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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2003

Registration No. 333-



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


ABIOMED, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  04-2743260
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

22 Cherry Hill Drive, Danvers, MA
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

01923
(Zip Code)

ABIOMED, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)


David M. Lederman
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
ABIOMED, Inc.
22 Cherry Hill Drive
Danvers, MA 01923
(Name and Address of Agent For Service)

(978) 777-5410
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)


WITH A COPY TO:
Peter W. Coogan, Esq.
Foley Hoag
LLP
World Trade Center West
155 Seaport Boulevard
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(617) 832-1000


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Securities to be Registered
  Amount to
be Registered

  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price

  Amount of
Registration Fee


Common Stock, $0.01 par value   1,400,000(1)   $3.99(2)   $5,586,000   $513.91

(1)
Represents shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options or as stock awards granted under the ABIOMED, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.

(2)
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee and, based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on February 11, 2003, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.





PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

        The document(s) containing the information concerning the ABIOMED, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") required by Item 1 of Part 1 of Form S-8 and the statement of availability of Registration Information, Plan Information and other information required by Item 2 of Part 1 of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). In accordance with Rule 428 and the requirements of Part 1 of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. The Registrant shall maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428. Upon request, the registrant shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all of the documents included in such file.


PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

        The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

    (1)
    The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002;

    (2)
    All reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Form 10-K referred to in clause (a) above; and

    (3)
    The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

        All documents, filed by the Registrant subsequent to the date hereof with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto that indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof from their respective dates of filing (such documents, and the documents enumerated above, being hereinafter referred to as "Incorporated Documents"); provided, however, that the documents enumerated above or subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act in each year during which the offering made hereby is in effect prior to the filing with the Commission of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for such year shall not be Incorporated Documents or be incorporated by reference herein or be a part hereof from and after the filing of such Report.

        Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part hereof.

Item 4. Description of Securities

        Not Applicable.

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Item 5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel

        Not Applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Section 145 further provides that a corporation similarly may indemnify any such person serving in any such capacity who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

        The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and anticipates that it will enter into similar agreements with future directors and officers. Generally, these agreements attempt to provide the maximum protection permitted by Delaware law with respect to indemnification. The indemnification agreements provide that the Registrant will pay certain amounts incurred by a director in connection with any civil or criminal action or proceeding, specifically including actions by or in the name of the Registrant (derivative suits) where the individual's involvement is by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer. For directors, such amounts include, to the maximum extent permitted by law, attorney's fees, judgments, civil or criminal fines, settlement amounts and other expenses customarily incurred in connection with legal proceedings. Under the indemnification agreements, a director will not receive indemnification if the director is found not to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. The Registrant has also entered into similar agreements with certain of the Registrant's officers and top management personnel who are not also directors. The indemnification agreements with officers are slightly more restrictive. Generally, the indemnification agreements attempt to provide the maximum protection permitted by Delaware law with respect to indemnification of directors and officers. The Registrant's by-laws provide similar indemnification for officers and directors.

        The effect of these provisions would be to permit such indemnification by the Registrant for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware Corporation Law gives a Delaware corporation the power to adopt a charter provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as directors, provided that such provision may not

3



eliminate or limit the liability of directors for (i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) any acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) any payment of a dividend or approval of a stock purchase that is illegal under Section 174 of the Delaware Corporation Law or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article 10 of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the personal liability of directors of the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty to the full extent permitted by Delaware law.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

        Not Applicable

Item 8. Exhibits

Exhibit No.

  Description

4.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-36657).

4.2

 

Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.02 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996.

4.3

 

ABIOMED, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.

5.1

 

Opinion of Foley Hoag LLP

23.1

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.2

 

Consent of Foley Hoag LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (contained on signature page)

Item 9. Undertakings

        (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

              (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

              (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and

4



              (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

    provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

            (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

            (3)  To remove from registration by means of post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

        (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and each filing of the Plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Danvers, Massachusetts, on February 13, 2003.


