def14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Filed by the Registrant þ |
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Filed by a party other than the Registrant o |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Confidential, For Use of the |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
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LANDEC CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies: |
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange
Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
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o Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing
by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
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Amount previously paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.: |
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Filing Party: |
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Date Filed: |
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 14, 2005
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF LANDEC CORPORATION:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of Landec Corporation (the Company) will be held on
Friday, October 14, 2005, at 3:00 p.m., local time, at
the Seaport Conference Center, 451 Seaport Blvd., Redwood City,
CA 94063 for the following purposes:
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1. To elect four directors to serve for a term expiring at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in the second year
following the year of their election and until their successors
are duly elected and qualified; |
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2. To approve the Companys 2005 Stock Incentive Plan; |
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3. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP
as the Companys independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending May 28, 2006; and |
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4. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment(s) thereof. |
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the
Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on
August 26, 2005, are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof.
All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in
person. However, to assure your representation at the meeting,
you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy
card as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope
enclosed for that purpose or vote your shares by telephone or
via the Internet.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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GEOFFREY P. LEONARD |
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Secretary |
Menlo Park, California
September 12, 2005
IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN
AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN
THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE OR VOTE YOUR SHARES BY
TELEPHONE OR VIA THE INTERNET. IF A QUORUM IS NOT REACHED, THE
COMPANY WILL HAVE THE ADDED EXPENSE OF RE-ISSUING THESE PROXY
MATERIALS. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING AND SO DESIRE, YOU MAY
WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON. THANK YOU FOR ACTING
PROMPTLY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 14, 2005
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
General
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of
Directors of Landec Corporation (Landec or the
Company), a California corporation, for use at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Friday,
October 14, 2005, at 3:00 p.m., local time, or at any
postponement or adjournment(s) thereof, for the purposes set
forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Seaport
Conference Center, 451 Seaport Blvd., Redwood City, CA 94063.
The telephone number at that location is (650) 482-3500.
The Companys principal executive offices are located at
3603 Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025. The
Companys telephone number at that location is
(650) 306-1650.
Solicitation
These proxy solicitation materials were mailed on or about
September 12, 2005, to all shareholders entitled to vote at
the meeting. The costs of soliciting these proxies will be borne
by the Company. These costs will include the expenses of
preparing and mailing proxy materials for the Annual Meeting and
the reimbursement of brokerage firms and others for their
expenses incurred in forwarding solicitation material regarding
the Annual Meeting to beneficial owners of the Companys
Common Stock. The Company may conduct further solicitation
personally, telephonically or by facsimile through its officers,
directors and regular employees, none of whom will receive
additional compensation for assisting with the solicitation.
The Company will provide a copy of the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29,
2005, including financial statements and financial statement
schedules (but not exhibits), without charge to each shareholder
upon written request to Gregory S. Skinner, Chief Financial
Officer, Landec Corporation, 3603 Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, CA
94025 (telephone number: (650) 306-1650). Exhibits to the
Annual Report may be obtained upon written request to
Mr. Skinner and payment of the Companys reasonable
expenses in furnishing such exhibits.
Voting Procedure
To vote by mail, please sign your proxy card and return it in
the enclosed, prepaid and addressed envelope. If you mark your
voting instructions on the proxy card, your shares will be voted
as you instruct.
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You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting |
We will pass out written ballots to anyone who wants to vote at
the Annual Meeting. Holding shares in street name
means your shares of stock are held in an account by your
stockbroker, bank or other nominee, and the stock certificates
and record ownership are not in your name. If your shares are
held in street name and you wish to attend the
Annual Meeting, you must notify your broker, bank or other
nominee and obtain proper documentation to vote your shares at
the Annual Meeting.
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You may vote by telephone or electronically |
You may submit your proxy by following the Vote by Phone
instructions on the proxy card. If you have Internet access, you
may submit your proxy from any location in the world by
following the Vote by Internet instructions on the proxy card.
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You may change your mind after you have returned your
proxy card |
If you change your mind after you return your proxy card or
submit your proxy by telephone or Internet, you may revoke your
proxy at any time before the polls close at the Annual Meeting.
You may do this by:
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signing another proxy card with a later date, or |
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voting in person at the Annual Meeting. |
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share.
Votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting will be
tabulated by the Inspector of Elections. The Inspector of
Elections will also determine whether or not a quorum is
present. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented
either in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for
transaction of business. Except with respect to the election of
directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of shares
represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which a quorum
is present is required for approval of proposals presented to
shareholders. In addition, the shares voting affirmatively must
also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum. The
Inspector of Elections will treat abstentions as shares that are
present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the
presence of a quorum and in determining the approval of any
matter submitted to shareholders for a vote. Accordingly,
abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against a
proposal. Any proxy which is returned using the form of proxy
enclosed and which is not marked as to a particular item will be
voted FOR election of the director nominees proposed by the
Board of Directors, FOR approval of the Companys 2005
Stock Incentive Plan, FOR the ratification of the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending May 28, 2006, and as the proxy holders deem
advisable on other matters that may come before the meeting, as
the case may be, with respect to the item not marked. If a
broker indicates on the enclosed proxy or its substitute that it
does not have discretionary authority as to certain shares to
vote on a particular matter (broker non-votes),
those shares will be counted for purposes of determining the
presence of a quorum, but will not be considered as voting with
respect to that matter.
Record Date and Share Ownership
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on
August 26, 2005, are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Annual Meeting. As of August 26, 2005,
24,141,644 shares of the Companys Common Stock, par
value $0.001 per share, were issued and outstanding.
Deadline for Receipt of Shareholder Proposals for the
Companys Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2006
Proposals of shareholders of the Company that are intended to be
presented by such shareholders at the Companys 2006 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company no later than May 15, 2006 in order
that they may be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement
and form of proxy relating to that meeting.
Also, if a shareholder does not notify the Company on or before
July 29, 2006, of a proposal for the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, management intends to use its discretionary voting
authority to vote on such proposal, even if the matter is not
discussed in the proxy statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
2
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees
The Companys Bylaws currently provide for not less than
five (5) nor more than nine (9) directors, with the
exact number fixed at eight (8), and the Companys Articles
of Incorporation provide for the classification of the Board of
Directors into two classes serving staggered terms. The
Companys Board of Directors currently consists of eight
persons, including four Class I directors and four
Class II directors. Each Class I and Class II
director is elected for a two year term, with Class I
directors elected in even numbered years (e.g., 2006) and
the Class II directors elected in odd numbered years
(e.g., 2005). Accordingly, at the Annual Meeting, four
Class II directors will be elected.
The Board of Directors has nominated the persons named below to
serve as Class II directors until the next odd numbered
year Annual Meeting during which their successors will be
elected and qualified. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy
holders will vote the proxies received by them for the
Companys four (4) nominees named below, all of whom
are presently directors of the Company. In the event that any
nominee of the Company is unable or declines to serve as a
director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be
voted for any nominee who shall be designated by the present
Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. In the event that
additional persons are nominated for election as directors, the
proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in
such a manner as will assure the election of as many of the
nominees listed below as possible, and, in such event, the
specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the
proxy holders. Assuming a quorum is present, the four
(4) nominees for director receiving the greatest number of
votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be elected.
Nominees For Class II Directors
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Director | |
Name of Director |
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Age | |
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Principal Occupation | |
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Gary T. Steele
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56 |
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company |
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1991 |
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Nicholas Tompkins
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50 |
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President and Chief Executive Officer of Apio, Inc. |
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2003 |
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Duke Bristow
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48 |
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Economist, University of California, Los Angeles |
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2004 |
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Robert Tobin
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67 |
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Retired CEO, Ahold, USA |
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2004 |
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Except as set forth below, each of the Class II directors
has been engaged in the principal occupation set forth next to
his name above during the past five years.
Gary T. Steele has served as President, Chief Executive
Officer and a director since September 1991 and as Chairman of
the Board of Directors since January 1996. Mr. Steele has
over 25 years of experience in the biotechnology,
instrumentation and material science fields. From 1985 to 1991,
Mr. Steele was President and Chief Executive Officer of
Molecular Devices Corporation, a bioanalytical instrumentation
company. From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Steele was Vice President,
Product Development and Business Development at
Genentech, Inc., a biomedical company focusing on
pharmaceutical drug development. Mr. Steele has also worked
with McKinsey and Co. and Shell Oil Company. Mr. Steele
received a B.S. from Georgia Institute of Technology and an
M.B.A. from Stanford University.
Nicholas Tompkins has been President and Chief Executive
Officer of Apio, Inc., a subsidiary of Landec, since Apios
inception in 1979. Landec acquired Apio in December of 1999.
Mr. Tompkins is a Senior Vice President of Landec and was
elected to the Landec Board of Directors in 2003.
Mr. Tompkins is also a current board member and past
chairman of the Ag Business Advisory Council for California
Polytechnic State
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University in San Luis Obispo. He has also been a member of
the Board of Directors of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Association for the past four years and is currently Chairman of
that organization. Mr. Tompkins received a B.S. in
Agricultural Business from California State University of Fresno.
Duke K. Bristow, Ph.D. has served as a director
since September 2004. Dr. Bristow has been with the
University of California, Los Angeles for 15 years, where
he has been an economist since 1995. His research and teaching
interests include corporate finance, corporate governance and
entrepreneurship. Previously, he was with Eli Lilly &
Company, a leading life science firm, for ten years. He held
management positions in the pharmaceutical, medical device and
diagnostics divisions and in corporate finance. He holds a B.S.
in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, an M.B.A. from
Indiana University, and his Ph.D. in Financial Economics from
UCLA. Dr. Bristow serves on the boards of, or as an advisor
to, a number of public and private organizations.
Mr. Robert Tobin has served as a director since
December 2004. Mr. Tobin retired from his position as CEO
of Ahold USA in 2001. Mr. Tobin has 43 years of
industry experience in the food retail and food service sector,
having served as Chairman and CEO of Stop and Shop Supermarkets.
An industry leader, Mr. Tobin serves on the Advisory Boards
of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the
Undergraduate Business Program at Cornell University where he
received his B.S. in Agricultural Economics.
Directors continuing in office until the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders:
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Frederick Frank
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73 |
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Vice Chairman and Director of Lehman Brothers |
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1999 |
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Stephen E. Halprin
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67 |
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General Partner of OSCCO Ventures |
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1988 |
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Richard S. Schneider, Ph.D.
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64 |
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Retired General Partner, Domain Partners II, L.P. |
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1991 |
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Kenneth E. Jones
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58 |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors of Globe Wireless |
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2001 |
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Except as set forth below, each of the Class I directors
has been engaged in the principal occupation set forth next to
his name above during the past five years. There is no family
relationship between any director or executive officer of the
Company.
Frederick Frank has served as a director since December
1999. Mr. Frank has been with Lehman Brothers for
36 years and was named to his current position of Vice
Chairman in 1996. Before that, Mr. Frank was associated
with Smith Barney where he was Vice President, Co-Director of
Research, and a Director. During his 47 years on Wall
Street, Mr. Frank has been involved in numerous financings
and merger and acquisition transactions. He serves on the board
of directors of several companies, including Pharmaceutical
Product Development, Inc., Predix Pharmaceuticals, Diagnostic
Products Corp., eSoft Inc. and Business Engine. Mr. Frank
is Chairman of the National Genetics Foundation and Chairman of
the Irvington Institute for Immunological Research. He is the
Director and Trustee of Salk Institute. He serves on the
Advisory Boards for Yale School of Organization and Management,
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center of Biomedical
Innovation and the Harvard School of Public Health. He is a
graduate of Yale University, received an M.B.A. from Stanford
University and holds a C.F.A. designation.
Stephen E. Halprin has served as a director since April
1988. Since 1971, Mr. Halprin has been a general partner of
OSCCO Ventures. Mr. Halprin has been an active member of
the venture community since 1968. Mr. Halprin received a
B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an
M.B.A. from Stanford University.
Richard S. Schneider, Ph.D. has served as a director
since September 1991. From October 1990 until his retirement in
1999, Dr. Schneider was a general partner of Domain
Associates. Dr. Schneider has over
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25 years of product development experience in the fields of
medical devices and biotechnology. Prior to pursuing a career in
venture capital, Dr. Schneider was Vice President of
Product Development at Syva/ Syntex Corporation and President of
Biomedical Consulting Associates. He is a member of the Board of
Directors of SonoSite, Inc. and a number of privately-held life
science companies. Dr. Schneider received a Ph.D. in
chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Kenneth E. Jones has served as a director since May 2001.
Mr. Jones has been with Globe Wireless since 1994 and he is
currently Chairman of the Board of Directors. Globe Wireless is
a leading provider of marine communications services world-wide
with operations in 23 countries. Prior to Globe Wireless,
Mr. Jones was Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Ditech
Communications, a publicly traded telecommunications technology
company. Mr. Jones prior experience includes serving
as President and Chief Executive Officer of a private label food
business and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hills
Bros. Coffee, Inc. of San Francisco, CA. He is a graduate
of the University of Nebraska in Chemical Engineering and
received an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
Board of Directors Meetings and Committees
The Board of Directors held a total of eight meetings during the
fiscal year ended May 29, 2005. Each director attended at
least 75% of all Board and applicable committee meetings during
fiscal year 2005. The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee,
a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, each of which operates under a written
charter approved by the Board of Directors. It is our policy to
encourage the members of the Board of Directors to attend the
Companys annual meeting of shareholders. Eight directors
who were then on the Board of Directors attended our 2004 annual
meeting of shareholders.
