formdef14a.htm


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
 
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
o
Preliminary Proxy Statement
o
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x
Definitive Proxy Statement
o
Definitive Additional Materials
o
Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
 
CYTORI THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(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):
 
x
No fee required
 
o
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11
 
 
(1)
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
 
 
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 
 
(3)
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:
 
 
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
 
(5)
Total fee paid:
 
o
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
 
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.
 
 
(1)
Amount Previously Paid:
 
 
(2)
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
 
 
(3)
Filing Party:
 
 
(4)
Date Filed:
 


 
 

 
 
 
NOTICE OF 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JULY 31, 2014
 
CYTORI THERAPEUTICS, INC
Meeting Location
Headquarters
HILTON SAN DIEGO/DEL MAR
3020 CALLAN RD
15575 JIMMY DURANTE BLVD.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA 92014
 
Dear Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. Stockholder:
 
You are cordially invited to attend the 2014 Annual Meeting of the stockholders of Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.  The Annual Meeting will be held on July 31, 2014, commencing at 9:00 a.m., San Diego local time, at the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar, located at 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, California 92014.
 
The meeting will be webcast live for those who are unable to attend in person. To access the webcast of the meeting, please visit the Investor Relations section of our corporate website at ir.cytori.com. To vote online, please see the instructions on the accompanying proxy card.
 
The items of business for the meeting are:
 
 
Election of members of our Board of Directors for a one-year term;
 
 
Ratification of appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm;
 
 
Advisory vote to approve executive compensation of our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013; and
 
 
Approve Adoption of the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
We have attached a Proxy Statement that contains more information about these items and the meeting.  Only stockholders that own stock at the close of business on June 4, 2014, the record date, can vote at the meeting.  A list of our stockholders entitled to vote will be available for inspection by any stockholder at our offices in San Diego, during normal business hours for ten business days prior to the meeting. This list will also be available during the meeting.
 
As permitted by rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we are using the Internet as our primary means of furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders. We will send our stockholders a notice with instructions for accessing the proxy materials and voting electronically over the Internet or by telephone.  The notice also provides information on how stockholders may request paper copies of our proxy materials.  For those stockholders who elect to receive their proxy materials in the mail, please review the Proxy Statement and Annual Report and vote using the enclosed proxy card.
 
We hope that you will find it convenient to attend the meeting in person.  Whether or not you expect to attend, please vote electronically over the Internet or by telephone, or if you receive a proxy card in the mail, by mailing the completed proxy card to the Company to ensure your representation at the meeting and the presence of a quorum.  If you decide to attend the meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so by voting in person at the meeting.  If your shares are held in the name of a bank or broker, however, you must obtain a legal proxy from the bank or broker to attend the meeting and vote in person.
 
 
By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
     
   
 
MARC H. HEDRICK
 
 
President & Chief Executive Officer
 
 
San Diego, California, USA
June 16, 2014
 
 
 

 
 
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
 
ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND SUBMIT YOUR PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM AT THE MEETING. FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, PLEASE REFER TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS (THE “NOTICE” ) YOU RECEIVED IN THE MAIL, THE QUESTION “WHAT DIFFERENT METHODS CAN I USE TO VOTE?” IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, OR, IF YOU REQUESTED PRINTED PROXY MATERIALS, YOUR ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH TO DO SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED YOUR PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.
 
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.
3020 Callan Road
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 458-0900
 
PROXY STATEMENT
 
********************************
 
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JULY 31, 2014
 
This Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2013 Annual Report are both available at www.proxyvote.com.
 
 
1

 
 
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.
3020 Callan Road
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 458-0900
 

PROXY STATEMENT


2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
The 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders, including financial statements, is being made available to stockholders together with these proxy materials on or about June 16, 2014.
 
This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of our Board of Directors to be used at our Annual Meeting of stockholders to be held on July 31, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., San Diego local time, and at any postponement of the Annual Meeting, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of Annual Meeting.
 
We have fixed the close of business on June 4, 2014 as the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.  Only holders of record of shares of our common stock on that date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
Questions and Answers about the Meeting and Voting
 
1.             What is a Proxy Statement and why has this Proxy Statement been provided to me?
 
A Proxy Statement is a document that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations require us to give you when we ask you to sign a proxy card with regard to voting on proposals at the Annual Meeting.  Among other things, a Proxy Statement describes those proposals and provides information about us.  Our Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any postponement of the Annual Meeting.  The Annual Meeting will be held at the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014.  We will use the proxies received in connection with proposals to:
 
 
Elect members of our Board of Directors for a one-year term;
 
 
Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2014 fiscal year;
 
 
Advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013;
 
 
Adopt the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan; and
 
 
Transact any other business that is proposed in accordance with our by-laws before the Annual Meeting is finally adjourned.
 
2.             Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding Internet availability of proxy materials this year instead of a full set of proxy materials?
 
We are now providing access to our proxy materials on the Internet.  Some stockholders (those who hold in “street name”) will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless requested. Instead, these stockholders will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that will instruct how to access and review the proxy materials on the Internet. The Notice explains how you may vote your proxy. If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting printed materials included in the Notice.
 
 
2

 
 
3.             What is a proxy?
 
A proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote the stock you own.  That designee is referred to as a proxy holder. Designation of a particular proxy holder can be effected by completion of a written proxy card, or by voting via the Internet or by telephone.  Our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Marc H. Hedrick, M.D. and our Chief Financial Officer, Mark E. Saad, have each been designated as the proxy holders for the Annual Meeting.
 
4.             What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a beneficial owner who holds stock in street name?
 
You are a stockholder of record, or a “registered holder”, if your shares are registered in your own name through our transfer agent. You are a beneficial owner of our stock in street name if you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other third party institution (in this situation, the banks, brokers, etc. are the stockholders of record).   The vast majority of our stockholders are represented on our share register in the name of a bank, broker or other third party institution and not in their own name. If you have elected to hold your shares in certificate form, your name will appear directly on our register as a stockholder of record.
 
5.             What different methods can I use to vote?
 
If you are a registered holder and you are viewing this proxy over the Internet, you may vote electronically over the Internet. For those stockholders who receive a paper proxy in the mail, you may also vote electronically over the Internet or by telephone or by completing and mailing the proxy card provided. The website identified in our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials provides specific instructions on how to vote electronically over the Internet. Those stockholders who receive a paper proxy by mail, and who elect to vote by mail, should complete and return the mailed proxy card in the prepaid and addressed envelope that was enclosed with the proxy materials.
 
If you are the beneficial owner of stock in street name, that is, your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, you will receive instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee that must be followed in order for you to vote your shares. Your broker will be sending you a Notice of Internet Availability which contains instructions on how to access the website and to vote your shares. If, however, you have elected to receive paper copies of our proxy materials from your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, you will receive a voting instruction form. Please complete and return the enclosed voting instruction form in the addressed, postage paid envelope provided.
 
Stockholders who have previously elected to access our proxy materials and annual report electronically over the Internet will continue to receive an email, referred to in this Proxy Statement as an email notice, with information on how to access the proxy information and voting instructions.
 
Only proxy cards and voting instruction forms that have been signed, dated and timely returned and only proxies that have been timely voted electronically or by telephone will be counted in the quorum and voted.  The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, July 30, 2014.
 
Stockholders who vote over the Internet or by telephone need not return a proxy card or voting instruction form by mail, but may incur costs, such as usage charges, from telephone companies or Internet service providers.
 
You may also vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting. If you are a registered holder, you may request a ballot at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in street name and you wish to vote in person at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from your broker, bank or other nominee and bring it with you to the Annual Meeting. We recommend that you vote your shares in advance as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
 
If you receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, email notice, proxy card or voting instruction form because your shares are held in multiple accounts or registered in different names or addresses, please vote your shares held in each account to ensure that all of your shares will be voted.
 
 
3

 
 
6.             What is the record date and what does it mean?
 
The record date for the 2014 Annual Meeting is June 4, 2014. The record date is established by our Board of Directors as required by Delaware General Corporation law.  Owners of our common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting and any postponements of the meeting.
 
7.             How can I change my vote?
 
You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the final vote at the meeting.  You can revoke a proxy by giving written notice or revocation to our corporate secretary, following the Internet voting instructions, delivering a later dated proxy, or voting in person at the meeting.  However, your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you vote again at the meeting or specifically request in writing that your proxy be revoked.
 
8.             What are my voting choices when voting for director nominees and what vote is needed to elect directors?
 
In voting on the election of director nominees to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting, stockholders may vote in favor of each nominee, or may withhold votes as to each nominee. In addition, if any other candidates are properly nominated at the meeting, stockholders of record who attend the meeting could vote for the other candidates.  Directors will be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting. Stockholders are not entitled to cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors.  Abstentions are considered present and entitled to vote with respect to this proposal and will, therefore, be treated as votes “against” this proposal. Broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will not be considered as present and entitled to vote on this proposal, which will therefore reduce the number of affirmative votes needed to approve this proposal.
 
The Board recommends a vote “FOR” each of the director nominees identified in this proxy statement.
 
9.             What are my voting choices when voting to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm?
 
In voting on the ratification of the appointment our independent registered public accounting firm, stockholders may vote in favor of or against the appointment, or may abstain from voting on the appointment. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and voting at the meeting is required to approve this proposal. Abstentions will be counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum and are considered shares present and entitled to vote and thus will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” this proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal.
 
The Board recommends a vote “FOR” ratification.
 
10.           What are my voting choices when voting to approve compensation of our named executive officers?
 
In voting on the approval of our compensation of our named executive officers, stockholders may vote in favor of the approval or against the approval, or may abstain from voting on the approval of such compensation. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal is required to approve this proposal. Abstentions are considered present and entitled to vote with respect to this proposal and will, therefore, be treated as votes “against” this proposal. Broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will not be considered as present and entitled to vote on this proposal, which will therefore reduce the number of affirmative votes needed to approve this proposal. Because your vote is advisory, it will not bind the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.  However, the Board of Directors and Compensation Committee will review the voting results and take the results into consideration in making future determination on executive compensation.
 
The Board recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the compensation of our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.
 
 
4

 
 
11.           What are my voting choices when voting to approve the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan?
 
In voting on the approval of our proposed 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, stockholders may vote in favor of the approval or against the approval, or may abstain from voting on the approval of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required to approve this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal.
 
The Board recommends a vote “FOR” approval of our proposed 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
12.           How will a proxy get voted?
 
If you properly complete and return a proxy card or vote by Internet or by telephone, the designated proxy holders will vote your shares as you have directed. If you sign a proxy card but do not make specific choices or if you vote by Internet or telephone but do not make specific choices, the designated proxy holders will vote your shares as recommended by the Board of Directors as follows:
 
 
FOR” the election of each listed nominee for director;
 
 
FOR” ratification of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2014 fiscal year.
 
 
“FOR” approval of the compensation of our named executive officers
 
 
FOR approval of our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan
 
13.           How are abstentions and broker non-votes counted?
 
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum.    An abstention occurs when a stockholder withholds his or her vote by checking the “abstain” box on the proxy card or (if present and voting at the meeting) a ballot.  A broker non-vote occurs when a broker, bank, or other stockholder of record, in nominee name or otherwise, exercising fiduciary powers submits a proxy for the Annual Meeting, but does not vote on a particular proposal because that holder does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that proposal and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.   Under the rules that govern brokers who are voting with respect to shares held in street name, brokers have the discretion to vote those shares on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters.  Routine matters include the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm. Non-routine matters include the election of directors, advisory votes on executive compensation and adoption of equity compensation plans.
 
14.           Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?
 
We pay the entire cost of the solicitation of proxies.  This includes preparation, assembly, printing, and mailing of the Notice of Internet Availability, this Proxy Statement and any other information we send to stockholders.  We may supplement our efforts to solicit your proxy in the following ways:
 
 
We may contact you using the telephone or electronic communication;
 
 
Our directors, officers, or other regular employees may contact you personally; or
 
 
We may hire agents for the sole purpose of contacting you regarding your proxy.
 
If we hire soliciting agents, we will pay them a reasonable fee for their services.  We will not pay directors, officers, or other regular employees any additional compensation for their efforts to supplement our proxy solicitation.  We anticipate banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries will forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and that we will reimburse those persons for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in this connection.
 
 
5

 
 
15.           What constitutes a quorum?
 
In order for business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting, a quorum must be present.  A quorum exists when at least 33 ⅓ % of the holders of shares of common stock issued, outstanding and entitled to vote are represented at the meeting.  Shares of common stock represented in person or by proxy (including broker non-votes and shares that abstain or do not vote with respect to one or more of the matters to be voted upon) will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum exists.
 
16.           How many votes may I cast? How many shares are eligible to be voted?
 
You may cast one vote for every share of our common stock that you owned on the record date. As of the record date, June 4, 2014, there were 79,507,135 shares of common stock outstanding, each of which is entitled to one vote.
 
17.           How will voting on "any other business" be conducted?
 
Although we do not know of any business to be considered at the Annual Meeting other than the proposals described in this Proxy Statement, if any additional business is presented at the Annual Meeting, your signed proxy card gives authority to the designated proxy holders to vote on such matters at their discretion.
 
18.           Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
 
We will publish the final voting results in a current report on Form 8-K, which we expect to file with the SEC within four business days of the Annual Meeting. If the final voting results are unavailable in time to file a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting, we intend to file a Form 8-K to disclose the preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known, we will file an additional current report on Form 8-K with the SEC to disclose the final voting results.
 
 
6

 
 
PROPOSAL #1.
 
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
The Board of Directors currently consists of ten persons.  Christopher J. Calhoun, our former Chief Executive Officer, is retiring as a director effective July 1, 2014.  The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of our Governance and Nominating Committee, has nominated the following persons listed below for election as directors.  The names of the ten nominees for election as directors are set forth below (the ages shown are as of July 31, 2014).  Nine of the nominees are currently serving as a member of our Board of Directors.  In addition, the Governance and Nominating Committee has nominated Gail K. Naughton, Ph.D. for election at the Annual Meeting. Each of the nominees is currently serving as a member of our Board of Directors. All directors are elected annually and serve a one-year terms until the next Annual Meeting, or until their respective successors are duly elected.  All of the nominees listed below are expected to serve as directors if they are elected.  If any nominee should decline or be unable to accept such nomination or to serve as a director, an event which our Board of Directors does not now expect, our Board of Directors reserves the right to nominate another person or to vote to reduce the size of our Board of Directors.  If another person is nominated, the proxy holders intend to vote the shares to which the proxy relates for the election of the persons nominated by our Board of Directors.
 
For more information on nomination of directors, see “Director Nominations” below in the section entitled “Corporate Governance.”
 
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the nominees named below:
 
Director Nominees
 
Name
Age
Position
David M. Rickey
58
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Marc H. Hedrick, MD
51
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
Lloyd H. Dean
64
Director
Richard J. Hawkins
65
Director
Paul W. Hawran
62
Director
E. Carmack Holmes, MD
76
Director
Ruud J. P. Jona
57
Director
Gary A. Lyons
63
Director
Gail K. Naughton, PhD
58
Director Nominee
Tommy G. Thompson
72
Director
 
David M. Rickey has served as a Director of the Company since November 1999 and was appointed the Chairman of the Board in June 2013.  Mr. Rickey was President and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC), which provides high-performance, high-bandwidth silicon solutions for optical networks, from February 1996 to March 2005.  Mr. Rickey served on the Board of Directors of AMCC from February 1996 to March 2005, and as its Chairman of the Board from August 2000 to March 2005. Mr. Rickey also served as a Director of AMI Semiconductor, Inc. from 2000 to 2006 and was a Director of Netlist, Inc. from 2005 to 2008, as well as several private technology companies.  He holds a B.S. from Marietta College, a B.S. from Columbia University and an M.S. from Stanford University.  Mr. Rickey’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his extensive executive experience, and his service on other public company boards and committees.
 
Marc H. Hedrick, M.D. was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company in April 2014. He was appointed as President of the Company in May 2004, and joined us as Chief Scientific Officer, Medical Director and Director in October 2002.  In December 2000, Dr. Hedrick co-founded and served as President and Chief Executive Officer and Director of StemSource, Inc., a company specializing in stem cell research and development, which was acquired by the Company in 2002.  He is a plastic surgeon and is a former Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  From 1998 until 2005, he directed the Laboratory of Regenerative Bioengineering and Repair for the Department of Surgery at UCLA.  Dr. Hedrick earned his M.D. degree from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas and an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson School of Management.  Dr. Hedrick’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his experience as a general, vascular and plastic surgeon; his academic appointments and achievements in the life sciences; his executive and managerial experience in stem cell research and scientific product development, and his foundational knowledge, experience and contributions to the specific technology and operations of our company.   In addition, Dr. Hedrick has extensive global experience and familiarity with the cell therapy and regenerative medical industry.
 
 
7

 
 
Lloyd H. Dean has served as a director of the Company since 2010 and served as Chairman of our Company’s Board of Directors from April 2011 until June 2013.  Mr. Dean is a nationally recognized leader within and beyond the field of health care.  He is President/CEO of Dignity Health, the 5th largest health system in the U.S. with 40 hospitals and more than 80 ancillary care centers throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada.  He is responsible for the organization’s $13 billion in assets, overall management, governance, strategy, and direction.  He has led Dignity Health through significant strategic, operational, and financial transformations and has brought the organization to its current status as a leading health care organization recognized for high quality, compassionate care, operational excellence, and strong financial results.  Mr. Dean is a member of the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo & Company since 2005, and is chairperson for its Board Human Resources Committee, and serves on the Board Corporate Responsibility Committee, Board Risk Committee and Board Governance Nominating Committee.  He is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Committee on Jobs, an organization that brings employment to the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Dean is a member of the Board of Directors for Mercy Housing California, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing, operating and financing affordable housing.  He previously served as the chairperson of the Catholic Health Association of the United States and was a member of its Board of Trustees.  A strong advocate for health care reform, Mr. Dean has been actively engaged with the White House Cabinet on health care issues.  He directly participated in health care reform discussions with President Barack Obama and his staff at the White House and has been appointed to the State Health Care Cost Commission charged to develop practical state policies to contain health care costs in the nation.  Mr. Dean holds degrees in sociology and education from Western Michigan University, and received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of San Francisco.  In 2012 he was ranked number 23 in “Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” and is also consistently named one of the “Top 25 Minority Leaders in Healthcare.” Mr. Dean’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his extensive executive experience, his in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry, and his service on other public company boards and committees.
 
Richard J. Hawkins has served as a Director of the Company since December 2007.  In 1982, Mr. Hawkins founded Pharmaco, a clinical research organization (CRO) that merged with the predecessor of PPD-Pharmaco in 1991 and is one of the largest CROs in the world today.  In 1992, Mr. Hawkins co-founded Sensus Drug Development, which developed and received regulatory approval for SOMAVERT®, a growth hormone antagonist approved for the treatment of acromegaly, which is now marketed by Pfizer in both the United States and Europe, and he served as Chairman until 2000.  In 1994, Mr. Hawkins co-founded Corning Biopro, a contract protein manufacturing firm where he served on the Board until 2000.  In September 2003 Mr. Hawkins founded LabNow, Inc., a privately held company that develops lab-on-a-chip sensor technology, where he served as the Chairman and CEO until October 2009.  Mr. Hawkins has served on the Board of SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since October 2004.  In February 2011, Mr. Hawkins became CEO, and is currently CEO, of Lumos Pharma, Inc., a start-up pharma company. He served on the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology at the University of Texas in Austin, and was inducted into the Hall of Honor for the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas.  Mr. Hawkins graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Biology from Ohio University.  Mr. Hawkins’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his executive experience working with life sciences companies, his extensive experience in pharmaceutical research and development, his knowledge, understanding and experience in the regulatory development and approval process and his service on other public company boards and committees.
 