 

 

ABIOMED, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
DAVID M. LEDERMAN       
David M. Lederman
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints David M. Lederman and Charles B. Haaser, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing which they, or either of them, may deem necessary or advisable to be done in connection with this Registration Statement, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or any substitute or substitutes for either or both of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/   DAVID M. LEDERMAN       
David M. Lederman
  Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   February 13, 2003

/s/  
CHARLES B. HAASER       
Charles B. Haaser

 

Corporate Controller (Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer)

 

February 13, 2003

/s/  
W. GERALD AUSTEN       
W. Gerald Austen

 

Director

 

February 13, 2003


Paul B. Fireman

 

Director

 

 

/s/  
JOHN F. O'BRIEN       
John F. O'Brien

 

Director

 

February 13, 2003

/s/  
DESMOND O'CONNELL       
Desmond O'Connell

 

Director

 

February 13, 2003

/s/  
HENRI A. TERMEER       
Henri A. Termeer

 

Director

 

February 13, 2003

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PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY

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Exhibit 4.3



ABIOMED, Inc.

2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN





Table of Contents

SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS   4

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; COMMITTEE AUTHORITY TO SELECT PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINE AWARDS

 

5
  (a) Committee   5
  (b) Powers of Committee   5

SECTION 3. SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION

 

6
  (a) Shares Issuable   6
  (b) Limitation on Awards   6
  (c) Stock Dividends, Mergers, etc.   6
  (d) Substitute Awards   6

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY

 

7

SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS

 

7
  (a) Exercise Price   7
  (b) Option Term   7
  (c) Exercisability; Rights of a Shareholder   7
  (d) Method of Exercise   8
  (e) Non-transferability of Options   8
  (f) Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options   8
  (g) Form of Settlement   8

SECTION 6. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

8
  (a) Nature of Restricted Stock Award   8
  (b) Acceptance of Award   9
  (c) Rights as a Shareholder   9
  (d) Restrictions   9
  (e) Vesting of Restricted Stock   9
  (f) Waiver, Deferral and Reinvestment of Dividends   9

SECTION 7. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

9
  (a) Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock   9
  (b) Restrictions on Transfers   9

SECTION 8. PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS

 

9
  (a) Nature of Performance Shares   9

SECTION 9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

10

SECTION 10. TERMINATION OF STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

10
  (a) Incentive Stock Options:   10
  (b) Non-Statutory Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights   11

SECTION 11. TAX WITHHOLDING

 

11
  (a) Payment by Participant   11
  (b) Payment in Shares   11

SECTION 12. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC

 

11

SECTION 13. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

 

12

SECTION 14. STATUS OF PLAN

 

12

SECTION 15. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS

 

12
  (b) "Change of Control"   12


SECTION 16. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

13
  (a) No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements   13
  (b) Delivery of Stock Certificates   13
  (c) Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights   13

SECTION 17. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

13

SECTION 18. GOVERNING LAW

 

13

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ABIOMED, Inc.

2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

        The name of the plan is the ABIOMED, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the " Plan "). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable officers, directors, and employees of ABIOMED, Inc. (the " Company ") and its Subsidiaries and other persons to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company's welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its shareholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company's behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

        The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

        " Award " or " Awards ", except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Statutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awards and Stock Appreciation Rights.

        " Board " means the Board of Directors of the Company.

        " Cause " means (i) any material breach by the participant of any agreement to which the participant and the Company are both parties, and (ii) any act or omission justifying termination of the participant's employment for cause, as determined by the Committee.

        " Change of Control " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.

        " Code " means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

        " Conditioned Stock Award " means an Award granted pursuant to Section 6.

        " Committee " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

        " Disability " means disability as set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

        " Effective Date " means the date on which the Plan is approved by stockholders as set forth in Section 17.

        " Eligible Person " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.

        " Fair Market Value " on any given date means the price per share of the Stock on such date as reported by a nationally recognized stock exchange, or, if the Stock is not listed on such an exchange, as reported by NASDAQ, or, if the Stock is not quoted on NASDAQ, the fair market value of the Stock as determined by the Committee.

        " Incentive Stock Option " means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an "incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

        " Non-Statutory Stock Option " means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

        " Normal Retirement " means retirement from active employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with the retirement policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries then in effect.

