UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.      )

 

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xDefinitive Proxy Statement

 

¨Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

 

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

  

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

 

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LOGO

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

63 Second Avenue

Burlington, Massachusetts 01803

 

 

April 29, 200830, 2009

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 20082009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., which will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2008,18, 2009, at the offices of Goodwin Procter LLP, 28th Floor, 53 State Street, Exchange Place, Boston,our corporate headquarters at 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts.

This booklet includes a notice of meeting and proxy statement. The proxy statement describes the business to be conducted at the meeting and provides other information that you should know when you vote your shares. Following the required business meeting, we will report on the Company’s operations.

It is important that your shares be represented whether or not you attend the meeting. You can vote your shares by marking your votes on the proxy card, signing and dating it, and mailing it promptly using the envelope provided.

We have provided space on the proxy card for comments. We urge you to use it to let us know your feelings about the Company or to bring a particular matter to our attention. If you hold your shares through an intermediary, please feel free to write directly to us.

 

LOGO
George W. LeMaitre
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


LOGO

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

63 Second Avenue

Burlington, Massachusetts 01803

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

 

TIME AND DATE

  10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, June 19, 200818, 2009

PLACE

  

Goodwin Procter LLPLeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

Exchange Place63 Second Avenue

28th Floor

53 State Street

Boston,Burlington, Massachusetts

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

  

(1) To elect three Class IIIII directors nominated by the Board of Directors for three-year terms.

 

(2) To approve our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, pursuant to which an additional 750,000 shares of our common stock would be available for issuance.

(3) To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2008.2009.

 

(3)(4) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement.

The proposal for the election of directors relates solely to the election of Class III directors nominated by the Board of Directors and does not include any other matters relating to the election of directors, including, without limitation, the election of directors nominated by any stockholder of the Company.

RECORD DATE

  You can vote if you are a stockholder of record on April 21, 2008.20, 2009.

ANNUAL REPORT

  Our 20072008 Annual Report, which is not a part of the proxy solicitation material, is enclosed.

PROXY VOTING

  Your vote is important, regardless of the number of shares you own. If you do not attend the meeting to vote in person, your vote will not be counted unless a proxy representing your shares is presented at the meeting. To ensure that your shares will be voted at the meeting, please vote by marking, signing, dating, and promptly returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided.
  If you do attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote by ballot.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,
LOGO

Aaron M. Grossman

Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

April 29,30, 2009

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on June 18, 2009

This proxy statement, the notice of the annual meeting, a sample proxy card, and our 2008 annual report to stockholders are available athttp://www.lemaitre.com/proxy.

Stockholders requiring directions to attend the Annual Meeting in person may visithttp://www.lemaitre.com/proxy.


LOGO

LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC.

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

Why did I receive these proxy materials?

You are receiving these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors (“Board” or “Board of Directors”) of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (“LeMaitre,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 19, 200818, 2009 (the “Meeting”). We are sending this proxy statement to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 21, 200820, 2009 (the “Record Date”), for delivery beginning April 29,30, 2008. You may obtain additional copies of this proxy statement and proxy card, as well as our 2008 annual report, at the following Internet website: http://www.lemaitre.com/proxy.

Who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting?

Holders of record of our $0.01 par value common stock (“Common Stock”) at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. As of that date, there were 15,526,18515,665,786 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. We are soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors to give all stockholders who are entitled to vote on the matters that come before the meeting the opportunity to do so whether or not they attend the Meeting in person.

What will stockholders vote on at the meeting?

Stockholders will vote on twothree items at the Meeting:

 

to elect three Class IIIII directors nominated by the Board of Directors for three-year terms;

to approve our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, pursuant to which an additional 750,000 shares of our common stock would be available for issuance; and

 

to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2008.2009.

Will there be any other items of business on the agenda?

Aside from the election of directors, approval of our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, and ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, the Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be presented at the Meeting. If any other matter should be presented at the Meeting upon which a vote properly may be taken, shares represented by all proxies received by the Board of Directors will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of the persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the proxies.

What are the recommendations of the Board of Directors on how I should vote my shares?

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote your shares as follows:

 

“FOR” the election of the three nominees as directors;

“FOR” approval of our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan; and

 

“FOR” ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2008.2009.

1


What are my voting rights?

Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share.

1


How do I vote by proxy?

You may vote by completing, signing, and dating the accompanying proxy card and returning it in the postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that purpose, whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting. The persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the proxies, George W. LeMaitre and Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr., were selected by the Board of Directors and are officers of the Company. All properly executed proxies returned in time to be counted at the Meeting will be voted by such persons at the Meeting. Where a choice has been specified on the proxy with respect to either of the foregoing matters, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with that specification. If no such specifications are indicated, such proxies will be voted“FOR” the election of the nominees to the Board of Directors,“FOR” approval of our Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, and“FOR” ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm.

How do I vote in person?

If you attend the Meeting, you may vote in person even if you have previously returned your proxy card. However, we encourage you to vote by proxy card even if you plan to attend the Meeting. You may obtain directions to the meeting at the following Internet website: http://www.lemaitre.com/proxy.

What can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares?

Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before it is voted. Proxies may be revoked by (1) filing with the Secretary of the Company, before the taking of the vote at the Meeting, a written notice of revocation bearing a later date than the proxy, (2) duly completing a later-dated proxy relating to the same shares and delivering it to the Secretary of the Company before the taking of the vote at the Meeting, or (3) attending the Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the Meeting will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of a proxy). Any written notice of revocation or subsequent proxy should be sent so as to be delivered to LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, Attention: Secretary, at or before the taking of the vote at the Meeting.

What vote is required to approve each proposal?

For Proposal 1, the election of Class IIIII directors, the nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares present, either in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Meeting shall be elected as Class IIIII directors. For both Proposal 2, the approval of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, and Proposal 3, the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the current year, an affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present, either in person or represented by proxy, and voting on such matter is required for approval.

What effect do abstentions and broker non-votes have?

Abstentions are included in the number of shares present or represented and voting on each matter. Broker “non-votes” are not considered voted for the particular matter and have the effect of reducing the number of affirmative votes required to achieve a majority for such matter by reducing the total number of shares from which the majority is calculated.

Who tabulates the votes?

An automated system administered by the Company’s transfer agent, BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, tabulates the votes. The vote on each matter submitted to stockholders is tabulated separately.

 

2


OCCUPATIONS OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES

The following table identifies the director nominees to be elected at the Meeting and the directors, executive officers, and key employees of the Company and sets forth the ages of and the positions with the Company currently held by each such person immediately prior to the Meeting.

 

Name

  Age  

Position

George W. LeMaitre (1)

  4344  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

David B. Roberts (1)

  4445  President and Director

Peter R. Gebauer (1)

  5455  President, International Operations

Trent G. Kamke (1)

  3738  Senior Vice President, Operations

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr. (1)

  4344  Chief Financial Officer

Aaron M. Grossman (1)

  3637  Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Robert V. Linden (1)

  4142  Vice President North American Sales, The Americas

Kimberly L. Cieslak

  3536  Vice President, Marketing

Ryan H. Connelly

  3031  Director, of Research and Development

Maik D. Helmers

  3435  Vice President, Central European Sales

Andrew Hodgkinson

  3233  Director,Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs

Jonathan W. Ngau

  3435  Vice President, Information Technology

Nobuhiro Okabe

  5556  Country Manager, Japan

Cornelia W. LeMaitre

  7273  Vice President, Human Resources and Director

George D. LeMaitre, M.D.

  7475  Director

Lawrence J. Jasinski (2)(3)(4)

  5051  Director

Michael C. Jackson (3)

  6869  Director

David N. Gill (2)John J. O’Connor (4)

  53Director

Duane M. DeSisto (2)(4)(5)

5361  Director

Russell D. Hays (3)(2)(4)

  6364  Director

William N. Thorndike, Jr. (3)

  4445  Director Nominee

 

(1)Executive officer
(2)Member of the Compensation Committee
(3)Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
(4)Member of the Audit Committee
(5)On February 29, 2008, Mr. DeSisto informed the Company of his decision not to stand for re-election to the Company’s Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. DeSisto’s decision was not due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices.

George W. LeMaitre has served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors since 1992, serving as our Chairman since 2004. Previously, Mr. LeMaitre was an investment banking analyst at Lehman Brothers, an associate at the leveraged buyout firm McCown De Leeuw and a credit analyst for Connecticut National Bank. Mr. LeMaitre is also a member of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Management Board. Mr. LeMaitre holds a B.A. in History from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

David B. Robertshas served as our President from 2007 and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2001. Mr. Roberts joined LeMaitre Vascular in 1997 as Vice President of Business Development and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2000. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Roberts held several positions at BUCA, Inc., an operator of Buca di Beppo restaurants, most recently serving as Vice President of Development and prior to that as Director of Finance. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Roberts held several positions at Hancock Venture Partners, most recently serving as an Associate. Mr. Roberts holds a B.A. in Business Economics and Historymagna cum laude from Brown University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

3


Peter R. Gebauer has served as our President, International Operations since 1997. From 1980 to 1996, Mr. Gebauer worked at IMPRA, Inc., a manufacturer of ePTFE vascular grafts, most recently serving as Vice President of Marketing and International Business and, prior to that, developing international sales and marketing organizations in Europe from 1980 to 1987. Mr. Gebauer holds a B.S. in Business from the University of New Hampshire.

3


Trent G. Kamke has served as our Senior Vice President, Operations since 2005. Mr. Kamke joined LeMaitre Vascular in 1997 as Quality Assurance Manager. From 1999 to 2005, Mr. Kamke served as our Vice President, Operations. Prior to joining LeMaitre Vascular in 1997, Mr. Kamke was employed by Haemonetics Corporation, which designs, manufacturers, and markets automated blood processing equipment. Mr. Kamke holds a B.A. in Physics from Colby College and a B.E. from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College.

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr. has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2007. Mr. Pellegrino joined the Company as itsour Executive Vice President, Finance, in 2005. From 2003 to 2004, he served as temporary Chief Executive Officer of Affordable Luxuries, a direct marketing company. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Pellegrino worked at Zoots, Inc., a consumer services company, where most recently he served as Senior Vice President of Operations. Previously, Mr. Pellegrino built and sold a regional mall-based specialty retailing company. Mr. Pellegrino has also served as an investment banking analyst at Lehman Brothers, as part of their mergers and acquisitions group. Mr. Pellegrino holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.

In January 2005, Affordable Luxuries, Inc., for which Mr. Pellegrino had previously served as an executive officer as described above, filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Aaron M. Grossman has served as our General Counsel since 2004 and has served as a Vice President since 2007. Mr. Grossman joined LeMaitre Vascular in 2003 as Director of Legal Affairs. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Grossman practiced law as an associate in the corporate group of Goulston & Storrs. Mr. Grossman holds an A.B. in Political Science from Vassar College, an M.A.L.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a J.D.magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.

Robert V. Linden has served as our Vice President North American Sales, The Americas, since April 2008.January 2009. Mr. Linden joined LeMaitre Vascular in 2002 as a Sales Representative, was promoted to Regional Sales Manager for the Northeastern Region in 2005, and was promoted to Director of Sales for the Eastern United States and Canada in January 2008, and was promoted again to Vice President, North American Sales, in April 2008 prior to assuming his current position. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Linden served as a sales representative at several medical device companies, including Vasca, Inc., Atrium Medical Corporation, Active Medical, Inc., and DePuy Orthopedics, Inc. Mr. Linden holds a B.A. in Marketing from The Pennsylvania State University.

Kimberly L. Cieslak has served as our Vice President, Marketing since 2003. Ms. Cieslak joined LeMaitre Vascular in 1998 as Marketing Coordinator, and was promoted to Marketing Manager in 1999 and to Director of Marketing in 2001. Prior to joining LeMaitre Vascular, Ms. Cieslak worked in the insurance division of General Electric, a diversified technology, media, and financial services company. Previously, Ms. Cieslak was employed by the law firm Hudson and Co. in London, England. Ms. Cieslak holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Ryan H. Connelly has served as our Director of Research and Development since 2006. Mr. Connelly joined LeMaitre Vascular in 2002 and has held the positions of R&D Engineer, Senior R&D Engineer, and Co-General Manager of our Phoenix facility during that time. From 2001 to 2002, Mr. Connelly worked as a research and development engineer at Panduit Corporation, a network and electrical solutions provider. Mr. Connelly holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Boston University.

4


Maik D. Helmers has served as our Vice President, Central European Sales since 2006. Mr. Helmers joined LeMaitre Vascular in 1999 as a Sales Representative for northern Germany and was promoted to Sales Manager of Germany in 2001, Austria in 2002, Holland in 2003, and Belgium in 2004. Mr. Helmers holds a Diploma in Sales and Marketing from DVS Germany.

4


Andrew Hodgkinson has served as our Director,Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs since 2007.September 2008. Mr. Hodgkinson joined LeMaitre Vascular in 2000 as Production Supervisor and was promoted to Production Manager in 2003, Director, Manufacturing in 2006, and then Director, ManufacturingClinical Affairs in 2006.2007. Mr. Hodgkinson holds a B.A. in Economics from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire.

Jonathan W. Ngau has served as our Vice President, Information Technology since 2003 and previously served as our Director of Information Technology from 2000 to 2003. Since joining LeMaitre Vascular in 1996, Mr. Ngau has implemented and managed all information technology, business management software solutions, and network security for all of LeMaitre Vascular’s facilities. Mr. Ngau holds a B.A.B.S. in Marketing and Information Systems from Boston University.

Nobuhiro Okabe has served as our Country Manager, Japan since 2007. From 2004 to 2007, he served as General Manager of the Cardiovascular Surgery Division of the Hirata division of Medico, Inc. From 2001 to 2004 he served as Business Director of Cardia Surgery Business of Medtronic Japan Co. Ltd. Mr. Okabe holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tokai University.

Cornelia W. LeMaitre has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 1992 and as our Vice President, Human Resources since 1998. Mrs. LeMaitre joined LeMaitre Vascular in 1991 and served as the head of marketing from 1991 to 1998. From 1984 to 1991, Mrs. LeMaitre served as Director of Annual Giving at Harvard Medical School and Phillips Academy Andover. Mrs. LeMaitre holds a B.A. in English from College of the Sacred Heart in Newton, Massachusetts, and attended Yale University Graduate School of English.

George D. LeMaitre, M.D. founded LeMaitre Vascular and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 1983, serving as Chairman of the Board until February 2004. From 1978 to 1982, he served as Chief of Surgery at Lawrence General Hospital in Lawrence, Massachusetts and from 1988 to 1992 as President of the medical staff of Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Massachusetts. Dr. LeMaitre received a B.A. in Mathematics from Boston College and an M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine and trained in surgery at New England Medical Center, Hartford Hospital, and the Carney Hospital. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American College of Angiology, New England Vascular Society, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, and Eastern Vascular Society.

Lawrence J. Jasinski has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2003. Mr. Jasinski is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Soteira, Inc., a company specializing in less invasive treatment of orthopedic compression fractures. From 2000 to 2005, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Cortek, Inc., a company that developed next-generation treatments for degenerative disc disease. From 1985 to 2000, Mr. Jasinski worked at Boston Scientific Corporation (BSC) and served as its Vice President of Global Marketing, BSC Vascular, from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Jasinski received a B.S. in Marketing from Providence College and an M.B.A. from the University of Bridgeport.

Michael C. Jackson has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2005. Mr. Jackson is a founding partner of Housatonic Partners, a private equity firm, which was organized in 1994. He also founded Ironwood Manufacturing Fund, a private equity fund, and Ironwood Partners, an investment banking firm, which were both organized in 2003. Prior to that he was a partner and managing director at Lehman Brothers where he remained an advisory director until 2004. Mr. Jackson is a director of: VoX Communications Corp., an operator of radio stations; The Hampshire Group, Limited, a diversified apparel company; Focus Four Holdings, an operator of Muzak franchises; South Florida Media Group, a newspaper publisher; Primary Steel, LLC, a steel distribution business; and North American Specialty Glass, a manufacturer of safety glass. He holds a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College, an M.A. in International

5


Affairs from the School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins, and an M.B.A. from the New York University Graduate School of Business.

David N. Gill has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2006. Mr. Gill served from July 2005 to November 2006 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NxStage Medical, Inc., which develops and markets systems for the treatment of end-stage renal disease and kidney failure. Previously, Mr. Gill was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc, a publicly traded medical device company from 2002 to 2005, before its sale. He served from February 2000 to March 2001 as Chief Financial Officer and Director, and from January 2001 to August 2001 as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director of Interland, Inc., a publicly traded telecom-related company, before its sale. Mr. Gill served from 1996 to 2000 as Chief Financial Officer and from 1997 to 2000 as Chief Operating Officer of Novoste Corporation, a publicly traded medical device company. Mr. Gill is also a director of Calypso Medical, Inc., a manufacturer of radiation treatment medical devices, INC Research, Inc., a clinical research organization, and Biospace Med, an orthopedic imaging equipment company. Mr. Gill holds a B.S.cum laude in Accounting from Wake Forest University and an M.B.A. (with distinction) from Emory University.

Duane M. DeSisto has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2006. Since 2001, Mr. DeSisto has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Insulet Corporation, a publicly traded company that develops and markets medical devices for the treatment of diabetes. Mr. DeSisto was the Chief Financial Officer of PaperExchange, a privately held wood pulp and paper internet marketplace from 1999 to 2001. Before that, he served as Chief Financial Officer of AAI-Foster Grant. In 1992, Mr. DeSisto served as Chief Financial Officer of Zoll Medical during its initial public offering. Mr. DeSisto holds a B.S. from Providence College and an M.B.A. from Bryant College.

Russell D. Hays has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January 2008, as well as from 2003 through 2005. Mr. Hays most recently served as the President, CEO, and Chairman of Biosource International,

5


Inc., a leading provider of biomedical research tools that was subsequently acquired by Invitrogen Corporation in October 2005. Prior to his work at Biosource, Mr. Hays served as President and CEO of NEN Life Sciences, Inc., a major supplier of reagent systems for the genomics industry. Mr. Hays also previously served as the President and CEO of ReSound Corporation, a publicly traded company, and as the Executive Vice President and President of Nellcor Puritan Bennett’s Hospital Business Division. Mr. Hays received a Masters Degree in business from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in physics from Elmhurst College.

John J. O’Connorhas served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2008. Prior to his retirement in November 2006, Mr. O’Connor was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent public accounting firm, from 1982 to November 2006, most recently serving as Vice Chairman of Services from June 2002 to November 2006. Mr. O’Connor served as the leader of the U.S. audit practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers from September 2000 to June 2002, and served as the Managing Partner of the firm’s Boston office from 1995 to September 2000. He is a director of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc.; a brain monitoring device company; mTuitive, Inc., a developer of clinical data capture and synoptic reporting software for use by healthcare professionals; Open Pages, Inc., a provider of enterprise governance, risk and compliance management solutions; and Segue Manufacturing Services, LLC, a manufacturing services company. He is a graduate of Suffolk University and has attended the Harvard Business School’s Leadership in Professional Service Firms program and the executive M.B.A. program at the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

William N. Thorndike, Jr. has been nominated to serveserved as a member of our Board of Directors a position that he heldsince 2008, and previously from 1998 through 2005. Mr. Thorndike founded Housatonic Partners, a private equity firm in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1994 and currently serves as its managing partner. Mr. Thorndike is a graduate of Harvard College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a Director of Access Information Management;CIG, LLC, an information management services company; Alta Colleges; Continental Fire & Safety Services, LLC;College, Inc., an operator of educational institutions; Carillon Assisted Living, LLC; Rapid Communications, LLC;LLC, a provider of residential care to seniors; Cortland Associates, Inc., an investment management company; Liberty Towers, LLC, a communications tower company; White Flower Farm, Inc., a nursery and gardening supply company; WGBH, a public television broadcaster; and a Trustee of the Groton School the Boston Athenaeum, and the College of the Atlantic.

Our executive officers are elected by, and serve at the discretion of, our Board of Directors. George W. LeMaitre, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, is the son of George D. LeMaitre, M.D. and Cornelia W. LeMaitre, each of whom is also a member of the Board of Directors. Mrs. LeMaitre is married to George D. LeMaitre, M.D. and is also our Vice President, Human Resources.