The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Halprin,
Bristow and Jones, each of whom meets the current independence
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC) and the National Association of Securities
Dealers (the NASD). The Audit Committee assists the
Board of Directors in its oversight of Company affairs relating
to the quality and integrity of the Companys financial
statements, the independent auditors qualifications and
independence, the performance of the Companys internal
audit function and independent auditors, and the Companys
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit
Committee is responsible for appointing, compensating, retaining
and overseeing the Companys independent auditors, and
approving the services performed by the independent auditors and
for reviewing and evaluating the Companys accounting
principles and its system of internal accounting controls. The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules adopted by the SEC require
us to disclose whether the Audit Committee includes at least one
member who is an audit committee financial expert
within the meaning of such Act and rules. The Board of Directors
has determined that there are two such financial experts on the
Audit Committee and has designated Mr. Halprin and
Dr. Bristow as audit committee financial experts. The Audit
Committee held six meetings during fiscal year 2005.
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Mr. Tobin,
Mr. Frank and Dr. Schneider, each of whom meets the
current independence requirements of the SEC and the NASD. The
function of the Compensation Committee is to review and set the
compensation of the Companys Chief Executive Officer and
certain of its most highly compensated officers, including
salary, bonuses and other incentive plans, stock options and
other forms of compensation, to administer the Companys
stock plans and approve stock option awards and to oversee the
career development of senior management. The Compensation
Committee held four meetings during fiscal year 2005.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently
consists of Messrs. Tobin and Frank, each of whom meets the
current independence requirements of the NASD. The functions of
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to
recommend qualified candidates for election as officers and
directors of the Company and oversee the Companys
corporate governance policies. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee held three meetings in fiscal year 2005.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider
nominees proposed by current directors, officers, employees and
shareholders. Any shareholder who wishes to recommend candidates
for
5
consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee may do so by writing to the Secretary of the Company,
Geoffrey P. Leonard of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
LLP, 1000 Marsh Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, and providing the
candidates name, biographical data and qualifications. In
selecting candidates for the Board of Directors, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee strives for a variety of
experience and background that adds depth and breadth to the
overall character of the Board of Directors. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee evaluates potential candidates
using standards and qualifications such as the candidates
business experience, independence, diversity, skills and
expertise to collectively establish a number of areas of core
competency of the Board of Directors, including business
judgment, management and industry knowledge. Further criteria
include a candidates integrity and values, as well as the
willingness to devote sufficient time to attend meetings and
participate effectively on the Board of Directors and its
committees.
In December 2004, Ken Jones was named Lead Independent Director
of the Companys Board of Directors.
Corporate Governance
The Company provides information on the Corporate Governance
page of its website about its corporate governance policies,
including the Companys Code of Ethics, and charters for
the committees of the Board of Directors. The website can be
found at www.landec.com.
The Companys policies and practices reflect corporate
governance initiatives that are compliant with the listing
requirements of Nasdaq and the corporate governance requirements
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including:
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A majority of the board members are independent; |
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All members of the board committees the Audit
Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee are independent; |
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The independent members of the Board of Directors meet at least
twice per year in execution sessions without the presence of
management and the Board of Directors has designated a lead
independent director who, among other duties, will be
responsible for presiding over executive sessions of the
independent directors; |
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The Company has an ethics hotline available to all employees,
and the Companys Audit Committee has procedures in place
for the anonymous submission of employee complaints on
accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters; and |
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The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of
its employees, including its principal executive officer and all
members of its finance department, including the principal
financial officer and principal accounting officer, as well as
the Board of Directors. Any substantive amendments to the Code
of Ethics or grant of any waiver, including any implicit waiver,
from a provision of the Code of Ethics to the Companys
Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, will be
disclosed either on the Companys website or in a report on
Form 8-K. |
Shareholder Communications
Our Board of Directors welcomes communications from our
shareholders. Shareholders may send communications to the Board
of Directors, or to any director in particular, c/o Gregory
S. Skinner, Chief Financial Officer, Landec Corporation, 3603
Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Any correspondence addressed
to the Board of Directors or to any one of our directors in care
of Mr. Skinner will be promptly forwarded to the addressee.
The independent directors of the Board of Directors review and
approve the shareholder communication process periodically to
ensure effective communication with shareholders.
6
Compensation of Directors
For the fiscal year ended May 29, 2005, each nonemployee
director earned $5,000 per quarter and was reimbursed for
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at
meetings of the Board of Directors. Each member of the Audit
Committee received an additional $2,500 per quarter, with
the Audit Committee Chairman receiving an additional
$1,250 per quarter.
Nonemployee directors of the Company are automatically granted
options to purchase shares of the Companys Common Stock
pursuant to the terms of the Companys
1995 Directors Stock Option Plan (the
Directors Plan). Under the Directors
Plan, each nonemployee director who has not previously been
granted an equivalent option under any stock option plan of the
Company will be granted a nonstatutory stock option to
purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock (the
First Option) on the date on which the person first
becomes a nonemployee director of the Company. Thereafter, on
the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders, such
nonemployee director (including nonemployee directors who were
not eligible for a First Option) will be granted an additional
option to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock (a
Subsequent Option) if, on such date, he or she shall
have served on the Companys Board of Directors for at
least six months prior to the date of such annual meeting. The
First Option and each Subsequent Option are fully vested and
exercisable on the date of grant. Options granted under the
Directors Plan have an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of the Companys Common Stock on the date of
grant with a term of ten years.
On September 30, 2004, the date of the last Annual Meeting
of Shareholders, Messrs. Frank, Halprin and Jones and
Dr. Schneider were automatically granted Subsequent Options
pursuant to the Directors Plan. On the same date,
Dr. Bristow was granted a First Option pursuant to the
Directors Plan. All such options were granted with an
exercise price of $7.50 per share which was the fair market
value of the Common Stock on September 30, 2004. On
December 2, 2004, Mr. Tobin was granted a First Option
pursuant to the Directors Plan at an exercise price of
$6.71 per share.
Messrs. Frank, Halprin and Jones and Dr. Schneider
and, subject to their election to the Board of Directors by the
shareholders at the Annual Meeting, Mr. Tobin and
Dr. Bristow will each be automatically granted an option to
purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock on the date of
the Annual Meeting pursuant to the Directors Plan. Under
Proposal No. 2, shareholders are being asked to approve the
2005 Stock Incentive Plan. If the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan is
approved, the Directors Plan will terminate such that no
further awards may be made under the Directors Plan. The
2005 Stock Incentive Plan does not have an automatic grant
feature, but instead provides for discretionary awards to
nonemployee directors not exceeding 30,000 shares for any
nonemployee director in any fiscal year.
Required Vote
The four Class II director nominees receiving the highest
number of affirmative votes of shares of the Companys
Common Stock present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote shall be elected as directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
APPROVAL OF THE 2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
At the Annual Meeting, shareholders are being asked to approve
the Landec Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the New
Stock Plan). The purpose of the New Stock Plan is to
promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of
shareholder value by offering key service providers the
opportunity to share in such long-term success by acquiring a
proprietary interest in the Company.
The following is a summary of the principal features of the New
Stock Plan. This summary, however, does not purport to be a
complete description of all of the provisions of the New Stock
Plan. A copy of the New Stock Plan is attached to this proxy
statement.
7
General
In light of frequent changes in the accounting treatment of
various equity incentives, the possibility of future accounting
or tax changes, and shareholder dilution concerns, the Company
believes that it is advantageous for it to have maximum
flexibility in the fashioning of future equity compensation. The
New Stock Plan will give the Company the flexibility to
responsibly address these issues by utilizing stock options,
restricted stock, stock units, and stock appreciation rights.
The Companys existing stock plans (the 1996 Stock Option
Plan, 1996 Non-Executive Stock Option Plan, New Executive Stock
Option Plan, and 1995 Directors Stock Option Plan
(the Current Stock Plans)) authorize the grant of
stock options, but not restricted stock, stock units, or stock
appreciation rights.
The New Stock Plan contains the following important compensation
and corporate governance best practices:
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A total of 861,038 shares of the Companys common
stock (individually, a Share and collectively, the
Shares) will be available under the New Stock Plan.
This is equal to the number of Shares that are currently
available under the Current Stock Plans and is approximately 4%
of the Companys total outstanding Shares. |
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Awards to non-employee directors are not automatic under the New
Stock Plan, they are discretionary. However, a non-employee
director may not receive awards exceeding 30,000 Shares in
any fiscal year. |
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Stock options and stock appreciation rights must be granted with
an exercise price of at least 100% of the fair market value on
the date of grant. |
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Repricing of stock options and stock appreciation rights is
prohibited unless shareholder approval is obtained. |
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The New Stock Plan has a seven-year life span. |
The New Stock Plan was approved by the Board of Directors on
July 29, 2005. The New Stock Plan will become effective
upon its approval by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting and
will supersede the Current Stock Plans (i.e., no further awards
will be made under the Current Stock Plans on or after the
effective date of the New Stock Plan). However, the New Stock
Plan will not, in any way, affect outstanding options previously
granted under the Current Stock Plans. If the shareholders do
not approve the New Stock Plan, no awards will be granted under
the New Stock Plan and the Current Stock Plans will continue in
effect in accordance with their respective terms.
All awards are made at the discretion of the New Stock Plan
administrator. Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be
received or allocated under the New Stock Plan are not
determinable.
As of August 26, 2005, the fair market value of a Share was
$6.69.
Share Reserve
The aggregate number of Shares that will be available for
issuance under the New Stock Plan is 861,038 Shares, which
constitutes approximately 4% of the Companys total
outstanding Shares. If awards under the New Stock Plan are
forfeited or terminate before being exercised, then the Shares
underlying those awards will again become available for awards
under the New Stock Plan. Stock appreciation rights will be
counted in full against the number of Shares available for
issuance under the New Stock Plan, regardless of the number of
Shares issued upon settlement of the stock appreciation rights.
Under the New Stock Plan, no recipient may be awarded any of the
following during any fiscal year: (i) stock options
covering in excess of 500,000 Shares; (ii) restricted
stock and stock units covering in excess of 250,000 Shares;
or (iii) stock appreciation rights covering more than
500,000 Shares. In addition, awards to non-employee
directors are discretionary. However, a non-employee director
may not be granted awards covering in excess of
30,000 Shares in the aggregate during any fiscal year.
8
In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Shares, a stock
split or reverse stock split, a recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, liquidation, spin-off, exchange of
Shares or a similar occurrence, the New Stock Plan administrator
will, in its discretion, make appropriate adjustments to the
number of Shares and kind of shares or securities issuable under
the New Stock Plan (on both an aggregate and per-participant
basis) and under each outstanding award. Appropriate adjustments
will also be made to the exercise price of outstanding options
and stock appreciation rights.
Administration
The Compensation Committee will administer the New Stock Plan
with respect to persons who are subject to Section 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and awards intended to
qualify as performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code). The Compensation Committee or a
separate committee of two or more directors of the Company
appointed by the Board of Directors or the Compensation
Committee will administer the New Stock Plan with respect to all
other persons and awards. The New Stock Plan administrator has
complete discretion, subject to the provisions of the New Stock
Plan, to authorize the grant of stock options, restricted stock,
stock units and stock appreciation rights awards under the New
Stock Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only the full Board
of Directors, and not the Compensation Committee, will
administer the New Stock Plan with respect to all awards granted
to non-employee directors.
Eligibility and Types of Awards Under the New Stock Plan
The New Stock Plan permits the granting of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, stock units and restricted stock by the New
Stock Plan administrator. Stock appreciation rights may be
awarded in combination with stock options or restricted stock,
and such award shall provide that the stock appreciation rights
will not be exercisable unless the related stock options or
restricted stock are forfeited. Restricted stock may be awarded
in combination with nonstatutory stock options, and such award
may provide that the restricted stock will be forfeited in the
event that the related nonstatutory stock options are exercised.
Employees (including executive officers) and consultants of the
Company, any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, and
non-employee directors of the Company will be eligible to
participate in the New Stock Plan. As of August 26, 2005,
approximately 170 employees (including employee directors and
executive officers), no consultants and 6 non-employee directors
would have been eligible to participate in the New Stock Plan,
if the plan had been in effect as of that date.
Options
The New Stock Plan administrator may grant nonstatutory stock
options or incentive stock options (which are entitled to
favorable tax treatment) under the New Stock Plan. The number of
Shares covered by each stock option granted to a participant
will be determined by the New Stock Plan administrator.
Stock options granted to non-employee directors will generally
be fully vested and exercisable at the time of grant. Initial
stock option grants to other participants will generally vest
and become exercisable either (a) with respect to 25% of
the Shares covered by the option on the first anniversary of the
date of grant and 1/48th of the Shares covered by the
option monthly thereafter, provided that such participants
service has not terminated prior to any vesting date, or
(b) upon the satisfaction of performance goals established
by the New Stock Plan administrator.
The stock option exercise price is established by the New Stock
Plan administrator and must be at least 100% of the fair market
value of a Share on the date of grant (110% for incentive stock
options granted to shareholders who own more than 10% of the
total outstanding Shares of the Company, its parent or any of
its subsidiaries). Repricing of stock options is prohibited
unless shareholder approval is obtained. The exercise price of
stock options must be paid at the time the Shares are purchased.
Consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules, payment
of the exercise price of stock options may be made in cash
(including by check, wire transfer or similar means), by
cashless exercise, by surrendering or attesting to previously
acquired Shares, or by any other legal consideration.
9
Unless otherwise provided by the New Stock Plan administrator,
unvested stock options will generally expire upon termination of
the participants service and vested stock options will
generally expire 6 months following such termination. The
term of a stock option shall not exceed 7 years from the
date of grant (5 years for incentive stock options granted
to shareholders who own more than 10% of the total outstanding
Shares of the Company, its parent or any of its subsidiaries).
Restricted Stock
The New Stock Plan administrator may award restricted stock
under the New Stock Plan. Participants may or may not be
required to pay cash consideration to the Company at the time of
grant of restricted stock. The number of Shares associated with
each restricted stock grant will be determined by the New Stock
Plan administrator. Restricted stock is Shares that are subject
to forfeiture. The New Stock Plan administrator may establish
performance goals and/or other conditions that must be satisfied
before the participant can receive any benefit from the
restricted stock. When the restricted stock award conditions are
satisfied, then the participant is vested in the Shares and has
complete ownership of the Shares. Restricted stock granted to
non-employee directors will generally be fully vested at the
time of grant. Restricted stock granted to any other participant
will generally vest on the same basis as stock options.
Stock Units
The New Stock Plan administrator may award stock units under the
New Stock Plan. Participants are not required to pay any
consideration to the Company at the time of grant of a stock
unit. The number of Shares covered by each stock unit award will
be determined by the New Stock Plan administrator. A stock unit
is a bookkeeping entry that represents a Share. A stock unit is
similar to restricted stock in that the New Stock Plan
administrator may establish performance goals and/or other
conditions that must be satisfied before the participant can
receive any benefit from the stock unit. When the participant
satisfies the conditions of the stock unit award, the Company
will pay the participant cash or Shares or any combination of
both to settle the vested stock units. Conversion of the stock
units into cash may be based on the average of the fair market
value of a Share over a series of trading days or on other
methods. Stock units granted to non-employee directors will
generally be fully vested at the time of grant. Stock units
granted to any other participant will generally vest on the same
basis as stock options.
Stock Appreciation Rights
The New Stock Plan administrator may grant stock appreciation
rights under the New Stock Plan. The number of Shares covered by
each stock option award will be determined by the New Stock Plan
administrator. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, the
participant will receive payment from the Company in an amount
determined by multiplying (a) the difference between
(i) the fair market value of a Share on the date of
exercise and (ii) the exercise price times (b) the
number of Shares with respect to which the stock appreciation
right is exercised. Stock appreciation rights granted to
non-employee directors will generally be fully vested at the
time of grant. Stock appreciation rights granted to any other
participant will generally vest on the same basis as stock
options.
The exercise price of a stock appreciation right is established
by each stock appreciation right agreement and may not be less
than 100% of the fair market value of a Share on the date of
grant. Repricing of stock appreciation rights is prohibited
unless shareholder approval is obtained. Stock appreciation
rights may be paid in cash or Shares or any combination of both,
as determined by the New Stock Plan administrator, in its sole
discretion.
Unless otherwise provided by the New Stock Plan administrator,
unvested stock appreciation rights will generally expire upon
termination of the participants service and vested stock
appreciation rights will generally expire 6 months
following such termination. The term of a stock appreciation
rights shall not exceed 7 years from the date of grant.
10
Performance Goals
Awards under the New Stock Plan may be made subject to
performance conditions in addition to time-vesting conditions.
Such performance conditions may be established and administered
in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 162(m)
for awards intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation thereunder. Performance conditions under the
New Stock Plan shall utilize one or more objective measurable
performance goals as determined by the New Stock Plan
administrator based upon one or more factors, including, but not
limited to: (i) operating income; (ii) earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;
(iii) earnings; (iv) cash flow; (v) market share;
(vi) sales or revenue; (vii) expenses;
(viii) cost of goods sold; (ix) profit/loss or profit
margin; (x) working capital; (xi) return on equity or
assets; (xii) earnings per share; (xiii) economic
value added; (xiv) price/earnings ratio; (xv) debt or
debt-to-equity; (xvi) accounts receivable;
(xvii) writeoffs; (xviii) cash; (xix) assets;
(xx) liquidity; (xxi) operations;
(xxii) intellectual property (e.g., patents);
(xxiii) product development; (xxiv) regulatory
activity; (xxv) manufacturing, production or inventory;
(xxvi) mergers and acquisitions or divestitures; and/or
(xxvii) financings, each with respect to the Company and/or
one or more of its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates or operating
units. Awards to participants who are not subject to the
limitations of Code Section 162(m) may be determined
without regard to performance goals and may involve the New
Stock Plan administrators discretion.
Acceleration of Awards upon a Merger or Sale of Assets
In the event of a change in control of the Company, all
outstanding awards will be subject to the applicable agreement
of merger or reorganization which may provide for the
assumption, substitution or continuation of outstanding awards,
accelerated vesting, or cancellation without consideration, in
all cases without participant consent.
Amendment and Termination
The Board may amend the New Stock Plan at any time and for any
reason, provided that any such amendment will be subject to
shareholder approval to the extent the amendment is required by
applicable laws, regulations or rules. The Board may terminate
the New Stock Plan at any time and for any reason. The term of
the New Stock Plan is 7 years from the date of shareholder
approval. The New Stock Plan is currently set to terminate at
the 2012 Annual Meeting unless re-adopted or extended by the
shareholders prior to or on such date. The termination or
amendment of the New Stock Plan may not adversely affect any
award previously made under the New Stock Plan.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a brief summary of the U.S. federal income
tax consequences applicable to awards granted under the New
Stock Plan based on federal income tax laws in effect on the
date of this proxy statement. This summary is not intended to be
exhaustive and does not address all matters which may be
relevant to a particular participant based on his or her
specific circumstances. The summary expressly does not discuss
the income tax laws of any state, municipality, or
non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction, or the gift, estate, excise
(including the rules applicable to deferred compensation under
Code Section 409A), or other tax laws other than federal
income tax law. The following is not intended or written to be
used, and cannot be used, for the purposes of avoiding taxpayer
penalties. Because individual circumstances may vary, the
Company advises all participants to consult their own tax
advisor concerning the tax implications of awards granted under
the New Stock Plan.
A recipient of a stock option or stock appreciation right will
not have taxable income upon the grant of the stock option or
stock appreciation right. For nonstatutory stock options and
stock appreciation rights, the participant will recognize
ordinary income upon exercise in an amount equal to the
difference between the fair market value of the Shares and the
exercise price on the date of exercise. Any gain or loss
recognized upon any later disposition of the Shares generally
will be a capital gain or loss.
11
The acquisition of Shares upon exercise of an incentive stock
option will not result in any taxable income to the participant,
except, possibly, for purposes of the alternative minimum tax.
The gain or loss recognized by the participant on a later sale
or other disposition of such Shares will either be long-term
capital gain or loss or ordinary income, depending upon whether
the participant holds the Shares for the legally-required period
(2-years from the date of grant and 1-year from the date of
exercise). If the Shares are not held for the legally-required
period, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to
the lesser of (i) the difference between the fair market
value of the Shares on the date of exercise and the exercise
price, or (ii) the difference between the sales price and
the exercise price.
For awards of restricted stock, unless the participant elects to
be taxed at the time of receipt of the restricted stock, the
participant will not have taxable income upon the receipt of the
award, but upon vesting will recognize ordinary income equal to
the fair market value of the Shares at the time of vesting less
the amount paid for such Shares (if any).
A participant is not deemed to receive any taxable income at the
time an award of stock units is granted. When vested stock units
(and dividend equivalents, if any) are settled and distributed,
the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the
amount of cash and/or the fair market value of Shares received
less the amount paid for such stock units (if any).
At the discretion of the New Stock Plan administrator, the New
Stock Plan allows a participant to satisfy his or her tax
withholding requirements under federal and state tax laws in
connection with the exercise or receipt of an award by electing
to have Shares withheld, and/or by delivering to the Company
already-owned Shares.
If the participant is an employee or former employee, the amount
a participant recognizes as ordinary income in connection with
any award is subject to withholding taxes (not applicable to
incentive stock options) and the Company is allowed a tax
deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by
the participant. In addition, Code Section 162(m) contains
special rules regarding the federal income tax deductibility of
compensation paid to the Companys chief executive officer
and to each of the Companys other four most highly
compensated executive officers. The general rule is that annual
compensation paid to any of these specified executives will be
deductible only to the extent that it does not exceed
$1,000,000. However, the Company can preserve the deductibility
of certain compensation in excess of $1,000,000 if such
compensation qualifies as performance-based
compensation by complying with certain conditions imposed
by the Code Section 162(m) rules (including the
establishment of a maximum number of Shares with respect to
which awards may be granted to any one employee during one
fiscal year) and if the material terms of such compensation are
disclosed to and approved by the Companys shareholders.
The New Stock Plan is structured with the intention that
compensation resulting from awards under the New Stock Plan may
qualify as performance-based compensation and, if so
qualified, would be deductible. Such continued treatment is
subject to, among other things, approval of the New Stock Plan
by the Companys shareholders. Accordingly, the Company is
seeking such approval.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares
present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote and constituting at least a majority of the required
quorum is required to approve the New Stock Plan.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE 2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
12
PROPOSAL NO. 3
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has appointed the firm of Ernst &
Young LLP as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the Company
for the fiscal year ending May 28, 2006, and recommends
that the shareholders vote for ratification of this appointment.
In the event the shareholders do not ratify such appointment,
the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection.
Ernst & Young LLP has audited the Companys
financial statements since the fiscal year ending
October 31, 1994. Representatives of Ernst & Young
LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the
opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are
expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Fees Paid to Ernst & Young LLP
The following table presents fees paid by the Company for
professional services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP for
the fiscal years ended May 29, 2005 and May 30, 2004.
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Fiscal | |
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Fiscal | |
Fee Category |
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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Audit Fees
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$ |
743,000 |
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$ |
387,704 |
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Audit-Related Fees
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$ |
0 |
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$ |
0 |
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Tax Fees
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$ |
0 |
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$ |
39,981 |
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All Other Fees
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$ |
0 |
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$ |
0 |
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Total
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$ |
743,000 |
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$ |
427,685 |
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Audit Fees were for professional services rendered for the
integrated audit of the Companys annual financial
statements and internal controls over financial reporting, as
required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
(beginning in fiscal year 2005), for the review of the
Companys interim financial statements included in the
Companys Forms 10-Q, and for assistance with and
review of documents filed by the Company with the SEC.
Audit-Related Fees were for professional services relating to
employee benefit audits, due diligence related to mergers and
acquisitions, accounting consultations and audits in connection
with acquisitions, internal control reviews, attest services
that are not required by statute or regulation and consultation
concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.
Tax Fees were for professional services relating to tax
compliance, tax planning and tax advice.
All Other Fees were for professional services rendered other
than as stated under the captions Audit Fees,
Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees above.
The Audit Committee considers the provision of these non-audit
services to be compatible with maintaining the independence of
Ernst & Young LLP.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible
non-audit services provided by the independent registered public
accounting firm. These services may include audit services,
audit-related services, tax services and other services. Any
pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or
category of services and is generally subject to a specific
budget. The independent registered public accounting firm and
management are required to periodically report to the Audit
Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the
independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with
this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to
date. The Audit Committee, or its designee, may also pre-approve
particular services on a case-by-case basis.
13
Required Vote
The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young
LLP as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the shares of the Companys common stock
present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote and constituting at least a majority of the required
quorum.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS
THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MAY 28, 2006.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The following sets forth certain information with regard to
executive officers of the Company. Ages are as of
August 26, 2005.
Gary T. Steele (age 56) has been President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director of the Company since 1991 and
Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 1996.
Mr. Steele has over 25 years of experience in the
biotechnology, instrumentation and material science fields. From
1985 to 1991, Mr. Steele was President and Chief Executive
Officer of Molecular Devices Corporation, a bioanalytical
instrumentation company. From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Steele was
Vice President, Product Development and Business Development at
Genentech, Inc., a biomedical company focusing on pharmaceutical
drug development. Mr. Steele has also worked with McKinsey
and Co. and Shell Oil Company.
David D. Taft, Ph.D. (age 67) has been Chief
Operating Officer of the Company since 1993 and was Chief
Operating Officer of Apio, Inc. from October 2002 to May 2005.
Dr. Taft also served as a director of the Company from 1990
through 1995. From February 1986 to April 1993, Dr. Taft
was Vice President and Group Manager of the Manufacturing Group
at Raychem Corporation. From July 1983 to January 1986,
Dr. Taft was Group Manager of the Telecom Group at Raychem
Corporation and was appointed to the position of Vice President
in October 1984. Dr. Taft has over 40 years of
experience in the specialty chemical industry in research and
development, sales and marketing, manufacturing and general
management. Prior to joining Raychem Corporation, Dr. Taft
was Executive Vice President of the Chemical Products Division
and a Director of Henkel Corporation, a chemical manufacturing
company. Dr. Taft was also an executive with General Mills
Chemicals and Ashland Chemical.
Thomas F. Crowley (age 61) has been President and
Chief Executive Officer of Landec Ag, Inc., a subsidiary of the
Company, since November 1996. From 1991 to 1995,
Mr. Crowley was President and Chief Executive Officer of
Broadcast Partners, a satellite communications firm serving
farmers throughout North America with its FarmDayta
information service. Broadcast Partners was a joint venture of
Pioneer Hybrid, Farmland Industries and Illinois Farm Bureau and
was sold to Data Transmission Network, Inc. in May 1996. From
1976 to 1990, Mr. Crowley served as Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of Edward J.