        " Outside Director " means any director who (i) is not an employee of the Company or of any "affiliated group," as such term is defined in Section 1504(a) of the Code, which includes the Company (an " Affiliate "), (ii) is not a former employee of the Company or any Affiliate who is receiving compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the Company's or any Affiliate's taxable year, (iii) has not been an officer of the Company or any Affiliate and (iv) does not receive remuneration from the Company or any Affiliate, either directly or indirectly,



in any capacity other than as a director. " Outside Director " shall be determined in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code and the Treasury regulations issued thereunder.

        " Option " or " Stock Option " means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.

        " Performance Share Award " means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.

        " Stock " means the Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

        " Stock Appreciation Right " means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9.

        " Subsidiary " means a subsidiary as defined in Section 424 of the Code.

        " Unrestricted Stock Award " means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7.

         SECTION 2. Administration of Plan; Committee Authority to Select Participants and Determine Awards.

        (a)     Committee.     The Plan shall be administered by a committee of the Board (the " Committee ") consisting of not less than two (2) Outside Directors, but the authority and validity of any act taken or not taken by the Committee shall not be affected if any person administering the Plan is not an " Outside Director ." The Board of Directors may act as the Committee at any time. Except as specifically reserved to the Board under the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority to operate, manage and administer the Plan on behalf of the Company. Action by the Committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all members thereof. The Board may establish an additional single-member committee (consisting of an executive officer) that shall have the power and authority to grant Awards to non-executive officers and to make all other determinations under the Plan with respect thereto.

        (b)     Powers of Committee.     The Committee shall have the power and authority to grant and modify Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

5


        All decisions and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan participants.

        (a)     Shares Issuable.     The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards (including Stock Appreciation Rights) may be granted under the Plan shall be seven hundred thousand (700,000). For purposes of this limitation, the shares of Stock underlying any Awards which are forfeited, cancelled, reacquired by the Company or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan so long as the participants to whom such Awards had been previously granted received no benefits of ownership of the underlying shares of Stock to which the Award related. Subject to such overall limitation, any type or types of Award may be granted with respect to shares, including Incentive Stock Options. Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or shares reacquired by the Company.

        (b)     Limitation on Awards.     In no event may any Plan participant be granted Awards under this Plan (including Stock Appreciation Rights) with respect to more than two hundred thousand (200,000) shares of Stock in any calendar year. The number of shares of Stock relating to an Award granted to a Plan participant in a calendar year that is subsequently forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated shall continue to count toward the foregoing limitation in such calendar year. In addition, if the exercise price of an Award is subsequently reduced, the transaction shall be deemed a cancellation of the original Award and the grant of a new one so that both transactions shall count toward the maximum shares issuable in the calendar year of each respective transaction.

        (c)     Stock Dividends, Mergers, etc.     In the event that after approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 17, the Company effects a stock dividend, stock split or similar change in capitalization affecting the Stock, the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments in (i) the number and kind of shares of stock or securities with respect to which Awards may thereafter be granted (including without limitation the limitations set forth in Section 3(a) and Section 3(b) above), (ii) the number and kind of shares remaining subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the option or purchase price in respect of such shares. In the event of any merger, consolidation, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Committee in its sole discretion may, as to any outstanding Awards, make such substitution or adjustment in the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan and in the number and purchase price (if any) of shares subject to such Awards as it may determine and as may be permitted by the terms of such transaction, or accelerate, amend or terminate such Awards upon such terms and conditions as it shall provide (which, in the case of the termination of the vested portion of any Award, shall require payment or other consideration which the Committee deems equitable in the circumstances), subject, however, to the provisions of Section 15.

        (d)     Substitute Awards.     The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees of another corporation who concurrently become employees of the Company or a Subsidiary as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of property or stock of the employing corporation. The Committee may direct that the substitute awards

6



be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances. Shares which may be delivered under such substitute awards may be in addition to the maximum number of shares provided for in Section 3(a).

        Awards may be granted to officers, directors, and employees of and consultants and advisers to the Company or its Subsidiaries (" Eligible Persons ").

