Exhibit 10.4
LANDEC CORPORATION
1995 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
As Amended June 1996
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Directors' Stock Option
Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for service as
Directors of the Company, to provide additional incentive to the Outside
Directors of the Company to serve as Directors, and to encourage their continued
service on the Board.
All options granted hereunder shall be "nonstatutory stock
options".
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall
apply:
(a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(c) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.
(d) "Company" shall mean Landec Corporation, a California
corporation.
(e) "Continuous Status as a Director" shall mean the absence
of any interruption or termination of service as a Director.
(f) "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.
(g) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and
directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient in and of
itself to constitute "employment" by the Company.
(h) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(i) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan. All options shall be nonstatutory stock options (i.e., options that are
not intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the
Code).
(j) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an
Option.
(k) "Optionee" shall mean an Outside Director who receives an
Option.
(l) "Outside Director" shall mean a Director who is not an
Employee.
1
(m) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation", whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(n) "Plan" shall mean this 1995 Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(o) "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as
adjusted in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.
(p) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation",
whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and
sold under the Plan is 200,000 Shares (the "Pool") of Common Stock. The Shares
may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any
reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were
subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become
available for future grant under the Plan. If Shares which were acquired upon
exercise of an Option are subsequently repurchased by the Company, such Shares
shall not in any event be returned to the Plan and shall not become available
for future grant under the Plan.
4. Administration of and Grants of Options under the Plan.
(a) Administrator. Except as otherwise required herein, the
Plan shall be administered by the Board.
(b) Procedure for Grants. All grants of Options hereunder
shall be automatic and nondiscretionary and shall be made strictly in accordance
with the following provisions:
(i) No person shall have any discretion to select
which Outside Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of
Shares to be covered by Options granted to Outside Directors.
(ii) Each person who becomes an Outside Director
after the effective date of the Plan, other than any person who has previously
been granted an option by the Company to purchase shares under any stock option
plan of the Company, shall be automatically granted an Option to purchase 20,000
Shares (the "First Option") on the date on which such person first becomes an
Outside Director, whether through election by the shareholders of the Company or
appointment by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy.
(iii) Each Outside Director shall be automatically
granted an Option to purchase 5,000 Shares ((a "Subsequent Option") on the date
of each Annual Meeting of the Company's shareholders at which such Outside
Director is elected, provided that, on such date, he or she shall have served on
the Board for at least six (6) months prior to the date of such Annual Meeting.
2
(iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections
(ii) and (iii) hereof, in the event that a grant would cause the number of
Shares subject to outstanding Options plus the number of Shares previously
purchased upon exercise of Options to exceed the Pool, then each such automatic
grant shall be for that number of Shares determined by dividing the total number
of Shares remaining available for grant by the number of Outside Directors
receiving an Option on such date on the automatic grant date. Any further grants
shall then be deferred until such time, if any, as additional Shares become
available for grant under the Plan through action of the shareholders to
increase the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan or through
cancellation or expiration of Options previously granted hereunder.
(v) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections
(ii) and (iii) hereof, any grant of an Option made before the Company has
obtained shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 17 hereof
shall be conditioned upon obtaining such shareholder approval of the Plan in
accordance with Section 17 hereof.
(vi) The terms of each First Option granted hereunder
shall be as follows:
(1) the First Option shall be exercisable
only while the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set
forth in Section 9 hereof.
(2) the exercise price per Share shall be
100% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant of the First
Option, determined in accordance with Section 8 hereof.
(3) the First Option shall be exercisable in
full on the date of grant of the Option.
(vii) The terms of each Subsequent Option granted
hereunder shall be as follows:
(1) the Subsequent Option shall be
exercisable only while the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company,
except as set forth in Section 9 hereof.
(2) the exercise price per Share shall be
100% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant of the Subsequent
Option, determined in accordance with Section 8 hereof.
(3) the Subsequent Option shall be
exercisable in full on the date of grant of the Subsequent Option.
