-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Sld0HUkWzG4T/jZ+Ww0wm85qIrIHMK5qF/cQhmZP6L2rzVerO6IX5EdExmF6oT/d PrP+giS6i3LR7R0bjCtYCA== 0001104659-09-026424.txt : 20090427 0001104659-09-026424.hdr.sgml : 20090427 20090427170616 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-09-026424 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20090423 ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20090427 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20090427 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SILICON LABORATORIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001038074 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674] IRS NUMBER: 742793174 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-29823 FILM NUMBER: 09773187 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 400 W CESAR CHAVEZ CITY: AUSTIN STATE: TX ZIP: 78701 BUSINESS PHONE: 5124168500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 400 W CESAR CHAVEZ CITY: AUSTIN STATE: TX ZIP: 78701 8-K 1 a09-10937_18k.htm CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 23, 2009

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

000-29823

74-2793174

(State or Other Jurisdiction

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer

of Incorporation)

 

Identification No.)

 

400 West Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78701

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (512) 416-8500

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On April 23, 2009, the stockholders of Silicon Laboratories Inc. (the “Company”) approved the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) and the 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”).  A summary of the terms of the Incentive Plan and the Purchase Plan is included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed on March 13, 2009, which summary is qualified entirely by reference to the terms of the actual Incentive Plan and Purchase Plan, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The purposes of the Incentive Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentives to our employees, non-employee directors and consultants, and to promote the success of our business by linking the personal interests of the employees, non-employee directors and consultants to those of our stockholders by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to our stockholders.  The Purchase Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Company by providing eligible employees with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the company through participation in an employee stock purchase plan.

 

Additionally, the Company has approved forms of agreements for use in connection with the issuance of restricted stock units and stock options under the Incentive Plan, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.3 and 10.4, respectively, and the terms thereof are incorporated herein by reference.  The Board and the Compensation Committee have discretion to alter the terms of such form agreements, subject to the limitations set forth in the Incentive Plan.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

10.1               Silicon Laboratories Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

10.2               Silicon Laboratories Inc. 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

10.3     Form of Restricted Stock Units Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement under Registrant’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

10.4               Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Award Agreement under Registrant’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 27, 2009

 

/s/ Paul V. Walsh, Jr.

 

 

 

Date

 

Paul V. Walsh, Jr.
Vice President of Finance
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Silicon Laboratories Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Silicon Laboratories Inc. 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Restricted Stock Units Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement under Registrant’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

10.4

 

Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Award Agreement under Registrant’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

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EX-10.1 2 a09-10937_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

 

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1.                          PURPOSES OF THE PLAN

 

The purposes of the Silicon Laboratories Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentives to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business by linking the personal interests of the Directors, Employees, and Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders.

 

ARTICLE 2.                          DEFINITIONS

 

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.  The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

 

2.1                                 Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

 

2.2                                 Award” means an Option, an award of Restricted Stock, a Stock Appreciation Right, an award of Performance Shares, an award of Performance Stock Units, an award of Restricted Stock Units, a Performance-Based Award or any other right or benefit, including any other Award under Article 8, granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.3                                 Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an Award, including through electronic medium.

 

2.4                                 Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.5                                 Change in Control” means and includes each of the following:

 

(a)                                  A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of the Shares to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or

 



 

(b)                                 During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.5(a) or Section 2.5(c) hereof) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

(c)                                  The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

 

(i)                                     Which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

 

(ii)                                  After which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.5(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or

 

(d)                                 The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto.

 

2.6                                 Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

2.7                                 Committee” means the committee of the Board appointed or described in Article 12 to administer the Plan.

 

2.8                                 Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for the Common Stock pursuant to Article 11.

 

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2.9                                 Company” means Silicon Laboratories Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

2.10                           Consultant” means any consultant or adviser if: (a) the consultant or advisor renders bona fide services to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate; (b) the services rendered by the consultant or advisor are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (c) the consultant or advisor is a natural person.

 

2.11                           Covered Employee” means an Employee who is, or could be, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

2.12                           Director” means a member of the Board.

 

2.13                           Disability means that the Participant would qualify to receive benefit payments under the long-term disability policy,  as it may be amended from time to time, of the Company or the Subsidiary or Affiliate to which the Participant provides services regardless of whether the Participant is covered by such policy.  If the Company or the Subsidiary or Affiliate to which the Participant provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Participant is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Participant by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days.  A Participant shall not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Board in its discretion.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan, “Disability” means that the Participant is disabled within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

2.14                           Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right granted to a Participant related to the Award of Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and/or Performance Units which is a right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on the Shares prior to vesting of the Award.  Such Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee.

 

2.15                           Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 hereof.

 

2.16                           Eligible Individual” means any person who is an Employee, a Consultant or a Director, as determined by the Committee.

 

2.17                           Employee” means a full time or part time employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, including an officer or Director, who is treated as an employee in the personnel records of the Company or Subsidiary or Affiliate for the relevant period, but shall exclude individuals who are classified by the Company or Subsidiary or Affiliate as (a) independent contractors or (b) intermittent or temporary, even if any such classification is changed retroactively as a result of an audit, litigation or otherwise.  A Participant shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any vacation or sick time or otherwise approved paid time off in accordance with the Company or Subsidiary or Affiliate’s policy or in the case where the Employee is on an unpaid leave but his or her employment cannot be terminated pursuant to applicable local law or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between

 

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the Company, a Subsidiary and/or Affiliate.  Neither services as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate shall be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

 

2.18                           Equity Restructuring” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the price of Shares (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Shares underlying outstanding Awards.

 

2.19                           Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2.20                           Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, (a) if Shares are traded on any established stock exchange, the closing price of a Share as quoted on the principal exchange on which the Shares are listed, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (or such other source as the Company may deem reliable for such purposes) for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the first trading date immediately prior to such date during which a sale occurred; or (b) if Shares are not traded on an exchange but are regularly quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the closing sales price on such date as quoted on such market or system, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the date immediately prior to such date on which sales prices are reported; or (c) in the absence of an established market for the Shares of the type described in (a) or (b) of this Section 2.20, the fair market value established by the Committee acting in good faith.

 

2.21                           Full Value Award” means any Award other than an Option, SAR or other Award for which the Participant pays a minimum of the Fair Market Value of the Shares, as determined as of the date of grant.

 

2.22                           Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

2.23                           Independent Director” means a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

 

2.24                           Involuntary Termination” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Award Agreement, or if the term is not defined in the Award Agreement, shall mean the termination of the employment or service of any Participant which occurs by reason of:

 

(a)                      such Participant’s involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate for reasons other than Misconduct, or

 

(b)                     such Participant’s voluntary resignation following (A) a change in his or her position with the Company or Subsidiary or Affiliate employing the Participant which materially reduces his or her duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he or she reports, (B) a reduction in his or her level of total compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) unless such reduction is effectuated as part of a broad-based compensation reduction scheme within the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and

 

4



 

Affiliates, (C) a relocation of such Participant’s place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Company without the individual’s written consent or (D) negotiations between the Participant and the Company and/or Subsidiary or Affiliate employing the Participant in the context of a reduction in force.

 

2.25                           Misconduct” shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Participant, any unauthorized use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) or any intentional wrongdoing by such person, whether by omission or commission, which adversely affects the business or affairs of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) in a material manner.  This shall not limit the grounds for the dismissal or discharge of any person in the employment or service of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate).

 

2.26                           Non-Employee Director” means a Director of the Company who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule.

 

2.27                           Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.28                           Option” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 5 to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price during specified time periods.  An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

2.29                           Participant” means any Eligible Individual who, as a Director, Consultant or Employee, has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.30                           Performance-Based Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Article 9.

 

2.31                           Performance Criteria” means the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Participant for a Performance Period.  The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: earnings or net earnings (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), economic value-added, sales or revenue, income, net income (either before or after taxes), operating earnings, cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow), cash flow return on capital, return on assets or net assets, return on stockholders’ equity, return on capital, stockholder returns, return on sales, gross or net profit margin, productivity, expense, margins, operating efficiency, customer satisfaction, working capital, earnings per share, price per Share, market share, new products, customer penetration, technology and risk management, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group.  The Committee shall define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period for such Participant.

 

2.32                           Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the goals established in writing by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.  Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the

 

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Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance, the performance of a Subsidiary or Affiliate, the performance of a division or a business unit of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or the performance of an individual.  The Committee, in its discretion, may, to the extent consistent with, and within the time prescribed by, Section 162(m) of the Code, appropriately adjust or modify the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Period in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants (a) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event, or development, or (b) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions.

 

2.33                           Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance-Based Award.

 

2.34                           Performance Share” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, to receive Shares, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals or other performance-based targets established by the Committee.

 

2.35                           Performance Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof, to receive Shares (or value of Shares in cash), the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals or other performance-based targets established by the Committee.

 

2.36                           Plan” means this 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

2.37                           Qualified Performance-Based Compensation” means any compensation that is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

 

2.38                           Restricted Stock” means Shares awarded to a Participant pursuant to Article 6 that are subject to certain restrictions as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

2.39                           Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.3 hereof and shall be evidenced by a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share.

 

2.40                           Section 409A Compliance” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.6 hereof.

 

2.41                           Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

2.42                           Share” means a share of Common Stock.

 

2.43                           Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted pursuant to Article 7 to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified

 

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number of Shares on the date the SAR is exercised over the grant price of the SAR, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.44                           Subsidiary” means any “subsidiary corporation” as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder or any other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

ARTICLE 3.                          SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

3.1                                 Number of Shares.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Article 11 and Section 3.1(b) hereof, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards, including upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options, under the Plan shall be 6,800,000 Shares.  Any Shares that are subject to Awards of Options or SARs shall be counted against this limit as one (1) Share for every one (1) Share granted.  Any Shares that are subject to Full Value Awards (other than Options or SARs) shall be counted against this limit as one and fifty-five hundredths (1.55) Shares for every one (1) Share granted.

 

(b)                                 To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, lapses for any reason, or is settled in cash, any Shares subject to the Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan.  Any Shares that become available for the grant of Awards pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) shall be added back as one (1) Share if such Shares were subject to Options or SARs granted under the Plan and as one and fifty-five hundredths (1.55) shares if such shares were subject to Full Value Awards granted under the Plan.  Any Shares withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall be treated as issued under this Plan and shall be deducted from the aggregate number of shares which may be issued under Section 3.1(a).  Further, any Shares tendered to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall not be added to the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under Section 3.1(a).  To the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, Shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate shall not be counted against Shares available for grant pursuant to this Plan.  The payment of Dividend Equivalent Rights in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

3.2                                 Shares Distributed.  Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, treasury Shares or Shares purchased on the open market.

 

3.3                                 Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Article 11, where it is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, the maximum number of Shares with respect to one or more

 

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Awards that may be granted to any one Participant during any calendar year shall be 1,000,000 Shares and the maximum amount that may be paid in cash during any calendar year with respect to any Award shall be $30,000,000.

 

ARTICLE 4.                          ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

4.1                                 Eligibility.  Each Eligible Individual shall be eligible to be granted one or more Awards pursuant to the Plan.

 

4.2                                 Participation.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award.  No Eligible Individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to this Plan.

 

ARTICLE 5.                          STOCK OPTIONS

 

5.1                                 General.  The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Individuals on the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)                                  Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that, subject to Section 5.2(c) hereof, the per Share exercise price for any Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

 

(b)                                 Time and Conditions of Exercise.  The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part; provided that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years.  The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.

