EXHIBIT 10.10
IDEXX LABORATORIES, INC. |
1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN |
(as of February 13, 2002) |
1. Purpose
The purpose of this 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a Delawarecorporation (the "Company"), is to advance the interests of the Company's stockholders by enhancing the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives and thereby better aligning the interests of such persons with those of the Company's stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term "Company" shall include any present or future subsidiary corporations of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.as defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Code").
2. Eligibility
All of the Company's employees, officers and directors (and any individuals who have accepted an offer for employment) are eligible to be granted options ("Options") to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, $.10 par value per share ("Common Stock"), under the Plan. Each person who has been granted an Option under the Plan shall be deemed a "Participant".
3. Administration, Delegation
(a) Administration by Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). The Board shall have authority to grant Options and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Option in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board's sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Option. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Pla n made in good faith.
(b) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a "Committee"). All references in the Plan to the "Board" shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the executive officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board's powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or executive officers.
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(c) Delegation to Executive Officers. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company the power to grant Options to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Options to be granted by such executive officers (including the exercise price of such Options, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to Options that the executive officers may grant; provided further, however, that no executive officer shall be authorized to grant Options to any "executive officer" of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) or to any "officer" of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act).
4. Stock Available under the Plan
(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 6, Options may be granted under the Plan for up to 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock. If any Option expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised, the unused Common Stock covered by such Option shall again be available for the grant of Options under the Plan, subject, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), to any limitation required under the Code. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.
(b) Per-Participant Limit. Subject to adjustment under Section 7, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Option may be granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be500,000per calendar year. The per-Participant limit described in this Section 4(b) shall be construed and applied consistently with Section 162(m) of the Code.
5. Terms of Stock Options
(a) General. The Board may grant Options and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a "Nonstatutory Stock Option".
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(b) Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an "incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an "Incentive Stock Option") shall only be granted to employees of the Company and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price, which shall in no event be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined (or in a manner approved) by the Board in good faith ("Fair Market Value") at the time of grant, at the time each Option is granted and specify it in the applicable option agreement.
(d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement. No option will be granted for a term in excess of 10 years.
(e) Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board, together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised.
(f) Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:
(1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;
(2) except as the Board may, in its sole discretion, otherwise provide in an option agreement, (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price or (iii) delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value, which Common Stock was owned by the Participant at least six months prior to such delivery;
(3) to the extent permitted by the Board, in its sole discretion (i) by delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or
(4) any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.
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6. Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events
(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Common Stock other than a normal cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan, (ii) the per-Participant limits set forth in Section 4(b), and (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding Option shall be appropriately adjusted by the Company (or substituted Options may be granted, if applicable) to the extent the Board shall determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is necessary and appropriate. If this Section 6(a) applies and Section 6(c) also applies to any event, Section 6(c) shall be applicable to such event, and this Section 6(a) shall not be applicable.
(b) Liquidation or Dissolution. In the event of a proposed liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Board shall upon written notice to the Participants provide that all then unexercised Options will (i) become exercisable in full as of a specified time at least 10 business days prior to the effective date of such liquidation or dissolution and (ii) terminate effective upon such liquidation or dissolution, except to the extent exercised before such effective date.
(c) Acquisition Events
(1) Definition. An "Acquisition Event" shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or (b) any exchange of shares of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a statutory share exchange transaction.
(2) Consequences of an Acquisition Event on Options. Upon the occurrence of an Acquisition Event, or the execution by the Company of any agreement with respect to an Acquisition Event, the Board shall provide that all outstanding Options shall be assumed, or equivalent options shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), provided that any options substituted for Incentive Stock Options shall satisfy, in the determination of the Board, the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) does not agree to assume, or substitute for, such Options, then the Board shall upon written notice to the Participants, provide that all then unexercised Options will become exercisable in full as of a specified time (the "Acceleration Time") prior to the Acquisition Event and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Acquisition Event, except to the extent exercised by the Participants before the consummation of such Acquisition Event; provided, however, that, in the event of an Acquisition Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share of Common Stock surrendered pursuant to such Acquisition Event (the "Acquisition Price"), then the Board may instead provide that all outstanding Options shall terminate upon consummation of such Acquisition Event and that each Participant shall receive, in exchange therefor, a cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (A) the Acquisition Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Options (whether or not then exercisable), exceeds (B) the aggregate exercise price of such Options.
