-----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, VSo/JVg+grRLdAHZ8UU/uBy/gEiKVl1sdlo0vqRdGQflD2KJRHmZ6r5yPeXv2ZEt yPSgiLlFTAM7t0X1we78kw== 0001104659-07-074183.txt : 20071010 0001104659-07-074183.hdr.sgml : 20071010 20071010134111 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-07-074183 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 REFERENCES 429: 333-122652 FILED AS OF DATE: 20071010 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20071010 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20071010 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000070530 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674] IRS NUMBER: 952095071 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0527 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-146600 FILM NUMBER: 071164815 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2900 SEMICONDUCTOR DR STREET 2: PO BOX 58090 CITY: SANTA CLARA STATE: CA ZIP: 95052-8090 BUSINESS PHONE: 4087215000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2900 SEMICONDUCTOR DR CITY: SANTA CLARA STATE: CA ZIP: 95052-8090 S-8 1 a07-26345_1s8.htm S-8

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2007

Registration No. 333-

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE

 

95-2095071

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or
organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

2900 Semiconductor Drive

P.O. Box 58090

Santa Clara, California 95052-8090

(Address of principle executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number including area code: (408)721-5000

 


 

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 2007 EMPLOYEES EQUITY PLAN

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR 2005 EXECUTIVE OFFICER EQUITY PLAN*

(Full title of the plans)

 


 

Nancy Lucke Ludgus, Esq.

Associate General Counsel

And Assistant Secretary

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

2900 Semiconductor Drive, P.O. Box 58090

Santa Clara, CA 95052-8090

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(408) 721-5000

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Calculation of Registration Fee

 

Title of
securities to
be registered

 

Amount
to be
registered

 

Proposed
maximum
offering
price
per share (1)

 

Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering
price (1)

 

Amount of
registration
fee (1)

 

Common Stock $0.50 par value

 

17,000,000 shs

 

$

26.61

 

$

452,370,000.00

 

$

13,887.76

 

(1)               Estimated for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on October 9, 2007 of $26.61 per share, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions, which is used as the estimate offering price solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee, in accordance with Rule 457(h).

 

* Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, the prospectus which forms a part of this Registration Statement also relates to 3,000,000 shares under the registrant’s 2005 Executive Officer Equity Plan which were previously registered under Registration Statement 333-122652.

 


 

PART I

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), this Registration Statement omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the plans as required by Securities Act Rule 428(b). Such documents are not being filed as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424.

 

National Semiconductor Corporation (the “Company”) has adopted the 2007 Employees Equity Plan (“EEP”) which provides for the issuance of up to 14,000,000 shares of the Company’s $0.50 par value Common Stock (“Common Stock”) to employees under the terms of the EEP. The Company has also amended the 2005 Executive Officer Equity Plan (“EOEP”) to add 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock to the EOEP. This Registration Statement covers the issuance of shares of Common Stock to Company employees and executive officers pursuant to terms of each plan.

 

I - 1



 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

ITEM 3.                  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The following documents which have been filed with the Commission by the Company (also referred to herein as the “Registrant”) under Commission File Number 1-6453 by the Company are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

 

(a)           The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2007, including the portions of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report and the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders incorporated therein by reference;

 

(b)           The Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 27, 2007;

 

(c)           The Company’s Reports on Form 8-K filed June 7, 2007; June 12, 2007; June 18, 2007; June 18, 2007; July 20, 2007; September 6, 2007; and October 1, 2007; and

 

(d)           The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed September 8, 1970.

 

All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed documents which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statements. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

II - 1



 

ITEM 4.                  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

The Company’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and thus, the requirements of Item 4 with respect thereto are not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.                  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

In connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, Nancy Lucke Ludgus, Esq. has rendered an opinion to the Company upon the legality of the Common Stock being registered hereunder. At the time of rendering such opinion, Ms. Ludgus had a substantial interest in the Company, as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in that the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock owned directly and indirectly by her and the shares of Common Stock subject to vested and unvested options held by her exceeds $50,000. Also at such time, Ms. Ludgus was connected with the Company in that she was Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

ITEM 6.                  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or to any of its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for certain unlawful dividends and stock repurchases, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article Thirteenth of the Company’s Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) provides that no director shall be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of his fiduciary duty as a director, except as provided in Section 102 of the DGCL.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that in the case of any action other than one by or in the right of the corporation, a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity on behalf of another corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that in the case of an action by or in the right of a corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action or suit by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity on behalf of another corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and

 

II - 2



 

reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted under standards similar to those set forth in the preceding paragraph, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any action or claim as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless a court determines that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Article Thirteenth of the Company’s Certificate provides that the Company shall to the extent permitted by law indemnify any person for all liabilities incurred by or imposed upon him as a result of any action or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which he shall be involved by reason of the fact that he is or was serving as a director, officer or employee of the Company or that, at the request of the Company, he is or was serving another corporation or enterprise in any capacity. Article VIII of the Company’s By-Laws provides for indemnification of any person who was or is a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, or to any derivative proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or was serving at the request of the corporation in that capacity for another corporation, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct unlawful.

 

The Company has purchased and maintains at its expense, on behalf of directors and officers, insurance, within certain limits, covering liabilities that may be incurred by them in such capacities.

 

ITEM 7.                  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8.                  TABLE OF EXHIBITS

 

4.1           Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 33-52775, which became effective March 22, 1994); Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation dated September 30, 1994 (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 Registration No. 333-09957 which became effective August 12, 1996); Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation dated September 22, 2000 (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 Registration No. 333-48424, which became effective October 23, 2000).

 

4.2           By-Laws of the Company. (Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Form 8-K dated April 17, 2007 filed April 18, 2007).

 

4.3           Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 33-48935, which became effective October 5, 1992).