Paul W. Hawran has served as a Director of the Company since February 2005.  Mr. Hawran has held various executive, strategic, financial and operational positions in the health care industry for over 30 years.  Currently, Mr. Hawran is a Founder and President and CEO of Ascendant MDx, a molecular diagnostic testing company focused on women’s health care, since November 2010.  Prior to Ascendant MDx, Mr. Hawran was the Chief Financial Officer of Sequenom, Inc., a publicly traded genetics company, from April 2007 to September 2009, served on their Board of Directors from August 2006 to February 2007 and was the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.  Mr. Hawran also served as a Founder, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. from May 1993 through September 2006, and as a Senior Advisor to Neurocrine from September 2006 through April 2007. Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. is a publicly traded company engaged in pharmaceutical drug development. Mr. Hawran was employed by SmithKline Beecham (now Glaxo SmithKline) from July 1984 to May 1993, most recently as Vice President and Treasurer.  Prior to joining SmithKline in 1984, he held various financial positions at Warner Communications (now Time Warner) involving corporate finance and financial planning and forecasting. Mr. Hawran earned a B.S. in Finance from St. John's University and an M.S. in Taxation from Seton Hall University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (currently inactive) and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  Mr. Hawran’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his executive experience in life sciences industries, his extensive experience in corporate finance and financial planning, his status as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K and his service on other public company boards and committees.
 
 
8

 
 
E. Carmack Holmes, M.D. has served as a Director of the Company since August 2003. Dr. Holmes served as the Surgeon-in-Chief of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center and held the position of William P. Longmire, Jr. Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, from 1994 to 2004. He joined UCLA in 1973 and has held professorial positions in the Divisions of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgical Oncology for over 30 years.   He served as Vice-Chairman for five years prior to holding the positions of Chairman and Surgeon-in-Chief.    He also founded and served as Director of the Wunderman Foundation Cell Growth Regulation Program.   Dr. Holmes is the recipient of numerous awards and grants and professional memberships including the American Surgical Association, the American College of Surgeons and the Association for Academic Surgeons. He has authored 250 medical publications throughout his career and has been an internationally invited lecturer for over 25 years. His surgical training was conducted at Johns Hopkins University and the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Holmes also served on the Board of Directors of StemSource, Inc. which was acquired by the Company in 2002. Dr. Holmes graduated from Duke University and holds an M.D. from the University of North Carolina Medical School.  Dr. Holmes’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his medical and academic experience at a prominent institution, his experience with stem cell research and his prominent status as a surgeon, author and international lecturer.
 
Ruud J. P. Jona has served as a Director of the Company since June 2014. Mr. Jona served on the Board of various Riverside-owned companies and served as Chief Executive Officer of Philips Central Europe, as Chief Executive Officer of Philips Malaysia and held other management and sales and marketing roles at Philips. Mr. Jona has served on the boards of a number of companies including Vokes Air Holding AB, Teufel GMBH and Think Appliances Pty Ltd. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the European University of Antwerp in Belgium and a M.B.A. from the University of Dallas. Mr. Jona’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his more extensive business experience in international management, sales, and marketing.
 
Gary A. Lyons joined Cytori as a Director in October 2013. Mr. Lyons has served on the Board of Directors of Neurocrine Biosciences since 1993 and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Neurocrine from 1993 through January 2008. Prior to joining Neurocrine Biosciences, Mr. Lyons held a number of senior management positions at Genentech, Inc., including Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Sales. Mr. Lyons currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vical Incorporated, and KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Lyons was previously a director of PDL BioPharma, Inc., Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Neurogesx and Facet Biotech Corporation. Mr. Lyons holds a B.S. in marine biology from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.  Mr. Lyons qualifications to sit on our Board include his executive experience working with life sciences companies, his extensive experience in pharmaceutical business development, his knowledge, understanding and experience in the regulatory development and approval process and his service on other public company boards and committees.
 
Gail K. Naughton, PhD is the founder of Histogen, Inc., a regenerative medicine company developing innovative therapies based upon the products of cells grown under simulated embryonic conditions. She has served as Histogen’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since the inception in 2007. Prior to that, she held key management positions, including President, Chief Operating Officer and Director, at Advanced Tissue Sciences, a company which she co-founded and was co-investor of the core technology. Dr. Naughton also currently serves on the Board of Directors for CR Bard, Inc. Dr. Naughton holds a B.S. in Biology from St. Francis College as well as a Master’s in Histology and a PhD from New York University Medical Center. She also holds an EMBA from the Anderson School at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Naughton’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include her extensive executive experience, her in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry and regenerative medicine technology, and her service on other public company boards and committees.
 
 
Tommy G. Thompson has served as a Director of the Company since April 2011.  Mr. Thompson was a partner at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld from March 2005 to January 2012.  He served as U.S Department of Health and Human Services Secretary from January 2001 to January 2005, and was Governor of Wisconsin from January 1987 to January 2001.  Mr. Thompson was the Chairman of the Board of Logistics Health, Inc., having been President from February 2005 to January 2011.  Mr. Thompson has served as a Director of C.R. Bard since August 2005, a Director of Centene Corporation since April 2005, a Director of United Therapeutics Corporation since February 2011, a director of Therapeutics MD since April 2012, and Chairman of Physicians Realty Trust since August 2013.  He also served as Chairman of the Board of AGA Medical Corporation from July 2005 to November 2011 and as a Director of CareView Communications, Inc. from July 2005 through December 2013. He is a recipient of the prestigious Horatio Alger Award and has served as chairman of the National Governors’ Association, the Education Commission of the States, and the Midwestern Governors’ Conference. Mr. Thompson received both his B.S. and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and also served in the Wisconsin National Guard and the Army Reserve.  Mr. Thompson’s qualifications to sit on our Board of Directors include his significant experience in the healthcare industry both as a public official and in the private sector; his advocacy of innovative solutions to health care challenges, and his service on other public company boards and committees.
 
Required Vote
 
The nominees will be elected by an affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal, assuming a quorum is present. Abstentions are considered present and entitled to vote with respect to this proposal and will, therefore, be treated as votes against this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be considered as present and entitled to vote on this proposal, which will therefore reduce the number of affirmative votes needed to approve this proposal. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
 
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAMED ABOVE.
 
9

 
PROPOSAL #2.
 
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Our Audit Committee has selected KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, and has further directed that we submit the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting.  KPMG was our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.  The selection of the independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted for stockholder approval.  However, if the stockholders do not ratify this selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection of KPMG. Even if the selection is ratified, our Audit Committee may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that the change would be in the Company’s best interests.
 
Representatives of KPMG will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
 
Additional information concerning the Audit Committee and KPMG can be found in the “Audit Matters” section of this Proxy Statement.
 
Required Vote
 
The proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal. Abstentions are considered present and entitled to vote with respect to this proposal and will, therefore, be treated as votes against this proposal. Broker non-votes will have no direct effect on this proposal.
 
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KPMG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014.
 
 
10

 
 
PROPOSAL #3
 
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, enacted in July 2010, requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a nonbinding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Our compensation programs are designed to reward our named executive officers for the achievement of short–term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased stockholder return, while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk taking.  Stockholders are encouraged to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) section of this Proxy Statement for a more detailed discussion of how our compensation programs reflect our core objectives.
 
The following highlights key aspects of executive compensation with respect to our named executive officers in fiscal year 2013:
 
 
1.
A significant percentage of total compensation for our named executive officers is variable and tied to achievement of general Company objectives and individual executives’ objectives.
 
 
2.
The Company grants long-term equity awards that distinctly align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders; and
 
 
3.
Our compensation programs were reviewed by the Compensation Committee and determined not to create inappropriate or excessive risk that is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
The Board believes the Company’s executive compensation programs use appropriate structures and sound pay practices that are effective in achieving our core objectives.  Accordingly, the Board recommends that you vote in favor of the following resolution:
 
“RESOLVED, that Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s compensation disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Executive Compensation sections of this Proxy Statement.”
 
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on such proposal is required to approve this proposal. Abstentions are considered present and entitled to vote with respect to this proposal and will, therefore, be treated as votes “against” this proposal. Broker non-votes with respect to this proposal will not be considered as present and entitled to vote on this proposal, which will therefore reduce the number of affirmative votes needed to approve this proposal.
 
The say on pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Board.  Although the vote is non-binding, the Board will review the voting results, seek to determine the cause or causes of any significant negative voting, and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation programs.
 
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADVISORY APPROVAL OF OUR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
 
 
11

 
 
PROPOSAL #4.
 
ADOPTION OF THE COMPANY’S 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
 
At the annual meeting, the stockholders will be asked to approve the Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”).  The Board of Directors adopted the 2014 Plan on June 11, 2014, subject to and effective upon its approval by stockholders.
 
Because we operate in a challenging marketplace in which our success depends to a great extent on our ability to attract and retain employees, directors and other service providers of the highest caliber, our Board of Directors regards maintaining a flexible and competitive equity compensation program as being essential.  Doing so helps us address human resource challenges while we strive to attract and retain top-level talent.  The 2014 Plan is designed to provide our Compensation Committee with a range of incentive tools; as well as sufficient flexibility to implement them in ways that will make the most effective use of the shares our stockholders authorize for incentive purposes.  We intend to use these incentives to attract new key employees and to continue to retain existing key employees, directors, and other service providers for the long-term benefit of the Company and its stockholders.
 
The 2014 Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to provide incentive compensation in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and stock units, performance shares and units, other stock-based awards, and cash-based awards.  Under the 2014 Plan, we will be authorized to issue up to 3,975,000 shares.
 
The 2014 Plan is intended to supplement the ability of the Company to provide equity incentives which is currently done through the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”).  As of April 30, 2014, there were 453,028 of shares remaining available for grant under the 2004 Plan.
 
As of March 31, 2014, 7,563,705 options were outstanding under the 2004 Plan for a total of shares of our common stock, with a weighted average exercise price of $4.52 per share and weighted average expected remaining term of approximately 6.4 years.  A total of 157,441 shares remained subject to unvested awards of restricted stock outstanding under the 2004 Plan.  This total of 7,721,146 shares subject to outstanding equity awards represented approximately 10% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on March 31, 2014 determined on a fully diluted basis.
 
In operating our 2004 Plan, we believe that the Compensation Committee has monitored and managed dilution to reasonable levels.  Our average annual burn rate (gross number of shares granted during the year divided by weighted common shares outstanding) for the three years ending December 31, 2013 was 3.0%.  On an annual basis, the burn rate for the prior three years was approximately 2.7%, 2.4%, and 3.8% for the annual periods ending December 31, 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively.  The maximum aggregate number of shares we are requesting our stockholders to authorize under the 2014 Plan, would increase the dilutive effect described in the preceding paragraph by 5 percentage points and represent a combined total of about 15% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on March 31, 2014 determined on a fully diluted basis.
Our Board of Directors considered our anticipated growth rate for the next few years in determining the appropriate size of the 2014 Plan’s share authorization.  Further, the Board took into account our historical grant practices and forfeiture rates.  Based on this, we currently believe that the proposed share authorization under the 2014 Plan will be sufficient for us to make anticipated grants of equity incentive awards under the 2014 Plan for the next five years.  Of course, however, changes in business practices, industry standards, Company strategy, or equity market performance could alter this projection.  Assuming additional shares will likely be necessary to be added to the 2014 Plan before the expiration of its ten year term, the Board expects that the stockholders will have future opportunities to consider share increases to the 2014 Plan.
 
12

 
We believe that the key features of the 2014 Plan reflect best practices.  These features include:
 
 
Unlike the 2004 Plan, the 2014 Plan does not include an evergreen provision to automatically increase the number of shares available under it.
 
 
 
Stock options and stock appreciation rights may not be repriced without the approval of our stockholders.
 
 
No discount from fair market value is permitted in setting the exercise price of stock options and stock appreciation rights.
 
 
The number of shares remaining for grant under the 2014 Plan is reduced by the gross number of shares subject to options and stock appreciation rights settled on a net basis, and shares withheld for taxes in connection with options or stock appreciation rights or tendered in payment of an option’s exercise price are not recycled.
 
 
The number of shares for which awards may be granted to any non-employee member of our Board of Directors in any calendar year is limited.
 
 
As described below, with respect to certain awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the 2014 Plan establishes a list of measures of business and financial performance from which the Compensation Committee may construct predetermined performance goals that must be met for an award to vest.
 
 
The 2014 Plan does not provide for tax gross-ups or single trigger acceleration upon a change in control.
 
 
The 2014 Plan has a fixed term of ten years.
 
The 2014 Plan is intended to help the Company comply with the rules relating to its ability to deduct in full for federal income tax purposes the compensation recognized by its executive officers in connection with certain types of awards.  Section 162(m) of the Code generally denies a corporate tax deduction for annual compensation exceeding $1 million paid to the chief executive officer or any of the three other most highly compensated officers of a publicly held company other than the chief financial officer.  However, qualified performance-based compensation is excluded from this limit.  To enable compensation in connection with stock options, stock appreciation rights, certain restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards, performance shares, performance units and certain other stock-based awards and cash-based awards granted under the 2014 Plan that are intended to qualify as “performance-based” within the meaning of Section 162(m), the stockholders are being asked to approve certain material terms of the 2014 Plan.  By approving the 2014 Plan, the stockholders will be specifically approving, among other things:
 
 
the eligibility requirements for participation in the 2014 Plan;
 
 
the maximum numbers of shares for which stock-based awards intended to qualify as performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code may be granted to an employee in any fiscal year;
 
 
the maximum dollar amount that a participant may receive under a cash-based award intended to qualify as a performance-based award under Section 162(m) of the Code for each fiscal year contained in the performance period; and
 
 
the performance measures that may be used by the Compensation Committee to establish the performance goals applicable to the grant or vesting of awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, other stock-based awards and cash-based awards that are intended to result in qualified performance-based compensation.
 
While compensation provided by awards under the 2014 Plan are generally designed to better enable the Company to realize deductions for federal income tax purposes, under certain circumstances, such as a change in control of the Company, compensation paid in settlement of certain awards may not qualify as performance-based.  In addition, the 2014 Plan permits the grant of certain awards which would not qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
 
13

 
 
On May 30, 2014, the last reported sale price of the company common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market was $ 2.41 per share.
 
The Board of Directors believes that the 2014 Plan will serve a critical role in attracting and retaining the high caliber employees, consultants and directors essential to our success and in motivating these individuals to strive to meet our goals.  Therefore, the Board urges you to vote to approve the adoption of the 2014 Plan.
 
Summary of the 2014 Plan
 
The following summarizes the principal features of the 2014 Plan which is set forth in its entirety as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to Appendix A.
 
General.  The purpose of the 2014 Plan is to advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by providing an incentive program that will enable the Company to attract and retain employees, consultants and directors and to provide them with an equity interest in the growth and profitability of the Company.  These incentives are provided through the grant of stock options, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, other stock-based awards, cash-based awards and deferred compensation awards.
 
Authorized Shares.  Subject to certain equitable adjustments for capital structure changes, as described in more detail below, the maximum aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan is 3,975,000.
 
Share Counting.  Each share subject to an award under the 2014 Plan will reduce the number of shares remaining available for grant under the 2014 Plan by one (1) share.
 
If any award granted under the 2014 Plan expires or otherwise terminates for any reason without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for not more than the participant’s purchase price, any such shares reacquired or subject to a terminated award will again become available for issuance under the 2014 Plan.  Shares will not be treated as having been issued under the 2014 Plan and will therefore not reduce the number of shares available for issuance to the extent an award is settled in cash.  Shares that are withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of a tax withholding obligation for an option or stock appreciation right, or that are tendered in payment of the exercise price of an option will not be made available for new awards under the 2014 Plan.  Upon the exercise of a SAR or net-exercise of an option, the number of shares available under the 2014 Plan will be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the award is exercised.
 
Adjustments for Capital Structure Changes.  Appropriate and proportionate adjustments will be made to the number of shares authorized under the 2014 Plan, to the numerical limits on certain types of awards described below, and to outstanding awards in the event of any change in our common stock through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares or similar change in our capital structure, or if we make a distribution to our stockholders in a form other than common stock (excluding normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the fair market value of our common stock.  In such circumstances, the Compensation Committee also has the discretion under the 2014 Plan to adjust other terms of outstanding awards as it deems appropriate.
 
Other Award Limits.  To enable compensation provided in connection with certain types of awards intended to qualify as “performance-based” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the 2014 Plan establishes a limit on the maximum aggregate number of shares or dollar value for which such awards may be granted to an employee in any fiscal year which are intended to qualify as performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code, as follows:
 
 
No more than 2,000,000 shares issuable upon the grant of options or stock appreciation rights may be granted to a participant during any fiscal year; provided for a newly hired participant, this number shall be 3,000,000.  In addition, the foregoing limitation also applies to the shares which are referenced in a cash-settled stock appreciation right.
 
 
No more than 1,500,000 of shares subject to “full value” awards per each fiscal year in a performance period shall be available for issuance to any participant; provided, however, that with respect to a newly hired participant, this number shall be 2,000,000.
 
 
With respect to a performance-based award payable in cash, the maximum amount shall be $5,000,000 for each fiscal year in the performance period.
 
 
14

 
 
In addition, to comply with applicable tax rules, the 2014 Plan also limits to 3,975,000 the number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options granted under the 2014 Plan; as adjusted in accordance with the terms of the 2014 Plan.
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of the 2014 Plan to the contrary, the aggregate number of all awards granted to any non-employee director during any single calendar year shall not exceed $150,000.
 
Administration.  The 2014 Plan generally will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, although the Board of Directors retains the right to appoint another of its committees to administer the 2014 Plan or to administer the 2014 Plan directly.  In the case of awards intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exemption under Section 162(m) of the Code, administration of the 2014 Plan must be by a compensation committee comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.  (For purposes of this summary, the term “Committee” will refer to either such duly appointed committee or the Board of Directors.)  Subject to the provisions of the 2014 Plan, the Committee determines in its discretion the persons to whom and the times at which awards are granted, the types and sizes of awards, and all of their terms and conditions.  The Committee may, subject to certain limitations on the exercise of its discretion required by Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise provided by the 2014 Plan, amend, cancel or renew any award, waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any award, and accelerate, continue, extend or defer the vesting of any award.  The 2014 Plan provides, subject to certain limitations, for indemnification by the Company of any director, officer or employee against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any legal action arising from such person’s action or failure to act in administering the 2014 Plan.  All awards granted under the 2014 Plan will be evidenced by a written or digitally signed agreement between the Company and the participant specifying the terms and conditions of the award, consistent with the requirements of the 2014 Plan.  The Committee will interpret the 2014 Plan and awards granted thereunder, and all determinations of the Committee generally will be final and binding on all persons having an interest in the 2014 Plan or any award.
 