Funk & Sons, Incorporated, a producer and marketer of
hybrid corn seed. He also served as Vice President of Business
Affairs for St. Josephs College in Rensselaer, Indiana and
as an auditor/ CPA with Arthur Anderson and Company in Chicago,
Illinois.
Nicholas Tompkins (age 50) has been President and
Chief Executive Officer of Apio, Inc., a subsidiary of Landec,
since Apios inception in 1979. Landec acquired Apio in
December of 1999. Mr. Tompkins is a Senior Vice President
of Landec and was elected to the Landec Board of Directors in
2003. Mr. Tompkins is also a board member and past chairman
of the Ag Business Advisory Council for California Polytechnic
State University in San Luis Obispo. He has been a member
of the board of directors of the United Fresh Fruit and
Vegetable Association for the past four years and is currently
Chairman of that organization.
Gregory S. Skinner (age 44) has been Chief Financial
Officer and Vice President of Finance of the Company since
November 1999 and Vice President of Administration since
November 2000. From May 1996 to October 1999, Mr. Skinner
served as Controller of the Company. From 1994 to 1996,
Mr. Skinner was Controller of DNA Plant Technology, and
from 1988 to 1994 he was with Litton Electron Devices. Prior to
14
joining Litton Electron Devices, Mr. Skinner was with
Litton Industries, Inc. and Arthur Anderson & Company.
Steven P. Bitler, Ph.D. (age 47) has been Vice
President, Corporate Technology of the Company since March 2002.
From 1988 until March 2002, Mr. Bitler held various
positions with the Company related to the Companys polymer
product development and thermal switch products. Prior to
joining the Company, he developed new high strength polymeric
materials at SRI International.
COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the
Companys Common Stock as of August 26, 2005 as to
(i) each person who is known by the Company to beneficially
own more than five percent of any class of the Companys
voting stock, (ii) each of the Companys directors,
(iii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table of this proxy statement, and (iv) all
directors and executive officers as a group.
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Shares Beneficially | |
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Owned(1) | |
|
|
| |
5% Shareholders, Directors, Named Executive Officers, and Directors and Executive Officers |
|
Number of | |
|
Percent of | |
as a Group |
|
Shares | |
|
Total(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
5% Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Capital Management
|
|
|
2,710,925 |
(3) |
|
|
11.22 |
% |
|
|
420 Montgomery Street
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
San Francisco, CA 94104
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Company LLC
|
|
|
1,514,907 |
(4) |
|
|
6.28 |
% |
|
|
1775 Broadway, 26th Floor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officers and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gary T. Steele
|
|
|
1,195,401 |
(5) |
|
|
4.77 |
% |
|
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David D. Taft, Ph.D.
|
|
|
447,234 |
(6) |
|
|
1.83 |
% |
|
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas F. Crowley
|
|
|
98,625 |
(7) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer of Landec Ag, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nicholas Tompkins
|
|
|
1,925,600 |
(8) |
|
|
7.62 |
% |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer of Apio, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Vice President and Director of Landec
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory S. Skinner
|
|
|
330,395 |
(9) |
|
|
1.35 |
% |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance &
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administration
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven P. Bitler, Ph.D.
|
|
|
87,586 |
(10) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Vice President, Corporate Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Duke K. Bristow
|
|
|
20,000 |
(11) |
|
|
* |
|
|
Robert Tobin, Director
|
|
|
20,000 |
(12) |
|
|
* |
|
|
Frederick Frank, Director
|
|
|
1,736,670 |
(13) |
|
|
7.17 |
% |
|
Stephen E. Halprin, Director
|
|
|
141,319 |
(14) |
|
|
* |
|
|
Kenneth E. Jones, Director
|
|
|
842,492 |
(15) |
|
|
3.49 |
% |
|
Richard S. Schneider, Ph.D., Director
|
|
|
123,469 |
(16) |
|
|
* |
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)
|
|
|
6,969,874 |
(17) |
|
|
25.61 |
% |
15
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant
to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the
table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all
shares of capital stock. |
|
|
(2) |
As of August 26, 2005, 24,141,644 shares of Common
Stock were issued and outstanding. Percentages are calculated
with respect to a holder of options exercisable within
60 days after August 26, 2005 as if such holder had
exercised its options. Option shares held by other holders are
not included in the percentage calculation with respect to any
other holder. |
|
|
(3) |
This information is based on a Schedule 13G/ A filed with
the SEC on June 30, 2005 by Wells Capital Management,
Incorporated. |
|
|
(4) |
This information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the
SEC on June 30, 2005 by Gilder, Gagnon, Howe &
Company LLC. |
|
|
(5) |
This number includes 253,566 shares held in trust of which
Mr. Steele is a beneficial owner and 2,055 shares
owned directly by Mr. Steele. This number also includes
939,780 shares subject to outstanding stock options
exercisable within 60 days after August 26, 2005. |
|
|
(6) |
This number includes 289,079 shares subject to outstanding
stock options exercisable within 60 days after
August 26, 2005. |
|
|
(7) |
This number includes 78,957 shares subject to outstanding
stock options exercisable within 60 days after
August 26, 2005. This number excludes 500,000 shares
of common stock of Landec Ag owned by Mr. Crowley. |
|
|
(8) |
This number includes 400,000 shares owned by Kathleen
Tompkins, Mr. Tompkins wife and 600 shares held
by his minor children. This number also includes
1,125,000 shares subject to outstanding stock options
exercisable within 60 days after August 26, 2005. This
number excludes 1,900,000 shares of common stock of Apio,
Inc. subject to outstanding stock options exercisable within
60 days after August 26, 2005. |
|
|
(9) |
This number includes 29,500 shares subject to outstanding
stock options exercisable within 60 days after
August 26, 2005, owned by Stacia Skinner,
Mr. Skinners wife, and 1,186 shares owned by
Mrs. Skinner. This number also includes 264,871 shares
subject to outstanding stock options exercisable within
60 days after August 26, 2005. |
|
|
(10) |
This number includes 47,625 shares subject to outstanding
stock options exercisable within 60 days after
August 26, 2005. |
|
(11) |
This number includes 20,000 shares subject to outstanding
stock options exercisable within 60 days after
August 26, 2005. |
|
(12) |
This number includes 20,000 shares subject to outstanding
stock options exercisable within 60 days after
August 26, 2005. |
|
(13) |
This number includes 80,000 shares subject to outstanding
stock options exercisable within 60 days after
August 26, 2005. |
|
(14) |
This number includes 51,319 shares held in a trust of which
Mr. Halprin is a beneficial owner. This number also
includes 90,000 shares subject to outstanding stock options
exercisable within 60 days after August 26, 2005. |
|
(15) |
This number includes 206,000 shares owned by Western
General Corp., of which Mr. Jones is president and a
director and 526,492 held in a living trust. This number also
includes 10,000 shares subject to outstanding stock options
exercisable within 60 days after August 26, 2005. |
|
(16) |
This number includes 53,469 shares held in a trust of which
Dr. Schneider is a beneficial owner. This also includes
80,000 shares subject to outstanding stock options
exercisable within 60 days after August 26, 2005. |
|
(17) |
This number includes an aggregate of 3,074,812 shares held
by officers and directors which are subject to outstanding stock
options exercisable within 60 days after August 26,
2005. |
16
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
General
The Companys executive compensation policies are
determined by the Compensation Committee (the
Committee) of the Board of Directors. The Committee
is comprised of three nonemployee directors.
The objective of the Companys executive compensation
program is to align executive compensation with the
Companys business objectives and performance, and to
enable the Company to attract, retain and reward executives who
contribute to the long-term business success of the Company. The
Companys executive compensation program is based on the
same four basic principles that guide compensation decisions for
all employees of the Company:
|
|
|
|
|
The Company compensates for demonstrated and sustained
performance. |
|
|
|
The Company compensates competitively. |
|
|
|
The Company strives for equity and fairness in the
administration of compensation. |
|
|
|
The Company believes that each employee should understand how
his or her compensation is determined. |
The Company believes in compensating its executives for
demonstrated and sustained levels of performance in their
individual jobs. The achievement of higher levels of performance
and contribution are rewarded by higher levels of compensation.
In order to ensure that it compensates its executives
competitively, the Company regularly compares its compensation
practices to those of other companies of comparable size within
similar industries. Through the use of independent compensation
surveys and analysis, employee compensation training, and
periodic pay reviews, the Company strives to ensure that
compensation is administered equitably and fairly and that a
balance is maintained between how executives are paid relative
to other employees and relative to executives with similar
responsibilities in comparable companies.
The Committee meets at least twice annually. Additionally, the
Committee may hold special meetings to approve the compensation
program of a newly hired executive or an executive whose scope
of responsibility has significantly changed. Each year, the
Committee meets with the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) regarding executive compensation projections
for the next three years and proposals for executive
compensation for the next operating year. Compensation plans are
based on compensation surveys and assessments as to the
demonstrated and sustained performance of the individual
executives. The Committee then independently reviews the
performance of the CEO and the Company, and develops the annual
compensation plan for the CEO based on competitive compensation
data and the Committees evaluation of the CEOs
demonstrated and sustained performance and its expectation as to
his future contributions in leading the Company. At a subsequent
meeting of the full Board of Directors, the Committee presents
for adoption its findings on the compensation of each individual
executive.
Compensation of Executive Officers
During the fiscal year ended May 29, 2005 the
Companys executive compensation program was comprised of
the following key components: base salary, annual bonus, and
equity-based incentives.
The Compensation Committee annually reviews the salaries of the
Companys executives. When setting base salary levels, in a
manner consistent with the objectives outlined above, the
Committee considers competitive market conditions for executive
compensation, Company performance and individual performance.
17
Cash bonuses are paid only if performance goals that are set by
the Company at the beginning of the fiscal year are achieved
during the fiscal year. During fiscal year 2005, Dr. Taft
earned a bonus of $67,500. This bonus reflects
Dr. Tafts performance against pre-determined goals
and objectives for fiscal year 2005.
Stock options are an important component of the total
compensation of executives. The Company believes that stock
options align the interests of each executive with those of the
shareholders. They also provide executives a significant,
long-term interest in the Companys success and help retain
key executives in a competitive market for executive talent.
The Companys 1996 Stock Option Plan and 1996 Non-Executive
Stock Option Plan authorize the Committee to grant stock options
to executives. The proposed 2005 Stock Incentive Plan authorizes
the Committee to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights,
stock units and restricted stock to executives. If the 2005
Stock Incentive Plan is approved by the shareholders at the
Annual Meeting, it will supersede the 1996 Stock Option Plan and
the 1996 Non-Executive Stock Option Plan. The number of shares
owned by, or subject to options held by, each executive officer
is periodically reviewed and additional awards are considered
based on past performance of the executive and the relative
holdings of other executives in the Company and at other
companies in the comparable industry. The option grants
generally utilize four-year vesting periods to encourage
executives to continue contributing to the Company, and they
expire ten years from the date of grant.
|
|
|
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. |
The Compensation Committee evaluates the performance of the
Companys CEO and determines bonuses and awards stock or
option grants, if any. A cash bonus is paid only if the
performance goals that are individually set by the Company for
Mr. Steele at the beginning of the fiscal year are achieved
during the fiscal year.
Mr. Steeles salary for fiscal year 2005, as set forth
in his employment agreement, was $330,000, and he did not
receive a cash bonus in fiscal year 2005. On July 29, 2004,
Mr. Steele was granted an option that was to vest over four
years for 100,000 shares of Common Stock based on his
performance in fiscal year 2004. On April 15, 2005, the
Company fully accelerated the vesting of this option. In fiscal
year 2005, Mr. Steele was also granted an option for
100,000 shares of Common Stock that will vest over one year.
|
|
|
Deductibility of Executive Compensation. |
The Committee has considered the impact of Section 162(m)
of the Internal Revenue Code, which section disallows a
deduction for any publicly held corporation for individual
compensation exceeding $1 million in any taxable year for
the CEO and the four other most highly compensated executive
officers, unless such compensation meets the requirements for
the performance-based exception to the general rule.
As the cash compensation paid by the Company to each of its
executive officers is expected to be below $1 million and
the Committee believes that options granted under the
Companys stock plans to such officers will qualify as
performance-based, the Committee believes that this section will
not affect the tax deductions available to the Company. It will
be the Committees policy to qualify, to the extent
reasonable, the executive officers compensation for
deductibility under applicable tax law.
This Report is submitted by the Compensation Committee.
|
|
|
Richard S. Schneider, Ph.D. (Chairman) |
|
Frederick Frank |
|
Robert Tobin |
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed
to be soliciting material or filed with
the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
18
(the Exchange Act), except to the extent
that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into
a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the Securities Act) or the Exchange Act.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER
PARTICIPATION
During fiscal year 2005, none of the Companys executive
officers served on the board of directors of any entities whose
directors or officers serve on the Companys Compensation
Committee. No current or past executive officer of the Company
or its subsidiaries serves on the Compensation Committee.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the
compensation earned by the Companys Chief Executive
Officer and the four other highest-paid executive officers
(collectively, the Named Executive Officers) for
services rendered in all capacities to the Company for fiscal
year 2005, as well as the compensation earned by each such
individual for fiscal years 2004 and 2002 and for the seven
month period ended May 25, 2003.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual | |
|
Awards | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation | |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Securities | |
|
|
|
|
Fiscal | |
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Underlying | |
|
All Other | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year(1) | |
|
($)(2) | |
|
($)(3) | |
|
Options (#) | |
|
Compensation ($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Gary T. Steele
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
330,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
4,441 |
(7) |
|
Chairman of the Board, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
317,941 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
194,961 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
President |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
332,625 |
|
|
|
165,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
(5) |
David D. Taft, Ph.D.
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
285,000 |
|
|
|
67,500 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Chief Operating Officer |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
248,995 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
166,211 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
(6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
260,157 |
|
|
|
204,800 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Thomas F. Crowley
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
207,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
President and Chief Executive |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
197,220 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Officer of Landec Ag, Inc.(4) |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
119,769 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
204,215 |
|
|
|
4,297 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Gregory S. Skinner
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
216,545 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer & V.P. of |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
178,885 |
|
|
|
37,660 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Finance and Administration |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
108,635 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
182,281 |
|
|
|
100,300 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Steven P. Bitler, Ph.D.
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
175,450 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Vice President, Corporate |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
138,920 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Technology |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
83,654 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
141,154 |
|
|
|
58,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The Company elected to change its fiscal year end from a fiscal
year including 52 or 53 weeks that ends on the last Sunday
in October to a fiscal year including 52 or 53 weeks that
ends on the last Sunday in May, effective February 20,
2003. Accordingly, compensation information consists of the
fiscal years ended May 29, 2005, and May 30, 2004, the
seven-month period ended May 25, 2003, as well as the
fiscal year ended October 27, 2002. |
|
(2) |
Includes amounts deferred under the Companys 401(k) plan. |
|
(3) |
Includes bonuses earned in the indicated year and paid in the
subsequent year. Excludes bonuses paid in the indicated year but
earned in the preceding year. |
|
(4) |
Landec Ag, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Company. |
19
|
|
(5) |
In September 2001, Mr. Steele agreed to cancel an option to
purchase 200,000 shares of the Companys Common
Stock in exchange for $60,000, the value of which was determined
by an independent appraisal, and paid by the Company in April
2002. |
|
(6) |
Consists of options to purchase 50,000 shares of the
Companys Common Stock and options to
purchase 100,000 shares of Apio, Inc. common stock. |
|
(7) |
Consists of disability insurance premiums paid by the Company
for the benefit of Mr. Steele. |
STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR ENDED MAY 29, 2005
The following table sets forth information for the Named
Executive Officers with respect to grants of options to purchase
Common Stock of the Company made in the fiscal year ended
May 29, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Grants | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Grant Date | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
% of Total | |
|
|
|
|
|
Value | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Options/SARs | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Granted to | |
|
Exercise or | |
|
|
|
Grant Date | |
|
|
Options/SARs | |
|
Employees in | |
|
Base Price | |
|
Expiration | |
|
Present Value | |
Name |
|
Granted(1) | |
|
Fiscal Year* | |
|
($/Sh) | |
|
Date | |
|
($)(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Gary T. Steele
|
|
|
100,000 |
(3) |
|
|
20.6 |
% |
|
$ |
6.13 |
|
|
|
05/19/2015 |
|
|
|
330,550 |
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
(4) |
|
|
20.6 |
% |
|
$ |
6.65 |
|
|
|
07/29/2014 |
|
|
|
353,500 |
|
David D. Taft, Ph.D.
|
|
|
10,000 |
(3) |
|
|
2.1 |
% |
|
$ |
6.13 |
|
|
|
05/19/2015 |
|
|
|
49,623 |
|
Gregory S. Skinner
|
|
|
35,000 |
(4) |
|
|
7.2 |
% |
|
$ |
7.50 |
|
|
|
09/30/2014 |
|
|
|
136,000 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
(3) |
|
|
2.1 |
% |
|
$ |
6.13 |
|
|
|
05/19/2015 |
|
|
|
33,055 |
|
Thomas F. Crowley
|
|
|
10,000 |
(3) |
|
|
2.1 |
% |
|
$ |
6.13 |
|
|
|
05/19/2005 |
|
|
|
33,055 |
|
Steven P. Bitler, Ph.D.
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Total number of shares subject to options granted by the Company
to employees for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2005 was
485,000 shares. |
|
|
(1) |
No stock appreciation rights were granted during the fiscal year
ended May 29, 2005. |
|
(2) |
The Company uses a Black-Scholes model of option valuation to
determine grant date present value. The Company does not
advocate or necessarily agree that the Black-Scholes model can
properly determine the value of an option. Calculations for the
Named Executive Officers are based on a 4.38 year expected
option life, which reflects the Companys experience that
its options, on average, are exercised within 4.38 years of
grant. Other assumptions used for the valuations are: interest
rate (risk-free rate of return) of 3.7%; annual dividend yield
of 0%; and volatility of 0.57. Actual gains, if any, on stock
option exercises and Common Stock holdings are dependent upon a
number of factors, including the future performance of the
Common Stock, overall market conditions and the timing of option
exercises, if any. |
|
(3) |
Granted pursuant to the 1996 Stock Option Plan. The shares
subject to the option have an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of the Companys Common Stock on the date of
grant and vest 1/12 monthly commencing 30 days from
the date of the grant, becoming fully vested on the first
anniversary of the date of the grant. |
|
(4) |
Granted pursuant to the 1996 Stock Option Plan. The shares
subject to the option have an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of the Companys Common Stock on the date of
grant. On the date of grant, the shares vested 1/48 monthly
commencing 30 days from the date of grant, becoming fully
vested on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. On
April 15, 2005, the Company fully accelerated the vesting
of these options. |
20
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 2005
AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
The following table sets forth information with respect to
options exercised by the Named Executive Officers during the
fiscal year ended May 29, 2005, and with respect to
unexercised options to purchase shares of Common Stock held by
such officers as of May 29, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
In-The-Money Options | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Options at Fiscal Year- | |
|
at Fiscal Year-End | |
|
|
Acquired | |
|
Value | |
|
End (Exercisable/ | |
|
(Exercisable/ | |
Name |
|
On Exercise | |
|
Realized | |
|
Unexercisable)(1) | |
|
Unexercisable)(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Gary T. Steele
|
|
|
17,391 |
|
|
$ |
91,129 |
|
|
|
892,906/121,876 |
|
|
|
$1,410,860/$71,972 |
|
David D. Taft, Ph.D.
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
283,913/10,000 |
|
|
|
$472,274/$0 |
|
Thomas F. Crowley
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
70,104/24,896 |
|
|
|
$143,719/$53,311 |
|
Gregory S. Skinner
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
250,181/39,819 |
|
|
|
$225,321/$92,509 |
|
Steven P. Bitler, Ph.D.
|
|
|
17,391 |
|
|
$ |
106,085 |
|
|
|
46,062/5,938 |
|
|
|
$74,382/$25,058 |
|
|
|
(1) |
No stock appreciation rights (SARs) were outstanding as of
May 29, 2005. |
|
(2) |
Based on the closing price of the Companys Common Stock as
reported on the NASDAQ National Market System on May 27,
2005 of $6.11 per share minus the exercise price of the
in-the-money options. |
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of May 29, 2005
about the shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon the
exercise of options, warrants or rights under all of the
Companys equity compensation plans, including the 1996
Stock Option Plan, the 1996 Non-Executive Stock Option Plan, the
New Executive Stock Option Plan, the 1995 Directors
Stock Option Plan, the 1988 Stock Option Plan and the 1995
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities Remaining | |
|
|
Number of Securities to be | |
|
|
|
Available for Future Issuance | |
|
|
Issued Upon Exercise of | |
|
Weighted-Average Exercise | |
|
Under Equity Compensation | |
|
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Price of Outstanding Options, | |
|
Plans (Excluding Securities | |
Plan Category |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
Reflected in Column (a)) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(a) | |
|
(b) | |
|
(c) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders
|
|
|
2,431,910 |
|
|
$ |
4.63 |
|
|
|
450,095 |
(1) |
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders
|
|
|
1,690,586 |
|
|
$ |
5.72 |
|
|
|
652,596 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL:
|
|
|
4,122,496 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,102,691 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Represents shares remaining for issuance pursuant to the 1988
Stock Option Plan, the 1996 Stock Option Plan, the
1995 Directors Stock Option Plan and the ESPP. Other
than the ESPP, all such plans will terminate, and no future
awards may be made pursuant to such plans, if the shareholders
approve the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan at the Annual Meeting. The
ESPP includes a feature pursuant to which the number of shares
available increases automatically on the first day of each
fiscal year by the lower of 225,000 shares or 1.5% of the
outstanding shares on that date, or a lower number determined by
the Board of Directors. |
|
(2) |
Represents shares remaining for issuance pursuant to options
that may be granted under the 1996 Non-Executive Stock Option
Plan and the New Executive Stock Option Plan, both of which will
terminate, and no future awards may be made pursuant to such
plans, if the shareholders approve the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
at the Annual Meeting. |
21
The 1996 Non-Executive Stock Option Plan
The 1996 Non-Executive Stock Option Plan authorizes the grant of
non-qualified stock options to employees, including officers,
and outside consultants of the Company. The plan has not been
approved by the Companys shareholders. The exercise price
of the options will be equal to the fair market value of the
Companys Common Stock on the date the options are granted.
As amended in 1999, 1,500,000 shares are authorized to be
issued under this plan. Options generally are exercisable upon
vesting and generally vest ratably over four years. The 1996
Non-Executive Stock Option Plan will terminate, and no future
awards may be made pursuant to such plan, if the shareholders
approve the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan at the Annual Meeting.
The New Executive Stock Option Plan
The New Executive Stock Option Plan authorizes the grant of
non-statutory stock options to officers of the Company or
officers of Apio or Landec Ag whose employment with each of
those companies began after October 24, 2000. The plan has
not been approved by the Companys shareholders. The
exercise price of the non-statutory stock options may be no less
than 100% and 85%, for named executives and non-named
executives, respectively, of the fair market value of the
Companys Common Stock on the date the options are granted.
Options generally are exercisable upon vesting and generally
vest ratably over four years. 210,000 shares are authorized
to be issued under this plan. The New Executive Stock Option
Plan will terminate, and no future awards may be made pursuant
to such plan, if the shareholders approve the 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan at the Annual Meeting.
Non-Plan Option Grant
In November 1999, the Companys Board of Directors granted
to the CEO of Apio a non-statutory stock option to
purchase 790,000 shares of the Companys Common
Stock in connection with the acquisition of Apio. This grant was
not approved by the Companys shareholders. The exercise
price of the grant was the fair market value of the
Companys Common Stock on the date of grant. The option
vested over two years.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed
to be soliciting material or filed with
the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the
Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically
incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Composition
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of the
three directors whose signatures appear below and operates under
a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. Each member
of the Audit Committee meets the independence and financial
experience requirements of the NASD and the SEC currently in
effect. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that
each of Mr. Halprin and Mr. Bristow is an audit
committee financial expert within the meaning of the rules
of the SEC.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include appointing
an independent registered public accounting firm. The
independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for
performing an independent audit of the Companys
consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and for issuing a report thereon.
Management is responsible for the Companys internal
controls and financial reporting process. The Audit
Committees responsibility is to oversee these processes
and the Companys internal controls. The Audit Committee
members are not acting as professional accountants or auditors,
and their functions are not to duplicate or to certify the
activities of management and the independent registered public
accounting firm, nor can the Audit Committee certify that the
independent registered public accounting firm is
independent under applicable rules.
22
Review with Management and Independent Auditors
The Audit Committee held six meetings during fiscal year 2005.
The Audit Committee met and held discussions with management and
representatives of the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP. Management
represented to the Audit Committee that the Companys
consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial
statements for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2005 with
management and the independent registered public accounting
firm. The Audit Committee met with the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm, with and without
management present, to discuss the overall scope and plans for
their audit, the results of their examination, their evaluation
of the Companys internal controls, and the overall quality
of the Companys financial reporting. The Audit Committee
discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standards 61, Communication with Audit Committees,
including the judgment of the independent registered public
accounting firm as to the quality of the Companys
accounting principles.
In addition, the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm provided to the Audit Committee the written
disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards
Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with
Audit Committees and the Audit Committee discussed with the
independent registered public accounting firm its independence
from management and the Company.
Charter
The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee
which operated under that charter during fiscal year 2005. The
charter is reviewed annually for changes, as appropriate.
Summary
Based upon the Audit Committees discussions with
management and the independent registered public accounting firm
and the Audit Committees review of the representations of
management, and the report of the independent registered public
accounting firm to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited
consolidated financial statements be included in the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended May 29, 2005, as filed with the SEC.
This report is submitted by the Audit Committee.
|
|
|
Stephen E. Halprin (Chairman) |
|
Duke Bristow |
|
Kenneth E. Jones |
23
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph summarizes cumulative total shareholder
return data (assuming reinvestment of dividends) for fiscal
years 2005 and 2004, the seven-month period ended May 25,
2003, and the three preceding fiscal years of the Company. The
graph assumes that $100 was invested on October 31, 1999 in
each of the Common Stock of the Company, the Standard &
Poors 500 Stock Index and the NASDAQ Industrial Index. The
stock price performance on the following graph is not
necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
The information contained in this graph shall not be deemed
to be soliciting material or filed with
the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the
Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically
incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
24
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Pursuant to the terms of farmer agreements entered into between
Apio, Inc. (Apio) and the Nick Tompkins Ranch,
Security Farms and Keystone Farms (the Tompkins
Farms), Apio provides cooling and distributing services
for produce planted and grown by the Tompkins Farms, and Apio
purchases produce from these farms. The terms of the agreements
are substantially the same as the terms offered by Apio to other
growers. During fiscal year 2005, Apio paid the Tompkins Farms
$285,377 for produce. Mr. Tompkins wholly-owns the Nick
Tompkins Ranch and has a greater than ten percent (10%)
ownership interest in each of Security Farms and Keystone Farms.
On July 3, 2003, Apio entered into a Purchase Agreement
(the Purchase Agreement) with Apio Fresh, LLC,
a California limited liability company (Apio Fresh)
and the Growers (as defined below) to sell its domestic
commodity vegetable business to Apio Fresh. Apio Fresh is owned
and operated by a group of persons and entities (the
Growers) that supply produce to Apio, including
Mr. Tompkins, who owns 12.5% of Apio Fresh. Under the terms
of the Purchase Agreement, Apio Fresh purchased equipment
associated with the domestic commodity vegetable business for
approximately $160,000, and a portion of Apios existing
carton inventory for approximately $250,000. In connection with
the Purchase Agreement, Apio, Apio Fresh and the Growers entered
into a supply agreement pursuant to which Apio Fresh and the
Growers have agreed to supply produce to Apio for its
value-added business and pay a per carton royalty for use of
Apios brand names. During fiscal year 2005, the Company
recognized revenues derived from services provided to Apio Fresh
for cooling and storing produce of $3.7 million, revenues
of $238,000 from the sale of products to Apio Fresh and royalty
revenues of $233,000 from the use by Apio Fresh of Apios
trademarks.
During fiscal year 2005, Apio leased for approximately
$1.0 million land that is either owned, controlled or
leased by Nicholas Tompkins, and subleased that land to growers
who deliver produce to Apio. The terms of the leases are
substantially the same as the terms offered by Apio to other
growers.
During fiscal year 2005, Stacia Skinner, wife of Mr. Greg
Skinner, the Companys Chief Financial Officer, was
employed at the Company and received approximately $113,464 in
compensation.
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND
CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
The Company entered into an executive employment agreement with
Mr. Gary Steele as of April 5, 2003, setting forth the
terms of his employment. The executive employment agreement
expires on December 31, 2005 unless renewed or extended by
both parties, and provides that Mr. Steele shall be paid an
annual base salary of $330,000 plus an annual incentive award
based upon the attainment of pre-determined, mutually
established goals. Upon Mr. Steeles death or
disability, the Company shall pay Mr. Steele or his estate
his salary and pro rata portion of his annual incentive award
through the date of termination. The agreement further provides
a one-year severance obligation by the Company and a one-year
acceleration of Mr. Steeles unvested stock options
and restricted stock upon Mr. Steeles termination
without cause or termination for good reason (any relocation of
Mr. Steeles place of employment, reduction in salary,
or material reduction of his duties or authority). In addition,
the agreement provides that if Mr. Steele is terminated
without cause or terminates employment for good reason within
two (2) years following a change of control,
all of Mr. Steeles unvested stock options and shares
of restricted stock shall immediately vest and become
exercisable.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the
Companys directors and executive officers, and persons who
own more than ten percent of a registered class of the
Companys equity securities to file with the SEC initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of
Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company.
Officers, directors and holders of more than ten percent of the
Companys Common Stock are required by SEC regulations to
furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms
they file.
25
To the Companys knowledge, based solely upon review of the
copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written
representations that no other reports were required, during the
fiscal year ended May 29, 2005 all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to the Companys officers,
directors and holders of more than ten percent of the
Companys Common Stock were satisfied.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be submitted
to the meeting. If any other matters properly come before the
meeting, then the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy
will vote the shares they represent in such manner as the Board
may recommend.
It is important that the proxies be returned promptly and that
your shares be represented. Shareholders are urged to mark,
date, execute and promptly return the accompanying proxy card in
the enclosed envelope or vote their shares by telephone or via
the Internet.
|
|
|
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GEOFFREY P. LEONARD |
|
SECRETARY |
Menlo Park, California
September 12, 2005
26
Appendix A
LANDEC CORPORATION
2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1. INTRODUCTION.
The Companys Board of Directors hereby adopts the Landec
Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan effective as of
July 29, 2005. The Plan shall become effective upon its
approval by Company shareholders (the Effective
Date). The Plan shall supercede the Existing Equity Plans
effective as of the Effective Date such that no further awards
shall be made under the Existing Equity Plans on or after such
date. However, this Plan shall not, in any way, affect awards
under the Existing Equity Plans that are outstanding as of the
Effective Date. If the Companys shareholders do not
approve this Plan, no Awards will be made under this Plan and
the Existing Equity Plans will continue in effect in accordance
with their terms.
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of
the Company and the creation of shareholder value by offering
Key Service Providers an opportunity to share in such long-term
success by acquiring a proprietary interest in the Company.
The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for
discretionary long-term incentive Awards in the form of Options
(which may constitute Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory
Stock Options), Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Grants and
Stock Units.
The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of California (except its choice-of-law
provisions). Capitalized terms shall have the meaning provided
in Section 2 unless otherwise provided in this Plan or any
related Stock Option Agreement, SAR Agreement, Stock Grant
Agreement or Stock Unit Agreement.
Section 2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Affiliate means any entity other
than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more
Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.
(b) Award means any award of an Option,
SAR, Stock Grant or Stock Unit under the Plan.
(c) Board means the Board of Directors
of the Company, as constituted from time to time.
(d) Cashless Exercise means, to the
extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides and as
permitted by applicable law, a program approved by the Committee
in which payment may be made all or in part by delivery (on a
form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to
a securities broker to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of
the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate
Exercise Price and any applicable tax withholding obligations
relating to the Option.
(e) Cause means, except as may otherwise
be provided in a Participants employment agreement or
Award agreement, (i) Participants willful failure
substantially to perform his or her duties and responsibilities
to the Company or deliberate violation of a Company policy;
(ii) Participants commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement, dishonesty or any other willful misconduct that
has caused or is reasonably expected to result in material
injury to the Company; (iii) unauthorized use or disclosure
by Participant of any proprietary information or trade secrets
of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes
an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her
relationship with the Company; or (iv) Participants
willful breach of any of his or her obligations under any
written agreement or covenant with the Company. The
determination as to whether a Participant is being terminated
for Cause shall be made in good faith by the Committee and shall
be conclusive and binding on the Participant. The foregoing
definition does not in any way limit the Companys ability
to terminate a Participants Service at any time as
provided in Section 12(a), and the term Company
will be interpreted to include any Subsidiary, Parent,
Affiliate, or any successor thereto, if appropriate.
A-1
(f) Change In Control except as may
otherwise be provided in a Participants employment
agreement or Award agreement, means the occurrence of any of the
following:
|
|
|
(i) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity or any other corporate
reorganization if more than 50% of the combined voting power of
the continuing or surviving entitys securities outstanding
immediately after such transaction is owned by persons who were
not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such
transaction; |
|
|
(ii) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Companys assets; |
|
|
(iii) The direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single
transaction or series of related transactions by the
shareholders of the Company of more than 50% of the voting stock
of the Company to an unrelated person or entity if more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the surviving entitys
securities outstanding immediately after such transaction is
owned by persons who were not shareholders of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction; or |
|
|
(iv) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. |
|
|
A transaction shall not constitute
a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state
of the Companys incorporation or to create a holding
company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions
by the persons who held the Companys securities
immediately before such transactions. |
(g) Code means the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and interpretations
promulgated thereunder.
(h) Committee means a committee
described in Section 3.
(i) Common Stock means the
Companys common stock.
(j) Company means Landec Corporation, a
California corporation.
(k) Consultant means an individual who
provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a
Subsidiary or an Affiliate, other than as an Employee or
Director or Non-Employee Director.
(l) Covered Employees means those
persons who are subject to the limitations of Code
Section 162(m).
(m) Director means a member of the Board
who is also an Employee.
(n) Disability means that the
Participant is classified as disabled under a long-term
disability policy of the Company or, if no such policy applies,
the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or
which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than 12 months.
(o) Employee means any individual who is
a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or
an Affiliate.
(p) Exchange Act means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q) Exercise Price means, in the case of
an Option, the amount for which a Share may be purchased upon
exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock
Option Agreement. Exercise Price, in the case of a
SAR, means an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR
Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value in
determining the amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.
(r) Existing Equity Plans means the
Companys 1996 Stock Option Plan, 1996 Non-Executive Stock
Option Plan, New Executive Stock Option Plan, and
1995 Directors Stock Option Plan.
A-2
(s) Fair Market Value means the market
price of a Share as determined in good faith by the Committee.
Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all
persons. The Fair Market Value shall be determined by the
following:
|
|
|
(i) If the Shares are admitted to trading on any
established national stock exchange or market system, including
without limitation the NASDAQ National Market System, on the
date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to
the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on such
national exchange or system on such date; or |
|
|
(ii) if the Shares are admitted to quotation on NASDAQ or
are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but
selling prices are not reported on the date in question, then
the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the mean between the bid
and asked prices of the Shares reported for such date. |
|
|
|
In each case, the applicable price shall be the price reported
in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee
deems reliable; provided, however, that if there is no such
reported price for the Shares for the date in question, then the
Fair Market Value shall be equal to the price reported on the
last preceding date for which such price exists. If neither
(i) or (ii) are applicable, then the Fair Market Value
shall be determined by the Committee in good faith on such basis
as it deems appropriate. |
(t) Fiscal Year means the Companys
fiscal year.
(u) Grant means any grant of an Award
under the Plan.
(v) Incentive Stock Option or
ISO means an incentive stock option described in
Code Section 422.
(w) Key Service Provider means an
Employee, Director, Non-Employee Director or Consultant who has
been selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the
Plan.
(x) Non-Employee Director means a member
of the Board who is not an Employee.
(y) Nonstatutory Stock Option or
NSO means a stock option that is not an ISO.
(z) Option means an ISO or NSO granted
under the Plan entitling the Optionee to purchase Shares.
(aa) Optionee means an individual,
estate or other entity that holds an Option.
(bb) Parent means any corporation (other
than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending
with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the
Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the
status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan
shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.
(cc) Participant means an individual or
estate or other entity that holds an Award.
(dd) Performance Goals means one or more
objective measurable performance factors as determined by the
Committee with respect to each Performance Period based upon one
or more factors, including, but not limited to:
(i) operating income; (ii) earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA);
(iii) earnings; (iv) cash flow; (v) market share;
(vi) sales or revenue; (vii) expenses;
(viii) cost of goods sold; (ix) profit/loss or profit
margin; (x) working capital; (xi) return on equity or
assets; (xii) earnings per share; (xiii) economic
value added (EVA); (xiv) price/earnings ratio;
(xv) debt or debt-to-equity; (xvi) accounts
receivable; (xvii) writeoffs; (xviii) cash;
(xix) assets; (xx) liquidity; (xxi) operations;
(xxii) intellectual property (e.g., patents);
(xxiii) product development; (xxiv) regulatory
activity; (xxv) manufacturing, production or inventory;
(xxvi) mergers and acquisitions or divestitures; and/or
(xxvii) financings, each with respect to the Company and/or
one or more of its Parent, Subsidiaries, Affiliates or operating
units. Awards issued to persons who are not Covered Employees
may take into account other factors.
(ee) Performance Period means any period
not exceeding 36 months as determined by the Committee, in
its sole discretion. The Committee may establish different
Performance Periods for different Participants, and the
Committee may establish concurrent or overlapping Performance
Periods.
A-3
(ff) Plan means this Landec Corporation
2005 Stock Incentive Plan as it may be amended from time to time.
(gg) Re-Price means that the Company has
lowered or reduced the Exercise Price of outstanding Options
and/or outstanding SARs for any Participant(s) in a manner
described by Item 402(i)(1) of SEC Regulation S-K (or
its successor provision).
(hh) SAR Agreement means the agreement
described in Section 7 evidencing each Award of a Stock
Appreciation Right.
(ii) SEC means the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(jj) Section 16 Persons means those
officers, directors or other persons who are subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(kk) Securities Act means the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
(ll) Service means service as an
Employee, Director, Non-Employee Director or Consultant. A
Participants Service does not terminate if he or she is an
Employee and goes on a bona fide leave of absence that was
approved by the Company in writing and the terms of the leave
provide for continued service crediting, or when continued
service crediting is required by applicable law. However, for
purposes of determining whether an Option is entitled to
continuing ISO status, an Employees Service will be
treated as terminating 90 days after such Employee went on
leave, unless such Employees right to return to active
work is guaranteed by law or by a contract. Service terminates
in any event when the approved leave ends, unless such Employee
immediately returns to active work. The Committee determines
which leaves count toward Service, and when Service terminates
for all purposes under the Plan. Further, unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, a Participants Service shall
not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in
the capacity in which the Participant provides service to the
Company, a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate, or a transfer
between entities (the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary, or
Affiliate); provided that there is no interruption or other
termination of Service.
(mm) Share means one share of Common
Stock.
(nn) Stock Appreciation Right or
SAR means a stock appreciation right awarded
under the Plan.
(oo) Stock Grant means Shares awarded
under the Plan.
(pp) Stock Grant Agreement means the
agreement described in Section 8 evidencing each Award of a
Stock Grant.
(qq) Stock Option Agreement means the
agreement described in Section 6 evidencing each Award of
an Option.
(rr) Stock Unit means a bookkeeping
entry representing the equivalent of one Share, as awarded under
the Plan.
(ss) Stock Unit Agreement means the
agreement described in Section 9 evidencing each Award of a
Stock Unit.
(tt) Subsidiary means any corporation
(other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other
than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock
possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date
after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary
commencing as of such date.
(uu) 10-Percent Shareholder means an
individual who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, its
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining stock
ownership, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the
Code shall be applied.
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Section 3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Committee Composition. A Committee appointed by
the Board shall administer the Plan. Unless the Board provides
otherwise, the Companys Compensation Committee shall be
the Committee. If no Committee has been appointed, the entire
Board shall constitute the Committee. Members of the Committee
shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine
and shall be subject to removal by the Board at any time. The
Board may also at any time terminate the functions of the
Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously
delegated to the Committee.
The Committee shall have membership composition which enables
(i) Awards to Section 16 Persons to qualify as exempt
from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and
(ii) Awards to Covered Employees to qualify as
performance-based compensation as provided under Code
Section 162(m).
The Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of
the Board, each composed of two or more directors of the Company
who need not qualify under Rule 16b-3 or Code
Section 162(m), that may administer the Plan with respect
to Key Service Providers who are not Section 16 Persons or
Covered Employees, respectively, may grant Awards under the Plan
to such Key Service Providers and may determine all terms of
such Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall
constitute the Committee and shall administer the Plan with
respect to all Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors.
(b) Authority of the Committee. Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority
and sole discretion to take any actions it deems necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan. Such actions shall
include:
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(i) selecting Key Service Providers who are to receive
Awards under the Plan; |
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(ii) determining the type, number, vesting requirements and
other features and conditions of such Awards and amending such
Awards; |
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(iii) correcting any defect, supplying any omission, or
reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award agreement; |
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(iv) accelerating the vesting, or extending the
post-termination exercise term, of Awards at any time and under
such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate; |
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(v) interpreting the Plan; |
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(vi) making all other decisions relating to the operation
of the Plan; and |
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(vii) adopting such plans or subplans as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate to provide for the participation by
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates who
reside outside the U.S., which plans and/or subplans shall be
attached hereto as Appendices. |
The Committee may adopt such rules or guidelines as it deems
appropriate to implement the Plan. The Committees
determinations under the Plan shall be final and binding on all
persons.
(c) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted
by applicable law, each member of the Committee, or of the
Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company
against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability, or expense
that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or
proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or
she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to
act under the Plan or any Award agreement, and (ii) from
any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof,
with the Companys approval, or paid by him or her in
satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or
proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the
Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend
the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on
his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification
shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to
which such persons may be entitled under the Companys
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of
law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have
to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
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Section 4. GENERAL.
(a) General Eligibility. Only Employees, Directors,
Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan.
(b) Incentive Stock Options. Only Key Service
Providers who are Employees of the Company, a Parent or a
Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition,
a Key Service Provider who is a 10-Percent Shareholder shall not
be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the requirements set
forth in Section 422(c)(5) of the Code are satisfied.
(c) Restrictions on Shares. Any Shares issued
pursuant to an Award shall be subject to such rights of
repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer
restrictions as the Committee may determine, in its sole
discretion. Such restrictions shall apply in addition to any
restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally and
shall also comply to the extent necessary with applicable law.
In no event shall the Company be required to issue fractional
Shares under this Plan.
(d) Beneficiaries. Unless stated otherwise in an
Award agreement, a Participant may designate one or more
beneficiaries with respect to an Award by timely filing the
prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may
be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any
time before the Participants death. If no beneficiary was
designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the
Participant, then after a Participants death any vested
Award(s) shall be transferred or distributed to the
Participants estate.
(e) Performance Conditions. The Committee may, in
its discretion, include performance conditions in an Award. If
performance conditions are included in Awards to Covered
Employees, then such Awards will be subject to the achievement
of Performance Goals established by the Committee. Such
Performance Goals shall be established and administered pursuant
to the requirements of Code Section 162(m). Before any
Shares underlying an Award or any Award payments are released to
a Covered Employee with respect to a Performance Period, the
Committee shall certify in writing that the Performance Goals
for such Performance Period have been satisfied. Awards with
performance conditions that are granted to Key Service Providers
who are not Covered Employees need not comply with the
requirements of Code Section 162(m).
(f) No Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant, or a
transferee of a Participant, shall have no rights as a
shareholder with respect to any Common Stock covered by an Award
until such person has satisfied all of the terms and conditions
to receive such Common Stock, has satisfied any applicable
withholding or tax obligations relating to the Award and the
Shares have been issued (as evidenced by an appropriate entry on
the books of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent of
the Company).
(g) Termination of Service. Unless the applicable
Award agreement or, with respect to Participants who reside in
the U.S., the applicable employment agreement provides
otherwise, the following rules shall govern the vesting,
exercisability and term of outstanding Awards held by a
Participant in the event of termination of such
Participants Service (in all cases subject to the term of
the Option and/or SAR as applicable): (i) upon termination
of Service for any reason, all unvested portions of any
outstanding Awards shall be immediately forfeited without
consideration and the vested portions of any outstanding Stock
Units shall be settled upon termination; (ii) if the
Service of a Participant is terminated for Cause, then all
unexercised Options and/or SARs, unvested portions of Stock
Units and unvested portions of Stock Grants shall terminate and
be forfeited immediately without consideration; (iii) if
the Service of Participant is terminated for any reason other
than for Cause, death, or Disability, then the vested portion of
his or her then-outstanding Options and/or SARs may be exercised
by such Participant or his or her personal representative within
six months after the date of such termination; or (iv) if
the Service of a Participant is terminated due to death or
Disability, the vested portion of his or her then-outstanding
Options and/or SARs may be exercised within six months after the
date of termination of Service.
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Section 5. SHARES
SUBJECT TO PLAN AND SHARE LIMITS.
(a) Basic Limitation. The stock issuable under the
Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares. The aggregate
number of Shares reserved for Awards under the Plan shall not
exceed 861,038 Shares, subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 10.
(b) Additional Shares. If Awards are forfeited or
are terminated for any reason before being exercised, then the
Shares underlying such Awards shall again become available for
Awards under the Plan. SARs to be settled in Shares shall be
counted in full against the number of Shares available for
issuance under the Plan, regardless of the number of Shares
issued upon settlement of the SARs.
(c) Dividend Equivalents. Any dividend equivalents
distributed under the Plan shall not be applied against the
number of Shares available for Awards.
(d) Share Limits.
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(i) Limits on Options. No Key Service Provider shall
receive Options to purchase Shares during any Fiscal Year
covering in excess of 500,000 Shares. The aggregate maximum
number of Shares that may be issued in connection with ISOs
shall be 861,038 Shares. |
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(ii) Limits on SARs. The aggregate maximum number of
Shares that may be issued in connection with SARs shall be
861,038 Shares. No Key Service Provider shall receive
Awards of SARs during any Fiscal Year covering in excess of
500,000 Shares. |
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(iii) Limits on Stock Grants and Stock Units. The
aggregate maximum number of Shares that may be issued as Stock
Grants or Stock Units shall in the aggregate be
861,038 Shares. No Key Service Provider shall receive Stock
Grants or Stock Units during any Fiscal Year covering, in the
aggregate, in excess of 250,000 Shares. |
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(iv) Limits on Awards to Non-Employee Directors. No
Non-Employee Directors shall receive Awards during any Fiscal
Year covering, in the aggregate, in excess of 30,000 Shares. |
Section 6. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
(a) Stock Option Agreement. Each Grant of an Option
under the Plan shall be evidenced and governed exclusively by a
Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company.
Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and
conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and
conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan and that the
Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option
Agreement (including without limitation any performance
conditions). The provisions of the various Stock Option
Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify whether the Option
is an ISO or an NSO.
(b) Number of Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement
shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the
Option and shall be subject to adjustment of such number in
accordance with Section 10.
(c) Exercise Price. An Options Exercise Price
shall be established by the Committee and set forth in a Stock
Option Agreement. The Exercise Price of an Option shall not be
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (110% for ISO grants to
10-Percent Shareholders) on the date of Grant.
(d) Exercisability and Term. Each Stock Option
Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of
the Option is to become exercisable. The Stock Option Agreement
shall also specify the term of the Option; provided that the
term of an Option shall in no event exceed seven years from the
date of Grant. A Stock Option Agreement may provide for
accelerated vesting in the event of the Participants
death, Disability, or other events. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plan, no Option can be exercised after the
expiration date provided in the applicable Stock Option
Agreement.
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(e) Payment for Option Shares. The Exercise Price of
Shares issued upon exercise of Options shall be payable in cash
at the time when such Shares are purchased, except as follows
and if so provided for in an applicable Stock Option Agreement:
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(i) Surrender of Stock. Payment for all or any part
of the Exercise Price may be made with Shares which have already
been owned by the Optionee; provided that the Committee may, in
its sole discretion, require that Shares tendered for payment be
previously held by the Optionee for a minimum duration (e.g., to
avoid financial accounting charges to the Companys
earnings). Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market
Value. |
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(ii) Cashless Exercise. Payment for all or a part of
the Exercise Price may be made through Cashless Exercise. |
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(iii) Other Forms of Payment. Payment may be made in
any other form that is consistent with applicable laws,
regulations and rules and approved by the Committee. |
In the case of an ISO granted under the Plan, payment shall be
made only pursuant to the express provisions of the applicable
Stock Option Agreement. The Stock Option Agreement may specify
that payment may be made in any form(s) described in this
Section 6(e). In the case of an NSO granted under the Plan,
the Committee may, in its discretion at any time, accept payment
in any form(s) described in this Section 6(e).
(f) Modifications or Assumption of Options. Within
the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or
assume outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of
outstanding options (whether granted by the Company or by
another issuer) in return for the grant of new Options for the
same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a
different Exercise Price. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence
or anything to the contrary, no modification of an Option shall,
without the consent of the Optionee, impair his or her rights or
obligations under such Option and, unless there is approval by
the Company shareholders, the Committee may not Re-Price
outstanding Options.
(g) Assignment or Transfer of Options. Except as
otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and
then only to the extent permitted by applicable law, no Option
shall be transferable by the Optionee other than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution. Except as otherwise
provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement, an Option may
be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only or by the
guardian or legal representative of the Optionee. No Option or
interest therein may be assigned, pledged or hypothecated by the
Optionee during his or her lifetime, whether by operation of law
or otherwise, or be made subject to execution, attachment or
similar process.
Section 7. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
(a) SAR Agreement. Each Award of a SAR under the
Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the
Participant and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all
applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other
terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan (including without
limitation any performance conditions). A SAR Agreement may
provide for a maximum limit on the amount of any payout
notwithstanding the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of
the SAR. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered
into under the Plan need not be identical. SARs may be granted
in consideration of a reduction in the Participants
compensation.
(b) Number of Shares. Each SAR Agreement shall
specify the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains and is
subject to adjustment of such number in accordance with
Section 10.
(c) Exercise Price. Each SAR Agreement shall specify
the Exercise Price. A SAR Agreement may specify an Exercise
Price that varies in accordance with a predetermined formula
while the SAR is outstanding. The Exercise Price of a SAR shall
not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of
Grant.
(d) Exercisability and Term. Each SAR Agreement
shall specify the date when all or any installment of the SAR is
to become exercisable. The SAR Agreement shall also specify the
term of the SAR which shall
A-8
not exceed seven years from the date of Grant. A SAR Agreement
may provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the
Participants death, Disability, or other events and may
provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event
of the termination of the Participants Service. SARs may
be awarded in combination with Options or Stock Grants, and such
an Award shall provide that the SARs will not be exercisable
unless the related Options or Stock Grants are forfeited. A SAR
may be included in an ISO only at the time of Grant but may be
included in an NSO at the time of Grant or at any subsequent
time, but not later than six months before the expiration of
such NSO.
(e) Exercise of SARs. If, on the date when a SAR
expires, the Exercise Price under such SAR is less than the Fair
Market Value on such date but any portion of such SAR has not
been exercised or surrendered, then such SAR shall automatically
be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such
portion. Upon exercise of a SAR, the Participant (or any person
having the right to exercise the SAR after Participants
death) shall receive from the Company (i) Shares,
(ii) cash or (iii) any combination of Shares and cash,
as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant of the
SAR, in its sole discretion. The amount of cash and/or the Fair
Market Value of Shares received upon exercise of SARs shall, in
the aggregate, be equal to the amount by which the Fair Market
Value (on the date of surrender) of the Shares subject to the
SARs exceeds the Exercise Price of the Shares.
(f) Modification or Assumption of SARs. Within the
limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or
assume outstanding SARs or may accept the cancellation of
outstanding SARs (including stock appreciation rights granted by
another issuer) in return for the grant of new SARs for the same
or a different number of Shares and at the same or a different
Exercise Price. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or
anything to the contrary, no modification of a SAR shall,
without the consent of the Participant, impair his or her rights
or obligations under such SAR and, unless there is approval by
the Company shareholders, the Committee may not Re-Price
outstanding SARs.
(g) Assignment or Transfer of SARs. Except as
otherwise provided in the applicable SAR Agreement and then only
to the extent permitted by applicable law, no SAR shall be
transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. Except as otherwise provided
in the applicable SAR Agreement, a SAR may be exercised during
the lifetime of the Participant only or by the guardian or legal
representative of the Participant. No SAR or interest therein
may be assigned, pledged or hypothecated by the Participant
during his or her lifetime, whether by operation of law or
otherwise, or be made subject to execution, attachment or
similar process.
Section 8. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS FOR STOCK GRANTS.
(a) Time, Amount and Form of Awards. Awards under
this Section 8 may be granted in the form of a Stock Grant.
A Stock Grant may also be awarded in combination with NSOs, and
such an Award may provide that the Stock Grant will be forfeited
in the event that the related NSOs are exercised.
(b) Stock Grant Agreement. Each Stock Grant awarded
under the Plan shall be evidenced and governed exclusively by a
Stock Grant Agreement between the Participant and the Company.
Each Stock Grant shall be subject to all applicable terms and
conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and
conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan that the
Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in the applicable
Stock Grant Agreement (including without limitation any
performance conditions). The provisions of the Stock Grant
Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(c) Payment for Stock Grants. Stock Grants may be
issued with or without cash consideration under the Plan.
(d) Vesting Conditions. Each Stock Grant may or may
not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur, in full or in
installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in
the Stock Grant Agreement which may include Performance Goals
pursuant to Section 4(e). A Stock Grant Agreement may
provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the
Participants death, Disability, or other events.
(e) Assignment or Transfer of Stock Grants. Except
as provided in the applicable Stock Grant Agreement and then
only to the extent permitted by applicable law, a Stock Grant
awarded under the Plan
A-9
shall not be anticipated, assigned, attached, garnished,
optioned, transferred or made subject to any creditors
process, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of
law. Any act in violation of this Section 8(e) shall be
void. However, this Section 8(e) shall not preclude a
Participant from designating a beneficiary who will receive any
vested outstanding Stock Grant Awards in the event of the
Participants death, nor shall it preclude a transfer of
vested Stock Grant Awards by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.
(f) Voting and Dividend Rights. The holder of a
Stock Grant awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting,
dividend and other rights as the Companys other
shareholders. A Stock Grant Agreement, however, may require that
the holder of such Stock Grant invest any cash dividends
received in additional Shares subject to the Stock Grant. Such
additional Shares subject to the Stock Grant shall be subject to
the same conditions and restrictions as the Stock Grant with
respect to which the dividends were paid. Such additional Shares
subject to the Stock Grant shall not reduce the number of Shares
available for issuance under Section 5.
(g) Modification or Assumption of Stock Grants.
Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify or
assume outstanding Stock Grants or may accept the cancellation
of outstanding Stock Grants (including stock granted by another
issuer) in return for the grant of new Stock Grants for the same
or a different number of Shares. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence or anything to the contrary, no modification of a Stock
Grant shall, without the consent of the Participant, impair his
or her rights or obligations under such Stock Grant.
Section 9. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK UNITS.
(a) Stock Unit Agreement. Each grant of Stock Units
under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Unit Agreement
between the Participant and the Company. Such Stock Units shall
be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be
subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the
Plan (including without limitation any performance conditions).
The provisions of the various Stock Unit Agreements entered into
under the Plan need not be identical. Stock Units may be granted
in consideration of a reduction in the Participants other
compensation.
(b) Number of Shares. Each Stock Unit Agreement
shall specify the number of Shares to which the Stock Unit Grant
pertains and is subject to adjustment of such number in
accordance with Section 10.
(c) Payment for Awards. To the extent that an Award
is granted in the form of Stock Units, no cash consideration
shall be required of the Award recipients.
(d) Vesting Conditions. Each Award of Stock Units
may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur, in
full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions
specified in the Stock Unit Agreement which may include
Performance Goals pursuant to Section 4(e). A Stock Unit
Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of
the Participants death, Disability, or other events.
(e) Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Stock
Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or
forfeiture, any Stock Unit awarded under the Plan may, at the
Committees discretion, carry with it a right to dividend
equivalents. Such right entitles the holder to be credited with
an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one Share while
the Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be
converted into additional Stock Units. Settlement of dividend
equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of
Shares, or in a combination of both. Prior to distribution, any
dividend equivalents which are not paid shall be subject to the
same conditions and restrictions as the Stock Units to which
they attach.
(f) Form and Time of Settlement of Stock Units.
Settlement of vested Stock Units may be made in the form of
(a) cash, (b) Shares or (c) any combination of
both, as determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of
the Stock Units, in its sole discretion. Methods of converting
Stock Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method
based on the average Fair Market Value of Shares over a series
of trading days. Vested Stock Units may be settled in a lump sum
or in installments. The distribution may occur or commence when
the vesting conditions applicable to the Stock Units have been
satisfied or have lapsed, or it may be deferred, in accordance
with applicable law, to any later date. The amount of a deferred
distribution may be
A-10
increased by an interest factor or by dividend equivalents.
Until an Award of Stock Units is settled, the number of such
Stock Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 10.
(g) Creditors Rights. A holder of Stock Units
shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of
the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured
obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions
of the applicable Stock Unit Agreement.
(h) Modification or Assumption of Stock Units.
Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify or
assume outstanding Stock Units or may accept the cancellation of
outstanding Stock Units (including stock units granted by
another issuer) in return for the grant of new Stock Units for
the same or a different number of Shares. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence or anything to the contrary, no modification
of a Stock Unit shall, without the consent of the Participant,
impair his or her rights or obligations under such Stock Unit.
(i) Assignment or Transfer of Stock Units. Except as
provided in the applicable Stock Unit Agreement and then only to
the extent permitted by applicable law, Stock Units shall not be
anticipated, assigned, attached, garnished, optioned,
transferred or made subject to any creditors process,
whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law. Any
act in violation of this Section 9(i) shall be void.
However, this Section 9(i) shall not preclude a Participant
from designating a beneficiary who will receive any outstanding
vested Stock Units in the event of the Participants death,
nor shall it preclude a transfer of vested Stock Units by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Section 10. PROTECTION
AGAINST DILUTION.
(a) Adjustments. In the event of a subdivision of
the outstanding Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in
Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than
Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of
Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Shares
(by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of
Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence,
the Committee shall make such adjustments as it, in its sole
discretion, deems appropriate in one or more of:
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(i) the number of Shares and the kind of shares or
securities available for future Awards under Section 5; |
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(ii) the limits on Awards specified in Section 5; |
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(iii) the number of Shares and the kind of shares or
securities covered by each outstanding Award; or |
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(iv) the Exercise Price under each outstanding SAR or
Option. |
(b) Participant Rights. Except as provided in this
Section 10, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of
any issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities
convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or
consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of
any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the
number of shares of stock of any class. If by reason of an
adjustment pursuant to this Section 10 a Participants
Award covers additional or different shares of stock or
securities, then such additional or different shares and the
Award in respect thereof shall be subject to all of the terms,
conditions and restrictions which were applicable to the Award
and the Shares subject to the Award prior to such adjustment.
(c) Fractional Shares. Any adjustment of Shares
pursuant to this Section 10 shall be rounded down to the
nearest whole number of Shares. Under no circumstances shall the
Company be required to authorize or issue fractional shares and
no consideration shall be provided as a result of any fractional
shares not being issued or authorized.
Section 11. EFFECT
OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) Change in Control. In the event that the Company
is a party to a Change in Control, outstanding Awards shall be
subject to the applicable agreement of merger or reorganization.
Such agreement may
A-11
provide, without limitation, for the assumption of outstanding
Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent, for their
continuation by the Company (if the Company is a surviving
corporation), for accelerated vesting or for their cancellation
with or without consideration, in all cases without the consent
of the Participant.
(b) Acceleration. In the event that a Change in
Control occurs with respect to the Company and there is no
assumption or continuation of outstanding Options, SARs or Stock
Units pursuant to Section 11(a), the Committee may
determine, in its sole discretion, that all such outstanding
Options, SARs and Stock Units shall fully vest and be fully
exercisable immediately prior to such Change in Control. The
Committee may determine, at the time of granting an Award or
thereafter, that such Award shall become fully vested as to all
Shares subject to such Award in the event that a Change in
Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(c) Dissolution. To the extent not previously
exercised or settled, Options, SARs and Stock Units shall
terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of
the Company.
Section 12. LIMITATIONS
ON RIGHTS.
(a) Participant Rights. A Participants rights,
if any, in respect of or in connection with any Award is derived
solely from the discretionary decision of the Company to permit
the individual to participate in the Plan and to benefit from a
discretionary Award. By accepting an Award under the Plan, a
Participant expressly acknowledges that there is no obligation
on the part of the Company to continue the Plan and/or grant any
additional Awards. Any Award granted hereunder is not intended
to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature, or part
of a Participants normal or expected compensation, and in
no way represents any portion of a Participants salary,
compensation, or other remuneration for purposes of pension
benefits, severance, redundancy, resignation or any other
purpose.
Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under the Plan shall be
deemed to give any individual a right to remain an employee,
consultant or director of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or
an Affiliate. The Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries and
Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the Service of any
person at any time, and for any reason, subject to applicable
laws, the Companys Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
and a written employment agreement (if any), and such terminated
person shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived any claim to
damages or specific performance for breach of contract or
dismissal, compensation for loss of office, tort or otherwise
with respect to the Plan or any outstanding Award that is
forfeited and/or is terminated by its terms or to any future
Award.
(b) Shareholders Rights. A Participant shall
have no dividend rights, voting rights or other rights as a
shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by his or her
Award prior to the issuance of such Shares (as evidenced by an
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall
be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record
date is prior to the date when such Shares are issued, except as
expressly provided in Section 10.
(c) Regulatory Requirements. Any other provision of
the Plan notwithstanding, the obligation of the Company to issue
Shares or other securities under the Plan shall be subject to
all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approval by
any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the
right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Shares
or other securities pursuant to any Award prior to the
satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance
of such Shares or other securities, to their registration,
qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration,
qualification or listing.
Section 13. WITHHOLDING
TAXES.
(a) General. A Participant shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any
withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with his or
her Award. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares
or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations
are satisfied.
(b) Share Withholding. If a public market for the
Companys Shares exists, the Committee may permit a
Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her withholding or
income tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or a
portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or
her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Shares that he or
she previously acquired. Such Shares shall be valued
A-12
based on the value of the actual trade or, if there is none, the
Fair Market Value as of the previous day. Any payment of taxes
by assigning Shares to the Company may be subject to
restrictions, including, but not limited to, any restrictions
required by rules of the SEC. The Committee may, in its
discretion, also permit a Participant to satisfy withholding or
income tax obligations related to an Award through Cashless
Exercise or through a sale of Shares underlying the Award.
Section 14. DURATION
AND AMENDMENTS.
(a) Term of the Plan. The Plan shall become
effective upon its approval by Company shareholders. The Plan
shall terminate on the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date
and may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to this
Section 14.
(b) Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan. The Board
may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason.
Any such termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof,
shall not impair any Award previously granted under the Plan. No
Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the Plans
termination. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the
approval of the Companys shareholders only to the extent
such approval is required by applicable laws, regulations or
rules.
A-13
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The
undersigned shareholder of Landec Corporation, a California
corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, each dated
September 12, 2005, and hereby appoints Gary T. Steele
and Gregory S. Skinner, and each of them, with full power
of substitution, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact, on behalf and
in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Landec Corporation to be
held on October 14, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. local time, at
the Seaport Conference Center, 451 Seaport Blvd., Redwood City,
California 94063, and at any adjournment or postponement
thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock which the
undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there
personally present, on the matters set forth on the reverse
side. This Proxy will be voted as directed or, if no contrary
direction is indicated, will be voted as follows: (1) FOR
the election of four (4) directors of the Company, (2) FOR
the approval of the Companys 2005 Stock Incentive
Plan and (3) FOR the ratification of the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending on May 28, 2006.
This
proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner
directed herein by the undersigned shareholder(s). The Board of
Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR all nominees for
directors and proposals 2 and 3.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
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3603 HAVEN AVENUE
SUITE E
MENLO PARK, CA 94026-1010 |
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VOTE BY INTERNET www.proxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and
for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M.
Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date.
Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and
follow the instruction to obtain your records and to create an
electronic voting instruction form.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Landec
Corporation in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to
receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual
reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up
for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to
vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you
agree to receive or access shareholder communications
electronically in future years.
VOTE BY PHONE 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting
instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day
before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in
hand when you can and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Landec
Corporation, c/o ADP, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY
11717. |
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS
FOLLOWS: þ LANDC1
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN
SIGNED AND DATED. |
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LANDES CORPORATION |
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Vote on Directors
1. Election of Directors
FOR all Nominees:
01) Duke Brislow
02) Robert Tobin
03) Nicholas Tompkins
04) Gary T. Steele
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For
All
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Withhold
All
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For All
Except
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To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark
For All Except and write the nominees name on
the line below. |
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Abstain | |
Vote On Proposals |
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2. To approve the Companys 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
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3. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
the Companys independent registered public accounting firm
for the fiscal year ending May 28, 2006
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and in their discretion, the proxies are authorized to
vote on such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD USING THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Please sign exactly as name appears hereon.
Where shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When
signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or
guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by President or other
authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership
name by authorized person.
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Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting |
Signature (PLEASE SIGN WITHIN
BOX) Date |
Yes o |
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No o |
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P19665 |
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Signature (Joint
Owners) Date |
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