 

II - 3



 

4.4           Form of Indenture (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 333-143571 which became effective June 7, 2007). Form of Supplemental Indenture for Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2010; Form of Supplemental Indenture for 6.150% Senior Notes due 2012; Form of Supplemental Indenture for 6.60% Senior Notes due 2017 (all incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 13, 2007 filed June 18, 2007).

 

4.5           Form of Global Note for Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2010; Form of Global Note for 6.150% Senior Notes due 2012; Form of Global Note for 6.600% Senior Notes due 2017 (all incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 13, 2007 filed June 18, 2007).

 

5.1           Opinion re Legality.

 

10.1         National Semiconductor Corporation 2007 Employees Equity Plan.

 

10.2         National Semiconductor 2005 Executive Officer Equity Plan, as amended and restated.

 

23.1         Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

23.2         Consent of Counsel (Included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

24.1         Power of Attorney.

 

ITEM 9.                  UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

(i)            To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

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

 

II - 4



 

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

 

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply to the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs that is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

(2)           That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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

 

(b)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II - 5



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, State of California, on the 9th day of October, 2007.

 

 

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By

//S//

BRIAN L. HALLA

 

 

 

 

Brian L. Halla

 

 

 

Chairman of the Board and

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by or on behalf of the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 9th day of October, 2007.

 

//S// BRIAN L. HALLA

 

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief

(Brian L. Halla)

 

 

Executive Officer (Principal Executive

 

 

 

Officer)

 

 

 

 

//S// LEWIS CHEW

 

 

Senior Vice President and

(Lewis Chew)

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

//S// JAMIE E. SAMATH

 

 

Controller

(Jamie E. Samath)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEVEN R. APPLETON*

 

 

Director

(Steven R. Appleton)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

(Gary P. Arnold)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RICHARD J. DANZIG*

 

 

Director

(Richard J. Danzig)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOHN T. DICKSON*

 

 

Director

(John T. Dickson)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROBERT J. FRANKENBERG*

 

 

Director

(Robert J. Frankenberg)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDWARD R. McCRACKEN*

 

 

Director

(Edward R. McCracken)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MODESTO A. MAIDIQUE*

 

 

Director

(Modesto A. Maidique)

 

 

 

 


*By:

//s// NANCY LUCKE LUDGUS

 

 

Attorney-in-Fact

 

Nancy Lucke Ludgus

 

 

 

 

II - 6



 

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

4.1

 

Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 33-52775, which became effective March 22, 1994); Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation dated September 30, 1994 (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 Registration No. 333-09957 which became effective August 12, 1996); Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation dated September 22, 2000 (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 Registration No. 333-48424, which became effective October 23, 2000).

 

 

 

4.2

 

By-Laws of the Company. (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Form 8-K dated April 17, 2007 filed April 18, 2007).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 33-48935, which became effective October 5, 1992).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Form of Indenture (incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 Registration No. 333-143571 which became effective June 7, 2007). Form of Supplemental Indenture for Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2010; Form of Supplemental Indenture for 6.150% Senior Notes due 2012; Form of Supplemental Indenture for 6.60% Senior Notes due 2017 (all incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 13, 2007 filed June 18, 2007).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of Global Note for Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2010; Form of Global Note for 6.150% Senior Notes due 2012; Form of Global Note for 6.600% Senior Notes due 2017 (all incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 13, 2007 filed June 18, 2007).

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion re Legality.

 

 

 

10.1

 

National Semiconductor Corporation 2007 Employees Equity Plan.

 

 

 

10.2

 

National Semiconductor 2005 Executive Officer Equity Plan, as amended and restated.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Counsel (Included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

24.1

 

Power of Attorney.

 


EX-5.1 2 a07-26345_1ex5d1.htm EX-5.1

EXHIBIT 5.1

 

October 9, 2007

 

Board of Directors

National Semiconductor Corporation

2900 Semiconductor Drive

Santa Clara, California 95051

 

Gentlemen:

 

At your request, I have examined the registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) which you are filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for registration of 14,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share (the “Shares”) of National Semiconductor Corporation (the “Company”) to be issued under the Company’s 2007 Employees Equity Plan (the “EEP”) and 3,000,000 Shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Company’s 2005 Executive Officer Equity Plan (the “EOEP”).

 

In connection with this opinion, I have examined the EEP, the EOEP, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, as amended, and such other documents and records as deemed necessary as a basis for this opinion.

 

Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares, when issued in accordance with each applicable plan, the Registration Statement and related final prospectus, and applicable state laws, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

//s// NANCY LUCKE LUDGUS

 

 

 

 

NANCY LUCKE LUDGUS

 

Associate General Counsel &

 

Assistant Secretary

 


EX-10.1 3 a07-26345_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

2007 EMPLOYEES EQUITY PLAN

 

1.                                      OBJECTIVE

 

The National Semiconductor Corporation 2007 Employees Equity Plan is intended to align the interests of eligible employees of the Company with the interests of the stockholders of National Semiconductor Corporation and to provide incentives for such employees to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company. By extending to eligible employees the opportunity to acquire proprietary interests in National Semiconductor Corporation and to participate in its success, the Plan may be expected to benefit National Semiconductor Corporation and its stockholders by making it possible for the Company to attract and retain the best available talent and by rewarding key personnel for their part in increasing the value of the capital stock of National Semiconductor Corporation.

 

2.                                      DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary.

 

Award:   Restricted Stock Unit, Restricted Stock or Option awarded to a Participant pursuant to the Plan

 

Award Agreement:      An agreement, which may be written or in electronic form, between NSC and the Participant that sets forth the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions applicable to an Award.

 

Board:      The Board of Directors of National Semiconductor Corporation.

 

Code:      Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Committee:      The Compensation Committee of the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall be comprised solely of directors who are (a) “nonemployee directors” under Rule 166-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (b) “outside directors” under Section 162(m) of the Code and (c) “independent directors” pursuant to New York Stock Exchange requirements.