Prohibition of Option and SAR Repricing.  The 2014 Plan expressly provides that, without the approval of a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of our stockholders, the Committee may not provide for any of the following with respect to underwater options or stock appreciation rights: (1) either the cancellation of such outstanding options or stock appreciation rights in exchange for the grant of new options or stock appreciation rights at a lower exercise price or the amendment of outstanding options or stock appreciation rights to reduce the exercise price, (2) the issuance of new full value awards in exchange for the cancellation of such outstanding options or stock appreciation rights, or (3) the cancellation of such outstanding options or stock appreciation rights in exchange for payments in cash.
 
Eligibility.  Awards may be granted to employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any present or future parent or subsidiary corporation or other affiliated entity of the Company.  Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees who, as of the time of grant, are employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company.  As of April 30, 2014 we had approximately 121 employees, including 11 executive officers, and 8 non-employee directors who would be eligible under the 2014 Plan.
 
Stock Options.  The Committee may grant nonstatutory stock options, incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, or any combination of these.  The exercise price of each option may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.  However, any incentive stock option granted to a person who at the time of grant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company (a “10% Stockholder”) must have an exercise price equal to at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant.
 
The 2014 Plan provides that the option exercise price may be paid in cash, by check, or cash equivalent; by means of a broker-assisted cashless exercise; by means of a net-exercise procedure; by such other lawful consideration as approved by the Committee; or by any combination of these.  Nevertheless, the Committee may restrict the forms of payment permitted in connection with any option grant.  No option may be exercised unless the participant has made adequate provision for federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any, relating to the exercise of the option, including, if permitted or required by the Company, through the participant’s surrender of a portion of the option shares to the Company.
 
 
15

 
 
Options will become vested and exercisable at such times or upon such events and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria or restrictions as specified by the Committee.  The maximum term of any option granted under the 2014 Plan is ten years, provided that an incentive stock option granted to a 10% Stockholder must have a term not exceeding five years.  Unless otherwise permitted by the Committee, an option generally will remain exercisable for three months following the participant’s termination of service, provided that if service terminates as a result of the participant’s death or disability, the option generally will remain exercisable for 24 months, but in any event the option must be exercised no later than its expiration date, and provided further that an option will terminate immediately upon a participant’s termination for cause (as defined by the 2014 Plan).
 
Options are nontransferable by the participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during the participant’s lifetime only by the participant.  However, a nonstatutory stock option may be assigned or transferred to certain family members or trusts for their benefit to the extent permitted by the Committee.
 
Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Committee may grant stock appreciation rights either in tandem with a related option (a “Tandem SAR”) or independently of any option (a “Freestanding SAR”).  A Tandem SAR requires the option holder to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of common stock or the surrender of the option and the exercise of the related stock appreciation right.  A Tandem SAR is exercisable only at the time and only to the extent that the related stock option is exercisable, while a Freestanding SAR is exercisable at such times or upon such events and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria or restrictions as specified by the Committee.  The exercise price of each stock appreciation right may not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.
 
Upon the exercise of any stock appreciation right, the participant is entitled to receive an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the underlying shares of common stock as to which the right is exercised over the aggregate exercise price for such shares.  Payment of this amount upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR may be made only in shares of common stock whose fair market value on the exercise date equals the payment amount.  At the Committee’s discretion, payment of this amount upon the exercise of a Freestanding SAR may be made in cash or shares of common stock.  The maximum term of any stock appreciation right granted under the 2014 Plan is ten years.
 
Stock appreciation rights are generally nontransferable by the participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and are generally exercisable during the participant’s lifetime only by the participant.  If permitted by the Committee, a Tandem SAR related to a nonstatutory stock option and a Freestanding SAR may be assigned or transferred to certain family members or trusts for their benefit to the extent permitted by the Committee.  Other terms of stock appreciation rights are generally similar to the terms of comparable stock options.
 
Restricted Stock Awards.  The Committee may grant restricted stock awards under the 2014 Plan either in the form of a restricted stock purchase right, giving a participant an immediate right to purchase common stock, or in the form of a restricted stock bonus, in which stock is issued in consideration for services to the Company rendered by the participant.  The Committee determines the purchase price payable under restricted stock purchase awards, which may be less than the then current fair market value of our common stock.  Restricted stock awards may be subject to vesting conditions based on such service or performance criteria as the Committee specifies, including the attainment of one or more performance goals similar to those described below in connection with performance awards.  Shares acquired pursuant to a restricted stock award may not be transferred by the participant until vested.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a participant will forfeit any shares of restricted stock as to which the vesting restrictions have not lapsed prior to the participant’s termination of service.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, participants holding restricted stock will have the right to vote the shares and to receive any dividends paid, except that dividends or other distributions paid in shares will be subject to the same restrictions as the original award and dividends paid in cash may be subject to such restrictions.
 
Restricted Stock Units.  The Committee may grant restricted stock units under the 2014 Plan, which represent rights to receive shares of our common stock at a future date determined in accordance with the participant’s award agreement.  No monetary payment is required for receipt of restricted stock units or the shares issued in settlement of the award, the consideration for which is furnished in the form of the participant’s services to the Company.  The Committee may grant restricted stock unit awards subject to the attainment of one or more performance goals similar to those described below in connection with performance awards, or may make the awards subject to vesting conditions similar to those applicable to restricted stock awards.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a participant will forfeit any restricted stock units which have not vested prior to the participant’s termination of service.  Participants have no voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends with respect to restricted stock unit awards until shares of common stock are issued in settlement of such awards.  However, the Committee may grant restricted stock units that entitle their holders to dividend equivalent rights, which are rights to receive additional restricted stock units for a number of shares whose value is equal to any cash dividends the Company pays.
 
 
16

 
 
Performance Awards.  The Committee may grant performance awards subject to such conditions and the attainment of such performance goals over such periods as the Committee determines in writing and sets forth in a written agreement between the Company and the participant.  These awards may be designated as performance shares or performance units, which consist of unfunded bookkeeping entries generally having initial values equal to the fair market value determined on the grant date of a share of common stock in the case of performance shares and a monetary value established by the Committee at the time of grant in the case of performance units.  Performance awards will specify a predetermined amount of performance shares or performance units that may be earned by the participant to the extent that one or more performance goals are attained within a predetermined performance period.  To the extent earned, performance awards may be settled in cash, shares of common stock (including shares of restricted stock that are subject to additional vesting) or any combination thereof.
 
Prior to the beginning of the applicable performance period or such later date as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee will establish one or more performance goals applicable to the award.  Performance goals will be based on the attainment of specified target levels with respect to one or more measures of business or financial performance of the Company and each subsidiary corporation consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes, or such division or business unit of the Company as may be selected by the Committee.  The Committee, in its discretion, may base performance goals on one or more of the following such measures: revenue; sales; expenses; operating income; gross margin; operating margin; earnings before any one or more of: stock-based compensation expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; pre-tax profit; net operating income; net income; economic value added; free cash flow; operating cash flow; balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities; stock price; earnings per share; return on stockholder equity; return on capital; return on assets; return on investment; total stockholder return, employee satisfaction; employee retention; market share; customer satisfaction; product development; research and development expense; completion of an identified special project; and completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction.
 
The target levels with respect to these performance measures may be expressed on an absolute basis or relative to an index, budget or other standard specified by the Committee.  The degree of attainment of performance measures will be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, if applicable, but prior to the accrual or payment of any performance award for the same performance period, and, according to criteria established by the Committee, excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) of changes in accounting standards or any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item occurring after the establishment of the performance goals applicable to a performance award.
 
Following completion of the applicable performance period, the Committee will certify in writing the extent to which the applicable performance goals have been attained and the resulting value to be paid to the participant.  The Committee retains the discretion to eliminate or reduce, but not increase, the amount that would otherwise be payable on the basis of the performance goals attained to a participant who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (with respect to awards intended to qualify as performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code).  However, no such reduction may increase the amount paid to any other participant.  The Committee may make positive or negative adjustments to performance award payments to participants other than covered employees to reflect the participant’s individual job performance or other factors determined by the Committee.  In its discretion, the Committee may provide for a participant awarded performance shares of to receive dividend equivalent rights with respect to cash dividends paid on the Company’s common stock.  The Committee may provide for performance award payments in lump sums or installments.  If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may provide for the payment of dividend equivalent rights or interest during the deferral period.
 
 
17

 
 
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee may grant cash-based awards or other stock-based awards in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee determines.  Cash-based awards will specify a monetary payment or range of payments, while other stock-based awards will specify a number of shares or units based on shares or other equity-related awards.  Such awards may be subject to vesting conditions based on continued performance of service or subject to the attainment of one or more performance goals similar to those described above in connection with performance awards.  Settlement of awards may be in cash or shares of common stock, as determined by the Committee.  A participant will have no voting rights with respect to any such award unless and until shares are issued pursuant to the award.  The committee may grant dividend equivalent rights with respect to other stock-based awards.  The effect on such awards of the participant’s termination of service will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the participant’s award agreement.
 
Deferred Compensation Awards.  The 2014 Plan authorizes the Committee to establish a deferred compensation award program.  If and when implemented, participants designated by the Committee, who may be limited to directors or members of a select group of management or highly compensated employees, may make an advance election to receive an award of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or restricted stock units in lieu of director fees or bonuses otherwise payable in cash.  The Committee will determine basis on which the number of shares subject to an equity award granted in lieu of cash compensation will be determined.  Such awards will be subject to the applicable provisions of the 2014 Plan.
 
Change in Control.  Unless otherwise defined in a participant’s award or other agreement with the Company, the 2014 Plan provides that a “Change in Control” occurs upon (a) a person or entity (with certain exceptions described in the 2014 Plan) becoming the direct or indirect beneficial owner of more than 50% of the Company’s voting stock; (b) stockholder approval of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or (c) the occurrence of any of the following events upon which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the event do not retain immediately after the event direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company, its successor or the entity to which the assets of the company were transferred: (i) a sale or exchange by the stockholders in a single transaction or series of related transactions of more than 50% of the Company’s voting stock; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).
 
If a Change in Control occurs, the surviving, continuing, successor or purchasing entity or its parent may, without the consent of any participant, either assume or continue outstanding awards or substitute substantially equivalent awards for its stock.  If so determined by the Committee, stock-based awards will be deemed assumed if, for each share subject to the award prior to the Change in Control, its holder is given the right to receive the same amount of consideration that a stockholder would receive as a result of the Change in Control.  In general, any awards which are not assumed, substituted for or otherwise continued in connection with a Change in Control or exercised or settled prior to the Change in Control will terminate effective as of the time of the Change in Control.  Subject to the restrictions of Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may provide for the acceleration of vesting or settlement of any or all outstanding awards upon such terms and to such extent as it determines.  The 2014 Plan also authorizes the Committee, in its discretion and without the consent of any participant, to cancel each or any award denominated in shares of stock upon a Change in Control in exchange for a payment to the participant with respect each vested share (and each unvested share if so determined by the Committee) subject to the cancelled award of an amount equal to the excess of the consideration to be paid per share of common stock in the Change in Control transaction over the exercise price per share, if any, under the award.
 
Awards Subject to Section 409A of the Code.  Certain awards granted under the 2014 Plan may be deemed to constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, providing rules regarding the taxation of nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and the regulations and other administrative guidance issued pursuant to Section 409A.  Any such awards will be required to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any provision of the 2014 Plan to the contrary, the Committee is authorized, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any participant, to amend the 2014 Plan or any award agreement as it deems necessary or advisable to comply with Section 409A.
 
Amendment, Suspension or Termination.  The 2014 Plan will continue in effect until its termination by the Committee, provided that no awards may be granted under the 2014 Plan following the tenth anniversary of the date the 2014 Plan was adopted by the Board.  The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the 2014 Plan at any time, provided that no amendment may be made without stockholder approval that would increase the maximum aggregate number of shares of stock authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan, change the class of persons eligible to receive incentive stock options or require stockholder approval under any applicable law.  No amendment, suspension or termination of the 2014 Plan may affect any outstanding award unless expressly provided by the Committee, and, in any event, may not have a materially adverse effect on an outstanding award without the consent of the participant unless necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule, including, but not limited to, Section 409A of the Code, or unless expressly provided in the terms and conditions governing the award.
 
 
18

 
 
Summary of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
 
The following summary is intended only as a general guide to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2014 Plan and does not attempt to describe all possible federal or other tax consequences of such participation or tax consequences based on particular circumstances.
 
Incentive Stock Options.  A participant recognizes no taxable income for regular income tax purposes as a result of the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option qualifying under Section 422 of the Code.  Participants who neither dispose of their shares within two years following the date the option was granted nor within one year following the exercise of the option will normally recognize a capital gain or loss upon the sale of the shares equal to the difference, if any, between the sale price and the purchase price of the shares.  If a participant satisfies such holding periods upon a sale of the shares, we will not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes.  If a participant disposes of shares within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the date of exercise (a “disqualifying disposition”), the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the option exercise date and the exercise price (not to exceed the gain realized on the sale if the disposition is a transaction with respect to which a loss, if sustained, would be recognized) will be taxed as ordinary income at the time of disposition.  Any gain in excess of that amount will be a capital gain.  If a loss is recognized, there will be no ordinary income, and such loss will be a capital loss.  Any ordinary income recognized by the participant upon the disqualifying disposition of the shares generally should be deductible by us for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.
 
In general, the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise of an incentive stock option is treated as an adjustment in computing the participant’s alternative minimum taxable income and may be subject to an alternative minimum tax which is paid if such tax exceeds the regular tax for the year.  Special rules may apply with respect to certain subsequent sales of the shares in a disqualifying disposition, certain basis adjustments for purposes of computing the alternative minimum taxable income on a subsequent sale of the shares and certain tax credits which may arise with respect to participants subject to the alternative minimum tax.
 
Nonstatutory Stock Options.  Options not designated or qualifying as incentive stock options are nonstatutory stock options having no special tax status.  A participant generally recognizes no taxable income upon receipt of such an option.  Upon exercising a nonstatutory stock option, the participant normally recognizes ordinary income equal to the difference between the exercise price paid and the fair market value of the shares on the date when the option is exercised.  If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes.  Upon the sale of stock acquired by the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date, will be taxed as capital gain or loss.  We generally should be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant as a result of the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.
 
Stock Appreciation Rights.  A Participant recognizes no taxable income upon the receipt of a stock appreciation right.  Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the underlying shares of common stock on the exercise date over the exercise price.  If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes.  We generally should be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant in connection with the exercise of the stock appreciation right, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.
 
Restricted Stock.  A participant acquiring restricted stock generally will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the “determination date” over the price paid, if any, for such shares.  The “determination date” is the date on which the participant acquires the shares unless the shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and are not transferable, in which case the determination date is the earlier of (i) the date on which the shares become transferable or (ii) the date on which the shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (e.g., when they become vested).  If the determination date follows the date on which the participant acquires the shares, the participant may elect, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code, to designate the date of acquisition as the determination date by filing an election with the Internal Revenue Service no later than 30 days after the date on which the shares are acquired.  If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes.  Upon the sale of shares acquired pursuant to a restricted stock award, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value of the shares on the determination date, will be taxed as capital gain or loss.  We generally should be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant on the determination date, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.
 
 
19

 
 
Restricted Stock Unit, Performance, Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards.  A participant generally will recognize no income upon the receipt of a restricted stock unit, performance share, performance unit, cash-based or other stock-based award.  Upon the settlement of such awards, participants normally will recognize ordinary income in the year of settlement in an amount equal to the cash received and the fair market value of any substantially vested shares of stock received.  If the participant is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes.  If the participant receives shares of restricted stock, the participant generally will be taxed in the same manner as described above under “Restricted Stock.” Upon the sale of any shares received, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value of the shares on the determination date (as defined above under “Restricted Stock”), will be taxed as capital gain or loss.  We generally should be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant on the determination date, except to the extent such deduction is limited by applicable provisions of the Code.
 
New 2014 Plan Benefits
 
No awards will be granted under the 2014 Plan prior to its approval by the stockholders of the Company.  All awards will be granted at the discretion of the Committee, and, accordingly, are not yet determinable.
 
Required Vote and Board of Directors Recommendation
 
Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on this proposal.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast on the proposal and will therefore have no effect on such proposal.
 
The Board believes that the proposed adoption of the 2014 Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders for the reasons stated above.
 
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.
 
20

 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
The Board of Directors held eight meetings during 2013 and took action via unanimous written consent once.  The Audit Committee met eight times; the Compensation Committee met six times and took action via unanimous written consent two times; the Governance and Nominating Committee met three times; and the Executive Committee met four times and took action via unanimous written consent two times.
 
Each member of the Board of Directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) the total number of Board meetings held during the period of such member’s service and (ii) the total number of meetings of committees of the Board of Directors on which such member served, during the period of such member’s service.
 
All board members are encouraged to attend our annual stockholders’ meetings in person.
 
Board Independence
 
The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Hawkins, Hawran, Rickey, Dean, Thompson, Lyons, Dr. Naughton, and Dr. Holmes are “independent” under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Under applicable SEC and the NASDAQ rules, the existence of certain “related person” transactions above certain thresholds between a director and the Company are required to be disclosed and preclude a finding by the Board that the director is independent. The Board of Directors is not able to consider Dr. Hedrick, our President and Chief Executive Officer, independent, as a result of his employment with us during the past three years. The Board also does not consider Mr. Ruud Jona to be independent due to the fact that he was appointed to the Board by Lorem Vascular Pty. Ltd. pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated October 29, 2013, by an between the Company and Lorem Vascular.
 
Board of Directors Leadership Structure
 
Our bylaws and governance principles provide the Board of Directors with the flexibility to combine or separate the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Historically, these positions have been separate. Our Board believes that the separation of these positions strengthens the independence of our Board and allows us to have a Chairman focused on the leadership of the Board while allowing our Chief Executive Officer to focus more of his time and energy on managing our operations. The Board currently believes this structure works well to meet the leadership needs of the Board and of the Company. Dr. Hedrick, our President and Chief Executive Officer, has comprehensive industry expertise and is able to devote substantial time to the Company, and Mr. Rickey, our Chairman, is able to devote focus on longer term and strategic matters, and to provide related leadership to the Board. As a result, we do not currently intend to combine these positions; however a change in this leadership structure could be made if the Board of Directors determined it was in the best long-term interests of stockholder based upon a departure of either our Chief Executive Officer or Chairman. For example, if the two roles were to be combined, we believe that the independence of the majority of our directors, and the three fully independent Board committees, would provide effective oversight of our management and the Company.
 
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
 
The Board’s role in risk oversight includes assessing and monitoring risks and risk management. The Board reviews and oversees strategic, financial and operating plans and holds management responsible for identifying and moderating risk in accordance with those plans. The Board fulfills its risk oversight function by reviewing and assessing reports from members of management on a regular basis regarding material risks faced by the Company and applicable mitigation strategy and activity, not less than quarterly. The reports cover the critical areas of operations, sales and marketing, development, regulatory and quality affairs, intellectual property, clinical development, legal and financial affairs. The Board and its Committees (described below) consider these reports; discuss matters with management and identify and evaluate any potential strategic or operational risks, and appropriate activity to address those risks.
 
Board Committees
 
The Board of Directors has standing Audit, Compensation, Executive, and Governance and Nominating Committees.  All members of the Compensation Committee, Audit Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee are independent directors.
 
