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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant /x/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/x/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/x/ No fee required.
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
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/ / 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:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
105 MORGAN LANE
PLAINSBORO, NEW JERSEY 08536
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 17, 1999
To the Stockholders of Integra LifeSciences Corporation:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1999 Annual Meeting (the "Meeting") of the
Stockholders of Integra LifeSciences Corporation (the "Company") will be held
as, and for the purposes, set forth below:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
TIME 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 17, 1999
PLACE The Princeton Marriott Forrestal Village
201 Village Boulelvard
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
ITEMS OF BUSINESS 1. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the
Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to change the name
of the Company to "Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation."
2. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Company's 1999
Stock Option Plan.
3. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the Company's
Deferred Compensation Plan.
4. To elect seven directors of the Company to hold office as specified in the
accompanying Proxy Statement.
5. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's
auditors for the current fiscal year.
6. To act upon any other matters properly coming before the meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
RECORD DATE Holders of record of the Company's Common Stock, Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock at the close of business on
April 7, 1999 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting and any
adjournment or postponement thereof. A complete list of stockholders entitled to
vote at the Meeting will be available for inspection by any stockholder for any
purpose germane to the Meeting for ten days prior to the Meeting during ordinary
business hours at the Company's headquarters located at 105 Morgan Lane,
Plainsboro, New Jersey.
ANNUAL REPORT The 1999 Annual Report of Integra LifeSciences Corporation is being mailed
simultaneously herewith. The Annual Report is not to be considered part of the
proxy solicitation materials.
IMPORTANT In order to avoid additional soliciting expense to the Company, please MARK,
SIGN, DATE and MAIL your proxy PROMPTLY in the return envelope provided, even if
you plan to attend the Meeting. If you attend the Meeting and wish to vote your
shares in person, arrangements will be made for you to do so.
</TABLE>
By order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ William M. Goldstein
William M. Goldstein
Secretary
Plainsboro, New Jersey
April 20, 1999
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INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
105 MORGAN LANE
PLAINSBORO, NEW JERSEY 08536
-------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
-------------------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 17, 1999
PURPOSE OF MEETING
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to holders of common stock ("Common
Stock"), Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock") and
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series B Preferred Stock" and, together
with the Series A Preferred Stock, the "Preferred Stock") of Integra
LifeSciences Corporation (the "Company") in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company from such stockholders for use
at the 1999 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the "Meeting") to be
held on Monday, May 17, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. local time at The Princeton Marriott
Forrestal Village, Princeton, New Jersey and at any adjournment or postponement
thereof. This Proxy Statement, the enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and the form of proxy are first being mailed to the stockholders of
the Company on or about April 20, 1999.
At the Meeting, the stockholders of the Company will be asked to consider
and vote upon (i) a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the Company's
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of the
Company to "Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation" (see "Proposal 1. Company
Name Change"); (ii) a proposal to approve and adopt the Company's 1999 Stock
Option Plan (see "Proposal 2. 1999 Stock Option Plan"); (iii) a proposal to
approve and adopt the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan (see "Proposal 3.
Deferred Compensation Plan"); (iv) the election of seven directors to serve
until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified (see "Proposal 4. Election of Directors"); and (v)
the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the
Company's auditors for the current fiscal year (see "Proposal 5. Ratification of
Appointment of Auditors").
The Board knows of no matters that will be presented for consideration at
the Meeting other than those matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting
of Stockholders. If any other matters are properly presented at the Meeting or
any postponement or adjournment thereof, the persons named in the enclosed proxy
and acting thereunder will have authority to vote on such matters, to the extent
permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such
proxies.
All share and per share information regarding the Company's Common Stock
set forth in this Proxy Statement has been restated to reflect the one-for-two
reverse split of the Company's Common Stock on May 22, 1998.
RECORD DATE
Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 7, 1999
(the "Record Date") will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting
or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. As of the Record Date, there were
outstanding 15,730,933 shares of Common Stock, 500,000 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock (which are currently convertible into 250,000 shares of Common
Stock) and 100,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (which are currently
convertible into 2,617,801 shares of Common Stock), which constituted the only
outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote.
VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
On each matter voted upon at the Meeting and any adjournment or
postponement thereof, holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock will vote
together as a single class. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder of
record thereof to one vote, each share of Series A Preferred Stock entitles the
holder of record thereof to one-half of one vote and each share of Series B
Preferred Stock entitles the holder thereof to 26.178 votes. Each
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stockholder may vote in person or by properly executed proxy on all matters that
properly come before the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders entitled to vote a majority
of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock outstanding on the Record Date
will constitute a quorum for purposes of voting at the Meeting.
Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock and Preferred Stock on the Record Date is required to approve and adopt
the change of the Company's name. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred
Stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Meeting and entitled to vote is
required to approve and adopt the 1999 Stock Option Plan and the Deferred
Compensation Plan and to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
the Company's auditors for the current fiscal year. Directors are to be elected
by the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock present, in person or by
proxy, at the Meeting and entitled to vote. Cumulative voting in the election of
directors is not permitted.
The enclosed proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors for use in
connection with the Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. All
properly executed proxies received prior to or at the Meeting or any
postponement or adjournment thereof and not revoked in the manner described
below will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on such
proxies. If no instructions are indicated, such proxies will be voted "FOR" the
approval and adoption of each of the proposals set forth herein.
If a proxy is marked as "Withhold Authority" or "Abstain" on any matter, or
if specific instructions are given that no vote be cast on any specific matter
(a "Specified Non-Vote"), the shares represented by such proxy will not be voted
on such matter. Abstentions will be included within the number of shares present
at the Meeting and entitled to vote for purposes of determining whether such
matter has been authorized, but nominee and other Specified Non-Votes will not
be so included.
If a quorum for the Meeting is not obtained or, as to any one or more
proposals, if fewer shares are voted in favor of the proposal than the number of
shares required for such approval, the Meeting may be adjourned for the purpose
of obtaining additional proxies or votes or for any other purpose. At any
subsequent reconvening of the Meeting, all proxies will be voted in the same
manner as such proxies would have been voted at the original meeting (except for
any proxies that have theretofore effectively been revoked or withdrawn),
notwithstanding that they may have been effectively voted on the same or any
other matter at a previous meeting. Proxies voting against a proposal set forth
herein will not be used to adjourn the Meeting to obtain additional proxies or
votes with respect to such proposal.
Proxies may be revoked by those persons executing the proxies by (a)
delivering to the Secretary of the Company at or before the Meeting a written
notice of revocation bearing a later date than the proxy, (b) duly executing a
subsequent proxy relating to the same shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock
and delivering it to the Secretary of the Company at or before the Meeting or
(c) attending the Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the
Meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy). Any written
notice revoking a proxy should be delivered at or prior to the Meeting to:
Secretary, Integra LifeSciences Corporation, 105 Morgan Lane, Plainsboro, New
Jersey 08536.
All expenses of this solicitation, including the cost of preparing and
mailing this Proxy Statement, will be borne by the Company. In addition to
solicitation by use of the mail, proxies may be solicited by telephone,
telegraph or personally by the directors, officers and employees of the Company,
who will receive no extra compensation for their services. The Company will
reimburse banks, brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy soliciting materials
to beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock.
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PROPOSAL 1. COMPANY NAME CHANGE
The Board of Directors has approved and is proposing for stockholder
approval an amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to change the name of the Company to "Integra LifeSciences
Holdings Corporation" (the "Name Change Amendment").
The Board believes that it would be in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders to change the name of the Company to Integra LifeSciences
Holdings Corporation for two primary reasons. First, the Company and its
subsidiaries have historically sold their collagen wound and matrix products
under a number of different company names. The Company has decided that it is in
its best interests to manufacture all such products under the name of a single
operating subsidiary, which will be named "Integra LifeSciences Corporation."
The ultimate parent (the Company) will therefore need to be renamed "Integra
LifeSciences Holdings Corporation." Second, as the Company develops and acquires
new operating businesses outside of its historical collagen product base (such
as Rystan Company, Inc. and the NeuroCare Group), it wishes to reflect its
broader business mix through the use of "Holdings" in the Company's name.
The approval of the Name Change Amendment will not affect in any way the
validity of currently outstanding stock certificates and will not require the
Company's stockholders to surrender or exchange any stock certificates that they
currently hold.
The Name Change Amendment is set forth in Appendix A to this Proxy
Statement. If approved by the Company's stockholders, the Name Change Amendment
will become effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware on or about May 17, 1999 (the "Effective Date").
------------------------------
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED
CHANGE OF THE COMPANY'S NAME AND HEREBY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE
COMPANY VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE NAME CHANGE AMENDMENT.
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PROPOSAL 2. 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Board of Directors believes that a stock option plan enhances the
ability of the Company to attract and retain officers and other employees
(collectively, "Eligible Employees") and directors, consultants, and certain
other non-employees (together with the Eligible Employees, the "Optionees") and
to motivate them to exercise their best efforts on behalf of the Company, any
subsidiary or parent of the Company (a "Related Corporation"), or any affiliate
of the Company or a Related Corporation. Since the Company has grown
significantly in recent years and the number of Optionees has also increased,
the Board of Directors believes that the number of shares reserved that remain
available for option grants under the Company's existing stock option plans is
inadequate. Accordingly, the Board of Directors proposes and recommends that the
stockholders approve the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan, which the Board of
Directors approved on February 25, 1999, subject to stockholder approval.
The text of the 1999 Stock Option Plan is attached as Appendix B to this
Proxy Statement. The following description of the 1999 Stock Option Plan is
intended merely as a summary of its principal features and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the 1999 Stock Option Plan.
1. Number of Shares. The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common
Stock which may be issued pursuant to options granted under the 1999 Stock
Option Plan will be 2,000,000 shares; provided, however, that no Eligible
Employee may be granted options covering more than an aggregate of 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock over any one-year period. Both of the foregoing limits
are subject to adjustment to reflect stock dividends, stock splits, share
combinations, and similar changes in the capitalization of the Company. The
shares issued under the 1999 Stock Option Plan may be authorized but unissued
shares or reacquired shares, and the Company may purchase shares required for
this purpose, from time to time, if it deems such purchase to be advisable.
2. Administration. The 1999 Stock Option Plan will be administered by the
Company's Stock Option Committee, which consists of not fewer than two directors
of the Company's Board of Directors who are designated by the entire Board of
Directors. Under the 1999 Stock Option Plan, the Stock Option Committee will
have the authority to (i) select the Eligible Employees and other Optionees to
be granted "incentive stock options" ("ISOs"), within the meaning of Section 422
of the Code, and non-qualified stock options ("NQSOs"), (ii) grant options on
behalf of the Company, and (iii) set the date of grant and other terms of the
options, including the times at which and the price at which options shall be
granted. Currently, the members of the Stock Option Committee are Keith Bradley,
Ph.D. and Edmund L. Zalinski, Ph.D.
3. Eligibility. Only Eligible Employees of the Company or a Related
Corporation are eligible to receive ISOs under the 1999 Stock Option Plan.
Non-qualified stock options may be granted to all Optionees. As of the date of
this Proxy Statement, there are approximately 400 Eligible Employees of the
Company and Related Corporations eligible to receive ISOs and approximately 450
Optionees (including Eligible Employees) eligible to receive NQSOs.
4. Term of Plan. No option may be granted under the 1999 Stock Option Plan
after February 24, 2009, although options outstanding on February 24, 2009 may
extend beyond that date.
5. Term of Option. All options terminate on the earliest of: (a) the
expiration of the term specified in the option agreement, which may not exceed
ten years from the date of grant or, in the case of an ISO, five years after the
date of grant if the Optionee on the date of grant owns, directly or by
attribution under the Code, shares possessing more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company; (b) in the event
the Optionee's employment or service with the Company, Related Corporations, and
affiliates terminates prior to the expiration of his or her option, an
accelerated expiration date, if any, set by the Stock Option Committee; or
(c) an accelerated expiration date, if any, set by the Stock Option Committee in
the event of certain corporate transactions (e.g., a merger, consolidation,
reorganization, or liquidation).
6. Option Price. The option price for an option granted under the 1999
Stock Option Plan may not be less than the higher of one hundred percent (100%)
of the fair market value of the shares subject to the option on the date that
the option is granted or the par value thereof. However, if an ISO is granted to
an employee who then owns, directly or by attribution under the Code, shares
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
shares of the Company, the option price must be at least 110% of the fair market
value of the shares on the date that the option is granted. For purposes of the
1999 Stock Option Plan, the per share fair
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market value of the Company's Common Stock on the relevant date shall equal the
quoted closing price on the last business day prior to such date.
7. Exercisability. Options are exercisable in such installments as the
Stock Option Committee may determine, but not earlier than three months from the
date of grant except under specified circumstances. On a change in control of
the Company (as defined in Section 9A of the 1999 Stock Option Plan), all
outstanding options become fully vested and exercisable.
8. Payment. An Optionee may pay for shares covered by his or her option in
cash or its equivalent or, in the discretion of the Stock Option Committee,
(i) in shares of the Company's Common Stock previously acquired by the Optionee
(subject to certain holding period requirements), (ii) in shares of the
Company's Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the option, (iii) through any
combination of cash or its equivalent, (i) or (ii) above, or (iv) by delivering
a properly executed notice of exercise of the option to the Company and a
broker, with irrevocable instructions to the broker promptly to deliver to the
Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay the exercise price
of the option.
9. Option Agreement; Restriction on Transferability. All options will be
evidenced by a written option agreement which, subject to certain limitations,
may contain provisions that are inconsistent with the 1999 Stock Option Plan and
such other provisions as the Stock Option Committee deems appropriate. No ISO
and, except as otherwise provided in the option agreement, no NQSO granted under
the 1999 Stock Option Plan may be assigned or transferred, except by will or the
laws of descent and distribution. If the Optionee is married at the time of
exercise and if the Optionee requests at the time of exercise, the certificate
will be registered in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse, jointly,
with right of survivorship.
