Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Share-based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans

v3.24.2.u1
Share-based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans
12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Share-based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans

Note 10. Share-based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans:

The cost of employee services received in exchange for the award of equity instruments is based on the fair value of the award at the date of grant. Compensation cost is recognized using a straight-line method over the vesting period and is net of estimated forfeitures. Stock option exercises and stock awards are satisfied through the issuance of new shares.

Equity incentive plan: The 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, which replaced the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, provides for the granting of incentive and nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and stock appreciation rights. There were 36.2 million shares of common stock authorized for grant under the Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved and available for awards under the Plan is 9,936,808 shares. At June 30, 2024, there were 6.3 million shares of common stock available for grant under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. The maximum term of incentive options granted under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan is ten years. The 2020 Equity Incentive Plan replaced the Company’s second A&R 2010 Plan, which had previously amended and restated the Company’s Amended and Restated 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the A&R 2010 Plan). The 2020 Equity Incentive Plan and Second A&R 2010 Plan (collectively, the Plans) are administered by the Board of Directors and its Executive Compensation Committee, which determine the persons who are to receive awards under the Plans, the number of shares subject to each award and the term and exercise price of each award. The number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards as of June 30, 2024 under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan were 11.6 million.

The fair values of options granted under the Plans were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions used:

Year Ended June 30, 

    

2024

2023

2022

Dividend yield

0.41

%

0.34

%

0.27

%

Expected volatility

30%-37

%

30%-36

%

27%-33

%

Risk-free interest rates

3.8%-4.8

%

2.8%-4.4

%

0.6%-2.6

%

Expected lives (years)

4.4

4.7

4.3

The dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical annual cash dividend divided by the market value of the Company’s common stock. The expected annualized volatility is based on the Company’s historical stock price over a period equivalent to the expected life of the option granted. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rates with a term consistent with the expected life of the options granted.

Stock option activity under the Plans for the three years ended June 30, 2024, consists of the following (shares in thousands):

    

    

Weighted

    

Aggregate

    

Weighted

Number of 

Average

Intrinsic

Average

Shares (in

Exercise

Value

Contractual

thousands)

Price

(millions)

Life (years)

Outstanding at June 30, 2021

 

14,868

$

43.16

 

  

 

  

Granted

 

1,390

 

120.15

 

  

 

  

Forfeited

 

(539)

 

87.05

 

  

 

  

Exercised

 

(2,450)

 

33.61

 

  

 

  

Outstanding at June 30, 2022

 

13,269

$

51.20

 

  

 

  

Granted

 

2,351

 

93.81

 

  

 

  

Forfeited

 

(118)

 

85.99

 

  

 

  

Exercised

 

(1,578)

 

29.48

 

  

 

  

Outstanding at June 30, 2023

 

13,924

$

60.56

 

 

  

Granted

 

1,060

 

79.69

 

  

 

  

Forfeited

 

(1,165)

 

90.86

 

  

 

  

Exercised

 

(2,240)

 

33.34

 

  

 

  

Outstanding at June 30, 2024

 

11,579

$

64.53

$

747.3

 

3.0

Exercisable at June 30, 2022:

 

7,797

 

36.99

 

 

  

Exercisable at June 30, 2023:

 

8,641

 

44.76

 

 

  

Exercisable at June 30, 2024:

 

8,208

 

53.57

 

439.7

 

2.1

The weighted average fair value of options granted during fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022 was $27.27, $29.53, and $29.78, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022 were $100.8 million, $90.2 million, and $209.3 million, respectively. The total fair value of options exercised during fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022 were $58.2 million, $46.5 million, and $82.3 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022 were $31.6 million, $31.0 million, and $29.2 million, respectively. Stock options vest over a four year period.