 

(c)                                  Payment.  The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, potentially including the following methods: (i) cash or check, (ii) surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Committee may require (including withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the Award) which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender of attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which the Award shall be exercised, (iii) promissory note bearing interest at no less than such rate as shall then preclude the imputation of interest under the Code), (iv) other property acceptable to the Committee (including through the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale), or (v) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.  The Award Agreement will specify the methods of paying the exercise price available to Participants.  The Committee shall also determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise

 

8



 

price of an Option, or continue any extension of credit with respect to the exercise price of an Option with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

 

(d)                                 Evidence of Grant.  All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant.  The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.

 

5.2                                 Incentive Stock Options.  Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, and the terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to the Plan, in addition to the requirements of Section 5.1 hereof, must comply with the provisions of this Section 5.2.

 

(a)                                  Expiration.  Subject to Section 5.2(c) hereof, an Incentive Stock Option shall expire and may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:

 

(i)                                     Ten years from the date it is granted, unless an earlier time is set in the Award Agreement;

 

(ii)                                  Three months after the Participant’s termination of employment as an Employee; and

 

(iii)                               One year after the date of the Participant’s termination of employment or service on account of death, or Disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.  Upon the Participant’s Disability or death, any Incentive Stock Options exercisable at the Participant’s Disability or death may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or representatives, by the person or persons entitled to do so pursuant to the Participant’s last will and testament, or, if the Participant fails to make testamentary disposition of such Incentive Stock Option or dies intestate, by the person or persons entitled to receive the Incentive Stock Option pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

(b)                                 Dollar Limitation.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision.  To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

(c)                                  Ten Percent Owners.  An Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of Shares of the Company only if such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more than five years from the date of grant.

 

(d)                                 Notice of Disposition.  The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within (i)

 

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two years from the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant.

 

(e)                                  Right to Exercise.  During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.

 

(f)                                    Failure to Meet Requirements.  Any Option (or portion thereof) purported to be an Incentive Stock Option, which, for any reason, fails to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code shall be considered a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

ARTICLE 6.                          RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

6.1                                 Grant of Restricted Stock.  The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock to any Eligible Individual selected by the Committee in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee.  All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

 

6.2                                 Purchase Price.  At the time of the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall determine the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for each Share subject to the Award of Restricted Stock.  To the extent required by applicable law, the price to be paid by the Participant for each Share subject to the Award of Restricted Stock shall not be less than the par value of a Share (or such higher amount required by applicable law).  The purchase price of Shares acquired pursuant to the Award of Restricted Stock shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the sole discretion of the Committee, by services rendered or to be rendered to the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion and in compliance with applicable law.

 

6.3                                 Issuance and Restrictions.  Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock).  These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.

 

6.4                                 Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may (a) provide in any Restricted Stock Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock.

 

6.5                                 Certificates for Restricted Stock.  Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.  If certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to

 

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such Restricted Stock, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.

 

ARTICLE 7.                          STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

7.1                                 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)                                  A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Eligible Individual selected by the Committee.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, provided that the term of any Stock Appreciation Right shall not exceed ten years.

 

(b)                                 A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over (B) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right and (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose.

 

(c)                                  Grant Price.  The grant price per Share subject to a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that, the per Share grant price for any Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

 

7.2                                 Payment and Limitations on Exercise.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 7.2(b) hereof, payment of the amounts determined under Section 7.1(b) hereof shall be in cash, in Shares (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)                                 To the extent any payment under Section 7.1(b) hereof is effected in Shares, it shall be made subject to satisfaction of all applicable provisions of Article 5 pertaining to Options.

 

ARTICLE 8.                          OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS

 

8.1                                 Performance Share Awards.  Any Eligible Individual selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Awards of Performance Shares which shall be denominated in a number of Shares and which may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee.  In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.  The Committee may authorize Dividend

 

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Equivalents to be paid on outstanding Performance Share Awards.  If Dividend Equivalents are authorized to be paid, they may be paid at the time dividends are declared on the Shares or at the time the awards vest and they may be paid in either cash or Shares, in the discretion of the Committee.

 

8.2                                 Performance Stock Units.  Any Eligible Individual selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Performance Stock Unit awards which shall be denominated in unit equivalent of Shares and/or units of value including dollar value of Shares and which may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee.  In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.  On the vesting date, the Company shall, subject to Section 10.5(b), transfer to the Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Performance Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited.  Alternatively, settlement of a Performance Stock Unit may be made in cash (in an amount reflecting the Fair Market Value of Shares that would have been issued) or any combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.  The Committee may authorize Dividend Equivalents to be paid on outstanding Performance Stock Units.  If Dividend Equivalents are authorized to be paid, they may be paid at the time dividends are declared on the Shares or at the time the awards vest and they may be paid in either cash or Shares, in the discretion of the Committee.

 

8.3                                 Restricted Stock Units.  The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual selected by the Committee in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee.  At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate.  On the vesting date, the Company shall, subject to Section 10.5(b), transfer to the Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited.  Alternatively, settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit may be made in cash (in an amount reflecting the Fair Market Value of Shares that would have been issued) or any combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.  The Committee may authorize Dividend Equivalents to be paid on outstanding Restricted Stock Units.  If Dividend Equivalents are authorized to be paid, they may be paid at the time dividends are declared on the Shares or at the time the awards vest and they may be paid in either cash or Shares, in the discretion of the Committee.

 

8.4                                 Other Awards.  The Committee is authorized under the Plan to make any other Award to an Eligible Individual that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) a right with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or (iii) any other right with the value derived from the value of the Shares.  The Committee may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Participants on such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee from time to time.

 

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8.5                                 Term.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of any Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Restricted Stock Units and any other Award granted pursuant to this Article 8 shall be set by the Committee in its discretion.

 

8.6                                 Exercise or Purchase Price.  The Committee may establish the exercise or purchase price, if any, of any Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Restricted Stock Units and any other Award granted pursuant to this Article 8; provided, however, that such price shall not be less than the par value of a Share on the date of grant, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.

 

8.7                                 Exercise upon Termination of Employment or Service.  An Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Restricted Stock Units and any other Awards granted pursuant to this Article 8 shall only be exercisable or payable while the Participant is an Employee, Consultant or Director, as applicable; provided, however, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that an Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Restricted Stock Units or any other Award granted pursuant to this Article 8 may be exercised or paid subsequent to a termination of employment or service, as applicable, or following a Change in Control of the Company, or because of the Participant’s retirement, death or Disability, or otherwise; provided, however, that any such provision with respect to Performance Shares or Performance Stock Units shall be subject to the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code if such Performance Shares or Performance Stock Units are granted as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.

 

8.8                                 Form of Payment.  Payments with respect to any Awards granted under this Article 8 shall be made in cash, in Shares or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee.

 

8.9                                 Award Agreement.  All Awards under this Article 8 shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

 

8.10                           Timing of Settlement.  At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the settlement date applicable to an Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Restricted Stock Units or any other Award granted pursuant to this Article 8, which shall be no earlier than the vesting date(s) applicable to the relevant Award and may be later than the vesting date(s) to the extent and under the terms determined by the Committee.

 

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ARTICLE 9.                          PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS FOR COVERED EMPLOYEES

 

9.1                                 Purpose.  The purpose of this Article 9 is to provide the Committee the ability to qualify Awards other than Options and SARs and that are granted pursuant to Articles 6  and 8 as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.  If the Committee, in its discretion, decides to grant a Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee, the provisions of this Article 9 shall control over any contrary provision contained in Articles 6 or 8; provided, however, that the Committee may in its discretion grant Awards to Covered Employees that are based on Performance Criteria or Performance Goals but that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 9.

 

9.2                                 Applicability.  This Article 9 shall apply only to those Covered Employees selected by the Committee to receive Performance-Based Awards that are intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.  The designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive an Award for the period.  Moreover, designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Covered Employee as a Participant in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one Covered Employee as a Participant shall not require designation of any other Covered Employees as a Participant in such period or in any other period.

 

9.3                                 Procedures with Respect to Performance-Based Awards.  To the extent necessary to comply with the Qualified Performance-Based Compensation requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award granted under Articles 6 or 8 which may be granted to one or more Covered Employees, no later than ninety (90) days following the commencement of any fiscal year in question or any other designated fiscal period or period of service (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (a) designate one or more Covered Employees, (b) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance Period, (c) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period, and (d) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for such Performance Period.  Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved for such Performance Period.  In determining the amount earned by a Covered Employee, the Committee shall have the right to reduce or eliminate (but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period.

 

9.4                                 Payment of Performance-Based Awards.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate on the day a Performance-Based Award for the appropriate Performance Period is paid to the Participant.  Furthermore, a Participant shall be eligible to receive payment pursuant to a Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period only if the Performance Goals for such period are achieved.

 

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9.5                                 Additional Limitations.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, any Award which is granted to a Covered Employee shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code (including any amendment to Section 162(m) of the Code) or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for qualification as qualified performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, and the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

ARTICLE 10.                       PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

10.1                           Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards.  Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.

 

10.2                           Award Agreement.  Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participant’s employment or service terminates, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.

 

10.3                           Limits on Transfer.  No right or interest of a Participant in any Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate.  Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award shall be assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to beneficiary designation procedures approved from time to time by the Committee (or the Board in the case of Awards granted to Independent Directors).  The Committee by express provision in the Award or an amendment thereto may permit an Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option) to be transferred to, exercised by and paid to certain persons or entities related to the Participant, including, but not limited to, members of the Participant’s family, charitable institutions, or trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of the Participant’s family and/or charitable institutions, or to such other persons or entities as may be expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish.  Any permitted transfer shall be subject to the condition that the Committee receive evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes (or to a “blind trust” in connection with the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate to assume a position with a governmental, charitable, educational or similar non-profit institution) and on a basis consistent with the Company’s lawful issue of securities.

 

10.4                           Beneficiaries.  Notwithstanding Section 10.3 hereof, a Participant may, if permitted by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death.  A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to

 

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the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.  If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse.  If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to either the person’s estate or legal representative or the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution (or equivalent laws outside the U.S.).  Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.

 

10.5                           Stock Certificates; Book Entry Procedures.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded.  All certificates evidencing Shares delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state local, securities or other laws, including laws of jurisdictions outside of the United States, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or traded.  The Committee may place legends on any certificate evidencing Shares to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.  In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

 

10.6                           Accelerated Vesting and Deferral Limitations.  The Committee shall not have the discretionary authority to accelerate or delay issuance of Shares under an Award that constitutes a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, except to the extent that such acceleration or delay may, in the discretion of the Committee, be effected in a manner that will not cause any person to incur taxes, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A Compliance”).

 

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10.7                           Paperless Administration.  In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

 

ARTICLE 11.                       CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

11.1                           Adjustments.

 

(a)                                  In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the price of the Shares other than an Equity Restructuring, the Committee shall make such adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (a) the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof); (b) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (c) the grant or exercise price per Share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.  Any adjustment affecting an Award intended as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(b)                                 In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 11.1(a) hereof or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon the Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Committee determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:

 

(i)                                     To provide for either (A) termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 11.1 the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion;

 

(ii)                                  To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent

 

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or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;

 

(iii)                               To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and in the number and kind of outstanding Restricted Stock and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding options, rights and awards;

 

(iv)                              To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; and

 

(v)                                 To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

 

(c)                                  In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 11.1(a) and 11.1(b) hereof:

 

(i)                                     The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted.  The adjustments provided under this Section 11.1(c)(i) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company.

 

(ii)                                  The Committee shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof).