10. Amendments to Options and the 1999 Stock Option Plan; Discontinuance of
the 1999 Stock Option Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 1999 Stock Option
Plan, the Stock Option Committee may not amend an option agreement without an
Optionee's consent if the amendment is unfavorable to the Optionee. The Board of
Directors may suspend or discontinue the 1999 Stock Option Plan or, subject to
such shareholder approval as may be then required under the applicable rules and
regulations of the Code or the exchange or market on which the shares of Common
Stock are listed, amend it in any respect whatsoever.
11. Federal Income Tax Aspects of the 1999 Stock Option Plan. Based on the
advice of counsel, the Company believes that, under federal tax laws and
regulations in effect on February 1, 1999, the federal income tax consequences
to the Company and to the Optionees receiving ISOs and NQSOs pursuant to the
1999 Stock Option Plan will be as follows:
If an option is treated as an ISO, the Optionee will recognize no
income upon grant or exercise of the option unless the alternative minimum
tax rules apply. Upon an Optionee's sale of his or her shares of Common
Stock (assuming that the sale occurs no sooner than two years after grant
of the option and one year after exercise of the option), any gain will be
taxed to the Optionee as capital gain. Currently, the maximum long-term
capital gain rate is 20%. If the Optionee disposes of his or her shares of
Common Stock prior to the expiration of the above holding period, the
Optionee generally will recognize ordinary income in an amount measured as
the difference between the exercise price and the lower of the fair market
value of the Common Stock at the exercise date or the sale price of the
Common Stock. Any gain recognized on such a disposition of the Common Stock
in excess of the amount treated as ordinary income will be characterized as
capital gain. The Company will be allowed a business expense deduction to
the extent the Optionee recognizes ordinary income, subject to Sections 83
and 162(m) of the Code.
An Optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time the Optionee
is granted an NQSO. However, upon exercise of the option, the Optionee will
recognize ordinary income for federal income tax purposes in an amount generally
measured as the excess of the then fair market value of the Common Stock over
the exercise price, and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding
deduction at the time of exercise, subject to Sections 83 and 162(m) of the
Code. Upon an Optionee's sale of such shares, any difference between the sale
price and fair market value of such shares on the date of exercise will be
treated as capital gain or loss and will qualify for long-term capital gain or
loss treatment if the Common Stock has been held for more than 12 months.
5
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The foregoing does not purport to be a complete summary of the effect of
federal income taxation upon holders of options or upon the Company. It also
does not reflect provisions of the income tax laws of any municipality, state or
foreign country in which an Optionee may reside.
On March 29, 1999, in connection with the acquisition of the NeuroCare
Group of companies, the Company granted under the 1999 Stock Option Plan options
to purchase an aggregate of 408,500 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price
of $3.50 per share to 206 Eligible Employees. Such options were granted subject
to approval of the 1999 Stock Option Plan by the Company's stockholders and will
be cancelled in the event such stockholder approval is not obtained.
------------------------
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 1999 STOCK
OPTION PLAN AND HEREBY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY VOTE
"FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN.
PROPOSAL 3. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
The Board of Directors believes that a non-qualified deferred compensation
plan enhances the ability of the Company to attract and retain certain executive
officers and motivate them to exercise their best efforts on behalf of the
Company and its affiliates. Accordingly, the Board of Directors proposes and
recommends that the stockholders approve the Company's Deferred Compensation
Plan.
The text of the Deferred Compensation Plan is attached as Appendix C to
this Proxy Statement. The following description of the Deferred Compensation
Plan is intended merely as a summary of its principal features and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the Deferred Compensation Plan.
1. Eligibility. Only select management and highly compensated employees of
the Company and its affiliates (collectively, "Eligible Officers") are eligible
to defer compensation under the Deferred Compensation Plan. It is intended that
the group of employees eligible for the Deferred Compensation Plan constitute "a
select group of management or highly compensated employees" within the meaning
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). As
of the date of this Proxy Statement, there are approximately 23 Eligible
Officers of the Company and its affiliates.
2. Administration. The Deferred Compensation Plan will be administered by
the Company's Stock Option Committee, the members of which are designated by the
Company's Board of Directors. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, the Stock
Option Committee will have the authority to (1) determine the eligibility of an
employee to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan, (2) value an Eligible
Officer's Account, (3) determine the amount or recipient of a payment from the
Deferred Compensation Plan, and (4) interpret the Deferred Compensation Plan.
Currently, the members of the Stock Option Committee are Keith Bradley, Ph.D.
and Edmund L. Zalinski, Ph.D.
3. Election to Defer. An Eligible Officer may elect to defer up to 50
percent of his or her base compensation by executing a Deferred Compensation
Agreement prior to the beginning of the calendar year in which the compensation
will be earned, or, if later, within 30 days of the Deferred Compensation Plan's
effective date or within 30 days of the Eligible Officer's first becoming
eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan. For purposes of the
Plan, "base compensation" means base salary from the Company and its affiliates,
excluding any commissions, bonuses, overtime, or other extra or incentive pay.
Until terminated or replaced with a new Deferred Compensation Agreement, an
Eligible Officer's Deferred Compensation Agreement will be effective for
subsequent years.
An Eligible Officer may establish a new Deferred Compensation Agreement
with respect to future compensation on an annual basis and may also annually
enter into a new Deferred Compensation Agreement whereby he or she elects to
change the method by which he will receive payment of amounts deferred in future
years.
An Eligible Officer may terminate an election to defer for subsequent
calendar years by notifying the Company in writing. An Eligible Officer who has
terminated his or her participation in the Deferred
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Compensation Plan may subsequently elect to participate in the Deferred
Compensation Plan by executing a new Deferred Compensation Agreement prior to
the beginning of any future year.
An Eligible Officer may not make deferrals under the Deferred Compensation
Plan during any period for which contributions must be suspended as a condition
of the Eligible Officer's receipt of a hardship withdrawal from the Company's
401(k) Plan.
4. Deferred Compensation Account; Investment of Deferred Compensation
Account. A Deferred Compensation Account will be established for each Eligible
Officer who elects to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan to record
deferrals made by the Eligible Officer under a Deferred Compensation Agreement.
An Eligible Officer's Deferred Compensation Account will be invested, at the
Eligible Officer's discretion, in phantom units of common stock of the Company
and/or phantom units of mutual funds designated as available investment options
under the Deferred Compensation Plan. A record of the value of each Eligible
Officer's interest in his or her Deferred Compensation Account(s) will be
maintained, and each Eligible Officer will receive an annual statement of his or
her Deferred Compensation Account(s).
Each Deferred Compensation Account will be credited, for each phantom unit
of common stock of the Company and/or each phantom unit of a mutual fund, for an
amount equal to the actual amount of any cash dividend paid on a share of common
stock of the Company and/or of any cash distribution paid with respect to a
share of the mutual fund.
An Eligible Officer's interest in amounts and phantom units of common stock
of the Company and/or phantom units of a mutual fund credited to his or her
Deferred Compensation Account shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable at all
times.
In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, appropriate adjustments in the
number of phantom units of common stock of the Company allocated to the Deferred
Compensation Accounts will be made.
5. Distribution. Distributions from an Eligible Officer's Deferred
Compensation Account(s) will begin as of January 31 of the year following the
year in which the Eligible Officer ceases to be an employee of the Company and
its affiliates, and will be made in the form of common stock of the Company to
the extent the Eligible Officer's Deferred Compensation Account is invested in
phantom units of common stock at the time of distribution. Otherwise,
distributions will be made in the form of cash. At the time an Eligible Officer
enters into the Deferred Compensation Agreement, the Eligible Officer will elect
to receive distributions either in a single payment or, subject to certain
limits prescribed by the Deferred Compensation Plan, in annual payments for a
period of two to ten years. The Eligible Officer's election as to the manner of
receiving distributions may not be changed with respect to any year covered by
that Deferred Compensation Agreement. An Eligible Officer may execute a new
Deferred Compensation Agreement and thereby make a different election as to the
manner of distribution with respect to compensation for services performed in
later years.
6. Hardship Distributions. The Company may at any time make a single
payment to an Eligible Officer (or beneficiary) equal to a part or all of the
balance in the Eligible Officer's Deferred Compensation Account(s) upon a
showing of an unforeseeable financial emergency caused by an event beyond the
control of the Eligible Officer (or beneficiary) which would result in severe
financial hardship to the Eligible Officer (or beneficiary) if such payment were
not made. The determination of whether such emergency exists shall be made at
the sole discretion of the Stock Option Committee.
7. Restriction on Transferability. The right of an Eligible Officer or any
other person to receive payments under this Deferred Compensation Plan or any
Deferred Compensation Agreement shall not be subject in any manner to
anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance,
attachment, or garnishment by creditors of the Eligible Officer or any
beneficiary.
8. Amendment and Termination of Deferred Compensation Plan. The Company
may amend or terminate the Deferred Compensation Plan at any time. The balance
in any Eligible Officer's Deferred Compensation Account shall remain subject to
the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan and distribution will not be
accelerated because of the termination of the Deferred Compensation Plan.
7
<PAGE>
9. Unfunded Plan. The Company is not required to fund or secure in any way
its obligation under the Deferred Compensation Plan. All distributions under the
Deferred Compensation Plan will be made from the general assets of the Company.
An Eligible Officer's claim against the Company for amounts due under the
Deferred Compensation Plan will have the same standing as that of any other
unsecured general creditor.
10. Federal Income Tax Aspects of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Based on
the advice of counsel, the Company believes that, under federal tax laws and
regulations in effect on February 1, 1999, the federal income tax consequences
to the Company and to the Eligible Officers participating in the Deferred
Compensation Plan will be as follows:
An Eligible Officer will not recognize taxable income and the Company will
not be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes upon the deferral
of compensation or the deferral of dividends or distributions on phantom units
of common stock or mutual funds under the Deferred Compensation Plan. Employment
taxes, however, are due on an Eligible Officer's deferrals in the year the
compensation is earned, rather than the year it is received by the Eligible
Officer. Deferrals, and earnings thereon, will generally be taxable as ordinary
income in the year distributed and the Company will be entitled to a
corresponding deduction, subject to Sections 83 and 162(m) of the Code.
The foregoing does not purport to be a complete summary of the effect of
federal income taxation upon Eligible Officers or upon the Company. It also does
not reflect provisions of the income tax laws of any municipality, state or
foreign country in which an Eligible Officer may reside.
------------------------
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN AND HEREBY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN.
PROPOSAL 4. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has nominated seven persons for election as
directors whose terms will expire at the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or
when their successors are elected and qualified. The nominees are Keith Bradley,
Ph.D., Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D., Stuart M. Essig, George W. McKinney, III,
Ph.D., Neal Moszkowski, James M. Sullivan and Edmund L. Zalinski, Ph.D., each of
whom are currently directors of the Company. Mr. Moszkowski is the nominee of
the holders of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock, who have the right to
nominate one designee to the Company's Board of Directors.
If any nominee should be unable to serve as director, an event not now
anticipated, it is intended that the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
represented by proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute as the
Board of Directors may nominate. Set forth below is certain information with
respect to the persons nominated as directors of the Company.
Keith Bradley, Ph.D. has been a director of the Company since 1992. He is
the Professor of International Management at The Open University Business
School, Milton Keynes, England, and a Director of Ockham Holdings plc, a London
Stock Exchange corporation. Dr. Bradley was the founder and formerly Executive
Director of the London School of Business Performance Group, an
interdisciplinary research institute which specializes in organizational
performance. He has extensive experience as a consultant to a variety of
business, government and international organizations and has published widely on
management and industrial policy. Dr. Bradley has served as Visiting Professor
at Harvard Business School, the UCLA Graduate School of Management and the
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bradley received a Diploma
in Education from Culham College and a Ph.D. degree in Economics from the
University of Essex. Dr. Bradley is 54 years old.
Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D. has served as the Company's Chairman since March
1992. Prior to being replaced by Mr. Essig in December 1997, Dr. Caruso served
as the Company's Chief Executive Officer since March 1992 and as the Company's
President since September 1995. From 1969 to 1992, Dr. Caruso was a principal of
LFC Financial Corporation, a project finance company, where he was also a
director and Executive Vice President. He has 25 years experience in finance and
entrepreneurial ventures. Dr. Caruso is on the Board of Susquehanna
8
<PAGE>
University, The Baum School of Art and The Uncommon Individual Foundation
(Founder). He received a B.S. degree from Susquehanna University, an M.S.B.A.
degree from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. degree from the London School of
Economics, University of London (United Kingdom). Dr. Caruso is also a certified
public accountant. Dr. Caruso is 55 years old.
Stuart M. Essig has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as
a director of the Company since December 1997. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Essig supervised the medical technology practice at Goldman, Sachs & Co. as
a managing director. Mr. Essig had ten years of broad health care experience at
Goldman Sachs serving as a senior merger and acquisitions advisor to a broad
range of domestic and international medical technology, pharmaceutical and
biotechnology clients. Mr. Essig received an A.B. degree from the Woodrow Wilson
School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and an M.B.A.
and a Ph.D. degree in Financial Economics from the University of Chicago,
Graduate School of Business. He also serves as a director of St. Jude Medical,
Inc., Vital Signs, Inc. and Neuromedical Systems, Inc. Mr. Essig is 37 years
old.