 

Common Stock:      National Semiconductor Corporation’s common stock, par value $ .50 per share.

 

Company:      National Semiconductor Corporation (“NSC”), a Delaware corporation, and any corporation in which NSC controls directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of voting securities.

 

Disability:      Inability to perform any services for the Company and

 

1



 

eligible to receive disability benefits under the standards used by the Company’s applicable disability benefit plans or any successor plan thereto.

 

Effective Date:      The date this Plan is approved by NSC’s stockholders.

 

Employee:      An individual in the regular employ of the Company at any time.

 

Executive Officer:      An officer of NSC identified as an executive officer of NSC in NSC’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Exercise Price:      Price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased pursuant to an exercise of an Option.

 

Grant Date:      With respect to an Award, the date that the Award was granted.

 

Fiscal Year:      The fiscal year of the Company.

 

Immediate Family:      Parents (including step-parents), spouses, children (including step-children and adopted children) and siblings (including step-siblings).

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option:      Option to purchase shares of Common Stock that is not intended to be an incentive stock option, as that term is defined in the Code.

 

Participant:      An Employee who has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.

 

Plan:      This National Semiconductor Corporation 2007 Employees Equity Plan.

 

Option:      Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

Restricted Stock:      Common Stock issued pursuant to the terms of this Plan that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to the risk of forfeiture.

 

Restricted Stock Unit:      An Award issued pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

 

Retirement:      Permanent termination of employment with the Company and (a) age is either sixty-five (65) or age is at least fifty-five (55) and years of service in the employ of the Company is then (10) or more, and (b) the terminating employee has confirmed to the Company that he or she does not intend to engage in a full-time vocation.

 

Secretary:      The Secretary of National Semiconductor Corporation.

 

Termination of Employment:      The time when the employee-employer relationship between the Participant and the Participant’s employer is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, but not

 

2



 

by way of limitation, a termination upon the sale, merger or other disposition of Participant’s employer; by reduction in force; resignation; discharge; death; Disability; or Retirement, but excluding (i) terminations where there is a simultaneous reemployment by the Company, or (ii) terminations where the Participant continues a relationship (e.g., as a director or as a consultant) with the Company.

 

3.                                       ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1           The Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

 

3.2           Authority of the Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s provisions. The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (a) approve which Employees shall be granted Awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of the Awards, (c) interpret the Plan and the Awards, (d) adopt such procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States, (e) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and (f) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The Committee may delegate any of its rights and duties under this Plan to the Chief Executive Officer of NSC provided the Chief Executive Officer is also a member of the Board.

 

3.3           Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or an Award.

 

4.                                       SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

4.1           Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the total number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall not exceed 14,000,000 which may be unissued shares, or shares acquired by the Company, either on the market or otherwise. Of the total number of shares of Common Stock that can be issued under the Plan, up to 1,000,000 shares may be issued in connection with Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units and the balance remaining may be delivered upon exercise of Options that may be granted under this Plan. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock made subject to Awards granted during the Fiscal Year to any single Participant shall not exceed 250,000. No shares from any of NSC’s other equity plans shall be available for Awards under this Plan and no Awards may be made under this Plan until after the Effective Date.

 

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4.2           Expired Awards. If an Award is forfeited, cancelled, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award shall again be available to be the subject of an Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any shares of Common Stock that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Awards under the Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or a Participant’s employing Company to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award under the Plan, shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan.

 

4.2           Adjustments in Awards and Authorized Shares. In the event that there is any change in the shares of NSC through any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities of NSC, then the number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the number, class, and price of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards, and the numerical limits of Section 4.1 shall be appropriately adjusted. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.

 

5.                                       ELIGIBILITY

 

Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Employees of the Company who are not Executive Officers. No Employee shall have the automatic right to receive an Award under this Plan. Once having been selected to receive an Award, an Employee has no right to be selected to receive a future Award.

 

6.                                       STOCK OPTIONS

 

6.1           Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Employees at any time and from time to time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Subject to the limitations provided in Section 4.1, the Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Option.

 

6.2           Award Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Exercise Price, the expiration date of the Option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option pertains, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine. The Committee may provide that Options become exercisable in installments. The terms of the Award Agreement need not be identical for all Participants or for each Option granted.

 

6.3           Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for each Option shall be the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock

 

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Exchange on the date the Option grant was approved by the Committee. If there is no trading on such date, the Grant Date shall be the next date on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and the Exercise Price shall be the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such Grant Date.

 

6.4           Term. The maximum term of any Option shall be six years and one day from the Grant Date. The minimum full vesting period for any Option shall be three years from the Grant Date. Subject to these limits, the Committee shall provide in each Award Agreement when each Option expires and becomes unexercisable.

 

6.5           Exercisability of Options.

 

6.5.1                                                Except as provided in Section 9.1.1, an Option may not be exercised to any extent, either by the person to whom it was granted, the grantee’s transferee, the grantee’s guardian or legal representative or by any person after the grantee’s death, unless the person to whom the Option was granted has remained in the continuous employ of the Company for not less than six months from the date when the Option was granted. Otherwise, each Option shall be exercisable as determined by the Committee. Subject to the foregoing, Options shall be exercisable only after the vesting requirements specified in the Option grant have been satisfied.

 

6.5.2                                                The Committee has the discretion to determine whether Options granted shall be transferable without consideration to the Participant’s Immediate Family members or family trusts for the benefit of the Participant’s Immediate Family members. Options shall otherwise not be transferable, either with or without consideration.

 

6.6                                 Payment of Purchase Price.

 

6.6.1                                                Options shall be exercised by the Participant’s delivery of a notice of exercise (which may be in electronic form) to the Company’s Stock Administration department (or such other designee as the Company may identify), setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the shares. The notice shall be given in the form and manner specified by the Company from time to time.