 

6


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of the Record Date: (i) by each person who is known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) by each Named Executive Officer of the Company (as defined below under “Compensation of Directors and Officers”); (iii) by each director or nominee of the Company; and (iv) by all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise indicated below, each person listed below maintains a business address in the care of

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803 and has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock owned.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

 Shares
Beneficially
Owned (1)
 Percentage of Shares
Beneficially Owned (2)
   Shares
Beneficially
Owned (1)
  Percentage of Shares
Beneficially Owned (2)
 

5% Stockholders

      

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (3)

7 Hanover Square

New York, NY, 10004-4025

 1,426,474 9.2%

Housatonic Partners (4)

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Suite 2200

Boston, MA 02199

 1,405,526 9.1%

Housatonic Partners (3)

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Suite 2200

Boston, MA 02199

  1,407,759  9.0%

Wellington Management Company (4)

75 State Street

Boston, MA, 02109

  1,284,119  8.2%

Named Executive Officers

      

George W. LeMaitre (5)

 4,511,567 29.1%  4,543,448  28.9%

David B. Roberts (6)

 389,661 2.5%  435,903  2.8%

Peter R. Gebauer (7)

 387,820 2.5%  402,876  2.5%

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr. (8)

 61,322 *   98,761  * 

Kevin D. Kelly (9)

 43,525 * 

Trent G. Kamke (9)

  76,432  * 

Directors

      

George D. LeMaitre, M.D. (10)

 622,213 4.0%  622,988  4.0%

Cornelia W. LeMaitre (11)

 547,656 3.5%  548,060  3.5%

Lawrence J. Jasinski (12)

 16,195 *   23,698  * 

Michael C. Jackson (4)

 1,405,526 9.1%  1,407,759  9.0%

Duane M. DeSisto (13)

 14,472 * 

David N. Gill (14)

 18,472 * 

Russell D. Hays

 0 * 

Director Nominees

  

John J. O’Connor

  0  * 

William N. Thorndike, Jr. (4)

 1,405,526 9.1%  1,407,759  9.0%

All executive officers, directors, and director nominees as a group (15 persons) (15)

 8,147,522 52.5%

Russell D. Hays (13)

  6,667  * 

All executive officers and directors as a group (14 persons) (14)

  8,203,018  49.8%

 

 *Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock
(1)Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting and investment power with respect to shares. Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed outstanding includes shares issuable pursuant to options held by the respective person or group that may be exercised, or restricted stock units held by such person or group that may vest, within 60 days of the Record Date.
(2)Applicable percentage of ownership as of the Record Date is based upon 15,526,18515,665,786 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
(3)

With respect to The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (“Guardian Life Insurance”), the Company has relied, in part, on information supplied by such entity on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 8, 2008. Guardian Life Insurance is an insurance company and is the parent of Guardian Investor Services LLC (“Guardian Investor”) and RS Investment Management Co. LLC (“RS Investment

7


Management”). Guardian Investor is a registered investment adviser, a registered broker-dealer, and the parent of RS Investment Management. RS Investment Management is a registered investment adviser whose clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, shares of Common Stock. No individual client’s holdings of Common Stock are more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Guardian Life Insurance, Guardian Investor, and RS Investment Management share voting power and dispositive power over all 1,426,474 shares of Common Stock.

(4)With respect to Housatonic Partners, the Company has relied, in part, on information supplied by such entity on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 25, 2008.13, 2009. Includes 12,15521,668 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. Housatonic Equity Partners I, LLC is the general partner of Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. William N. Thorndike, Jr. is the managing director of Housatonic Equity Partners I, LLC, and William N. Thorndike, Jr., Barry D. Reynolds, Michael C. Jackson, and Eliot Wadsworth II are the managing members of Housatonic Equity Partners I,

7


LLC. As such, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Thorndike may each be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by such entity. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Thorndike disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interest, if any.

(4)With respect to Wellington Management Company, LLP (“Wellington Management”), the Company has relied, in part, on information supplied by such entity on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009. Wellington Management is a registered investment adviser and is the parent of Wellington Trust Company, NA (“Wellington Trust”). Wellington Trust is a bank and a registered investment adviser whose clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, shares of Common Stock. No individual client’s holdings of Common Stock are more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Wellington Management and Wellington Trust share voting power and dispositive power over all 1,284,119 shares of Common Stock.
(5)Includes 30,581 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. LeMaitre upon exercise of stock options. Also, includes 610,154 shares of Common Stock owned by LeMaitre Family LLC, which represents the 20% membership interest held by a trust for the benefit of George W. LeMaitre. LeMaitre Family LLC is 100% owned by Peter Boland, as trustee for various trusts formed for the benefit of the children of Dr. LeMaitre and Mrs. LeMaitre, including George W. LeMaitre. The trust for the benefit of George W. LeMaitre holds a 20% membership interest in LeMaitre Family LLC. George W. LeMaitre and Peter Boland are the managers of LeMaitre Family LLC, with sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by such entity, acting by unanimous agreement. George W. LeMaitre disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. Includes 100 shares of Common Stock held by each of The Thomas O’Brien Daly Trust, under instrument of trust dated March 22, 2000; The Quinn Weldon Daly Trust, under instrument of trust dated March 22, 2000; and The Katherine Frances Daly Trust, under instrument of trust dated March 22, 2000, of which George W. LeMaitre is the sole trustee in each case. These trusts are each for the benefit of one minor child, who is either George W. LeMaitre’s nephew or niece. George W. LeMaitre, as trustee, has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by each of such trusts, but he disclaims beneficial ownership of all 300 shares. Includes 256,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. LeMaitre and pledged to Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. as security for a personal loan.
(6)Includes 97,500140,350 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Roberts upon exercise of stock options.
(7)Includes 371,986390,890 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Gebauer upon exercise of stock options and 200 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Gebauer upon vesting of restricted stock units.
(8)Includes 55,00085,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Pellegrino upon exercise of stock options and 3,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Pellegrino upon vesting of restricted stock units.
(9)Includes 40,12360,212 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. KellyKamke upon exercise of stock options.options and 200 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Kelly resigned from his position with the Company on April 4, 2008, but is included in this table for informational purposes due to his status as a named executive officer. Mr. Robert V. Linden, who was appointed as Mr. Kelly’s replacement, was not designated an executive officer by the Board until April 25, 2008 (i.e., after the Record Date), and therefore is not included for the purposesKamke upon vesting of this table.restricted stock units.
(10)Includes 12,05712,832 shares of Common Stock issuable to Dr. LeMaitre upon exercise of stock options. Excludes 610,154 shares of Common Stock owned by LeMaitre Family LLC.
(11)Includes 2,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mrs. LeMaitre upon exercise of stock options. Excludes 610,154 shares of Common Stock owned by LeMaitre Family LLC.
(12)Includes 14,99821,668 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Jasinski upon exercise of stock options.
(13)Includes 13,3336,667 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. DeSistoHays upon exercise of stock options.
(14)Includes 13,333 shares of Common Stock issuable to Mr. Gill upon exercise of stock options.
(15)Includes an aggregate of 759,816742,840 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options, and 3,4008,726 shares of Common Stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units, held by 15 executive officers, directors, and director nominees.directors.

 

8


SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Company’s directors, executive officers, and holders of more than 10% of the Company’s common stock (collectively, “Reporting Persons”) to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock of the Company. Such persons are required by regulations of the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all such filings. Based on its review of the copies of such filings received by it with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2008, and written representations from certain Reporting Persons, the Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied with during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2008, with the exception of (a) one Form 3 and one Form 4 which were not timely filed on behalf of Mr. Russell D. Hays in January 2008 following the commencement of his service on the Company’s Board, (b) one Form 4 which was not timely filed for each of Trent G. Kamke, Robert V. Linden, and Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr. in regard to shares withheld for tax purposes as the result of the vesting of restricted stock units on behalf of Mr. Michael C. Jackson in July 2007 with respect to transactions that were reported on a Form 4 filed on behalf of Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. on July 20, 2007, and (b)May 2, 2008, (c) one Form 4 which was not timely filed for each of Peter R. Gebauer, Kevin D. Kelly,Aaron M. Grossman, Trent G. Kamke, Cornelia W. LeMaitre, Robert V. Linden, Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr., and David B. Roberts in regard to shares withheld for tax purposes as the result of the vesting of restricted stock units on July 18, 2008, and (d) one Form 4 which was not timely filed for each of Peter R. Gebauer, Aaron M. Grossman, Trent G. Kamke, Robert V. Linden, Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr., and David B. Roberts in regard to shares withheld for tax purposes as the result of the vesting of restricted stock units on December 22, 2007.2008. All of the foregoing transactions were exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated thereunder.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Policies on Corporate Governance

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of business conduct and corporate governance, which we believe are essential to running our business efficiently, serving stockholders well, and maintaining our integrity in the marketplace. We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all directors, officers, and employees. The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which, in conjunction with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated By-Laws, Board committee charters, and key Board policies, form the framework for our governance. The current version of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters for each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance Committee are available at the Corporate Governance section of our investor relations website,http://ir.lemaitre.com. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may also be obtained, free of charge, from the Company upon a request directed to: LeMaitre Vascular, 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, Attention: Investor Relations. We intend to disclose any amendment to or waiver of a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or controller, or persons performing similar functions, by posting such information on our investor relations website available athttp://ir.lemaitre.com and in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more corporate governance information, you are invited to access the Corporate Governance section of our investor relations website available athttp://ir.lemaitre.com.

Director Independence

The Board of Directors has determined that each of Duane M. DeSisto, David N. Gill, Russell D. Hays, Michael C. Jackson, Lawrence J. Jasinski, John J. O’Connor and William N. Thorndike, Jr. is independent within the meaning of the Company’s director independence standards and the director independence standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act. Furthermore, the Board of Directors has determined that each member of each of the committees of the Board of Directors is independent within the meaning of the Company’s, NASDAQ’s, and the SEC’s committee independence standards.

 

9


Nominations for Directors

Director Qualifications

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing with the Board of Directors from time to time the appropriate qualities, skills, and characteristics desired of members of the Board of Directors in the context of the needs of the business and current make-up of the Board of Directors. This assessment includes consideration of the following minimum qualifications that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes must be met by all directors:

 

nominees must have experience at a strategic or policy making level in a business, government, non-profit, or academic organization of high standing;

 

nominees must be highly accomplished in their respective fields, with superior credentials and recognition;

 

nominees must be well regarded in the community and have a long-term reputation for the highest ethical and moral standards;

 

nominees must have sufficient time and availability to devote to the affairs of the Company, particularly in light of the number of boards on which they may serve; and

 

nominees must, to the extent that they serve or have previously served on other boards, demonstrate a history of actively contributing at board meetings.

The Board of Directors seeks members from diverse professional backgrounds who combine a broad spectrum of relevant industry and strategic experience and expertise that, in concert, offer us and our stockholders diversity of opinion and insight in the areas most important to the Company and its corporate mission. In addition, nominees for director are selected to have complementary, rather than overlapping, skill sets. All candidates for director nominee must have time available to devote to the activities of the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers the independence of candidates for director nominee, including the appearance of any conflict in serving as a director. Candidates for director nominee who do not meet all of these criteria may still be considered for nomination to the Board of Directors, if the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the candidate will make an exceptional contribution to us and our stockholders.

Process for Identifying and Evaluating Director Nominees

The Board of Directors is responsible for selecting its own members. The Board of Directors delegates the nomination process to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with the expectation that other members of the Board of Directors, and of management, will be requested to take part in the process.

Generally, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies candidates for director nominee in consultation with management, with non-management directors, through the use of search firms or other advisors, through the recommendations submitted by stockholders, or through such other methods as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems to be helpful to identify candidates. Once candidates have been identified, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee confirms that the candidates meet all of the minimum qualifications for director nominees established by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may gather information about the candidates through interviews, detailed questionnaires, comprehensive background checks, or any other means that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems to be helpful in the evaluation process. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee then usually meets as a group to discuss and evaluate the qualities and skills of each candidate, both on an individual basis and taking into account the overall composition and needs of the Board of Directors. Based on the results of the evaluation process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends candidates for the Board’s approval as director nominees for election to the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also recommends candidates to the Board of Directors for appointment to the committees of the Board of Directors.

 

10


Procedures for Recommendation of Director Nominees by Stockholders

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director nominee candidates who are recommended by stockholders of the Company. Stockholders, in submitting recommendations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for director nominee candidates, shall follow the following procedures:

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must receive any such recommendation for nomination not later than the close of business on the 120th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement delivered to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting.

All recommendations for nomination must be in writing and include the following:

 

Name and address of the stockholder making the recommendation, as they appear on the Company’s books and records;

 

A representation that the stockholder is a record holder of the Company’s securities, or if the stockholder is not a record holder, evidence of ownership in accordance with Rule 14a-8(b)(2) of the Exchange Act;

 

Name, age, business and residential address, educational background, current principal occupation or employment, and principal occupation or employment for the proceeding five full fiscal years of the individual recommended for consideration as a director nominee;

 

A written statement from the stockholder making the recommendation stating why such recommended candidate meets the Company’s minimum qualifications and other criteria and would be able to fulfill the duties of a director;

 

A written statement describing all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and the proposed director candidate; and

 

All other information relating to the recommended candidate that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of directors or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including the recommended candidate’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if approved by the Board of Directors and elected.

Nominations must be sent to the attention of the Secretary of the Company by U.S. mail (including courier or expedited delivery service) to:

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

63 Second Avenue

Burlington, Massachusetts 01803

Attn: Secretary of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

The Secretary of the Company will promptly forward any such nominations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Once the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives the nomination of a candidate and the candidate has complied with the minimum procedural requirements above, such candidacy will be evaluated and a recommendation with respect to such candidate will be delivered to the Board of Directors.

 

11


MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meetings and Attendance

The Board meets on a regularly scheduled basis during the year to review significant developments affecting us and to act on matters requiring Board approval. It also holds special meetings when an important matter requires Board action between scheduled meetings. Members of senior management regularly attend Board meetings to report on and discuss their areas of responsibility. In 2007,2008, the Board of Directors held 11eight meetings and committees of the Board held a total of 1314 meetings. Overall attendance at these meetings was 90%89%. EightEleven individuals served on our Board in 2008, and eight of our nine directorsthese individuals attended more than 75% of the total meetings of the Board of Directors and each of the committees on which he or she served during 2006.2008. Michael C. Jackson and William N. Thorndike, Jr. attended 73%67% and 25%, respectively, of the total meetings of the Board of Directors and each of the committees on which hethey served during 2007.2008. In addition, our Audit CommitteeBoard acted by unanimous written consent twice, andone time, our Compensation Committee acted by unanimous written consent five times, and our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee acted by unanimous written consent one time during 2007.2008. Our corporate governance guidelines provide that each director is expected to spend the time and effort to properly fulfill his or her responsibilities, including regularly attending meetings of the Board and committees on which he or she sits, with the understanding that on occasion a director may be unable to attend a meeting. A director who is unable to attend a meeting is expected to notify the Chairman of the Board or the chairperson of the appropriate committee in advance of such meeting. Directors and nominees are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. ThreeTwo of our directors then in office attended the 20072008 annual meeting in person and threefive attended telephonically.

Executive Sessions of Independent Directors

The Board of Directors holds an executive session of the independent directors at least once per year. Executive sessions do not include any of the employee directors of the Company. The independent directors rotate the responsibility for chairing executive sessions.

Communication with the Board of Directors

Shareholders may communicate with all members of the Board of Directors, the chair of any committee of the Board of Directors, or any individual director by directing the communication in writing in care of the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the front page of this Proxy Statement. All communications will be received and processed by the Secretary of the Company, and the shareholder making such communications will receive a written acknowledgement from the Secretary of the Company of the receipt of the communication.

Communications are distributed to the Chairman of the Board, as a representative of the Board of Directors, or to any individual director, depending upon to whom the communication is addressed. In that regard, the Board of Directors has requested that certain communications unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors should be excluded, such as product complaints, inquiries, and suggestions; other ordinary business affairs suited to our management; resumes and other forms of job inquiries; surveys; and business solicitations or advertisements. In addition, material that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal, or similarly unsuitable will be excluded.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our Amended and Restated By-laws provide that the Board may delegate responsibility to committees. During 2007,2008, the Board had three standing committees: an Audit Committee, established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The membership of each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is composed entirely of independent directors. In addition, the members of the Audit Committee meet the heightened standards of independence for audit committee members required by SEC rules and NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards.

 

12


The table below shows the current membership of each Board committee and the number of meetings held during 2007.2008.

 

Name

  Audit  Compensation  Nominating and
Corporate
Governance

Duane M. DeSisto (1)

  X  X  

David C. Gill

  Chair  X  

Russell D. Hays (2)

  X    Chair

Michael C. Jackson (3)

      X

Lawrence J. Jasinski

    Chair  X

2007 Meetings

  6  5  2

(1)On February 29, 2008, Mr. DeSisto informed the Company of his decision not to stand for re-election to the Company’s Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. DeSisto’s decision was not due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. The membership of the Company’s Board committees will be revised immediately subsequent to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(2)Mr. Hays was appointed to the Board on December 11, 2007, effective as of January 1, 2008, to fill the vacancy created by the voluntary resignation of Guido J. Neels on August 8, 2007. Mr. Neels served as Chair of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of our Audit Committee prior to his resignation.
(3)Mr. Jackson resigned from the Compensation Committee effective April 13, 2007.

Name

  Audit  Compensation  Nominating and
Corporate
Governance

Russell D. Hays

  X  X  

Michael C. Jackson

      X

Lawrence J. Jasinski

  X  Chair  X

John J. O’Connor

  Chair    

William N. Thorndike, Jr.

      Chair

2008 Meetings

  6  7  1

Audit Committee

The Company has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act.committee. The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Gill, DeSisto,Hays, Jasinski, and Hays.O’Connor. Mr. GillO’Connor serves as chairperson of the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent within the meaning of the Company’s and NASDAQ’s director independence standards and the SEC’s heightened director independence standards for audit committee members, including Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act. The Company has determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee is financially sophisticated and is able to read and understand consolidated financial statements and that Mr. GillO’Connor is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in recently adopted SEC rules. Stockholders should understand that this designation is a disclosure requirement of the SEC related to Mr. Gill’sO’Connor’s experience and understanding with respect to certain accounting and auditing matters. The designation does not impose upon Mr. GillO’Connor any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than those generally imposed on him as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors, and his designation as audit committee financial expert pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties, obligations, or liabilities of any other member of the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors.

As described more fully in its charter, the Audit Committee oversees the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, internal controls, and audit functions. In fulfilling its role, the Audit Committee responsibilities include:

 

appointing, evaluating, and, where appropriate, replacing our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

pre-approving all auditing services and permissible non-audit services provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm and with management the proposed scope of the annual audit, past audit experience, our program for the internal examination and verification of our accounting records, and the results of recently completed internal examinations;

 

13


resolving disagreements between management and our independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting;

 

reviewing major issues as to the adequacy of our internal controls;

 

monitoring compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics as it pertains to issues regarding accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters; and

 

preparing the Audit Committee report required by SEC rules to be included in our annual proxy statement.

13


Ernst & Young LLP currently serves as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee met six times and acted two times by means of unanimous written consent during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.2008. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a current copy of which is available at the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s investor relations website athttp://ir.lemaitre.com.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Jasinski, DeSisto,Hays and Gill.Jasinski. Mr. Jasinski serves as the chairperson of the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent within the meaning of the Company’s and NASDAQ’s director independence standards.

The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include:

 

administering our annual incentive and equity-based incentive plans;

 

reviewing and making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to incentive compensation and equity-based plans;

 

approving compensation of executive officers and certain senior management; and

 

if and as required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, discussing with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and, if appropriate, recommending its inclusion in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and proxy statement.

The Compensation Committee determines the annual base salary, annual and long-term incentive opportunities, and equity-based awards provided to our Chief Executive Officer and approves the compensation of other executive officers, taking into consideration the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer. Our Chief Executive Officer provides significant input on the compensation, including annual merit adjustments and equity awards, of the other named executive officers and his other direct reports. In 2008, the Compensation Committee retained an independent, third-party compensation consultant, J. Thelander Consulting, to review our executive compensation programs, including a compensation analysis for each of our executive officers of all elements of compensation—base salary, cash bonus, equity incentive grants, and severance benefits. J. Thelander Consulting provided the Compensation Committee with a written report based on competitive market compensation data based on a survey of companies in the medical device industry with comparable market capitalizations and made general recommendations to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee considered the results of this analysis in its compensation determinations and ultimately made all determinations regarding compensation payable to our executive officers throughout the year.

The Compensation Committee met fiveseven times and acted by unanimous written consent five times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.2008. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a current copy of which is available at the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s investor relations website athttp://ir.lemaitre.com.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Messrs. Hays, Jackson, Jasinski, and Jasinski.Thorndike. Mr. HaysThorndike serves as chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent within the meaning of the Company’s, NASDAQ’s, and the SEC’s director independence standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include:

 

developing and recommending to the Board criteria for board and committee membership;

 

recommending director candidates to the Board;

 

14


periodically reassessing the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and recommending any proposed changes to the Board for approval; and

 

monitoring, in cooperation with the Board’s Audit Committee, compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

14


The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met two timesone time and acted by unanimous written consent one time during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.2008. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a current copy of which is available at the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s investor relations website athttp://ir.lemaitre.com.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 2007,2008, Messrs. Jasinski Gill,and Hays, as well as former directors Duane M. DeSisto and JacksonDavid N. Gill, served as members of the Compensation Committee. No person who served as a member of the Compensation Committee was, at any time during the past fiscal year, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, formerly an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure in this Proxy Statement under SEC rules.

During the last year, no executive officer of the Company served as (i) a member of the Compensation Committee (or other committee of the Board of Directors performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of the Company; (ii) a director of any other entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of the Company; or (iii) a member of the Compensation Committee (or other committee of the Board of Directors performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of the Company.

 

15


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee oversees our independent registered public accounting firm and assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities on matters relating to the integrity of our financial statements and financial reporting, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence by meeting regularly with the independent registered public accounting firm and our financial management personnel. Our management is responsible for:

 

the preparation, presentation, and integrity of our financial statements;

 

establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f));

 

evaluating the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures; and

 

evaluating any change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

The Audit Committee acts under a written charter, which governs the operations of the Audit Committee. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2008, with Company management and Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also received various communications from and discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit Committees, as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90 (Audit Committee Communications)). This included a discussion of the independent registered public accounting firm’s judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles and such other matters that generally accepted auditing standards require to be discussed with the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also received the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussion with Audit Committees),the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s applicable requirements, and the Audit Committee discussed the independence of Ernst & Young LLP with that firm.