 

11.2                           Change in Control.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding Section 11.1 hereof, and except as may otherwise be provided in any applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement entered into between the Company and a Participant, if a Change in Control occurs and a Participant’s Awards are not converted, assumed, or replaced by a successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, then immediately prior to the Change in Control such Awards shall become fully exercisable and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse and, following the consummation of such Change in Control, all such Awards shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.   In the event that the terms of any agreement (other than the Award Agreement) between the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate and a Participant contains provisions that conflict with and are more restrictive than the provisions of this Section 11.2(a), this Section 11.2(a) shall prevail and control and the more restrictive terms of such agreement (and only such terms) shall be of no force or effect.

 

(b)                                 The Committee may at any time, subject to Section 10.6, provide that one or more Awards will automatically accelerate in connection with a Change in Control, whether or not those Awards are assumed or otherwise continue in full force and effect.  In addition, where Awards are assumed or continued after a Change of Control, the Committee may provide that one or more Awards will automatically accelerate upon an Involuntary Termination of the

 

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Participant’s employment or service within a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the effective date of such Change in Control.  Any such Award shall accordingly, immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control or upon an Involuntary Termination of the Participant’s employment or service following a Change in Control (at the Committee’s discretion), become fully exercisable and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse.

 

(c)                                  Upon a Change in Control, the Committee may cause any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future, including, but not limited to, the date of such Change in Control, and shall give each Participant the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine.

 

(d)                                 The portion of any Incentive Stock Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation is not exceeded.  To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such Option shall be exercisable as a Non-Statutory Option under the U.S. federal tax laws.

 

11.3                           No Other Rights.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation.  Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of Shares of any class, or securities convertible into Shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the grant or the exercise price of any Award.

 

ARTICLE 12.                       ADMINISTRATION

 

12.1                           Committee.  Unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee as set forth below, the Plan shall be administered by the full Board, and for such purposes the term “Committee” as used in this Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board.  The Board, at its discretion or as otherwise necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or to the extent required by any other applicable rule or regulation, may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee consisting of two or more members of the Board.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board each of whom is an “outside director,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, a Non-Employee Director and an “independent director” under the NASDAQ rules (or other principal securities market on which Shares are traded); provided that any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 12.1 or otherwise provided in any charter of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to all Awards granted to Independent Directors and for purposes of such Awards the term “Committee” as used in

 

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this Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (b) the Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 12.5 hereof.  In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of the Code, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.  Except as may otherwise be provided in any charter of the Committee, appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment; Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board; and vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board.

 

12.2                           Action by the Committee.  Unless otherwise established by the Board or in any charter of the Committee, a majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.  Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

 

12.3                           Authority of Committee.  Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:

 

(a)                                  Designate Participants to receive Awards;

 

(b)                                 Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

 

(c)                                  Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;

 

(d)                                 Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines; provided, however, that the Committee shall not have the authority to accelerate the vesting or waive the forfeiture of any Performance-Based Awards intended to qualify as Qualified Performance Based-Compensation, except as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code;

 

(e)                                  Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

 

(f)                                    Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant and may vary for Participants outside the United States;

 

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(g)                                 Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(h)                                 Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations including adopting sub-plans to the Plan for the purposes of complying with foreign laws an/or taking advantage of tax favorable treatment for Awards granted to Participants outside the United States, as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(i)                                     To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time provided that such suspension or termination does not impair rights and obligations under any outstanding Award without written consent of the affected Participant.

 

(j)                                     Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement; and

 

(k)                                  Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.

 

12.4                           Decisions Binding.  The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

 

12.5                           Delegation of Authority.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards to Participants other than (a) Employees who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (b) Covered Employees, or (c) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder.  For the avoidance of doubt, provided it meets the limitation in the preceding sentence, this delegation shall include the right to modify Awards as necessary to accommodate changes in the laws or regulations, including in jurisdictions outside the United States.  Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee.  At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 12.5 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board.

 

ARTICLE 13.                       EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE

 

13.1                           Effective Date.  The Plan is effective as of the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”).  The Plan will be deemed to be approved by the stockholders if it is approved either:

 

(a)                                  By a majority of the votes cast at a duly held stockholder’s meeting at which a quorum representing a majority of outstanding voting stock is, either in person or by proxy, present and voting on the plan; or

 

(b)                                 By a method and in a degree that would be treated as adequate under Delaware law in the case of an action requiring stockholder approval.

 

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13.2                           Expiration Date.  The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, except that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan after the earlier of the tenth anniversary of (a) the date the Plan is approved by the Board or (b) the Effective Date.  Any Awards that are outstanding on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 14.                       AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION

 

14.1                           Amendment, Modification, and Termination.  Subject to Section 15.14 hereof, with the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that (a) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, and (b) stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan that (i) increases the number of shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by Article 11), or (ii) permits the Committee to extend the exercise period for an Option beyond ten years from the date of grant.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, absent approval of the stockholders of the Company, no Option or SAR may be amended to reduce the per share exercise price of the shares subject to such Option or SAR below the per share exercise price as of the date the Option or SAR is granted and, except as permitted by Article 11, (a) no Option or SAR may be granted in exchange for, or in connection with the cancellation, surrender or substitution of an Option or SAR having a higher per share exercise price and (b) no Option or SAR may be cancelled in exchange for, or in connection with the payment of a cash amount.

 

14.2                           Awards Previously Granted.  Except with respect to amendments made  pursuant to Section 15.14 hereof, no termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant; provided, however, that an amendment or modification that may cause an Incentive Stock Option to become a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be treated as adversely affecting the rights of the Participant.

 

ARTICLE 15.                       GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

15.1                           No Rights to Awards.  No Eligible Individual or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Participants or any other persons uniformly.

 

15.2                           No Stockholders Rights.  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award, including to the right to vote or receive dividends, until the Participant becomes the record owner of such Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of an Option or other Award.

 

15.3                           Withholding.  The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, as appropriate, shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the

 

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Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy U.S. federal, state, and local taxes and taxes imposed by jurisdictions outside of the United States (including income tax, social insurance contributions, payment on account and any other taxes that may be due) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result of this Plan or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, as appropriate, to satisfy withholding obligations for the payment of taxes.  The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of Shares) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld.  No Shares shall be delivered hereunder to any Participant or other person until the Participant or such other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Committee for the satisfaction of these tax obligations with respect to any taxable event concerning the Participant or such other person arising as a result of Awards made under this Plan.

 

15.4                           No Right to Employment or Services.  Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

 

15.5                           Unfunded Status of Awards.  The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

 

15.6                           Indemnification.  To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

15.7                           Relationship to other Benefits.  No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, termination programs and/or indemnities or severance payments, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

 

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15.8                           Expenses.  The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates.

 

15.9                           Titles and Headings.  The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

 

15.10                     Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.

 

15.11                     Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

15.12                     Government and Other Regulations.  The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Shares or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations of the United States and jurisdictions outside the United States, and to such approvals by government agencies, including government agencies in jurisdictions outside of the United States, in each case as may be required or as the Company deems necessary or advisable.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares subject to Awards granted hereunder prior to: (i) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable, and (ii) completion of any registration or other qualification with respect to the Shares under any applicable law in the United States or in a jurisdiction outside of the United States or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable or at a time when any such registration or qualification is not current, has been suspended or otherwise has ceased to be effective.  The inability or impracticability of the Company to obtain or maintain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant to the Securities Act, as amended, any of the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan.  If the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act, as amended, the Company may restrict the transfer of such Shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.

 

15.13                     Governing Law.  The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Texas.

 

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15.14                     Section 409A.  Except as provided in Section 15.15 hereof, to the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under such Section.

 

15.15                     No Representations or Covenants with respect to Tax Qualification.  Although the Company may endeavor to (1) qualify an Award for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States (e.g., incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code or French-qualified stock options) or (2) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment, anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 15.14 hereof, notwithstanding.  The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on holders of Awards under the Plan.

 

  *  *  *  *

 

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EX-10.2 3 a09-10937_1ex10d2.htm EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

2009 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

I.              PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

 

This Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to promote the interests of Silicon Laboratories Inc., a Delaware corporation, by providing Eligible Employees with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Corporation through participation in an employee stock purchase plan designed to qualify under Section 423 of the Code, although the Corporation makes no undertaking nor representation to maintain such qualification.  In addition, this Plan authorizes the grant of rights to purchase Common Stock under a Non-423(b) Plan which do not qualify under Section 423(b) of the Code, pursuant to rules, procedures or sub-plans adopted by the Board or Plan Administrator which are designed to achieve tax, securities law or other of the Corporation’s compliance objectives in particular locations outside the United States.  This Plan shall govern the terms and conditions of grants made under both the Code Section 423(b) Plan component and the Non-423(b) Plan component.

 

Capitalized terms herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the attached Appendix.

 

II.            ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to interpret and construe any provision of the Plan and, for the grant of rights to purchase Common Stock under the Code Section 423(b) Plan, to adopt such rules and regulations for administering the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.  The Plan Administrator may from time to time grant or provide for the grant of rights to purchase Common Stock under the Non-423(b) Plan.  If such grants are intended to be made under the Non-423(b) Plan, they will be designated as such at the time of grant and such grants may not comply with the requirements set forth under Section 423 of the Code. Decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties having an interest in the Plan.

 

III.           STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

 

A.            The stock purchasable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock purchased on the open market.  Subject to Article III (B) below, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued in the aggregate under the Plan shall be 1,250,000 shares.

 

B.            Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to the maximum number and class of securities issuable in the aggregate under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of securities purchasable per Participant and in the aggregate on any one Purchase Date and (iii) the number and class of securities and the price per share in effect under each outstanding purchase right in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder.

 



 

IV.           OFFERING PERIODS

 

A.            Shares of Common Stock shall be offered for purchase under the Plan through a series of successive offering periods until such time as (i) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall have been purchased or (ii) the Plan shall have been sooner terminated.

 

B.            Each offering period shall be of such duration (not to exceed twenty-four (24) months) as determined by the Plan Administrator prior to the start date of such offering period.  However, the initial offering period shall commence at the Effective Date and terminate twenty-four (24) months from the commencement date of such offering period, unless (i) the offering period automatically resets prior to that date (as described in Article IV(D) hereof), or (ii) prior to the commencement of the initial offering period, the Plan Administrator determines that such initial offering period shall be of a shorter duration.  Subsequent offering periods shall commence as designated by the Plan Administrator.

 

C.            Each offering period shall be comprised of a series of one or more successive and/or overlapping Purchase Intervals having such durations as may be established by the Plan Administrator.  Unless otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator, Purchase Intervals shall run from the last business day in April each year to the last business day in October of the same year and from the last business day in October each year to the last business day in April of the following year.  However, the first Purchase Interval in effect under the initial offering period shall commence on the Effective Date and terminate on the last business day in the next succeeding April or October (whichever is earlier).

 

D.            Should the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any Purchase Date within an offering period be less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the start date of that offering period, then that offering period shall automatically terminate immediately after the purchase of shares of Common Stock on such Purchase Date, and a new offering period shall commence on that day, following such Purchase.  The new offering period shall have a duration of twenty-four (24) months, unless a shorter duration is established by the Plan Administrator within thirty (30) calendar days following the start date of that offering period.

 

V.            ELIGIBILITY

 

A.            Each individual who is an Eligible Employee on the start date of an offering period under the Plan may enter that offering period on such start date or on any subsequent Semi-Annual Entry Date within that offering period, provided he or she remains an Eligible Employee.