George W. McKinney, III, Ph.D. has been a director of the Company since
1992 and has served as Vice Chairman of the Board since May 1997 and as
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since July
1997. He had more than 25 years of experience in industry and new ventures.
Between 1990 and 1997, Dr. McKinney was Managing Director of Beacon Venture
Management Corporation, a venture capital firm. From 1983 to 1989, he was
Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer for American Research and
Development, a venture capital firm. Prior thereto, he held various senior
management positions with Corning Glass Works (now Corning, Inc.), a specialty
materials firm. Dr. McKinney received a B.S. degree from MIT and a Ph.D. degree
from the Stanford University School of Business. Dr. McKinney is 56 years old.
Neal Moszkowski has been a director of the Company since March 29, 1999 and
is the designee of the holders of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock.
Mr. Moszkowski has been a partner of Soros Private Equity Partners, LLC since
August 1998. Prior thereto, Mr. Moszkowski was an Executive Director of Goldman
Sachs International and a Vice President of Goldman, Sachs & Co. in its
Principal Investment Area, which he joined in August 1993. He received a B.A.
degree from Amherst College and an M.B.A. degree from Stanford University.
Mr. Moszkowski is 33 years old.
James M. Sullivan has been a director of the Company since 1992. Since
1986, he has held several positions with Marriott International, Inc. (and its
predecessor, Marriott Corp.), including Vice President of Mergers and
Acquisitions, and his current position of Executive Vice President of
Development for the Lodging Group of Marriott. From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Sullivan
was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tenly Enterprises, Inc.,
a privately held company operating 105 restaurants. Prior to 1983, he held
senior management positions with Marriott Corp., Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.,
Holiday Inns, Inc., Kentucky Fried Chicken Corp. and Heublein, Inc. He also was
employed as a senior auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. and currently serves as
a director of Global Vacation Group, Inc. Mr. Sullivan received a B.S. degree in
Accounting from Boston College and an M.B.A. degree from the University of
Connecticut. Mr. Sullivan is also a certified public accountant. Mr. Sullivan is
55 years old.
Edmund L. Zalinski, Ph.D. has been a director of the Company since 1992.
Since 1938, Dr. Zalinski has been active in a variety of public and privately
held companies engaged in insurance, mutual funds, banking, leasing and real
estate. From 1973 until he retired in 1992, he was Chairman of the Board of the
American Capital Open End Funds, a mutual fund management company. He was a
principal organizer and President of the Life Insurance Company of North America
and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Greenfield Real Estate
Investment Trust. He currently serves as Chairman of A+ Marketing Services.
Dr. Zalinski received a B.A. degree from Cornell University, an M.B.A. degree
from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. degree from New York University.
Dr. Zalinski is 83 years old.
9
<PAGE>
INFORMATION CONCERNING MEETINGS AND CERTAIN COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors held five formal meetings during 1998. During 1998,
all incumbent directors attended in person or by conference telephone at least
75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of
the Board on which they served during their incumbency. The Company has a
standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Stock Option Committee of
its Board of Directors.
The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors
regarding the selection of independent accountants, reviews the results and
scope of the audit and other services provided by the Company's independent
accountants, and reviews and evaluates the Company's internal accounting
control. During 1998, the Audit Committee was comprised of Messrs. Zalinski and
Sullivan and met three times. Mr. Moszkowski was appointed to the Audit
Committee in 1999.
The Compensation Committee makes decisions concerning salaries and
incentive compensation for employees and consultants of the Company. During
1998, the Compensation Committee was comprised of Messrs. Bradley and Caruso and
met once. Mr. Moszkowski was appointed to the Compensation Committee in 1999.
The Stock Option Committee makes decisions concerning issuance of stock
options to employees and consultants of the Company and also administers the
Company's 1992 and 1998 Stock Option Plans, the Company's 1993 and 1996
Incentive Stock Option and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans, the Company's
Employee Stock Purchase Plan and, if approved by the stockholders at the
Meeting, the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan. During 1998, the Stock Option
Committee was comprised of Messrs. Bradley and Zalinski and met five times.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
The Company has not paid any cash compensation to its directors for their
service as directors. The Company has granted each non-employee director options
to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock as compensation for their service on
the Board of Directors, such options to be issued under the 1999 Stock Option
Plan immediately following the Meeting. The Company also pays reasonable travel
and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by non-employee directors in connection with
attendance at meetings to transact the business of the Company or attendance at
meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.
PROPOSAL 5. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as the Company's independent
accountants for 1998 and has been selected by the Board of Directors to serve in
the same capacity for 1999. The stockholders will be asked to ratify this
appointment at the Meeting. The ratification of independent accountants by the
stockholders is not required by law or the Company's By-laws. Traditionally, the
Company has submitted this matter to the stockholders and believes that it is
good practice to continue to do so.
Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's auditors
requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the
issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock present, in
person or by proxy, at the Meeting and entitled to vote. If a majority of the
votes cast on this matter are not cast in favor of the ratification of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company will appoint other independent
accountants as soon as practicable and before the close of the 1999 year.
A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to be present at
the Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. The
representative will also have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she
desires to do so.
------------------------
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT
OF AUDITORS AND HEREBY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY'S AUDITORS FOR
1999.
10
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's directors and executive officers, as
well as persons beneficially owning more than 10% of the Company's outstanding
shares of Common Stock and certain other holders of such shares (collectively,
"Covered Persons"), to file with the Commission and the Nasdaq Stock Market,
within specified time periods, initial reports of ownership, and subsequent
reports of changes in ownership, of Common Stock and other equity securities of
the Company.
Based solely upon the Company's review of copies of such reports furnished
to it and upon representations of Covered Persons that no other reports were
required, to the Company's knowledge all of the Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to Covered Persons were complied with through March 1999
except that one annual statement of beneficial ownership of securities on
Form 5, each with respect to the grant of stock options during 1998, was filed
late by each of the following: Richard C. Caruso, the Chairman and a director
and principal stockholder of the Company; Keith Bradley, James M. Sullivan and
Edmund L. Zalinski, each of whom is a director of the Company; and Michael D.
Pierschbacher, Senior Vice President, Research and Development of the Company.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information for the Company's last
three fiscal years concerning the annual, long-term and other compensation of
the chief executive officer of the Company and each of the Company's four
highest paid executive officers as of December 31, 1998 whose total annual
salary and bonus during 1998 exceeded $100,000 (collectively, the "Named
Officers"):
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
-------------------------
AWARDS
-------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION SECURITIES
------------------------- RESTRICTED UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS STOCK AWARDS OPTIONS COMPENSATION(1)
- ------------------------------------------ ---- -------- ------- ------------ ---------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Stuart M. Essig (2) ...................... 1998 $300,000 -- -- 75,000 $ 500
President and Chief Executive Officer 1997 -- -- $5,875,000 500,000 --
1996 -- -- -- -- --
George W. McKinney, III, Ph.D. (3) ....... 1998 $240,000 -- -- 38,600 $35,239
Executive Vice President and Chief 1997 $165,807 -- -- 250,000 $ 844
Operating Officer 1996 -- -- -- -- --
Michael D. Pierschbacher, Ph.D ........... 1998 $198,000 -- -- 25,790 $ 1,485
Senior Vice President, Research and 1997 $198,000 -- -- 71,375 $ 1,485
Development 1996 $198,000 -- -- -- $ 1,485
Judith O'Grady ........................... 1998 $130,000 -- -- 35,230 $ 975
Senior Vice President, Regulatory 1997 $118,333 $15,000 -- 12,500 $ 888
Affairs 1996 $115,000 -- -- -- $ 791
Frederick Cahn, Ph.D ..................... 1998 $125,000 $10,000 -- 15,000 $ 937
Senior Vice President, Technology 1997 $125,000 $10,000 -- -- $20,859
Development 1996 $115,000 -- -- -- $ 858
</TABLE>
- ------------------
(1) Other than certain moving expenses reimbursed to Drs. McKinney and Cahn, the
amounts reported in this column consist of the Company's matching
contributions to the Company's 401(k) Plan. The amounts reported in this
column for Dr. McKinney during 1998 and for Cahn during 1997 include $34,301
and $20,000, respectively, for moving expenses reimbursed by the Company.
(2) Mr. Essig joined the Company in December 1997.
(3) Dr. McKinney's employment with the Company commenced in May 1997.
11
<PAGE>
The following tables set forth certain information concerning stock options
granted to Named Officers during 1998 and the unexercised options held by them
at December 31, 1998. No options were exercised by any Named Officer during
1998.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
----------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES
SECURITIES OPTIONS OF STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE FOR OPTION TERM
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN PRICE PER EXPIRATION ---------------------------
NAME GRANTED(1) FISCAL YEAR(1) SHARE DATE 5%
- ------------------------------------- ---------- --------------- --------- ---------- ---------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Stuart M. Essig...................... 75,000 7.2% $4.375 9/10/04 $ 111,653
George W. McKinney, III, Ph.D........ 38,600 3.7% $3.375 12/31/04 $ 44,353
Michael D. Pierschbacher, Ph.D....... 25,790 2.5% $3.375 12/31/04 $ 29,634
Judith O' Grady...................... 5,000 0.5% $8.250 3/23/04 $ 14,036
10,000 1.0% $7.625 5/17/04 $ 25,946
20,230 1.9% $3.375 12/31/04 $ 23,245
Frederick Cahn, Ph.D................. 15,000 1.4% $3.375 12/31/04 $ 17,235
<CAPTION>
NAME 10%
- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C>
Stuart M. Essig...................... $ 253,320
George W. McKinney, III, Ph.D........ $ 100,636
Michael D. Pierschbacher, Ph.D....... $ 67,238
Judith O' Grady...................... $ 31,846
$ 58,867
$ 52,742
Frederick Cahn, Ph.D................. $ 39,107
</TABLE>
- ------------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) The Company granted options to employees to purchase a total of 1,044,501
shares of Common Stock during 1998. Such options were granted at a price at
or above fair market value, are nontransferable and vest over a period of
four years commencing with the date of grant.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES(1)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NUMBER OF SECURITIES IN-THE-MONEY
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END(2)
OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END
----------------------------- -----------------------------
NAME EXERCISABLE NONEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE NONEXERCISABLE
- --------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -------------- ----------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Stuart M. Essig.......................................... 125,000 450,000 -- --
George W. McKinney, III, Ph.D............................ 81,000 207,600 -- --
Michael D. Pierschbacher, Ph.D........................... 54,817 42,349 -- --
Judith O'Grady........................................... 4,000 43,730 -- --
Frederick Cahn, Ph.D..................................... 33,468 19,365 -- --
</TABLE>
- ------------------
(1) No options were exercised by the Named Officers during 1998.
(2) In-the-money options are those in which the fair market value of the
underlying securities exceeds the exercise price of the option. The closing
price of the Company's Common Stock on December 31, 1998 was $3.375 per
share. None of the options held by the Named Officers were in-the-money on
December 31, 1998.
12
<PAGE>
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
Stuart M. Essig entered into a four-year employment agreement with the
Company in December 1997 to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company. As compensation for his services during the first year of the
agreement, the Company paid Mr. Essig an annual salary of $300,000. For each
subsequent year that he is employed, Mr. Essig's salary will be $300,000 plus
such increases, if any, as may be established by the Board of Directors.
Mr. Essig is also entitled to receive a performance bonus of up to fifty percent
(50%) of his base salary, based upon the satisfaction of certain performance
goals pertaining principally to the trading price of the Common Stock.
Mr. Essig, however, waived his right to receive any such performance bonus for
1998 and 1999. He is also entitled to life insurance equal to the lesser of
(a) a $3,000,000 four-year minimum renewable term life insurance policy and
(b) the four-year minimum renewable term life policy purchasable by the Company
by paying premium payments of $5,000 per year for such policy. At the request of
Mr. Essig, the Company will disburse a loan in the amount of up to $500,000
subject to certain conditions. He is also entitled to participate in the
Company's medical, disability, pension and other employee benefit plans and
programs maintained from time to time by the Company for the benefit of its
senior executives. The employment agreement is for an initial term through
December 31, 2001 and shall automatically extend on December 31, 2001 and on
each subsequent one-year anniversary thereof for one year unless the Company or
Mr. Essig provides written notice of termination at least six months prior to
the expiration of the then-current term. Mr. Essig has the right to terminate
the employment agreement in the event the Company fails to appoint him as
President and Chief Executive Officer or as a Director or for other good reason
(as defined therein).
The employment agreement further provides that the Company generally will
reimburse, or "gross-up," Mr. Essig on an after-tax basis for any excise tax
liability he may incur by reason of any "excess parachute payments" he receives
from the Company. Section 280G of the Code provides that if payments of
compensation that are contingent on a change in control exceed three times an
employee's "base amount" (his average annual compensation during certain prior
years), they will constitute "parachute payments," and the excess of such
parachute payments over such base amount generally will constitute "excess
parachute payments." Such excess parachute payments are nondeductible for the
employer and are subject to a 20% excise tax in the hands of the employee. In
the case of Mr. Essig, the value of any acceleration of his Option and
Restricted Units (each as defined below) upon a change in control of the Company
will constitute "payments" for these purposes, which--depending upon the timing
of such change in control, the value of the Company's stock at that time and
other relevant factors--may be substantial enough to constitute parachute
payments. In such an event, a substantial gross-up payment could be required of
the Company under the employment agreement, and substantial compensation amounts
payable by the Company to Mr. Essig (including such gross-up payment) could be
nondeductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes.
Under a Stock Option Grant and Agreement, the Company granted Mr. Essig
options under the Company's 1996 Incentive Stock Option and Non-Qualified Stock
Option Plan to purchase 500,000 shares (the "Option Shares") of Common Stock at
an exercise price of $5.87 per share (the "Option"), the last reported sale
price on the date immediately prior to the date of grant, and with an expiration
date of December 26, 2007. The Option vested and became exercisable with respect
to 125,000 shares on December 27, 1998 and thereafter with respect to 1/36th of
the remaining shares on the first business day of each following month. In the
event of (a) a change in control of the Company or (b) the termination of
Mr. Essig's employment (i) by the Company without cause, (ii) by Mr. Essig for
good reason or (iii) due to Mr. Essig's death, the Option vests and becomes
exercisable in full immediately.