Compensation Committee
 
During 2013, Mr. David M. Rickey (Chairman), Mr. Paul W. Hawran and Mr. Richard J. Hawkins were members of the Compensation Committee. Each of these members is independent as defined by NASDAQ, a “Non-Employee Director” as defined by rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and an “outside director” as defined by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The Committee Chairman is responsible for setting the Committee’s calendar and meeting agenda.  Effective May 14, 2014, the Compensation Committee consists of Tommy G. Thompson, (Chairman), Paul W. Hawran, and David M. Rickey.
 
The Compensation Committee is responsible for developing and implementing compensation programs for our executive officers and other employees, subject only to the discretion of the full Board. More specifically, our Compensation Committee establishes base salary rates for each of the Company’s officers, and administers our Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plan, our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, our Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan, and our 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This Committee establishes the compensation and benefits for our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, and annually reviews the relationship between our performance and our compensation policies as well as assessing any risks associated with our compensation policies. In addition, this Committee reviews and advises the Board concerning regional and industry-wide compensation practices and trends in order to assess the adequacy of our executive compensation programs. The charter of the Compensation Committee has been established and approved by the Board of Directors, and a copy of the charter has been posted on our website at www.cytori.com under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance.
 
 
21

 
 
The Compensation Committee has delegated to our CEO the authority to award stock option grants to non-executive employees from a pool of stock options set aside by the Committee from time to time.  Any grant made from such pool to a non-executive employee may not exceed 16,000 shares and all of the grants shall have an exercise price equal to 100% of our Common Stock’s fair market value on the grant date.  We have a written policy that addresses the dates on which it is appropriate to grant such options.  In addition, our CEO:
 
 
Makes recommendations to the Committee regarding the base salary, bonus and stock option award levels for our other executive officers; and
 
 
Provides an annual recommendation to the Committee regarding overall Company performance objectives for the year and the individual performance objectives of each of our executive officers with respect to our Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan, and reports to the Committee on the satisfaction of each such objective.
 
Our CEO attends some of the meetings of the Committee upon invitation, but does not participate in the executive sessions of the Committee.
 
Audit Committee
 
During 2013, Mr. Hawran (Committee Chairman), Mr. Thompson and Mr. Rickey were the members of our Audit Committee. Effective May 14. 2014 the Audit Committee consists of Mr. Hawran (Committee Chairman), Mr. Hawkins, and Mr. Thompson. The Audit Committee is comprised solely of independent directors, as defined by NASDAQ.  The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Hawran is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K.  The charter of the Audit Committee has been established and approved by the Board of Directors, and a copy of the charter has been posted on our website at www.cytori.com under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance.
 
The Audit Committee selects our auditors, reviews the scope of the annual audit, approves the audit fees and non-audit fees to be paid to our auditors, and reviews our financial accounting controls with the staff and the auditors.  The Audit Committee is also charged with review and oversight of management’s enterprise risk management assessment.
 
Governance and Nominating Committee
 
Mr. Hawkins (Committee Chairman), Dr. Holmes, Mr. Thompson, and Mr. Dean, comprised the members of our Governance and Nominating Committee in 2013. Effective May 14, 2014 the Governance and Nominating Committee consists of Mr. Hawkins (Committee Chairman), Mr. Dean, and Mr. Lyons. The Governance and Nominating Committee is comprised solely of independent directors, as defined by NASDAQ.  The Governance and Nominating Committee interviews, evaluates, nominates and recommends individuals for membership on the Board, evaluates the effectiveness of the Board and its serving members, and recommends the structure, responsibility and composition of the committees of the Board.  The Committee is also responsible for recommending guidelines and policies for corporate governance for adoption by the Board.  The charter of the Governance and Nominating Committee has been established and approved by the Board of Directors, and a copy of the charter has been posted on our website at www.cytori.com under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance.
 
Executive Committee
 
In 2013, the Executive Committee consisted of Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Rickey, Mr. Hawkins, and Mr. Hawran. The Executive Committee currently consists of Dr. Hedrick, Mr. Rickey, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Hawran, and Mr. Thompson.
 
The Executive Committee is responsible to evaluate and approve the material terms of any financing transactions or business transactions as well as to authorize and approve the issuance of stock and/or other equity securities. The Executive Committee also would be able to act on behalf of the full Board in urgent or exigent circumstances wherein it would be very difficult or impossible to assemble the full Board between regularly scheduled meetings. The Sub-Committee, consisting of Chairman of the Board and the CEO, has the authority to approve corporate expenditures presented by Management in excess of $250,000 up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for a single corporate transaction.
 
 
22

 
 
DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
 
Criteria for Board Membership
 
In selecting candidates for appointment or re-election to the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee seeks candidates with a broad diversity of experience, skills, professions, and backgrounds. The criteria include the candidate’s integrity, business acumen, commitment, reputation among our various constituencies and communities, ability to make independent analytical inquiries, understanding of the Company’s business environment, and willingness to devote adequate time to Board duties. The Board has also determined that gender and ethnic diversity of the Board will be an important factor in evaluation of candidates. There are no other pre-established qualifications, qualities or skills at this time that any particular Director nominee must possess and nominees are not discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis proscribed by law. The Governance and Nominating Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria, nor has it adopted a particular policy. Rather, the Board of Directors believes that the backgrounds and qualifications of the directors, considered as a group, should provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the Board of Directors to fulfill its responsibilities. The goal of the Governance and Nominating Committee is to assemble a Board of Directors that brings to our Company a variety of skills derived from high quality businesses and professional experience. The Committee seeks to ensure that at least a majority of the directors are independent under NASDAQ rules, and that members of the Company’s Audit Committee meet the financial literacy and sophistication requirements under the NASDAQ rules, and at least one of them qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under the rules of the SEC.
 
Stockholder Nominees
 
The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for the consideration of any director candidates recommended by security holders, provided such nominations are made in accordance with the Company’s bylaws and applicable law. Any recommendations received from the security holders will be evaluated in the same manner that potential nominees suggested by Board members, management or other parties are evaluated. Any such nominations should be submitted to the Governance and Nominating Committee c/o the Secretary of the Company and should include the following information: (a) all information relating to such nominee that is required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), and that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) the names and addresses of the stockholders making the nomination and the number of shares of the Company’s common stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholders; and (c) other appropriate biographical information and a statement as to the qualification of the nominee, and should be submitted no later than the deadlines described in the Bylaws of the Company and under the caption, “Stockholder Proposals for 2015 Annual Meeting” below.
 
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD
 
Stockholders may contact an individual director, the Board as a group, or a specified Board committee or group, including the independent directors as a group, by the following means:
 
 
-
Mail:
 
Chairman of the Board
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.
3020 Callan Road
San Diego, CA 92121
 
CC: General Counsel
 
 
-
E-mail: chairman@cytori.com
 
Each communication should specify the applicable addressee or addressees to be contacted as well as the general topic of the communication. The Chairman of the Board will initially receive and process communications before forwarding them to the addressee. Communications also may be referred to other departments within the Company. The Chairman of the Board generally will not forward to the directors a communication that he/she determines to be primarily commercial in nature or related to an improper or irrelevant topic, or that requests general information about the Company. Concerns about questionable accounting or auditing matters or possible violations of the Cytori Code of Business Conduct & Ethics should be reported pursuant to the procedures outlined in the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics, which are available on the Company's Web site in the Investor Relations Section under Corporate Governance Materials.
 
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Thompson (Chairman), Rickey, and Hawran, each of whom was an independent director and none of whom is a current or former employee of the Company. None of our executive officers served as a director or member of the Compensation Committee or any Board committee performing equivalent functions for another entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board of Directors.
 
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
 
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and controller. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been posted on our website at www.cytori.com. We intend to post amendments to this code, or any waivers of its requirements, on our website at www.cytori.com under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance, as permitted under SEC rules and regulations.
 
 
23

 
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of our Common Stock as of May 31, 2014 (or earlier date for information based on filings with the SEC) by (a) each person known to us to own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock, (b) each director and nominee for director, (c) our Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and each other executive officer named in the compensation tables appearing later in this Proxy Statement and (d) all directors and executive officers as a group. The information in this table is based solely on statements in filings with the SEC or other reliable information.  A total of 75,458,551 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2014.
 
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner (1)
 
Number of
Shares of
Common
Stock Owned (2)
   
Number of
Shares of
Common Stock
Subject to
Options/Warrants
Exercisable
Within 60 Days (3)
   
Total Number
of Shares of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (4)
   
Percent
Ownership
 
                         
Kian Thiam Lim (6)
    8,000,000       -       8,000,000       10.6 %
Level 12, 2 Queen Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
                               
BlackRock, Inc.(5)
    4,241,408       -       4,241,408       5.6 %
40 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022
                               
Olympus Corporation
    4,013,043       -       4,013,043       5.3 %
Shinjuku Monolith, 3-1 Nishi-
Shinjuku 2-Chome, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo 163-0914, Japan
                               
Marc H. Hedrick, MD
    518,711       710,937       1,229,648       1.6 %
Mark E. Saad
    138,430       578,749       717,179       1.0 %
Steven Kesten, M.D.
    -       65,375       65,375       *  
Clyde W. Shores
    38,458       154,062       192,520       *  
David M. Rickey
    326,625       141,707       468,332       *  
Christopher J. Calhoun
    154,975       954,999       1,109,974       1.5 %
Lloyd H. Dean
    77,100       49,582       126,682       *  
E. Carmack Holmes, MD
    43,501       178,582       222,083       *  
Paul W. Hawran
    87,710       203,582       291,292       *  
Richard J. Hawkins
    26,185       128,582       154,767       *  
Ruud J.P. Jona
    -       -       -       *  
Gary A. Lyons
    -       -       -       *  
Gail K. Naughton, PhD
    -       -       -       *  
Tommy Thompson
    45,150       44,582       89,732       *  
All executive officers and directors as a group (12)
    1,456,845       3,210,739       4,667,584       6.2 %
 
*
Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares as of May 31, 2014.
 
 
(1)
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the named individuals is c/o Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., 3020 Callan Road, San Diego, CA 92121.
 
(2)
Unless otherwise indicated, represents shares of outstanding common stock owned by the named parties as of May 31, 2014.
 
(3)
Shares of common stock subject to stock options or warrants currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2014 are deemed to be outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such options and the percentage ownership of any group of which the holder is a member, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.
 
(4)
The amounts and percentages of common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the Commission, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities for which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days.
 
(5)
Information reported is based on a Schedule 13G/A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2014. According to the Schedule 13G/A, BlackRock, Inc. has (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote of 4,128,230 shares; and (ii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 4,241,408 shares.
 
(6)
Information reported is based on a Schedule 13D as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2014. According to the Schedule 13D, Kian Thiam Lim. has (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote of 8,000,000 shares; and (ii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 8,000,000 shares.
 
 
 
24

 
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
Related Party Transactions
 
During the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we incurred approximately $60,000, $232,000 and $166,000, respectively, in royalty costs in connection with our sales of our Celution® 800/CRS System products to the European and Asia-Pacific reconstructive surgery market, pursuant to our License and Royalty Agreement and the Amended License/Commercial Agreement with the Olympus-Cytori, Inc. joint venture. In February 2012, we purchased second generation Celution® Systems and consumable sets from the Olympus-Cytori, Inc. joint venture, at a formula-based transfer price aggregating to $1,048,000. Additionally, pursuant to the Joint Venture termination agreement, in 2013, we paid Olympus $220,000 as an initial payment, $220,800 in royalty payments, and $50,600 to purchase two lots of Celution One consumables. As of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, Olympus Corporation was a beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding shares of common stock.
 
As of December 31, 2013, Kian Thiam Lim, the sole stockholder of Lorem Vascular Pty. Ltd. (Lorem Vascular), was a beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding shares of common stock. On October 29, 2013, we entered into a License/Supply Agreement (the Original License Agreement) with Lorem Vascular, which was subsequently amended and restated in its entirety on January 30, 2014 (as amended and restated, the License Agreement), whereby we exclusively licensed to Lorem Vascular all rights to market and sell Cytori Products (as defined in the License Agreement) for all markets within the countries of China, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, excluding only the rights for Alopecia (hair loss). During the year ended December 31, 2013 Lorem Vascular purchased Celution® Systems and consumable sets from us for a total of $1,845,000 pursuant to the License Agreement.
 
Procedures for Approval of Related Person Transactions
 
The Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing and approving most material transactions with related persons, as such term is defined under Item 404 of Regulations S-K.  However, in certain cases, transactions have been approved by the full Board of Directors, the Audit Committee, or some other committee consisting of all independent directors, as the case may be.  In general, transactions with holders of our securities covered by Item 403(a) of Regulation S-K will be reviewed and approved by our full Board of Directors, so long as none of our directors or executive officers or their family members have a material interest in such transaction.  Related parties include any of our directors or executive officers, certain of our stockholders and their immediate family members.  This obligation is set forth in writing in our Governance and Nominating Committee Charter. A copy of the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter is available at www.cytori.com under Investor Relations – Corporate Governance.
 
To identify related person transactions, each year we submit and require our directors and officers to complete Director and Officer Questionnaires identifying any transactions with us in which the officer or director or their family members have an interest.  We review related person transactions due to the potential for a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's private interest interferes, or appears to interfere, in any way with the interests of the Company. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires all directors, officers and employees who may have a potential or apparent conflict of interest, or become aware of a potential or apparent conflict of interest, to immediately notify our Compliance Officer or the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
 
We expect our directors, officers and employees to act and make decisions that are in the Company’s best interests and encourage them to avoid situations which present an actual or perceived conflict between our interests and their own personal interests.   Exceptions are only permitted in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors or the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, consistent with the best interests of the Company.  In addition, we are strictly prohibited from extending personal loans to, or guaranteeing the personal obligations of, any director or officer.
 
25

 
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors, executive officers, and persons or entities who own more than ten percent of our common stock, to file with the SEC reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of our common stock.  Those directors, officers, and stockholders are required by regulations to furnish us with copies of all forms they file under Section 16(a).  Based solely upon a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations from such directors, officers, and stockholders, we believe that all such reports required to be filed during 2013 or prior fiscal years were filed on a timely basis.
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
Biographical Information
 
The following table sets forth biographical information regarding our named executive officers as of December 31, 2013 (the ages shown are as of July 31, 2014).
 
Name
Age
Position(s)
     
Christopher J. Calhoun
48
Former Chief Executive Officer
Marc H. Hedrick, MD
51
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mark E. Saad
44
Chief Financial Officer
Steven Kesten, MD
56
Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer
Clyde W. Shores.
54
Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales
 
See “Proposal No. 1 Election of Directors” for biographical information regarding Dr. Hedrick.
 
 
26

 
 
Christopher J. Calhoun is a co-founder of the Company and has served as a Director since 1997.  Mr. Calhoun served as Chief Executive Officer from 1997 until April 2014. Mr. Calhoun retired as Chief Executive Officer effective April 2, 2014 and agreed to serve as Managing Director for a transition period through July 1, 2014 to facilitate the orderly transfer of responsibilities. Mr. Calhoun also served as our President from April 2002 to May 2005 and from 1996 to 1998. He is a co-inventor on multiple U.S. and international patents for medical devices and implant instrumentation, and was involved in research and management for the Plastic Surgery Bone Histology and Histometry Laboratory at the University of California, San Diego.  Mr. Calhoun is a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Leonardo MD, and previously served on the Board of Directors of StemSource, Inc. which was acquired by the Company in 2002.  Mr. Calhoun serves on the Board of Directors of The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) and also serves as a member of their Executive Committee.  Mr. Calhoun earned a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego and an M.B.A from the University of Phoenix.
 
Mark E. Saad joined Cytori Therapeutics as Chief Financial Officer in June 2004. Previously, Mr. Saad served as Chief Operating Officer of UBS, Healthcare Investment Banking, New York, where he was responsible for global investment banking operations. Upon joining UBS in 1999, Mr. Saad served as Director/Executive Director covering life sciences sectors - biotechnology and medical devices.  Prior to joining UBS, he held the position of Financial Analyst/Associate with Salomon, Smith Barney, Healthcare Investment Banking, New York, where he managed public and private transactions. Mr. Saad holds a B.A. from Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA.
 
Steven Kesten joined Cytori as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer in February 2013. Previously, he served as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Uptake Medical and at Boehringer Ingelheim, mostly recently as the Vice President, medicine for marketed products for respiratory disease. Prior to that, he served as the medical director of the Rush Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Program at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center; as the medical director of the Toronto Lung Transplant Program at the University of Toronto; and as a staff pulmonologist at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital. He also served as a faculty member of the University of Toronto and an associate professor of medicine at Rush Medical College. Dr. Kesten received his medical degree and specialty training in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine at the University of Toronto.
 
Clyde W. Shores was appointed Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales in May 2011.  Mr. Shores has 28 years marketing and sales experience in pharmaceuticals, biologics, devices, and diagnostics. Prior to joining Cytori Therapeutics, Mr. Shores served as Vice President of Global Marketing for Baxter International’s $2 billion Renal Division. Prior to Baxter, Mr. Shores held various senior marketing and sales positions at Amgen, Abbott Laboratories, Prometheus Laboratories and deCODE Genetics.  Mr. Shores joined Amgen in 1990 and held a number of leadership positions during the company’s rapid expansion in the 1990’s.  During his tenure at Amgen, Mr. Shores led multiple innovative marketing initiatives for Amgen’s blockbuster oncology and stem cell therapy drugs Neupogen® and Neulasta® which have grown to more than $5 billion in annual revenues. Mr. Shores earned a B.S. degree from the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico. Mr. Shores’ cumulative experience has provided him with a fundamental understanding of the cell and regenerative medicine industry, the commercialization of innovative products and therapies and the marketing and sales capabilities required to achieve significant revenue growth in global markets.
 
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
 
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis is designed to provide stockholders with an understanding of our compensation philosophy and objectives as well as the analysis that we performed in setting executive compensation. It discusses the Compensation Committee’s determination of how and why, in addition to what, compensation actions were taken during the last fiscal year for each person serving as our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer during 2013, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as such at the end of 2013.
 
Our named executive officers for fiscal year 2013 were Christopher J. Calhoun, our former Chief Executive Officer (Retired in 2014); Marc H. Hedrick, our President and Chief Executive Officer; Mark E. Saad, our Chief Financial Officer; Steven Kesten, our Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer; and Clyde W. Shores, our Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales.
 
 
27

 
 
These individuals are collectively referred to in this discussion as the “named executive officers” because they are named in the compensation tables included in this proxy statement. Investors are encouraged to read this discussion in conjunction with the compensation tables and related notes, which include more detailed information about the compensation of the named executive officers for 2013 as well as prior years.
 
Compensation Philosophy for the Named Executive Officers
 
The Company’s compensation programs for our officers are established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee). The Committee believes that our compensation policy should align the financial interests of our executives with those of our stockholders. A key to creating this alignment is placing a substantial amount of executive compensation at risk based upon both the short-term and long-term performance of the Company, while discouraging any short-sighted risk-taking behavior. The Committee also seeks to maintain compensation programs that will retain the executives we have, and attract the executives we may need.
 