 

6.6.2                                                Upon the exercise of any Option, the Exercise Price shall be payable to the Company in full in cash or its equivalent. Previously acquired

 

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shares of Common Stock that have been held by the Participant for at least six months or a combination of cash and Common Stock held by the Participant for at least six months may also be tendered to pay the Exercise Price. Common Stock tendered in full or partial payment of the Exercise Price shall be valued on the date of exercise at the opening price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of exercise or, if there shall be no trading on such date, then on the first previous date on which there was such trading. As soon as practicable after receipt of a notification of exercise and full payment for the shares of Common Stock purchased, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or to one of the Company’s preferred brokers that is designated by the Participant), share certificates (which may be in book entry form) representing such shares.

 

6.7           Termination Employment. An Option shall terminate and may not be exercised if the Participant to whom it is granted ceases to be continuously employed by the Company, except (subject nevertheless to the last sentence of this Section 6.7): (a) if the Participant’s continuous employment is terminated for any reason other than (i) Retirement, (ii) Disability, or (iii) death, the Participant or the Participant’s transferee may exercise the Option to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination at any time within a period of three (3) months following the date of such termination, or if the Participant shall die within the period of three (3) months following the date of such termination without having exercised such Option, the Option may be exercised within a period of one year following the Participant’s death by the Participant’s transferee or the person or persons to whom the Participant’s rights under the Option otherwise pass by will or by the laws of descent or distribution but only to the extent exercisable at the date of such termination; (b) if the Participant’s continuous employment is terminated by (i) Retirement, (ii) Disability, or (iii) death, the Option may be exercised in accordance with its terms and conditions at any time within a period of five (5) years following the date of such termination by the Participant or the Participant’s transferee, or in the event of the Participant’s death, by the persons to whom the Participant’s rights under the Option shall pass by will or by the laws of descent or distribution; (c) if the Participant’s continuous employment is terminated and within a period of ninety (90) days thereafter the Participant returns to the active payroll as an Employee of the Company, the Committee may reinstate any portion of the Option previously granted but not exercised. Nothing contained in this Section 6.7 is intended to extend the stated term of the Option and in no event may an Option be exercised by anyone after the expiration of its stated term.

 

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7.                                       RESTRICTED STOCK.

 

7.1           Award Agreement. Restricted Stock shall be issued only pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award Agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company, which shall contain such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, consistent with the Plan.

 

7.2           Consideration. The consideration for the issuance of Restricted Stock shall be set by the Committee; provided, however, that such price shall not be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.

 

7.3           Restricted Stockholder Rights. Upon delivery of the shares of Restricted Stock to the escrow holder pursuant to Section 7.6, the Participant awarded Restricted Stock shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said shares, subject to the restrictions in his or her Restricted Stock Award Agreement, including the right to vote the shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the shares.

 

7.4           Restriction Period. No shares of Restricted Stock issued under this Plan may be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred until a period of at least six months has elapsed from the date the Restricted Stock was issued. All shares of Restricted Stock issued under this Plan (including any shares received by holders thereof as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other forms of recapitalization) shall be subject to such other restrictions, including performance based restrictions, as the Committee shall provide in the terms of each individual Restricted Stock Agreement. All restrictions imposed pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall expire within six years and one day of the date of issuance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum total period for restrictions based exclusively on the passage of time and continued employment shall be no less than three years. Restricted Stock may not be sold or encumbered until all restrictions are terminated or expire.

 

7.5           Termination of Employment. Each individual Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall provide that Restricted Stock subject to restrictions under the Restricted Stock Agreement shall be reacquired by NSC immediately upon a Termination of Employment for any reason; provided, however, that the Committee may provide that no such reacquisition shall occur in the event of a Termination of Employment because of the Restricted Stockholder’s Retirement or Disability or death. If the Committee has determined that no such reacquisition shall occur in the event of a Termination of Employment because of a Restricted Stockholder’s Disability or death, the restrictions imposed under the Restricted Stock Agreement shall immediately expire and the shares of the Common Stock shall become available without restriction to the Restricted Stockholder or to the Restricted Stockholder’s estate, as applicable. In cases where the Committee

 

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has determined that no such reacquisition shall occur in the event of a Termination of Employment because of a Restricted Stockholder’s Retirement: (i) any time-based restrictions imposed under the Restricted Stock Agreement shall immediately expire and the shares of Common Stock will become available to the Restricted Stockholder without restriction; (ii) any performance-based restrictions imposed under the Restricted Stock Agreement shall not expire and shares of Common Stock will not become available without restriction to the Restricted Stockholder until the applicable performance period has been completed, the performance has been measured, and the final number of shares of Common Stock earned by the Restricted Stockholder has been determined. Except as provided herein, the Committee shall have the discretion to determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Termination of Employment, including but not by way of limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Employment resulted from a discharge for cause, the question of whether a Termination of Employment has occurred upon the sale, merger or other disposition of the Participant’s employing company, and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute Termination of Employment.

 

7.6           Escrow Holder. The Secretary or such other escrow holder as the Committee may appoint shall retain physical custody of the certificates, which may be in book entry form, representing Restricted Stock until all of the restrictions imposed under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement expire or are removed. In no event shall any Participant awarded Restricted Stock retain physical custody of any certificates representing Restricted Stock issued to him or her.

 

7.7           Restrictive Legends. The Committee shall cause a legend or legends to be placed on certificates representing all shares of Restricted Stock that are still subject to restrictions under Restricted Stock Agreements, which legend or legends shall make appropriate reference to the conditions imposed thereby. If shares of Restricted Stock are in book entry form, the Committee shall adopt such procedures and processes as are necessary to ensure that the shares of Restricted Stock are not transferred until the applicable restriction period has lapsed.

 

8.                                       RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

8.1           Awards. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Employee 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, including performance conditions, as it deems appropriate. On the date established for vesting, NSC shall transfer to the Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable share of Common Stock, which may be in book entry form, for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited.