(c) Powers of the Board. Subject to the provisions and
restrictions of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine, upon review of relevant information and in accordance with
Section 8(b) of the Plan, the fair market value of the Common Stock; (ii) to
determine the exercise price per share of Options to be granted, which exercise
price shall be determined in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Plan; (iii) to
interpret the Plan; (iv) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan; (v) to
3
authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required
to effectuate the grant of an Option previously granted hereunder; and (vi) to
make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan.
(d) Effect of Board's Decision. All decisions, determinations
and interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all Optionees and
any other holders of any Options granted under the Plan.
(e) Suspension or Termination of Option. If the President or
his or her designee reasonably believes that an Optionee has committed an act of
misconduct, the President may suspend the Optionee's right to exercise any
option pending a determination by the Board of Directors (excluding the Outside
Director accused of such misconduct). If the Board of Directors (excluding the
Outside Director accused of such misconduct) determines an Optionee has
committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of an obligation
owed to the Company, breach of fiduciary duty or deliberate disregard of the
Company rules resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company, or if an
Optionee makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company trade secret or
confidential information, engages in any conduct constituting unfair
competition, induces any Company customer to breach a contract with the Company
or induces any principal for whom the Company acts as agent to terminate such
agency relationship, neither the Optionee nor his or her estate shall be
entitled to exercise any option whatsoever. In making such determination, the
Board of Directors (excluding the Outside Director accused of such misconduct)
shall act fairly and shall give the Optionee an opportunity to appear and
present evidence on Optionee's behalf at a hearing before the Board or a
committee of the Board.
5. Eligibility. Options may be granted only to Outside Directors. All
Options shall be automatically granted in accordance with the terms set forth in
Section 4(b) hereof. An Outside Director who has been granted an Option may, if
he or she is otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options in
accordance with such provisions.
The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with
respect to continuation of service as a Director or nomination to serve as a
Director, nor shall it interfere in any way with any rights which the Director
or the Company may have to terminate his or her directorship at any time.
6. Term of Plan; Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective on the
earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by
the shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten
(10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan.
7. Term of Options. The term of each Option shall be ten (10) years
from the date of grant thereof.
8. Exercise Price and Consideration.
4
(a) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the
Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be 100% of the fair
market value per Share on the date of grant of the Option.
(b) Fair Market Value. The fair market value shall be
determined by the Board; provided, however, that where there is a public market
for the Common Stock, the fair market value per Share shall be the mean of the
bid and asked prices of the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the
date of grant, as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or, if not so reported,
as otherwise reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation ("Nasdaq") System) or, in the event the Common Stock is
traded on the Nasdaq National Market or listed on a stock exchange, the fair
market value per Share shall be the closing price on such system or exchange on
the date of grant of the Option, as reported in The Wall Street Journal. With
respect to any Options granted hereunder concurrently with the initial
effectiveness of the Plan, the fair market value shall be the Price to Public as
set forth in the final prospectus relating to such initial public offering.
(c) Form of Consideration. The consideration to be paid for
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall consist entirely of
cash, check, other Shares of Common Stock having a fair market value on the date
of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which
said Option shall be exercised (which, if acquired from the Company, shall have
been held for at least six months), or any combination of such methods of
payment and/or any other consideration or method of payment as shall be
permitted under applicable corporate law.
9. Exercise of Option.
(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any
Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in
Section 4(b) hereof; provided, however, that no Options shall be exercisable
prior to shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 17 hereof
has been obtained.
An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a
Share.
An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when
written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with
the terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been
received by the Company. Full payment may consist of any consideration and
method of payment allowable under Section 8(c) of the Plan. Until the issuance
(as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing
such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a
shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the
exercise of the Option. A share certificate for the number of Shares so acquired
shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the
Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the
record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 11 of the Plan.
5
Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a
decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for
purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as
to which the Option is exercised.
(b) Termination of Status as a Director. If an Outside
Director ceases to serve as a Director, he or she may, but only within ninety
(90) days after the date he or she ceases to be a Director of the Company,
exercise his or her Option to the extent that he or she was entitled to exercise
it at the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event
may the Option be exercised after its term set forth in Section 7 has expired.
To the extent that such Outside Director was not entitled to exercise an Option
at the date of such termination, or does not exercise such Option (which he or
she was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate.
(c) Disability of Optionee. Notwithstanding Section 9(b)
above, in the event a Director is unable to continue his or her service as a
Director with the Company as a result of his or her total and permanent
disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), he or
she may, but only within six (6) months (or such other period of time not
exceeding twelve (12) months as is determined by the Board) from the date of
such termination, exercise his or her Option to the extent he or she was
entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after its term set forth in
Section 7 has expired. To the extent that he or she was not entitled to exercise
the Option at the date of termination, or if he or she does not exercise such
Option (which he or she was entitled to exercise) within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate.
(d) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an
Optionee:
(i) During the term of the Option who is, at the time
of his or her death, a Director of the Company and who shall have been in
Continuous Status as a Director since the date of grant of the Option, the
Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months following the date of
death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to
exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the
right to exercise that would have accrued had the Optionee continued living and
remained in Continuous Status as Director for six (6) months (or such lesser
period of time as is determined by the Board) after the date of death.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after its
term set forth in Section 7 has expired.
(ii) Within three (3) months after the termination of
Continuous Status as a Director, the Option may be exercised, at any time within
six (6) months following the date of death, by the Optionee's estate or by a
person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance,
but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of
termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the option be
exercised after its term set forth in Section 7 has expired.
10. Nontransferability of Options. The Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution or pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order (as defined by the Code
6
or the rules thereunder). The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee does
not constitute a transfer. An Option may be exercised during the lifetime of an
Optionee only by the Optionee or a transferee permitted by this Section.
11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization; Corporate
Transactions.
(a) Adjustment. Subject to any required action by the
shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have
been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet
been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or
expiration of an Option, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered
by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any
increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting
from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or
reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board,
whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of
stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class,
shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.
(b) Corporate Transactions. In the event of (i) a dissolution
or liquidation of the Company, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets, (iii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not
the surviving corporation, or (iv) any other capital reorganization in which
more than fifty percent (50%) of the shares of the Company entitled to vote are
exchanged, the Company shall give to the Eligible Director, at the time of
adoption of the plan for liquidation, dissolution, sale, merger, consolidation
or reorganization, either a reasonable time thereafter within which to exercise
the Option prior to the effectiveness of such liquidation, dissolution, sale,
merger, consolidation or reorganization, at the end of which time the Option
shall terminate, or the right to exercise the Option (or receive a substitute
option with comparable terms) as to an equivalent number of shares of stock of
the corporation succeeding the Company or acquiring its business by reason of
such liquidation, dissolution, sale, merger, consolidation or reorganization.
12. Time of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date determined in accordance with Section 4(b) hereof.
Notice of the determination shall be given to each Outside Director to whom an
Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
13. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may amend or
terminate the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem
advisable; provided that, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with
Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any other
7
applicable law or regulation), the Company shall obtain approval of the
shareholders of the Company to Plan amendments to the extent and in the manner
required by such law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
provisions set forth in Section 4 of this Plan (and any other Sections of this
Plan that affect the formula award terms required to be specified in this Plan
by Rule 16b-3) shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than
to comport with changes in the Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.
(b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan that would impair the rights of any Optionee shall not
affect Options already granted to such Optionee and such Options shall remain in
full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless
mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which agreement
must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.
14. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be
issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option
and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with
all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, state securities laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange
upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the
approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a
condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person
exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise
that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present
intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the opinion of counsel for
the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned
relevant provisions of law.
15. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. Inability of the Company to
obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority
is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in
respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite
authority shall not have been obtained.
16. Option Agreement. Options shall be evidenced by written option
agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.
17. Shareholder Approval. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company at or prior to the first annual
meeting of shareholders held subsequent to the granting of an Option hereunder.
If such shareholder approval is obtained at a duly held shareholders' meeting,
it may be obtained by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Company present or represented and entitled to vote
thereon. If such shareholder approval is obtained by written consent, it may be
obtained by the written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Company. Options may be granted, but not exercised, before such
shareholder approval.