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(d) Acceleration of Options. Immediately prior to the consummation of a Change of Control, each then outstanding Option under the Plan shall become immediately exercisable as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of shares as to which such Option would otherwise not then be exercisable (rounded down to the nearest whole share), and the number of shares as to which each such Option shall become exercisable on each vesting date set forth in the applicable option agreement shall be reduced by 25%. In addition, all Options held by a Participant that are not terminated pursuant to Section 6(c) above shall immediately become exercisable in full if and when, within 24 months after a Change of Control, such Participant's employment with the Company (or the acquiring or succeeding entity) is involuntarily terminated by the Company (or such acquiring or succeeding entity) other than for Cause (as def ined below).
(1) Definition of Change of Control. "Change of Control" shall mean:
(A) The acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (d)(1), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which satisfies the criteria set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (d)(1)(C) of this Section 6; or
(B) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequently to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxi es or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
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(C) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, immediately following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, of the corporation resulting fro m such Business Combination (which as used in this Section 6(d)(1)(C) shall include, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination, or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation and (C) at least half of the members of the board of directo rs of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(D) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(2) Definition of Cause. "Cause" shall mean:
(A) the failure of the Participant to perform substantially the Participant's duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), which failure is not cured within 30 days after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Participant's manager or the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which such manager or the Board, as applicable, believes that the Participant has not substantially performed the Participant's duties, or
(B) the engaging by the Participant in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is injurious to the Company."
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7. General Provisions Applicable to Options
(a) Transferability of Options. Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Option, Options shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.
(b) Documentation. Each Option shall be evidenced by a written instrument in such form as the Board shall determine. Each Option may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.
(c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Option may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Option. The terms of each Option need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.
(d) Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Option of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant's legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Option.
(e) Withholding. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with Options to such Participant no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. Except as the Board may otherwise provide in an Option, Participants may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Option creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant.
(f) Amendment of Option. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Option, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Option of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option, provided that the Participant's consent to such action shall be required unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant. In addition, neither the Board nor the Company may amend the terms of any issued and outstanding Options to reduce the exercise price, other than pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan, without the prior approval of the Company's stockholders.
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(g) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock upon exercise of any Option until (i) all conditions of the Option have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company's counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.
(h) Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Options shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part.
8. Miscellaneous
(a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Option, and the grant of an Option shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Option.
(b) No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Option, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of an Option until becoming the record holder of such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date for such stock dividend and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwith standing the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.
(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is approved by the Company's stockholders. No Options shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years from the date the Plan was approved by the Board, but Options previously granted may extend beyond that date.
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(d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that, to the extent required by Section 162(m), no Option granted to a Participant designated as subject to Section 162(m) by the Board after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable, realizable or vested, as applicable to such Option (to the extent that such amendment to the Plan was required to grant such Option to a particular Participant), unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company's stockholders as required by Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Seciton 162(m)). In addition, the second sentence of Section 7(f) of the Plan may not be amended by the Board without the prior approval of the Company's stockholders.
(e) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Options made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.
Approved by the Board of Directors February 12, 1998.
Adopted by stockholders on May 15, 1998.
Amended by the Board of Directors on February 16, 1999.
Amendment approved by stockholders on May 19, 1999.
Amended by the Board of Directors on February 16, 2000.
Amendment approved by stockholders on May 17, 2000.
Amendment approved by the Board of Directors on May 23, 2001.
Amendment approved by the Board of Directors on February 13, 2002.
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