        The Committee may grant to Eligible Persons options to purchase stock.

        Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve.

        Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options (subject to compliance with applicable law) or Non-Statutory Stock Options. Unless otherwise so designated, an Option shall be a Non-Statutory Stock Option. To the extent that any option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall constitute a Non-Statutory Stock Option.

        No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board, or (ii) the date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders as set forth in Section 17.

        The Committee in its discretion may determine the effective date of Stock Options, provided, however, that grants of Incentive Stock Options shall be made only to persons who are, on the effective date of the grant, employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of Section 13 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable.

        (a)     Exercise Price.     The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but shall be, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, not less than one hundred percent (100%) of Fair Market Value on the date of grant. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the option price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of Fair Market Value on the grant date.

        (b)     Option Term.     The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date the option is granted. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the term of such option shall be no more than five (5) years from the date of grant.

        (c)     Exercisability; Rights of a Shareholder.     Stock Options shall become vested and exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Committee at or after the grant date. The Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.

7



        (d)     Method of Exercise.     Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by delivering written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods:

        The delivery of certificates representing shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the Optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Stock Option or imposed by applicable law.

        (e)     Non-transferability of Options.     Except as the Committee may provide with respect to a Non-Statutory Stock Option, no Stock Option shall be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by the optionee.

        (f)     Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options.     To the extent required for "incentive stock option" treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Stock with respect to which incentive stock options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.

        (g)     Form of Settlement.     Shares of Stock issued upon exercise of a Stock Option shall be free of all restrictions under the Plan, except as otherwise provided in this Plan.

        (a)     Nature of Restricted Stock Award.     The Committee in its discretion may grant Restricted Stock Awards to any Eligible Person, entitling the recipient to acquire, for a purchase price determined by the Committee, shares of Stock subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time of grant (" Restricted Stock "), including continued employment and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

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        (b)     Acceptance of Award . A participant who is granted a Restricted Stock Award shall have no rights with respect to such Award unless the participant shall have accepted the Award within sixty (60) days (or such shorter date as the Committee may specify) following the award date by making payment to the Company of the specified purchase price, of the shares covered by the Award and by executing and delivering to the Company a written instrument that sets forth the terms and conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock in such form as the Committee shall determine.

        (c)     Rights as a Shareholder.     Upon complying with Section 6(b) above, a participant shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Stock, including voting and dividend rights, subject to non-transferability restrictions and Company repurchase or forfeiture rights described in this Section 6 and subject to such other conditions contained in the written instrument evidencing the Restricted Award. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the Company until such shares are vested as provided in Section 6(e) below.

        (d)     Restrictions.     Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein. In the event of termination of employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason (including death, Disability, Normal Retirement and for Cause), the Company shall have the right, at the discretion of the Committee, to repurchase shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which conditions have not lapsed at their purchase price, or to require forfeiture of such shares to the Company if acquired at no cost, from the participant or the participant's legal representative. The Company must exercise such right of repurchase or forfeiture within ninety (90) days following such termination of employment (unless otherwise specified in the written instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award).

        (e)     Vesting of Restricted Stock.     The Committee at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Stock and the Company's right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such preestablished performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Stock and shall be deemed "vested." The Committee at any time may accelerate such date or dates and otherwise waive or, subject to Section 13, amend any conditions of the Award.

        (f)     Waiver, Deferral and Reinvestment of Dividends.     The written instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award may require or permit the immediate payment, waiver, deferral or investment of dividends paid on the Restricted Stock.

        (a)     Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock.     The Committee in its discretion may grant or sell to any Eligible Person shares of Stock free of any restrictions under the Plan (" Unrestricted Stock ") at a purchase price determined by the Committee. Shares of Unrestricted Stock may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services or other valid consideration.

        (b)     Restrictions on Transfers.     The right to receive unrestricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

        (a)     Nature of Performance Shares . A Performance Share Award is an award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The Committee may make Performance Share Awards independent of or in connection with the granting of

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any other Award under the Plan. Performance Share Awards may be granted under the Plan to any Eligible Person. The Committee in its discretion shall determine whether and to whom Performance Share Awards shall be made, the performance goals applicable under each such Award, the periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other limitations and conditions applicable to the awarded Performance Shares.