Executive Compensation
 
In the process of determining compensation for our named executive officers (“NEO’s”), the Compensation Committee considers the current financial position of the Company, the strategic goals of the Company and the performance of our executives. The Committee also benchmarks the various components (described below) of our compensation program for executives to compensation paid by other public companies in our defined peer group, compensation data from Radford Global Life Sciences Survey, historical review of all executive officer compensation and recommendations from our CEO (other than for his own salary). From time to time the Committee engages the services of outside compensation consultants. The Committee has the sole authority to select, compensate and terminate its external advisors.
 
The Committee utilizes the following components of compensation (described further below) to strike an appropriate balance between promoting sustainable and excellent performance and discouraging any inappropriate short-sighted risk-taking behavior:
 
 
Base Salary;
 
 
Annual short-term performance–based cash incentives (The Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan);
 
 
Long-term equity compensation in the form of Stock Options;
 
 
Short-term equity compensation in the form of time and performance vested restricted stock awards;
 
 
Personal benefits and perquisites; and
 
 
Change in control and severance agreements.
 
Base Salary
 
In determining base salary for our executives the Committee considers the factors mentioned above, but base salaries are also designed to account for internal equity, length and depth of experience and the complexity and importance of roles and responsibilities.
 
In October 2012, the Committee benchmarked each executive’s base salary and target bonus to the comparable positions in the 2012 Radford Global Life Sciences Survey, generally targeting the 50th – 60th percentile.  The Committee also reviewed each executive’s performance in relation to the 2012 Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan (see further discussion below), the salary history for each of the executives, and Mr. Calhoun’s recommendations for compensation for each of the officers of the Company below the level of the top three executives (CEO, President, CFO).  Based on the Committee’s review of the various factors mentioned above, the Committee choose not to adjust the base salaries of the executives, and their base salaries remained as follows:  Mr. Calhoun at $467,900; Dr. Hedrick at $406,628; Mr. Saad at $389,917; and Mr. Shores at $329,469. In February 2013, Dr. Kesten joined the company as Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Kesten’s base salary was set at $400,000.
 
 
28

 
 
In October, 2013, the Committee retained the executive compensation practice of Barney & Barney to review the company peer group and to provide recommendations to strengthen the peer group used for market assessment of compensation. A prospective list of potential peer companies was generated and along with the current peer list; all were assessed for appropriateness of inclusion based on: industry sector; developmental stage; location; and company revenue, market capitalization, and number of employees. Based on a result of this analysis, the Committee resolved to adopt the peer group as shown in the table below.
 
Company
 
Market Capitalization as of October 14, 2013
Cytokinetics
 
$206.6 Million
Dynavax Technologies
 
$214.2 Million
Geron
 
$396.2 Million
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
 
$222.2 Million
Rigel Pharmaceutics
 
$296.4 Million
Ziopharm Oncology
 
$375.9 Million
Arena Pharmaceuticals
 
$953.8 Million
Athersys
 
$109.5 Million
AVEO Pharmaceuticals
 
$110.6 Million
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals
 
$386.6 Million
Cell Therapeutics
 
$218.9 Million
Dyax
 
$718.4 Million
Hansen Medical
 
$138.2 Million
Immunomedics
 
$448.7 Million
Ligand Pharmaceuticals
 
$971.3 Million
NeoStem
 
$188.1 Million
Neurocrine Biosciences
 
$688.7 Million
Novavax
 
$627.4 Million
Osiris Therapeutics
 
$594.2 Million
Pain Therapeutics
 
$126.3 Million
Sangamo BioSciences
 
$605.5 Million
Solta Medical
 
$170.7 Million
StemCells
 
$59.1 Million
 
 
29

 
 
After review of the benchmark data, discussion of each executive’s performance, with input from Mr. Calhoun (except for his own performance), the Committee decided to make no adjustments to base salaries or target bonus percentages.
 
   
2012/2013 Base Salary
   
2013/2014 Base Salary
   
Target Bonus %
 
Mr. Calhoun
  $ 467,900     $ 467,900       50 %
Dr. Hedrick
  $ 406,628     $ 406,628       40 %
Mr. Saad
  $ 389,917     $ 389,917       35 %
Dr. Kesten
  $ 400,000     $ 400,000       25 %
Mr. Shores
  $ 329,469     $ 329,469       30 %
 
Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan
 
Our Compensation Committee adopted the Cytori Therapeutics Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan (the EMIC) to increase the performance-based component of our executives’ compensation by linking their bonus payments to achievement of shorter term performance goals. Target bonuses are reviewed annually and established as a percentage of the executive’s base salary, generally based upon seniority of the officer and targeted at or near the median of the peer group and survey data described above. Each year the Committee establishes corporate and individual objectives and respective target percentages, taking into account recommendations from the CEO as it relates to executive positions other than CEO. Objectives for Mr. Calhoun were set by the Committee in 2013 to align with the overall corporate objectives. After fiscal year-end the CEO provided the Committee with a written evaluation showing actual performance as compared to the objectives, and the Committee uses that information, along with the overall corporate performance, to determine what percentage of each executive’s bonus target will be paid out as a bonus for that year. Overall, we attempt to set the corporate and individual functional goals to be highly challenging yet attainable. Our corporate financial objectives are intended to be more difficult to achieve than our actual expected results, such that their attainment would require exceptional performance and dedication from our management team.
 
For 2013, the general corporate objectives were determined by the Committee to account for 100% of the objectives for Mr. Calhoun, and weight of 50% of the overall target bonus amounts for each of our other named executive officers. The general Company objectives were as follows:
 
 
o
Cash Business Deal  Objectives
 
o
Achieve current year non-dilutive cash and deal premium objectives
 
o
Financial Objectives
 
o
Accelerate global revenue growth to specified targets
 
o
Reduce global operating loss (excluding stock based compensation) to specified targets
 
o
Achieve gross margin targets
 
o
BARDA Objectives
 
o
Achieve specified BARDA project related milestones
 
o
Next Generation Device Development Objectives
 
o
Achieve specified next generation device development milestones
 
o
Regulatory and Clinical Objectives
 
o
ATHENA Clinical Trial
 
Achieve 45 patient enrollment
 
o
ADVANCE  Clinical Trial
 
Achieve 25 patient enrollment by year-end
 
o
RECOVER Clinical Trial
 
Achieve initiation and enrollment goals
 
The individual following named executive officers’ objectives expanded upon their particular function in the overall corporate objectives and were to be weighted as 50% of their respective target bonus amounts.
 
 
30

 
 
Dr. Hedrick’s individual objectives included:
 
Achieve specified clinical and regulatory objectives
 
Achieve specified budget objectives
 
Commercial objectives including:
 
o
Launch specified products
 
o
Develop new commercial sites in specified therapy areas
 
o
Expansion into new markets
 
Next generation device development milestones
 
Mr. Saad’s individual objectives included:
 
Deliver capitalization plan resulting in two years of  (operating) cash
 
Cash deal objectives
 
Share price increase objectives
 
Increase in institutional ownership objectives
 
Increase in financial analyst coverage to specified target
 
Dr. Kesten’s individual objectives included:
 
Enrollment and/or initiation goals for:
 
o
ATHENA
 
o
ADVANCE
 
o
RECOVER
 
Cardiovascular therapy strategy and plan for FDA approval
 
Investigator initiated study objective
 
Mr. Shores’ individual objectives included:
 
Accelerate revenue growth to specified targets
 
Achieve overall gross margin and contribution margin objectives
 
Achieve market access strategic objectives including:
 
o
Launch specified products
 
o
Develop new commercial sites in specified therapy areas
 
o
Expansion into new markets
 
The 2013 target bonus as a percentage of annual base salary for each named executive officer was: 50% for Mr. Calhoun; 40% for Dr. Hedrick; 35% for Mr. Saad; 25% for Dr. Kesten; and 30% for Mr. Shores. The Committee, in its April 2014 meeting, evaluated our progress in 2013 as compared to overall the corporate objectives in the 2013 EMIC Plan described above. The Committee evaluated the overall results and then evaluated the progress of each executive officer towards their own functional objectives and the results are tabulated in the table below:
 
 
Officer and Position
 
Target
Bonus as a
% of Salary
   
% of Target
Bonus
Awarded
   
Bonus
Awarded as a
% of Salary
   
Amount of 
2013 Bonus
Paid in 2014
 
                         
Christopher J. Calhoun,
Chief Executive Officer
    50 %     35.25 %     17.6 %   $ 82,467  
Marc H. Hedrick,
President
    40 %     54.80 %     21.9 %   $ 89,133  
Mark Saad,
Chief Financial Officer
    35 %     26.13 %     9.1 %   $ 35,660  
Steven Kesten
Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer
    25 %     38.88 %     9.7 %   $ 38,880  
Clyde Shores,
Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales
    30 %     25.13 %     7.7 %   $ 25,237  
 
 
31

 
 
Long-Term Equity Compensation
 
We designed our long-term equity grant program to further align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders and to reward the executives’ longer-term performance. Historically, the Committee has granted individual option grant awards. In 2011, to further increase the emphasis on compensation tied to performance, awards of restricted stock with time and performance based vesting were added as a component of our equity compensation for executives. The Committee grants stock options or restricted stock based on its judgment as to whether the complete compensation packages to our executives, including prior equity awards, are sufficient to retain and incentivize the executives and whether the grants balance long-term vs. short-term compensation. The Committee also considers our overall performance as well as the individual performance of each NEO, and the potential dilutive effect of restricted stock awards, and the dilutive and overhang effect of the option grant awards, and recommendations from the CEO (other than with respect to his own option grants or restricted stock awards).
 
Our customary practice is to grant long-term equity compensation to the executives at the regularly-scheduled Compensation Committee meeting in the first quarter of the year, or as executive new hires are made or promotions granted. The Compensation Committee meeting dates are not related to dates for release of Company information. Stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant and restricted stock is awarded at the fair market value on the date of award. In 2013, the Committee also granted options with an exercise price above fair market value with the goal of further aligning awards with the long-term performance of the Company.
 
After the annual review in January 2013, the Compensation Committee granted stock options as follows:
 
Officer
 
Stock options at fair
market value
($2.74)
   
Stock options above
fair market value
($5.00)
 
Mr. Calhoun
    250,000       125,000  
Dr. Hedrick
    183,333       91,667  
Mr. Saad
    150,000       75,000  
Dr. Kesten (1)
    151,000        
Mr. Shores
    100,000       50,000  
 
(1)
Option awards granted to Steven Kesten, were issued during his first year of service and vest over a period of four years with 25% vesting after one year of service, followed with equal monthly installments over the remaining 36 months.
 
These grants represented an increase over 2012 grants, reflecting our increased focus on option-based compensation at above fair market value. You can find more information regarding these grants by referring to our Grants of Plan-Based Awards table on page 35.
 
Short-Term Equity Compensation
 
In order to tie compensation to near term performance, in February 2012, the Compensation Committee granted 50,250 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Calhoun; 36,850 to Dr. Hedrick; 33,500 to Mr. Saad; and 31,825 to Mr. Shores, subject to achievement of the following conditions on or before December 31, 2012 for the percent of the grant as indicated:
 
 
1.
40% of the Restricted Stock grant will be conditioned on the Company achieving a major collaboration.
 
 
2.  
25% of the Restricted Stock grant will be conditioned on the Company obtaining a US FDA approval for, and initiation of, the ATHENA clinical trial for chronic myocardial ischemia.
 
 
3.
15% of the Restricted Stock grant will be conditioned on the Company achieving a CE mark for Celution One in Europe for the no-option chronic myocardial ischemia indication.
 
 
32

 
 
 
 
4.
15% of the Restricted Stock grant will be conditioned on the Company obtaining FDA approval of a 510(k) pathway for at least one therapeutic claim.
 
 
5.
5% of the Restricted Stock grant will be conditioned on the Company achieving its target revenue growth for the calendar year ended December 31, 2012 compared to the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
In January, 2013, the Committee determined that 58% of the performance based restricted stock awards should continue vesting based on achievement of the defined objectives until the final vest date of January 10, 2014.
 
Accordingly, the Committee determined that the following number of performance based restricted stock awards for each NEO (granted on January 26, 2012) would continue time vesting through January 10, 2014 subject to each NEO’s continued employment by the Company.
 
Officer
Title
 
Performance-Vested
Restricted Stock
 
Christopher Calhoun
Former Chief Executive Officer
    29,145  
Marc Hedrick
President and Chief Executive Officer
    21,373  
Mark Saad
Chief Financial Officer
    19,430  
Clyde Shores
Executive VP Marketing & Sales
    18,458  
 
Personal Benefits and Perquisites
 
All of our executives are eligible to participate in our employee benefit plans, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and 401(k). These plans are available to all full-time employees. In keeping with our philosophy to provide total compensation that is competitive within our industry we offer limited personal benefits and perquisites to executive officers that include supplemental long-term disability insurance. We also provided a supplemental life insurance policy for Mr. Calhoun. You can find more information on the amounts paid for these perquisites in our 2013 Summary Compensation Table.
 
Company Acquisition / Post-Termination Compensation
 
The Company has entered into individual change of control agreements (the CIC Agreements) with Mr. Calhoun, Dr. Hedrick, Mr. Saad, Dr. Kesten and Mr. Shores. The CIC Agreements will provide for certain severance benefits to be paid to each of these executives in the event of his involuntary termination without cause, or due to the executive’s resignation for good reason (including the Company’s material breach of its obligations, material reduction in duties, responsibilities, compensation or benefits, or relocation by more than 30 miles without prior consent), provided such termination or resignation occurs in connection with an acquisition of the Company. Upon such termination or resignation in the event of an acquisition, Mr. Calhoun would receive a lump sum payment of 18 times his monthly base salary, and 18 times his monthly COBRA payments, and Dr. Hedrick, Mr. Saad, Dr. Kesten, and Mr. Shores would each receive a lump sum payment of 12 times their monthly base salary, and 12 times their monthly COBRA payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these executives’ employment may be terminated for cause (including extended disability, repudiation of the CIC Agreement, conviction of a plea of no contest to certain crimes or misdemeanors, negligence that materially harms the company, failure to perform material duties without cure, drug or alcohol use that materially interferes with performance, and chronic unpermitted absence) without triggering an obligation for the Company to pay severance benefits under the CIC Agreements.
 
In addition, under the CIC Agreements, any unvested stock options granted to each of the above named executive officers would vest in full upon (1) the date of the executive’s termination under the circumstances described above following entry into an acquisition agreement (subject to the actual consummation of the acquisition) or (2) consummation of an acquisition.
 
In all events, each executive’s entitlement to the benefits described above is expressly conditioned upon his execution and delivery to the Company of a CIC Agreement and General Release of claims, in the form to be attached to the CIC Agreement.
 
The executives may voluntarily terminate their employment with the Company at any time. If they voluntarily terminate their employment, they will receive payment for any earned and unpaid base salary as of the date of such termination; accrued but unused vacation time; and benefits they are entitled to receive under benefit plans of the Company, less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes, through the termination date.
 
33

 
2013 Summary Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth information concerning compensation earned for services rendered to us by the
NEOs.
 
(a)
 
(b)
   
(c)
   
(d)
   
(e)
   
(f)
   
(g)
   
(h)
 
Name and Principal Position
 
Year
   
Salary
   
Stock
Awards(1)
   
Option
Awards(2)
   
Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Comp. (3)
   
All Other
Comp-
ensation
   
Total
 
                                             
Christopher J. Calhoun,
    2013     $ 467,900           $ 635,276     $ 82,467       (5)   $ 1,185,643  
Former Chief Executive Officer (PEO)(11)
    2012     $ 467,900     $ 293,260 (10)   $ 483,996     $ 109,956       (5)   $ 1,355,112 (8)
      2011     $ 456,543     $ 292,455 (9)   $ 252,855     $ 140,370     $ 10,230 (4)   $ 1,152,453 (8)
Marc H. Hedrick,
    2013     $ 406,627           $ 465,869     $ 89,133       (5)   $ 961,629  
President and Chief Executive Officer     2012     $ 406,627     $ 212,764 (10)   $ 241,998     $ 76,446       (5)   $ 937,835 (8)
      2011     $ 396,758     $ 214,467 (9)   $ 185,427     $ 97,591       (5)   $ 894,243 (8)
Mark E. Saad,
    2013     $ 389,917           $ 381,165     $ 35,660       (5)   $ 806,742  
Chief Financial Officer (PFO)
    2012     $ 389,917     $ 184,040 (10)   $ 84,173     $ 64,141       (5)   $ 722,271 (8)
      2011     $ 380,453     $ 194,970 (9)   $ 168,570     $ 81,883       (5)   $ 825,876 (8)
Steven Kesten, M.D.,
    2013     $ 333,333           $ 271,174     $ 38,880     $ 143,401 (6)   $ 786,788  
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer     2012                                      
      2011                                      
Clyde W. Shores,
    2013     $ 329,469             $ 254,110     $ 25,237     $ 35,000 (7)   $ 643,816  
Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales
    2012     $ 329,469     $ 178,278 (10)   $ 84,173     $ 65,276     $ 44,400 (7)   $ 701,596  
      2011     $ 203,870           $ 269,222     $ 37,370     $ 152,136 (7)   $ 662,598  
 
(1)
This column represents the dollar amount of the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For information relating to the assumptions made by us in valuing the stock awards made to our named executive officers in 2013, refer to Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
 (2)
This column represents the dollar amount of the aggregate grant date fair value of awards, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For information relating to the assumptions made by us in valuing the option awards made to our named executive officers in 2013, refer to Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
(3)
The amounts in column (f) reflect the cash awards under our  EMIC Plan, which is discussed in further detail in the CD&A under the heading “2013 NEO Compensation – Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan.”
 
(4)
All Other Compensation for Mr. Calhoun for 2011 consists of supplemental long-term disability insurance premiums.
 
(5)
Dollar value of the Named Executive Officer’s perquisites and other personal benefits was less than $10,000 for the year reported.
 
 
(6)
All Other Compensation for Dr. Kesten who was hired 2/26/2013 includes a relocation allowance ($68,401) and a sign-on bonus ($75,000) for 2013.
 
(7)
All Other Compensation for Mr. Shores who was hired 5/16/2011 includes a relocation allowance ($148,486) and supplemental long-term disability insurance premiums ($3,650) for 2011, a relocation allowance ($44,400) for 2012 and an additional relocation allowance ($35,000) for 2013.
 
(8)
Includes the value of RSA grants that did not vest in the timeframe required by the grants and therefore terminated in their entirety.
 
(9)
Performance based RSAs granted on 2/28/2011 with performance vesting requirement.  In 2012, the Compensation Committee determined that none of the performance milestones were achieved, thus none of the shares vested, and the grant therefore terminated in its entirety.
 
(10)
On January 26, 2012, the Compensation Committee granted Restricted Stock Awards as well as Performance based RSAs with performance vesting requirement.  In 2013, the Compensation Committee determined that one of the performance milestones was achieved and authorized to continue vesting the shares allocated to this milestone.  The Compensation Committee used its discretion to continue vesting a portion of the awards allocated to the milestones that were not achieved by December 31, 2012.
 
(11)
Mr. Calhoun retired as Chief Executive Officer effective April 2, 2014 and has agreed to serve as Managing Director for a transition period beginning April 2, 2014 through July 1, 2014 to facilitate the orderly transfer of responsibilities.
 