Under a Restricted Units Agreement, the Company issued to Mr. Essig a fully
vested equity-based signing award bonus in the form of 1,000,000 restricted
units (the "Restricted Units"), each unit representing the right to receive one
share of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock underlying the restricted
units (the "Unit Shares") are deliverable to Mr. Essig on January 1, 2002 if
Mr. Essig is employed by the Company on December 31, 2001, although Mr. Essig
has the right to defer delivery of the Unit Shares for a period of up to six
years. The Unit Shares may be delivered to Mr. Essig prior to January 1, 2002 in
the event of (a) a change of control of the Company or (b) the termination of
Mr. Essig's employment (i) by the Company without cause, (ii) by Mr. Essig for
good reason, (iii) due to disability or (iv) due to death. If, prior to
December 31, 2001, (a) the Company terminates Mr. Essig's employment for cause
or (b) Mr. Essig voluntarily leaves his employment with
13
<PAGE>
the Company (other than for good reason or due to disability), the Unit Shares
are to be distributed to Mr. Essig on January 1, 2018.
The Restricted Units Agreement provides for anti-dilution protection in the
event (a) that the outstanding shares of Common Stock are increased through
share dividends or split ups or decreased through combinations or similar
changes, (b) of reclassifications (including reclassifications in connection
with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing entity),
and (c) of distributions to the holders of Common Stock of indebtedness or
assets of the Company in order to preserve the relative interest in the Company
represented by the Option Shares or Unit Shares immediately prior to the
occurrence of such event. In addition, if the Company distributes rights or
warrants to all holders of its Common Stock entitling them to purchase such
shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the then-current market
price per share, the Restricted Units Agreement provides that an equivalent
amount of such rights or warrants be distributed with respect to the Unit
Shares. The Restricted Units Agreement provides that in the event of a spinoff
by the Company to its shareholders, the holder of Option Shares and Unit Shares
shall participate in such spinoff in an appropriate and equitable manner
including, to the extent practicable, through ownership of (or option to
acquire) an equity interest in the spinoff entity.
The Company has agreed to file, following the request of Mr. Essig, a
registration statement with the Commission to register the sale by Mr. Essig of
the Option Shares and the Unit Shares pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"). Mr. Essig has not yet advised the Company as to
when registration may be requested. In connection with the Restricted Units
Agreement, the Company incurred a one-time non-cash compensation charge of
$5,875,000 in the fourth quarter of 1997.
George W. McKinney, III, Ph.D. entered into an employment agreement with
the Company in December 1998 to serve as the Company's Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer. The employment agreement provides for an annual
salary of $240,000. Dr. McKinney is entitled to participate and receive benefits
under any employee benefit plan or stock-based plan of the Company and shall be
eligible for any medical, disability and other plans and benefits covering
executives of the Company. The employment agreement is for an initial term
through December 31, 2001 and shall automatically extend on December 31, 2001
and on each one-year anniversary thereof for one year unless the Company or
Dr. McKinney provides written notice at least 30 days prior to the expiration of
the then-current term. In the event the employment agreement is earlier
terminated by Dr. McKinney for good reason or by the Company for reasons other
than cause, retirement, disability or death, in each case within six months of a
change in control of the Company, Dr. McKinney shall be entitled to receive a
severance amount equal to 2.99 times his then-current annual base salary. In the
event the employment agreement is earlier terminated as aforesaid without a
change in control, Dr. McKinney shall be entitled to receive a severance amount
equal to the greater of his then-current annual base salary or the unpaid
portion of Dr. McKinney's base salary for the remainder of the then-current
term.
Judith O'Grady entered into an employment agreement with the Company in
December 1998 to serve as the Company's Senior Vice President for Regulatory
Affairs and Quality Assurance. The employment agreement provides for an annual
salary of $145,000. Ms. O'Grady is entitled to participate and receive benefits
under any employee benefit plan or stock-based plan of the Company and shall be
eligible for any medical, disability and other plans and benefits covering
executives of the Company. The employment agreement is for an initial term
through December 31, 2000 and shall automatically extend on December 31, 2000
and on each one-year anniversary thereof for one year unless the Company or
Ms. O'Grady provides written notice at least 30 days prior to the expiration of
the then-current term. In the event the employment agreement is earlier
terminated by Ms. O'Grady for good reason or by the Company for reasons other
than cause, retirement, disability or death, in each case within six months of a
change in control of the Company, Ms. O'Grady shall be entitled to receive a
severance amount equal to 2.99 times her then-current annual base salary. In the
event the employment agreement is earlier terminated as aforesaid without a
change in control, Ms. O'Grady shall be entitled to receive a severance amount
equal to the greater of her then-current annual base salary or the unpaid
portion of Ms. O'Grady's base salary for the remainder of the then-current term.
14
<PAGE>
Frederick Cahn, Ph.D. entered into a four-year employment agreement with
the Company in July 1997 to serve as a Vice President of the Company responsible
for research, technology and development activities. The employment agreement
provides for an annual base salary of $125,000, the reimbursement of up to
$20,000 of moving expenses incurred by Dr. Cahn in connection with his
relocation to the Plainsboro, New Jersey area and a guaranteed annual bonus of
$10,000 payable on the first four anniversary dates of the employment agreement.
Dr. Cahn is also entitled to participate in the Company's employee benefit plans
and programs maintained from time to time by the Company for the benefit of its
officers. If the Company terminates the employment agreement for cause, the
Company is required to continue to pay Dr. Cahn's salary and benefits for a
period of three months. If the Company terminates the employment agreement for
reasons other than cause, the Company is required to continue to pay Dr. Cahn's
salary and benefits for a period ending on the earlier of (i) the date Dr. Cahn
finds subsequent employment and (ii) July 2001. If Dr. Cahn terminates the
employment agreement due to a material breach by the Company, the Company is
required to continue to pay Dr. Cahn's salary and benefits for a period ending
on the earliest to occur of (i) one year from the date of termination, (ii) the
date Dr. Cahn finds subsequent employment and (iii) July 2001.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Company leases its administrative, manufacturing, research and
principal warehouse facility in Plainsboro, New Jersey from Plainsboro
Associates, a New Jersey general partnership. Ocirne, Inc., a subsidiary of Cono
Industries ("Cono"), owns a 50% interest in Plainsboro Associates. Cono is a
corporation whose stockholders are trusts whose beneficiaries include the
children of Dr. Richard E. Caruso, the Chairman and a principal stockholder of
the Company. Dr. Caruso is the President of Cono. The Company paid $209,848 in
rent for this facility during 1998.
During 1998, the Company leased production, administration and warehouse
space in West Chester, Pennsylvania from Medicus Corporation. The sole
stockholder of Medicus is Jerry Holtz, who is the brother of David Holtz, the
Vice President and Treasurer of the Company, and the nephew of Dr. Caruso.
Provco Leasing Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cono, holds a first
mortgage on the property and a lien on the outstanding shares of Medicus and has
received a collateral assignment of rents as additional security. In June 1998,
the Company terminated this lease arrangement and entered into an agreement
under which the Company is obligated to pay aggregate payments of $330,000
through April 1999 relating to the facility's maintenance, certain operating
costs and other commitments. The Company paid an aggregate of $301,704 in lease,
maintenance and termination payments for the facility in 1998.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Throughout fiscal 1998, the Compensation Committee was composed of
Dr. Caruso, the Chairman of the Company, and Dr. Bradley, a non-employee
director.
The following report of the Compensation Committee is required by the rules
of the Commission to be included in the Proxy Statement and addresses the
Company's executive compensation policies for the year ended December 31, 1998.
This report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under
the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, by virtue of any general statement in
such filing incorporating this Proxy Statement by reference, except to the
extent that the Company specifically incorporates the information contained in
this section by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under either
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
General. The Company's compensation policies for executives are intended
to further the interests of the Company and its stockholders by encouraging
growth of its business through securing, retaining and motivating management
employees of high caliber who possess the skills necessary to the development
and growth of the Company. The Compensation Committee is mindful of the need to
align the interests of management with the interests of the Company's
stockholders. The establishment of the Company's stock option plans was designed
to permit the Company to attract and retain talented managers and motivate such
managers to enhance profitability and stockholder returns. The Committee
believes that the utilization of stock option plans serves the interests of the
stockholders, especially by permitting the Company to preserve cash for other
operational purposes.
15
<PAGE>
The Company's compensation package consists of three major components: base
compensation; performance bonuses; and stock options and, where appropriate,
restricted equity grants. Together these elements comprise total compensation
value. The total compensation paid to the Company's executive officers is
influenced significantly by the need to attract management employees with a high
level of expertise and to motivate and retain key executives for the long-term
success of the Company and its stockholders.
Base Compensation. The Committee establishes annual base salary levels for
executives based on competitive data, level of experience, position,
responsibility, and individual and Company performance. The Company has sought
to align base compensation levels comparable to its competitors and other
companies in similar stages of development.
Performance Bonuses. The Company supplements base compensation with awards
of performance bonuses in the form of cash and stock options. In establishing
bonuses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, the Compensation Committee
determined that it was not in the Company's best interests to pay cash bonuses.
Instead, the Committee sought to reward the efforts and achievements of certain
executive officers during this period by granting additional options to purchase
up to an aggregate of 350,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock to such
employees as the Chief Executive Officer shall determine.
Stock Options. The Company grants stock options to its executive
management under its stock option plans. Option grants are intended to bring the
total compensation to a level that the Company believes is competitive with
amounts paid by the Company's competitors and which will offer significant
returns if the Company is successful and, therefore, provides significant
incentives to devote the effort called for by the Company's strategy. The
Compensation Committee believes that executives' interests are directly tied to
enhanced stockholder value. Thus, stock options are used to provide the
executive management team with a strong incentive to perform in a manner that
will benefit the long-term success of the Company and its stockholders.
Other Benefits. The Company makes available health care benefits and a
401(k) plan for executive officers on terms generally available to all Company
employees. The Committee believes that such benefits are comparable to those
offered by other companies of similar size. The amount of perquisites, as
determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to executive compensation, did not exceed $50,000 or 10% of
the salary of any executive officer in the last fiscal year.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation. Mr. Essig served as the Company's
President and Chief Executive Officer during 1998. His compensation was paid by
the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions his employment agreement with
the Company. See "--Employment Agreements" and "--Executive Compensation" for a
description of Mr. Essig's compensation.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors
Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D.
Keith Bradley, Ph.D.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The line graph and table on the following page compare, for the period from
August 16, 1995 (the date on which the Company's Common Stock commenced trading
on the Nasdaq National Market) through December 31, 1998, the yearly percentage
change in the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock
with the cumulative total return of companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market--U.S.
Index, the Nasdaq Medical Devices, Instruments and Supplies, Manufacturers and
Distributors Index and the AMEX Biotechnology Index. The graph assumes that the
value of the investment in the Company's Common Stock and the relevant index was
$100 at August 16, 1995 and that all dividends were reinvested. The closing
market price of the Company's Common Stock on December 31, 1998 was $3.375 per
share.
16
<PAGE>
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return
Value of Investment of $100 on August 16, 1995
[STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
8/95 12/95 12/96 12/97 12/98
---- ----- ----- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Integra LifeSciences Corporation.......................................... $100 $ 141 $ 108 $ 96 $ 36
Nasdaq Stock Market--U.S. Index........................................... $100 $ 103 $ 127 $ 155 $ 218
Nasdaq Medical Devices, Instruments and Supplies, Manufacturers and
Distributors Index(1)................................................... $100 $ 114 $ 107 $ 122 $ 138
AMEX Biotechnology Index(1)............................................... $100 $ 122 $ 132 $ 148 $ 169
</TABLE>
- ------------------
(1) The Company has selected the Nasdaq Medical Devices, Instruments and
Supplies, Manufacturers and Distributors Index (the "Nasdaq Industry Index")
to replace the AMEX Biotechnology Index as a comparative published industry
index. The Nasdaq Industry Index was recently made available and, the
Company believes, presents a broader measure of the stock performance of
companies that are comparable to the Company. Because the AMEX Biotechnology
Index was used in the Company's proxy statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, it is required to be included in this proxy statement under
applicable rules of the Commission.
The graph above depicts the past performance of the Company's stock price.
The Company neither makes nor endorses any predictions as to future stock
performance. The graph set forth above shall not be deemed (i) incorporated by
reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act by virtue
of any general statement in such filing incorporating this Proxy Statement by
reference, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates the
information contained in this section by reference, and (ii) filed under either
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
17
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of Common Stock and Preferred Stock as of March 31, 1999 by: (a) each
person or entity known to the Company to own beneficially five percent or more
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, based upon Company
records or Commission records; (b) each of the Company's directors; (c) each of
the Named Officers; and (d) all executive officers and directors of the Company
as a group. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is currently convertible at
the discretion of the holder into one-half of one share of Common Stock, and
each share of Series B Preferred Stock is currently convertible at the
discretion of the holder into 26.178 shares of Common Stock, in each case
subject to certain adjustments. Except as otherwise indicated, each person has
sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to all shares
beneficially owned by such person.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK SERIES A PREFERRED SERIES B PREFERRED
--------------------- ------------------- -------------------
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER SHARES(1) PERCENT SHARES PERCENT SHARES PERCENT
- ---------------------------------------------- --------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D....................... 7,255,387(2) 46.0%
Trust Partnership............................. 7,179,205(3) 45.6%
Frances C. Holtz.............................. 7,179,205(4) 45.6%
George Soros.................................. 2,857,800(5) 15.4% 100,000 100%
Quantum Industrial Partners LDC............... 2,143,350(6) 12.0% 75,000 75%
Union Carbide Corporation..................... 1,575,280(7) 10.0%
State of Wisconsin Investment Board........... 1,388,979(8) 8.8%
Elan Corporation, plc......................... 1,100,000(9) 6.9%
Century Medical, Inc.......................... 250,000(10) 1.6% 500,000 100%
Stuart M. Essig............................... 176,905(11) 1.1%
George W. McKinney, III, Ph.D................. 123,373(12) *
Edmund L. Zalinski, Ph.D...................... 85,500(13) *
Michael D. Pierschbacher, Ph.D................ 67,483(14) *
Frederick Cahn, Ph.D.......................... 57,460(15) *
Judith O'Grady................................ 24,790(16) *
James M. Sullivan............................. 23,750(17) *
Keith Bradley, Ph.D........................... 12,600(18) *
Neal Moszkowski............................... -- --
All directors and executive officers as a
group (11 persons).......................... 7,796,190(19) 48.2%
</TABLE>
- ------------------
* Less than one percent (1%).