Based on the Audit Committee’s review and discussions noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2008, for filing with the SEC. Previously, the Audit Committee approved the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2007,2008, and the stockholders of the Company ratified this selection at the our 20072008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors have also recommended, subject to stockholder approval, the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2008.2009.

 

Respectfully Submitted by the Audit Committee:

David N. GillJohn J. O’Connor (Chairman)

Duane M. DeSisto

Russell D. Hays

Lawrence J. Jasinski

 

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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Compensation Committee Report

We have reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that appears in this proxy beginning below. Based on our review and discussion with management, we have recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and in LeMaitre’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

No portion of this Compensation Committee Report shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, through any general statement incorporating by reference in its entirety the Proxy Statement in which this report appears, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this report or a portion of it by reference. In addition, this report shall not be deemed filed under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

Respectfully Submitted by the Compensation Committee:

Lawrence J. Jasinski (Chairman)

David N. Gill

Duane M. DeSisto

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The Named Executive Officers

Our Named Executive Officers, or NEOs, are:

George W. LeMaitre, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer;

David B. Roberts, President and Director;

Peter R. Gebauer, President, International Operations;

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer; and

Kevin D. Kelly, former Vice President, North American Sales.

Executive Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

We have designed our executive compensation program to attract, retain, and motivate highly qualified executives and to align their interests with the interests of our stockholders. The ultimate goal of our program is to increase stockholder value by providing executives with appropriate incentives to achieve our business objectives. We seek to achieve this goal through a program that rewards executives for superior performance, as measured by both financial and non-financial factors, and includes major compensation components that are linked to the achievement of certain operational, financial, product development, and clinical objectives that are aimed at increasing both long-term and short-term stockholder value. Our use of equity-based awards that vest over time also encourages our executives to remain in our employ. Executive officers are required to enter into non-competition or other restrictive covenants with us as a condition of their employment, a practice that we believe limits the possibility of losing executive talent to our closest competitors.

Our Chief Executive Officer provides significant input on the compensation, including annual merit adjustments and equity awards, of the other NEOs and his other direct reports. The Compensation Committee determines the annual base salary, annual and long-term incentive opportunities, and equity-based awards

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provided to our Chief Executive Officer and approves the compensation of other executive officers, taking into consideration the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer. In 2008, the Compensation Committee has retained an independent, third-party compensation consultant, J. Thelander Consulting, to review our executive compensation programs, including a compensation analysis for each of our executive officers of all elements of compensation—base salary, cash bonus, equity incentive grants, and benefits. The Compensation Committee expects to consider the results of this analysis in its decisions with respect to any changes to 2008 compensation, if any, and its determination of 2009 compensation.

The Compensation Committee’s executive compensation philosophy embraces three core objectives:

Market Driven:Provide competitive compensation to attract, motivate, and retain superior talent;

Pay-for-Performance:Reward individual and team successes linked to the achievement of certain operational, financial, product development, and clinical objectives that are aimed at increasing both long-term and short-term stockholder value; and

Equitable:Ensure that rewards are internally and externally equitable.

Our goal is to attract, motivate, and retain highly capable and talented executives by providing competitive compensation that rewards our Company’s successful performance and each executive’s contribution to that success. The Compensation Committee approaches our executive compensation objectives through three key components:

base salary;

performance-based cash bonuses; and

periodic grants of long-term stock-based compensation, such as stock options or restricted stock units.

In determining base salary, the Compensation Committee considers base salaries for comparable positions at peer group companies, as well as corporate performance and contributions of the individual executive officer during the review period. The Compensation Committee typically targets the median, but allows for adjustment of target upon taking into account the Company’s performance relative to peer benchmark companies and individual factors such as the performance, experience, and tenure of the executive and the securities holdings of the executive. In setting performance-based bonuses, the Compensation Committee sets specific corporate goals, including company revenue and profitability objectives that are directly linked to creating value for shareholders. In addition, each executive’s performance-based cash bonus depends on achievement of individual performance-based goals within that executive’s functional area. At 100% achievement of objectives, total cash compensation, consisting of base salary and performance-based cash bonus, is targeted at the median of peer benchmark companies for the executive team. The Compensation Committee also grants long-term stock-based compensation to executives, such as stock options and restricted stock units, which vest over time. As discussed below, the Compensation Committee has adopted a practice of primarily granting restricted stock units, though it may still grant stock options from time to time in the future.

Determination of Compensation Awards

The Compensation Committee has the primary authority to set the compensation of executive officers. When the Compensation Committee determined 2007 compensation for our NEOs, the Compensation Committee consisted of Mr. Jasinski, Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, and Mr. Jackson, a general partner of Housatonic Partners, our sole preferred shareholder at the time of our initial public offering in October 2006. Following our initial public offering, Mr. Jackson remained on the Compensation Committee in a transitional role and thereafter resigned from the Compensation Committee effective April 13, 2007.

In November 2006, the Chief Executive Officer undertook a review of executive compensation at 20 public medical device peer companies and provided a report to the Compensation Committee. The report included a

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review and analysis of base salary, cash bonus, and total cash compensation for each officer, including the NEOs. The peer group companies were comprised of vascular device companies, as well as selected other medical device companies that had recently completed the initial public offering process. These are companies in the healthcare industry, and in most cases in the medical device sector, with comparable organizational and financial characteristics, such as headcount, revenue, and revenue growth. The peer group consisted of the following companies: Abiomed, Alphatec Holdings, AngioDynamics, Atricure, Cardica, Cynosure, Endologix, ev3, FoxHollow Technologies, Home Diagnostics, Kensey-Nash, Merit Medical, Micrus Endovascular, NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, NxStage Medical, Possis Medical, Spectranetics, Vascular Solutions, VNUS Medical Technologies, and Volcano. This peer group was identical to that used by the Compensation Committee in the preceding year, except that Abiomed, Alphatec, Atricure, Cardica, Cynosure, Home Diagnostics, Micrus Endovascular, NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, NxStage Medical, Spectranetics, and Volcano were added to the peer group either as examples of recently public medical device companies or in recognition that they should be part of our long-term compensation peer group based upon an analysis of company characteristics and industry focus. The Compensation Committee’s compensation objectives were to target the NEOs’ total cash compensation at approximately the median of these peer companies when the Company met 100% of its operational and financial objectives.

To assist the Compensation Committee in setting compensation for the other NEOs, the Chief Executive Officer provided recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding compensation of the executive officers. The Chief Executive Officer based his recommendation upon his review of the compensation practices at the peer group companies. The Chief Executive Officer also provided the Compensation Committee with his evaluation of each NEO’s performance during 2006.

The Compensation Committee determined 2007 compensation at a meeting held on November 21, 2006. For 2007, the Compensation Committee targeted the total target cash compensation level for each executive officer at approximately the median of the peer group for most NEO positions. The Compensation Committee recognized, however, that in some cases reaching the targeted compensation level for some executive officers may occur over time. The Compensation Committee also recognized that to motivate and retain the best talent among our executive officers, it may be necessary to set total compensation with executive officers that deviates from the general philosophy of targeting the median. Total cash compensation for each executive officer is determined based on benchmarking, the individual executive’s performance over the review period and over time, and the annual performance of the Company, in light of the equity position held by the executive and the amount of the executive’s potential gain from an appreciation in value of the executive’s equity.

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee reviews officer salaries annually. For this purpose, the Compensation Committee considers compensation for similar positions at the peer medical device and medical equipment companies along with the officer’s job scope and responsibilities, past and current contributions, and the following individual factors: experience and background, unique skills, demand in the labor market, and longer-term development and succession plans. In addition, the Compensation Committee considers our strategic and operational performance, relative levels of pay among the officers, and recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer.

The amount of the 2007 base salary increases varied by NEO and resulted in an overall increase to the NEO payroll of 6%. Salary increases for the executive officers, other than Chief Executive Officer, ranged from 4% to 7% and placed the NEOs generally around the midrange of base salaries paid by the peer companies for comparable positions. Employees other than the executive officers receive performance reviews and appropriate salary increases during the last six weeks of the calendar year.

The 2006 base salaries approved by the Compensation Committee on November 22, 2005, were $236,000 for Mr. Roberts, $212,500 for Mr. Pellegrino, $234,438 for Mr. Gebauer, and $195,417 for Mr. Kelly.

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Mr. LeMaitre’s compensation is discussed below in the section titled “Chief Executive Officer Compensation.” The Summary Compensation Table provided below includes all salary amounts approved by the Compensation Committee for the NEOs.

Cash Bonuses

The Compensation Committee and management emphasize pay-for-performance in all components of compensation, making adjustments to target annual cash bonuses based on individual employee performance relative to compensation levels among employees in similar positions in their defined talent market and relationships among internal peers. Our annual cash bonus program is the primary means by which we emphasize pay-for-performance and is an important component of our total compensation and benefit packages. The Company also makes certain other pay-for-performance cash bonus programs available from time to time, as described below.

Annual Cash Bonus.The design of our annual executive bonus program rewards achievement at specified levels of our operational, financial, product development, and clinical performance, as well as individual performance. All bonuses paid under this program are paid annually, in January of the following year, except that Mr. Kelly’s plan contained quarterly revenue and other milestone goals that were determined and paid out as achieved. For all NEOs other than the Chief Executive Officer, 2007 potential cash bonuses averaged 31% and ranged from 24% to 37% of base salary at targeted performance levels and averaged 42% and ranged from 29% to 54% of base salary at maximum payment levels for superior performance. The Chief Executive Officer’s target bonus opportunities and other details of his participation in this program are discussed below in the section titled “Chief Executive Officer Compensation.”

Under our Management Incentive Compensation Plan, annual cash bonus objectives are linked to certain operational, financial, product development, clinical, and quality goals that have been approved by the Board as management “planks,” which are our key performance objectives for the fiscal year. Each objective is directly linked to increasing either short-term or long-term shareholder value. These key performance objectives are intended to be directional in nature and extremely difficult to achieve in the aggregate, as corporate resource constraints may not always permit the necessary investment to achieve all of the objectives in a single year. In a typical year, the Company typically achieves between 50% and 75% of its objectives. In 2007, these objectives were: the achievement of net sales of $42,500,000, excluding net sales from products acquired in 2007; the completion of one significant acquisition; the achievement of an enrollment milestone in our UNITE pivotal study; the initiation of a feasibility study as the first step in support of an application for pre-market approval of our EndoFit Thoracic Stent Graft in the United States; the completion of the launches of three specifically identified, internally developed products and the completion of an in-house manufacturing project; the employment at December 31, 2007, of a minimum of 50 field sales representatives; the receipt of customer complaints not in excess of a specific target; and the initiation of direct sales in one of two specifically identified major foreign markets, one of which was Italy.

Each officer’s cash bonus plan rewards the achievement of individual goals under their personal control that related to these Company objectives. In addition, our most senior officers are also rewarded based on overall organizational financial performance metrics. As necessary, the Compensation Committee may modify organizational financial performance metrics during the course of the fiscal year or at the time of determining the achievement of an award to reflect changes in the Company’s business plan. The instances in which the Compensation Committee exercised this discretion in respect to 2007 compensation are discussed below.

Organizational Performance Metrics.The organizational financial performance metrics for 2007 cash bonuses to NEOs were based on the achievement of net sales of $42,500,000, excluding net sales from products acquired in 2007, and the achievement of a loss from operations of less than $2,500,000. The organizational financial performance metrics are generally understood to exclude the impact of extraordinary or strategic transactions, although the Compensation Committee retains discretion in this regard. A bonus is separately

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payable for each performance metric; thus, the Company’s failure to reach the minimum threshold for one performance metric would result in no bonus payable for that metric, but could still result in a bonus payable for other performance metrics, presuming the Company reached the minimum threshold performance for such metrics. These bonuses are earned based upon a continuously functioning, sliding scale; thus, failure to reach the targeted performance level could still result in a lesser bonus payable, provided that a certain minimum threshold had been achieved. Similarly, exceeding the targeted performance level could result in a greater bonus payable.

Individual Performance Bonus Component.Individual performance measures for 2007 cash bonuses varied in detail and subject matter based on each officer’s department and area of functional responsibility. In certain cases, an NEO was provided the opportunity to earn additional amounts by way of performance beyond targeted performance expectations. The 2007 individual objectives set under the Management Incentive Compensation Plan for each of the NEOs other than our Chief Executive Officer are summarized below:

Mr. Roberts’ annual bonus plan for 2007 was based 50% upon the Company’s achievement of the organizational performance metrics and 50% upon his achievement of his individual objectives, which consisted generally of the following: completing a significant acquisition; completing additional strategic transactions; implementing a material expense reduction program; meeting an investor relations goal; initiating direct sales in one of two specifically identified major foreign markets, one of which was Italy; and managing Finance Department operating expenses at or below the budgeted level. Overall, Mr. Roberts received 89% of his targeted annual cash bonus, including 70% of the targeted compensation relating to the organizational performance metrics and 113% of the targeted compensation relating to his individual objectives.

Mr. Pellegrino’s annual bonus plan for 2007 was based 40% upon the Company’s achievement of the organizational performance metrics and 60% upon his achievement of his individual objectives, which consisted generally of the following: improving the Company’s financial close process; entering into compliance with the internal financial control requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002; implementing a material expense reduction program; timely filing our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; resolving an outstanding tax issue; improving our worldwide daily sales outstanding measure; improving cash management commensurate with the additional requirements of a recently public company with comparatively greater levels of cash and marketable securities; implementing videoconferencing in multiple Company locations; amending our revolving credit facility to improve our access to debt capital; and meeting an investor relations goal. Overall, Mr. Pellegrino received 103% of his targeted annual cash bonus, including 85% of the targeted compensation relating to the organizational performance metrics and 110% of the targeted compensation relating to his individual objectives.

Mr. Gebauer’s annual bonus plan for 2007 was based 10% upon the Company’s achievement of the organizational performance metrics and 90% upon his achievement of his individual objectives, which consisted generally of the following: achieving €12,680,000 of net sales at our German subsidiary; achieving a loss from operations not greater than €280,000 at our German subsidiary, achieving ¥130,894,000 of net sales at our Japanese subsidiary; achieving aortic stent graft net sales in excess of a targeted amount; and initiating direct sales in three specifically identified major foreign markets, one of which was Italy. Overall, Mr. Gebauer received 33% of his targeted annual cash bonus, including 63% of the targeted compensation relating to the organizational performance metrics and 30% of the targeted compensation relating to his individual objectives.

Mr. Kelly’s annual bonus plan for 2007 was based 100% upon his achievement of his individual objectives, which consisted of the following: achieving quarterly gross profit results in the Untied States and Canada, excluding gross profit from products acquired in 2007, which quarterly gross profit goals totaled $21,775,000 in the aggregate; maintaining North American sales force compensation at or above targeted levels; hiring a minimum number of field sales representatives; developing two of three specifically identified key accounts; achieving a targeted level of sales of the LeverEdge Contrast Injector, which we acquired in 2007; achieving an endovascular sales target in Canada; and managing sales department operating expenses at or below the budgeted level. Overall, Mr. Kelly received 80% of his targeted annual cash bonus, all relating to his individual objectives.

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Additional Quarterly Bonuses.Six of our officers, including the President, International and the Vice President, North American Sales, were also eligible to receive separate and additional quarterly bonus payments upon the achievement of quarterly performance targets selected once per quarter by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee believes that it may be appropriate in certain circumstances to reward certain executives for short-term performance. The quarterly performance target is set beyond the Company’s ordinary performance expectations and is intended to be difficult to achieve. Six of 22 possible quarterly bonus performance targets were reached in 2007. Quarterly performance targets for the President, International and the Vice President, North American Sales related to quarterly net sales. Successful achievement of each quarterly performance objective resulted both in a cash payment of $10,000 and a grant of 1,000 restricted stock units, which is discussed below in the section titled “Long-Term Incentive Compensation.” The quarterly bonus goals are determined and paid out as achieved.(1)

Additional Departmental Budget Bonuses.Commencing in July, 2007, each of our officers, other than our Chief Executive Officer, became eligible to supplement their annual cash bonus by up to $1,000 per month by maintaining the spending of their department within the Company’s budget for that department for that month, cumulative from July 1, 2007. The median payment to our NEOs under this program, excluding our Chief Executive officer, was $5,000. The bonuses earned under this program were paid in January 2008.

Determination of Compensation.Where not specifically disclosed above, we consider the operational goals for the performance measures described above to be confidential. Bonus goals are intended to be highly challenging to the executive. They are set to be achievable, yet are at a level of difficulty that does not assure that the goals will be met. Possible outcomes range from nonpayment to payment of an additional amount for superior performance beyond expectation. When performance goals for 2007 were determined, we estimated that the annual performance goals for all executive officers would be achieved at the 90% level and quarterly bonus goals for all executive officers would be achieved at the 33% level. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to adjust the bonus plan payments related to achievement of performance measures if it deems that a bonus plan participant has met some portion of the performance measures in a manner consistent with the intent of the bonus plans.

In January 2008, the Compensation Committee reviewed fiscal 2007 performance and individual goal achievement and awarded bonuses in accordance with the pre-determined bonus program parameters described above. For all NEOs other than the Chief Executive Officer, the fiscal year 2007 annual cash bonus payable averaged 76% of the target annual cash bonus, and the fiscal year 2007 quarterly bonus payable averaged 27% of the target quarterly cash bonus. Cash bonuses failed to reach targets primarily due our failure to achieve 100% of our organizational financial performance metrics. Our net sales for 2007 were $42,446,000, as compared to the organizational financial performance metric of $42,500,000, and our loss from operations was $4,283,000, as compared to the $2,500,000 performance metric.

The Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to adjust bonus plan payments for all officers related to the achievement of the operating loss financial performance metric, to accommodate the restructuring charges incurred in connection with the Company’s early termination of agreements for the exclusive distribution of its products in Ireland and Italy and the in-process research and development charges incurred in connection the Company’s acquisition of certain patents and other technology related to an endovascular device from Arizona Heart Innovative Technologies, LLC in December 2007. These charges aggregated to $1,415,000 of additional operating expense. The Compensation Committee recognized that these transactions had been approved by our Board of Directors during the course of 2007, but had not been included in the Company’s 2007 financial plan due to uncertainty regarding likelihood and financial structure, in the case of the distributor terminations, and because the transaction had not yet been identified, in the case of the technology acquisition. The amounts paid to NEOs as a result of this decision were $12,384 to Mr. LeMaitre, $11,521 to Mr. Roberts, and $7,142 to Mr. Pellegrino. The Summary Compensation Table provided below includes these awards in the “Bonus” column.

Additionally, the Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to adjust bonus plan payments for Messrs. LeMaitre, Roberts, and Gebauer related to the initiation of direct sales in Italy. Although the Company

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has succeeded in negotiating a mutually beneficial separation agreement with our exclusive distributor in Italy, formed an Italian legal entity for the conduct of business, and hired a country manager to manage a network of Company clinical specialists, independent agents, and regional distributors, as is the customary sales and marketing organization structure in Italy, direct sales were not initiated until January 2008. The Compensation Committee recognized that the substantial purpose of the performance objective had been accomplished and elected to pay the bonuses as though the performance objective had been achieved. The amounts paid to NEOs as a result of this decision were $5,375 to Mr. LeMaitre, $4,000 to Mr. Roberts, and $3,403 to Mr. Gebauer. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee recognized that the net sales target for the Company’s German subsidiary had been set too aggressively in view the additional operational complexity and lead time required in expanding a sales organization in Europe as compared to the United States, and exercised its discretion to permit the Company to pay Mr. Gebauer anex gratiabonus of $5,600. Additional minor discretionary decisions resulted in payments of $6,719 in the case of Mr. LeMaitre, $3,000 in the case of Mr. Roberts, $6,767 in the case of Mr. Pellegrino, $3,403 in the case of Mr. Gebauer, and $2,177 in the case of Mr. Kelly. The Summary Compensation Table provided below includes these awards in the “Bonus” column.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation

The primary purpose of our long-term incentive compensation is to encourage and facilitate personal stock ownership by the officers and thus strengthen their personal commitments to the Company and provide a longer-term perspective in their managerial responsibilities. We believe that this component of an officer’s compensation links the officers’ interests with those of our other stockholders. In addition, we believe that long-term incentives encourage management to focus on our long-term development and prosperity in addition to short-term operating profits. Historically, our primary form of long-term incentive compensation was stock options. In late 2006, following our initial public offering, the Compensation Committee and management reviewed our equity compensation practices and decided to reduce our use of stock options in favor of restricted stock units. We believe that restricted stock units more effectively align our officers’ interests with those of our shareholders and serve as a more effective retention tool, particularly in the event that we suffer a decline in the trading price of our common stock. Many compensation experts believe that the use of stock options may create short-term incentives for employees that may be contrary to the interests of shareholders. Additionally, because a single restricted stock unit is more valuable to a grantee than a single stock option with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock, our use of restricted stock units allows us to deliver greater economic value to an employee using fewer shares, a practice that over time should result in less dilution to existing shareholders.

The Company has not adopted stock ownership requirements for its executive officers. However, the Compensation Committee makes regular annual grants to executive officers based on the level of the executive officer on the Company’s organizational chart. In 2007, all senior executives other than the Chief Executive Officer, including Messrs. Roberts, Pellegrino, and Gebauer, received a grant of restricted stock units with a fair market value on the date of grant of $50,000, and all other executive officers, including Mr. Kelly, received a grant of restricted stock units with a fair market value on the date of grant of $10,000. These restricted stock units vest in equal annual installments over a period of five years, subject to continued employment. The Compensation Committee made these annual grants of restricted stock units at its July 18, 2007, meeting. The closing price of our common stock on the date of this grant was $6.10 per share.