        The Committee in its discretion may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to any Eligible Person (i) alone, or (ii) simultaneously with the grant of a Stock Option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the participant upon exercise thereof to receive from the Company, upon written request to the Company at its principal offices (the " Request "), a number of shares of Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion), an amount of cash, or any combination of Stock and cash, as specified in the Request (but subject to the approval of the Committee in its sole discretion, at any time up to and including the time of payment, as to the making of any cash payment), having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the product of (i) the excess of Fair Market Value, on the date of such Request, over the exercise price per share of Stock specified in such Stock Appreciation Right or its related Option, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Stock for which such Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may specify at the time of grant of any Stock Appreciation Right that such Stock Appreciation Right may be exercisable solely for cash and not for Stock.

        (a) Incentive Stock Options :    

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        (b)     Non-Statutory Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.     Any Non-Statutory Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to its termination as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine.

        (a)     Payment by Participant.     Each participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the participant for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of any Federal, state, local and/or payroll taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant.

        (b)     Payment in Shares .     A Participant may elect, with the consent of the Committee, to have such tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to an Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the minimum withholding amount due with respect to such Award, or (ii) transferring to the Company shares of Stock owned by the participant for a period of at least six months and with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the minimum withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due.

        For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment:

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        The Board may at any time amend or discontinue the Plan and the Committee may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding Award (or provide substitute Awards at the same or reduced exercise or purchase price or with no exercise or purchase price, but such price, if any, must satisfy the requirements which would apply to the substitute or amended Award if it were then initially granted under this Plan) for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder's consent. However, no such amendment, unless approved by the stockholders of the Company, shall be effective if it would cause the Plan to fail to satisfy the incentive stock option requirements of the Code.

        With respect to the portion of any Award which has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a participant, a participant shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the provision of the foregoing sentence.

        Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control as defined in this Section 15:

        (b)     "Change of Control"     shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events:

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        (a)     No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements.     The Committee may require each person acquiring shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.

        No shares of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities laws and other legal and stock exchange requirements have been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing of such stop orders and restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate.

        (b)     Delivery of Stock Certificates.     Delivery of stock certificates to participants under this Plan shall be deemed effected for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have delivered such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the participant, at the participant's last known address on file with the Company.

        (c)     Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights.     Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of the Plan or any Award under the Plan does not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

        The Plan shall become effective upon approval by the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock of the Company present or represented and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders.

        This Plan shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

* * *

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ABIOMED, Inc.
2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Exhibit 5.1

February 14, 2003

ABIOMED, Inc.
22 Cherry Hill Drive
Danvers, Massachusetts 01923

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We are familiar with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by ABIOMED, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to the offering by the Company of up to 1,400,000 shares (the "Shares") of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable upon exercise of stock options granted or to be granted pursuant to the ABIOMED, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

        In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined and relied on the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date, the By-Laws of the Company, as amended to date, the records of meetings and consents of the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company provided to us by the Company relating to the Plan and the Shares, the Registration Statement and the Plan.

        In addition, we have examined and relied on the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such corporate records of the Company and such other instruments and other certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and such other persons, and we have made such examination of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below.

        We assume that all Shares to be issued upon exercise of options granted or to be granted pursuant to the Plan will be issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan and that the purchase price of the Shares, or the value of other consideration received or to be received by the Company for the Shares, will be greater than or equal to the par value per share of the Shares.

        Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares, when issued and delivered upon the exercise of options and against the receipt of the purchase price or other consideration therefor, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

        This opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect. Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion should be inferred as to any other matters.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.


 

 

FOLEY HOAG LLP

 

 

By:

/s/  
PETER W. COOGAN       
Peter W. Coogan
a Partner



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Exhibit 23.1


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by refernce in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to register 1,400,000 shares of common stock of ABIOMED, Inc. of our report dated August 27, 2002 relating to the financial statements of ABIOMED, Inc., which appears in ABIOMED, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 13, 2003




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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS