No member of the Board or individual exercising administrative authority with respect to the Plan shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option granted hereunder.

2. OFFERINGS. The Company will make one or more offerings to eligible employees to purchase Common Stock under the Plan (“Offerings”). Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the initial Offering will begin on January 1, 2001 and will end on June 30, 2001 (the “Initial Offering”). Thereafter, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, an Offering will begin on the first business day occurring on or after each January 1 and July 1 and will end on the last business day occurring on or before the following June 30 and December 31, respectively. The Administrator may, in its discretion, designate a similar committee performing the functionsdifferent period for any Offering, provided that no Offering shall exceed six months in duration or overlap any other Offering.

3. ELIGIBILITY. All employees of the Company (including employees who are also directors of the Company) and all employees of each Designated Subsidiary (as defined in Section 11) are eligible to participate in any one or more of the Offerings under the Plan, provided that as of the first day of the applicable Offering (the “Offering Date”) they are customarily employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary for more than 20 hours a week.

4. PARTICIPATION. An employee eligible on any Offering Date may participate in such Offering by submitting an enrollment form to his appropriate payroll location at least 15 business days before the Offering Date (or by such other deadline as shall be established for the Offering). The form will (a) state a whole percentage to be deducted from his Compensation Committee(as defined in Section 11) per pay period, (b) authorize the purchase of Common Stock for him in each Offering in accordance with the terms of the Plan and that is comprised(c) specify the exact name or names in which shares of Common Stock purchased for him are to be issued pursuant to Section 10. An employee who does not less than two Independent Directors.enroll in accordance with these procedures will be deemed to have waived his right to participate. Unless an employee files a new enrollment form or withdraws from the Plan, his deductions and purchases will continue at the same percentage of Compensation for future Offerings, provided he remains eligible.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, participation in the Plan will neither be permitted nor be denied contrary to the requirements of the Code.

“Covered Employee” means

5. EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS. Each eligible employee may authorize payroll deductions at a minimum of one percent (1%) up to a maximum of ten percent (10%) of his Compensation for each pay period. The Company will maintain book accounts showing the amount of payroll deductions made by each participating employee for each Offering. No interest will accrue or be paid on payroll deductions.

6. DEDUCTION CHANGES. Except as may be determined by the Administrator in advance of an Offering, an employee may not increase or decrease his payroll deduction during any Offering, but may increase or decrease his payroll deduction with respect to the next Offering (subject to the limitations of Section 5) by filing a new enrollment form at least 15 business days before the next Offering Date (or by such other deadline as shall be established for the Offering). The Administrator may, in advance of any Offering, establish rules permitting an employee to increase, decrease or terminate his payroll deduction during an Offering.


7. WITHDRAWAL. An employee may withdraw from participation in the Plan by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to his appropriate payroll location. The employee’s withdrawal will be effective as of the next business day. Following an employee’s withdrawal, the Company will promptly refund to him his entire account balance under the Plan (after payment for any Common Stock purchased before the effective date of withdrawal). Partial withdrawals are not permitted. The employee may not begin participation again during the remainder of the Offering, but may enroll in a subsequent Offering in accordance with Section 4.

8. GRANT OF OPTIONS. On each Offering Date, the Company will grant to each eligible employee who is then a “Covered Employee” withinparticipant in the meaningPlan an option (“Option”) to purchase on the last day of such Offering (the “Exercise Date”), at the Option Price hereinafter provided for, (a) a number of shares of Common Stock, which number shall not exceed the number of whole shares which is less than or equal to $12,500 divided by the closing price per share of Common Stock on the Offering Date, or (b) such other lesser maximum number of shares as shall have been established by the Administrator in advance of the Offering. The purchase price for each share purchased under each Option (the “Option Price”) will be 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Offering Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is less.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no employee may be granted an option hereunder if such employee, immediately after the option was granted, would be treated as owning stock, possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (as defined in Section 11). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the attribution rules of Section 162(m)424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an employee, and all stock which the employee has a contractual right to purchase shall be treated as stock owned by the employee. In addition, no employee may be granted an Option which permits his rights to purchase stock under the Plan, and any other employee stock purchase plan of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries, to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of such stock (determined on the option grant date or dates) for each calendar year in which the Option is outstanding at any time. The purpose of the limitation in the preceding sentence is to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

“Deferred9. EXERCISE OF OPTION AND PURCHASE OF SHARES. Each employee who continues to be a participant in the Plan on the Exercise Date shall be deemed to have exercised his Option on such date and shall acquire from the Company such number of whole shares of Common Stock Award” means Awards granted pursuantreserved for the purpose of the Plan as his accumulated payroll deductions on such date will purchase at the Option Price, subject to Section 8.any other limitations contained in the Plan. Any amount remaining in an employee’s account at the end of an Offering solely by reason of the inability to purchase a fractional share will be carried forward to the next Offering; any other balance remaining in an employee’s account at the end of an Offering will be refunded to the employee promptly.

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means Awards granted pursuant10. ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES. Certificates representing shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan may be issued only in the name of the employee, in the name of the employee and another person of legal age as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, or in the name of a broker authorized by the employee to Section 13.be his, or their, nominee for such purpose.

“Effective Date”11. DEFINITIONS.

The term “Compensation” means the dateamount of an employee’s base pay from the Company prior to any reduction for deferrals made under either Code Section 125 or 401(k), including commissions, but excluding overtime, incentive or bonus awards, allowances and reimbursements for expenses such as relocation allowances or travel expenses, income or gains on whichthe exercise of Company stock options, and similar extraordinary items.

The term “Designated Subsidiary” means any present or future Subsidiary (as defined below) that has been designated by the Board to participate in the Plan. The Board may so designate any Subsidiary, or revoke any such designation, at any time and from time to time, either before or after the Plan is approved by stockholders as set forth in Section 21.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.stockholders.

 

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“FairThe term “Fair Market Value”Value of the StockCommon Stock” on any given date means the fair market value of the Common Stock determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however,PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Common Stock is tradedadmitted to quotation on athe National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“Nasdaq”), Nasdaq National System or national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value of the Stock will equal the closing sales price as reported on the principal exchange ordetermination shall be made by reference to market for the Stock on such date.quotations. If there isare no trading onmarket quotations for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there was trading.are market quotations.

“Full Value Award”


The term “Initial Public Offering” means any Deferred Stock Award, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awardsthe consummation of the first fully underwritten, firm commitment public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than on Forms S-4 or other Award that results inS-8 or their then equivalents, covering the offer and sale by the Company transferringof its Common Stock.

The term “Parent” means a “parent corporation” with respect to the full value of any underlying share granted pursuant to such Award, but shall not include Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights.

“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option”Company, as defined in Section 422424(e) of the Code.

“Independent Director”The term “Subsidiary” means a member“subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Board whoCode.

12. RIGHTS ON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. If a participating employee’s employment terminates for any reason before the Exercise Date for any Offering, no payroll deduction will be taken from any pay due and owing to the employee and the balance in his account will be paid to him or, in the case of his death, to his designated beneficiary as if he had withdrawn from the Plan under Section 7. An employee will be deemed to have terminated employment, for this purpose, if the corporation that employs him, having been a Designated Subsidiary, ceases to be a Subsidiary, or if the employee is not also an employee oftransferred to any corporation other than the Company or any Subsidiary and who is independent.a Designated Subsidiary.

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” or“Stock Option” means any option13. SPECIAL RULES. Notwithstanding anything herein to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.

“Performance Share Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 11.

“Performance Cycle” means one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, asthe contrary, the Administrator may select, over whichadopt special rules applicable to the attainmentemployees of onea particular Designated Subsidiary, whenever the Administrator determines that such rules are necessary or more performance criteria will be measuredappropriate for the purpose of determining a grantee’s right to and the payment of a Performance Share Award, Restricted Stock Award or Deferred Stock Award. Each such period shall not be less than three months.

“Restricted Stock Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7.

“Section 409A” means Section 409Aimplementation of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

“Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

“Stock Appreciation Right” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 6.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company)Plan in any unbroken chain of corporations or other entities beginning with the Company if each of the corporations or entities (other than the last corporation or entity in the unbroken chain) owns stock or other interests possessing 50 percent or more of the economic interest or the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other interests in one of the other corporations or entities in the chain.

“Unrestricted Stock Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 9.

2)

ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

a)Committee. The Plan shall be administered by either the Board or a committee of not less than two Independent Directors (in either case, the “Administrator”).

b)Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awardsjurisdiction where such Designated Subsidiary has employees; provided that such rules are consistent with the termsrequirements of Section 423(b) of the Plan, includingCode. Such special rules may include (by way of example, but not by way of limitation) the power and authority:

i)establishment of a method for employees of a given Designated Subsidiary to selectfund the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

A-2

ii) to determine the time or timespurchase of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Deferred Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;

iii) to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by any Award;

iv) to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees, and to approve the form of written instruments evidencing the Awards;

v) to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award, provided that, other than by reason of,payroll deduction, if the payroll deduction method is prohibited by local law or in connection with, any death, disability, retirement, employment termination (without cause or byis otherwise impracticable. Any special rules established pursuant to this Section 13 shall, to the employee for good reason), Sale Event or Change of Control, the Administrator shall not accelerate or waive any restriction period applicable to any outstanding Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award or Performance Share Award granted to an employee beyond the minimum restriction periods set forth in Section 7(d), Section 8(a) and Section 11(a), respectively, or accelerate the exercisability or vesting of unvested Stock Options whichextent possible, result in the aggregate, when combined with the aggregate number of shares of Stock issued pursuant to Section 9, exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum number of shares of stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a);

vi)employees subject to the provisions of Section 5(a)(ii), to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised; and

vii) at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules guidelines and practices for administration ofhaving substantially the Plan and for its own acts and proceedingssame rights as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arisingother participants in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

 

All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan grantees.

c)Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. The Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to14. OPTIONEES NOT STOCKHOLDERS. Neither the granting of Awards at Fair Market Value,an Option to individuals who are not subject toan employee nor the reporting and other provisions of Section 16deductions from his pay shall constitute such employee a holder of the Exchange Act or “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such delegation by the Administrator shall include a limitation as to the amount of Awards that may be granted during the period of the delegation and shall contain guidelines as to the determination of the exercise price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the conversion ratio or price of other Awards and the vesting criteria. The Administrator may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Administrator’s delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan.

d)Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Committee, nor any member of either or any delegatee thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Committee (and any delegatee thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under the Company’s organizational documents or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.

A-3

3)

STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION

a)Stock Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuancecovered by an Option under the Plan shall be24,608,92920,908,929until such shares of Stock which number reflects the total of 3,750,000 shares originally reserved, plus the effect of an evergreen provision through December 31, 2005, plus an additional 2,000,000 shares addedhave been purchased by and issued to the Plan in 2006, plus an additional 2,500,000 shares added to the Plan in 2008 plus an additional 3,700,000 shares added to the Plan in 2011 plus an additional 1,941,254 shares to account for the adjustment required by Section 3(b) pertaining to the Awards issued in connection with the spin-off of Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. by Harvard Bioscience, Inc. plus an additional 2,500,000 shares added to the Plan in 2015, plus an additional 3,400,000 shares added to the Plan in 2018, plus an additional 3,700,000 shares added to the Plan in 2020. To the extent an Award expires or terminates or is surrendered or forfeited (other than by exercise), in whole or in part, the shares subject to such Award or portion thereof so forfeited, expired, terminated or surrendered again will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. Should the exercise price of an Option be paid with shares underlying such Option, then the authorized reserve of shares under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which that Option is exercised, and not by the net number of shares issued under the exercised Option. If shares otherwise issuablehim.

15. RIGHTS NOT TRANSFERABLE. Rights under the Plan are withheldnot transferable by a participating employee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during the employee’s lifetime only by the Company in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with an Award, then the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reducedemployee.

16. APPLICATION OF FUNDS. All funds received or held by the gross number of shares issuable under the Award, calculated in each instance prior to any such share withholding and, to the extent such shares are issued pursuant to a Full-Value Award issued on or after May 25, 2011, after giving effect to the last sentence of this Section 3(a). In addition, upon exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights, the gross number of shares exercised shall be deducted from the total number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award; provided, however, that Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to no more than 1,000,000 shares of Stock may be granted to any one individual grantee during any one calendar year period. The shares available for issuanceCompany under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Companycombined with other corporate funds and held in its treasury. Any shares underlying Full-Value Awards granted on or after May 25, 2011 willmay be counted against the foregoing authorized reserve of shares under the Plan as1.491.79 shares.used for any corporate purpose.

 

b)Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as17. ADJUSTMENT IN CASE OF CHANGES AFFECTING COMMON STOCK. In the event of a resultsubdivision of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding shares of Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares ofCommon Stock, or other securities, or, if, asthe payment of a result of any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding shares ofdividend in Common Stock, are converted into or exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Administrator shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, including the maximum number of shares that may be issued in the form of Unrestricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Awards or Performance Share Awards, (ii) the number of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that can be granted to any one individual grantee and the maximum number of shares that may be granted under a Performance-based Award, (iii) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iv) the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and (v) the price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) as to which such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights remain exercisable in a manner that will trigger tax under Section 409A. The adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

The Administrator shall also adjust the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration material changes in accounting practices or principles, extraordinary dividends, acquisitions or dispositions of stock or property or any other event if it is determined by the Administrator that such adjustment is appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation ofapproved for the Plan, provided that no such adjustment shall be made in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, without the consent of the grantee, if it would constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the Option within the meaning of Section 424(h) of the Code.

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c)Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of and subject to the consummation of (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (iii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the outstanding shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for a different kind of securities of the successor entity and the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power of the successor entity immediately upon completion of such transaction, or (iv) the sale of all of the Stock of the Company to an unrelated person or entity (in each case, a “Sale Event”), all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the Sale Event shall become fully exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event and all other Awards with conditions and restrictions relating solely to the passage of time and continued employment shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, except as the Administrator may otherwise specify with respect to particular Awards. Upon the effective time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted hereunder shall terminate, unless provision is made in connection with the Sale Event in the sole discretion of the parties thereto for the assumption or continuation of Awards theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree (after taking into account any acceleration hereunder). In the event of such termination, each grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator, to exercise all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by such grantee, including those that will become exercisable upon the consummation of the Sale Event; provided, however, that the exercise of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not exercisable prior to the Sale Event shall be subject to the consummation of the Sale Event.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.2(c), in the event of a Sale Event pursuant to which holders of the Stock of the Company will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Sale Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make or provide for a cash payment to the grantees holding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable per share of Stock pursuant to the Sale Event (the “Sale Price”) times the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.

d)Substitute Awards. The Administrator may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees, directors or other key persons of another corporation in connection with the merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of property or stock of the employing corporation. The Administrator may direct that the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator considers appropriate in the circumstances. Any substitute Awards granted under the Plan shall not count against the share limitation set forth in Section 3(a).8, shall be increased proportionately, and such other adjustments shall be made as may be deemed equitable by the Administrator. In the event of any other change affecting the Common Stock, such adjustment shall be made as may be deemed equitable by the Administrator to give proper effect to such event.

 

4)

ELIGIBILITY

18. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN. The Board may at any time, and from time to time, amend the Plan in any respect, except that without the approval, within 12 months of such Board action, by the stockholders, no amendment shall be made increasing the number of shares approved for the Plan or making any other change that would require stockholder approval in order for the Plan, as amended, to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423(b) of the Code.

 

Grantees


19. INSUFFICIENT SHARES. If the total number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be purchased on any Exercise Date plus the number of shares purchased under previous Offerings under the Plan willexceeds the maximum number of shares issuable under the Plan, the shares then available shall be apportioned among participants in proportion to the amount of payroll deductions accumulated on behalf of each participant that would otherwise be used to purchase Common Stock on such fullExercise Date.

20. TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. Upon termination of the Plan, all amounts in the accounts of participating employees shall be promptly refunded.

21. GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS. The Company’s obligation to sell and deliver Common Stock under the Plan is subject to obtaining all governmental approvals required in connection with the authorization, issuance, or part-time officers andsale of such stock.

The Plan shall be governed by Delaware law except to the extent that such law is preempted by federal law.

22. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares may be issued upon exercise of an Option from authorized but unissued Common Stock, from shares held in the treasury of the Company, or from any other employees, Independent Directors and key persons (including consultants and prospective employees)proper source.

23. TAX WITHHOLDING. Participation in the Plan is subject to any minimum required tax withholding on income of the participant in connection with the Plan. Each employee agrees, by entering the Plan, that the Company and its Subsidiaries as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

With respect to the Awards (“Adjustment Awards”) modified or issued in connection with any equitable adjustment by the Company, in accordance herewith and with the formulas and provisions set forth in the Separate and Distribution Agreement that may be entered into by and between the Company and Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. (“HART”), of certain Awards previously granted by the Company, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or Award to the contrary, for purposes of exercisability, vesting and the post-termination exercise periods applicable to any Awards, continued employment with, or service to, the Company (or its subsidiaries) or HART (or its subsidiaries) is considered to be continued employment with, and service to, the other, provided that the failure to exercise Incentive Stock Options within the applicable deadline following any separation from service from the Company shall cause such options to be treated thereafter as Non-Qualified Stock Options

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5)

STOCK OPTIONS

Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve.

Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

a)Stock Options Granted to Employees and Key Persons. The Administrator in its discretion may grant Stock Options to eligible employees and key persons of the Company or any Subsidiary. Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable. If the Administrator so determines, Stock Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the optionee’s election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish.

i)Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the option price of such Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the grant date.

ii)Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the Stock Option is granted. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

iii)Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date. Subject to Section 2(b)(v), the Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.

iv)Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods to the extent provided in the Option Award agreement:

(1) In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;

(2) Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Stock that have been purchased by the optionee on the open market or that have been beneficially owned by the optionee for at least six months and are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date; or

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(3) By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure.

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. The transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of delivery of certificates representing the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Option Award agreement or applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold with respect to the optionee). In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of attested shares. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Stock Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Stock Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

v)Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

b)ReservedStock Options Granted to Independent Directors.

i)Automatic Grant of Options.

(1) Each Independent Director who is first elected to serve as a Director shall be granted, on the fifth business day after his election, a Non-Qualified Stock Option to acquire 25,000 shares of Stock.

(2) The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option granted under this Section 5(b) shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the Stock Option is granted.

(3) The Administrator, in its discretion, may grant additional Non-Qualified Stock Options to Independent Directors. Any such grant may vary among individual Independent Directors.

ii)Exercise; Termination.

(1) Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, an Option granted under Section 5(b) shall be exercisable as to one-third of the shares of Stock covered thereby as of the first anniversary of the grant date, as to a second one-third of the shares of Stock covered thereby as of the second anniversary of the grant date, and as to the remaining one-third of the shares of Stock covered thereby as of the third anniversary of the grant date. An Option issued under this Section 5(b) shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant.

(2) Options granted under this Section 5(b) may be exercised only by written notice to the Company specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the full purchase price of the shares to be purchased may be made by one or more of the methods specified in Section 5(a)(iv). An optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.

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c)Non-transferability of Options. No Stock Option shall be transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the optionee’s lifetime, only by the optionee, or by the optionee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the optionee’s incapacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide in the Award agreement regarding a given Option that the optionee may transfer his Non-Qualified Stock Options to members of his immediate family, to trusts for the benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Option.

6)

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

a)Nature of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive shares of Stock having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price Stock Appreciation Right, which price shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

b)Grant and Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Administrator independently of any Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.

c)Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined from time to time by the Administrator, provided that during the grantee’s lifetime all Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable only by the grantee or the grantee’s legal representative.

(d)Stock Appreciation Rights Term. The term of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted.

7)

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

a)Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire, at such purchase price as determined by the Administrator, shares of Stock subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant (“Restricted Stock”). Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The grant of a Restricted Stock Award is contingent on the grantee executing the Restricted Stock Award agreement. The terms and conditions of each such agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

b)Rights as a Stockholder. Upon execution of a written instrument setting forth the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Stock, subject to such conditions contained in the written instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Stock shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Stock are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Stock is vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company a stock power endorsed in blank.

c)Restrictions. Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Restricted Stock Award agreement. If a grantee’s employment (or other service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Restricted Stock that has not vested at the time of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to such grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be deemed to have been reacquired by the Company at its original purchase price (if any) from such grantee or such grantee’s legal representative simultaneously with such termination of employment (or other service relationship), and thereafter shall cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the grantee or rights of the grantee as a stockholder. Following such deemed reacquisition of unvested Restricted Stock that are represented by physical certificates, a grantee shall surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without consideration.

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d)Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Stock and the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any such Restricted Stock granted to an employee shall have a performance-based goal, the restriction period with respect to such shares shall not be less than one year, and in the event any such Restricted Stock granted to an employee shall have a time-based restriction, the restriction period with respect to such shares shall not be less than three years; provided, however, that Restricted Stock with a time-based restriction may become vested incrementally over such three-year period. The minimum vesting requirements set forth in the foregoing sentence will not apply to Restricted Stock granted to an Independent Director. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Stock and shall be deemed “vested.” Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a grantee’s rights in any shares of Restricted Stock that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or other service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries and such shares shall be subject to the Company’s right of repurchase as provided in Section 7(c) above.

e)Waiver, Deferral and Reinvestment of Dividends. The Restricted Stock Award agreement may require or permit the immediate payment, waiver, deferral or investment of dividends paid on the Restricted Stock.

8)

DEFERRED STOCK AWARDS

a)Nature of Deferred Stock Awards. A Deferred Stock Award is an Award of phantom stock units to a grantee, subject to restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The grant of a Deferred Stock Award is contingent on the grantee executing the Deferred Stock Award agreement. The terms and conditions of each such agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any such Deferred Stock Award granted to an employee shall have a performance-based goal, the restriction period with respect to such award shall not be less than one year, and in the event any such Deferred Stock Award granted to an employee shall have a time-based restriction, the restriction period with respect to such award shall not be less than three years; provided, however, that any such Deferred Stock Award with a time-based restriction may become vested incrementally over such three-year period. The minimum vesting requirements set forth in the foregoing sentence will not apply to Deferred Stock Awards granted to Independent Directors. At the end of the deferral period, the Deferred Stock Award, to the extent vested, shall be paid to the grantee in the form of shares of Stock. To the extent that a Deferred Stock Award is subject to Section 409A, it may contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion in order for such Award to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

b)Election to Receive Deferred Stock Awards in Lieu of Compensation. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a grantee to elect to receive a portion of the cash compensation or Restricted Stock Award otherwise due to such grantee in the form of a Deferred Stock Award. Any such election shall be made in writing and shall be delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Administrator and in accordance with Section 409A and such other rules and procedures established by the Administrator. Any such future cash compensation that the grantee elects to defer shall be converted to a fixed number of phantom stock units based on the Fair Market Value of Stock on the date the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the grantee if such payment had not been deferred as provided herein. The Administrator shall have the sole right to determine whether and under what circumstances to permit such elections and to impose such limitations and other terms and conditions thereon as the Administrator deems appropriate.

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c)Rights as a Stockholder. During the deferral period, a grantee shall have no rights as a stockholder; provided, however, that the grantee may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the phantom stock units underlying his Deferred Stock Award, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.

d)Restrictions. A Deferred Stock Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the deferral period.

e)Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a grantee’s right in all Deferred Stock Awards that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

9)

UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any grantee pursuant to which such grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions (“Unrestricted Stock”) under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such grantee. The aggregate number of shares of Stock issuable pursuant to this Section 9, when combined with the number of shares of underlying unvested Stock Options accelerated pursuant to Section 2(b)(v) other than by reason of, or in connection with, any death, disability, retirement, employment termination (without cause or by the employee for good reason), Sale Event or Change of Control, is limited to ten percent (10%) of the maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a).

10)CASH-BASED AWARDS

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant Cash-Based Awards to any grantee in such number or amount and upon such terms, and subject to such conditions, as the Administrator shall determine at the time of grant. The Administrator shall determine the maximum duration of the Cash-Based Award, the amount of cash to which the Cash-Based Award pertains, the conditions upon which the Cash-Based Award shall become vested or payable, and such other provisions as the Administrator shall determine. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the Administrator. Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award and may be made in cash or in shares of Stock, as the Administrator determines.

11)

PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS

a)Nature of Performance Share Awards. A Performance Share Award is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The Administrator may make Performance Share Awards independent of or in connection with the granting of any other Award under the Plan. The Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine whether and to whom Performance Share Awards shall be made, the performance goals, the periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other limitations and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Performance Share Award granted to an employee shall have a restriction period of not less than one year. The minimum vesting requirements set forth in the foregoing sentence will not apply to Performance Share Awards granted to Independent Directors.

b)Rights as a Stockholder. A grantee receiving a Performance Share Award shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares actually received by the grantee under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the Award but not actually received by the grantee. A grantee shall be entitled to receive a stock certificate evidencing the acquisition of shares of Stock under a Performance Share Award only upon satisfaction of all conditions specified in the Performance Share Award agreement (or in a performance plan adopted by the Administrator).

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c)Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a grantee’s rights in all Performance Share Awards shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

12)

Reserved.PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS TO COVERED EMPLOYEES

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award, Cash-Based Award or Performance Share Award granted to a Covered Employee is intended to qualify as “Performance-based Compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder (a “Performance-based Award”), such Award shall comply with the provisions set forth below:

a)Performance Criteria. The Administrator shall define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for any Performance Cycle. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business unit, or an individual. The Administrator, in its discretion, may adjust or modify the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Cycle in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of an individual (x) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development, (y) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any either unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or (z) in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions provided however, that the Administrator may not exercise such discretion in a manner that would increase the Performance-Based Award granted to a Covered Employee. The performance criteria used in performance goals governing Performance-based Awards granted to Covered Employees may include any or all of the following: (i) return on equity, assets, capital or investment; (ii) pre-tax or after-tax profit levels; (iii) cash flow, funds from operations or similar measure; (iv) total shareholder return; (v) changes in the market price of the Stock; (vi) revenues, sales or market share; (vii) net income (loss) or earnings per share; (viii) expense margins or operating efficiency (including budgeted spending limits) or (ix) project development milestones, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group and, for financial measures, may be based on numbers calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or on an as adjusted basis.

b)Grant of Performance-based Awards. With respect to each Performance-based Award granted to a Covered Employee, the Committee shall select, within the first 90 days of a Performance Cycle (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) the performance criteria for such grant, and the achievement targets with respect to each performance criterion (including a threshold level of performance below which no amount will become payable with respect to such Award). Each Performance-based Award will specify the amount payable, or the formula for determining the amount payable, upon achievement of the various applicable performance targets. The performance criteria established by the Committee may be (but need not be) different for each Performance Cycle and different goals may be applicable to Performance-based Awards to different Covered Employees.

c)Payment of Performance-based Awards. Following the completion of a Performance Cycle, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the performance criteria for the Performance Cycle have been achieved and, if so, to also calculate and certify in writing the amount of the Performance-based Awards earned for the Performance Cycle. The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Covered Employee’s Performance-based Award, and, in doing so, may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance-based Award for a Covered Employee if, in its sole judgment, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.

d)Maximum Award Payable. The maximum Performance-based Award payable to any one Covered Employee under the Plan for a Performance Cycle is 1,000,000 Shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b) hereof) or $2,000,000 in the case of a Performance-based Award that is a Cash-Based Award; provided, however, that such limits shall not otherwise limit the Administrator’s ability to grant awards not intended to qualify as Performance-based Awards.

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13) 

DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

a)Dividend Equivalent Rights. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the grantee. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any grantee only as a component of Unrestricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Awards, Deferred Stock Awards or Performance Share Awards. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award agreement. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may also contain terms and conditions different from such other award.

b)Interest Equivalents. Any Award under this Plan that is settled in whole or in part in cash on a deferred basis may provide in the grant for interest equivalents to be credited with respect to such cash payment. Interest equivalents may be compounded and shall be paid upon such terms and conditions as may be specified by the grant.

c)Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 17 below, in writing after the Award agreement is issued, a grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest equivalents shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

14)

TAX WITHHOLDING

a)Payment by Grantee. Each grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld by the Company with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee. The Company’s obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or stock certificates) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax withholding obligations being satisfied byemployee, including shares issuable under the grantee.Plan.

 

b)Payment in Stock. Subject24. NOTIFICATION UPON SALE OF SHARES. Each employee agrees, by entering the Plan, to approval by the Administrator, a grantee may elect to have the Company’s minimum required tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) authorizinggive the Company to withhold from sharesprompt notice of Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a numberdisposition of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (aspurchased under the Plan where such disposition occurs within two years after the date of grant of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due, or (ii) transferring to the Company shares of Stock owned by the grantee with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due.

15)

SECTION 409A AWARDS.

To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a grantee who is then considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the grantee’s separation from service, or (ii) the grantee’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. Further, the settlement of any such Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A.

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16)

TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.

For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment:

a) a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or

b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policyOption pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.

17)

AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent. Except as provided in Section 3(b) or 3(c), in no event may the Administrator exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or effect repricing through cancellation and regrants or by exchanging a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right for any other Award, without stockholder approval. If and to the extent determined by the Administrator to be required by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code or to ensure that compensation earned under Awards qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, if and to the extent intended to so qualify, and to the extent required under the applicable rules of Nasdaq, or such other securities exchange or market system on which the Stock is then principally listed, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Nothing in this Section 17 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(c).

18)

STATUS OF PLAN

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.

19)

CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control as defined in this Section 19:shares were purchased.