 

B.            Each individual who first becomes an Eligible Employee after the start date of an offering period may enter that offering period on any subsequent Semi-Annual Entry Date within that offering period on which he or she is an Eligible Employee.

 

C.            The date an individual enters an offering period shall be designated his or her Entry Date for purposes of that offering period.

 

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D.            To participate in the Plan for a particular offering period, the Eligible Employee must complete the enrollment forms prescribed by the Plan Administrator (including a stock purchase agreement and a payroll deduction authorization) and file such forms with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date.  Once an Eligible Employee has enrolled in an offering period, his or her enrollment will remain in effect through subsequent offering periods unless the Eligible Employee withdraws from the Plan.

 

VI.           PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

 

A.            Except as otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator prior to the commencement of an offering period, the payroll deduction authorized by the Participant for purposes of acquiring shares of Common Stock during an offering period may be any multiple of one percent (1%) of the Participant’s Base Salary during each Purchase Interval within that offering period, up to a maximum equal to the lesser of (i) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Participant’s Base Salary per pay-period during the applicable Purchase Interval and (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of the Participant’s Base Salary that remains after subtracting all other amounts that are to be deducted or withheld from the Participant’s Base Salary during such pay-period in the Purchase Interval, provided, however, that a lesser amount of the Participant’s remaining Base Salary may be deducted if required to comply with applicable local law.  The deduction rate so authorized shall continue in effect throughout the offering period, except to the extent such rate is changed in accordance with the following guidelines:

 

(i)            The Participant may, at any time during the offering period, reduce his or her rate of payroll deduction to become effective as soon as possible after filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator.  The Participant may not, however, effect more than one (1) such reduction per Purchase Interval.

 

(ii)           The Participant may, prior to the commencement of any new Purchase Interval within the offering period, increase the rate of his or her payroll deduction by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator.  The new rate (which may not exceed the twenty-five percent (25%) maximum) shall become effective on the start date of the first Purchase Interval following the filing of such form.

 

B.            Payroll deductions shall begin on the first pay day following the Participant’s Entry Date into the offering period and shall (unless sooner terminated by the Participant) continue through the pay day ending with or immediately prior to the last day of that offering period.  The amounts so collected shall be credited to the Participant’s book account under the Plan, but no interest shall be paid on the balance from time to time outstanding in such account, unless payment of interest is required under local law in which case the purchase rights will be granted under the Non-423(b) Plan, if necessary under applicable laws or regulations.  The amounts collected from the Participant shall not be required to be held in any segregated account, unless otherwise required under local law (in which case, such rights will be granted under the Non-423(b) Plan if necessary), or trust fund and may be commingled with the general assets of the Corporation and used for general corporate purposes.

 

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C.            Payroll deductions shall automatically cease upon the termination of the Participant’s purchase right in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

D.            The Participant’s acquisition of Common Stock under the Plan on any Purchase Date shall neither limit nor require the Participant’s acquisition of Common Stock on any subsequent Purchase Date, whether within the same or a different offering period.

 

E.             For rights to purchase Common Stock granted under the Non-423(b) Plan, if payroll deductions are not permitted under local law, as determined by the Corporation, Participants may be permitted to contribute to the Plan by an alternative method, as determined by the Corporation.  Alternate methods of contribution may be permitted for purchase rights granted under the Code Section 423(b) Plan if such is determined to be permissible under Code Section 423.

 

VII.         PURCHASE RIGHTS

 

A.            Grant of Purchase Right.  A Participant shall be granted a separate purchase right for each offering period in which he or she participates.  The purchase right shall be granted on the Participant’s Entry Date into the offering period and shall provide the Participant with the right to purchase shares of Common Stock, in a series of successive installments over the remainder of such offering period, upon the terms set forth below.  The Participant shall execute a stock purchase agreement embodying such terms and such other provisions (not inconsistent with the Plan) as the Plan Administrator may deem advisable.

 

Under no circumstances shall purchase rights be granted under the Plan to any Eligible Employee if such individual would, immediately after the grant, own (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) or hold outstanding options or other rights to purchase, stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate.

 

B.            Exercise of the Purchase Right.  Each purchase right shall be automatically exercised in installments on each successive Purchase Date within the offering period, and shares of Common Stock shall accordingly be purchased on behalf of each Participant (other than Participants whose payroll deductions have previously been refunded pursuant to the Termination of Purchase Right provisions below) on each such Purchase Date.  The purchase shall be effected by applying the Participant’s payroll deductions for the Purchase Interval ending on such Purchase Date to the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock at the purchase price in effect for the Participant for that Purchase Date.

 

C.            Purchase Price.  The purchase price per share at which Common Stock will be purchased on the Participant’s behalf on each Purchase Date within the offering period shall be established by the Plan Administrator; provided however, that such purchase price shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lower of (i) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Participant’s Entry Date into that offering period or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on that Purchase Date.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Article III (B) or Article X below, the purchase price per share at which Common Stock will be purchased on the Participant’s behalf on each Purchase Date within the offering period shall be

 

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equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the lower of (i) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Participant’s Entry Date into that offering period or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on that Purchase Date.

 

D.            Number of Purchasable Shares.  The number of shares of Common Stock purchasable by a Participant on each Purchase Date during the offering period shall be the number of whole shares obtained by dividing the amount collected from the Participant through payroll deductions during the Purchase Interval ending with that Purchase Date by the purchase price in effect for the Participant for that Purchase Date.  However, except as otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator prior to the commencement of an offering period, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock purchasable per Participant on any one Purchase Date during such offering period shall not exceed Four Hundred (400) shares, subject to periodic adjustments in the event of certain changes in the Corporation’s capitalization. In addition, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock purchasable in the aggregate by all Participants on any one Purchase Date under the Plan shall not exceed Three Hundred Thousand (300,000) shares (or such other number designated by the Plan Administrator), subject to periodic adjustments in the event of certain changes in the Corporation’s capitalization.  Should the total number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by all Participants pursuant to outstanding purchase rights on any particular date exceed the maximum share limitation set forth in this paragraph, the Plan Administrator shall make a pro-rata allocation of the available shares on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis.

 

E.             Excess Payroll Deductions.  Any payroll deductions not applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock on any Purchase Date because they are not sufficient to purchase a whole share of Common Stock shall be held for the purchase of Common Stock on the next Purchase Date.  However, any payroll deductions not applied to the purchase of Common Stock by reason of the limitation on the maximum number of shares purchasable on the Purchase Date shall be promptly refunded.

 

F.             Termination of Purchase Right.  The following provisions shall govern the termination of outstanding purchase rights:

 

(i)            A Participant may, at any time prior to the next scheduled Purchase Date in the offering period, withdraw from participation in the Plan by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator (or its designate), and no further payroll deductions shall be collected from the Participant with respect to the withdrawal.  Any payroll deductions collected during the Purchase Interval in which such withdrawal occurs shall, at the Participant’s election, be immediately refunded or held for the purchase of shares on the next Purchase Date.  If no such election is made at the time of such withdrawal, then the payroll deductions collected with respect to the terminated right shall be refunded as soon as possible.

 

(ii)           The termination of such purchase right shall be irrevocable, and the Participant may not subsequently rejoin the offering period for which the terminated purchase right was granted.  In order to resume participation in any subsequent offering period, such individual must re-enroll in the Plan (by making

 

5



 

a timely filing of the prescribed enrollment forms) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date into that offering period.

 

(iii)          Should the Participant cease to remain an Eligible Employee for any reason (including death, disability or change in status) while his or her purchase right remains outstanding, then that purchase right shall immediately terminate, and all of the Participant’s payroll deductions for the Purchase Interval in which the purchase right so terminates shall be immediately refunded.  However, should the Participant cease to remain in active service by reason of an approved unpaid leave of absence, then the Participant shall have the right, exercisable up until the last business day of the Purchase Interval in which such leave commences, to (a) withdraw all the payroll deductions collected to date on his or her behalf for that Purchase Interval or (b) have such funds held for the purchase of shares on his or her behalf on the next scheduled Purchase Date, provided the Participant remains an Eligible Employee on such Purchase Date.  In no event, however, shall any further payroll deductions be collected on the Participant’s behalf during such leave, unless continuation of payroll deductions or other authorized contributions is required under local law, in which case the purchase rights will be granted under the Non-423(b) Plan, if necessary under applicable laws or regulations.  Upon the Participant’s return to active service (i) within ninety (90) days following the commencement of such leave or, (ii) prior to the expiration of any longer period for which such Participant’s right to reemployment with the Corporation or Corporate Affiliate is guaranteed by either statute or contract, his or her payroll deductions under the Plan shall automatically resume at the rate in effect at the time the leave began.  However, should the Participant’s leave of absence exceed ninety (90) days and his or her re-employment rights not be guaranteed by either statute or contract, then the Participant’s status as an Eligible Employee will be deemed to terminate on the ninety-first (91st) day of that leave, and such Participant’s purchase right for the offering period in which that leave began shall thereupon terminate.  An individual who returns to active employment following such a leave shall be treated as a new Eligible Employee for purposes of the Plan and must, in order to resume participation in the Plan, re-enroll in the Plan (by making a timely filing of the prescribed enrollment forms) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date into the offering period, unless a re-enrollment requirement would be contrary to local law, in which case the purchase rights will be granted under the Non-423(b) Plan, if necessary under applicable laws or regulations.

 

G.            Change of Control.  Each outstanding purchase right shall automatically be exercised, prior to the effective date of any Change of Control on a date determined by the Plan Administrator, by applying the payroll deductions of each Participant for the Purchase Interval in which such Change of Control occurs to the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock at the purchase price per share established by the Plan Administrator for the applicable offering period, treating as the Purchase Date for this purpose the date on which shares are purchased prior to the effective date of such Change of Control The applicable limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable by all Participants in the aggregate shall not apply to any such purchase.

 

6



 

The Corporation shall use its best efforts to provide at least ten (10)-days prior written notice of the occurrence of any Change of Control, and Participants shall, following the receipt of such notice, have the right to terminate their outstanding purchase rights prior to the effective date of the Change of Control.

 

H.            Proration of Purchase Rights.  Should the total number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to outstanding purchase rights on any particular date exceed the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall make a pro-rata allocation of the available shares on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, and the payroll deductions of each Participant, to the extent in excess of the aggregate purchase price payable for the Common Stock pro-rated to such individual, shall be refunded.

 

I.              Assignability.  The purchase right shall be exercisable only by the Participant and shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant.

 

J.             Stockholder Rights.  A Participant shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to his or her outstanding purchase right until the shares are purchased on the Participant’s behalf in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the Participant has become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

 

K.            Tax Withholding.  At the time a Participant’s purchase right is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time a Participant disposes of some or all of the shares of Common Stock he or she acquires under the Plan, the Participant shall make adequate provision for the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations, if any, of the Corporation and/or Corporate Affiliate which arise upon exercise of the purchase right or upon such disposition of shares, respectively.  The Corporation and/or the Corporate Affiliate may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation or any other payments due the Participant the amount necessary to meet such withholding obligations or withhold from the proceeds of the sale of shares of Common Stock or any other method of withholding the Corporation and/or the Corporate Affiliate deems appropriate.  The Corporation and/or the Corporate Affiliate shall have the right to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Corporation or a Corporate Affiliate to satisfy withholding obligations for such taxes.

 

VIII.        ACCRUAL LIMITATIONS

 

A.            No Participant shall be entitled to accrue rights to acquire Common Stock pursuant to any purchase right outstanding under this Plan if and to the extent such accrual, when aggregated with (i) rights to purchase Common Stock accrued under any other purchase right granted under this Plan and (ii) similar rights accrued under other employee stock purchase plans (within the meaning of Code Section 423) of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate, would otherwise permit such Participant to purchase more than Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of stock of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate (determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value per share on the date or dates such rights are granted) for each calendar year such

 

7



 

rights are at any time outstanding, or, if required pursuant to final revised Code Section 423 regulations issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, for each calendar year such rights are outstanding and exercisable.  The requirements set forth under this provision will be interpreted and applied to comply with current requirements under Code Section 423.

 

B.            For purposes of applying such accrual limitations to the purchase rights granted under the Plan, the following provisions shall be in effect:

 

(i)            The right to acquire Common Stock under each outstanding purchase right shall accrue in a series of installments on each successive Purchase Date during the offering period on which such right remains outstanding.

 

(ii)           No right to acquire Common Stock under any outstanding purchase right shall accrue to the extent the Participant has already accrued in the same calendar year the right to acquire Common Stock under one (1) or more other purchase rights at a rate equal to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of Common Stock (determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value per share on the date or dates of grant) for each calendar year such rights were at any time outstanding, or, if required pursuant to final revised regulations issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, for each calendar year such rights were outstanding and exercisable.

 

C.            If by reason of such accrual limitations, any purchase right of a Participant does not accrue for a particular Purchase Interval, then the payroll deductions which the Participant made during that Purchase Interval with respect to such purchase right shall be promptly refunded.

 

D.            In the event there is any conflict between the provisions of this Article and one or more provisions of the Plan or any instrument issued thereunder, the provisions of this Article shall be controlling.

 

IX.           EFFECTIVE DATE, TERM OF THE PLAN AND COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

 

A.            The Plan was adopted by the Board on January 29, 2009 and shall become effective at the Effective Date, provided that the Plan shall have been approved by the stockholders of the Corporation, and provided further that no purchase rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised, and no shares of Common Stock shall be issued hereunder, until the Corporation shall have complied with all applicable requirements of the 1933 Act (including the registration of the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan on a Form S-8 registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, unless in the opinion of legal counsel to the Corporation, the shares issuable upon exercise of the purchase rights may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of said Act), all applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed for trading and all other applicable requirements established by any applicable U.S. federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulation.  In the event such stockholder approval is not obtained, or such compliance is not effected, within twelve (12) months after the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board, the Plan shall terminate and have no further force or effect, and any sums collected from Participants during the initial

 

8



 

offering period hereunder shall be refunded.  The inability of the Corporation to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Corporation’s legal counsel to be necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Corporation of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to the exercise of a purchase right, the Corporation may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation, and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Corporation.

 

B.            Unless sooner terminated by the Board, in its sole discretion, the Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been sold pursuant to purchase rights exercised under the Plan or (ii) the date on which all purchase rights are exercised in connection with a Change of Control.  No further purchase rights shall be granted or exercised, and no further payroll deductions shall be collected, under the Plan following such termination.

 

X.            AMENDMENT/TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

A.            The Board may alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time to become effective immediately following the close of any Purchase Interval.  However, the Plan may be amended or terminated immediately upon Board action, if and to the extent necessary the Board or the Plan Administrator, as applicable, determines that such amendment or termination of the Plan is in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders.  Such actions by the Board may include, without limitation, (i) termination of the Plan or any offering period or Purchase Interval, (ii) acceleration of the Purchase Date of any Purchase Interval, (iii) reduction of the discount or change in the method of determining the purchase price in any Purchase Interval or offering period (e.g., by determining the purchase price solely on the basis of the Fair Market Value on the Purchase Date), (iv) reduction in the maximum number of shares that may be purchased by any Participant or in the aggregate by all Participants on any Purchase Date or (v) any combination of the foregoing actions.

 

B.            To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the Corporation shall obtain shareholder approval for such amendment or termination in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

 

XI.           RULES FOR FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS.

 

A.            The Board or Plan Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Non-423(b) component of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board or Plan Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements.

 

9



 

B.            The Board or Plan Administrator may also adopt rules, procedures or sub-plans applicable to particular Participating Corporations or locations under the non-423 component of the Plan.  The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Article III (A), but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan.

 

XII.         GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

A.            Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Corporate Affiliate employing such person) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such person’s employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause.

 

B.            The Code Section 423(b) Plan is exempt from the application of Section 409A.  The Non-423(b) Plan is intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under the short-term deferral exception and any ambiguities shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.  Except as provided in Article XII (C) hereof, in the case of a Participant who would otherwise be subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent the Plan Administrator determines that a purchase right or the exercise, payment, settlement or deferral thereof is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the purchase right shall be granted, exercised, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.  Anything in the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, the Corporation shall have no liability to a Participant or any other party if the purchase right that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee with respect thereto.

 

C.            Although the Corporation may endeavor to (1) qualify a purchase right for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States or (2) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Corporation makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment, anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Article XII (B) hereof, notwithstanding.  The Corporation shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on Participants under the Plan.

 

D.            All costs and expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Corporation; however, each Plan Participant shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by such individual in the sale or other disposition of any shares purchased under the Plan.

 

E.             The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules.

 

10


 


 

Schedule A

 

Participating Corporations under the

2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

As of the Effective Date

 

I.              Code Section 423(b) Plan Participating Corporations

 

Silicon Laboratories Inc.

 

II.            Non-423(b) Plan Participating Corporations

 

Silicon Laboratories UK Limited

 

Silicon Laboratories International Pte. Ltd.

 

11



 

APPENDIX

 

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

 

A.                                   Base Salary shall mean the regular base salary or wages, overtime payments and shift premiums paid to a Participant by one or more Participating Corporations during such individual’s period of participation in one or more offering periods under the Plan and shall be calculated before deduction of (i) any income or employment tax withholdings or (ii) any contributions made by the Participant to any Code Section 401(k) salary deferral plan or any Code Section 125 cafeteria benefit program now or hereafter established by the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate.  Base Salary shall not include (i) any bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing distributions or other incentive-type payments or (ii) any contributions made by the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate on the Participant’s behalf to any employee benefit or welfare plan now or hereafter established (other than Code Section 401(k) or Code Section 125 contributions deducted from such Base Salary).

 

B.                                     Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

 

C.                                     Change of Control shall mean and includes each of the following:

 

(i)                                     A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of the Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Corporation, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Corporation) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Corporation possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or

 

(ii)                                  During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Corporation to effect a transaction described in Section C (i) or Section C (iii) hereof) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Corporation’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

(iii)                               The consummation by the Corporation (whether directly involving the Corporation or indirectly involving the Corporation through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business

 

A-1



 

combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

 

a.                                       Which results in the Corporation’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Corporation or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Corporation or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Corporation (the Corporation or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

 

b.                                      After which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section C (iii) (b) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Corporation prior to the consummation of the transaction; or

 

(iv)                              The Corporation’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.

 

The Board shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change of Control of the Corporation has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change of Control and any incidental matters relating thereto.

 

D.                                    Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

E.                                      Code Section 423(b) Plan shall mean an employee stock purchase plan which is designed to meet the requirements set forth in Section 423(b) of the Code, as amended.  The provisions of the Code Section 423(b) Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced in accordance with Section 423(b).

 

F.                                      Common Stock shall mean the Corporation’s common stock.

 

G.                                     Corporate Affiliate shall mean any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Corporation (as determined in accordance with Code Section 424), whether now existing or subsequently established.

 

A-2



 

H.                                    Corporation shall mean Silicon Laboratories Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Silicon Laboratories Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

 

I.                                         Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

J.                                        Effective Date shall mean the date of the final purchase under the offering period in effect under the Prior Plan.

 

K.                                    Eligible Employee shall mean any person who is employed by a Participating Corporation on a basis under which he or she is regularly expected to render more than twenty (20) hours of service per week for more than five (5) months per calendar year.  For rights to purchase Common Stock granted under the Non-423(b) Plan, Eligible Employee shall also mean any other employee of a Participating Corporation to the extent that local law requires participation in the Plan to be extended to such employee, as determined by the Corporation.

 

L.                                      Entry Date shall mean the date an Eligible Employee first commences participation in the offering period in effect under the Plan.  The earliest Entry Date under the Plan shall be the Effective Date.

 

M.                                 Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined as of the “Applicable Date” (as defined below) in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the Applicable Date on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the Applicable Date, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

(ii)                                  In the absence of an established market for the shares of Common Stock, the Fair Market Value established by the Plan Administrator acting in good faith.

 

For the purposes of this provision, the “Applicable Date” shall be (a) with respect to any Entry Date, the last business day immediately preceding the Entry Date and (b) with respect to any Purchase Date, such Purchase Date.

 

N.                                    1933 Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

O.                                    Non-423(b) Plan shall mean an employee stock purchase plan which is not required to meet the requirements set forth in Section 423(b) of the Code, as amended.

 

A-3



 

P.                                      Participant shall mean any Eligible Employee of a Participating Corporation who is participating in the Plan.

 

Q.                                    Participating Corporations shall mean the Corporation and such Corporate Affiliates as may be authorized from time to time by the Board to participate in the Plan.  The Board may determine that some Participating Corporations shall be designated to participate in the Non-423(b) Plan.  The Participating Corporations in the Code Section 423(b) Plan and in the Non-423(b) Plan are listed in attached Schedule A.

 

R.                                     Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as set forth in this document, as amended from time to time, which includes a Code Section 423(b) Plan and a Non-423(b) Plan component.

 

S.                                      Plan Administrator shall mean the committee of two (2) or more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

T.                                     Prior Plan shall mean the Silicon Laboratories Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan adopted by the Board on January 5, 2000, as amended.

 

U.                                    Purchase Date shall mean the last business day of each Purchase Interval.

 

V.                                     Purchase Interval shall mean each successive six (6)-month period within the offering period at the end of which there shall be purchased shares of Common Stock on behalf of each Participant.

 

W.                                Semi-Annual Entry Date shall mean the last business days in April and October each year (or such other days as may be established by the Plan Administrator) on which an Eligible Employee may first enter an offering period.

 

X.                                    Stock Exchange shall mean NASDAQ, the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange.

 

A-4



 

PLAN HISTORY

 

January 29, 2009

Board adopts Plan with a reserve of 1,250,000 shares.

 

 

April 23, 2009

Stockholders approve Plan.

 


EX-10.3 4 a09-10937_1ex10d3.htm EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS GRANT NOTICE AND

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AWARD AGREEMENT

U.S. PARTICIPANTS

 

Silicon Laboratories Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (the “Participant”), an award of Restricted Stock Units, each of which is a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent in value of one (1) Share, on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement attached hereto (the “Award Agreement”) and the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.  Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Grant Notice and the Award Agreement.

 

Participant:

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Restricted Stock Units:

 

                         , subject to adjustment as provided by the Award Agreement.

 

 

 

Vesting Commencement Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Settlement Date:

 

For each Restricted Stock Unit, except as otherwise provided by the Award Agreement, the date on which such unit vests in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth below.

 

 

 

Vesting Schedule:

 

Except as provided in the Award Agreement and provided that the Participant’s Service has not terminated prior to the relevant date, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest and become nonforfeitable in accordance with the following schedule:

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

By his or her signature below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Award Agreement and this Grant Notice.  The Participant has reviewed the Award Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice, the Award Agreement and the Plan.  The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan or relating to the Restricted Stock Units.