8
LANDEC CORPORATION
1995 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
DIRECTOR NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Optionee: Optionee
Address: StreetAddress
StreetAddress2
CityAddress
Total Shares Subject to Option: Shares
Exercise Price Per Share: PricePerShare
Date of Grant: GrantDate
Expiration Date: ExpirationDate
Type of Stock Option: Nonstatutory Stock Option
1. Grant of Option. Landec Corporation (the "Company"), a California
corporation, hereby grants to the Optionee named above ("Optionee") an option
(the "Option") to purchase a total of up to SharesSpelledOut (Shares) shares of
Common Stock of the Company (the "Shares") at the exercise price per share set
forth above (the "Exercise Price"), subject to all of the terms and conditions
of this Director Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement ("Agreement") and the
Company's 1995 Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). The terms defined in
the Plan shall have the same defined meanings herein.
A. Nature of the Option. This Option is a nonstatutory stock
option and is not intended to qualify for any special tax benefits to the
Optionee.
B. Exercise Price. The exercise price is PricePerShare for
each share of Common Stock, which is 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock as determined on the date of grant of this Option.
2. Exercise Period of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions of
the Plan and this Grant, this Option shall become exercisable as follows:
100% of the Option shall become exercisable on GrantDate.
3. Restrictions on Exercise. Exercise of this Option is subject to the
following limitations:
A. This Option may not be exercised unless such exercise is in
compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all applicable state
securities laws, as they are in effect on the date of exercise.
B. If, at the time of the exercise of this Option, the
Optionee is subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), then the Optionee must comply with Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act and such additional conditions or restrictions as may be
required thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the
Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.
4. Termination of Status as a Director. If an Outside Director ceases
to serve as a Director for any reason other than death or disability, he or she
may, but only within ninety (90) days after the date he or she ceases to be a
Director of the Company, exercise his or her Option to the extent that he or she
was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the extent that
he or she was not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of such
termination, or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which he or she was
entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate.
5. Disability of Director. Notwithstanding Section 4 above, in the
event an Outside Director is unable to continue his or her service as a Director
with the Company as a result of total and permanent disability (as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), he or she may, but only within six (6) months
from the date of termination of such service (but in no event later than the
date of expiration of the term of this Option as set forth in the Notice of
Stock Option Grant), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise so entitled at
the date of such termination. To the extent that he or she was not entitled to
exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if he or she does not
exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled) within the time
specified in this Agreement, the Option shall terminate.
6. Death of Director. Notwithstanding Section 4 above, in the event of
the death an Outside Director while serving as a Director of the Company or
within three (3) months of terminating such service, the Option may be
exercised, at any time within six (6) months following the date of death (but in
no event later than the date of expiration of the term of this Option as set
forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant), by Optionee's estate or by a person
who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance to the
extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise such Option on the date of death,
provided, however, that if the Director dies while serving as a Director, the
Option will be exercisable to the extent of the right to exercise that would
have accrued had the Director continued living and serving as a Director for six
(6) months after the date of death.
7. Manner of Exercise.
A. This Option shall be exercisable by delivery to the Company
of an executed written Director Stock Option Exercise Notice and Agreement in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, or in such other form as may be approved
by the Company, which shall set forth Optionee's election to exercise this
Option, the number of Shares being purchased, any restrictions imposed on the
Shares and such other representations and agreements regarding Optionee's
investment intent and access to information as may be required by the Company to
comply with applicable securities laws.
-2-
B. The Director Stock Option Exercise Notice and Agreement
shall be accompanied by full payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares being
purchased (I) in cash, (ii) by check, (iii) by delivery of other shares of
Common Stock having a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the
aggregate exercise price of the Shares being purchased (which, if acquired from
the Company, shall have been held for at least six months) or (iv) by any
combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
C. Prior to the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of this
Option, Optionee must pay or make adequate provision for any applicable federal
or state withholding obligations of the Company.
D. Provided that such notice and payment are in form and
substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, the Company shall issue the
Shares registered in the name of Optionee or Optionee's legal representative.
8. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance and transfer of
Shares shall be subject to compliance by the Company and the Optionee with all
applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all
applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company's Common
Stock may be listed at the time of such issuance or transfer. Optionee
understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the
Shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities
commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance.
9. Nontransferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to a domestic relations order (as defined by the Code or the rules
thereunder) and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the
Optionee or a transferee permitted by Section 10 of the Plan. The terms of this
option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, successors and
assigns of the Optionee.
10. Federal Tax Consequences. Set forth below is a brief summary as of
the date of this Option of some of the federal tax consequences of exercise of
this Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY
INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. OPTIONEE
SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR
DISPOSING OF THE SHARES. THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT DISCUSS STATE OR LOCAL TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF EXERCISE OF THIS OPTION AND DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES.
A. Taxation Upon Exercise of Option. Optionee understands
that, upon exercise of this Option, he or she will recognize income for tax
purposes in an amount equal to the excess of the then fair market value of the
Shares purchased over the exercise price paid for such Shares. Since the
Optionee is likely to be subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, the measurement and timing of such income may be deferred,
and the Optionee is advised to contact a tax adviser concerning the desirability
of filing an 83(b) election in connection with the exercise of the Option. Upon
a resale of such Shares by the
-3-
Optionee, any difference between the sale price and the exercise price of the
Shares, to the extent not included in income as described above, will be treated
as capital gain or loss, which will be long-term if the shares have been held
for more than one year.
11. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this
agreement shall be submitted by Optionee or the Company forthwith to the
Company's Board of Directors or the committee thereof that administers the Plan,
which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of
such a dispute by the Board or committee shall be final and binding on the
Company and on Optionee.
12. Entire Agreement. The Plan and the Director Stock Option Exercise
Notice and Agreement attached as Exhibit A are incorporated herein by reference.
This Grant, the Plan and the Director Stock Option Exercise Notice and Agreement
constitute the entire agreement of the parties regarding the Option and
supersede all prior undertakings and agreements with respect to the subject
matter hereof.
LANDEC CORPORATION
By:______________________
Its: ____________________
-4-
ACCEPTANCE
Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, represents
that Optionee has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and
accepts this Option subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this
Grant. Optionee acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon
exercise of this Option or disposition of the Shares and that Optionee should
consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.
________________________
Optionee
-5-
EXHIBIT A
DIRECTOR NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE AND AGREEMENT
Landec Corporation
3603 Haven Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
1. Exercise of Option. The undersigned ("Optionee") hereby elects to
exercise Optionee's option to purchase ______ shares of the Common Stock (the
"Shares") of Landec Corporation (the "Company") under and pursuant to the
Company's 1995 Directors' Stock Option Plan and the Director Nonstatutory Stock
Option Agreement dated GrantDate (the "Grant Agreement").
2. Representations of Optionee. Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has
received, read and understood the Grant Agreement.
3. Federal Restrictions on Transfer. Optionee understands that the
Shares must be held indefinitely unless they are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or unless an exemption from such
registration is available and that the certificate(s) representing the Shares
may bear a legend to that effect. Optionee understands that the Company is under
no obligation to register the Shares and that an exemption may not be available
or may not permit Optionee to transfer Shares in the amounts or at the times
proposed by Optionee.
4. Tax Consequences. Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer
adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee's purchase or disposition of
the Shares. Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax
consultant(s) Optionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or
disposition of the Shares and that Optionee is not relying on the Company for
any tax advice.
5. Delivery of Payment. Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the
aggregate purchase price for the Shares that Optionee has elected to purchase
and has made provision for the payment of any federal or state withholding taxes
required to be paid or withheld by the Company.
-6-
6. Entire Agreement. The Grant Agreement is incorporated herein by
reference. This Agreement and the Grant Agreement constitute the entire
agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings
and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter
hereof. This Agreement and the Grant Agreement are governed by California law
except for that body of law pertaining to conflict of laws.
Submitted by: Accepted by:
OPTIONEE: LANDEC CORPORATION
By: ________________________
_________________
Optionee
Its: _______________________
Address:
StreetAddress
StreetAddress2
CityAddress
Dated: _________ Dated: _____________________
-7-