Restricted common stock activity under the Plans for the three years ended June 30, 2024, consists of the following (units in thousands):

    

    

    

Weighted

Average

Weighted

Remaining

Number of

Average Grant

Contractual

Shares (in

Date Fair

Term

thousands)

Value

(years)

Unvested at June 30, 2021

 

92

$

56.52

 

  

Granted

 

28

 

122.34

 

  

Vested

 

(54)

 

54.57

 

  

Forfeited

 

 

 

  

Unvested at June 30, 2022

 

66

$

85.83

 

  

Granted

 

11

 

73.94

 

  

Vested

 

(40)

 

78.85

 

  

Forfeited

 

 

 

  

Unvested at June 30, 2023

 

37

$

89.91

 

  

Granted

 

28

 

57.38

 

  

Vested

 

(30)

 

82.51

 

  

Forfeited

 

 

 

  

Unvested at June 30, 2024

 

35

$

70.22

6.60

The total fair value of restricted shares that vested was $2.4 million for fiscal 2024, $3.1 million for fiscal 2023, and $2.9 million for fiscal 2022.

Restricted stock unit activity under the Plans for the three years ended June 30, 2024, consists of the following (units in thousands):

Weighted 

Average 

Weighted 

Remaining 

Number of 

Average Grant 

Contractual 

Units 

Date Fair

Term 

    

(in thousands)

    

 Value

    

(years)

Outstanding at June 30, 2021

 

382

 

$

55.13

 

  

Granted

 

110

 

117.60

 

  

Vested

 

(145)

 

44.62

 

  

Forfeited

 

(45)

 

104.34

 

  

Outstanding at June 30, 2022

 

302

 

$

75.54

 

  

Granted

 

107

 

90.96

 

  

Vested

 

(123)

 

52.34

 

  

Forfeited

 

(3)

 

106.13

 

  

Outstanding at June 30, 2023

 

283

 

$

91.10

 

  

Granted

 

374

 

78.16

 

  

Vested

 

(129)

 

76.42

 

  

Forfeited

 

(31)

 

99.96

 

  

Outstanding at June 30, 2024

 

497

 

$

84.62

 

5.71

The total fair value of restricted stock units that vested was $9.9 million for fiscal 2024, $6.4 million for fiscal 2023, and $6.5 million for fiscal 2022. The restricted stock units vest over a three-year period.

Stock-based compensation cost, inclusive of payroll taxes, of $38.5 million, $39.3 million, and $44.0 million was included in selling, general and administrative expense in fiscal 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Additionally, stock-based

compensation costs, inclusive of payroll taxes, of $0.9 million, $1.0 million, and $1.4 million was included in cost of goods sold in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, there was $35.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options, non-vested restricted stock units and non-vested restricted stock which will be expensed in fiscal 2025 through 2028 using a 4.5% forfeiture rate. The weighted average period over which the compensation cost is expected to be recognized is 2.1 years.

Employee stock purchase plan: In fiscal year 2015, the Company established the Bio-Techne Corporation 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), which was approved by the Company’s shareholders on October 30, 2014, and which is designed to comply with IRS provisions governing employee stock purchase plans. 800,000 shares were allocated to the ESPP. The Company recorded expense of $0.9 million, $0.9 million, and $1.0 million for the ESPP in fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

Profit sharing and savings plans: The Company has profit sharing and savings plans for its U.S. employees, which conform to IRS provisions for 401(k) plans. The Company makes matching contributions to the Plan. The Company has recorded an expense for contributions to the plans of $5.8 million, $4.9 million, and $4.3 million for the years ended June 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Company operates defined contribution pension plans, which consists of primarily our U.K. and China employees. The Company’s contribution to the defined pension contribution plan was $5.5 million, $2.4 million, and $2.3 million for the years ended June 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Performance incentive programs: In fiscal 2024, under certain employment agreements, a Management Incentive Plan, and a business incentive plan, available to executive officers, certain management personnel, and certain other professional employees, the Company recorded cash bonuses of $13.5 million, granted options for 1,060,126 shares of common stock, issued 27,876 restricted common shares and 374,448 restricted stock units. In fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, the Company recorded cash bonuses of $10.8 million and $26.5 million, granted options for 2,350,980 and 1,390,436 shares of common stock, issued 10,816 and 27,584 restricted common stock shares and 107,202 and 110,292 restricted stock units, respectively.