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

Print Name:

 

 

Print Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AWARD AGREEMENT

U.S. PARTICIPANTS

 

Silicon Laboratories Inc. (the “Company”) has granted to the Participant named in the Restricted Stock Units Grant Notice (the Grant Notice) to which this Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement (this Award Agreement) is attached an Award consisting of Restricted Stock Units subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Award Agreement.  The Award has been granted pursuant to the Silicon Laboratories Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan), as amended to the Grant Date, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Grant Notice, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned under the Plan.

 

1.                                      THE AWARD.

 

The Company hereby awards to the Participant, Restricted Stock Units under the Plan.  Subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan, each Restricted Stock Unit represents a right to receive one (1) share of Common Stock (a “Share”) on the applicable vesting date.  The number of Shares subject to this Award, the applicable vesting schedule for the Restricted Stock Units, the dates on which the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units will be issued, and the remaining terms and conditions are set forth in the Grant Notice and this Award Agreement.  Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units have vested in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice, the Participant will have no right to settlement of such Restricted Stock Units.  Prior to settlement of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such Restricted Stock Units will represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

 

2.                                      VESTING OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.

 

2.1                               Normal Vesting.  Except as otherwise provided in this Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest as provided in the Grant Notice.

 

2.2                               Leave of Absence / Part-Time Work.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the following provisions shall apply upon the Participant’s commencement of an authorized leave of absence:

 

(a)           The vesting schedule in effect under the Grant Notice shall be frozen as of the first fifteenth (15th) day of a month immediately following the commencement of the authorized leave, and the number of Restricted Stock Units subject thereto shall not vest for any additional installments during the period Participant remains on such leave.  Vesting of the Restricted Stock Units shall resume upon the first fifteenth (15th) day of a month immediately following the Participant’s resumption of active Service.

 

(b)           Should the Participant resume active Service within sixty (60) days after the start date of the authorized leave, the Participant shall, for purposes of the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice, receive vesting credit for the entire period of such leave.  If the Participant does not resume active Service within such sixty (60)-day period, then no vesting credit shall be given for the period of such leave.

 

2



 

(c)           Part-Time Work.  If the Participant commences working on a part-time basis, then the vesting schedule specified in the Grant Notice may be adjusted in accordance with the Company’s part-time work policy or the terms of an agreement between the Participant and the Company pertaining to the Participant’s part-time schedule.

 

3.                                      TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

 

3.1          General Rule.  In the event that the Participant ceases to provide services to the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) in the capacity of an Employee, Director or Consultant (collectively referred to herein as “Service”) for any reason, with or without cause, other than by reason of the Participant’s death, the Participant shall forfeit and the Company shall automatically reacquire all Restricted Stock Units which are not, as of the time of such termination, vested, and the Participant shall not be entitled to any payment therefor.

 

3.2          Death of the Participant.  Should the Participant cease Service by reason of his or her death, the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units shall be accelerated in full and the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award shall be deemed vested effective as of the date of the Participant’s death.  The Shares due in settlement of such Restricted Stock Units shall be issued to the personal representative of the Participant’s estate, the person or persons to whom the Award is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution (collectively referred to herein as the “Participant’s Heirs”).

 

4.                                      SETTLEMENT OF THE AWARD.

 

4.1          Issuance of Shares of Common Stock.  Subject to the provisions of Section 4.3 and Section 5 below, the Company shall issue to the Participant (or, if applicable, the Participant’s Heirs), on the vesting date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit to be settled on such date (but in no event later than March 15th of the year following the calendar year in which such Restricted Stock Unit vests), one (1) Share;  Shares issued in settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall not be subject to any restriction on transfer other than any such restriction as may be required pursuant to Section 4.3.

 

4.2          Beneficial Ownership of Shares; Certificate Registration.  The Participant hereby authorizes the Company, in its sole discretion, to deposit for the benefit of the Participant with a Company-designated brokerage firm or, at the Company’s discretion, any other broker with which the Participant has an account relationship of which the Company has notice any or all Shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to the settlement of the Award.  Except as provided by the preceding sentence, a certificate for the Shares as to which the Award is settled shall be registered in the name of the Participant, or, if applicable, in the names of the Participant’s Heirs.

 

4.3          Restrictions on Grant of the Award and Issuance of Shares.  The grant of the Award and issuance of shares of Common Stock upon settlement of the Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of U.S. federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities.  No Shares may be issued hereunder if the issuance of such Shares would constitute a violation of any applicable U.S. federal, state or foreign securities laws or other laws or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Common Stock may then be listed.  The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Shares subject to the Award shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to the settlement of the Award, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or

 

3



 

appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.  Further, regardless of whether the transfer or issuance of the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Restricted Stock Units has been registered under the Securities Act or has been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any State, the Company may impose additional restrictions upon the sale, pledge, or other transfer of the Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates and the issuance of stop-transfer instructions to the Company’s transfer agent) if, in the judgment of the Company and the Company’s counsel, such restrictions are necessary in order to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the securities laws of any State, or any other law.

 

4.4          Fractional Shares.  The Company shall not be required to issue fractional Shares upon the settlement of the Award.

 

5.                                      TAX WITHHOLDING AND ADVICE.

 

5.1          In General.  Subject to Section 5.2, at the time the Grant Notice is executed, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for, any sums required to satisfy the U.S. federal, state, and local taxes and (if applicable) taxes imposed by jurisdictions outside of the United States (including income tax, social insurance contributions, payment on account and any other taxes) and required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan (referred to herein as “Tax-Related Items”).

 

5.2          Withholding of Taxes.  The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, as appropriate, shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company (or to the applicable Subsidiary or Affiliate), an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable Tax-Related Items or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, as appropriate, to satisfy such Tax-Related Items (including hypothetical withholding tax amounts if the Participant is covered under a Company tax equalization policy).  In this regard, the Participant authorizes the Company and/or the applicable Subsidiary or Affiliate, or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following:

 

(a)           withholding from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary or Affiliate; or

 

(b)           withholding from proceeds of the sale of Shares acquired upon vesting and settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on the Participant’s behalf pursuant to this authorization); or

 

(c)           withholding in Shares to be issued upon vesting and settlement of the Restricted Stock Units; or

 

(d)           direct payment from the Participant.

 

To avoid negative accounting treatment, the Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding amounts or other applicable withholding rates.  If the Participant is covered by a Company tax equalization policy, the Participant agrees to pay to the Company any additional hypothetical tax obligation calculated and paid under the terms and conditions of such tax equalization policy.  Finally, the Participant shall pay to the Company or the

 

4



 

Subsidiary or Affiliate, as appropriate, any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the applicable Subsidiary or Affiliate may be required to withhold as a result of his or her participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares that may be issued in connection with the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units if the Participant fails to comply with his or her Tax-Related Items obligations.

 

5.3          Tax Advice.  The Participant represents, warrants and acknowledges that the Company has made no warranties or representations to the Participant with respect to the income tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Award Agreement, and the Participant is in no manner relying on the Company or the Company’s representatives for an assessment of such tax consequences.  THE PARTICIPANT UNDERSTANDS THAT THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  THE PARTICIPANT SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING ANY RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.  NOTHING STATED HEREIN IS INTENDED OR WRITTEN TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING TAXPAYER PENALTIES.

 

6.                                      AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE NECESSARY PERSONAL INFORMATION.

 

The Participant hereby authorizes and directs the Participant’s employer to collect, use and transfer in electronic or other form, any personal information (the “Data”) regarding the Participant’s Service, the nature and amount of the Participant’s compensation and the fact and conditions of the Participant’s participation in the Plan (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number (or any other social or national identification number), salary, nationality, job title, number of Shares held and the details of all restricted stock units or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, cancelled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding) for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan.  The Participant understands that the Data may be transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, including any requisite transfer to a brokerage firm or other third party assisting with administration of the Award or with whom Shares acquired upon settlement of this Award or cash from the sale of such Shares may be deposited.  The Participant acknowledges that recipients of the Data may be located in different countries, and those countries may have data privacy laws and protections different from those in the country of the Participant’s residence. Furthermore, the Participant acknowledges and understands that the transfer of the Data to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or to any third parties is necessary for Participant’s participation in the Plan.  The Participant may at any time withdraw the consents herein, by contacting the Company’s stock administration department in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that withdrawal of consent may affect the Participant’s ability to realize benefits from the Award, and the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan.

 

7.                                      EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL ON AWARD.

 

7.1          In the event of a Change in Control, the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units shall be accelerated in full and the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award shall be deemed vested effective as of the date of the Change in Control, provided that the Participant’s Service has not terminated prior to such date.  No such acceleration, however, shall occur if and to the extent: (i) these Restricted Stock Units are, in connection with the Change in Control, either assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or replaced with comparable restricted stock units of the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) these Restricted Stock Units are replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Stock Units at the time of the Change in Control and provides for subsequent pay-out in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.  The determination of the comparability of restricted

 

5



 

stock units under clause (i) shall be made by the Committee, and such determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.  This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Company to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

7.2          In the event that the Restricted Stock Units are, in connection with the Change in Control, either assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or replaced with comparable restricted stock units of the successor corporation (or parent thereof) and, within eighteen (18) months of the effective date of the Change in Control, the Participant’s Service terminates due to Involuntary Termination, the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units shall be accelerated in full and the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award shall be deemed vested effective as of the date of the Participant’s Involuntary Termination.

 

8.                                      ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

 

The number of Restricted Stock Units awarded pursuant to this Award Agreement is subject to adjustment as provided in the Article 11 of the Plan.  The Participant shall be notified of such adjustment and such adjustment shall be binding upon the Company and the Participant.

 

9.                                      NO ENTITLEMENT OR CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION.

 

9.1          The Participant’s rights, if any, in respect of or in connection with the Restricted Stock Units are derived solely from the discretionary decision of the Company to permit the Participant to participate in the Plan and to benefit from a discretionary Award.  By accepting the Restricted Stock Units, the Participant expressly acknowledges that there is no obligation on the part of the Company to continue the Plan and/or grant any additional restricted stock units or other Awards to the Participant.  The Restricted Stock Units are not intended to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature, or part of the Participant’s normal or expected compensation, and in no way represents any portion of the Participant’s salary, compensation, or other remuneration for purposes of pension benefits, severance, redundancy, resignation or any other purpose.

 

9.2          Neither the Plan nor the Restricted Stock Units shall be deemed to give the Participant a right to remain an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.  The Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the Service of the Participant at any time, with or without cause, and for any reason, subject to applicable laws, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and a written employment agreement (if any), and the Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived any claim to damages or specific performance for breach of contract or dismissal, compensation for loss of office, tort or otherwise with respect to the Plan, the Restricted Stock Units or any other outstanding Award that is forfeited and/or is terminated by its terms or to any future Award.

 

10.                               RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

 

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares which may be issued in settlement of this Award until the date of the issuance of a certificate for such Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).  No adjustment shall be made for dividends, dividend equivalents, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 8.

 

6



 

11.                               MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

 

11.1        Amendment.  The Committee may amend this Award Agreement at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment may adversely affect the Participant’s rights under this Award Agreement without the consent of the Participant, except to the extent such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law, including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A.  No amendment or addition to this Award Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.

 

11.2        Nontransferability of the Award.  Prior to the issuance of Shares on the applicable Settlement Date, no right or interest of the Participant in the Award nor any Shares issuable on settlement of the Award shall be in any manner pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate or shall become subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company, or a Subsidiary or Affiliate.  Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award shall be assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  All rights with respect to the Award shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

11.3        Further Instruments.  The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Award Agreement.

 

11.4        Binding Effect.  This Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

11.5        Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Award Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Company at its principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Participant shall be in writing and addressed to the Participant at the address maintained for the Participant in the Company’s records or at the address of the local office of the Company or of a Subsidiary or Affiliate at which the Participant works.

 

11.6        Construction of Award Agreement.  The Grant Notice, this Award Agreement, and the Restricted Stock Units evidenced hereby (i) are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan, and (ii) constitute the entire agreement between the Participant and the Company on the subject matter hereof and supersede all proposals, written or oral, and all other communications between the parties related to the subject matter.  All decisions of the Committee with respect to any question or issue arising under the Grant Notice, this Award Agreement or the Plan shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Restricted Stock Units.

 

11.7        Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, U.S.A. without regard to the conflict-of-laws rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

 

11.8        Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, this Award Agreement or the Grant Notice, the Plan, this Agreement and the Grant Notice shall be interpreted in accordance with, and incorporate the terms and conditions required by, Code Section 409A (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof).  The

 

7



 

vesting and settlement of Restricted Stock Units awarded pursuant to this Award Agreement are intended to qualify for the “short-term deferral” exemption from Section 409A of the Code.  The Company reserves the right, to the extent the Company deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan and/or this Award Agreement to ensure that the Restricted Stock Units qualify for exemption from or comply with Section 409A of the Code; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations that the Restricted Stock Units will be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to these Restricted Stock Units.

 

11.9        Administration.  The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Award Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.  All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons.  No member of the Committee or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Award Agreement or the Restricted Stock Units.

 

11.10      Counterparts.  The Grant Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

11.11      Severability.  If any provision of this Award Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any reason, it shall be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties to the extent possible.  In any event, all other provisions of this Award Agreement shall be deemed valid and enforceable to the full extent possible.

 

11.12      Relocation Outside the United States.  If the Participant relocates to a country outside the United States, the Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the Participant’s participation in the Plan, on the Restricted Stock Units and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or facilitate the administration of the Plan, and to require the Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

 

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EX-10.4 5 a09-10937_1ex10d4.htm EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE AND

STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

U.S. PARTICIPANTS

 

Silicon Laboratories Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (the “Participant”), an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 (“Shares”), set forth below (the “Option”).  This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Stock Option Award Agreement attached hereto (the “Award Agreement”) and in the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.  Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Grant Notice and the Award Agreement.

 

Participant:

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting Commencement Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price per Share:

 

$

 

 

 

Total Number of Shares Subject to the Option:

 

 

 

 

 

Expiration Date:*

 

 

 

Type of Option:

 

o  Incentive Stock Option

o  Non-Qualified Stock Option

 

 

Vesting Schedule:

Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Option shall vest

 

 

 

 

 

.

 


*Expiration Date:

As an administrative matter, the vested portion of this Option may be exercised only until the close of the NASDAQ Global Select Market on the Expiration Date or the termination date set forth under Sections 3 or 7 of the Award Agreement or, if such date is not a trading day on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the last trading day before such date. Any later attempt to exercise this Option will not be honored.

 

By his or her signature below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Award Agreement and this Grant Notice.  The Participant has reviewed the Award Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice, the Award Agreement and the Plan.  The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan or relating to the Option.

 

 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

Print Name:

 

 

Print Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

SILICON LABORATORIES INC.

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

U.S. PARTICIPANTS

 

Silicon Laboratories Inc. (the “Company”) has granted to the Participant named in the Stock Option Grant Notice (the Grant Notice) to which this Stock Option Award Agreement (this Award Agreement) is attached an Award consisting of Stock Options subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Award Agreement.  The Award has been granted pursuant to the Silicon Laboratories Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan), as amended to the Grant Date, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Grant Notice, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned under the Plan.

 

1.                                      THE AWARD.

 

The Company hereby awards to the Participant, as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice, an Option to purchase up to the number of Shares specified in the Grant Notice at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Exercise Price”) and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

If designated in the Grant Notice as an Incentive Stock Option, the Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.  Nevertheless, to the extent that the value of the Option exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d), the Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  Further, if for any other reason the Option (or a portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then the Option or the disqualifying portion thereof shall be regarded as a Non-Qualified Stock Option under the Plan.  In no event shall the Company, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company or their respective employees or directors have any liability to the Participant due to the failure of the Option to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.                                      VESTING OF OPTION.

 

2.1                               Dates of Exercise.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Option shall become exercisable for Shares in one or more installments as specified in the Grant Notice.  As the Option becomes exercisable for such installments, those installments shall accumulate, and the Option shall remain exercisable for the accumulated installments until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the Option term under Sections 3 or 7, below.

 

2.2                               Leave of Absence / Part-Time Work.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the following provisions shall apply upon the Participant’s commencement of an authorized leave of absence:

 

(a)           Authorized Leave.  The vesting schedule in effect under the Grant Notice shall be frozen as of the first fifteenth (15th) day of a month immediately following the commencement of the authorized leave, and the Option shall not become exercisable for any additional installments during the period Participant remains on such leave.  Vesting of the Option shall resume upon the first fifteenth (15th) day of a month immediately following the Participant’s resumption of active Service.

 



 

(b)           Vesting Credit for Leave.  Should the Participant resume active Service within sixty (60) days after the start date of the authorized leave, the Participant shall, for purposes of the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice, receive vesting credit for the entire period of such leave.  If the Participant does not resume active Service within such sixty (60)-day period, then no vesting credit shall be given for the period of such leave.

 

(c)           Consequence of Leave upon Incentive Stock Option.  If the Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the Grant Notice, and the leave of absence continues for more than ninety (90) days, then the Option shall automatically convert to a Non-Qualified Stock Option at the end of the three (3)-month period measured from the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave, unless the Participant’s reemployment rights are guaranteed by law or by a contract.  Following any such conversion of the Option, all subsequent exercises of the Option, whether effected before or after the Participant’s return to active Employee status, shall result in an immediate taxable event, and the Company shall be required to collect from the Participant the income and employment withholding taxes applicable to such exercise.

 

(d)           Term of Option Upon Leave.  In no event shall the Option become exercisable for any additional Shares or otherwise remain outstanding if the Participant does not resume active Service prior to the Expiration Date of the Option term.

 

(e)           Part-Time Work.  If the Participant commences working on a part-time basis, then the vesting schedule specified in the Grant Notice may be adjusted in accordance with the Company’s part-time work policy or the terms of an agreement between the Participant and the Company pertaining to the Participant’s part-time schedule.

 

2.3                               Term of Option.  The Option shall have a maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of the NASDAQ Global Select Market on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Sections 3 or 7, below.

 

3.                                      TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

 

The Option term specified in Section 2.3 shall terminate (and the Option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:

 

3.1          General Rule.  Should the Participant cease to provide services to the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) in the capacity of an Employee, Director or Consultant (collectively referred to herein as “Service”) for any reason (other than death, Disability or Misconduct) while the Option is outstanding, then the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the three (3)-month period measured from the date of such cessation of Service or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

3.2          Death of the Participant.  Should the Participant cease Service by reason of his or her death, the vesting of the Option shall automatically accelerate so that the Option shall become exercisable for all of the Shares at the time subject to the Option and may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate, the person or persons to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of the Participant’s death or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

3.3          Disability of the Participant.  Should the Participant cease Service by reason of Disability while the Option is outstanding, then the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of such cessation of Service or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

2



 

3.4          Number of Exercisable Shares Post-Service.  Except in the event of the Participant’s cessation of Service by reason of his or her death, during the applicable post-Service exercise period, the Option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of vested Shares for which the Option is exercisable on the date of the Participant’s cessation of Service.  Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise period or (if earlier) upon the Expiration Date, the Option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested Shares for which the Option has not been exercised.  However, the Option shall, immediately upon the Participant’s cessation of Service for any reason other than the Participant’s death, terminate and cease to be outstanding to the extent the Option is not otherwise at that time exercisable for vested shares.

 

3.5          Termination for Misconduct.  Should the Participant’s Service be terminated for Misconduct or should the Participant engage in Misconduct while the Option is outstanding, then the Option shall terminate immediately and cease to be outstanding.  In the event the Participant’s Service is suspended pending an investigation of whether the Participant’s Service will be terminated for Misconduct, all of the Participant’s rights under the Option, including the right to exercise the Option, shall be suspended during the investigation period.

 

3.6          Cessation of Service.  For purposes of this Award Agreement, the Participant’s period of Service shall not include any period of notice of termination, (whether express or implied).  The Participant’s date of cessation of Service shall mean the date upon which the Participant ceases active performance of services for the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate, as determined by the Company following the provision of such notification of termination or resignation from Service and shall be determined solely by this Award Agreement and without reference to any other agreement, written or oral, including the Participant’s contract of employment (if any).

 

4.                                      EXERCISE OF OPTION.

 

4.1          Method of Exercise.  In order to exercise the Option with respect to all or any part of the Shares for which the Option is at the time exercisable, the Participant (or any other person or persons exercising the Option) must take the following actions:

 

(a)           Execute and deliver to the Company a notice of exercise (the “Notice of Exercise”) in the form authorized by the Company, which may be electronic or written.  An electronic Notice of Exercise must be digitally signed or authenticated by the Participant in such manner as required by the notice and transmitted to the applicable authorized representative of the Company (including a Company-designated brokerage firm).  In the event that the Participant is not authorized or is unable to provide an electronic Notice of Exercise, the Option shall be exercised by a written Notice of Exercise addressed to the Company, which shall be signed by the Participant and delivered in person, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by confirmed facsimile transmission, or by such other means as the Company may permit, to the applicable authorized representative of the Company (including a Company-designated brokerage firm).  Each Notice of Exercise, whether electronic or written, must state the Participant’s election to exercise the Option, the number of whole Shares for which the Option is being exercised and such other representations and agreements as to the Participant’s investment intent with respect to such Shares as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this Award Agreement.  Further, each Notice of Exercise must be received by the Company prior to the termination of the Option as set forth in Section 3 or 7.

 

(b)                                 Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased Shares in one or more of the following forms:

 

3



 

(i)            cash or check which, in the Company’s sole discretion, shall be made payable to a Company-designated brokerage firm or the Company; or

 

(ii)           with the consent of the Committee, surrender Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares plus all applicable tax withholding obligations of the Company (or a Subsidiary or Affiliate) with respect to which the Option or portion thereof is being exercised; or

 

(iii)          as permitted by applicable law, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Participant (or any other person or persons exercising the Option) shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (A) to a Company-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the purchased Shares plus all applicable tax withholding obligations of the Company (or a Subsidiary or Affiliate) by reason of such exercise and (B) to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.

 

Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is utilized in connection with the exercise of the Option, payment of the Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of Exercise delivered to the Company (or a Company-designated brokerage firm) in connection with the Option exercise.

 

(c)                                  Furnish to the Company appropriate documentation that the person or persons exercising the Option (if other than the Participant) have the right to exercise the Option.

 

(d)                                 Make appropriate arrangements with the Company (or Subsidiary or Affiliate employing or retaining the Participant) for the satisfaction of all applicable tax withholding requirements applicable to the Option exercise.

 

(e)                                  As soon as practical after the exercise date, the Company shall issue to or on behalf of the Participant (or any other person or persons exercising the Option) the purchased Shares (as evidenced by an appropriate entry on the books of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), subject to the appropriate legends and/or stop transfer instructions.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, this Award Agreement or any other agreement to the contrary, if at the time this Option is exercised, Participant is indebted to the Company (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) for any reason, the following actions shall be taken, as deemed appropriate by the Committee:

 

(i)            any Shares to be issued upon such exercise shall automatically be pledged against Participant’s outstanding indebtedness; and

 

(ii)           if this Option is exercised in accordance with subsection 4.1(b)(iii) above, the after-tax proceeds of the sale of Participant’s Shares shall automatically be applied to the outstanding balance of Participant’s indebtedness.

 

4.2                               Restrictions on Exercise of the Option and Issuance of Shares.  The exercise of the Option and issuance of shares of Common Stock upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of U.S. federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities.  No Shares may be issued hereunder if the issuance of such Shares would constitute a violation of any applicable U.S. federal, state or foreign securities laws or other laws or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Common Stock may then be listed.  The inability of

 

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the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Shares subject to the Option shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.  Further, regardless of whether the transfer or issuance of the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Option has been registered under the Securities Act or has been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any State, the Company may impose additional restrictions upon the sale, pledge, or other transfer of the Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates and the issuance of stop-transfer instructions to the Company’s transfer agent) if, in the judgment of the Company and the Company’s counsel, such restrictions are necessary in order to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the securities laws of any State, or any other law.

 

4.3                               Fractional Shares.  In no event may the Option be exercised for any fractional shares.

 

4.4                               Excess Shares.  If the Shares covered by this Award Agreement exceed, as of the Grant Date, the number of Shares which may without stockholder approval be issued under the Plan, then the Option shall be void with respect to those excess Shares, unless stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the number of Shares issuable under the Plan is obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

4.5                               Financing.  The Committee may, in its absolute discretion and without any obligation to do so, permit the Participant to pay the Exercise Price for the purchased Shares by delivering a full-recourse promissory note payable to the Company.  The terms of any such promissory note (including the interest rate, the requirements for collateral and the terms of repayment) shall be established by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

5.                                      TAX WITHHOLDING AND ADVICE.

 

5.1          In General.  Subject to Section 5.2, at the time the Grant Notice is executed, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for, any sums required to satisfy the U.S. federal, state, and local taxes and (if applicable) taxes imposed by jurisdictions outside of the United States (including income tax, social insurance contributions, payment on account and any other taxes) and required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan (referred to herein as “Tax-Related Items”).

 

5.2          Withholding of Taxes.  The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, as appropriate, shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company (or to the applicable Subsidiary or Affiliate), an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable Tax-Related Items or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, as appropriate, to satisfy such Tax-Related Items (including hypothetical withholding tax amounts if the Participant is covered under a Company tax equalization policy).

 

The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company withhold Shares otherwise issuable under the Option (or allow the return of Shares) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld.  Further, to

 

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the extent determined appropriate by the Company in its discretion, the Company (or Subsidiary or Affiliate, as applicable) will have the right (but not the obligation) to satisfy any tax withholding obligations by one or a combination of the following:

 

(a)           withholding from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company and/or a Subsidiary or Affiliate; or

 

(b)           withholding a number of whole Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant upon exercise of the Option having a Fair Market Value equal to the Tax-Related Items obligations, as determined by the Company as of the date on which the Tax-Related Items obligations arise; or

 

(c)           withholding from the proceeds from the sale of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to the Tax-Related Items obligations, provided the sale does not violate Company policy or applicable laws; any such sale is on the Participant’s behalf and at the Participant’s direction pursuant to this authorization; or

 

(d)           direct payment from the Participant.

 

To avoid negative accounting treatment, the Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding amounts or other applicable withholding rates.  If the Participant is covered by a Company tax equalization policy, the Participant agrees to pay to the Company any additional hypothetical tax obligation calculated and paid under the terms and conditions of such tax equalization policy.  No Shares shall be delivered hereunder to any Participant or other person until the Participant or such other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Committee for the satisfaction of these tax obligations with respect to any taxable event concerning the Participant or such other person arising as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

5.3                               Tax Advice.  The Participant represents, warrants and acknowledges that the Company has made no warranties or representations to the Participant with respect to the income tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Award Agreement, and the Participant is in no manner relying on the Company or the Company’s representatives for an assessment of such tax consequences.  THE PARTICIPANT UNDERSTANDS THAT THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  THE PARTICIPANT SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING ANY OPTION.  NOTHING STATED HEREIN IS INTENDED OR WRITTEN TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING TAXPAYER PENALTIES.

 

6.                                      AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE NECESSARY PERSONAL INFORMATION.

 

The Participant hereby authorizes and directs the Participant’s employer to collect, use and transfer in electronic or other form, any personal information (the “Data”) regarding the Participant’s Service, the nature and amount of the Participant’s compensation and the fact and conditions of the Participant’s participation in the Plan (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number (or any other social or national identification number), salary, nationality, job title, number of Shares held and the details of all options or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, cancelled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding) for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan.  The Participant understands that the Data may be transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, including any requisite transfer to a brokerage firm or other third party assisting with the exercise of Options under

 

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the Plan or with whom Shares acquired upon exercise of this Option or cash from the sale of such Shares may be deposited.  The Participant acknowledges that recipients of the Data may be located in different countries, and those countries may have data privacy laws and protections different from those in the country of the Participant’s residence. Furthermore, the Participant acknowledges and understands that the transfer of the Data to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or to any third parties is necessary for Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

The Participant may at any time withdraw the consents herein, by contacting the Company’s stock administration department in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that withdrawal of consent may affect the Participant’s ability to exercise or realize benefits from the Option, and the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan.

 

7.                                      EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL ON AWARD.

 

This Award Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Company to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

7.1          Acceleration of Vesting.  In the event of a Change in Control, the Option, to the extent outstanding at that time but not otherwise fully exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that the Option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become exercisable for all of the Shares at the time subject to the Option and may be exercised for any or all of those Shares as fully-vested Shares.  No such acceleration of the Option, however, shall occur if and to the extent: (i) the Option is, in connection with the Change in Control, assumed or otherwise continued in full force and effect by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or replaced with a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof) pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control or (ii) the Option is replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Change in Control on the Shares for which the Option is not otherwise at that time exercisable (the excess of the Fair Market Value of those Shares over the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such Shares) and provides for subsequent pay-out in accordance with the same vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.  The determination of option comparability under clause (i) shall be made by the Committee, and such determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

7.2          Termination of the Option Upon Change in Control.  Immediately following the consummation of the Change in Control, the Option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise expressly continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control.

 

7.3          Assumption of the Option.  If the Option is assumed in connection with a Change in Control, then the Option shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to the Participant in consummation of such Change in Control had the Option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same.

 

7.4          Involuntary Termination After Change in Control.  In the event that the Option is, in connection with the Change in Control, either assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or replaced with a comparable option of the successor corporation (or parent thereof) and, within eighteen (18) months of the effective date of the Change in Control, the Participant’s Service terminates due to Involuntary Termination, the Option, to the extent outstanding at that time but not

 

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otherwise fully exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that the Option shall, immediately upon the effective date of the Involuntary Termination, become exercisable for all of the Shares at the time subject to the Option and may be exercised for any or all of those Shares as fully-vested Shares for a period of three (3) months.

 

8.                                      ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

 

The Participant acknowledges that the Option is subject to modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Award Agreement and Article 11 of the Plan.

 

9.                                      NO ENTITLEMENT OR CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION.

 

9.1          The Participant’s rights, if any, in respect of or in connection with this Option are derived solely from the discretionary decision of the Company to permit the Participant to participate in the Plan and to benefit from a discretionary Award.  By accepting this Option, the Participant expressly acknowledges that there is no obligation on the part of the Company to continue the Plan and/or grant any additional options or other Awards to the Participant.  This Option is not intended to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature, or part of the Participant’s normal or expected compensation, and in no way represents any portion of the Participant’s salary, compensation, or other remuneration for purposes of pension benefits, severance, redundancy, resignation or any other purpose.

 

9.2          Neither the Plan nor this Option shall be deemed to give the Participant a right to remain an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.  The Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the Service of the Participant at any time, with or without cause, and for any reason, subject to applicable laws, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and a written employment agreement (if any), and the Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived any claim to damages or specific performance for breach of contract or dismissal, compensation for loss of office, tort or otherwise with respect to the Plan, this Option or any other outstanding Award that is forfeited and/or is terminated by its terms or to any future Award.

 

10.                               RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

 

The Participant shall not have any stockholder rights with respect to the Shares until the Participant exercises the Option, pays the Exercise Price and becomes a holder of record of the purchased Shares or the purchased Shares are deposited in a Company-designated brokerage account.

 

11.                               MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

 

11.1                        Amendment.  The Committee may amend this Award Agreement at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment may adversely affect the Participant’s rights under this Award Agreement without the consent of the Participant, except to the extent such amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law, including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A.  No amendment or addition to this Award Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.

 

11.2                        Nontransferability of the Option.  Prior to the issuance of Shares upon exercise, no right or interest of the Participant in the Option nor any Shares subject to the Option shall be in any manner pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate or shall become subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company, or a Subsidiary or Affiliate.  Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Option shall be assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of other than by will or the

 

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laws of descent and distribution.  All rights with respect to the Option shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

11.3                        Further Instruments.  The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Award Agreement.

 

11.4                        Binding Effect.  This Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

11.5                        Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Award Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Company at its principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Participant shall be in writing and addressed to the Participant at the address maintained for the Participant in the Company’s records or at the address of the local office of the Company or of a Subsidiary or Affiliate at which the Participant works.

 

11.6                        Construction of Award Agreement.  The Grant Notice, this Award Agreement, and the Option evidenced hereby (i) are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan, and (ii) constitute the entire agreement between the Participant and the Company on the subject matter hereof and supersede all proposals, written or oral, and all other communications between the parties related to the subject matter.  All decisions of the Committee with respect to any question or issue arising under the Grant Notice, this Award Agreement or the Plan shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in this Option.

 

11.7                        Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, U.S.A. without regard to the conflict-of-laws rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

 

11.8                        Compliance.

 

(a)           Conformity to Securities Laws.  The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and State securities laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.

 

(b)           Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, this Award Agreement or the Grant Notice, the Plan, this Agreement and the Grant Notice shall be interpreted in accordance with, and incorporate the terms and conditions required by, Code Section 409A (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “Section 409A”).  The Company reserves the right, to the extent the Company deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan, this Award Agreement or the Grant Notice or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to ensure that this Option qualifies for exemption from, or complies with the requirements of, Section 409A;

 

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provided, however, that the Company makes no representation that the Option will be exempt from, or will comply with, Section 409A, and makes no undertakings to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to the Option or to ensure that it complies with Section 409A.

 

(c)           Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Award Agreement, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Option and this Award Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

11.9                        Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of Incentive Stock Option Shares.  If the Option granted herein is an Incentive Stock Option and if the Participant sells or otherwise disposes of Shares acquired pursuant to the Incentive Stock Option on or before (i) the date that is two (2) years after the Grant Date or (ii) the date that is one (1) year after the exercise date, the Participant shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition.  The Participant agrees that the Participant may be subject to further income tax withholding by the Company on the income received by the Participant.

 

11.10                 Administration.  The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Award Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.  All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons.  No member of the Committee or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Award Agreement or the Option.

 

11.11                 Counterparts.  The Grant Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

11.12                 Severability.  If any provision of this Award Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any reason, it shall be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties to the extent possible.  In any event, all other provisions of this Award Agreement shall be deemed valid and enforceable to the full extent possible.

 

11.13                 Relocation Outside the United States.  If the Participant relocates to a country outside the United States, the Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the Participant’s participation in the Plan, on the Option and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or facilitate the administration of the Plan, and to require the Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

 

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