 

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8.2           Term. The minimum vesting term for any Restricted Stock Units shall be no less than six months. Otherwise, the term of any Restricted Stock Units shall be set by the Committee in its discretion but shall not be longer than six years and one day and the minimum term for full vesting of any Restricted Stock Units where vesting is based solely on the passage of time and continued employment shall be not less than three years.

 

8.3           Purchase Price. The Committee may establish the purchase price, if any, of any Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that such price shall not be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.

 

8.4           Termination of Employment. An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall only be payable while the Participant is an Employee; provided, however, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that an Award of Restricted Stock Units may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Employment as a result of the Participant’s Retirement, death or Disability. If the Committee has determined that an Award of Restricted Stock Units may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Employment as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Award shall be paid to the Participant (or the Participant’s estate, as applicable) immediately upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability. If the Committee has determined that an Award of Restricted Stock Units may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Employment as a result of the Participant’s Retirement: (i) in cases of time-based vesting conditions, the Award will be paid immediately upon Retirement; (ii) in cases of performance-based vesting conditions, the Award will be paid only after the applicable performance period has been completed, the performance has been measured, and the final Award amount has been determined. Except as provided herein, the Committee shall have the discretion to determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Termination of Employment, including but not by way of limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Employment resulted from a discharge for cause, the question of whether a Termination of Employment has occurred upon the sale, merger or disposition of the Participant’s employing company, and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute Termination of Employment.

 

8.5           Additional Conditions. Any Award granted pursuant to this Section 8 shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

 

9.                                       CHANGE-OF-CONTROL PROVISIONS

 

9.1           Impact. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of a Change-of-Control:

 

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9.1.1        any Options outstanding as of the date such Change-of-Control occurs, and which are not then exercisable and vested, shall become fully exercisable and vested;

 

9.1.2        the restrictions imposed under each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall lapse, and each Participant shall be entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award Agreement without restrictions;

 

9.1.3        all outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable and each Participant shall be entitled to receive one share of Common Stock for each outstanding Restricted Stock Unit.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change-in-Control in which the consideration paid to the holders of shares of Common Stock is solely cash, each Award shall, upon the occurrence of a Change-of-Control, be cancelled in exchange for a payment in an amount equal to (i) the excess of the consideration paid per share of Common Stock in the Change-of-Control over the Exercise Price or other applicable purchase price per share of Common Stock subject to the Award multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock granted under the Award.

 

9.2           Definition of Change-of-Control. For purposes of the Plan, a “Change-of-Control” shall mean the happening of any of the following events:

 

9.2.1        the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) (3) or 14(d) (2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of NSC’s Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of NSC entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 9.2.1, the following acquisitions shall not be deemed to result in a Change-of-Control: (i) any acquisition directly from NSC, (ii) any acquisition by NSC, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by NSC or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 9.2.3 below; or

 

9.2.2        individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by NSC’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at

 

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least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

 

9.2.3        the approval by the stockholders of NSC of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of NSC or the acquisition of assets of another corporation (“Business Combination”) or, if consummation of such Business Combination is subject, at the time of such approval by stockholders, to the consent of any government or governmental agency, the obtaining of such consent (either explicitly or implicitly by consummation) unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60%, respectively, of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of such transaction owns NSC or all or substantially all of NSC’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of NSC or any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

9.2.4        approval by the stockholders of NSC of a complete liquidation or dissolution of NSC.

 

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9.3           Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change-of-Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of NSC immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

10.                                 FORFEITURE OF AWARDS

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, in the event of serious misconduct by a Participant (including, without limitation, any misconduct prejudicial to or in conflict with the Company) or any Termination of Employment for cause or in the event that a Participant terminates employment for Retirement and subsequently engages in full-time employment, or any activity of a Participant in competition with the business of the Company, (a) cancel any outstanding Award granted to such Participant, in whole or in part, whether or not vested or (b) following the exercise or payment of an Award within a period specified by the Committee, require such Participant to repay to the Company any gain realized or payment received upon the exercise or payment of such Award (with such gain or payment valued as of the date of exercise or payment). Such cancellation or repayment obligation shall be effective as of the date specified by the Committee. Any repayment obligation may be satisfied in Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof (valued based upon the opening price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of payment or if there is no trading on the New York Stock Exchange on such date, the opening price on the immediately preceding trading day on the New York Stock Exchange), and the Committee may provide for an offset to any future payments owed by the Company to the Participant if necessary to satisfy the repayment obligation. The determination of whether a Participant has engaged in a serious breach of conduct or any activity in competition with the business of the Company shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and in its sole discretion. This Section 10 shall have no application following a Change-of-Control.

 

11.                                 TERM; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

11.1         Term of the Plan. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall remain in effect thereafter until terminated by the Company. Awards outstanding on the Plan’s termination date shall not be affected or impaired by the termination of the Plan, but no Award may be granted or issued during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan.

 

11.2         Amendment. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination (a) shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is required by applicable law, regulatory requirement or stock exchange or

 

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accounting rules, or if the Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify for or comply with any tax, applicable law, stock exchange, accounting or regulatory requirement, and (b) except as required by applicable law or stock exchange or accounting rules, shall be made without the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would impair the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee or Board may amend or alter the Plan in such manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United States.