(1) Shares not outstanding but deemed beneficially owned by virtue of the right
of an individual to acquire them within 60 days upon the exercise of an
option or other convertible security are treated as outstanding for
purposes of determining beneficial ownership and the percentage
beneficially owned by such individual.
(2) Includes the 7,179,205 shares held by Trust Partnership, a Pennsylvania
general partnership of which Dr. Caruso is a partner and the President
(also see Note 3 below). Also includes 21,250 shares held by Provco Leasing
Corporation ("Provco") of which Dr. Caruso is President. Provco is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Cono Industries, a corporation whose
stockholders are trusts whose beneficiaries include Dr. Caruso's children.
Also includes 54,932 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options held by Dr. Caruso. Dr. Caruso's address is 105 Morgan Lane,
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.
(3) The partners of Trust Partnership are Pagliacci Trust, Rigoletto Trust,
Trust for Jonathan Henry Caruso, Trust for Peter James Caruso (the
beneficiaries of all such trusts (the "Trusts") being Dr. Caruso's
children), Dr. Caruso and Provco, each of which may be deemed to
beneficially own the shares held by Trust Partnership; however, such
partners of Trust Partnership disclaim beneficial ownership of all such
shares except to the extent represented by their respective equity and
profit participation interests in Trust Partnership. The Trust
Partnership's address is c/o Richard E. Caruso, Ph.D., 105 Morgan Lane,
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.
(4) Frances C. Holtz is a trustee of the Trusts, which collectively have a
controlling interest in Trust Partnership. As such, Ms. Holtz may be deemed
to beneficially own the shares held by Trust Partnership; however,
Ms. Holtz disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares. Ms. Holtz's
address is 8111 Marshall Avenue, Margate, New Jersey 08402.
(footnotes continued on following page)
18
<PAGE>
(footnotes continued from previous page)
(5) Includes (i) 654,450 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
25,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by SFM Domestic Investments
LLC ("SFMDI") and 60,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
warrants held by SFMDI (collectively, the "SFMDI Shares") and (ii) the QIP
Shares referenced in Note 6 below. The principal business office of SFMDI
is at 888 Seventh Avenue, 33rd Floor, New York, New York 10106. Mr. Soros
is a managing member of SFMDI and may be deemed the beneficial owner of the
SFMDI Shares.
(6) Consists of 1,963,350 shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon
conversion of 75,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by Quantum
Industrial Partners LDC ("QIP") and 180,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of warrants held by QIP (collectively, the "QIP Shares"). The
principal address of QIP is at Kaya Flamboyan 9, Willemsted, Curacao,
Netherlands Antilles. QIH Management Investor, L.P. ("QIHMI") is vested
(pursuant to constituent documents of QIP) with investment discretion with
respect to the portfolio assets held for the account of QIP. Pursuant to an
agreement between George Soros and Soros Fund Management LLC ("SFM"),
Mr. Soros has agreed to use his best efforts to cause QIH Management, Inc.,
as the sole general partner of QIHMI, to act at the discretion of SFM.
Mr. Soros, the Chairman of SFM, and Stanley F. Druckenmiller, the Lead
Portfolio Manager of SFM, each may be deemed to have shared voting power
and shared investment power with respect to the QIP Shares. Accordingly,
each of QIHMI, QIH Management, Inc., SFM and Messrs. Soros and
Druckenmiller may be deemed the beneficial owner of the QIP Shares. Each
has their principal business office at 888 Seventh Avenue, 33rd Floor, New
York, New York 10106.
(7) The address of Union Carbide Corporation is 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury,
Connecticut 06817.
(8) The address of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board is 121 East Wilson
Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53703.
(9) Consists of 800,000 shares held by Carnrick Laboratories, Inc. ("Carnrick")
and 300,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Carnick
(collectively, the "Carnick Shares"). Carnrick is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Athena Neurosciences, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elan
Corporation, plc, each of which may be deemed the beneficial owner of the
Carnrick Shares. The address for each of the foregoing companies is c/o
Elan Corporation, plc, Lincoln House, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, Ireland.
(10) Consists of 250,000 shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon
conversion of 500,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. The address of
Century Medical, Inc. is 1-6-4 Ohsaki, Shinagawa-Ku, Tokyo 141-8588, Japan.
(11) Includes 164,082 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options held by Mr. Essig. The Restricted Units held by Mr. Essig do not
give him the right to acquire any shares within 60 days of March 31, 1999.
See "--Employment Agreements."
(12) Includes 105,999 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options held by Dr. McKinney.
(13) Includes 15,625 shares held by the Edmund L. Zalinski Company and 9,035
shares held by Whitehall Court, L.P., a family limited partnership whose
beneficiaries include Dr. Zalinski's children. Also includes 5,500 shares
issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of options held by
Dr. Zalinski.
(14) Includes 4,428 shares held by a revocable trust of which Dr. Pierschbacher
is co-trustee. Also includes 62,182 shares issuable upon exercise of the
vested portion of options held by Dr. Pierschbacher.
(15) Includes 34,108 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options held by Dr. Cahn.
(16) Includes 9,208 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options held by Ms. O'Grady.
(17) Includes 5,500 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options held by Mr. Sullivan.
(18) Includes 5,500 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options held by Dr. Bradley.
(19) See Notes 2, 11 through 14, 16 and 17 above. Also includes 9,155 shares, as
well as 17,247 shares issuable upon exercise of the vested portion of
options, held by two executive officers of the Company who are not listed
in the table.
19
<PAGE>
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
The deadline for stockholders to submit proposals pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of
the Exchange Act for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and form of
proxy for the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") is
December 22, 1999. The date after which notice of a stockholder proposal
submitted outside of the processes of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act is
considered untimely is March 6, 2000. If notice of a stockholder proposal
submitted outside of the processes of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act is received
by the Company after March 6, 2000, then the Company's proxy for the Annual
Meeting may confer discretionary authority to vote on such matter without any
discussion of such matter in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting.
OTHER MATTERS
A copy of the Company's 1998 Annual Report to Stockholders is being mailed
simultaneously herewith to stockholders but is not to be regarded as proxy
solicitation material.
THE COMPANY, UPON REQUEST, WILL FURNISH TO RECORD AND BENEFICIAL HOLDERS OF
ITS COMMON STOCK, FREE OF CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
(INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES BUT WITHOUT EXHIBITS) FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998. COPIES OF EXHIBITS TO THE FORM 10-K ALSO
WILL BE FURNISHED UPON REQUEST AND THE PAYMENT OF A REASONABLE FEE. ALL REQUESTS
SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO JUDY BRENNA, DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, AT THE
OFFICES OF THE COMPANY SET FORTH ON PAGE ONE OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
By order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ William M. Goldstein
William M. Goldstein
Secretary
Plainsboro, New Jersey
April 20, 1999
20
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing
under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "Corporation"),
DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT:
FIRST: The Board of Directors of the Corporation has adopted a resolution
proposing and declaring advisable and in the best interests of the Corporation
the following amendment to Article FIRST of the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of the Corporation, to read in its entirety as follows (the
"Charter Amendment"):
"The name of this Corporation is Integra LifeSciences Holdings
Corporation."
SECOND: The stockholders of the Corporation, at an annual meeting of
stockholders called and held upon notice properly given in accordance with
Section 222 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, have adopted and approved
the Charter Amendment in accordance with the provisions of Section 212 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
THIRD: The Charter Amendment has been duly adopted and approved in
accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Integra LifeSciences Corporation has caused this
Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to
be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation this 17th day of
May, 1999.
INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
By: __________________________________
Stuart M. Essig
President and Chief Executive
Officer
A-1
<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS CORPORATION
1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
SECTION 1
PURPOSE
This INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS CORPORATION 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN (the
"Plan") is intended to provide a means whereby Integra LifeSciences Holdings
Corporation (the "Company") may, through the grant of incentive stock options
and non-qualified stock options (collectively, "Options") to purchase common
stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock") to Key
Employees and Associates (both as defined in Section 3 hereof), attract and
retain such Key Employees and Associates and motivate them to exercise their
best efforts on behalf of the Company, any Related Corporation (as defined
below), or any affiliate of the Company or a Related Corporation.
For purposes of the Plan, a "Related Corporation" shall mean either a
"subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as defined in section 424(f) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), or the "parent corporation"
of the Company, as defined in section 424(e) of the Code. Further, as used in
the Plan (a) the term "ISO" shall mean an Option which qualifies as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the Code; and (b) the term
"NQSO" shall mean an Option which does not qualify as an incentive stock option.
SECTION 2
ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Company's Stock Option Committee (the
"Committee"), which shall consist solely of not fewer than two directors of the
Company, who shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") (taking into consideration the rules
under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") and the requirements of Section 1621(m) of the Code). In the
event a committee has not been established in accordance with the preceding
sentence, or cannot be constituted to vote on the grant of an Option, the
"Committee" shall consist of the entire Board. Each member of such Committee,
while serving as such, shall be deemed to be acting in his capacity as a
director of the Company.
The Committee shall have full authority, subject to the terms of the Plan,
to select the Key Employees and Associates (both as defined in Section 3 hereof)
to be granted ISOs and/or NQSOs under the Plan, to grant Options on behalf of
the Company, and to set the date of grant and the other terms of such Options.
The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any
inconsistency in this Plan and in any Option granted hereunder in the manner and
to the extent it shall deem desirable. The Committee also shall have the
authority to establish such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, for the proper administration of the Plan, and to amend,
modify or rescind any such rules and regulations, and to make such
determinations and interpretations under, or in connection with, the Plan, as it
deems necessary or advisable. All such rules, regulations, determinations and
interpretations shall be binding and conclusive upon the Company, its
stockholders and all officers and employees and former officers and employees,
and upon their respective legal representatives, beneficiaries, successors and
assigns, and upon all other persons claiming under or through any of them.
Except as otherwise required by the bylaws of the Company or by applicable law,
no member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action or
determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option granted
under it.
B-1
<PAGE>
SECTION 3
ELIGIBILITY
(a) In General. Key Employees and Associates shall be eligible to receive
Options under the Plan. Key Employees and Associates who have been granted an
Option under the Plan shall be referred to as "Optionees." More than one Option
may be granted to an Optionee under the Plan.
(b) Key Employees. "Key Employees" are officers, executives, and
managerial and non-managerial employees of the Company, a Related Corporation,
or an affiliate of the Company or a Related Corporation who are selected by the
Committee to receive Options. Key Employees of the Company and/or a Related
Corporation shall be eligible to receive ISOs and/or NQSOs. Key Employees of an
affiliate shall be eligible to receive only NQSOs.
(c) Associates. "Associates" are designated non-employee directors,
consultants and other persons providing services to the Company, a Related
Corporation, or an affiliate of the Company or a Related Corporation. Associates
shall be eligible to receive only NQSOs.
SECTION 4
STOCK
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under
Options granted under the Plan shall be 2,000,000; provided, however, that no
Key Employee shall receive Options for more than 1,000,000 shares of Common
Stock over any one-year period. However, both limits in the preceding sentence
shall be subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided. Shares issuable under
the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or reacquired shares, and the
Company may purchase shares required for this purpose, from time to time, if it
deems such purchase to be advisable.
If any Option granted under the Plan expires or otherwise terminates for
any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, the Optionee's surrender
thereof) without having been exercised, the shares subject to the unexercised
portion of such Option shall continue to be available for the granting of
Options under the Plan as fully as if such shares had never been subject to an
Option; provided, however, that (a) if an Option is cancelled, the shares of
Common Stock covered by the cancelled Option shall be counted against the
maximum number of shares specified above for which Options may be granted to a
single Key Employee, and (b) if the exercise price of an Option is reduced after
the date of grant, the transaction shall be treated as a cancellation of the
original Option and the grant of a new Option for purposes of counting the
maximum number of shares for which Options may be granted to a Key Employee.
SECTION 5
GRANTING OF OPTIONS
From time to time until the expiration or earlier suspension or
discontinuance of the Plan, the Committee may, on behalf of the Company, grant
to Key Employees and Associates under the Plan such Options as it determines are
warranted, subject to the limitations of the Plan; provided, however, that
grants of ISOs and NQSOs shall be separate and not in tandem, and further
provided that Key Employees of an affiliate and Associates shall not be eligible
to receive ISOs under the Plan. A member of the Committee shall not participate
in a vote approving the grant of an Option to himself or herself to the extent
provided under the laws of Delaware governing corporate self-dealing. The
granting of an Option under the Plan shall not be deemed either to entitle the
Key Employee or Associate to, or to disqualify the Key Employee or Associate
from, any participation in any other grant of Options under the Plan. In making
any determination as to whether a Key Employee or Associate shall be granted an
Option, the type of Option to be granted, and the number of shares to be covered
by such Option, the Committee shall take into account the duties of the Key
Employee or Associate, his or her present and potential contributions to the
success of the Company, a Related Corporation, or an affiliate of the Company or
a Related Corporation, the tax implications to the Company and the Key Employee
or Associate of any Option granted, and such other factors as the Committee
shall deem relevant in accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. Moreover, the
Committee may provide in the Option that said Option may be exercised only if
certain conditions, as determined by the Committee, are fulfilled.