 
 
34

 
2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
 
The following table sets forth information regarding grants of stock and option awards made to our Named Executive Officers during fiscal 2013:
 
(a)
 
(b)
   
(c)
   
(d)
   
(e)
   
(f)
   
(g)
   
(h)
 
         
Estimated Future Payouts
 Under Non-Equity Incentive
 Plan Awards(1)
                               
               
All Other
Stock Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
   
All Other
Option Awards:
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
   
Exercise or
Base Price of
Option Awards
   
Market
Price on
Date of Grant
   
Full Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option Awards
 
Named Officers
 
Grant
   
Target
                               
   
Date
   
($)
    (#)     (#)    
($/Sh)
   
($/Sh)
   
($)(2)
 
                                                 
Christopher J. Calhoun,
 
1/31/2013
    $ 233,950             250,000     $ 2.74     $ 2.74     $ 448,964  
Former Chief Executive Officer
 
1/31/2013
                    125,000     $ 5.00     $ 2.74     $ 186,312  
Marc H. Hedrick,
 
1/31/2013
    $ 162,651             183,333     $ 2.74     $ 2.74     $ 329,239  
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
1/31/2013
                    91,667     $ 5.00     $ 2.74     $ 136,629  
Mark E. Saad,
 
1/31/2013
    $ 136,471             150,000     $ 2.74     $ 2.74     $ 269,378  
Chief Financial Officer
 
1/31/2013
                    75,000     $ 5.00     $ 2.74     $ 111,787  
Steven Kesten, M.D.,
 
1/31/2013
    $ 100,000             151,000     $ 2.74     $ 2.74     $ 271,174  
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer  
1/31/2013
                                                 
Clyde W. Shores,
 
1/31/2013
    $ 98,841             100,000     $ 2.74     $ 2.74     $ 179,585  
Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales
 
1/31/2013
                    50,000     $ 5.00     $ 2.74     $ 74,525  
 
 
(1)
Amounts reported represent the target cash bonus amounts that could have been earned under the EMIC, as described under the heading Compensation Discussion & Analysis - Executive Compensation” above.
 
 
(2)
Computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See note 14 of the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2014 regarding assumptions underlying valuation of equity awards.
 
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
 
The stock options granted to the NEOs during 2013 have an exercise price of $2.74 and $5.00 for the options granted on 1/31/2013.  Exercise prices for the options granted in 2013 are determined by the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock on NASDAQ on the date of grant and $5.00 as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. The option awards have a contractual term of ten years and vest in equal monthly installments over a period of four years, subject to the NEO’s continued service to the Company.
 
Option awards granted to Dr. Steven Kesten, were issued during his first year of service and vest over a period of four years with 25% vesting after one year of service, followed with equal monthly installments over the remaining 36 months.
 
 
35

 
 
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2013
 
The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards held by our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2013.
 
(a)
 
(b)
   
(c)
   
(d)
   
(e)
   
(f)
   
(g)
   
(h)
 
                                           
               
Option Awards
               
Stock Awards
 
Name
 
Option Grant Date (1)
   
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#)
Exercisable
   
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#) Un-Exercisable(2)
   
Option Exercise Price
($)
   
Option Ex-piration Date
   
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(3)
   
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
($)
 
                                                 
Christopher J. Calhoun,
 
6/2/2004
      75,000           $ 4.16    
6/2/2014
             
Former Chief Executive Officer
 
2/2/2005
      100,000           $ 3.12    
2/2/2015
             
   
1/24/2006
      100,000           $ 7.04    
1/24/2016
             
   
2/26/2007
      70,000           $ 5.44    
2/26/2017
             
   
1/31/2008
      85,000           $ 5.14    
1/31/2018
             
   
1/29/2009
      100,000           $ 4.80    
1/29/2019
             
   
2/5/2010
      143,748       6,252     $ 6.71    
2/5/2020
             
   
1/27/2011
      54,687       20,313     $ 5.57    
1/27/2021
             
   
1/26/2012
      110,208       119,792     $ 3.44    
1/26/2022
      29,145     $ 88,651  
   
1/31/2013
      57,292       192,708     $ 2.74    
1/31/2023
             
   
1/31/2013
      28,646       96,354     $ 5.00    
1/31/2023
             
Marc H. Hedrick,
 
6/2/2004
      50,000           $ 4.16    
6/2/2014
             
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
2/2/2005
      70,000           $ 3.12    
2/2/2015
             
   
1/24/2006
      70,000           $ 7.04    
1/24/2016
             
   
2/26/2007
      50,000           $ 5.44    
2/26/2017
             
   
1/31/2008
      60,000           $ 5.14    
1/31/2018
             
   
1/29/2009
      75,000           $ 4.80    
1/29/2019
             
   
2/5/2010
      105,415       4,585     $ 6.71    
2/5/2020
             
   
1/27/2011
      40,104       14,896     $ 5.57    
1/27/2021
             
   
1/26/2012
      55,104       59,896     $ 3.44    
1/26/2022
      21,373     $ 65,011  
   
1/31/2013
      42,014       141,319     $ 2.74    
1/31/2023
             
   
1/31/2013
      21,007       70,660     $ 5.00    
1/31/2023
             
Mark E. Saad,
 
6/21/2004
      190,000           $ 4.12    
6/21/2014
             
Chief Financial Officer
 
2/2/2005
      70,000           $ 3.12    
2/2/2015
             
   
1/24/2006
      70,000           $ 7.04    
1/24/2016
             
   
2/26/2007
      50,000           $ 5.44    
2/26/2017
             
   
1/31/2008
      55,000           $ 5.14    
1/31/2018
             
   
1/29/2009
      70,000           $ 4.80    
1/29/2019
             
   
2/5/2010
      95,832       4,168     $ 6.71    
2/5/2020
             
   
1/27/2011
      36,458       13,542     $ 5.57    
1/27/2021
             
   
1/26/2012
      19,167       20,883     $ 3.44    
1/26/2022
      19,430     $ 59,101  
   
1/31/2013
      34,375       115,625     $ 2.74    
1/31/2023
             
   
1/31/2013
      17,188       57,812     $ 5.00    
1/31/2023
             
Steven Kesten, M.D.,
 
1/31/2013
            151,000     $ 2.74    
1/31/2023
             
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer                                                    
Clyde W. Shores,
 
5/19/2011
      53,281       29,219     $ 5.37    
5/19/2021
             
Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales
 
1/26/2012
      19,167       20,833     $ 3.44    
1/26/2022
      18,458     $ 56,146  
   
1/31/2013
      34,375       115,625     $ 2.74    
1/31/2023
             
   
1/31/2013
      38,171       3,929     $ 5.00    
1/31/2023
             
 
 
(1)
For a better understanding of this table, we have included an additional column showing the grant date of the stock options.
 
 
(2)
Generally, awards issued under the 1997 or 2004 plans are subject to four-year vesting with 1/48 of the award vesting monthly from date of grant. Each of the awards have a contractual term of 10 years.
 
 
(3)
January 26, 2012, Compensation Committee granted Restricted Stock Awards as well as Performance based RSAs with performance vesting requirement. In 2013, the Compensation Committee determined that a portion of the performance milestones was achieved and authorized to continue vesting a proportionate number of shares allocated to such milestones. Compensation Committee used its discretion to continue vesting a portion of the awards allocated according to the full or proportional achievement of the milestones by December 31, 2012.
 
 
(4)
25% of the granted award vests after one year of service, and the remainder vests monthly in increments of 1/36 for a period of 36 months.
 
 
36

 
 
2013 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
 
The following table sets forth information regarding options exercised and shares of common stock acquired upon vesting by our Named Executive Officers during the fiscal ended December 31, 2013:
 
(a)
 
(b)
   
(c)
   
(d)
   
(e)
 
                         
   
Option Awards
   
Stock Awards
 
Name
 
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
   
Value
Realized on
Exercise
   
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
   
Value
Realized on
Vesting
 
      (#)    
($)
    (#)    
($)(2)
 
                             
Christopher J. Calhoun,
                35,000  (1)   $ 105,000  
Former Chief Executive Officer
                               
Marc H. Hedrick,
                25,000  (1)   $ 75,000  
President and Chief Executive Officer
                               
Mark E. Saad,
                20,000  (1)   $ 60,000  
Chief Financial Officer
                               
Steven Kesten, M.D.,
                       
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer                                
Clyde W. Shores,
                20,000  (1)   $ 60,000  
Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales
                               
 
 
(1)
Represents time based restricted stock awards that vested on January 10, 2013.
 
 
(2)
The fair market value on January 10, 2013 was $3.00. Computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See note 14 of the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2014 regarding assumptions underlying valuation of equity awards.
 
Pension Benefits
 
We did not have a pension plan nor did we provide pension benefits to our NEOs (or any other employees) during fiscal 2013.
 
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
 
We did not permit compensation deferral by our NEO’s (or any other employees) during fiscal 2013.
 
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change In Control
 
On January 31, 2008, we entered into individual change of control agreements (the “Agreements”) with Mr. Calhoun, Dr. Hedrick, and Mr. Saad (filed as Exhibits 10.52, 10.53, and 10.54 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2008). On February 26, 2013 and April 16, 2012, respectively we entered into individual change of control agreements with Dr. Kesten and on Mr. Shores. The terms of the Agreements are described in detail in the section above titled, Compensation Discussion & Analysis - Company Acquisition / Post-Termination Compensation.
 
 
37

 
 
The following table describes the potential payments upon termination and/or a change in control of the Company for Mr. Calhoun, our former CEO:
 
   
Change in
Control(2)
   
Termination
Following
Change in
Control(3)
 
PAYMENTS DUE UPON ACQUISITION / TERMINATION(1):
           
Cash Severance
           
Base Salary(4)
  $     $ 701,850  
                 
Benefits
               
COBRA Premiums
        $ 33,300  
                 
Long-Term Incentives
               
Value of Accelerated Stock Options(5)
  $          
                 
TOTAL VALUE
  $     $ 735,150  
 
The following table describes the potential payments upon termination and/or a change in control of the Company for Dr. Hedrick, our President and Chief Executive Officer:
 
   
Change in
Control (2)
   
Termination
Following
Change in
Control (3)
 
PAYMENTS DUE UPON ACQUISITION / TERMINATION(1):
           
Cash Severance
           
Base Salary(4)
  $     $ 406,628  
                 
Benefits
               
COBRA Premiums
        $ 22,200  
                 
Long-Term Incentives
               
Value of Accelerated Stock Options(5)
  $     $  
                 
TOTAL VALUE
  $     $ 428,828  
 
The following table describes the potential payments upon termination and/or a change in control of the Company for Mr. Saad, our CFO:
 
   
Change in
Control (2)
   
Termination
Following
Change in
Control (3)
 
PAYMENTS DUE UPON ACQUISITION / TERMINATION(1):
           
Cash Severance
           
Base Salary(4)
  $     $ 389,917  
                 
Benefits
               
COBRA Premiums
        $ 22,200  
                 
Long-Term Incentives
               
Value of Accelerated Stock Options(5)
  $     $  
                 
TOTAL VALUE
  $     $ 412,117  
 
 
38

 
 
The following table describes the potential payments upon termination and/or a change in control of the Company for Dr. Kesten, our Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer.
 
   
Change in
Control (2)
   
Termination
Following
Change in
Control (3)
 
PAYMENTS DUE UPON ACQUISITION / TERMINATION(1):
           
Cash Severance
           
Base Salary(4)
  $     $ 400,000  
                 
Benefits
               
COBRA Premiums
        $ 15,400  
                 
Long-Term Incentives
               
Value of Accelerated Stock Options(5)
  $     $  
                 
TOTAL VALUE
  $     $ 415,400  
 
The following table describes the potential payments upon termination and/or a change in control of the Company for Mr. Shores, our Executive Vice President – Marketing and Sales.
 
   
Change in
Control (2)
   
Termination
Following
Change in
Control (3)
 
PAYMENTS DUE UPON ACQUISITION / TERMINATION(1):
           
Cash Severance
           
Base Salary(4)
  $     $ 329,469  
                 
Benefits
               
COBRA Premiums
        $ 22,200  
                 
Long-Term Incentives
               
Value of Accelerated Stock Options(5)
  $     $  
                 
TOTAL VALUE
  $     $ 351,669  
 
(1)
Assumes a triggering event occurred on December 31, 2013.
 
(2)
Based on the occurrence of a change in control of the Company, provided that the executive is at that time still in the service of the Company.
 
(3)
Based on the occurrence of either actual or constructive termination without good cause in the context of a change in control of the Company as described in detail in the section above titled, Company Acquisition/Post-Termination Compensation.
 
(4)
Based on the executive’s annual base salary on December 31, 2013, which was $467,900 for Mr. Calhoun; $406,628 for Dr. Hedrick; $389,917 for Mr. Saad, $400,000 for Dr. Kesten and $329,469 for Mr. Shores.
 
(5)
Based on the difference between the aggregate exercise price of all accelerated in-the-money stock options and the aggregate market value of the underlying shares, calculated based on the per-share closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2013, $2.57.
 
 
39

 
 
Director Compensation
 
Generally, our Board believes that the level of director compensation should be based on time spent carrying out Board and committee responsibilities and be competitive with comparable companies. In addition, the Board believes that a significant portion of director compensation should align director interests with the long-term interests of shareholders. The Board makes changes in its director compensation practices only upon the recommendation of the Compensation and Governance & Nominating Committees, and following discussion and approval by the Board.
 
The following table summarizes director compensation during fiscal year 2013
 
(a)
 
(b)
   
(c)
   
(d)
  (e)  
                       
Director Name(1)
 
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash(2)
($)
   
Stock
Awards(3)
($)
   
Option
Awards(4)(5)
($)
  Total ($)  
                       
David M. Rickey, Chairman
  $ 84,550     $ 17,080     $ 11,205     $ 112,835  
Lloyd H. Dean
  $ 56,458     $ 17,080     $ 11,205     $ 84,743  
Richard J. Hawkins
  $ 63,500     $ 17,080     $ 11,205     $ 91,785  
Paul W. Hawran
  $ 74,825     $ 17,080     $ 11,205     $ 103,110  
E. Carmack Holmes, MD
  $ 43,000     $ 17,080     $ 11,205     $ 71,285  
Gary A. Lyons
  $ 10,250     $ 47,565     $ 31,426     $ 89,241  
Tommy Thompson
  $ 56,000     $ 17,080     $ 11,205     $ 84,285  
 
(1)
Mr. Calhoun and Dr. Hedrick are not included in this table as they are employees of the Company and receive no extra compensation for their services as a Director. The compensation received by Mr. Calhoun and Dr. Hedrick as employees of the Company is shown in the 2013 Summary Compensation Table and the three equity-related tables above.
 
(2)
In fiscal year 2013, each non-employee director’s compensation included a $6,250 quarterly retainer, a fee of $2,000 per quarterly meeting attended, and a fee of $1,000 per special Board meeting attended in person.  Attendance of telephonic meetings was compensated at $1,000 per meeting.  Compensation Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee and Audit Committee members received $1,000 per meeting attended.  Executive Committee members were exempt from receiving committee fees.  The Chairman of the Board received an additional annual stipend of $25,000, the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual stipend of $12,000, and the Chairmen of the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee each received an additional annual stipend of $10,000 and $7,500, respectively. In addition, each committee member receives a quarterly retainer of $1,250 for each committee upon which he or she serves (excluding the Executive Committee).
 
(3)
Each non-employee director was granted 6,100 shares of restricted stock, effective on January 1, 2013 with shares cliff vesting on December 31, 2013. In October 2013, Mr. Gary Lyons received an initial stock award and stock option grant upon joining the Board.
 
(4)
Column (d) represents the grant date fair value of the option awards, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For additional information on the valuation assumptions with respect to the 2013 grants, refer to note 14 of the financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2014.
 
(5)
As of December 31, 2013, the following directors held options to purchase the respective number of shares of our common stock: Richard J. Hawkins 126,100; Paul W. Hawran 201,100; E. Carmack Holmes 211,100; Gary Lyons 21,000; David M. Rickey 139,225, Lloyd H. Dean 47,100, and Tommy Thompson 42,100.
 
Narrative Disclosure to the Director Compensation Table
 
The stock options granted to the non-employee directors during 2013 have an exercise price of $2.80.  The exercise prices of these grants were equal to the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock on NASDAQ on the date of grant.   The option awards have a contractual term of 10 years and vest in equal monthly installments over a period of two years, subject to the director’s continued service to the Company. To align Board compensation with that of our peer group companies, each of our non-employee directors was also granted 6,100 shares of restricted stock, effective on January 1, 2013 with shares cliff vesting on December 31, 2013.
 
 
40

 
 
Equity Compensation Paid to Directors for Fiscal Year 2013
 
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
   
(d)
   
(e)
   
(f)
   
(g)
 
                                   
Director Name
 
Grant Date
 
Option
Awards
(#)
   
Grant Date
Fair Value
of Option
Awards
($)
   
Stock
Awards
(#)
   
Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards
($)
   
Total
Value of
Equity
Awards for
2013
($)
 
                                   
David M. Rickey, Chairman
 
1/1/2013
    6,100     $ 11,205 (1)     6,100     $ 17,080 (2)   $ 28,285  
Lloyd H. Dean
 
1/1/2013
    6,100     $ 11,205 (1)     6,100     $ 17,080 (2)   $ 28,285  
Richard J. Hawkins
 
1/1/2013
    6,100     $ 11,205 (1)     6,100     $ 17,080 (2)   $ 28,285  
Paul W. Hawran
 
1/1/2013
    6,100     $ 11,205 (1)     6,100     $ 17,080 (2)   $ 28,285  
E. Carmack Holmes, MD
 
1/1/2013
    6,100     $ 11,205 (1)     6,100     $ 17,080 (2)   $ 28,285  
Gary A. Lyons
 
10/7/2013
    21,000     $ 31,426 (1)     21,000     $ 47,565 (2)   $ 78,991  
Tommy Thompson
 
1/1/2013
    6,100     $ 11,205 (1)     6,100     $ 17,080 (2)   $ 28,285  
 
(1)
The grant date fair value of the option award granted to Directors other than Mr. Lyons was $1.84 per share. The grant date fair value of Mr. Lyons’ option award was $1.50 per share.
 
(2)
The grant date fair value of the restricted stock awarded to Directors other than Mr. Lyons was $2.80 per share.  The grant date fair value of Mr. Lyons’ award was $2.265 per share.
 
 
41

 
 
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
The Compensation Committee provided the following statement:
 
“The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management.  Based on these reviews and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Annual Meeting proxy statement on Schedule 14A."
 
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
     
 
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
 
 
Tommy G. Thompson, Chair
 
 
David M. Rickey
 
 
Paul W. Hawran
 
     
 
   
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the foregoing Compensation Committee Report and the following Audit Committee Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings.
 
 
42

 
 
AUDIT MATTERS
 
Report of the Audit Committee
 
The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in its written charter, a copy which is available on the Company’s website. Under the guidance of a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, the purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of its financial statements.  The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include appointing and providing for the compensation of the Company’s registered public accounting firm.  Each of the members of the Audit Committee meets the independence requirements of NASDAQ.
 