 

12.          GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

12.1         Conditions to NSC’s Obligation to Issue Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or agreements made pursuant thereto, NSC shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock under the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

 

12.1.1                                          Listing or approval for listing upon notice of issuance, of such shares on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., or such other securities exchange as may at the time be the principal market for the Common Stock;

 

12.1.2                                          Any registration or other qualification of such shares of NSC under any state or federal law or regulation, or the maintaining in effect of any such registration or other qualification which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion upon the advice of counsel, deem necessary or advisable; and

 

12.1.3                                          Obtaining any other consent, approval, or permit from any state or federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion after receiving the advice of counsel, determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

12.2         No Repricings/Regrants/Exchanges/Modifications. The Committee may not grant new Options, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in exchange for the cancellation of any other Award made under this Plan or any other plan of the Company. Other than in connection with a change in the Company’s capitalization as provided in Section 4.3, the Exercise Price of an Option may not be reduced without approval of the Company’s stockholders. No material amendments may be made to the Plan without the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

 

12.3         No Contract of Employment. The Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment, and adoption of the Plan shall not confer upon any Participant or Employee any right to continued employment, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of

 

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the Company to terminate the employment of any Participant or Employee at any time.

 

12.4         Tax Withholding. No later than the date on which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of the Participant for income tax purposes with respect to any Award under the Plan, the Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding obligations may be settled with Common Stock, including Common Stock that is part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement, cash, shares of Common Stock previously owned by the Participant for at least six months duly enclosed for transfer to the Company, or in any combination of the foregoing. If Common Stock that is part of the Award is used to settle tax withholding obligations, the value of such Common Stock may not exceed the maximum withholding rate applicable to the Award. Common Stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations shall be valued at the opening price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the Common Stock is used to satisfy the tax withholding obligation or, if there is no trading on the New York Stock Exchange on such date, the opening price on the immediately preceding trading day on the New York Stock Exchange. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to the Participant. The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for the settlement of withholding obligations with Common Stock.

 

12.5         Governing Law. The Plan, all Award Agreements and all Awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, USA, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

 

12.6         Nontransferability. No Award, or interest or right therein or part thereof, shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect. Any transfer of Awards to independent third parties for cash consideration without stockholder approval is prohibited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 12.6 shall prevent transfers as provided by Section 6.5.2, or by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

12.7         Rights as Stockholder. No Participant (nor any beneficiary or transferee) shall have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Common

 

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Stock issuable pursuant to an Option or Restricted Stock Unit (or exercise thereof), unless and until certificates (which may be in book entry form) representing such shares shall have been issued, recorded on the records of NSC or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Participant (or beneficiary or transferee, as applicable.)

 

12.8         Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

 

12.9         Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

12.10       No Limit on other Arrangements. This Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees of the Company, to issue restricted or unrestricted stock other than under this Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the issuance of restricted or unrestricted stock in connection with the acquisition in any form of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or association.

 

12.11       Section 409A. This Plan is intended to comply and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an Award, issuance and/or payment is subject to 409A of the Code, it shall be awarded and/or issued or paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. In particular, any payment of shares of Common Stock due in connection with lapsing of restrictions on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be made no later than sixty (60) days of the first of the calendar year following the date that a Participant has been deemed to have earned the shares. Any provision of this Plan that would cause an Award, issuance and/or payment to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Code Section 409A (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by applicable law).

 

12.12       Acceleration of Awards. Except as provided in Sections 6.7, 7.5, 8.4, and 9.1, acceleration of Awards and/or continued vesting of Awards after Termination of Employment shall not be permitted without the approval of stockholders.

 

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EX-10.2 4 a07-26345_1ex10d2.htm EX-10.2

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR

 

2005 EXECUTIVE OFFICER EQUITY PLAN

 

(as amended effective August 7, 2007,

subject to stockholder approval)

 

1.                                       PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

 

The National Semiconductor 2005 Executive Officer Equity Plan (the “Plan”) is designed to align the interests of Executive Officers of National Semiconductor Corporation with the interests of the Company’s stockholders and to provide incentives for such Executive Officers to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company. By extending to Executive Officers the opportunity to acquire proprietary interests in the Company and to participate in its success, the Plan may be expected to benefit the Company and its stockholders by making it possible for the Company to attract and retain the best available executive talent and by rewarding them for their part in increasing the value of the Company’s shares.

 

2.                                       DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below:

 

Award:     The grant of any form of stock, stock option, or performance share units whether granted singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant pursuant to such terms, conditions, performance requirements, limitations and restrictions as the Committee may establish in order to fulfill the objectives of the Plan.

 

Award Agreement:     An agreement, which may be in written or electronic form, between the Company and a Participant that sets forth the terms, conditions, performance requirements, limitations and restrictions applicable to an Award.

 

Board:     The board of directors of the Company.

 

Code:     The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Committee:     The committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall be comprised solely of directors who are (a) “nonemployee directors” under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (b) “outside directors” under Section 162(m) of the Code and (c) “independent directors” pursuant to New York Stock Exchange requirements.

 

Common Stock:     National Semiconductor Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.50 per share.

 

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Company:     National Semiconductor Corporation (“NSC”) a Delaware corporation, and any corporation in which NSC controls directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of voting securities.

 

Disability:     Inability to perform any services for the Company and eligible to receive disability benefits under the standards used by the Company’s applicable disability benefit plans or any successor plan thereto.

 

Effective Date:     October 1, 2004, the date this Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders.

 

EOIP:     The Company’s Executive Officer Incentive Plan.

 

Exchange Act:     Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Executive Officer:     Employees of the Company identified as the Company’s executive officers in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Exercise Price:     Price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Option.

 

Fiscal Year:     The fiscal year of the Company.

 

Grant Date:     With respect to an Award, the date that the Award was granted.

 

Immediate Family:     Parents (including step-parents), spouses, children (including step-children and adopted children) and siblings (including step-siblings.)

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option:     Option to purchase shares of Common Stock that is not intended to be an incentive stock option, as that term is defined in the Code.

 

Option:     Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

Participant:     An Executive Officer to whom an Award has been made under the Plan.

 

Performance Goals:     The goal(s) (or combined goals) determined by the Committee (in its discretion) to be applicable to a Participant with respect to an Award. As determined by the Committee, the Performance Goals applicable to an Award may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement using one or more of the business criteria specified in Section 6. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to Award.

 

Performance Share Units:     Awards to be made under the conditions specified in Section 8.