B-2
<PAGE>
SECTION 6
ANNUAL LIMIT
(a) ISOs. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the
ISO is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which ISOs are exercisable
for the first time by a Key Employee during any calendar year (counting ISOs
under this Plan and incentive stock options under any other stock option plan of
the Company or a Related Corporation) shall not exceed $100,000. The term "Fair
Market Value" shall mean the value of the shares of Common Stock arrived at by a
good faith determination of the Committee and shall be:
(1) The quoted closing price on the last business day prior to the
specified date, if there is a market for the Common Stock on a registered
securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market;
(2) The weighted average of the quoted closing prices on the nearest date
before and the nearest date after the last business day prior to the specified
date, if there are no sales on such day but there are such sales on dates within
a reasonable period both before and after such date;
(3) The mean between the bid and asked prices, as reported by the National
Quotation Bureau on the specified date, if actual sales are not available during
a reasonable period beginning before and ending after the specified date; or
(4) If (1) through (3) above are not applicable, such other method of
determining Fair Market Value as shall be authorized by the Code, or the rules
or regulations thereunder, and adopted by the Committee.
Where the Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock is determined under
(2) above, the average of the quoted closing prices on the nearest date before
and the nearest date after the last business day prior to the specified date
shall be weighted inversely by the respective numbers of trading days between
the dates of reported sales and such date (i.e., the valuation date), in
accordance with Treas. Reg. ss. 20.2031-2(b)(1), or any successor thereto.
(b) Options Over Annual Limit. If an Option intended as an ISO is granted
to a Key Employee of the Company or a Related Corporation and such Option may
not be treated in whole or in part as an ISO pursuant to the limitation in
Subsection (a) above, such Option shall be treated as an ISO to the extent it
may be so treated under such limitation and as an NQSO as to the remainder. For
purposes of determining whether an ISO would cause such limitation to be
exceeded, ISOs shall be taken into account in the order granted.
(c) NQSOs. The annual limits set forth above for ISOs shall not apply to
NQSOs.
SECTION 7
OPTION AGREEMENTS--OTHER PROVISIONS
Options granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by written documents
("Option Agreements") in such form as the Committee shall, from time to time,
approve. An Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option is an ISO or NQSO;
provided, however, if the Option is not designated in the Option Agreement as an
ISO or NQSO, the Option shall constitute an ISO if it complies with the terms of
section 422 of the Code, and otherwise, it shall constitute an NQSO. Each
Optionee shall enter into, and be bound by, such Option Agreements, as soon as
practicable after the grant of an Option.
In connection with the grant of any Option, the associated Option Agreement
may, in the discretion of the Committee, modify or vary any of the terms of this
Plan, including, without limitation, the terms relating to the vesting and
exercise of Options, both in general and upon termination of employment or
service, disability, and death, the terms relating to the number of shares
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding Options and the treatment of Options
upon the occurrence of certain corporate transactions; provided, however, that
any increase in the maximum number of shares which may be granted to an
individual in a one-year period pursuant to the Plan shall require such
shareholder approval as may be then required under the applicable rules and
regulations under the Code, and that with respect to any grant of an Option
which is intended to be an ISO the terms of the Plan, as in effect on the date
hereof or subsequently amended, and not the terms of the applicable Option
Agreement, shall control. In all other cases, in the event of any inconsistency
or conflict between an Option Agreement approved by the Committee and this Plan,
the terms of the Option Agreement shall control to the
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extent provided in the Option Agreement. No Option Agreement may be amended
except in a writing executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and the
Optionee or his or her permitted successors and assigns.
SECTION 8
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall include expressly or by
reference the following terms and conditions, as well as such other provisions
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan and, for ISOs granted under
this Plan, the provisions of section 422(b) of the Code, as the Committee shall
deem desirable:
(a) Number of Shares. A statement of the number of shares to which
the Option pertains.
(b) Price. A statement of the Option price which shall be determined
and fixed by the Committee in its discretion, but shall not be less than
the higher of 100% (110% in the case of ISOs granted to more than 10%
shareholders as discussed in Subsection (j) below) of the fair market value
of the optioned shares of Common Stock, or the par value thereof, on the
date the Option is granted.
(c) Term.
(1) ISOs. Subject to earlier termination as provided in
Subsections (e), (f) and (g) below and in Section 9 hereof, the term of
each ISO shall be not more than ten years (five years in the case of
more than 10% shareholders as discussed in Subsection (j) below) from
the date of grant.
(2) NQSOs. Subject to earlier termination as provided in
Subsections (e), (f) and (g) below and in Section 9 hereof, the term of
each NQSO shall be not more than ten years from the date of grant.
(d) Exercise.
(1) General. Options shall be exercisable in such installments and
on such dates, not less than three months from the date of grant, as the
Committee may specify, provided that:
(A) in the case of new Options granted to an Optionee in
replacement for options (whether granted under the Plan or otherwise)
held by the Optionee, the new Options may be made exercisable, if so
determined by the Committee, in its discretion, at the earliest date
the replaced options were exercisable, but not earlier than three
months from the date of grant of the new Options; and
(B) the Committee may accelerate the exercise date of any
outstanding Options, in its discretion, if it deems such acceleration
to be desirable.
Any exercisable Option may be exercised at any time up to the
expiration or termination of the Option. Exercisable Options may be
exercised, in whole or in part, from time to time by giving written
notice of exercise to the Company at its principal office, specifying
the number of shares to be purchased and accompanied by payment in full
of the aggregate Option exercise price for such shares (except that, in
the case of an exercise arrangement approved by the Committee and
described in Paragraph 2(B)(iv) below, payment may be made as soon as
practicable after the exercise). Only full shares shall be issued under
the Plan, and any fractional share which might otherwise be issuable
upon exercise of an Option granted hereunder shall be forfeited.
(2) Manner of Payment. The Option price shall be payable:
(A) in cash or its equivalent;
(B) in the case of an ISO, if the Committee in its discretion
causes the Option Agreement so to provide, and in the case of an
NQSO, if the Committee in its discretion so determines at or prior to
the time of exercise:
(i) in Common Stock previously acquired by the Optionee;
provided that if such shares of Common Stock were acquired
through the exercise of an incentive stock option and are used to
pay the Option price of an ISO, such shares have been held by the
Optionee for a period of not less than the holding period
described in section 422(a)(1) of the Code on the
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date of exercise, or if such shares of Common Stock were acquired
through exercise of a non-qualified stock option and are used to
pay the option price of an ISO, or if such shares of Common Stock
were acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option
or non-qualified stock option and are used to pay the Option
price of an NQSO, such shares have been held by the Optionee for
a period of more than 12 months on the date of exercise;
(ii) in Common Stock newly acquired by the Optionee upon
exercise of such Option (which shall constitute a disqualifying
disposition in the case of an ISO);
(iii) in the discretion of the Committee, in any combination
of (A), (B)(i) and/or (B)(ii) above; or
(iv) by delivering a properly executed notice of exercise of
the Option to the Company and a broker, with irrevocable
instructions to the broker promptly to deliver to the Company the
amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay the exercise
price of the Option.
In the event the Option price is paid, in whole or in part, with
shares of Common Stock, the portion of the Option price so paid shall be
equal to the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Option of the
Common Stock surrendered in payment of such Option price.
(e) Termination of Employment or Service. If an Optionee's employment
by or service with the Company (and Related Corporations and affiliates) is
terminated by either party prior to the expiration date fixed for his or
her Option for any reason other than death or disability, such Option may
be exercised, to the extent of the number of shares with respect to which
the Optionee could have exercised it on the date of such termination, or to
any greater extent permitted by the Committee, by the Optionee at any time
prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration date specified in such Option,
or (ii) an accelerated termination date determined by the Committee, in its
discretion, except that, subject to Section 9 hereof, such accelerated
termination date shall not be earlier than the date of the Optionee's
termination of employment or service, and shall not be later than one year
after the date of the Optionee's termination of employment or service.
(f) Exercise upon Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee shall become
disabled (within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Code) during his or
her employment by or service with the Company (and Related Corporations and
affiliates) and, prior to the expiration date fixed for his or her Option,
his or her employment or service is terminated as a consequence of such
disability, such Option may be exercised, to the extent of the number of
shares with respect to which the Optionee could have exercised it on the
date of such termination, or to any greater extent permitted by the
Committee, by the Optionee at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
expiration date specified in such Option, or (ii) an accelerated
termination date determined by the Committee, in its discretion, except
that, subject to Section 9 hereof, such accelerated termination date shall
not be earlier than the date of the Optionee's termination of employment or
service by reason of disability, and shall not be later than one year after
the date of the Optionee's termination of employment or service. In the
event of the Optionee's legal disability, such Option may be so exercised
by the Optionee's legal representative.
(g) Exercise upon Death of Optionee. If an Optionee shall die during
his or her employment by or service with the Company (and Related
Corporations and affiliates), and prior to the expiration date fixed for
his or her Option, or if an Optionee whose employment or service is
terminated for any reason, shall die following his or her termination of
employment or service but prior to the earliest of (i) the expiration date
fixed for his or her Option, (ii) the expiration of the period determined
under Subsections (e) and (f) above, or (iii) in the case of an ISO, three
months following termination of the Key Employee's employment, such Option
may be exercised, to the extent of the number of shares with respect to
which the Optionee could have exercised it on the date of his or her death,
or to any greater extent permitted by the Committee, by the Optionee's
estate, personal representative or beneficiary who acquired the right to
exercise such Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death of
the Optionee, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration date
specified in such Option or (ii) an accelerated termination date determined
by the Committee, in its discretion except that, subject to Section 9
hereof, such accelerated termination date shall not be later than one year
after the date of death.
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(h) Non-Transferability. No ISO and, except to the extent provided in
the related Option Agreement, no NQSO shall be assignable or transferable
by the Optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, and during the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option shall be
exercisable only by him or her or by his or her guardian or legal
representative. If the Optionee is married at the time of exercise and if
the Optionee so requests at the time of exercise, the certificate or
certificates shall be registered in the name of the Optionee and the
Optionee's spouse, jointly, with right of survivorship.
(i) Rights as a Stockholder. An Optionee shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any shares covered by his or her Option until
the issuance of a stock certificate to him or her for such shares.
(j) Ten Percent Shareholder. If, after applying the attribution rules
of Section 424(d) of the Code, the Optionee owns more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all shares of stock of the Company or of a Related
Corporation at the time an ISO is granted to him or her, the Option price
for the ISO shall be not less than 110% of the fair market value of the
optioned shares of Common Stock on the date the ISO is granted, and such
ISO, by its terms, shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five
years from the date the ISO is granted. The conditions set forth in this
Subsection (j) shall not apply to NQSOs.
(k) Listing and Registration of Shares. Each Option shall be subject
to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee shall determine, in
its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the
shares covered thereby upon any securities exchange or under any state or
federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory
body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with,
the granting of such Option or the purchase of shares thereunder, or that
action by the Company, its shareholders, or the Optionee should be taken in
order to obtain an exemption from any such requirement or to continue any
such listing, registration, or qualification, no such Option may be
exercised, in whole or in part, unless and until such listing,
registration, qualification, consent, approval, or action shall have been
effected, obtained, or taken under conditions acceptable to the Committee.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Optionee or his or
her legal representative or beneficiary may also be required to give
satisfactory assurance that such person is an eligible purchaser under
applicable securities laws, and that shares purchased upon exercise of an
Option are being purchased for investment and not with a view to
distribution, and certificates representing such shares may be legended
accordingly.
(l) Withholding and Use of Shares to Satisfy Tax Obligations. The
obligation of the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of any Option shall be subject to applicable federal, state and
local tax withholding requirements.
If the exercise of any Option is subject to the withholding requirements of
applicable tax laws, the Committee, in its discretion (and subject to such
withholding rules ("Withholding Rules") as shall be adopted by the Committee),
may permit the Optionee to satisfy the withholding tax, in whole or in part, by
electing to have the Company withhold (or by returning to the Company) shares of
Common Stock, which shares shall be valued, for this purpose, at their Fair
Market Value on the date of exercise of the Option (or if later, the date on
which the Optionee recognizes ordinary income with respect to such exercise)
(the "Determination Date"). An election to use shares of Common Stock to satisfy
tax withholding requirements must be made in compliance with and subject to the
Withholding Rules. The Committee may not withhold shares in excess of the number
necessary to satisfy the minimum income tax withholding requirements. In the
event shares of Common Stock acquired under the exercise of an incentive stock
option are used to satisfy such withholding requirement, such shares of Common
Stock must have been held by the Optionee for a period of not less than the
holding period described in section 422(a)(1) of the Code on the Determination
Date, or if such shares of Common Stock were acquired through exercise of a
non-qualified stock option, such shares were acquired at least 12 months prior
to the Determination Date.
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SECTION 9
CAPITAL ADJUSTMENTS; CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS
The number of shares which may be issued under the Plan, the maximum number
of shares with respect to which Options may be granted to any Key Employee under
the Plan, both as stated in Section 4 hereof, and the number of shares issuable
upon exercise of outstanding Options under the Plan (as well as the Option price
per share under such outstanding Options), shall, subject to the provisions of
section 424(a) of the Code, be adjusted, as may be deemed appropriate by the
Committee, to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, share combination, or
similar change in the capitalization of the Company.