Management has primary responsibility for the system of internal controls over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, and for preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The independent registered public accounting firm has the responsibility to express an opinion on the financial statements based on an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
 
In this context and in connection with the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Audit Committee provided the following report:
 
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 with the Company’s management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”).  The Audit Committee has discussed with KPMG the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, ”Communication with Audit Committees,”, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence regarding KPMG’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, discussed with KPMG their independence, and concluded that the non-audit services performed by KPMG are compatible with maintaining their independence.  KPMG advised the audit committee that KPMG was and continues to be independent accountants with respect to the Company. Based upon the Audit Committee’s review and discussions as noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
     
 
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
 
 
Paul W. Hawran, Chair
 
 
Richard J. Hawkins
 
 
Tommy G. Thompson
 
 
 
43

 
 
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. The Audit Committee reviews and must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services performed by KPMG LLP as well as the fees charged by KPMG LLP for such services. No fees were approved under the Regulation S-X Rule 2.01(c)(7)(i)(C) exception to the pre-approval requirement. In its review of non-audit service fees, the Audit Committee considers, among other things, the possible impact of the performance of such services on the accounting firm’s independence.
 
The following table shows the aggregate fees paid or accrued by the Company for the audit and other services provided by KPMG LLP for fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Audit fees (1)
  $ 664,596     $ 547,568  
Audit related fees (2)
    6,000       88,800  
Tax Fees (3)
    87,640       71,524  
All other fees (4)
    —         
Total
  $ 758,236     $ 707,892  
 
(1)
Audit fees consist of fees for professional services performed by KPMG LLP for the integrated audit of our annual financial statements (and internal control over financial reporting) included in our Form 10-K filing and review of financial statements included in our quarterly Form 10-Q filings, reviews of registration statements and issuances of consents, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
 
(2)
Audit related fees consist of fees for assurance and related services, such as comfort letters, performed by KPMG LLP that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements.
 
(3)
Tax fees consist of fees for professional services performed by KPMG LLP with respect to tax compliance, tax advice, tax consulting and tax planning.
 
(4)
All other fees consist of fees for other permissible work performed by KPMG LLP that does not meet with the above category descriptions.  No such fees were incurred in 2013 or 2012.
 
 
44

 
 
OTHER MATTERS
 
As of the time of preparation of this Proxy Statement, neither the Board nor management intends to bring before the meeting any business other than the matters referred to in the Notice of Annual Meeting and this Proxy Statement. If any other business should properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the persons named in the proxy will vote on such matters according to their best judgment.
 
Stockholders Sharing the Same Address
 
In accordance with notices previously sent to many stockholders who hold their shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record (a “street-name stockholder”) and share a single address, only one Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials is being delivered to that address unless contrary instructions from any stockholder at that address were received.  This practice, known as “householding,” is intended to reduce the Company’s printing and postage costs.  However, any such street-name stockholder residing at the same address who wishes to receive a separate copy of this Proxy Statement or accompanying Annual Report to Stockholders may request a copy by contacting the bank, broker or other holder of record, or the Company by telephone at: (858) 458-0900.  The voting instruction sent to a street-name stockholder should provide information on how to request (1) householding of future Company materials or (2) separate materials if only one set of documents is being sent to a household.  If it does not, a stockholder who would like to make one of these requests should contact the Company as indicated above.
 
Stockholder Proposals for the 2015 Meeting
 
Stockholders interested in submitting a proposal for consideration at our 2015 Annual Meeting must do so by sending such proposal to our Corporate Secretary at Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., 3020 Callan Road, San Diego, CA 92121, Attention:  Corporate Secretary. Under the SEC’s proxy rules, the deadline for submission of proposals to be included in our proxy materials for the 2015 Annual Meeting is February 16, 2015. Accordingly, in order for a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2015 Annual Meeting, any such stockholder proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary on or before February 16, 2015 and comply with the procedures and requirements set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as the applicable requirements of our bylaws. Any stockholder proposal received after February 16, 2015 will be considered untimely, and will not be included in our proxy materials.
 
In addition, stockholders interested in submitting a proposal outside of Rule 14a-8 must properly submit such a proposal in accordance with our bylaws.  Our bylaws require advance notice of business to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting, including nominations of persons for election as directors. To be timely, notice to our Corporate Secretary must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the preceding year’s proxy statement and must contain specified information concerning the matters to be brought before such meeting and concerning the stockholder proposing such matters. Therefore, to be presented at our 2015 Annual Meeting, such a proposal must be received by the Company no later than February 16, 2015; provided, however, that in the event we hold the 2015 Annual Meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or after the one-year anniversary date of the 2014 Annual Meeting, a proposal must be received by the Company a reasonable time before the proxy solicitation is made.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
Our Board of Directors knows of no other business to be presented at our Annual Meeting.  If other matters properly come before our Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxies in the accompanying form will be voted thereon in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons holding such proxies.
 
   
By Order of the Board of Directors,
   
   
MARC H. HEDRICK
   
President & Chief Executive Officer
 
 
45

 
 
[BALLOT]
 
 
C/O COMPUTERSHARE
250 ROYALL STREET
CANTON, MA 02021
 
VOTE BY INTERNET
Before the meeting - Go to 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 instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
 
 
 
 
 
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 call 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 Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
 
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
 
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
 
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the following:
 
For
All
 
Withhold
All
 
For All
Except
 
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.
 
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Election of Directors
  Nominees
 
01)
David M. Rickey
02)
Lloyd H. Dean
03)
Richard J. Hawkins
04)
Paul W. Hawran
05)
Marc H. Hedrick, MD
06)
E. Carmack Holmes, MD
07)
Ruud J.P. Jona
08)
Gary A. Lyons
09)
Gail K. Naughton, PhD
10)
Tommy G. Thompson
 
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals 2, 3 and 4:
 
 
 
For
 
Against
 
Abstain
2.
To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Cytori for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.
 
o
 
o
 
o
               
3.
To approve, by non-binding vote, executive compensation
 
o
 
o
 
o
               
4.
To approve the adoption of Cytori’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
Date:
 
Signature (Joint Owners)
Date:
 
 
 
 

 
 
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Combined Document is available at www.proxyvote.com .
 
  
 
 
 
CYTORI THERAPEUTICS, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JULY 31, 2014
 
The undersigned hereby appoints Marc H. Hedrick, MD and Mark E. Saad, or either of them, as proxy holders each with
full power of substitution, to appear on behalf and to vote all shares of common stock of Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company")
 that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on July 31, 2014,
and at any postponement thereof.
 
When properly executed, this proxy will be voted as directed. If properly executed and no instructions are specified, this proxy
will be voted FOR the election of the listed Nominees as Directors under Proposal 1, FOR Proposal 2, 3 and 4 and at the discretion of the proxies with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
 
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Director's recommendations.
 
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.
 
Continued and to be signed on reverse side
 
 
 
 

 
 
Appendix A
 
2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
of
CYTORI THERAPEUTICS, INC.
 
 
 

 
 
2014 Equity Incentive Plan
Of
Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.
 
Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan.
 
Establishment.  The 2014 Equity Incentive Plan of Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (the Plan) was approved by the Board on June 11, 2014, and shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company, at which time it shall become effective (the Effective Date).
 
Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group.  The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Purchase Rights, Restricted Stock Bonuses, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards, and Deferred Compensation Awards.
 
Term of Plan.  The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided, however, that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, on or before ten (10) years from the Effective Date.
 
Definitions and Construction.
 
Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
 
Affiliate means (i) a parent entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) a subsidiary entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities.  For this purpose, the terms “parent,” “subsidiary,” “control” and “controlled by” shall have the meanings assigned such terms for the purposes of registration of securities on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
 
Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash-Based Award, Other Stock-Based Award or Deferred Compensation Award granted under the Plan.
 
Award Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to an Award.
 
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
Cash-Based Award means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 11.
 
Cashless Exercise means a Cashless Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(i).
 
 
 

 
 
Cause means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company.
 
Change in Control means the occurrence of any one or a combination of the following:
 
any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such voting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or
 
an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a Transaction) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(ff)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the Transferee), as the case may be; or
 
approval by the stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 
For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities.  The Committee shall determine whether multiple acquisitions of the voting securities of the Company and/or multiple Ownership Change Events are related and to be treated in the aggregate as a single Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
 
 
2

 
 
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations or administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.
 
Committee means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board.  If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.
 
Company means Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.
 
Consultant means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a member of the Board) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
 
Covered Employee means, at any time the Plan is subject to Section 162(m), any Employee who is or may reasonably be expected to become a “covered employee” as defined in Section 162(m), or any successor statute, and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or a member of a class of Employees, by the Committee no later than the earlier of (i) the date that is ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (ii) the date on which twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period has elapsed, as a “Covered Employee” under this Plan for such applicable Performance Period.
 
Deferred Compensation Award means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 12.
 
Director means a member of the Board.
 
Disability means the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
 
Dividend Equivalent Right means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award (other than an Option or SAR) held by such Participant.
 
Employee means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a member of the Board who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a member of the Board nor payment of a director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan.  The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion, whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be.  For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual’s status as an Employee.
 
 
3

 
 
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and any applicable regulations or administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.
 
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
 
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable.  If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the basis of the opening, closing, or average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Stock on such date or the preceding trading day, the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a Participant, any other reasonable basis using actual transactions in the Stock as reported on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, or on any other basis consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.  The Committee may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this Section for different purposes under the Plan to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
 
If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
 
Full Value Award means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, or (iii) a Restricted Stock Purchase Right or an Other Stock-Based Award under which the Company will receive monetary consideration equal to the Fair Market Value (determined on the effective date of grant) of the shares subject to such Award.
 
Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
 
Insider means an Officer, Director or any other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
 
Net Exercise means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).
 
Nonemployee Director means a Director who is not an Employee.
 
 
4

 
 
Nonemployee Director Award means any Award granted to a Nonemployee Director.
 
Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or which does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
 
Officer means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.
 
Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
 
Other Stock-Based Award means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.
 
Ownership Change Event means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company:  (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).
 
Parent Corporation means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
 
Participant means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
 
Participating Company means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
 
Participating Company Group means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
 
Performance Award means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
 
Performance Award Formula means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.
 
Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation under an Award that satisfies the requirements of Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees.
 
Performance Goal means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.
 
 
5

 
 
Performance Period means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.
 
Performance Share means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
 
Performance Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
 
Restricted Stock Award means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
 
Restricted Stock Bonus means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
 
Restricted Stock Purchase Right means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
 
Restricted Stock Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive on a future date or event a share of Stock or cash in lieu thereof, as determined by the Committee.
 
Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
 
SAR or Stock Appreciation Right means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price thereof.
 
Section 162(m) means Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code.
 
Section 409A Deferred Compensation means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
 
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
 
6

 
 
Service means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether as an Employee, a Director or a Consultant.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders such Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders such Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service.  Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have been interrupted or terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company.  However, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds ninety (90) days, then on the ninety-first (91st) day following the commencement of such leave the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, an unpaid leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement.  A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company.  Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.
 
Stock means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.3.
 
Subsidiary Corporation means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
 
Ten Percent Owner means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
 
Trading Compliance Policy means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.
 
Vesting Conditions mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which an Award or shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service.
 
Construction.  Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan.  Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.  Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
 
Administration.
 
Administration by the Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith.  Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein.  All expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
 
Authority of Officers.  Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided that the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election.
 
 
7

 
 
Administration with Respect to Insiders.  With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3.
 
Committee Complying with Section 162(m).  If the Company is a “publicly held corporation” within the meaning of Section 162(m), the Board may establish a Committee of “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) to approve the grant of any Award intended to result in the payment of Performance-Based Compensation.
 
Powers of the Committee.  In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, including, but not limited to the prohibitions on Option or SAR repricings set forth in Section 3.6, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
 
to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;
 
to determine the type of Award granted;
 
to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
 
to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Measures, Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
 
to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;
 
to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
 
to amend, modify, or cancel any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;
 
to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;
 
to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws or regulations of or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards; and
 
 
8

 
 
to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
 
Option or SAR Repricing.  Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, the Committee shall not approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock (“Underwater Awards”) and the grant in substitution therefore of new Options or SARs having a lower exercise price, Full Value Awards, or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof.  This Section shall not apply to adjustments pursuant to the assumption of or substitution for an Option or SAR in a manner that would comply with Section 424(a) or Section 409A of the Code or to an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3.
 
Indemnification.  In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
 
Shares Subject to Plan.
 
Maximum Number of Shares Issuable.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, as of the Plan’s Effective Date, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to Awards shall be equal to three million nine hundred and seventy five thousand (3,975,000) shares.  Shares of stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to Awards shall consist of authorized or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.
 
 
9

 
 
Share Counting.
 
If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, then in each case the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.  Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash.  Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations applicable to SARs and Options pursuant to Section 17.2, shall not again be available for issuance under the Plan.  Shares withheld by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations described in Section 17.2 with respect to Full Value Awards, shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.  Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of a SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares subject to the SAR.  If the exercise price of an Option is paid by means of a Net-Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the Option is exercised.  Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise Options shall not be added to the shares of Stock authorized for grant under this Plan.
 
Any shares of Stock that again become available for grant pursuant to this Section shall be added back as one (1) share of Stock for every one share subject to an Award.
 
Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting regular, periodic cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan.  For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.”  If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the New Shares), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares.  In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion.  Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise or purchase price under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award.  The Committee in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods.  The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.
 
Assumption or Substitution of Awards.  The Committee may, without affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code.  In addition, subject to compliance with applicable laws, and listing requirements, shares available for grant under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for awards under the Plan to individuals who were not Employees or Directors of the Participating Company Group prior to the transaction and shall not reduce the share reserve set forth above.  Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Options shall not be added to the shares of Stock authorized for grant under this Plan.
 
 
10

 
 
Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations.
 
Persons Eligible for Awards.  Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors.
 
Participation in the Plan.  Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee.  Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award.  However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.
 
Award Limitations.
 
Incentive Stock Option Limitations.
 
Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed three million nine hundred and seventy five thousand (3,975,000) shares.
 
Persons Eligible.  An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an ISO-Qualifying Corporation).  Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
 
Fair Market Value Limitation.  To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.  For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted.  If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code.  If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising.  In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first.  Upon exercise, shares issued pursuant to each such portion shall be separately identified.
 
Section 162(m) Award Limits.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3:
 
(i) Options and SARs.  No Employee shall be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Options or SARS which are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation to purchase more than two-million (2,000,000) shares of Stock under Options or to receive compensation calculated with reference to more than that number of SARs.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a newly hired Employee, this limitation shall be three-million (3,000,000) shares of Stock.
 
 
11

 
 
(ii) Full Value and Cash Awards.  No Employee shall be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Full Value Awards intended to qualify for treatment as Performance-Based Compensation which in the aggregate could result in such Employee receiving more than one-million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares for each full fiscal year of the Company contained in the Performance Period for such Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a newly hired Participant, the share limits set forth above shall be two-million (2,000,000) shares.  With respect to an Award of Performance Based Compensation payable in cash, the maximum amount shall be five–million dollars ($5,000,000) for each fiscal year contained in the Performance Period.
 
Limit on Awards to Nonemployee Directors.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate shares of Stock subject to Awards granted to any Nonemployee Director during any single calendar year shall not exceed one-hundred fifty thousand (150,000) shares.
 
Stock Options.
 
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  Award Agreements evidencing Options may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
Exercise Price.  The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A or 424(a) of the Code.
 
Exercisability and Term of Options.  Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (c) no Option granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such Option (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act).  Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
 
 
12

 
 
Payment of Exercise Price.
 
Forms of Consideration Authorized.  Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Committee and subject to the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, or (2) a Net Exercise; (iii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iv) by any combination thereof.  The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
 
Limitations on Forms of Consideration.
 
Cashless Exercise.  A Cashless Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).  The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.
 
Net Exercise.  A Net Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to a Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued.
 
Effect of Termination of Service.
 
Option Exercisability.  Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided by this Plan and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with this Section and thereafter shall terminate.  Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, or other agreement governing the Option, vested Options shall remain exercisable failing a termination of Service as follows:
 
Disability.  If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of two (2) year after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (the Option Expiration Date).
 
 
13

 
 
Death.  If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of two (2) year after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
 
Termination for Cause.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.
 
Other Termination of Service.  If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of ninety (90) days after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
 
Extension if Exercise Prevented by.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than with respect to a termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.4(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 15 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the applicable time period under Section 6.4(a), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
 
Transferability of Options.  During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.  An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option may be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act; provided that no consideration may be received for any transfer.  An Incentive Stock Option shall not be assignable or transferable in any manner.
 
Stock Appreciation Rights.
 
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  Award Agreements evidencing SARs may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
Types of SARs Authorized.  SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a Tandem SAR) or may be granted independently of any Option (a Freestanding SAR).  A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.
 
 
14

 
 
Exercise Price.  The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a SAR may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
 
Exercisability and Term of SARs.
 
Tandem SARs.  Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option.  The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms.  A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled.  Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised.  Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.
 
Freestanding SARs.  Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that (i) no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR, and (ii) no Freestanding SAR granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such SAR (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act).  Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of a Freestanding SAR, each Freestanding SAR  shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the SAR, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
 
Exercise of SARs.  Upon the exercise of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price.  Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR.  When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR.  For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant.
 
Effect of Termination of Service.  Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.
 
 
15

 
 
Transferability of SARs.  During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.  An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR may be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act; provided that no consideration may be received for any transfer.
 
Restricted Stock Awards.
 
Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized.  Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.  Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4.  If either the grant of or satisfaction of Vesting Conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).
 
Purchase Price.  The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion.  No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.
 
Purchase Period.  A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
 
Payment of Purchase Price.  Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.
 
 
16

 
 
Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer.  Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.  During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8.  The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy.  Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
 
Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions.  Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided, however, that such dividends and distributions shall vest and become nonforfeitable only if the underlying shares of Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award become vested (including, but not limited to, the satisfaction of any performance related Vesting Condition).  In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.
 
Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or Disability), then (a) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (b) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.  The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.
 
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights.  Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
 
 
17

 
 
Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
 
Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Units may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards.  Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4.  If either the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award or the Vesting Conditions with respect to such Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).
 
Purchase Price.  No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.
 
Vesting.  Restricted Stock Unit Awards may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.  The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to the Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then the satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the first to occur of (a) the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy or (b) the later of (i) last day of the calendar year in which the original vesting date occurred or (ii) the last day of the Company’s taxable year in which the original vesting date occurred.
 
Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions.  Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).  However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated.  Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock.  The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number) to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on such date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date.  Such additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award.  In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.
 
 
18

 
 
Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or Disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.
 
Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards.  The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.4) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any.  If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) and amount(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide for settlement of any Restricted Stock Unit Award by payment to the Participant in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the payment date of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.
 
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards.  The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
 
Performance Awards.
 
Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  Award Agreements evidencing Performance Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
Types of Performance Awards Authorized.  Performance Awards may be granted in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units.  Each Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.
 
 
19

 
 
Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial monetary value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial monetary value established by the Committee at the time of grant.  The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.
 
Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula.  In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant.  Unless otherwise permitted in compliance with the requirements under Section 162(m) with respect to each Performance Award intended to result in the payment of Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee shall establish the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula applicable to each Performance Award no later than the earlier of (a) the date ninety (90) days after the commencement of the applicable Performance Period or (b) the date on which 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed, and, in any event, at a time when the outcome of the Performance Goals remains substantially uncertain.  Once established, the Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula applicable to a Covered Employee shall not be changed during the Performance Period.  The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.
 
