Corporate Governance - Guidelines

LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Board Structure
Director Qualification Standards
Director Responsibilities
Director Access to Management and Independent Advisors
Director Compensation
Miscellaneous

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (the “Company”) has adopted the corporate governance guidelines set forth below to assist and guide the Board in the exercise of its responsibilities. These guidelines should be interpreted in accordance with any requirements imposed by applicable federal or state law or regulation, the Nasdaq National Market and the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company. The Board may review and amend these guidelines from time to time.

Board Structure
1. Size of Board: The Board size is presently set at nine (9) members. The Board reserves the right to increase or decrease the size of the Board, subject to any relevant provisions in the Company’s by-laws, depending on an assessment of the Board’s needs and other relevant circumstances at any given time.
2. Committees:
  1. Number of Committees: The Board has three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. There will, from time to time, be occasions on which the Board may form a new committee or disband a current committee depending upon the circumstances. The Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be composed entirely of independent directors. Each Committee will regularly report to the Board concerning the Committee’s activities.
  2. Assignment and Term of Service of Committee Members: The Board is responsible for the appointment of Committee members.
  3. Frequency and Length of Committee Meetings and Committee Agenda: The Committee Chairperson, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and appropriate members of management, will determine the frequency and length of the Committee meetings and develop the Committee’s agenda. The agendas and meeting minutes of the Committees may be shared with the full Board, and other Board members are welcome to attend Committee meetings, except that, unless otherwise required, non-independent directors are not permitted to attend the executive sessions of any Committee.
3. Executive Sessions: The non-management Directors will meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management participation and at least once each year an executive session with only independent directors present shall be held. The Chairman of the Board, to the extent that such person is a non-management Director shall be the Director who presides at these meetings, otherwise a presiding Director will be chosen by the non-management Directors.
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Director Qualification Standards
1. Director Criteria: The Board of Directors shall consider and approve from time to time the criteria that it deems necessary or advisable for prospective Director candidates. The Board of Directors shall have full authority to modify such criteria from time to time as it deems necessary or advisable. The Board of Directors has delegated to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee the responsibility for developing and recommending to the Board of Directors for its consideration and approval such criteria for prospective Director candidates as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee deems necessary or advisable. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend to the Board of Directors from time to time such criteria for its consideration and approval. The Board of Directors may, however, rescind this delegation to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and thereafter the Board of Directors shall have the responsibility for developing and approving from time to time such criteria for prospective Director candidates as it deems necessary or advisable.
  
  At a minimum, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must be satisfied that each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee-recommended nominee meets the following minimum qualifications:
  - The nominee shall have experience at a strategic or policymaking level in a business, government, non-profit or academic organization of high standing.
  - The nominee shall be highly accomplished in his or her respective field, with superior credentials and recognition.
  - The nominee shall be well regarded in the community and shall have a long-term reputation for the highest ethical and moral standards.
  - The nominee shall have sufficient time and availability to devote to the affairs of the Company, particularly in light of the number of boards on which the nominee may serve.
  - To the extent such nominee serves or has previously served on other boards, the nominee shall have a demonstrated history of actively contributing at board meetings.
  In addition to the minimum qualifications for each nominee set forth above, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall recommend that the Board select persons for nomination to help ensure that:
  - A majority of the Board shall be “independent” in accordance with the standards, if any, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Nasdaq National Market or any exchange upon which securities of the Company are traded, and any governmental or regulatory body exercising authority over the Company.
  - Each of its Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees shall be comprised entirely of independent directors.
  - At least one member of the Audit Committee shall have such experience, education and other qualifications necessary to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. Process For Identifying and Selecting Directors: The Board of Directors has delegated to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee the responsibility of identifying suitable candidates for nomination to the Board of Directors (including candidates to fill any vacancies that may occur) and assessing their qualifications in light of the policies and principles in these corporate governance guidelines and the committee’s charter. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend prospective Director candidates for the Board’s consideration and review the prospective candidates’ qualifications with the Board. The Board of Directors shall retain the ultimate authority to nominate a candidate for election by the stockholders as a Director or to fill any vacancy that may occur. In identifying prospective Director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider all facts and circumstances that it deems appropriate or advisable, including, among other things, the skills of the prospective Director candidate, his or her depth and breadth of business experience or other background characteristics, his or her independence and the needs of the Board. The current process for identifying and evaluating nominees for the Board, including nominees recommended by securityholders, is as follows:
  - The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may solicit recommendations from any or all of the following sources: non-management directors, the Chief Executive Officer, other executive officers, third-party search firms, or any other source it deems appropriate. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review and evaluate the qualifications of any such proposed director candidate, and conduct inquiries it deems appropriate.
  - The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate all such proposed director candidates in the same manner, with no regard to the source of the initial recommendation of such proposed director candidate.
  - The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider for nomination any such proposed director candidate who is deemed qualified by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in light of the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board from time to time and set forth in this Charter.
  In identifying and evaluating proposed director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider, in addition to the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board from time to time, all facts and circumstances that it deems appropriate or advisable, including, among other things, the skills of the proposed director candidate, his or her depth and breadth of business experience or other background characteristics, his or her independence and the needs of the Board.
  