In the event of a corporate transaction (such as, for example, a merger,
consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization, or
liquidation), each outstanding Option shall be assumed by the surviving or
successor corporation; provided, however, that, in the event of a proposed
corporate transaction, the Committee may terminate all or a portion of the
outstanding Options, effective upon the closing of the corporate transaction, if
it determines that such termination is in the best interests of the Company. If
the Committee decides to terminate outstanding Options, the Committee shall give
each Optionee holding an outstanding Option to be terminated not less than seven
days' notice prior to any such termination by reason of such a corporate
transaction, and any such Option which is to be so terminated may be exercised
(if and only to the extent that it is then exercisable) up to, and including the
date immediately preceding such termination. Further, as provided in
Section 8(d) hereof the Committee, in its discretion, may accelerate, in whole
or in part, the date on which any or all Options become exercisable.
The Committee also may, in its discretion, change the terms of any
outstanding Option to reflect any such corporate transaction, provided that, in
the case of ISOs, such change is excluded from the definition of a
"modification" under section 424(h) of the Code.
SECTION 9A
CHANGE IN CONTROL
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, all
outstanding Options shall become fully vested and exercisable upon a Change in
Control of the Company. "Change in Control" shall mean any of the following
events:
(a) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any
voting securities of the Company ("Voting Securities") by any "Person" (as
such term is used for purposes of section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange
Act) immediately after which such Person has "Beneficial Ownership" (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or
more of the combined voting power of all the then outstanding Voting
Securities, other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or an affiliate
thereof, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company; provided, however, that any acquisition
from the Company or any acquisition pursuant to a transaction which
complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (c) of this
Section 9A shall not be a Change in Control under this paragraph (a);
(b) The individuals who, as of February 25, 1999, are members of the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason
to constitute at least two-thirds of the Board of Directors; provided,
however, that if the election, or nomination for election by the
shareholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors who constitute
Incumbent Board members, such new directors shall for all purposes be
considered as members of the Incumbent Board as of February 25, 1999;
provided further, however, that no individual shall be considered a member
of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a
result of either an actual or threatened "Election Contest" (as described
in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person
other than the Board of Directors (a "Proxy Contest") including by reason
of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy
Contest;
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(c) consummation by the Company of a reorganization, merger, or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets or stock of another
entity (a "Business Combination"), unless immediately following such
Business Combination: (i) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors of (x) the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (the "Surviving Corporation"), or (y) if applicable, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all
or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one
or more subsidiaries (the "Parent Corporation"), is represented, directly
or indirectly, by Company Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior
to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares
into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such
Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior
to such Business Combination, of the Company Voting Securities; and (ii) at
least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent
Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving
Corporation) were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement, or the action of the Board, providing
for such Business Combination;
(d) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(e) acceptance by shareholders of the Company of shares in a share
exchange if the shareholders of the Company immediately before such share
exchange do not own, directly or indirectly, immediately following such
share exchange more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
outstanding Voting Securities of the corporation resulting from such share
exchange in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the
Voting Securities outstanding immediately before such share exchange.
SECTION 10
ACQUISITIONS
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, Options may be granted
hereunder in substitution for options held by directors, key employees, and
associates of other corporations who are about to, or have, become Key Employees
or Associates of the Company or a Related Corporation as a result of a merger,
consolidation, acquisition of assets or similar transaction by the Company or a
Related Corporation. The terms, including the option price, of the substitute
options so granted may vary from the terms set forth in this Plan to such extent
as the Committee may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the
provisions of the options in substitution for which they are granted.
SECTION 11
AMENDMENT OR REPLACEMENT OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
The Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any time and from time
to time, with the consent of the affected Optionees, the cancellation of any or
all outstanding Options under the Plan and to grant in substitution therefor new
Options under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of
Common Stock but having a per share purchase price not less than the greater of
par value or 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the new
date of the grant. The Committee may permit the voluntary surrender of all or a
portion of any Option to be conditioned upon the granting to the Optionee under
the Plan of a new Option for the same or a different number of shares of Common
Stock as the Option surrendered, or may require such voluntary surrender as a
condition precedent to a grant of a new Option to such Optionee. Any new Option
shall be exercisable at the price, during the period, and in accordance with any
other terms and conditions specified by the Committee at the time the new Option
is granted, all determined in accordance with the provisions of the Plan without
regard to the price, period of exercise, and any other terms or conditions of
the Option surrendered.
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SECTION 12
AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
The Board from time to time may suspend or discontinue the Plan or, subject
to such shareholder approval as may be then required under the applicable rules
and regulations of the Code or rules of the exchange or market on which the
Common Stock is listed, may amend it in any respect whatsoever. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no such suspension, discontinuance or amendment shall materially
impair the rights of any holder of an outstanding Option without the consent of
such holder.
SECTION 13
RIGHTS
Neither the adoption of the Plan nor any action of the Board or the
Committee shall be deemed to give any individual any right to be granted an
Option, or any other right hereunder, unless and until the Committee shall have
granted such individual an Option, and then his or her rights shall be only such
as are provided by the Option Agreement.
Any Option under the Plan shall not entitle the holder thereof to any
rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise of such Option and
the issuance of the shares pursuant thereto. Further, notwithstanding any
provisions of the Plan or the Option Agreement with an Optionee, the Company
shall have the right, in its discretion, to retire an Optionee at any time
pursuant to its retirement rules or otherwise to terminate his or her employment
or service at any time for any reason whatsoever.
SECTION 14
INDEMNIFICATION OF BOARD AND COMMITTEE
Without limiting any other rights of indemnification which they may have
from the Company and any Related Corporation (and any affiliate), the members of
the Board and the members of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company
against all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
any claim, action, suit, or proceeding 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 Option granted thereunder, and against all amounts paid
by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by legal
counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment
in any such action, suit, or proceeding, except a judgment based upon a finding
of willful misconduct or recklessness on their part. Upon the making or
institution of any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding, the Board or
Committee member shall notify the Company in writing, giving the Company an
opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such Board
or Committee member undertakes to handle it on his own behalf.
SECTION 15
APPLICATION OF FUNDS
Any cash received in payment for shares upon exercise of an Option to
purchase Common Stock shall be added to the general funds of the Company. Any
Common Stock received in payment for shares upon exercise of an Option to
purchase Common Stock shall become treasury stock.
SECTION 16
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL
This Plan shall become effective as of February 25, 1999 (the date the Plan
was adopted by the Board); provided, however, that if the Plan is not approved
by the Company's shareholders within 12 months before or after said date, the
Plan and all Options granted hereunder shall be null and void and no additional
options shall be granted hereunder.
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SECTION 17
NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION
The granting of an Option shall impose no obligation upon an Optionee to
exercise such Option.
SECTION 18
TERMINATION OF PLAN
Unless earlier terminated as provided in the Plan, the Plan and all
authority granted hereunder shall terminate absolutely at 12:00 midnight on
February 24, 2009, which date is within ten years after the date the Plan was
adopted by the Board (or the date the Plan was approved by the shareholders of
the Company, whichever is earlier), and no Options hereunder shall be granted
thereafter. Nothing contained in this Section 18, however, shall terminate or
affect the continued existence of rights created under Options issued hereunder
and outstanding on February 24, 2009, which by their terms extend beyond such
date.
SECTION 19
GOVERNING LAW
With respect to any ISOs granted pursuant to the Plan and the Option
Agreements thereunder, the Plan, such Option Agreements and any ISOs granted
pursuant thereto shall be governed by the applicable Code provisions to the
maximum extent possible. Otherwise, the laws of the state of Delaware shall
govern the operation of, and the rights of Optionees under, the Plan, the Option
Agreements and any Options granted thereunder.
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APPENDIX C
INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS CORPORATION
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
1. ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility for the Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Plan") shall be limited to the executive officers of
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (the "Company") and its affiliates who
constitute a select group of management or highly compensated employees within
the meaning of section 201(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended ("ERISA") ("Eligible Officers").
2. TERMS OF PARTICIPATION
(a) General Rule. An Eligible Officer may elect to participate in the Plan
by signing a Deferred Compensation Agreement (the "Agreement") in the form
attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein. An Eligible Officer's
participation shall commence on January 1 of the calendar year immediately
following the year in which the Eligible Officer executes the Agreement, except
that when an Eligible Officer executes an Agreement within 30 days of the Plan's
initial effective date or within 30 days of first becoming eligible to
participate in the Plan, participation shall commence with respect to services
to be performed subsequent to the date of the Agreement. By signing the
Agreement, the Eligible Officer agrees to defer any whole percentage (up to 50
percent) of his/her base compensation from the Company and its affiliates with
respect to services performed after the date of the Agreement. For purposes of
the Plan, "base compensation" means an Eligible Officer's basic salary from the
Company and its affiliates, excluding any commissions, bonuses, overtime, or
other extra or incentive pay.
(b) Termination of Participation. Participation in the Plan shall continue
until the Eligible Officer furnishes written notice to the Company that the
Eligible Officer terminates his/her participation in the Plan or until such time
as the Company terminates the Plan pursuant to Section 7 below. Termination by
an Eligible Officer shall be made by written notice delivered or mailed to the
Company's Stock Option Committee (the "Committee") (or its delegate) no later
than December 31 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which such
termination is to take effect.
(c) Participation after Terminating Participation. An Eligible Officer who
has terminated his/her participation may subsequently elect to participate in
the Plan by executing a new Agreement in accordance with subsection (a) above.
(d) Changes in Amounts or Distribution Methods. An Eligible Officer may
alter the amount of deferral for any future calendar year, and/or elect a
different method by which he/she will receive amounts deferred for future
calendar years, if the Eligible Officer and the Company enter into a new
Agreement on or before December 31 of the calendar year preceding the calendar
year for which the new Agreement is to take effect. For each new Agreement which
changes the method of receipt of deferred amounts, a new record account (the
"Deferred Compensation Account" or "Account") will be established for the
Eligible Officer.
(e) Suspension of Deferrals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible
Officer may not make deferrals under this Plan during any period for which
contributions must be suspended in accordance with Treasury Regulation
Section 1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iv)(B)(4) as a condition of the Eligible Officer's
receipt of a hardship withdrawal from the Company's 401(k) Plan.
3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND CREDITING OF DEFERRALS
(a) Accounts. The Committee shall establish and maintain, or cause to be
maintained, for each Eligible Officer who elects to participate in the Plan, a
separate Deferred Compensation Account to record the deferrals made by the
Eligible Officer under an Agreement. The Committee shall also maintain, or cause
to be maintained, a record of the value of the Eligible Officer's interest in
such Account.
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(b) Investment of Deferrals. Each Eligible Officer shall indicate in
his/her Agreement whether he/she would like to have his/her deferrals deemed to
be invested in phantom units of the Company's $0.01 par value common stock
("Common Stock") and/or in phantom units of various mutual funds designated by
the Committee as available under the Plan ("Mutual Funds"). An Eligible Officer
may apportion his/her deferrals among the various investment options in whole
percentages. In addition, each Eligible Officer may indicate in his/her
Agreement whether he/she would like to have amounts already credited to his/her
Account reapportioned among phantom units of Common Stock and/or Mutual Funds.
(c) Allocation of Deferrals; Reapportionment.
(i) Deferrals made by an Eligible Officer under an Agreement shall be
invested in phantom units of (and if applicable, fractional phantom units
of) Common Stock and/or Mutual Funds, as directed by the Eligible Officer.
As of each pay date that deferrals are withheld from an Eligible Officer's
compensation, such deferrals shall be converted by the Committee into such
phantom units (and, if applicable, fractional units). The amount of the
deferrals withheld from the Eligible Officer's compensation on such pay
date and designated for a particular investment option shall be divided by
the per unit value of phantom units of such investment option on such date,
as determined under (d) below. Such phantom units shall be credited to the
respective Eligible Officers' Accounts.
(ii) Any reapportionment of amounts already credited to an Eligible
Officer's Account(s) shall occur on the first pay date of the calendar year
to which the Eligible Officer's Agreement applies.
(d) Valuation of Phantom Units. As of each pay date, the Committee shall
determine the fair market value of one share of Common Stock and one share of
each Mutual Fund. With respect to the Mutual Funds, and during such time as the
Common Stock is listed upon an established stock exchange or market, the per
share "fair market value" on any relevant day shall be deemed to be the quoted
closing price on the immediately preceding business day. A phantom unit of
Common Stock shall be deemed equivalent in value to one share of Common Stock of
the Company and a phantom unit of a Mutual Fund shall be deemed equivalent in
value to one share of such Mutual Fund. The fair market value of a share and the
value of phantom units, as determined by the Committee, shall be conclusive.
(e) Adjustments to Phantom Units of Common Stock. In the event of any
change in the outstanding shares of the Common Stock by reason of any stock
dividend or split, the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments in the
number of phantom units of Common Stock theretofore allocated to Eligible
Officers' Accounts. In the event of a corporate transaction, such as a
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, separation, reorganization, or similar
corporate change, the Plan shall be assumed by the surviving or successor
corporation and the Committee (or its successor) shall make appropriate
adjustments in the number of phantom units theretofore allocated to Eligible
Officers' Accounts. For example, if the Company is acquired by another
corporation and shareholders of the Company receive two shares of the acquirer's
stock for each share of Common Stock, the Committee (or its successor) shall
convert each phantom unit of Common Stock into two phantom units of the
acquirer's stock.