Measurement of Performance Goals.  Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained (Performance Targets) with respect to one or more measures of business or financial performance (each, a Performance Measure), subject to the following:
 
Performance Measures.  Performance Measures shall be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, or, if such terms are not used in the Company’s financial statements, they shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, a method used generally in the Company’s industry, or in accordance with a methodology established by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award.  Performance Measures shall be calculated with respect to the Company and each Subsidiary Corporation consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes or such division or other business unit as may be selected by the Committee.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award, the Performance Measures applicable to the Performance Award shall be calculated prior to the accrual of expense for any Performance Award for the same Performance Period and excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) on the Performance Measures of any change in accounting standards or any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item, as determined by the Committee, occurring after the establishment of the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award.  Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of Performance Measures in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect to a Performance Award.  Performance Measures may be one or more of the following, as determined by the Committee:  (i) revenue; (ii) sales; (iii) expenses; (iv) operating income; (v) )gross margin; (vi) operating margin; (vii) earnings before any one or more of: stock-based compensation expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (vii) pre-tax profit; (ix) net operating income; (x) net income; (xi) economic value added; (xii) free cash flow; (xiii) operating cash flow; (xiv) balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities; (xv) stock price; (xvi) earnings per share; (xvii) return on stockholder equity; (xviii) return on capital; (xix) return on assets; (xx) return on investment; (xxi) total stockholder return; (xxii) employee satisfaction; (xxiii) employee retention; (xxiv) market share; (xxv) customer satisfaction; (xxvi) product development; (xxvii) research and development expenses; (xxviii) completion of an identified special project; and (xxix) completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction.
 
 
20

 
 
Performance Targets.  Performance Targets may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the level attained during the applicable Performance Period.  A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value, an increase or decrease in a value, or as a value determined relative to an index, budget or other standard selected by the Committee.
 
Settlement of Performance Awards.
 
Determination of Final Value.  As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.
 
Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula.  In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award granted to any Participant who is not a Covered Employee to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine.  If permitted under a Covered Employee’s Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the discretion, on the basis of such criteria as may be established by the Committee, to reduce some or all of the value of the Performance Award that would otherwise be paid to the Covered Employee upon its settlement notwithstanding the attainment of any Performance Goal and the resulting value of the Performance Award determined in accordance with the Performance Award Formula.  No such reduction may result in an increase in the amount payable upon settlement of another Participant’s Performance Award that is intended to result in Performance-Based Compensation.
 
Effect of Leaves of Absence.  Unless otherwise required by law or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days in unpaid leaves of absence during a Performance Period shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on an unpaid leave of absence.
 
Notice to Participants.  As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.
 
Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards.  As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), but in any event within the Short-Term Deferral Period described in Section 16.1 (except as otherwise provided below or consistent with the requirements of Section 409A), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award.  Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee.  Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum.  If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the payment to be made to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred payment date(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.  If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest.
 
 
21

 
 
Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares.  If payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of such shares shall be determined by dividing the final value of the Performance Award by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock determined by the method specified in the Award Agreement.  Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5.  Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.
 
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions.  Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).  However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or the date on which they are forfeited.  Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be credited to the Participant in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock.  The number of additional Performance Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number) to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date.  Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be accumulated and paid to the extent that Performance Shares become nonforfeitable, as determined by the Committee.  Settlement of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 10.5.  In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.
 
Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award or in the Participant’s employment agreement, if any, referencing such Awards, the effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Performance Award shall be as follows:
 
Death or Disability.  If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death or Disability of the Participant before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award shall be determined by the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained with respect to the entire Performance Period and shall be prorated based on the number of months of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period.  Payment shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.
 
 
22

 
 
Other Termination of Service.  If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, such Award shall be forfeited in its entirety.
 
Nontransferability of Performance Awards.  Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
 
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.
 
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  Award Agreements evidencing Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
Grant of Cash-Based Awards.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions, including the achievement of performance criteria, as the Committee may determine.
 
Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock-equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock or other forms determined by the Committee) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.  Other Stock-Based Awards may be made available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled.  Other Stock-Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.
 
Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards.  Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee.  Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or units based on such shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee.  The Committee may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.  If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance criteria, the final value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance criteria are met.  The establishment of performance criteria with respect to the grant or vesting of any Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award intended to result in Performance-Based Compensation shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those applicable to Performance Awards set forth in Section 10.
 
 
23

 
 
Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.  Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, shares of Stock or other securities or any combination thereof as the Committee determines.  The determination and certification of the final value with respect to any Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award intended to result in Performance-Based Compensation shall comply with the requirements applicable to Performance Awards set forth in Section 10.  To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash-Based Award and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.
 
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions.  Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Other Stock-Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares of Stock (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award.  However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock-Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated.  Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 9.4.  Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash-Based Awards.  In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock-Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.
 
Effect of Termination of Service.  Each Award Agreement evidencing a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain such Award following termination of the Participant’s Service.  Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, subject to the requirements of Section 409A, if applicable.
 
Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.  Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  The Committee may impose such additional restrictions on any shares of Stock issued in settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares of Stock are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such shares of Stock.
 
Deferred Compensation Awards.
 
Establishment of Deferred Compensation Award Programs.  This Section 12 shall not be effective unless and until the Committee determines to establish a program pursuant to this Section.  If the Committee determines that any such program may constitute an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA, the Committee shall adopt and implement such program through a separate subplan to this Plan.  Eligibility to participate in such subplan shall be limited to Directors and a select group of management or highly compensated employees, and the Committee shall take all additional actions required to qualify such subplan as a “top-hat” unfunded deferred compensation plan, including filing with the U.S. Department of Labor within 120 days following the adoption of such subplan a notice pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2520.104-23.
 
 
24

 
 
Terms and Conditions of Deferred Compensation Awards.  Deferred Compensation Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish.  Award Agreements evidencing Deferred Compensation Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and, except as provided below, shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to the appropriate form of Award as set forth in the applicable section of this Plan.
 
Limitation on Elections. Notwithstanding any Participant’s prior election to reduce cash compensation pursuant to a program established in accordance with this Section 12, no Deferred Compensation Award may be granted to the Participant after termination of the Plan or termination of the Participant’s Service, and any such cash compensation shall be paid at the normal time and in accordance with the terms of the applicable cash compensation arrangement.
 
Election Irrevocable. A Participant’s election to reduce cash compensation pursuant to a program established in accordance with this Section 12 shall become irrevocable on the last day of the calendar year prior to the year in which the services are to be rendered with respect to which such cash compensation would otherwise become payable, or at the time otherwise required by Section 409A.
 
Vesting. Deferred Compensation Awards may be fully vested at grant or may be subject to such Vesting Conditions as the Committee determines.
 
Standard Forms of Award Agreement.
 
Award Agreements.  Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time.  No Award or purported Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement, which execution may be evidenced by electronic means.
 
Authority to Vary Terms.  The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
 
Change in Control.
 
Effect of Change in Control on Awards.  Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee may provide for any one or more of the following:
 
Accelerated Vesting.  In its discretion, the Committee may provide in the grant of any Award or at any other time may take such action as it deems appropriate to provide for acceleration of the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement in connection with a Change in Control of each or any outstanding Award or portion thereof and shares acquired pursuant thereto upon such conditions, including termination of the Participant’s Service prior to, upon, or following such Change in Control, and to such extent as the Committee shall determine.
 
 
25

 
 
Assumption, Continuation or Substitution.  In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the Acquiror), may, without the consent of any Participant, assume or continue the Company’s rights and obligations under each or any Award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control or substitute for each or any such outstanding Award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to the Acquiror’s stock, as applicable.  For purposes of this Section, if so determined by the Committee in its discretion, an Award denominated in shares of Stock shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Stock subject to the Award, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control.  Any Award or portion thereof which is not assumed, substituted for, or otherwise continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised or settled as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.
 
Cash-Out of Outstanding Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee may, in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant, determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Committee) of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control, reduced (but not below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award.  In the event such determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control may be canceled without payment of consideration to the holder thereof.  Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control and in respect of the unvested portions of their canceled Awards in accordance with the vesting schedules applicable to such Awards.
 
Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code.
 
Excess Parachute Payment.  In the event that any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, the Participant, subject to compliance with applicable law (including, but not limited to the rules imposed by Section 409A), may elect to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization.
 
 
26

 
 
Determination by Independent Accountants.  To aid the Participant in making any election called for under Section 14.2(a), no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an “excess parachute payment” to the Participant as described in Section 14.2(a), the Company shall request a determination in writing by independent public accountants selected by the Company (the Accountants).  As soon as practicable thereafter, the Accountants shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant.  For the purposes of such determination, the Accountants may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code.  The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make their required determination.  The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Accountants charge in connection with their services contemplated by this Section.
 
Compliance with Securities Law.
 
The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed.  In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
 
Compliance with Section 409A.
 
Awards Subject to Section 409A.  The Company intends that Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be so construed.  The provisions of this Section 16 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that constitutes or provides for payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation.  Such Awards may include, without limitation:
 
A Nonstatutory Stock Option or SAR that includes any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of (i) the exercise or disposition of the Award or (ii) the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Award first becomes substantially vested.
 
Any Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award at a time or upon an event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits the Participant granted the Award to elect one or more dates or events upon which the Award will be settled after the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period.
 
 
27

 
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period means the 2½ month period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.  For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning provided by Section 409A.
 
Deferral and/or Distribution Elections.  Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to any compensation deferral and/or payment elections (each, an “Election”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee pursuant to an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation:
 
Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the payment in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of payment as permitted by this Plan.
 
Elections shall be made by the end of the Participant’s taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to such Participant.
 
Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 16.3.
 
Subsequent Elections.  Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, any Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation which permits a subsequent Election to delay the payment or change the form of payment in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:
 
No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made.
 
Each subsequent Election related to a payment in settlement of an Award not described in Section 16.4(a)(ii), 16.4(a)(iii) or 16.4(a)(vi) must result in a delay of the payment for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
 
No subsequent Election related to a payment pursuant to Section 16.4(a)(iv) shall be made less than twelve (12) months before the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
 
Subsequent Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in the subsequent Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in a subsequent Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the subsequent Election determined in accordance the preceding paragraphs of this Section 16.3.
 
Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation.
 
Permissible Payments.  Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation must provide for payment in settlement of the Award only upon one or more of the following:
 
 
28

 
 
The Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A);
 
The Participant’s becoming “disabled” (as defined by Section 409A);
 
The Participant’s death;
 
A time or fixed schedule that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 16.2 or16.3, as applicable;
 
A change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with Section 409A; or
 
The occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency” (as defined by Section 409A).
 
Installment Payments.  It is the intent of this Plan that any right of a Participant to receive installment payments (within the meaning of Section 409A) shall, for all purposes of Section 409A, be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.
 
Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee Pursuant to Separation from Service.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment pursuant to Section 16.4(a)(i) in settlement of an Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (the Delayed Payment Date) that is six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death.  All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.
 
Payment Upon Disability.  All distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation payable by reason of a Participant becoming disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participant’s Election.  If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon becoming disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.
 
Payment Upon Death.  If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participant’s Election upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.  If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.
 
Payment Upon Change in Control.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Change in Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change in Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A.  Any Award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control as a result of the failure of the Acquiror to assume, continue or substitute for such Award in accordance with Section 14.1(b) shall vest to the extent provided by such Award but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change in Control into a right to receive, in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or as required by Section 16.4(c)), an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the Award at the time of the Change in Control.
 
 
29

 
 
Payment Upon Unforeseeable Emergency.  The Committee shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation for payment in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Committee, the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency.  In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such unforeseeable emergency cannot exceed the amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such emergency need is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by cessation of deferrals under the Award.  All distributions with respect to an unforeseeable emergency shall be made in a lump sum upon the Committee’s determination that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred.  The Committee’s decision with respect to whether an unforeseeable emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the payment in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.
 
Prohibition of Acceleration of Payments. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation, except as permitted by Section 409A.
 
No Representation Regarding Section 409A Compliance.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company makes no representation that Awards shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A.  No Participating Company shall be liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on a Participant by Section 409A.
 
Tax Withholding.
 
Tax Withholding in General.  The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by any Participating Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto.  The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.
 
Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares.  The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company.  The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates.  The Company may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to such Participating Company in cash.
 
 
30

 
 
Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan.
 
The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.  However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.3), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, (c) any amendment to Section 3.5, and (d) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted.  No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee.  Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.
 
Miscellaneous Provisions.
 
Repurchase Rights.  Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted.  The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.  Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
 
Forfeiture Events.
 
The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award.  Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service.
 
If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, shall reimburse the Company for (i) the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award received by such Participant during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and (ii) any profits realized by such Participant from the sale of securities of the Company during such twelve- (12-) month period.  In addition, to the extent claw-back or similar provisions applicable to Awards are required by applicable law, listing standards and/or policies adopted by the Company, Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to such provisions.
 
 
31

 
 
Provision of Information.  Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.
 
Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director.  No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant.  Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Consultant or Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time.  To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.
 
Rights as a Stockholder.  A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).  No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.3 or another provision of the Plan.
 
Delivery of Title to Shares.  Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.
 
Fractional Shares.  The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.
 
Retirement and Welfare Plans.  Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any Participating Company’s retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.  In addition, unless a written employment agreement or other service agreement references Awards, a general reference to “benefits” in such agreement shall not be deemed to refer to Awards granted hereunder.
 
Beneficiary Designation.  Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit.  Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.  If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse.  If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.
 
 
32

 
 
Severability.  If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
 
No Constraint on Corporate Action.  Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or another Participating Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.
 
Unfunded Obligation.  Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company.  Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations.  The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder.  Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company.  The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
 
Choice of Law.  Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law rules.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing sets forth the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan of Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. as duly adopted by the Board on June 11, 2014.
 
   
    /s/ Jonathan E. Soneff
  General Counsel & Corporate Secretary 
 
 
33

 
 
PLAN HISTORY AND NOTES TO COMPANY1
 
_______________, 2014
Board adopts Plan with a reserve of 3,975,000 shares (subject to increases and other adjustments as provided by the Plan), subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company.
   
_______________, 2014
Plan submitted for approval by the stockholders of the Company.
   
_______________, 2014
Plan approved by the stockholders of the Company.
   
_______________, 2014
Form S-8 registration statement covering Plan filed.
   
IMPORTANT NOTE:  IRC 162(m) 5 year reapproval of performance goals
Because the Committee may change the targets under performance goals, Section 162(m) requires stockholder reapproval of the material terms of performance goals no later than the annual meeting in the 5th year following the year in which the public company stockholders initially approved such material terms.  See Treas. Reg. 1.162-27(e)(4)(vi).
   
IMPORTANT NOTE:  Implementation of Section 12—Deferred Compensation Awards
Upon establishment of a Deferred Compensation Award program pursuant to Section 12, determine whether such program may constitute an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of ERISA Sec. 3(2), and, if so, implement such program through a subplan adopted by the committee, with eligibility limited to Directors and a select group of management or highly compensated employees in order to qualify such subplan as a “top-hat” unfunded deferred compensation plan.  File notice with Dept. of Labor under ERISA Reg. 2520.104-23 within 120 days of adoption of such subplan in order to exempt the subplan from reporting and disclosure requirements of ERISA.
 
 
 
 

 
 
1.
Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan
1
     
 
1.1
Establishment
1
 
1.2
Purpose
1
 
1.3
Term of Plan
1
       
2.
Definitions and Construction
1
     
 
2.1
Definitions
1
 
2.2
Construction
7
       
3.
Administration
7
     
 
3.1
Administration by the Committee
7
 
3.2
Authority of Officers
7
 
3.3
Administration with Respect to Insiders
8
 
3.4
Committee Complying with Section 162(m)
8
 
3.5
Powers of the Committee
8
 
3.6
Option or SAR Repricing
9
 
3.7
Indemnification
9
       
4.
Shares Subject to Plan
9
     
 
4.1
Maximum Number of Shares Issuable
9
 
4.2
Share Counting
10
 
4.3
Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure
10
 
4.4
Assumption or Substitution of Awards
10
       
5.
Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations
11
     
 
5.1
Persons Eligible for Awards
11
 
5.2
Participation in the Plan
11
 
5.3
Award Limitations
11
       
6.
Stock Options
12
     
 
6.1
Exercise Price
12
 
6.2
Exercisability and Term of Options
12
 
6.3
Payment of Exercise Price
13
 
6.4
Effect of Termination of Service
13
 
6.5
Transferability of Options
14
       
7.
Stock Appreciation Rights
14
     
 
7.1
Types of SARs Authorized
14
 
7.2
Exercise Price
15
 
7.3
Exercisability and Term of SARs
15
 
7.4
Exercise of SARs
15
 
7.5
Effect of Termination of Service
15
 
7.6
Transferability of SARs
16
 
 
 

 
 
8.
Restricted Stock Awards
16
     
 
8.1
Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized
16
 
8.2
Purchase Price
16
 
8.3
Purchase Period
16
 
8.4
Payment of Purchase Price
16
 
8.5
Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer
17
 
8.6
Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions
17
 
8.7
Effect of Termination of Service
17
 
8.8
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights
17
       
9.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
18
     
 
9.1
Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards
18
 
9.2
Purchase Price
18
 
9.3
Vesting
18
 
9.4
Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions
18
 
9.5
Effect of Termination of Service.
19
 
9.6
Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards
19
 
9.7
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards
19
       
10.
Performance Awards
19
     
 
10.1
Types of Performance Awards Authorized
19
 
10.2
Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units
20
 
10.3
Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula
20
 
10.4
Measurement of Performance Goals
20
 
10.5
Settlement of Performance Awards
21
 
10.6
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions
22
 
10.7
Effect of Termination of Service
22
 
10.8
Nontransferability of Performance Awards
23
       
11.
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards
23
     
 
11.1
Grant of Cash-Based Awards
23
 
11.2
Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards
23
 
11.3
Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards
23
 
11.4
Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards
24
 
11.5
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions
24
 
11.6
Effect of Termination of Service
24
 
11.7
Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards
24
       
12.
Deferred Compensation Awards
24
 
12.1
Establishment of Deferred Compensation Award Programs
24
 
12.2
Terms and Conditions of Deferred Compensation Awards
25
       
13.
Standard Forms of Award Agreement
25
     
 
13.1
Award Agreements
25
 
13.2
Authority to Vary Terms
25
 
 
 

 
 
14.
Change in Control
25
     
 
14.1
Effect of Change in Control on Awards
25
 
14.2
Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code
26
       
15.
Compliance with Securities Law
27
     
16.
Compliance with Section 409A
27
     
 
16.1
Awards Subject to Section 409A
27
 
16.2
Deferral and/or Distribution Elections
28
 
16.3
Subsequent Elections
28
 
16.4
Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation
28
       
17.
Tax Withholding
30
     
 
17.1
Tax Withholding in General
30
 
17.2
Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares
30
       
18.
Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan
31
     
19.
Miscellaneous Provisions
31
     
 
19.1
Repurchase Rights
31
 
19.2
Forfeiture Events
31
 
19.3
Provision of Information
32
 
19.4
Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director
32
 
19.5
Rights as a Stockholder
32
 
19.6
Delivery of Title to Shares
32
 
19.7
Fractional Shares
32
 
19.8
Retirement and Welfare Plans
32
 
19.9
Beneficiary Designation
32
 
19.10
Severability
33
 
19.11
No Constraint on Corporate Action
33
 
19.12
Unfunded Obligation
33
 
19.13
Choice of Law
33