  The current procedures to be followed by securityholders in submitting recommendations for director candidates to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are set forth below:
  - All securityholder recommendations for director candidates must be submitted to the Secretary of the Company at 63 Second Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803, who will forward all recommendations to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
  - All securityholder recommendations for director candidates must be submitted to the Company not less than 120 calendar days prior to the date on which the Company’s proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting.
  - All securityholder recommendations for director candidates must include the following information:
    1. The name and address of record of the securityholder.
    2. A representation that the securityholder is a record holder of the Company’s securities, or if the securityholder is not a record holder, evidence of ownership in accordance with Rule 14a-8(b)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
    3. The name, age, business and residential address, educational background, current principal occupation or employment, and principal occupation or employment for the preceding five (5) full fiscal years of the proposed director candidate.
    4. A description of the qualifications and background of the proposed director candidate which addresses the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by the Board from time to time and set forth in this Charter.
    5. A description of all arrangements or understandings between the securityholder and the proposed director candidate.
    6. The consent of the proposed director candidate (i) to be named in the proxy statement relating to the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders and (ii) to serve as a director if elected at such annual meeting.
    7. Any other information regarding the proposed director candidate that is required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
3. Independence: At least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall meet the independence requirements established pursuant to Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Marketplace Rues of the National Associate of Securities Dealers, Inc. At least annually, the Board will evaluate all relationships between the Company and each Director in light of relevant facts and circumstances for the purposes of determining the independence of the members of the Board of Directors. The Company defines an “independent” director in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the rules promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules of The Nasdaq National Market, including Rule 4200(a)(15). Because it is not possible to anticipate or explicitly provide for all potential situations that may affect independence, the Board periodically reviews each director’s status as an independent director and whether any independent director has any other relationship with the Company that, in the judgment of the Board, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out such director’s responsibilities as a director. The Board will make an annual determination whether each director is “independent” under the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the rules promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules of The Nasdaq National Market.
4. Limit on Number of Other Board: Carrying out the duties and fulfilling the responsibilities of a Director require a significant commitment of an individual’s time and attention. The Board does not believe, however, that explicit limits on the number of other boards of directors on which the Directors may serve, or on other activities the Directors may pursue, are appropriate. The Board, however, recognizes that excessive time commitments can interfere with an individual’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively. In connection with its assessment of Director candidates for nomination, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will assess whether the performance of any Director has been or is likely to be adversely impacted by excessive time commitments, including service on other boards of directors. Directors must notify the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in connection with accepting a seat on the board of directors of another business corporation so that the potential for conflicts or other factors compromising the Director’s ability to perform his duties may be fully assessed.
5. Term and Age Limits: The Board does not believe that arbitrary limits on the number of consecutive terms a Director may serve or on the Directors’ ages are appropriate in light of the substantial benefits resulting from a sustained focus on the Company’s business, strategy and industry over a significant period of time. Each individual’s performance will be assessed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in light of relevant factors in connection with assessments of candidates for nomination to be Directors.
6. Succession: The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be responsible for developing succession plans for the Board as appropriate in light of relevant facts and circumstances.
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Director Responsibilities
1. Role of Directors: The business and affairs of the Company are managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, acting on behalf of the stockholders. The Board has delegated to the officers of the Company the authority and responsibility for managing the Company’s everyday affairs. The Board of Directors has an oversight role and is not expected to perform or duplicate the tasks of the CEO or senior management.
2. Board Meetings: In-person Board meetings are scheduled in advance at least four times a year. Furthermore, additional Board meetings may be called upon appropriate notice at any time to address specific needs of the Company. Each director may propose the inclusion of items on the agenda, request the presence of or a report by any member of the Company’s management, or at any Board meeting raise subjects that are not on the agenda for that meeting. The Board may also take action from time to time by unanimous written consent.
3. Attendance at Meetings: Each member of the Board is expected to make reasonable efforts to attend regularly scheduled meetings of the Board and to participate in telephone conference meetings or other special meetings of the Board. In the event that Directors are unable to make at least 75% of those regular or special meetings (together with the meetings of committees on which such Director serves), the Company will be required to disclose that fact in its annual proxy statement. In addition, attendance and participation at meetings is an important component of the Directors’ duties and, as such, attendance rates will be taken into account by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in connection with assessments of Director candidates for renomination as Directors.
4. Attendance at Annual Meeting of Shareholders: The Board’s policy is to encourage all directors and all nominees for election as directors to attend the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
5. Time Commitment; Advance Distribution and Review of Materials: Directors are expected to spend the time needed and meet as frequently as the Board deems necessary or appropriate to discharge their responsibilities. Senior management is responsible for distributing information and data that are important to the Board’s understanding of the business to be conducted at a Board or Committee meeting to the Directors. Directors should review these materials in advance of the meeting when reasonably practicable.
6. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics: Members of the Board of Directors shall act at all times in accordance with the requirements of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which shall be applicable to each director in connection with his or her activities relating to the Company. This obligation shall at all times include, without limitation, adherence to the Company’s policies with respect to conflicts of interest, confidentiality, protection of the Company’s assets, ethical conduct in business dealings and respect for and compliance with applicable law. Any waiver of the requirements of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics with respect to any individual director or any executive officer shall be reported to, and be subject to the approval of, the Board of Directors.
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Director Access to Management and Independent Advisors