 

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Retirement:     Permanent termination of employment with the Company and (a) age is either sixty-five (65) or age is at least fifty-five (55) and years of service in the employ of the Company is ten (10) or more, and (b) the terminating employee has confirmed to the Company that he or she does not intend to engage in a full-time vocation; provided however, that the Committee may in its discretion waive the obligation to deliver a certification that the terminating employee does not intend to engage in a full-time vocation.

 

Secretary:     The Secretary of the Company.

 

3.                                      ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1     The Committee.     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) directors who shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Board.

 

3.2     Authority of the Committee.     It shall be the duty of the Committee to administer the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s provisions. The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (a) approve which Executive Officers shall be granted Awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of the Awards, (c) interpret the Plan and the Awards, (d) adopt such procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Executive Officers who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States, (e) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and (f) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The duties of the Committee under this Plan may not be delegated.

 

3.3     Decisions Binding.     All determinations and decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or an Award.

 

4.                                       SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

4.1     Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the total number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall not exceed 6,000,000 (consisting of 3,000,000 shares approved in fiscal 2005 and 3,000,000 approved in fiscal 2008) which may be unissued shares, or shares acquired by the Company, either on the market or otherwise. Of the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan, up to 3,500,000 (consisting of 2,000,000 of the shares approved in fiscal 2005 and 1,500,000 of the shares approved in fiscal 2008) shares of Common Stock can be delivered under the

 

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Plan in connection with Performance Share Units and the balance remaining may be delivered upon exercise of Options that may be granted under this Plan. No shares from any of NSC’s other equity plans shall be available for Awards under this Plan.

 

4.2     Expired Awards. If an Award is forfeited, cancelled, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award shall again be available to be the subject of an Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any shares of Common Stock that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under the Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or a Participant’s employing company to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award under the Plan, shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan.

 

4.3     Adjustments in Awards and Authorized Shares.     In the event that there is any change in the shares of the Company through any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, then the number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the number, class, and price of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards, and the numerical limits of Section 4.1 shall be appropriately adjusted. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.

 

5.                                       ELIGIBILITY

 

Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Executive Officers of the Company.     No Executive Officer shall have the automatic right to receive an Award under this Plan. Once having been selected to receive an Award, an Executive Officer has no right to be selected to receive a future Award.

 

6.                                       PERFORMANCE GOALS

 

Performance Goals shall identify one or more business criteria, which may include any of the following:

 

Financial Business Criteria:

 

Net income

Earnings per share

Debt reduction

Cash flow

Stockholder return

Revenue

Return on investment

Revenue growth

Return on invested capital

Return on net assets

Return on equity

Profit before tax

Gross operating profit

Profit after tax

Return on research and

Market capitalization

 

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development investment

Total stockholder return

Margin

 

Performance Goals based on financial business criteria may be set on a pre tax or after tax basis, may be defined by absolute or relative measures, and may be valued on a growth or fixed basis.

 

Strategic and Operational Business Criteria:

 

Quality improvements

Cycle time reductions

Manufacturing improvements
and/or efficiencies

Strategic positioning
programs

Business/information
systems improvements

Infrastructure support
programs

Human resource programs

New product releases

Operational and strategic
programs

Market Share

Reduction in product returns

Customer satisfaction
improvements

Compensation/review
program improvements

Expense management

Customer request date
performance

New product revenue

Customer programs

Technology development
programs

 

7.                                       STOCK OPTIONS

 

7.1     Grant of Options.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Executive Officers at any time and from time to time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Option, provided, however that no one individual may receive a grant of more than 500,000 Options in any one Fiscal Year.

 

7.2     Award Agreement.     Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Exercise Price, the expiration date of the Option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option pertains, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine. The Committee may provide that Options become exercisable in installments. The terms of the Award Agreement need not be identical for all Participants or for each Option granted.

 

7.3     Exercise Price.     The Exercise Price for each Option shall be the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the Option grant was approved by the Committee. If there is no trading on such date, the Grant Date shall be the next date on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and the Exercise Price shall be the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such Grant Date.

 

7.4     Term.     The maximum term of any Option shall be six years and one day from the Grant Date. The minimum full vesting period for any service based Option shall be three years from the Grant

 

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Date. Subject to these limits, the Committee shall provide in each Award Agreement when each Option expires and becomes unexercisable.

 

7.5           Performance Requirements.     The Committee may establish performance requirements for exercisability of Options. Performance requirements may be set based upon the achievement of Performance Goals or other specific performance objectives (Company-wide, divisional, or individual.)

 

7.6           Exercisability of Options.

 

7.6.1     Except as provided in Section 9.1.1, an Option may not be exercised to any extent, either by the person to whom it was granted, the grantee’s transferee, the grantee’s guardian or legal representative or by any person after the grantee’s death, unless the person to whom the Option was granted has remained in the continuous employ of the Company for not less than six months from the date when the Option was granted. Otherwise, each Option shall be exercisable as determined by the Committee. Subject to the foregoing, Options shall be exercisable only after the time vesting requirements specified in the Option grant have been satisfied and, if applicable, the Committee has certified in writing that all applicable performance conditions have been met.

 

7.6.2     The Committee has the discretion to determine whether Options granted shall be transferable without consideration to the Participant’s Immediate Family members or family trusts for the benefit of the Participant’s Immediate Family members. Options shall otherwise not be transferable, either with or without consideration.

 

7.7           Payment of Purchase Price.

 

7.7.1     Options shall be exercised by the Participant’s delivery of a notice of exercise (which may be in electronic form) to the Company’s Stock Administration department (or such other designee as the Company may identify), setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the shares. The notice shall be given in the form and manner specified by the Company from time to time.