 

a) Except as otherwise provided in25. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS. The Plan shall take effect on the applicable Award agreement, each outstanding Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall automatically become fully exercisable.

b) Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, conditions and restrictions on each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award and Performance Share Award which relate solely to the passage of time and continued employment will be removed. Performance or other conditions (other than conditions and restrictions relating solely to the passage of time and continued employment) will continue to apply unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement.

c) “Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events:

i) any “Person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act (other than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25 percent or more of the combined voting powerfirst day of the Company’s then outstanding securities having the right to vote in an election of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Voting Securities”) (in such case other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company); or

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ii) persons who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the Effective Date shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election was approved by or such person was nominated for election by either (A) a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors or (B) a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors who are members of a nominating committee comprised, in the majority, of Incumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the Board of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director; or

iii) the consummation of a consolidation, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Corporate Transaction”); excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction, would, immediately after the Corporate Transaction, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than 50 percent of the voting shares of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the Corporate Transaction (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any); or

iv) the approval by the stockholders of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (i) solely as the result of an acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Voting Securities beneficially owned by any person to 25 percent or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities;provided, however, that if any person referred to in this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Securities (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction or as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company) and immediately thereafter beneficially owns 25 percent or more of the combined voting power of all then outstanding Voting Securities, then a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (i).

20)

GENERAL PROVISIONS

a)No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Administrator may require each person acquiring Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.

No shares of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities law and other legal and stock exchange or similar requirements have been satisfied. The Administrator may require the placing of such stop-orders and restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate.

b)Delivery of Stock Certificates. Stock certificates to grantees under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company. Uncertificated Stock shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a Stock transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Administrator deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed, quoted or traded. All Stock certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan shall beInitial Public Offering, subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.

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c)Stockholder Rights. Until Stock is deemed delivered in accordance with Section 20(b), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights of a stockholder will exist with respect to shares of Stock to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Stock Option or any other action by the grantee with respect to an Award.

d)Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

e)Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to such Company’s insider trading policy, as in effect from time to time.

f)Forfeiture of Awards under Sarbanes-Oxley Act. If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, then, to the extent required by law, any grantee who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall reimburse the Company for the amount of any Award received by such individual under the Plan during the 12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

g)Designation of Beneficiary. Each grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantee’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the grantee’s estate.

21)EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

This Plan shall become effective upon approval by the holders of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present. Subject to such approvalpresent or by the stockholders and to the requirement that no Stock may be issued hereunder prior to such approval, Stock Options and other Awards may be granted hereunder on and after adoption of this Plan by the Board. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan after the 10-year anniversarywritten consent of the most recent prior date on which the Plan was approved by the Board of Directors (provided that the Plan was approved by stockholders within one year of such date) and no other Award may be granted under the Plan after the 10-year anniversary of the most recent prior date on which the Plan was approved by stockholders.

 

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22)GOVERNING LAW

This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.

DATE APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: October 26, 2000

DATE APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: November 29, 2000

 

DATE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: April 5, 2006

DATE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: May 18, 2006

DATE SECOND AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: April 10, 2008

DATE SECOND AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: May 15, 2008

DATE FIRST AMENDMENTNO. 1 TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: February 24, 2009AUGUST 2, 2011.

 

DATE THIRD AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: April 13, 2011

DATE THIRD AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: May 25, 2011

DATE FIRST AMENDMENTNO. 2 TO HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: March 9,FEBRUARY 26, 2013.

 

DATE SECOND AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVEPLAN APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: MAY 23, 2013.

DATE AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO PLAN APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: MARCH 31, 2017.

DATE AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO PLAN APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: MAY 18, 2017.

DATE AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO PLAN APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: FEBRUARY 26, 2019.

DATE AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO PLAN APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: MAY 16, 2019.

DATE AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO PLAN APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: APRIL 3, 2015.2022.

 

DATE SECOND AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: MAY 28, 2015.

DATE THIRD AMENDMENT TO HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: APRIL 2, 2018.

DATE THIRD AMENDMENT TO HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: MAY 17, 2018.

DATE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: APRIL 20, 2020.

DATE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: JUNE 11, 2020.2022.

 

 

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Appendix B

 

AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

This Amendment No. 5 to the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is effective as of May 17, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

In accordance with Section 18 of the Plan, as approved by the stockholders of Harvard Bioscience, Inc. on the Effective Date, in order to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan to One Million Nine Hundred Thousand (1,900,000), the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective as of the Effective Date:

1.The reference to “One Million Four Hundred Thousand (1,400,000)” in the initial paragraph of the Plan is hereby deleted and replaced with “One Million Nine Hundred Thousand (1,900,000)”.

2.The following is added to the end of the Plan:

“DATE AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO PLAN APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: APRIL 3, 2022.

DATE AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO PLAN APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: MAY 17, 2022.”

3.Except as expressly amended hereby, the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Harvard Bioscience, Inc. has duly executed this amendment to be effective as the date first above written.

HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.
By:
Name:Michael A. Rossi
Title:Chief Financial Officer