(f) Dividend Payments and Distributions. Each Eligible Officer's Account
shall be credited, for each phantom unit of Common Stock and/or each phantom
unit of a Mutual Fund in his/her Account, an amount equal to the actual amount
of any cash dividend paid on a share of Common Stock of the Company and/or of
any cash distribution paid with respect to a share of the Mutual Fund,
respectively. A dividend amount on Common Stock shall be reinvested in phantom
units of Common Stock on the pay date coinciding with or immediately following
the date the dividend amount is credited to the Account. A distribution amount
with respect to a Mutual Fund shall be immediately reinvested in phantom units
of the Mutual Fund.
(g) No Shareholder Rights. The crediting of phantom units of Common Stock
or of a Mutual Fund shall not entitle any Eligible Officer to voting rights or
any other rights of a shareholder with respect to such units.
(h) Vesting. An Eligible Officer's interest in amounts and phantom units
of Common Stock or of a Mutual Fund credited to his/her Account shall be fully
vested and nonforfeitable at all times.
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(i) Limit on Number of Units and Shares. Unless this Plan has been
approved by the Company's shareholders, the aggregate number of phantom units of
Common Stock allocated to Accounts under this Section 3 and of shares of Common
Stock distributed under Section 4 hereof shall not exceed 25,000.
(j) Annual Reports. The Committee shall provide each participating
Eligible Officer with an annual statement of his/her Deferred Compensation
Account balance(s).
4. DISTRIBUTION
(a) Form. All distributions of amounts invested in phantom units of Common
Stock under the Plan shall be made in the form of Common Stock. An Eligible
Officer shall receive one share of Common Stock for each phantom unit of Common
Stock credited to his/her Account. However, the value of any fractional phantom
unit shall be distributed in cash. Distributions of amounts invested in phantom
units of a Mutual Fund shall be made in cash.
(b) General Rule. As of January 31 of the year following the year in which
the Eligible Officer dies, retires, resigns, becomes disabled or otherwise
ceases to be an employee of the Company and its affiliates, the total amount of
phantom units credited to the Eligible Officer's Account under the Plan shall be
distributed to the Eligible Officer (or upon his/her death, to his/her
designated beneficiary) in accordance with one of the alternatives set forth
below:
(i) one single payment; or
(ii) any number of annual installments (as calculated in the following
paragraph) for a period of two to 10 years. Installments shall be paid
annually as of January 31 until the balance in the Eligible Officer's
Account is exhausted.
Selection of a distribution alternative shall be made at the time the
Eligible Officer executes the Agreement. Except as provided in the following
paragraph, each installment payment, other than the final payment, shall
include:
(1) the number of shares of Common Stock shall be equal to 1/n
multiplied by the number of phantom units of Common Stock in the
Eligible Officer's Account as of the previous December 31, where "n"
equals the number of payments yet to be made;
(2) the amount to be paid in cash shall be equal to 1/n multiplied
by the value of the phantom units of Mutual Funds in the Eligible
Officer's Account as of the previous December 31, where "n" equals the
number of payments yet to be made.
The final payment will equal the balance in the Eligible Officer's Account
as of the final January 31 payment date, and such payment shall be made as soon
as practicable after such date. For example, if payments are to be made in 10
annual installments commencing on January 31, 2000, the first payment shall be
equal to 1/10th of the number of phantom units of Common Stock in the Account on
December 31, 1999 plus 1/10th of the value of the Mutual Fund phantom units in
the Account as of December 31, 1999, the following year's payment would be equal
to 1/9th of the number of phantom units of Common Stock on December 31, 2000
plus 1/9th of the value of the Mutual Fund phantom units as of December 31,
2000, etc.
If the total value of Eligible Officer's Account as of the date of the
first scheduled payment does not exceed $5,000, the Company shall instead
distribute such Account in a single payment as of that date. Further, the
Eligible Officer may not select a period of time which will cause the value of
an annual payment to be less than $1,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event the Eligible Officer ceases to be an employee of the Company and its
affiliates and becomes a proprietor, officer, partner, or employee of, or
otherwise becomes affiliated with, any business or entity that is in competition
with the Company or any of its affiliates, the Company reserves the right at the
sole discretion of the Committee to make an immediate single payment to the
Eligible Officer of the balance of the Eligible Officer's Account at that time.
(c) Hardship Distributions. Notwithstanding the preceding two paragraphs,
the Company may at any time make a single payment to the Eligible Officer (or
surviving beneficiary) equal to a part or all of the balance in the Eligible
Officer's Account upon a showing of an unforeseeable (i.e., unanticipated)
financial emergency caused
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by an event beyond the control of the Eligible Officer (or surviving
beneficiary) which would result in severe financial hardship to the Eligible
Officer (or surviving beneficiary) if such payment were not made. The
determination of whether such emergency exists shall be made at the sole
discretion of the Committee (with the Eligible Officer requesting the payment
not participating in the discussion or the decision, if he/she is also a member
of the Committee). The amount of the payment shall be limited to the amount
necessary to meet the financial emergency, and any remaining balance in the
Eligible Officer's Account shall thereafter be paid at the time and in the
manner otherwise set forth in this Section.
(d) Delay of Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may
delay payment of all or a portion of an amount payable from an Eligible
Officer's Account in order to render all such payments deductible by the
Company. In addition, if the Committee determines that the listing,
registration, or qualification of any Common Stock issuable under the Plan upon
any securities exchange or under any state or Federal law, or the consent of any
regulatory body, is necessary in connection with the operation of the Plan, the
issuance of Common Stock under the Plan may be deferred until such listing,
registration, qualification, or consent is obtained.
5. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
An Eligible Officer may designate in writing any person or legal entity as
his/her beneficiary to receive any amounts payable from his/her Account(s) upon
his/her death. If there is no beneficiary designation in effect at the Eligible
Officer's death or the designated beneficiary does not survive the Eligible
Officer, any amounts in the Eligible Officer's Account shall be paid in a single
payment to the Eligible Officer's estate. If the designated beneficiary dies
after beginning to receive installment payments, any amounts payable from the
Eligible Officer's Account shall be paid in a single payment to the
beneficiary's estate at the beneficiary's death.
6. CLAIMS PROCEDURE
The procedure for presenting claims under the Plan and appealing denials
thereof is set forth in this Section 6.
(a) Filing of Claims. Any Eligible Officer or beneficiary (the "claimant")
may file a written claim for a Plan benefit with the Committee or its delegate.
(b) Notice of Denial of Claim. In the event of a denial of any benefit
requested by any claimant, the claimant shall be given a written notification
containing specific reasons for the denial. The written notification shall
contain specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial
is based. In addition, it shall contain a description of any additional material
or information necessary for the claimant to perfect a claim and an explanation
of why such material or information is necessary. Further, the notification
shall provide appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the
claimant wishes to submit his/her claim for review.
The written notification shall be given to the claimant within 90 days
after receipt of his/her claim by the Committee (or its delegate) unless special
circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case written
notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the
termination of the original 90-day period, and such notice shall indicate the
special circumstances which make the postponement appropriate. In no event may
the extension exceed a total of 180 days from the date of the original receipt
of the claim.
(c) Right of Review. In the event of a denial of benefits, the claimant
shall be permitted to review the pertinent documents and to submit to the
Committee (or its delegate) issues and comments in writing. In addition, the
claimant may make a written request for a full and fair review of his/her claim
and its denial by the Committee (or its delegate). Such written request must be
received by the Committee (or its delegate) within 60 days after receipt by the
claimant of written notification of the denial of the claim.
(d) Decision on Review
(i) Time Within Which Decision to be Rendered. A decision shall be
rendered by the Committee (or its delegate) within 60 days after the
receipt of the request for review. However, where special circumstances
make a longer period for decision necessary or appropriate, the decision of
the Committee (or
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its delegate) may be postponed on written notice to the claimant (prior to
the expiration of the initial 60-day period) for an additional 60 days. In
no event shall the decision of the Committee (or its delegate) be rendered
more than 120 days after the receipt of the request for review.
(ii) Written Decision Required. Any decision by the Committee (or its
delegate) shall be furnished to the claimant in writing in a manner
calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall set forth the
specific reason(s) for the decision and the specific Plan provision(s) on
which the decision is based.
(e) Deemed Denial. If a decision on a claim is not rendered within the
time period prescribed in (b) or (d) above, the claim shall be deemed denied.
7. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time.
The balance in the Eligible Officer's Account(s) shall remain subject to the
provisions of the Plan and distribution will not be accelerated because of the
termination of the Plan.
8. NON-ASSIGNABILITY
The right of the Eligible Officer or any other person to receive payments
under this Plan or any Agreement hereunder shall not be subject in any manner to
anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance,
attachment, or garnishment by creditors of the Eligible Officer or any
beneficiary.
9. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) No Funding. The Company shall not be required to fund or secure in any
way its obligations hereunder. Nothing in the Plan or in any Agreement hereunder
and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of the Plan or of any Agreement
hereunder shall be construed to create a trust or a fiduciary relationship of
any kind. Payments under the Plan and any Agreement hereunder shall be made when
due from the general assets of the Company. Neither an Eligible Officer nor
his/her designated beneficiary shall acquire any interest in such assets by
virtue of the Plan or any Agreement hereunder. This Plan constitutes a mere
promise by the Company to make payments in the future, and to the extent that an
Eligible Officer or his/her designated beneficiary acquires a right to receive
any payment from the Company under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than
the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company. The Company intends
for this Plan to be unfunded for federal income tax purposes and for the
purposes of Title I of ERISA.
(b) Administration and Interpretation. The Plan shall be administered by
the Committee, which shall consist of at least two directors of the Company, who
shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Company's Board
of Directors (the "Board"). In the event a committee has not been established in
accordance with the preceding sentence, the "Committee" shall consist of the
entire Board. Each member of such Committee, while serving as such, shall be
deemed to be acting in his/her capacity as a director of the Company.
The Committee shall have full power, authority, and discretion to
interpret, construe, and administer this Plan and any Agreement hereunder and
its interpretation and construction thereof, and actions hereunder, including
any determination of eligibility to participate and valuation of an Eligible
Officer's Account(s), or the amount or recipients of the payment to be made
therefrom, shall be binding and conclusive on all persons for all purposes. The
Committee shall not be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in
connection with the interpretation and administration of this Plan and any
Agreement hereunder unless attributable to its own willful misconduct or lack of
good faith. The Committee shall be the Plan Administrator and the "Named
Fiduciary" within the meaning of section 402 of ERISA.
(c) Withholding. To the extent required by law, the Company shall withhold
federal or state income or employment taxes with respect to any payments under
the Plan or any Agreement hereunder and shall furnish the Eligible Officer (or
beneficiary) and the applicable governmental agency or agencies with such
reports, statements or information as may be required in connection with such
payments. As a condition of receiving a payment under the Plan, the Eligible
Officer (or beneficiary) must remit to the Company an amount in cash equal to
such amount of income and/or employment taxes required to be withheld, if the
cash to be distributed is insufficient to cover the amount required to be
withheld.
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<PAGE>
(d) Incapacity of Payee. If the Committee shall find that any person to
whom any payment is payable under this Plan or any Agreement hereunder is unable
to care for his/her affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, any
payment due (unless a prior claim therefor shall have been made by a duly
appointed guardian, committee or other legal representative) may be paid to the
spouse, a parent, or a brother or sister, or to any person deemed by the
Committee to have incurred expense for the person who is otherwise entitled to
payment, in such manner and proportions as the Committee may determine. Any such
payment shall serve to discharge the liability of the Company under this
Agreement to make payment to the person who is otherwise entitled to payment.
(e) Expenses. All expenses incurred in administering this Plan and any
Agreement hereunder shall be paid by the Company.
(f) No Additional Rights. Nothing in this Plan or any Agreement hereunder
shall be construed as conferring any right on the part of the Eligible Officer
to be or remain an employee of the Company or its affiliates or to receive any
particular amount of compensation.
(g) Binding Nature. This Plan and any Agreement hereunder shall be binding
upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Company, its successors and assigns, and
each Eligible Officer and his/her heirs, executors, administrators, and legal
representatives.
(h) Gender and Number. In interpreting the Plan, masculine gender may
include the feminine, neuter gender may include the masculine or feminine, and
the singular may include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
(i) Headings. The headings of this Plan are for reference only. In the
event of a conflict between a heading and the context of the Section or
subsection, the content of the Section or subsection shall control.
(j) Governing Law. This Plan and any Agreement hereunder shall be governed
by and construed under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(k) Effective Date. This Plan shall be effective as of July 1, 1999.
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<PAGE>
PROXY
INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
105 Morgan Lane
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536
PROXY--Annual Meeting of Stockholders--Monday, May 17, 1999
This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints Stuart M. Essig and John B. Henneman, III as
proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes
them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side hereof, all the
shares of Common Stock, Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock of Integra LifeSciences Corporation (the "Company")
held of record by the undersigned on April 7, 1999 at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on Monday, May 17, 1999 or at any adjournment or
postponement thereof.
This Proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted
in favor of proposals 1, 2, 3 and 5; FOR all nominees listed for election of
directors under proposal 4; and in accordance with the proxies' judgement upon
other matters properly coming before the meeting and any adjournment or
postponement thereof.
(Continued, and to be signed, on Reverse Side)
<PAGE>
Please mark
your vote as
indicated in
this example /X/
4. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
WITHHELD
Nominees: FOR FOR ALL
Keith Bradley / / / /
Richard E. Caruso
Stuart M. Essig
Neal Moszowski
George W. McKinney, III
James M. Sullivan
Edmund L. Zalinski
(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write
the nominee's name below)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AND ADOPT AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S AMENDED AND
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COMPANY
TO "INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS CORPORATION".
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
/ / / / / /
2. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE COMPANY'S 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
/ / / / / /
3. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE COMPANY'S DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
/ / / / / /
5. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE
COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
1999.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
/ / / / / /
IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED, TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY THE RULES OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, TO
VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears above. When shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee, or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please
sign with full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
Signature(s) Date: , 1999
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