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board of Directors, and each committee thereof, shall be entitled to rely on the advice and information that it receives from management and such experts, advisors and professionals with whom the Board, or any such committee, may consult. The Board of Directors, and each committee thereof, shall have the authority to request that any officer or employee of the Company, the Company’s outside legal counsel, the Company’s independent auditor or any other professional retained by the Company to render advice to the Company, attend a meeting of the Board, or such committee, or meet with any members of or advisors to the Board. The Board or any committee thereof shall also have the authority to engage legal, accounting or other advisors to provide it with advice and information in connection with carrying out its or their responsibilities.
Director Compensation

The Board shall retain the ultimate authority to determine the form and amount of Director compensation.

The Company’s employees shall not receive additional compensation for their service as directors.

Independent directors may not receive consulting, advisory or other compensatory fees from the Company if the receipt of such fees would result in disqualifying the director as a “independent” director in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the rules promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules of The Nasdaq National Market. To the extent practicable or required by applicable rule or regulation, Independent directors who are affiliated with the Company’s service providers or partners or collaborators will undertake to ensure that their compensation from such providers or partners or collaborators does not include amounts connected to payments by the Company.

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Miscellaneous

The Board believes that the management should be responsible for communications with the press, media and other outside parties made on behalf of the Company, though individual Board members may, at the request of management or of the Board, communicate with outside parties on behalf of the Company.

These guidelines are not intended to modify, extinguish or in any other manner limit the indemnification, exculpation and similar rights available to the Directors of the Company under applicable law and/or the Company’s certificate of incorporation and/or its by-laws.

Although these corporate governance guidelines have been approved by the Board, it is expected that these guidelines will evolve over time as customary practice and legal requirements change. In particular, guidelines that encompass legal, regulatory or exchange requirements as they currently exist will be deemed to be modified as and to the extent such legal, regulatory or exchange requirements are modified. In addition, the guidelines may also be amended by the Board at any time as it deems appropriate.

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Corporate Governance - Guidelines

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