In addition, grants to executive officers are made on a periodic basis and are typically made in connection with a hire or promotion, but may also be made in connection with a bonus plan, in recognition of a significant accomplishment, in connection with the completion of vesting of a previous grant, or, at the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, taking into account the officer’s performance and contribution, retention concerns, and stock ownership, the market information for our peer group, and the value of existing equity incentives.

At its May 2, 2007, meeting, upon the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer following a review of Mr. Pellegrino’s then-current equity position, and in view of an anticipated promotion to the role of Chief

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Financial Officer, which occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 2007, the Compensation Committee granted 15,000 restricted stock units to Mr. Pellegrino in recognition that his equity compensation was less than that of his counterparts at our peer companies. These restricted stock units vest in equal annual installments over a period of five years. The closing price of our common stock on the date of this grant was $5.74 per share.

At its February 27, 2007, meeting, upon the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer following a review of Mr. Kelly’s then-current equity position, the Compensation Committee granted 10,000 restricted stock units to Mr. Kelly, and then at its November 2, 2007, meeting, upon the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee granted an addition 7,675 restricted stock units to Mr. Kelly, in each case in recognition that his equity compensation was less than that of his counterparts at our peer companies. These restricted stock units vest in equal annual installments over a period of five years. The closing price of our common stock on February 27, 2007, was $6.50 per share, and the closing price of our common stock on November 2, 2007 was $7.49 per share.

At its May 2, 2007, meeting, the Compensation Committee granted 1,000 restricted stock units to Mr. Gebauer in connection with the achievement of his quarterly bonus target for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007; at its November 2, 2007, meeting the Compensation Committee granted 1,000 restricted stock units to Mr. Kelly in connection with the achievement of his quarterly bonus target for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007; and at its February 29, 2008, meeting the Compensation Committee granted 1,000 restricted stock units to Mr. Kelly in connection with the achievement of his quarterly bonus target for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, all of which are discussed above in the section titled “Cash Bonuses.” All of these restricted stock units vest in equal annual installments over five years, at a rate of 20% per year, subject to continued employment. The closing prices of our common stock on the grant dates were $5.74 per share, $7.49 per share, and $4.75 per share, respectively.

All grants of stock options, restricted stock units, and stock awards granted by the Compensation Committee in connection with compensation for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, are set forth in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table provided below.

On April 4, 2008, Mr. Kelly resigned his position with the Company to pursue other business opportunities. His stock options and restricted stock units ceased vesting upon the termination of his employment.

Perquisites

We make available to our NEOs and certain other officers long-term care insurance and make an employer contribution to each NEO’s premium payment, the amount of which is less than $1,000. All employees, including our NEOs, receive a Rolex watch upon the completion of ten years of employment at the Company. Mr. Gebauer and Mr. Roberts each completed ten years of employment in 2007 and received watches with a fair market value of $12,819 and $9,692, respectively, on the date of receipt. We provide certain other perquisites to Mr. Gebauer, our President, International Operations, who is an American citizen living overseas. In 2007, he was provided with a car allowance, private health insurance (as Mr. Gebauer is not eligible for participation in the German public health insurance system), airfare for a family trip to the United States, and reimbursement of expenses relating to personal tax preparation and advice. We also provide Mr. Gebauer with a tax equalization payment that is designed to reimburse him for any additional taxes that he pays as a result of his residence in Germany while employed by us. The tax equalization payment is determined annually and paid in four quarterly installments. Our tax equalization payment to Mr. Gebauer in 2007 was $44,475, which was paid to Mr. Gebauer in Euros using a rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.2563.

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Chief Executive Officer Compensation

Base Salary.The Compensation Committee followed the same philosophy and process described above in determining compensation for George W. LeMaitre, our Chief Executive Officer. For purposes of determining Chief Executive Officer compensation for 2007, the Compensation Committee considered chief executive officer compensation at the peer group companies listed above. The Compensation Committee targeted the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary and total cash compensation at the median of these peer companies. The 2007 base salary approved by the Compensation Committee on November 21, 2006, for Mr. LeMaitre was $270,000, a 4% increase from Mr. LeMaitre’s 2006 base salary.

Performance Bonus.The Compensation Committee established an annual cash bonus program for Mr. LeMaitre’s cash bonus at its November 21, 2006, meeting. The Compensation Committee set the target bonus opportunity for Mr. LeMaitre at $107,500, or 40% of his base salary, an 8% increase over the prior year’s target cash bonus, and the maximum bonus opportunity at $161,250, or 60% of base salary. Mr. LeMaitre’s annual bonus plan for 2007 was based 80% upon the Company’s achievement of the organizational performance metrics, of which 60% related to the net sales metric and 20% related to the loss from operations metric, and 20% is based upon his achievement of his individual objectives, which consisted generally of the achievement of each of the Company’s key performance objectives, or “planks,” for 2007, as described in the section above titled “Cash Bonuses.”

In January 2008, the Compensation Committee reviewed performance in regard to the 2007 performance goals set for Mr. LeMaitre. After reviewing the Company’s performance and Mr. LeMaitre’s 2007 performance against the goals and objectives established by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of 2007, and exercising its discretion with respect to Mr. LeMaitre’s goals (as described above), the Compensation Committee approved an annual cash bonus payment to Mr. LeMaitre of $74,603. Overall, Mr. LeMaitre received 69% of his targeted annual cash bonus, including 66% of the targeted compensation relating to the organizational performance metrics and 54% of the targeted compensation relating to his individual objectives. The bonus payment was equal to 28% of his base salary.

Equity Grants.The Compensation Committee did not award Mr. LeMaitre any equity-based compensation in 2007.

Determination of 2008 Compensation

In November 2007 the Chief Executive Officer again undertook review of executive compensation at 20 public medical device peer companies and provided a report to the Compensation Committee. The report included a review and analysis of all elements of compensation, including base salary, cash bonus, and total cash compensation for each officer, including the NEOs. For purposes of the annual executive compensation review performed by the Compensation Committee in November 2007, the peer group companies were comprised of vascular device companies, as well as selected other medical device companies that had completed the initial public offering process in approximately the same time frame as the Company. The peer group consisted of the following companies: Abiomed, Alphatec Holdings, AngioDynamics, Atricure, Cardica, Cynosure, Endologix, ev3, FoxHollow Technologies, Home Diagnostics, Kensey-Nash, Merit Medical, Micrus Endovascular, Nitinol Medical Technologies, NxStage Medical, Possis Medical, Spectranetics, Vascular Solutions, VNUS Medical Technologies, and Volcano. Nitinol Medical Technologies was added to the peer group in recognition that it should be part of our long-term compensation peer group based upon an analysis of company characteristics and industry focus, and NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals was dropped from our peer group in recognition of it being a poor comparison due to a differing industry focus. The report focused particularly on those companies in the peer group with market capitalizations of less than $250 million on the date of the report. The Compensation Committee also reviewed data from an additional independent compensation survey, theTop Five Medic Executive Compensation Survey. The Compensation Committee’s compensation objectives were to target the NEOs’ total cash compensation within the range between the median of the peer companies and the median of the peer companies with market capitalizations of less than $250 million, considering additional factors specific to each NEO.

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For 2008, the Compensation Committee targeted the total target cash compensation level for each executive officer at approximately the median for most NEO positions. The Compensation Committee recognized, however, that in some cases compensating at this level for some executive officers may occur over time. The Compensation Committee also recognized that, to motivate and retain the best talent among our executive officers, it may be necessary to set total compensation for executive officers that deviates from the general philosophy of targeting the median. Total cash compensation for each executive officer is determined based on benchmarking, the individual executive’s performance over the review period and over time, and the annual performance of the Company, in light of the equity position held by the executive and the amount of the executive’s potential gain from an appreciation in value of the executive’s equity. To assist the Compensation Committee in its annual review of executive performance, which took place on November 22, 2007, the Chief Executive Officer provided recommendations to the Compensation Committee, as he did during the executive compensation review in November 2006.

The amount of the 2008 base salary increases varied by NEO and resulted in an overall increase to the NEO payroll of 5%. Salary increases for the executive officers, other than Chief Executive Officer, were in the aggregate 5% of the payroll for those officers in 2007. The 2008 base salaries approved for the NEOs by the Compensation Committee on November 22, 2007, are as follows, with the exception of Mr. LeMaitre: Mr. Roberts’ base salary is $247,500, Mr. Gebauer’s base salary is $246,063, Mr. Pellegrino’s base salary is $224,000, and Mr. Kelly’s base salary was $205,625 through the date of his departure from the Company.

In its November 2007 meeting, the Compensation Committee also approved annual cash bonus eligibility for 2008 under our Management Incentive Compensation Plan. For all NEOs other than the Chief Executive Officer, 2008 potential cash bonuses average 32% and range from 29% to 37% of base salary at targeted performance levels and average 48% and range from 41% to 56% of base salary at maximum payment levels for superior performance. The Chief Executive Officer’s target bonus opportunities and other details of his participation in this program are discussed below. All bonuses paid under this program are expected to be paid in January 2009, although Mr. Kelly’s plan contained quarterly revenue and other milestone goals which were determined and paid out as achieved prior to his departure from the Company.

The performance measures for 2008 cash bonuses to NEOs are, as in 2007, based upon those operational, financial, product development, and clinical goals that have been approved by the Board as our key performance objectives for the fiscal year: the achievement of targeted net sales; the completion of a material business development transaction; the achievement of certain clinical trial enrollment milestones; the on-time launch of certain new products, product enhancements, or product line extensions; the continued growth of our research and development engineering team; and the achievement of a quality metric related to customer complaints. A bonus is separately payable for each performance measure; thus, the Company’s failure to reach the minimum threshold for one performance measure will result in no bonus payable for that measure, but could still result in a bonus payable for other performance measures, presuming the Company reached minimum threshold performance for such measures.

In addition, 2008 organizational financial performance metrics and other individual pre-established performance goals and bonus opportunities were established and, as in 2007, varied in detail and subject matter based on each officer’s department. Examples of individual objectives included employee hiring and compensation goals, the achievement of revenue targets for our foreign subsidiaries, maintaining departmental spending below budgeted amounts, product-specific sales performance metrics, the achievement of a specified gross margin percentage target, the avoidance of product backorders, compliance with the internal controls requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley, and the avoidance of product backorders.

The Compensation Committee has chosen to make quarterly bonuses available to all of our NEOs other than the Chief Executive Officer. Successful achievement of a quarterly performance objective will continue to result in a cash payment of $10,000 and a grant of 1,000 restricted stock units, which would vest in equal installments over a period of five years. Additional departmental budget bonuses, however, are now included as one component of annual cash bonuses.

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We consider the specific goals for the performance measures to be confidential. Bonus goals are intended to be highly challenging to the executive. They are set to be achievable, yet are at a level of difficulty that does not assure that the goals will be met. Possible outcomes range from nonpayment to payment of an additional amount for superior performance beyond expectation. We estimate that the annual performance goals for all executive officers will be achieved at the 90% level and quarterly bonus goals for all executive officers will be achieved at the 25% level. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to adjust the bonus plan payments related to achievement of performance measures if it deems that a bonus plan participant has met some portion of the performance measures in a manner consistent with the intent of the bonus plans.

Chief Executive Officer 2008 Compensation

Base Salary.The Compensation Committee followed the same philosophy and process described above in determining compensation for George W. LeMaitre, our Chief Executive Officer. For purposes of determining chief executive officer compensation for 2008, the Compensation Committee considered chief executive officer compensation at the peer group companies for 2008 identified above. The Compensation Committee targeted the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary and total cash compensation at the median of these peer companies. The 2008 base salary approved by the Compensation Committee on November 22, 2007, for Mr. LeMaitre was $280,000, a 4% increase from Mr. LeMaitre’s 2007 base salary.

Performance Bonus.The Compensation Committee established the target amount of, and performance objectives for, Mr. LeMaitre’s cash bonus at its November 22, 2007, meeting. The Compensation Committee set the target bonus opportunity for Mr. LeMaitre at $120,000, or 43% of his base salary, a 12% increase over the prior year’s target cash bonus, and the maximum bonus opportunity at $180,000, or 64% of base salary. The bonus is payable as follows: 60% of the bonus is based on our performance against minimum, target, and maximum annual net sales thresholds; 20% of the bonus is based on our performance against minimum, target, and maximum annual operating income thresholds, in each case with proration of bonus between such thresholds; and the remainder is based on the attainment of other key performance objectives for 2008 as described above.

Other Elements of Compensation

Medical Insurance.The NEOs other than Mr. Gebauer receive such health and dental insurance as the Company may from time to time make available to other employees. All employees who choose Company-provided medical insurance, including the NEOs, contribute to medical insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis through payroll deductions.

Life and Disability Insurance.The NEOs receive such disability and/or life insurance as the Company makes available to all U.S.-based employees.

Flexible Spending Accounts.The Company makes it possible for U.S.-based employees, including the NEOs, to pay for certain expenses not covered by traditional insurance plans by creating reimbursement accounts on a pre-tax basis.

401(k) Plan Matching.The Company has adopted a 401(k) matching plan, available to all U.S.-based employees, including the NEOs. Employees are permitted to contribute up to the amount permitted by federal tax regulations. The Company matches 50% of the first 6% of the employee’s contribution, with the matching amount vesting over a period of six years, subject to continued employment.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan.The Company has adopted an employee stock purchase plan, available to all employees. Employees are permitted to set aside up to 10% of their base salary over a six month period to purchase our common stock at a 10% discount to the trading price on the last day of the period. Mr. LeMaitre is not eligible to participate in our employee stock purchase plan.

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Policies with Respect to Equity Compensation Awards

The Compensation Committee approves all equity compensation award grants in advance at an in-person or telephonic meeting. If extraordinary circumstances arise necessitating such action, the Compensation Committee may approve an equity compensation award by unanimous consent in writing or by electronic transmission, rather than as part of a meeting. Any written or electronic consent is effective as of the latest date it is signed or transmitted, respectively, and, therefore, the effective grant date is never prior to the date the latest signature is given. The Board of Directors has not delegated to any individual the power or authority to grant equity compensation awards.

If the amount of an equity compensation award is to be determined by reference to a dollar value, the number of shares subject to the award is calculated by dividing the dollar value of the award by the closing market price on the NASDAQ Stock Market of a share of the Company’s common stock on the effective date of grant. The exercise price of all stock options is equal to or greater than the closing market price on the NASDAQ Stock Market of a share of the Company’s common stock on the effective date of grant.

Grants to members of the Board of Directors are made in accordance with our Non-Employee Director Stock Option Grant Policy, which was approved by the Board of Directors on May 26, 2006, and which is described in the narrative section accompanying the Director Compensation table below. Grants to executive officers and other key employees are made upon a hire or promotion, in connection with a bonus plan, in recognition of a significant accomplishment, in connection with the completion of vesting of a previous grant, or, at the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, taking into account the officer’s performance and contribution, retention concerns, and stock ownership, market information for our peer group, and the value of existing equity incentives. In addition, grants to all employees other than the Chief Executive Officer are made pursuant to a program approved by the Compensation Committee on February 27, 2007, which the Compensation Committee has amended and may continue to amend from time to time, which currently provides that each such employee will receive a grant of restricted stock units once per year with the amount to be determined based upon the level of the employee on the Company’s organizational chart, such amount to be determined by reference to a dollar value.

Tax and Accounting Considerations

Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the Code, limits the deductibility of compensation paid to the most highly compensated executive officers of U.S. public companies to $1,000,000 per year unless the compensation qualifies as performance-based. The Compensation Committee’s policy is to take into account Section 162(m) in establishing compensation of our executives. However, the deductibility of some types of compensation payments can depend upon the timing of the vesting or an executive’s exercise of previously granted awards. Interpretations of and changes in applicable tax laws and regulations, as well as other factors beyond our control, can also affect deductibility of compensation. For these and other reasons, the committee has determined that it will not necessarily seek to limit executive compensation to the amount that is deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code. In 2006, the Section 162(m) limitation had no impact on our after-tax compensation expense. We will continue to monitor developments and assess alternatives for preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent reasonably practicable, consistent with our compensation policies and what we believe is in the best interests of our stockholders.

Section 409A. On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 was signed into law, changing the tax rules applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements. Section 409A of the Code affects the payments of certain types of deferred compensation to employees and directors. We believe that we are operating in good faith compliance with Section 409A of the Code and Internal Revenue Service guidance thereunder.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Payment, which requires companies to expense the fair value of employee

28


stock options and other forms of share-based compensation. Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123R. SFAS No. 123R requires nonpublic companies that used the minimum value method in SFAS No. 123 for either recognition or pro forma disclosures to apply SFAS No. 123R using the prospective-transition method. As such, we will continue to apply APB 25 in future periods to equity awards outstanding at the date of our adoption of SFAS No. 123R that were measured using the minimum value method. In accordance with this standard, the prior period pro forma stock information has not been restated. In accordance with SFAS No. 123R, we will recognize the compensation cost of share-based awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award.

Financial Statement Restatements. We have not adopted a policy regarding the recovery of performance-based awards in the event of a financial statement restatement beyond the requirements of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. That statute provides that, in the event that a U.S. public 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, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer must reimburse the Company for (1) any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation received by that person from the Company during the twelve-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurs) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement; and (2) any profits realized from the sale of securities of the Company during that twelve-month period. There were no financial statement restatements in either 2006 or 2007.

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Summary Compensation. The following table sets forth summary information concerning the compensation paid or earned for services rendered to the Company in all capacities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2008, to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and each of the other three most highly compensated persons serving as executive officers of the Company during fiscal year 20072008 who received total compensation during that year in excess of $100,000 (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”).

Summary Compensation Table (1)

Name and Principal Position

 Year Salary ($) Bonus
(2) ($)
 Stock
Awards

(3) ($)
 Option
Awards

(4) ($)
 Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

(5) ($)
 All Other
Compensation
($)
 Total
($)
  Year Salary ($) Bonus
(2) ($)
 Stock
Awards

(3) ($)
 Option
Awards

(4) ($)
 Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

(5) ($)
 All Other
Compensation
($)
 Total
($)
 
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (i) (j)  (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (i) (j) 

George W. LeMaitre

 2006 $260,000  $40,000  $—    $—    $66,103  $6,686(6) $372,789  2006 $260,000  $40,000  $—   $—   $66,103  $6,686  $372,789 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 2007  270,000   24,447   —     —     50,125   6,836(6)  351,408  2007  270,000   24,447   —    —    50,125   6,836   351,408 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2008  280,000   —     —    32,992  —  (6)  6,230   319,222 

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

Chief Financial Officer

 2006  205,000   12,000   9,857(7)  1,950(8)  28,403   —     257,210 
2007  216,000   13,909   36,185(7)  17,365(8)  44,347   —     327,806 

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

 2006  205,000   12,000   9,857  1,950  28,403   —     257,210 

Chief Financial Officer

 2007  216,000   13,909   36,185  17,365  44,347   —     327,806 
2008  224,000   5,856   67,150  21,735  40,592(7)  —     359,333 

David B. Roberts

 2006  222,500   34,075   72,214(9)  1,950(10)  46,190   6,448(11)  383,377  2006  222,500   34,075   72,214  1,950  46,190   6,448   383,377 

President and former Chief Financial Officer

 2007  236,000   18,521   24,733  17,365  57,898   16,433   370,950 
 2007  236,000   18,521   24,733(9)  17,365(10)  57,898   16,433(11)  370,950  2008  247,500   —     37,792  66,407  75,463(7)  6,410   433,572 

Peter R. Gebauer

 2006  220,100(12)  50,840(12)(13)  81,010(14)  2,015(15)  48,679(12)  39,088(16)  441,732(17) 2006  220,100(8)  50,840(8)(9)  81,010  2,015  48,679(8)  39,088(10)  441,732(11)

President, International Operations

 2007  234,438(12)  12,406(12)  25,491(14)  2,942(15)  26,015(12)  108,090(16)  409,382(17) 2007  234,438(8)  12,406(8)  25,491  2,942  26,015(8)  108,090(10)  409,382(11)

President, International Operations

2008  261,877(12)  1,864(13)  44,123  3,579  90,743(7)(13)  80,324(10)  482,510(11)

Kevin D. Kelly

 2006  185,938   —     8,552(18)  —     79,756   6,677(19)  280,923 

Vice President, North American Sales

 2007  195,417   4,354   24,636(18)  —     78,032   6,827(19)  309,266 

Trent G. Kamke

 2008  162,500   6,400   43,720  3,579  44,260(7)  5,393   265,852 

Senior Vice President, Operations (14)

        

 

(1)Column disclosing compensation under the heading “Change In Pension Value And Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” is not included because no compensation in this category was awarded to, earned by, or paid to our named executive officers in 2006 or 2007. The compensation in this table also does not include certain perquisites and other personal benefits received by the named executive officers that did not exceed $10,000 in the aggregate during 2006, 2007 or 2007.2008.
(2)Amounts shown in this column for 2006 include annual cash incentives for awards earned for 2006 and paid in part in 2006 and in part in 2007 in the case of Mr. Roberts Mr. Pellegrino, and Mr. Kelly,Pellegrino, and paid in 2007 in the case of Mr. LeMaitre and Mr. Gebauer. Amounts shown in this column for 2007 include annual cash incentive awards earned for 2007 and paid in part in 2007 and in part in 2008 in the case of Mr. Kelly,all of the NEOs. Amounts shown in this column for 2008 include annual cash incentive awards earned for 2008 and paid in 20082009 in the case of the otherall NEOs. These cash incentive awards represent amounts paid to each of the NEOs as though certain individual Management Incentive Compensation Plan (2007) targets were achieved, where the Compensation Committee exercised its discretion to award these amounts because it believed that the objective of the bonus target had been substantively accomplished, or otherwise exercised its discretion to interpret the bonus target, as further described above in the section entitled “Cash Bonuses.”target.
(3)These amounts represent stock based compensation expense for restricted stock unit awards granted to each of Mr. Roberts, Mr. Gebauer, Mr. Pellegrino, and Mr. Kelly as described in (7), (9), (14), and (18) below.Kamke. Stock-based compensation expense for these awards was calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R) and is being amortized over the vesting period of the related awards. The amounts reflected in this table exclude the estimate of forfeitures applied by us under SFAS No. 123(R) when recognizing stock-based compensation expense for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal year 2007.2008. For a discussion of valuation assumptions see Note 1 to our 20072008 Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.2008. At December 31, 2008, there was approximately $300,405 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to these awards excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the awards. No restricted stock unit awards were granted to Mr. LeMaitre in 2006, 2007 or 2007.2008. No stock awards were granted to any of the above named officers except those granted in 2006, with the exception of Mr. Roberts, who received a stock award for 252,852 shares of Common Stock in 1997.
(4)

These amounts represent stock based compensation expense for stock option awards granted to each of Mr. LeMaitre, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Gebauer, Mr. Pellegrino and Mr. Pellegrino as described in (8), (10), and (15) below.Kamke. Stock-based compensation expense for these awards was calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R) and is being amortized over the vesting period of the related awards. The amounts reflected in this table exclude the estimate of forfeitures applied by us under SFAS No. 123(R) when recognizing stock-based compensation expense for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal year 2007.2008. For a discussion of valuation assumptions see Note 1 to our 20072008 Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. No option awards were granted to either Mr. LeMaitre or Mr. Kelly in 2006 or 2007. All stock

 

3017


 

December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, there was approximately $333,237 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to these awards excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the awards. All stock option awards granted to each of the above named officers prior to 2006 were accounted for in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25 and were granted at exercise prices equal to fair value on the date of grant. Accordingly, there was no stock-based compensation expense associated with awards made prior to 2006.

(5)Amounts shown in this column for 2006 represent annual and quarterly cash incentive awards earned for 2006 and paid in part in 2006 and in part in 2007 in the case of Mr.Messrs. Roberts Mr.and Pellegrino, and Mr. Kelly, and paid in 2007 in the case of Mr.Messrs. LeMaitre and Mr. Gebauer. Amounts shown in this column for 2007 represent annual and quarterly cash incentive awards earned for 2007 and paid in part in 2007 and in part in 2008 in the case of Mr. Kellyall of the NEOs. Amounts shown in this column for 2008 represent annual and quarterly cash incentive awards earned for 2008 and paid in part in 2008 and in part in 2009 in the case of the other NEOs. The awards are describedMessrs. Gebauer, Roberts and Kamke, and paid in more detail above2009 in the section entitled “Cash Bonuses.”case of Messrs. LeMaitre and Pellegrino. These cash incentive awards represent amounts paid to each of the NEOs upon the achievement of individual Management Incentive Compensation Plan targets, as further discussed in the narrative following this table.
(6)The amount shownIn June 2008, Mr. LeMaitre voluntarily forfeited his all of his Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 2006 represents matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation plan2008 in order to assist the aggregate amount of $6,600 and a long-term care insurance premium of $86. The amount shownCompany in meeting its 2008 financial objectives. Mr. LeMaitre’s Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 2007 represents matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation plan in the aggregate amount of $6,750 and a long-term care insurance premium of $86.2008 would have approximated $115,000.
(7)Represents stock-based compensation expense recognized as describedIn June 2008, Messrs. Pellegrino, Roberts, Gebauer and Kamke each voluntarily forfeited 20% of their Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 2008 in (3) above, as follows:

Award Type

  Number of Shares of
Stock or Units
  Grant
Date
  2007
Expense
  2006
Expense

Restricted Stock Units

  8,196  07/18/07  $4,551   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  15,000  05/02/07  $11,451   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  10,000  12/22/06  $20,183  $552

Common Stock

  1,533  12/22/06   —    $9,305
            

Total

      $36,185  $9,857

The restricted stock units granted on December 22, 2006, are subject to vesting at a rate of 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 1/3 per year; all other restricted stock units granted are subject to vesting at a rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year. At December 31, 2007, there was approximately $160,059 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense for the above awards, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting periods of the awards.

(8)Represents stock-based compensation expense recognized as describedorder to assist the Company in (4) above, as follows:

Award Type

  Number of Shares of
Stock or Units
  Grant
Date
  Exercise
Price
  2007
Expense
  2006
Expense

Stock Options

  25,000  11/21/06  $5.95  $17,365  $1,950
              

Total

        $17,365  $1,950

The option award is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year. At December 31, 2007, there was approximately $67,754 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense for this award, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the award.

(9)Represents stock-based compensation expense recognized as described in (3) above, as follows:

Award Type

  Number of Shares of
Stock or Units
  Grant
Date
  2007
Expense
  2006
Expense

Restricted Stock Units

  8,196  07/18/07  $4,550   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  10,000  12/22/06  $20,183  $552

Common Stock

  11,806  12/22/06   —    $71,662
            

Total

      $24,733  $72,214

The restricted stock units granted on December 22, 2006, are subject to vesting at a rate of 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 1/3 per year; the restricted stock units granted on July 18, 2007, are subject to vesting at a rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year. At December 31, 2007, there was approximately $85,410 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense for the above awards, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting periods of the awards.

(10)Represents stock-based compensation expense recognized as described in (4) above, as follows:

Award Type

  Number of Shares of
Stock or Units
  Grant
Date
  Exercise
Price
  2007
Expense
  2006
Expense

Stock Options

  25,000  11/21/06  $5.95  $17,365  $1,950
              

Total

        $17,365  $1,950

The option award is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year. At December 31, 2007, there was approximately $67,754 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense for this award, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the award.

(11)

meeting its 2008 financial objectives. The amount shownof forfeited compensation for 2006 represents matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation planeach of Messrs. Pellegrino, Roberts, Gebauer and Kamke equaled $13,150, $17,921, $20,094 (denominated in Euro and translated to dollars based upon the aggregate amountexchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of $6,461December 31, 2008, which was 1.4097), and a long-term care insurance premium of $142. The amount shown for 2007 represents the fair

31


market value of a gift in recognition of Mr. Roberts completing ten years of employment at the Company, matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation plan in the aggregate amount of $6,655, and a long-term care insurance premium of $86.

$10,540, respectively.
(12)(8)All amounts shown with respect to Salary, Bonus, and Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 2006 and 2007 were earned in U.S. Dollars. Pursuant to a contractual split pay arrangement, 90% of such amounts were paid in Euros using a rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.1800.
(13)(9)Includes a $34,860 cash incentive bonus paid to Mr. Gebauer upon completion of the Company’s initial public offering pursuant to his employmenta contractual agreement.
(14)Represents stock-based compensation expense recognized as described in (3) above, as follows:

Award Type

  Number of Shares of
Stock or Units
  Grant
Date
  2007
Expense
  2006
Expense

Restricted Stock Units

  8,196  07/18/07  $4,551   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  1,000  05/02/07  $763   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  10,000  12/22/06  $20,177  $552

Common Stock

  13,255  12/22/06   —    $80,458
            

Total

      $25,491  $81,010

The restricted stock units granted on December 22, 2006, are subject to vesting at a rate of 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 1/3 per year; all other restricted stock units granted are subject to vesting at a rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year. At December 31, 2007, there was approximately $90,393 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense for the above awards, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting periods of the awards.

(15)Represents stock-based compensation expense recognized as described in (4) above, as follows:

Award Type

  Number of Shares of
Stock or Units
  Grant
Date
  Exercise
Price
  2007
Expense
  2006
Expense

Stock Options

  2,021  04/26/06  $12.37  $2,942  $2,015
              

Total

        $2,942  $2,015

The option award is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year. At December 31, 2007, there was approximately $9,797 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense for this award, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the award.

(16)(10)The amount shown for 2006 representsincludes $20,873 for a tax reimbursement payment (which was calculated in dollars but paid to Mr. Gebauer in Euros based upon a contractually required rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.2450), $9,299 for private health insurance, $4,630 for a travel expenses to and from the United States, and $3,508 for tax consultant services, all of which were paid in Euros, and matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation plan in the aggregate amount of $672 and a long-term care insurance premium of $142, both of which were paid in dollars. Unless otherwise noted, dollar amounts for perquisites paid in Euros for 2006 are based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2006, which was 1.3203.. The amount shown for 2007 includes represents $44,475 for a tax reimbursement payment (which was calculated in dollars but paid to Mr. Gebauer in Euros based upon a contractually required rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.2563), $28,711 for a company car, $8,981 for private health insurance,and $12,819 as the fair market value of a gift in recognition of Mr. Gebauer’s completion of ten years of employment with the Company, $8,501 for tax consultant services, and $3,530 for travel expenses to and from the United States, all of which were paid in Euros, and matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation plan in the aggregate amount of $932 and a long-term care insurance premium of $142, both of which were paid in dollars.Company. Unless otherwise noted, dollar amounts for perquisites paid in Euros for 2007 are based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2007, which was 1.4729. The amount shown for 2008 includes represents $37,157 for a tax reimbursement payment (which was calculated in dollars but paid to Mr. Gebauer in Euros based upon a contractually required rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.3712), and $20,610 for a company car. Unless otherwise noted, dollar amounts for perquisites paid in Euros for 2008 are based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2008, which was 1.4097. Mr. Gebauer’s tax reimbursement payments are equal to an amount on an after-tax basis equal to the difference between (a) the income tax Mr. Gebauer was actually required to pay in Germany on account of amounts paid to him by LeMaitre Vascular GmbH in the prior calendar year, after giving effect to split pay, and (b) the amount Mr. Gebauer would otherwise be required to pay on account of such amounts for that year had he been a resident and solely working in Massachusetts during that year. This amount is paid in four equal quarterly installments.
(17)(11)In 2006, $325,931 was paid in Euros, of which $287,657 was earned in dollars but paid at the rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.1800 as required by Mr. Gebauer’s 2003 employment agreement, which was superseded by a new employment agreement commencing October 1, 2008, $20,837 was calculated in dollars but paid at the rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.2450 as required by a different provision in Mr. Gebauer’s 2003 employment agreement, and $17,437 was paid in Euros but reported above in dollars based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2006, which was 1.3203. In 2007, $352,590 was paid in Euros, of which $245,573 was earned in dollars but paid at the rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.1800 as required by Mr. Gebauer’s 2003 employment agreement, $44,475 was calculated in dollars but paid at the rate of € to U.S.$ of 1.2563 as required by a different provision in Mr. Gebauer’s 2003 employment agreement, and $62,541 was paid in Euros but reported above in dollars based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2007, which was 1.4729.

32


(18)Represents stock-based compensation expense recognized as described in (3) above, as follows:

Award Type

  Number of Shares of
Stock or Units
  Grant
Date
  2007
Expense
  2006
Expense

Restricted Stock Units

  1,000  11/02/07  $247   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  6,675  11/02/07  $1,633   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  1,639  07/18/07  $909   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  10,750  02/27/07  $11,759   —  

Restricted Stock Units

  5,000  12/22/06  $10,088  $279

Common Stock

  1,363  12/22/06   —    $8,273
            

Total

      $24,636  $8,552

The restricted stock units granted on December 22, 2006, are subject to vesting at a rate of 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 1/3 per year; all other restricted stock units granted are subject to vesting at a rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year. At December 31, 2007, there In 2008, $414,368 was approximately $142,794 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense for the above awards, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting periods of the awards.

(19)The amount shown for 2006 represents matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation plan in the aggregate amount of $6,600 and a long-term care insurance premium of $77. The amount shown for 2007 represents matching contributions under a 401(k) compensation plan in the aggregate amount of $6,750 and a long-term care insurance premium of $77.

33


Grants of Plan-Based Awards. The following table sets forth information concerning the terms of grants of Common Stock, stock options, and restricted stock units made to each of the NEOs during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards (1)

Name

 Grant
Date
 Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (2) (3)
  Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards (4)
 All other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#)
  All other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
 Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
 Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards

($)
  Threshold
($)
 Target
($)
 Maximum
($)
  Threshold
(#)
 Target
(#)
 Maximum
(#)
    
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)  (f) (g) (h) (i)  (j) (k) (l)

George W. LeMaitre

  —   $107,500 $161,250  —   —   —   —    —   —    —  

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

  —   $51,500   (5) —   —   —   —    —   —    —  
 05/02/07 —    —    —    —   —   —   15,000(6) —   —   $86,100
 07/18/07 —    —    —    —   —   —   8,196(7) —   —   $49,996

David B. Roberts

  —   $80,000 $113,000  —   —   —   —    —   —    —  
 07/18/07 —    —    —    —   —   —   8,196(8) —   —   $49,996

Peter R. Gebauer

  —   $68,063 $97,840  —   —   —   —    —   —    —  
 1/12/07 —    —    —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  
 04/18/07 —    —    —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  
 05/02/07 —    —     —    —   —   —   1,000(9) —   —   $5,740
 07/18/07 —    —    —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  
 07/18/07 —    —    —    —   —   —   8,196(10) —   —   $49,996
 10/22/07 —    —    —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  

Kevin D. Kelly

  —   $72,583 $105,971  —   —   —   —    —   —    —  
 01/12/07 —   $10,000  —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  
 02/27/07 —    —    —    —   —   —   10,750(11) —   —   $69,875
 04/18/07 —   $10,000  —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  
 07/18/07 —   $10,000  —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  
 07/18/07 —    —    —    —   —   —   1,639(12) —   —   $9,998
 10/22/07 —   $10,000  —    —   1,000 —   —    —   —    —  
 11/02/07 —    —    —    —   —   —   7,675(13) —   —   $57,486

(1)Columns disclosing grants of plan-based awards under the headings “All other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options” and “Exercise or Base Price of Options Awards” are not included in this table because no plan-based grants in these categories were granted to our named executive officers in 2007.
(2)Includes annual and quarterly cash incentive awards earned for 2007 and paid in partEuros, of which $165,799 was earned in 2007 and in part in 2008 in the case of Mr. Kelly, and in 2008 in the case of the other NEOs. The awards are described in more detail above in the section entitled “Cash Bonuses.”
(3)Includes quarterly cash incentive awards earned for 2007 anddollars but paid in 2007 for Mr. Gebauer and quarterly cash incentive awards earned for 2007 and paid in part in 2007 and in part in 2008 for Mr. Kelly. The awards are described in more detail above in the section entitled “Cash Bonuses.”
(4)Represents quarterly equity incentive awards earned for 2007 and granted in 2007, in the case of Mr. Gebauer, and granted in part in 2007 and in part in 2008, in the case of Mr. Kelly. The awards are described in more detail above in the section entitled “Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation.”
(5)The 2007 annual cash bonus award for Mr. Pellegrino was not subject to a maximum amount.
(6)Represents a restricted stock unit award for 15,000 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Pellegrino on May 2, 2007, which is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary€ to U.S.$ of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year.
(7)Represents a restricted stock unit award for 8,196 shares of Common Stock granted to1.1800 as required by Mr. Pellegrino on July 18, 2007, which is subject to vestingGebauer’s 2003 employment agreement, $37,157 was calculated in dollars but paid at the rate of 20%€ to U.S.$ of 1.3712 as required by a different provision in Mr. Gebauer’s 2003 employment agreement, and $211,511 was paid in Euros but reported above in dollars based on the first anniversaryexchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year.
(8)Represents a restricted stock unit award for 8,196 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Roberts on July 18, 2007,December 31, 2008, which is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year.
(9)Represents a restricted stock unit award for 1,000 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Gebauer on May 2, 2007, which is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year.

34


(10)Represents a restricted stock unit award for 8,196 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Gebauer on July 18, 2007, which is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year.
(11)Represents a restricted stock unit award for 10,750 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Kelly on February 27, 2007, which is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually at a rate of 20% per year.was 1.4097.
(12)RepresentsAmounts shown with respect to Salary for 2008 were earned in U.S. Dollars through September 2008. Pursuant to a restricted stock unit award for 1,639 sharescontractual split pay arrangement, 90% of Common Stock granted to Mr. Kelly on July 18, 2007, which is subject to vesting at the rate of 20% on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually atsuch amounts were paid in Euros using a rate of 20% per year.€ to U.S.$ of 1.1800. Thereafter, amounts shown were earned in Euros but are reported above in dollars based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2008, which was 1.4097.
(13)Represents a restricted stock unit awardAmounts shown with respect to Bonus and Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 6,675 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Kelly on November 2, 2007, which is subject to vesting at the rate of 20%2008 were earned in Euros but are reported above in dollars based on the first anniversaryexchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of the grant date and the remainder vesting annually atDecember 31, 2008, which was 1.4097.

18


(14)Mr. Kamke was not a rate of 20% per year.Named Executive Officer for either 2006 or 2007. Accordingly, Mr. Kamke’s compensation for these periods is not presented.

Discussion of Summary Compensation Table

The compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers includes salary, cash incentive compensation and equity incentive compensation. The terms of employment agreements that we have entered into with our Named Executive Officers are described below under “Employment Agreements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control.”

Cash Compensation

We pay our executive officers a base salary, which our Compensation Committee reviews and determines annually. In 2008, we increased the base salaries of our Named Executive Officers as follows: Mr. LeMaitre’s base salary increased from $270,000 to $280,000 per year, Mr. Pellegrino’s base salary increased from $212,500 to $224,000 per year, Mr. Roberts’ base salary increased from $236,000 to $247,500 per year and Mr. Kamke’s base salary increased from $155,000 to $162,500 per year. The base salaries of our Named Executive Officers, excluding Mr. LeMaitre, reflected a 5% increase over 2007. Mr. LeMaitre’s base salary reflected a 4% increase in 2008 over 2007. On October 1, 2009 Mr. Gebauer signed a new employment agreement which increased his annual base salary to €220,000.

Bonus Payments

The established targets for annual bonus payments for each of our Named Executive Officers for 2008 were as follows: Mr. LeMaitre—43% of base salary; Mr. Pellegrino—27% of base salary; Mr. Roberts—35% of base salary; Mr. Gebauer—29% of base salary; and Mr. Kamke—33% of base salary. During the course of 2008, the Compensation Committee increased the amounts for Mr. LeMaitre and Mr. Roberts to 50% and 40%, respectively. Subsequently Mr. LeMaitre voluntarily forfeited his all of his annual bonus compensation for 2008 and all other Named Executive Officers voluntarily forfeited 20% of their annual bonus compensation for 2008 in order to assist the Company in meeting its 2008 financial objectives. On October 1, 2009 Mr. Gebauer signed a new employment agreement which increased his 2008 bonus potential to €63,593 prior to the voluntary forfeiture.

Bonus payments made reflect the Compensation Committee’s determination that individual performance targets established under our Management Incentive Compensation Plan were achieved, and are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation, except that the Compensation Committee authorized certain modest discretionary bonuses to Messrs. Pellegrino, Gebauer and Kamke, which amounts are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table as Bonus Compensation.

Mr. LeMaitre’s Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 2008 would have approximated $115,000. The amount of forfeited compensation for each of Messrs. Pellegrino, Roberts, Gebauer and Kamke equaled $13,150, $17,921, $20,094 (denominated in Euro and translated to dollars based upon the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2008, which was 1.4097), and $10,540, respectively.

In addition, Messrs. Pellegrino, Roberts, Gebauer and Kamke were also eligible in 2008 to receive separate and additional quarterly cash and equity bonus payments upon the achievement of quarterly performance targets selected once per quarter by Mr. LeMaitre and approved by the Compensation Committee, the cash portion of which payments are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation. Messrs. Roberts and Gebauer each achieved two of these performance targets and Mr. Kamke achieved one of these targets.

19


Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The Compensation Committee makes regular annual equity grants to our executive officers based on the level of the executive officer on the Company’s organizational chart. In 2008, all Named Executive Officers received a grant of either stock options, in the case of Messrs. LeMaitre and Roberts, or restricted stock units, in the case of the other NEOs, with fair market values at the time of grant intended by the Compensation Committee to approximate the following amounts:

Named Executive Officer

  Amount

George W. LeMaitre

  $250,000

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

  $125,000

David B. Roberts

  $150,000

Peter R. Gebauer

  $100,000

Trent G. Kamke

  $50,000

These equity grants vest in equal annual installments over a period of five years, subject to continued employment. Messrs. Roberts and Gebauer each received two awards of 1,000 restricted stock units and Mr. Kamke received one award of 1,000 restricted stock units as a result of achieving quarterly performance targets, which awards also vest in equal annual installments over a period of five years, subject to continued employment.

Perquisites

We provide certain other perquisites to Mr. Gebauer, our President, International Operations, who is an American citizen living overseas. In 2008, he was provided with a car allowance, private health insurance (as Mr. Gebauer is not eligible for participation in the German public health insurance system), airfare for a family trip to the United States, and reimbursement of expenses relating to personal tax preparation and advice. We also provide Mr. Gebauer with a tax equalization payment that is designed to reimburse him for any additional taxes that he pays as a result of his residence in Germany while employed by us.

20


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End (1)

Option Exercises and Unexercised Option Holdings. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the number and value of exercisable options by each of the NEOsNamed Executive Officers as of December 31, 2007,2008, and the number and value of unexercised options held by each of the NEOsNamed Executive Officers as of December 31, 2007.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End (1)2008.

 

  Option Awards  Stock Awards  Option Awards  Stock Awards

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise Price
($)
  Option Expiration
Date
  Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
 Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)
  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 ($)
(a)  (b) (c)  (e)  (f)  (g) (h)  (b) (c) (e)  (f)  (g) (h)

George W. LeMaitre

  —     —      —     —     —      —     —    157,714(2) $3.27  06/05/15  —     —  

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

  50,000(2) 50,000  $11.78  12/21/15  —      —     75,000(3) 25,000  $11.78  12/21/15  —     —  
  5,000(3) 20,000  $5.95  11/20/13  —      —     10,000(4) 15,000  $5.95  11/20/13  —     —  
  —    —     —    —    3,333(5) $7,699
  —     —      —     —     6,666(4) $41,329  —    —     —    —    12,000(6) $27,720
  —    —     —    —    6,557(7) $15,146
  —     —      —     —     15,000(5) $93,000  —    —     —    —    13,514(8) $31,217
  —     —      —     —     8,196(6) $50,815  —    —     —    —    23,438(9) $54,141

David B. Roberts

  92,500(7) —     $7.44  10/20/12  —      —     92,500(10) —    $7.44  10/20/12  —     —  
  5,000(3) 20,000  $5.95  11/20/13  —      —     10,000(4) 15,000  $5.95  11/20/13  —     —  
  —     —      —     —     6,666(4) $41,329  —    94,629(11) $3.27  06/15/15  3,333(5) $7,699
  —     —      —     —     8,196(6) $50,815  —    —     —    —    6,557(7) $27,720
  —    —     —    —    1,000(12) $2,310
  —    —     —    —    1,000(13) $2,310

Peter R. Gebauer

  297,678(8) —     $0.10  —     —      —     297,678(14) —    $0.10  —    —     —  
  74,000(9) 18,500  $8.37  09/21/13  —      —     92,500(15) —    $8.37  09/21/13  —     —  
  404(10) 1,617  $12.37  04/25/13  —      —     808(16) 1,213  $12.37  04/25/13  —     —  
  —     —      —     —     6,667(4) $41,335  —    —     —    —    3,333(5) $7,699
  —     —      —     —     1,000(11) $6,200  —    —     —    —    800(17) $1,848
  —     —      —     —     8,196(6) $50,815  —    —     —    —    6,557(7) $15,146

Kevin D. Kelly

  26,749(12) 40,124  $10.45  01/26/15  —      —   
  —    —     —    —    14,514(8) $33,527
  —    —     —    —    16,722(12) $38,627
  —    —     —    —    1,000(13) $2,310

Trent G. Kamke

  16,000(18) —    $3,625  12/31/09  —     —  
  —     —      —     —     3,333(4) $20,665  6,000(19) —    $4.15  12/30/10  —     —  
  —     —      —     —     10,750(13) $66,650  6,000(20) —    $4.44  04/29/11  —     —  
  —     —      —     —     1,639(6) $10,162  7,500(21) —    $7.03  05/16/12  —     —  
  —     —      —     —     6,675(14) $41,385  14,500(22) —    $7.44  09/05/12  —     —  
  —     —      —     —     1,000(14) $6,200  9,000(23) 6,000  $11.78  11/21/15  —     —  
  808(16) 1,213  $12.37  4/25/13  —     —  
  —    —     —    —    3,333(5) $7,699
  —    —     —    —    450(24) $1,039
  —    —     —    —    800(6) $1,848
  —    —     —    —    6,557(7) $15,146
  —    —     —    —    13,514(8) $31,217
  —    —     —    —    1,000(25) $2,310

21


 

(1)

Columns disclosing outstanding equity awards at fiscal year end under the headings “Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options,” “Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested,” and “Equity Incentive Plan

35


Awards: Market or Payout of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested” are not included in this table because no equity awards were outstanding in these categories for the fiscal year ending 2007.

(2)20% of the options in this award vest on June 6, 2009, and the remainder vest annually at a rate of 20% per year.
(3)25% of the options in this award vested on December 22, 2006, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 25% per year.
(3)(4)20% of the options in this award vested on November 21, 2007, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(4)(5)1/3 of the units in this award vested on December 22, 2007, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 1/3 per year.
(5)(6)20% of the units in this award vestvested on May 22,2, 2008, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(6)(7)20% of the units in this award vestvested on July 18, 2008, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(7)(8)20% of the units in this award vest on September 1, 2009, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(9)20% of the units in this award vest on September 5, 2009, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(10)100% of the options in this award were vested as of October 21, 2007.
(11)20% of the options in this award vested on October 21, 2007.20, 2008, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(8)(12)20% of the units in this award vest on November 6, 2009, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(13)20% of the units in this award vest on February 27, 2010, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(14)100% of the options in this award were vested as of May 15, 2003.
(9)(15)20%100% of the options in this award were vested onas of September 22, 2004, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.2008.
(10)(16)20% of the options in this award vested on April 26, 2007, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(11)(17)20% of the units in this award vestvested on May 2, 2008, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(12)(18)100% of the options in this award were vested as of January 1, 2005.
(19)100% of the options in this award were vested as of December 31, 2005.
(20)100% of the options in this award were vested as of April 30, 2006.
(21)100% of the options in this award were vested as of May 17, 2007.
(22)100% of the options in this award were vested as of September 6, 2007.
(23)20% of the options in this award vested on January 27,November 22, 2006, and the remainder vest annually at the rate of 20% per year.
(13)(24)20% of the units in this award vestvested on FebruaryApril 27, 2008, and the remainder vest annually at thea rate of 20% per year.
(14)(25)20% of the units in this award vest on November 2, 2008,2009, and the remainder vest annually at thea rate of 20% per year.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

  Option Awards Stock Awards

Name

 Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise

(#)
 Value
Realized on
Exercise

(1) ($)
 Number
of Shares
Acquired
on Vesting

(2) (#)
 Value
Realized on
Vesting

(3) ($)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

George W. LeMaitre

 —    —   —    —  

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

 —    —   3,334 $21,238

David B. Roberts

 44,580 $224,104 3,334 $21,238

Peter R. Gebauer

 25,000 $147,950 3,333 $21,231

Kevin D. Kelly

 —    —   1,667 $10,619

(1)Value realized is calculated on the basis of the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the date of the exercise, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the options.
(2)Represents shares of Common Stock received by each of Mr. Roberts, Mr. Gebauer, Mr. Pellegrino, and Mr. Kelly on December 22 2007, as the result of the vesting of restricted stock units granted to each of them on December 22, 2006.
(3)Value realized is calculated on the basis of the closing price of Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the date of the exercise, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock that vested.

36


Pension Benefits

None of our NEOs participate in or have account balances in qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans sponsored by the Company at December 31, 2007,Employment Agreements and as a result, there is not a pension benefits table included in this proxy statement.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

None of our NEOs participate in or have account balances in non-qualified defined contribution plans maintained by the Company at December 31, 2007, and, as a result, there is not a nonqualified deferred compensation table included in this proxy statement.

Potential Payments Uponupon Termination or Change-in-Control

The following summaries set forth potential payments payable to our executive officers under their currentEmployment Agreements.We have employment agreements with Messrs. LeMaitre, Roberts, Gebauer and our other compensation programs as at December 31, 2007, upon termination of employment or a change in control of us. The compensation committee may in its discretion revise, amend, or add to the benefits if it deems advisable.Pellegrino:

George W. LeMaitre.LeMaitre

Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, dated October 10, 2005, if Mr. LeMaitre terminates his employment for good reason, as defined in the agreement, or if we terminate his employment without cause, as defined in the agreement, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equivalent to two weeks of his then-current base salary for each completed twelve-month period of service as of the date of termination, but in no event to exceed 52 weeks of such base salary.

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good
Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $155,769 $155,769 $—   $—   $—   $—   $155,769

Health Care Benefits

  —    1,514  1,514  —    —    —    —    1,514

Total

  —   $157,283 $157,283  —    —    —    —   $157,283

David B. Roberts.Roberts

Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, dated June 20, 2006, if we terminate Mr. Roberts’ employment without cause, as defined in the agreement, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equivalent to four weeks of his then-current base salary for each completed twelve-month period of service as of the date of termination, but in no event to exceed 52 weeks of such base salary.

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good

Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $181,538 $—   $—   $—   $—   $—   $181,538

Health Care Benefits

  —    5,330  —    —    —    —    —    5,330

Total

  —   $186,868  —    —    —    —    —   $186,868

Peter R. Gebauer.Gebauer

Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, dated September 12, 2003, weOctober 1, 2008, Mr. Gebauer is entitled to receive a minimum annual base salary of €220,000 through December 31, 2009, after which his compensation will be subject to annual adjustment, and is eligible for an annual cash performance bonus of up to not less than €72,978, upon the achievement of performance objectives approved by our Compensation Committee. Additionally, Mr. Gebauer is entitled to receive quarterly tax equalization payments with respect to his base salary and cash performance bonus in order to provide Mr. Gebauer, on an after-tax basis, with a net amount approximate to that he would receive were he working in Massachusetts, where our headquarters is located.

We may terminate Mr. Gebauer’s employment for death disability, breach of the agreement, or good cause, each as defined in the employment agreement. We may also terminate Mr. Gebauer’s employment for any reason upon ten daysthe minimum amount of prior written notice to Mr. Gebauer,required by German law, provided that wethe Company pay him a lump sum payment equal to 13.5 months minus the duration of $90,000, unless such termination is pursuant to the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, in which case the lump sum severance payment would be the equivalentapplicable notice period of Mr. Gebauer’s then-current base salary.salary, a lump sum payment equal to the pro rata amount of Mr. Gebauer’s annual cash performance bonus becomes vestedas per the day on which notice of termination is received, a tax equalization payment for all base salary and payable on December 31 each yearcash performance bonus received by Mr. Gebauer through the date of termination notice, and thus if he is terminated, voluntarily or involuntarily, on or after December 31a continuation of private health insurance for a given year, but prior to paymentperiod of 7.5 months minus the duration of the annual cash bonus with respectapplicable notice period. Additionally, upon any termination of Mr. Gebauer, we must reimburse him up to such year,$74,800 of costs that he incurs in relocating back to the continental United States.

In addition, Mr. Gebauer is entitled to receive payment of his annual cash bonus for such year following any such termination. If Mr. Gebauer is terminated, voluntarily or involuntarily, priorequity awards with respect to the our Common Stock, vesting of his annual cash bonus, then he is not entitledover five-year periods, with a fair value approximating €74,745, subject to receive payment of his annual cash bonus. Additionally, if Mr. Gebauer is terminated, voluntarily or involuntarily, all expenses incurredadjustment by himour Compensation Committee in connection with his relocation back to the U.S. shall be reimbursed up to an amount equal to $74,800.its reasonable discretion.

37


Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good
Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $90,000 $—   $—   $—   $—   $—   $234,438

Pro Rata Bonus (1)

  10,015  10,015  10,015  10,015  10,015  10,015  10,015  10,015

Other Perquisites (2)

  74,800  74,800  74,800  74,800  74,800  74,800  74,800  74,800

Total

 $84,815 $174,815 $84,815 $84,815 $84,815 $84,815 $84,815 $371,002

(1)Consists of cash bonus payments earned in 2007, in which Mr. Gebauer became vested on December 31, 2007.
(2)Consists of expenses incurred in connection with relocation back to the United States which shall be reimbursed up to an amount equal to $74,800.

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, dated April 20, 2006, either we or Mr. Pellegrino may terminate his employment at any time. If we terminate his employment without cause, as defined in the agreement, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to (i) the greater of $50,000 or the equivalent of two weeks of base salary per each completed twelve-month period of service as of the date of termination if the

23


termination occurs prior to December 11, 2009, or (ii) the greater of $100,000 or the equivalent of two weeks of base salary per each completed twelve-month period of service as of the date of termination if the termination occurs on or after December 11, 2009.

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good

Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $50,000 $—   $—   $—   $—   $—   $50,000

Total

  —   $50,000  —    —    —    —    —   $50,000

Kevin D. Kelly.Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, dated May 23, 2005, either we or Mr. Kelly were able to terminate his employment at any time. If Mr. Kelly had terminated his employment for good reason, as defined in the agreement, or we had terminated his employment without cause, as defined in the agreement, he would have been entitled to a lump-sum payment equivalent to six months of his base salary asAll of the date of termination. Mr. Kelly resigned from his positionforegoing employment agreements were amended prior to December 31, 2008 to comply with the Company on April 4,requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control. The following tables set forth potential payments payable to our Named Executive Officers under their current employment agreements and our other compensation programs as at December 31, 2008, without providing notice of good reason, as that term is defined in his employment agreement, for his departure.

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good

Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon
Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $97,709 $97,709 $—   $—   $—   $—   $97,709

Health Care Benefits

  —    3,465  3,465  —    —    —    —    3,465

Total

  —   $101,174 $101,174  —    —    —    —   $101,174

The amounts shown in the above tables do not include payments and benefits to the extent they have been earned prior to theupon termination of employment or are provided on a non-discriminatory basischange in control of us. The compensation committee may in its discretion revise, amend, or add to U.S. based salaried employees upon termination of employment. These include:these benefits if it deems advisable.

George W. LeMaitre

 

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good
Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $172,308 $172,308 $—   $—   $—   $—   $172,308

Health Care Benefits

  —    1,775  1,775  —    —    —    —    1,775

Total

  —   $174,083 $174,083  —    —    —    —   $174,083

accrued vacation pay; andDavid B. Roberts

 

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good
Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $209,423 $—   $—   $—   $—   $—   $209,423

Health Care Benefits

  —    6,442  —    —    —    —    —    6,442

Total

  —   $215,855  —    —    —    —    —   $215,855

life insurance proceeds in the event of death or disability benefits in the event of disability.Peter R. Gebauer

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good
Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance (1)

 $—   $348,901 $—   $—   $—   $348,901 $—   $348,901

Pro Rata Bonus (1)

  —    89,647  —    —    —    89,647  —    89,647

Health Care Benefits (1)

  —    4,710  —    —    —    4,710  —    4,710

Other Perquisites (2)

  74,800  136,569  74,800  74,800  74,800  136,569  74,800  136,569

Total

 $74,800 $579,854 $74,800 $74,800 $74,800 $579,854 $74,800 $579,854

(1)Amounts shown are calculated and payable in Euros but reported above in dollars based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2008, which was 1.4097. Amounts shown include payments to be made during mandatory notice periods, where applicable.
(2)Consists of tax equalization payments as described above, which consist of approximately $19,101 with respect to the tax equalization of applicable 2007 compensation and approximately $42,696 with respect to the tax equalization of applicable 2008 compensation, and expenses incurred in connection with relocation back to the United States, which shall be reimbursed up to an amount equal to $74,800. Amounts shown are calculated and payable in Euros but reported above in dollars based on the exchange rate for € to U.S.$ as of December 31, 2008, which was 1.4097, other than the relocation reimbursement, which is calculated and payable in dollars.

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

Payments and Benefits

 Voluntary
Termination
Without Good
Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
 Voluntary
Termination
for Good
Reason
 Termination
for Cause
 Termination
upon Death
 Termination
upon Disability
 Retirement Termination
w/o Cause after
Change-in-Control

Cash Severance

 $—   $50,000 $—   $—   $—   $—   $—   $50,000

Total

  —   $50,000  —    —    —    —    —   $50,000

 

3824


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Director Compensation (1)

Director Compensation. The following table sets forth the retainers, other cash fees, and equity compensation received by our non-employee directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, as well as the compensation received by two employee directors who are not Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2008.

Name

  Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash

(2) ($)
    Stock
Awards

(3) ($)
  Option
Awards

(4) ($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
  All other
Compensation
($)
  Total
($)
 
(a)  (b)    (c)  (d)  (e)  (g)  (h) 

Duane M. DeSisto

  23,500    5,044  50,492  —    —    79,036 

David N. Gill

  40,000    5,044  50,492  —    —    95,536 

Michael C. Jackson (5)

  24,291    5,044  23,047  —    —    52,382 

Lawrence J. Jasinski

  30,500    5,044  29,168  —    —    64,712 

Cornelia W. LeMaitre

  —      —  (6) —    —  (7) —  (8) —  (9)

George D. LeMaitre, M.D.

  —      —    —    —  (7) —  (10) —  (11)

Guido J. Neels

  23,625    (140)(12) 14,749  —    —    38,234 

Name

  Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash

(2) ($)
  Stock
Awards

(3) ($)
  Option
Awards

(4) ($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
  All other
Compensation
($)
  Total
($)
 
(a)  (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (g)  (h) 

Duane M. DeSisto

  11,250  —    18,810  —    —    30,060 

David N. Gill

  19,128  —    25,040  —    —    44,168 

Russell D. Hays

  24,000  —    18,329  —    —    42,329 

Michael C. Jackson (5)

  23,652  6,413  36,526  —    —    66,590 

Lawrence J. Jasinski

  25,250  6,413  42,661  —    —    74,324 

Cornelia W. LeMaitre

  —    —  (6) —    —  (7) —  (8) —  (9)

George D. LeMaitre, M.D.

  —    —  (6) —    —  (7) —  (8) —  (10)

John J. O’Connor

  8,201  —    2,891  —    —    11,092 

William N. Thorndike, Jr. (5)

  23,652  6,413  36,526  —    —    66,590 

 

(1)Column disclosing compensation under the heading “Change In Pension Value And Nonqualified“Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” is not included because no compensation in this category was awarded to, earned by, or paid to our directors in 2007.2008.
(2)Represents fees earned in 20072008 pursuant to our Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy discussed above.below.
(3)Represents stock-based compensation expense for fiscal year 20072008 for restricted stock unit awards for 2,500 shares of Common Stock granted on December 22, 2006, to each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., Mr. Jasinski, and Mr. Neels. Stock-based compensation expense for these awards were calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R) and are being amortized over the vesting period of the related awards. The amounts reflected in this table exclude the estimate of forfeitures applied by us under SFAS No. 123(R) when recognizing stock-based compensation expense for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal year 2007. For a discussion of valuation assumptions see Note 1 to our 2007 Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The restricted stock unit awards are subject to vesting at a rate of one-third on each one-year anniversary of the grant, commencing on the first anniversary. As of December 31, 2007, each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski held 1,666 unvested restricted stock units, and Mr. Neels held no such units due to his resignation in August 2007. At December 31, 2007, there was approximately $39,965 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to the restricted stock unit awards granted to Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the award; no such unamortized expense related to the restricted stock unit awards granted to Mr. Neels existed, due to his resignation in August 2007.
(4)

Represents stock-based compensation expense for fiscal year 2007 for stock option awards granted in 2006, to each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., Mr. Jasinski, and Mr. Neels and in 2007 to each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski. Stock-based compensation expense for these awards was calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R) and is being amortized over the vesting period of the related awards. The amounts reflected in this table exclude the estimate of forfeitures applied by us under SFAS No. 123(R) when recognizing stock-based compensation expense for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal year 2007.2008. For a discussion of valuation assumptions see Note 1 to our 20072008 Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.2008. The restricted stock unit awards are subject to vesting at a rate of one-third on each one-year anniversary of the grant, commencing on the first anniversary. As of December 31, 2008, each of Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski held 833 unvested restricted stock units, and Mr. DeSisto and Mr. Gill each held no such units due to their departures from the Board in 2008. At December 31, 2008, there was approximately $4,951 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to each of the restricted stock unit awards granted to Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski, excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the award; no such unamortized expense related to the restricted stock unit awards granted to Mr. DeSisto or Mr. Gill existed, due to their departures from the Board in 2008.

(4)

Represents stock-based compensation expense for fiscal year 2008 for stock option awards granted in 2006 to each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski, in 2007 to each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski, and in 2008 to each of Mr. Hays, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., Mr. Jasinski, and Mr. O’Connor. Stock-based compensation expense for these awards was calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R) and is being amortized over the vesting period of the related awards. The amounts reflected in this table exclude the estimate of forfeitures applied by us under SFAS No. 123(R) when recognizing stock-based compensation expense for financial statement reporting purposes in fiscal year 2008. For a discussion of valuation assumptions see Note 1 to our 2008

25


Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. In April 2006, we awarded (i) each of Messrs. DeSisto, Gill, and Neels a one-time stock option award to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $12.37 per share, (ii) Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. a one-time stock option award to purchase 8,170 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $12.37 per share, and (iii) Mr. Jasinski a one-time stock option award to purchase 10,809 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $12.37 per share, each of which vest at a rate of 1/3 on each one-year anniversary of the grant, commencing on the first anniversary. In July 2007, we awarded each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski an annual stock option award to purchase 7,500 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $6.10 per share, each of which vest at a rate of 1/3 on each one-year anniversary of the grant, commencing on the first anniversary. In January 2008, we awarded Mr. Hays a one-time stock option award to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $6.20 per share, which vests at a rate of 1/3 on each one-year anniversary of the grant, commencing on the first anniversary. In September 2008, we awarded each of Mr. Hays, Mr. Jasinski, and Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. an annual stock option award to purchase 7,500 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.40 per share, each of which vest at a rate of 1/3 on each one-year anniversary of the grant, commencing on the first anniversary. In September 2008, we awarded Mr. O’Connor a one-time stock option award to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.42 per share, which vests at a rate of 1/3 on each one-year anniversary of the grant, commencing on the first anniversary. As of December 31, 2007,

39


2008, (i) each of Messrs. DeSisto and Gill held 20,000 outstanding 2006 options, of which 6,667 were exercisable; (ii) Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. held 8,170 outstanding 2006 options, of which 2,7245,447 were exercisable; (iii)(ii) Mr. Jasinski held 10,809 outstanding 2006 options, of which 3,6037,206 were exercisable; (iv)(iii) each of Mr. DeSisto, Mr. Gill, Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P., and Mr. Jasinski held 7,500 outstanding 2007 options, of which 2,500 were exercisable; (iv) Mr. Hays held 27,500 outstanding 2008 options, none of which were exercisable; (v) Mr. O’Connor held 20,000 outstanding 2008 options, none of which were exercisable; (vi) each of Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. and Mr. Jasinski held 7,500 outstanding 2008 options, none of which were exercisable; and (v) neither Mr. NeelsDeSisto nor Mr. Gill held noany outstanding options, due to his resignationtheir departures from the Board in August 2007.2008. At December 31, 2007,2008, there was approximately $272,534$121,637 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to these awards excluding our estimate of forfeitures, which will be amortized over the remaining vesting period of the awards; no such unamortized expense related to the awards granted to Mr. NeelsDeSisto or Mr. Gill existed, due to his resignationtheir departures from the Board in August 2007.2008.

(5)All director compensation earned by Michael C. Jackson and William N. Thorndike, Jr. for histheir services as a directordirectors is paid to Housatonic Equity Investors L.P. Housatonic Equity Partners I, LLC is the general partner of Housatonic Equity Investors, L.P. William N. Thorndike, Jr. is the managing director of Housatonic Equity Partners I, LLC, and William N. Thorndike, Jr., Barry D. Reynolds, Michael C. Jackson, and Eliot Wadsworth II are the managing members of Housatonic Equity Partners I, LLC. As such, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Thorndike may each be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by such entity. Mr. Jackson disclaimsand Mr. Thorndike each disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of histheir pecuniary interest, if any.
(6)Excludes $909$3,739 and $1,333 in stock-based compensation expense for fiscal year 20072008 for restricted stock units granted to Mrs. LeMaitre and Dr. LeMaitre, respectively, in their capacities as an employeeemployees of the Company.
(7)Excludes annual cash incentive awards earned for 20072008 and paid in 20082009 to each of Mrs. LeMaitre and Dr. LeMaitre in their capacities as employees of the Company in the amount of $10,249.$25,333. In June 2008, Mrs. LeMaitre and Dr. LeMaitre each voluntarily forfeited 20% of their annual cash incentive award for 2008 in order to assist the Company in meeting its 2008 financial objectives. The amount of forfeited compensation for each of Mrs. LeMaitre and Dr. LeMaitre equaled $6,451 each.
(8)Excludes $10,560 in short-term disability benefit payments, a matching contribution under a 401(k)other compensation plan in the amount of $2,527,$2,947 and a long-term care insurance premium of $538, which payments were made on behalf of$3,246 paid to Mrs. LeMaitre and Dr. LeMaitre, respectively, in her capacitytheir capacities as an employeeemployees of the Company.
(9)Excludes salary and bonus compensation for Mrs. LeMaitre as an employee of the Company. If she were a named executive officer, the Company would report an annual salary of $63,077 and a bonus of $7,200.$84,000.
(10)Excludes a matching contribution under a 401(k) compensation plan in the amount of $3,312 and a long-term care insurance premium of $655, which payments were made on behalf of Dr. LeMaitre as an employee of the Company.
(11)Excludes salary and bonus compensation for Dr. LeMaitre as an employee of the Company. If he were a named executive officer, the Company would report an annual salary of $90,000 and a bonus of $7,200.$92,000.
(12)Mr. Neels forfeited unvested restricted stock units when he resigned effective August 8, 2007. In accordance with SFAS 123(R), we reversed compensation expense relating to the forfeited units that had been recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in 2006. As a result, the amount reported in this column for 2007 for Mr. Neels is negative.

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Employee directors do not receive cash compensation for their service as members of the Board of Directors. During 2008, in accordance with the Company’s compensation program for non-employee directors, non-employee directors receive an annual retainer for Board membership of $10,000 and an annual retainer for each committee membership of $1,000, except that members of the Audit Committee receive an annual retainer for committee membership of $2,500. The chairmen of our committees receive an annual retainer of $5,000, except that the chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual retainer of $15,000. Annual retainer payments are pro-rated based upon days of service in the event a non-employee director joins or leaves the Board of Directors during any calendar year. Non-employee directors also receive a fee of $2,000 for each regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting attended in person, $1,000 for each regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting attended by telephone or videoconferencing, $500 for each special Board meeting attended either in person or by telephone or videoconferencing, and $500 for each committee meeting attended either in person or by telephone or teleconference. Aggregate cash compensation paid to any non-employee director for any year may not exceed $40,000 without the specific approval of the Board.

Upon their initial election or appointment to the Board of Directors, non-employee directors receive an option to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, subject to vesting in three equal annual installments based upon continued service to the Company. In addition, thereafter, each non-employee director

40


receives an option to purchase 7,500 shares of our common stock at the first Board meeting following each annual meeting of our stockholders, provided that he or she has served as a director for at least six months.

All of the directors are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the Company’s behalf, and all of the directors are eligible to participate in the 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan on anad hoc basis from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

4127


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans. The following table provides information as of December 31, 2007,2008, with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plans under which shares of Common Stock are authorized for issuance, consisting of the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan, 2000 Stock Option Plan, 2004 Stock Option Plan, 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. Each of the Company’s equity compensation plans were previously approved by stockholders.

 

Plan category

  Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
  Number of
securities remaining
available for future
issuance under
equity
compensation plans
(excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
  Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
  Number of
securities remaining
available for future
issuance under
equity
compensation plans
(excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
 
  (a)  (b)  (c)  (a)  (b)  (c) 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

  1,651,832  $5.33  515,321  1,916,077  $5.17  232,625(1)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

  —     —    —    —     —    —   
                   

Total

  1,651,832  $5.33  515,321  1,916,077  $5.17  232,625(1)
                   

(1)Includes 214,085 shares remaining available for purchase under the Company’s 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Stock Plans

As of December 31, 2007,2008, the Company had two equity compensation plans, including an employee stock purchase plan, under which it was granting stock options and shares of unvested stock. The Company is currently granting stock-based awards from its 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and theits 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS, AND CERTAIN CONTROL PERSONS

Our Audit Committee is responsible for our policies and procedures for the review, approval, and ratification of transactions between the Company and our directors, director nominees, executive officers, security holders that beneficially own more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or the immediate family members of any of these persons, or related person transactions, under our Related Person Transaction Approval Policy.

A list of related persons is available to our employees and executives who are involved with or familiar with the transactions, contracts, or other legal or business arrangements that we have entered into or propose to enter into from time to time with third parties. This list is updated and cross-checked periodically to ensure it does not contain parties involved in proposed or ongoing transactions, contracts, or other legal or business arrangements with us and will be checked prior to entering into any new transaction, contract, or other legal or business arrangement. To the extent that it is determined that we have entered into or may enter into a transaction, contract, or other legal or business arrangement (including any modification or addition to an existing contract or arrangement) with a related person, our General Counsel is notified.

Prior to our entering into any such transaction or arrangement, the General Counsel reviews the applicable rules and determines whether the contemplated transaction or arrangement requires the approval of our Board of Directors, the Audit Committee, or both, and any such approvals will be obtained before the transaction may be

28


consummated. No arrangement with a related person may be entered into unless the General Counsel has either (i) specifically confirmed in writing that no further approvals are necessary or (ii) specifically confirmed in writing that all requisite corporate approvals necessary for us to enter into such arrangement have been obtained.

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In the event that a related party transaction requires both Board of Directors and Audit Committee approval, the Audit Committee will first be asked to consider and vote on the transaction. The Audit Committee would then make a recommendation to the full Board of Directors for its consideration before the transaction may be entered into.

Except as disclosed below or elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, there were no transactions with any of directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our voting securities, or any member of the immediate family of the foregoing persons, during 2007.2008.

We are party to an agreement with Housatonic Partners providing for rights to register shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

George D. LeMaitre, our founder, chair of our scientific advisory board, and a director, and Cornelia W. LeMaitre, our Vice President, Human Resources and a director, each receive compensation as employees. For more information regarding their compensation, see footnotes (6) through (11)(10) in the Director Compensation Table above.

We have employment agreements with each of Mr. LeMaitre, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Gebauer, and Mr. Pellegrino that provide and we had an employment agreement with Mr. Kelly that provided, for certain salary, bonus, stock option, and severance compensation. For more information regarding these agreements, see “Executive Compensation—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control.”

INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and Named Executive Officers. These agreements require the Company to indemnify such individuals, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, for certain liabilities to which they may become subject as a result of their affiliation with the Company.

The Company has purchased primary and excess directors’ and officers’ liability insurance from Twin City Fire Insurance Company, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., Old Republicand Hudson Insurance Company, and ACE American Insurance CompanyGroup covering all of the Company’s directors and Named Executive Officers at an annual premium cost of $279,808.$170,357.

 

4329


PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

The Company’s Board of Directors currently consists of nine members. The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation divides the Board of Directors into three classes. One class is elected each year for a term of three years. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has nominated George D.Cornelia W. LeMaitre, M.D., Russell D. Hays,Lawrence J. Jasinski, and William N. Thorndike, Jr.John J. O’Connor and recommended that each be elected to the Board of Directors as a Class IIIII director, each to hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the year 20112012 and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal. Dr. LeMaitre and Mr. Hays areAll Class IIIII directors whose terms expire at this annual meeting, and Mr. Thorndike has been nominated by the Board of Directors to fill the office currently held by Duane M. DeSisto, who has declined to stand for re-election. Mr. Hays and Mr. Thorndikemeeting. All directors were each recommended for nomination by George W. LeMaitre, in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors is also comprised of (i) three Class I directors (George W. LeMaitre, David B. Roberts, and Michael C. Jackson), whose terms expire upon the election and qualification of directors at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2010 and (ii) three Class IIIII directors (Cornelia W.(George D. LeMaitre, Lawrence J. Jasinski,M.D., Russell D. Hays, and DavidWilliam N. Gill)Thorndike, Jr.), whose terms expire upon the election and qualification of directors at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009. Mr. LeMaitre serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.2011.

The Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees would be unable or unwilling to serve, but if any nominee should for any reason be unable or unwilling to serve, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person for the office of director as the Board of Directors may recommend in the place of such nominee. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for the nominees named below.

This Proposal 1 relates solely to the election of three Class IIIII directors nominated by the Company and does not include any other matters relating to the election of directors, including, but not limited to,without limitation, the election of directors nominated by any stockholder of the Company.

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS

THAT YOU VOTE“FOR”FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW.

The following table sets forth the nominees to be elected at the annual meeting, the continuing directors, the year each such nominee or director was first elected a director, the positions with the Company currently held by each nominee and director, the year each nominee’s or director’s current term will expire, and each nominee’s and director’s current class:

 

Nominee’s or Director’s Name

and Year First Became a Director

  

Position(s) with the Company

  Year Current Term
Will Expire
  Current Class
of Director

Nominees for Class IIIII Directors:

      

George D.Cornelia W. LeMaitre, M.D.

    19831992

  

Vice President, Human Resources and Director

  20082009  IIIII

Russell D. HaysLawrence J. Jasinski

    2003

Director2009III

John J. O’Connor

    2008

  

Director

  20082009  II

William N. Thorndike, Jr.

    Not yet elected

Director

2008IIIII

Continuing Directors:

      

George W. LeMaitre

    1992

  

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

  2010  I

David B. Roberts

    2001

  

President and Director

  2010  I

Michael C. Jackson

    2005

  

Director

  2010  I

Cornelia W.George D. LeMaitre, M.D.

    19921983

  

Vice President, Human ResourcesFounder and Director

2011II

Russell D. Hays

    2008

  2009Director  III2011II

Lawrence J. JasinskiWilliam N. Thorndike, Jr.

    20032008

  

Director

  20092011  III

David N. Gill

    2006

Director

2009IIIII

 

4430


PROPOSAL 2

APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2006 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

The Board of Directors believes that stock options and other stock-based incentive awards can play an important role in the success of the Company by encouraging and enabling the employees, officers, non-employee directors and other key persons of the Company and its subsidiaries upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. The Board of Directors anticipates that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company will assure a closer identification of the interests of such individuals with those of the Company and its stockholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

On April 22, 2009, the Board of Directors approved an amendment and restatement of the 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Original 2006 Plan”), subject to stockholder approval, to, among other things, (i) increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the Original 2006 Plan by 750,000 shares to 1,500,000 shares of common stock, plus such number of shares representing expired, cancelled or terminated stock options or awards under the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan, 2000 Stock Option Plan and 2004 Stock Option Plan, (ii) allow for the issuance of cash-based awards under the plan and (iii) update tax-related provisions. This amendment was designed to enhance the flexibility of the Compensation Committee in granting stock options and other awards to our officers, employees, non-employee directors and other key persons and to ensure that the Company can continue to grant stock options and other awards to such persons at levels determined to be appropriate by the Compensation Committee. A copy of the Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Amended and Restated 2006 Plan”) is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

Summary of Material Features

The material features of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan as proposed to be amended are:

The maximum number of shares of common stock to be issued under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is being increased by 750,000 shares to a total of 1,500,000 shares of common stock, plus such number of shares representing expired, cancelled or terminated stock options or awards under the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan, 2000 Stock Option Plan and 2004 Stock Option Plan;

The award of stock options (both incentive and non-qualified options), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, performance shares and cash-based awards is permitted;

Any material amendment to the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is subject to approval by our stockholders; and

The term of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan will expire on April 22, 2019.

Based solely on the closing price of our common stock as reported by the NASDAQ on April 22, 2009 and the maximum number of shares that would have been available for awards as of such date, taking into account the proposed increase described herein but excluding such number of shares representing expired, cancelled or terminated stock options or awards under the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan, 2000 Stock Option Plan and 2004 Stock Option Plan, the maximum aggregate market value of the common stock that could potentially be issued under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is $4,335,000. If not approved by the stockholders, we anticipate experiencing difficulties in maintaining competitive compensation programs because the number of shares currently available for issuance under the Original 2006 Plan is not sufficient, based upon competitive compensation data, to support our 2009 and 2010 staffing plans including current and new employees. Based upon review of competitive data, we believe that equity incentive awards, such as stock

31


options and restricted stock units, are needed to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees, officers and directors. As of December 31, 2008, there were 18,540 shares which remained available for issuance under the Original 2006 Plan.

The shares we issue under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan will be authorized but unissued shares or shares that we reacquire. The shares of common stock underlying any awards that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise or settlement of an award to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without any issuance of stock, expire or are otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan are added back to the shares of common stock available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan.

Qualified Performance-Based Compensation under Code Section 162(m)

To ensure that certain awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan to a “Covered Employee” (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”)) qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan provides that the Compensation Committee may require that the vesting of such awards be conditioned on the satisfaction of performance criteria that may include any or all of the following: (1) the Company’s return on equity, assets, capital or investment; (2) pre-tax or after-tax profit levels of the Company or any subsidiary, a division, an operating unit or a business segment of the Company, or any combination of the foregoing; (3) net sales, gross margin, operating income, cash flow, funds from operations or similar measures; (4) total stockholder return; (5) changes in the market price of the Company’s common stock; (6) sales or market share; (7) earnings per share; (8) status of clinical studies and other regulatory approvals and milestones; (9) manufacturing developments and/or progress; (10) achievement of sales milestones; and (11) other operational objectives of the Company. The Compensation Committee will select the particular performance criteria within 90 days following the commencement of a performance cycle. Subject to adjustments for stock splits and similar events, the maximum award granted to any one individual that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code will not exceed 1,500,000 shares of common stock for any performance cycle and options or stock appreciation rights with respect to no more than 1,500,000 shares of common stock may be granted to any one individual during any calendar year period. If a performance-based award is payable in cash, it cannot exceed $2,000,000 for any performance cycle.

Summary of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan

The following description of certain features of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is intended to be a summary only. The summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan that is attached hereto as Appendix A.

Plan Administration. The Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has full power to select, from among the individuals eligible for awards, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, to make any combination of awards to participants, and to determine the specific terms and conditions of each award, subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan. The Compensation Committee may delegate to an officer, including our Chief Executive Officer, the authority to grant stock options to employees who are not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and not subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, subject to certain limitations and guidelines.

Eligibility. Persons eligible to participate in the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan will be those full or part-time officers, employees, non-employee directors and other key persons (including consultants and prospective officers) of the Company and its subsidiaries as selected from time to time by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. Approximately 225 individuals are currently eligible to participate in the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, which includes seven executive officers, 198 employees who are not officers, and five non-employee directors.

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Plan Limits. The maximum award of stock options or stock appreciation rights granted to any one individual will not exceed 1,500,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar events) for any calendar year period. If any award of restricted stock or restricted stock units granted to an individual is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, then the maximum award shall not exceed 1,500,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar events) to any one such individual in any performance cycle. If any cash-based award is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, then the maximum award to be paid in cash in any performance cycle may not exceed $2,000,000. In addition, no more than 1,500,000 shares will be issued in the form of incentive stock options.

Stock Options. The Amended and Restated 2006 Plan permits the granting of (1) options to purchase common stock intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code and (2) options that do not so qualify. Options granted under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan will be non-qualified options if they fail to qualify as incentive options or exceed the annual limit on incentive stock options. Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Non-qualified options may be granted to any persons eligible to receive incentive options and to non-employee directors and key persons. The option exercise price of each option will be determined by the Compensation Committee but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Fair market value for this purpose will be the last reported sale price of the shares of common stock on the NASDAQ on the date of grant. The exercise price of an option may not be reduced after the date of the option grant, other than to appropriately reflect changes in our capital structure.

The term of each option will be fixed by the Compensation Committee and may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. The Compensation Committee will determine at what time or times each option may be exercised. Options may be made exercisable in installments and the exercisability of options may be accelerated by the Compensation Committee. In general, unless otherwise permitted by the Compensation Committee, no option granted under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is transferable by the optionee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or a domestic relations order, and options may be exercised during the optionee’s lifetime only by the optionee, or by the optionee’s legal representative or guardian in the case of the optionee’s incapacity.

Upon exercise of options, the option exercise price must be paid in full either in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Compensation Committee or by delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of common stock that are beneficially owned by the optionee for at least six months or were purchased in the open market. Subject to applicable law, the exercise price may also be delivered to the Company by a broker pursuant to irrevocable instructions to the broker from the optionee. In addition, the Compensation Committee may permit non-qualified options to be exercised using a net exercise feature which reduces the number of shares issued to the optionee by the number of shares with a fair market value equal to the exercise price.

To qualify as incentive options, options must meet additional federal tax requirements, including a $100,000 limit on the value of shares subject to incentive options that first become exercisable by a participant in any one calendar year.

Stock Appreciation Rights. The Compensation Committee may award stock appreciation rights subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine. Stock appreciation rights entitle the recipient to shares of common stock equal to the value of the appreciation in the stock price over the exercise price. The exercise price is the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant.

Restricted Stock. The Compensation Committee may award shares of common stock to participants subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine. These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals (as summarized above) and/or continued employment with us through a specified restricted period.

33


Restricted Stock Units. The Compensation Committee may award restricted stock units to any participants. Restricted stock units are ultimately payable in the form of shares of common stock and may be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine. These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals (as summarized above) and/or continued employment with the Company through a specified vesting period. In the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion, it may permit a participant to make an advance election to receive a portion of his or her future cash compensation otherwise due in the form of a restricted stock unit award, subject to the participant’s compliance with the procedures established by the Compensation Committee and requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

Performance Share Awards. The Compensation Committee may grant performance share awards to any participant which entitle the recipient to receive shares of common stock upon the achievement of certain performance goals (as summarized above) and such other conditions as the Compensation Committee shall determine.

Unrestricted Stock Awards. The Compensation Committee may also grant shares of common stock which are free from any restrictions under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan. Unrestricted stock may be granted to any participant in recognition of past services or other valid consideration and may be issued in lieu of cash compensation due to such participant.

Cash-Based Awards. The Compensation Committee may grant cash bonuses under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan to participants. The cash bonuses may be subject to the achievement of certain performance goals (as summarized above).

Change of Control Provisions. The Amended and Restated 2006 Plan provides that upon the effectiveness of an “Acquisition” as defined in the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, the Compensation Committee or the board of directors of the entity assuming the obligations of the Company under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan will take one or more of the following actions: (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of awards by substituting the consideration payable in connection with the Acquisition; (ii) accelerate the date of exercise of awards; (iii) provide that all awards must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within a specified time period, at the end of which period the awards shall terminate; (iv) terminate all awards in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to such award (to the extent then exercisable) over their exercise price; or (v) in the event of a stock sale, require that the optionee sell to the purchaser all shares previously issued to such optionee upon exercise of any award, at a price equal to the portion of the net consideration from such sale which is attributable to such shares.

Adjustments for Stock Dividends, Stock Splits, Etc. The Amended and Restated 2006 Plan requires the Compensation Committee to make appropriate adjustments to the number of shares of common stock that are subject to the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, to certain limits in the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, and to any outstanding awards to reflect stock dividends, stock splits, extraordinary cash dividends and similar events.

Tax Withholding. Participants in the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan are responsible for the payment of any federal, state or local taxes that the Company is required by law to withhold upon the exercise of options or stock appreciation rights or vesting of other awards. Subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, participants may elect to have the minimum tax withholding obligations satisfied by authorizing the Company to withhold shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to the exercise or vesting.

Amendments and Termination. The Board may at any time amend or discontinue the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan and the Compensation Committee may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding award for the purpose of satisfying changes in the law or for any other lawful purpose. However, no such action may adversely affect any rights under any outstanding award without the holder’s consent. Any amendments that materially change the terms of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan (other than amendments that curtail the scope of the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, including any amendments that increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, expand the types of awards available, materially expand

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the eligibility to participate in, materially extend the term of, or materially change the method of determining the fair market value of shares under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, will be subject to approval by stockholders. Amendments shall also be subject to approval by our stockholders if and to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee to be required by the Code to preserve the qualified status of incentive options or to ensure that compensation earned under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Effective Date of Amended and Restated 2006 Plan. The Board adopted the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan on April 22, 2009, and the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan becomes effective on the date it is approved by stockholders. Awards of incentive options may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan until April 22, 2019. No other awards may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan after the date that is 10 years from the date of stockholder approval. If the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is not approved by stockholders, the Original 2006 Plan will continue in effect until it expires, and awards may be granted thereunder, in accordance with its terms.

New Plan Benefits

Because the grant of awards under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is within the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the Company cannot determine the dollar value or number of shares of common stock that will in the future be received by or allocated to any participant in the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan. Accordingly, in lieu of providing information regarding benefits that will be received under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, the following table provides information concerning the benefits that were received by the following persons and groups during 2008: each named executive officer; all current executive officers, as a group; all current directors who are not executive officers, as a group; and all employees who are not executive officers, as a group.

   Options  Restricted Stock

Name and Position

  Average
Exercise
Price
  Number (#)  Dollar
Value ($)
  Number (#)

George W. LeMaitre

  $3.27  152,905  $—    —  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

        

Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr.

   —    —    $31,217  13,514

Chief Financial Officer

      $54,142  23,438

David B. Roberts

  $3.27  94,629  $2,310  1,000

President

        

Peter R. Gebauer

   —    —    $33,527  14,514

President, International Operations

      $38,628  16,722

Trent G. Kamke

   —    —    $31,217  13,514

Senior Vice President, Operations

      $2,310  1,000

All current executive officers, as a group

  $3.27  247,534  $272,169  117,822

All current directors who are not executive officers, as a group

  $4.30  62,500  $24,971  10,810

All current employees who are not executive officers, as a group

   —    —    $623,039  279,714

Tax Aspects Under the Code

The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences of certain transactions under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan. It does not describe all federal tax consequences under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan, nor does it describe state or local tax consequences.

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The advice set forth below was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding United States federal tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The advice was written to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed herein. Each taxpayer should seek advice based upon the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. The foregoing language is intended to satisfy the requirements under the regulations in Section 10.35 of Circular 230.

Incentive Options. No taxable income is generally realized by the optionee upon the grant or exercise of an incentive option. If shares of common stock 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) the Company will not be entitled to any deduction 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 of common stock 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 realize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the shares of common stock at exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on a sale of such shares of common stock) over the option price thereof, and (ii) we will be entitled to deduct such amount. Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the incentive option is paid by tendering shares of common stock.

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. Generally, 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 of common stock on the date of exercise, and we receive a tax deduction for the same amount, and (ii) at disposition, appreciation 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 of common stock 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 of common stock. Upon exercise, the optionee will also be subject to Social Security taxes on the excess of the fair market value over the exercise price of the option.

Other Awards. The Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by the participant at the time the participant recognizes such income. Participants typically are subject to income tax and recognize such tax at the time that an award is exercised, vests or becomes non-forfeitable, unless the award provides for a further deferral.

Parachute Payments. The vesting of any portion of an option or other award that is accelerated due to the occurrence of a change in control (such as a sale event) 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 the Company, 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 Deductions. Under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company’s deduction for certain awards under the Amended and Restated 2006 Plan may be limited to the extent that the Chief Executive Officer or other

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executive officer whose compensation is required to be reported in the summary compensation table (other than the Principal Financial Officer) receives compensation in excess of $1 million a year (other than performance-based compensation that otherwise meets the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code). The Amended and Restated 2006 Plan is structured to allow certain awards to qualify as performance-based compensation.

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE“FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2006 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN.

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PROPOSAL 3

RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has retained the firm of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accountants, to serve as independent registered public accountants for its 20082009 fiscal year. Ernst & Young LLP has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 1998. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed its selection of, and the performance of, Ernst & Young LLP for its 20082009 fiscal year. As a matter of good corporate governance, the Audit Committee has determined to submit its selection to stockholders for ratification. If the selection of registered public accountants is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may 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 its stockholders.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has implemented procedures under the Company’s Audit Committee pre-approval policy for audit and non-audit services (the “Pre-Approval Policy”) to ensure that all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided to the Company have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Specifically, the Audit Committee pre-approves the use of Ernst & Young for specific audit and non-audit services, within approved monetary limits. If a proposed service has not been pre-approved pursuant to the Pre-Approval Policy, then it must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee before it may be provided by Ernst & Young LLP. Any pre-approved services exceeding the pre-approved monetary limits require specific approval by the Audit Committee. For additional information concerning the Audit Committee and its activities with Ernst & Young LLP, see “Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors” and “Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.”

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP attended all in-person meetings of the Audit Committee in 2007.2008. We expect that a representative of Ernst & Young LLP will attend the annual meeting, and the representative will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires. The representative will also be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

Fees Billed by Ernst & Young

The following table shows the aggregate fees for professional services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP to the Company during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007,2008, and December 31, 2006.2007.

 

  2007  2006  2008  2007

Audit Fees

  $328,500  $1,122,370  $483,397  $328,500

Audit-Related Fees

   —     —     —     —  

Tax Fees

   135,034   107,840   9,240   135,034

All Other Fees

   56,950   —     1,490   56,950
            

Total

  $520,484  $1,230,210  $247,541  $520,484
            

Audit Fees

Audit Fees for both years consist of fees for professional services associated with the annual consolidated financial statements audit, statutory filings, consents, and assistance with and review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This amount for 2006 includes $928,575 related to work performed in connection with our initial public offering. For 2007, this amount includes $6,000 related to work performed in connection with the offering of Common Stock to our employees through our 401(k) plan and $10,000 related to work performed in connection with the adoption of FIN 48.

Audit-Related Fees

Consists of fees for accounting consultations and other services that were reasonably related to the performance of audits or reviews of our financial statements and were not reported above under “Audit Fees.”

 

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Tax Fees

Tax Fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for assistance with federal, state, local, and international tax compliance, and tax planning. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of these services to us by Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining their independence.

All Other Fees

In 2008, these fees consist of $1,490 for an access to an online research application. In 2007, these fees consist of $31,950 for consulting services related to the Company’s compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and $25,000 for services related to the four acquisitions conducted by the Company during that year.

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE“FOR”FOR THE RATIFICATION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS LEMAITRE’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR 2008.2009.

 

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OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before the Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Meeting, the persons appointed in the accompanying proxy intend to vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their best judgment on such matters, under applicable laws.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Proposals of stockholders intended for inclusion in the Proxy Statement to be furnished to all stockholders entitled to vote at the 20092010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act by the SEC, must be received at the Company’s principal executive offices not later than December 31, 2008.2009. Any such proposal must comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC.

The Company’s by-laws establish an advance notice procedure with regard to proposals that stockholders otherwise desire to introduce at the annual meeting without inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for that meeting. Written notice of such stockholder proposals for the 20092010 Annual Meeting of the Company—other than one that will be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement—must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices between February 19, 2009,18, 2010, and March 21, 2009,20, 2010, in order to be considered timely, unless our 20092010 annual meeting of stockholders is scheduled to take place before May 20, 2009,19, 2010, or after August 18, 2009.17, 2010. Our By-Laws state that the stockholder must provide timely written notice of such nomination or proposal as well as be present at such meeting, either in person or by a representative. A stockholders’ notice shall be timely received by the Company at its principal executive office not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting (the “Anniversary Date”); provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is scheduled to be held on a date more than thirty (30) days before the Anniversary Date or more than sixty (60) days after the Anniversary Date, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if received by LeMaitre at its principal executive office not later than the close of business on the later of (a) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such annual meeting or (b) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by LeMaitre. Any such proposal should be mailed to the Company at its principal executive office, Attention: Secretary. Any proposal to be considered for inclusion at the annual meeting must contain specified information concerning the matters proposed to be brought before such meeting and concerning the stockholder proposing such action. The matters proposed to be brought before the meeting also must be the proper matters for stockholder action.

If a stockholder who wishes to present a proposal fails to notify the Company by December 31, 2008,2009, and such proposal is brought before the 20092010 Annual Meeting, then, under the SEC’s proxy rules, the proxies solicited by management with respect to the 20092010 Annual Meeting will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to the stockholder’s proposal on the persons selected by management to vote the proxies. If a stockholder makes a timely notification, the proxies may still exercise discretionary voting authority under circumstances consistent with the SEC’s proxy rules. In order to curtail controversy as to the date on which a proposal was received by the Company, it is suggested that proponents submit their proposals by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, Attention: Secretary.

EXPENSES AND SOLICITATION

The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company, and, in addition to soliciting stockholders by mail through its regular employees, the Company may request banks, brokers, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to solicit their customers who have stock of the Company registered in the names of a nominee and, if so, will reimburse such banks, brokers, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for their

 

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reasonable out-of-pocket costs. Solicitation by officers and employees of the Company or by outside proxy solicitation services also may be made of some stockholders in person or by mail, telephone, or telegraph following the original solicitation.

The contents and sending of this Proxy Statement have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The sectionssection of this proxy statement entitled “Audit Committee Report” and “Compensation Committee Report” dodoes not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate themit by reference therein.

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

Our 20072008 Annual Report, including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,2008, is being mailed to you along with this proxy statement. In order to reduce printing and postage costs, the Company has undertaken an effort to deliver only one Annual Report and one proxy statement to multiple shareholders sharing an address. This delivery method, called “householding,” is not being used, however, if the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders sharing an address. If your household has received only one Annual Report and one proxy statement, the Company will deliver promptly a separate copy of the Annual Report and the proxy statement to any shareholder who sends a written request to LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, Attention: Secretary.Secretary, or calls us at (781) 221-2266. If your household is receiving multiple copies of the Company’s Annual Report or proxy statement and you wish to request delivery of a single copy, you may send a written request to LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, Attention: Secretary.

 

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PROXYANNEX A

LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

2006 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1.GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

The name of the plan is the LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, directors and other key persons (including Consultants and prospective employees) of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders, 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, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards and Cash-Based Awards.

“Award Certificate” means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

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

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

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

“Consultant” means any natural person that provides bona fide services to the Company, and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

“Committee” means a committee of the Board.

“Covered Employee” means an employee who is a “Covered Employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan is approved by stockholders as set forth in Section 19.

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


“Fair Market Value” of the Stock on any given date means the fair market value of the Stock determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the Stock is admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), NASDAQ Global Market or another national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to market quotations. If there are no market quotations for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there are market quotations.

“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

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

“Option” or“Stock Option” means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.

“Performance Cycle” means one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more performance criteria will be measured for the purpose of determining a grantee’s right to and the payment of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units or Cash-Based Award.

“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

“Restricted Stock Units” means an Award of phantom stock units to a grantee.

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

“Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

“Stock Appreciation Right” means 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 of the Stock Appreciation Right (except as otherwise provided for in Section 6).

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has at least a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.

“Ten Percent Owner” means an employee who 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.

“Unrestricted Stock Award” means any Award pursuant to which a grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions.

SECTION 2.ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

(a)Committee. The Plan shall be administered by either the Board or one or more Committees of the Board (the “Administrator”).

(b)Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

(i) to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

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(ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards and Cash-Based Awards, 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 forms of Award Certificates;

(v) to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;

(vi) 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 of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings 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 arising 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)Foreign Participants. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Committee determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices);provided,however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3(a) of the Plan; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act or any other applicable United States securities law, the Code, or any other applicable United States governing statute or law.

(d)Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. The Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to an officer (including the chief executive officer) of the Company all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to the granting of Awards, to individuals who are not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and not Covered Employees. 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.

(e)Award Certificate. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Certificates that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award and the provisions applicable in the event employment or service terminates.

(f)Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Committee, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in

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connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Committee (and any delegate 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 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.

SECTION 3.STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION

(a)Stock Issuable. The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be the sum of (i) 1,500,000 shares, and (ii) such number of shares as equals that number of stock options or awards returned to (A) the Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended and in effect from time to time, after the Effective Date, (B) the Company’s 1998 Stock Option Plan, as amended and in effect from time to time, after the Effective Date, (C) the Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan, as amended and in effect from time to time, after the Effective Date, and (D) the Company’s 2004 Stock Option Plan, as amended and in effect from time to time, after the Effective Date, in each case as a result of the expiration, cancellation or termination of such stock options or awards, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b). For purposes of this limitation, the shares of Stock underlying any Awards that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitations, 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 1,500,000 shares of Stock may be granted to any one individual grantee during any one calendar year period. In no event may shares of Stock granted in the form of Incentive Stock Options exceed 1,500,000 shares. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Company.

(b)Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result 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 of Stock or other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for 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 Incentive Stock Options, (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, if any, per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and (v) the exercise 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. The Administrator shall also make equitable or proportionate adjustments in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration cash dividends paid other than in the ordinary course or any other extraordinary corporate event. 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.

(c)Consolidations, Mergers or Sales of Assets or Stock. If the Company is to be consolidated with or acquired by another person or entity in a merger, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or stock or otherwise (an “Acquisition”), the Committee or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations

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of the Company hereunder (the “Successor Board”) shall, with respect to outstanding Awards or shares acquired upon exercise of any Award, take one or more of the following actions: (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Award by substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Award the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition; (ii) accelerate the date of exercise of such Award or of any installment of any such Award; (iii) upon written notice to the optionees, provide that all Award must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Award shall terminate; (iv) terminate all Award in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to such Award (to the extent then exercisable) over the exercise price thereof; or (v) in the event of a stock sale, require that the optionee sell to the purchaser to whom such stock sale is to be made, all shares previously issued to such optionee upon exercise of any Award, at a price equal to the portion of the net consideration from such sale which is attributable to such shares.

(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 or affiliate thereof with the Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of property or stock of the employing corporation or affiliate thereof. 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).

SECTION 4.ELIGIBILITY

Grantees under the Plan will be such full or part-time officers and other employees, directors and key persons (including Consultants and prospective employees) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

SECTION 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)Grants of Stock Options. 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 one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the option price of such Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred ten (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 ten years after the date the Stock Option is granted. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

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(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. 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 Certificate:

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

(B) 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 are beneficially owned by the optionee 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. To the extent required to avoid variable accounting treatment under FAS 123R or other applicable accounting rules, such surrendered shares shall have been owned by the optionee for at least six months; or

(C) 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.

(D) With respect to Stock Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

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 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 Certificate 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 shares attested to.

(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.

SECTION 6.STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

(a)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.

(b)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. The term of a Stock Appreciation Right may not exceed 10 years.

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SECTION 7.RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

(a)Purchase Price; Terms. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued under the Plan at such purchase price (which may be zero) as determined by the Administrator. The grant of a Restricted Stock Award is contingent on the grantee executing the Restricted Stock agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award Certificate shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

(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 Restricted Stock Award Certificate. 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 such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.

(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 Certificate. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, if any, 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 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.

(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. 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 Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award 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 provisions of Section 7(c) above.

SECTION 8.RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

(a)Nature of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator shall determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each Restricted Stock Unit 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 terms and conditions of each such Award Certificate shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees. At the end of the deferral period, the Restricted Stock Units, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of shares of Stock. To the extent that an award of Restricted Stock Units 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.

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(b)Election to Receive Restricted Stock Units in Lieu of Compensation. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a grantee to elect to receive a portion of future cash compensation otherwise due to such grantee in the form of an award of Restricted Stock Units. 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 Restricted 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. Any Restricted Stock Units that are elected to be received in lieu of cash compensation shall be fully vested, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate.

(c)Rights as a Stockholder. A grantee shall have the rights as a stockholder only as to shares of Stock acquired by the grantee upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units.

(d)Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s right in all Restricted Stock Units 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.

SECTION 9.UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 11.PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS TO COVERED EMPLOYEES

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units or Cash-Based 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 performance criteria used in performance goals governing Performance-based Awards granted to Covered Employees may include any or all of the following: (i) the Company’s return on equity, assets, capital or investment: (ii) pre-tax or after-tax profit levels of the Company or any Subsidiary, a division, an operating unit or a business segment of the Company, or any combination of the foregoing; (iii) net sales, gross margin, operating income, cash flow, funds from operations or similar measures; (iv) total stockholder return; (v) changes in the market price of the Stock; (vi) sales or market share; (vii) earnings per share, (viii) status of

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clinical studies and other regulatory approvals and milestones, (ix) manufacturing developments and/or progress, (x) achievement of sales milestones, and (xi) other operational objectives of the Company.

(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 1,500,000 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.

SECTION 12.TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS

(a)Transferability. Except as provided in Section 12(b) below, during a grantee’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the grantee, or by the grantee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the grantee’s incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or a domestic relations order. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.

(b)Committee Action. Notwithstanding Section 12(a), the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide either in the Award Certificate regarding a given Award or by subsequent written approval that the grantee (who is an employee or director) may transfer his or her Awards (other than any Incentive Stock Options) to his or her immediate family members, 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 Award.

(c)Family Member. For purposes of Section 12(b), “family member” shall mean a grantee’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the grantee’s household (other than a tenant of the grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the grantee) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the grantee) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.

(d)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

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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.

SECTION 13.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 by the grantee.

(b)Payment in Stock. Subject 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) authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as 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.

SECTION 14.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.

SECTION 15.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 policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.

SECTION 16.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

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price of outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or effect repricing through cancellation and re-grants without shareholder approval. Any material Plan amendments (other than amendments that curtail the scope of the Plan), including any Plan amendments that (i) increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) expand the type of Awards available under, materially expand the eligibility to participate in, or materially extend the term of, the Plan, or (iii) materially change the method of determining Fair Market Value, shall be subject to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. In addition, 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, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Nothing in this Section 16 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(c).

SECTION 17.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.

SECTION 18.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).

(c)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.

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

(e)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 any grantee who is one of the individuals subject to

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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.

SECTION 19.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. No grants of Stock Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date and no grants of Incentive Stock Options may be made hereunder after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Board.

SECTION 20.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: April 22, 2009

DATE APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS:, 2009

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LOGO

PROXY

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

Proxy for Annual Meeting of Stockholders

June 19, 200818, 2009

SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned stockholder of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated April 29, 2008,30, 2009, and hereby appoints George W. LeMaitre and Joseph P. Pellegrino, Jr., and each of them, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power to each of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at the offices of Goodwin Procter LLP, 28th Floor, 53 State Street, Exchange Place, Boston,Company’s headquarters, 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 0210901803 on June 19, 2008,18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., local time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there personally present, on the matters set forth on the reverse side.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on June 18, 2009

This proxy statement, the notice of the annual meeting, directions to the annual meeting, a sample proxy card, and our 2008 annual report to stockholders are available at http://www.lemaitre.com/proxy.

Stockholders requiring directions to attend the Annual Meeting in person may visit http://www.lemaitre.com/proxy.

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OR “FOR” THE PROPOSALPROPOSALS IN ITEM TWO.ITEMS TWO AND THREE.

SEE REVERSE SIDE SEE REVERSE SIDE

Address Changes/Comments:

(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)

SEE REVERSE SIDESEE REVERSE SIDE

CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE

Address Changes/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)

? FOLD AND DETACH HERE ?


LOGO

LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC. Please Mark Here for Address Changes or Comments

c/o BNY Mellon Shareowner ServicesSEE REVERSE SIDE

111 Founders PlazaThe Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the Nominees: The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR proposal 2:

Suite 1100To elect three Class III directors nominated by the Board of Directors, each to serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified: To approve the Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. FOR WITHHELD ABSTAIN

Hartford, CT 06108(01) Cornelia W. LeMaitre FOR WITHHELD Proposal 1 relates solely to the election of three Class III directors nominated by the Company and does not include any other matters relating to the election of directors, including, without limitation, the election of directors nominated by any stockholder of the Company. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR proposal 3:

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:(02) Lawrence J. Jasinski FOR WITHHELD To ratify Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2009. FOR WITHHELD ABSTAIN

KEEP THIS PORTION(03) John J. O’Connor FOR YOUR RECORDS

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLYWITHHELD To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. FOR WITHHELD ABSTAIN

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

x[X] Please mark votes as in this example.example in blue or black ink.

LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC.RESTRICTED

Signature _____________________________ Signature _____________________________ Date ____________

1.To elect three Class II directors nominated by the Board of Directors, each to serve until the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified:
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the Nominees:ForWithheld

(01) George D. LeMaitre, M.D.

¨¨

(02) Russell D. Hays

¨¨

(03) William N. Thorndike, Jr.

¨¨
2.

To ratify Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2008.

ForAgainstAbstain
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR proposal 2.¨¨¨
3.To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.
Proposal 1 relates solely to the election of three Class II directors nominated by the Company and
does not include any other matters relating to the election of directors, including, without
limitation, the election of directors nominated by any stockholder of the Company.
For address changes/comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicatedYesNo
¨¨
Please indicate if you plan to attend this meetingYesNo
¨¨

Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon. Joint owners must both sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by an authorized person.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]Date

Signature (Joint Owners)Date