 

7.7.2     Upon the exercise of any Option, the Exercise Price shall be payable to the Company in full in cash or its equivalent. Previously acquired shares of Common Stock that have been held by the Participant for at least six months or a combination of cash and Common Stock held by the Participant for at least six months may also be tendered to pay the Exercise Price. Common Stock tendered in full or partial payment of the Exercise Price shall be valued on the date of exercise at the opening price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of exercise or, if

 

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there shall be no trading on such date, then on the first previous date on which there was such trading. As soon as practicable after receipt of a notification of exercise and full payment for the shares of Common Stock purchased, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or to one of the Company’s preferred brokers that is designated by the Participant), share certificates (which may be in book entry form) representing such shares.

 

7.8           Termination of Employment.     An Option shall terminate and may not be exercised if the Participant to whom it is granted ceases to be continuously employed by the Company, except (subject nevertheless to the last sentence of this Section 7.8): (a) if the Participant’s continuous employment is terminated for any reason other than (i) Retirement, (ii) Disability, or (iii) death, the Participant or the Participant’s transferee may exercise the Option to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination at any time within a period of three (3) months following the date of such termination, or if the Participant shall die within the period of three (3) months following the date of such termination without having exercised such Option, the Option may be exercised within a period of one year following the Participant’s death by the Participant’s transferee or the person or persons to whom the Participant’s rights under the Option otherwise pass by will or by the laws of descent or distribution but only to the extent exercisable at the date of such termination; (b) if the Participant’s continuous employment is terminated by (i) Retirement, (ii) Disability, or (iii) death, the Option may be exercised in accordance with its terms and conditions at any time within a period of five (5) years following the date of such termination by the Participant or the Participant’s transferee, or in the event of the Participant’s death, by the persons to whom the Participant’s rights under the Option shall pass by will or by the laws of descent or distribution; (c) if the Participant’s continuous employment is terminated and within a period of ninety (90) days thereafter the Participant returns to the active payroll as an employee of the Company, the Committee may reinstate any portion of the Option previously granted but not exercised. Nothing contained in this Section 7.8 is intended to extend the stated term of the Option and in no event may an Option be exercised by anyone after the expiration of its stated term.

 

8.                                       PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS

 

8.1           Establishment of Performance Share Unit Targets.     Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may establish for the Executive Officers target awards of Performance Share Units in such amounts as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The Committee shall determine the number of Performance Share Unit targets to be established for each Participant, provided, however, that no one individual may have a target of more than 250,000 Performance Share Units established in any one Fiscal Year.

 

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8.2           Performance Share Unit Agreement.     Performance Share Units shall be evidenced by an agreement, which may be in written or electronic form, that shall specify the target number of Performance Share Units established for the Participant, applicable performance conditions, the performance period which at a minimum shall be two years, a vesting period which may or may not run concurrently to the performance period, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine.

 

8.3           Performance Conditions.     The Committee shall set performance conditions for Performance Share Units in accordance with this Section 8.3.

 

8.3.1        General Performance Conditions.     The Committee may set performance conditions based upon the achievement of specific performance objectives (Company-wide, divisional, or individual).

 

8.3.2        Section 162(m) Performance Conditions.     For purposes of qualifying Performance Share Units as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may set performance conditions based upon the achievement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee on or before the latest date permissible to enable the Performance Share Units to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. In qualifying Performance Share Units under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall follow any procedures determined by it from time to time to be necessary or appropriate to ensure qualification of the Performance Share Units under Section 162(m) of the Code (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals and measuring performance achievement).

 

8.4           Award Determination and Calculation.     Awards will be determined at the end of the performance period if a threshold performance level on the performance conditions of 50% has been achieved. At the time of Award determination, the actual number of Performance Share Units earned will be determined, based on achievement of applicable performance goals. The Committee must determine the performance level achieved and certify in writing that the performance ratings and other applicable conditions have been satisfied before Awards can be paid. The actual number of Performance Share Units that may be earned may range from 50% to 150% of the established target and may not exceed 375,000 for any one performance period for any one Participant. Awards will be paid in shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Performance Share Units that has been earned after the Committee has approved the Award and any applicable vesting period thereafter has been satisfied.

 

8.5           Transferability.     Prior to actual payment of Awards, Participants shall not have the right to sell, transfer, pledge,

 

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assign, or otherwise alienate or hypothecate any rights to Awards. Any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect.

 

8.6           Other Conditions.                The Committee may impose such other conditions as it may deem advisable or appropriate in accordance with this Section 8.6.

 

8.6.1        General Conditions.             The Committee may set conditions based on applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the Committee.

 

8.6.2  Termination of Employment.              Each Performance Share Unit Agreement shall provide that any rights to receive shares of Common Stock upon achievement of performance conditions shall terminate immediately upon termination of employment for any reason during the applicable performance and vesting periods; provided, however, that the Committee may provide that no such termination shall occur in the event of a termination of employment because of the Participant’s Retirement, Disability or death, in which event the Committee shall have the discretion to determine whether and in what amount an Award is payable. Awards determined by the Committee to be payable upon the Participant’s termination of employment by reason of death or Disability shall be paid as soon as practical after such termination of employment to (i) in the case of death, the person or persons to whom the Participant’s rights pass by will or by the laws of descent or distribution; or (ii) in the case of Disability to the Participant or, if applicable, the Participant’s legal representative. Any Awards determined by the Committee to be payable upon the Participant’s employment by reason of Retirement shall only be paid after the performance period has been completed and measured and the Committee has determined the actual Award amount earned by the Participant. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to termination of employment, including but not by way of limitation, the question of whether a termination of employment resulted from a discharge for cause, and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute termination of employment.

 

9.                                       CHANGE-OF-CONTROL PROVISIONS

 

9.1           Impact.     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of a Change-of-Control:

 

9.1.1     any Options outstanding as of the date such Change-of-Control occurs, and which are not then exercisable and vested, shall become fully exercisable and vested;

 

9.1.2     the performance conditions imposed under each Performance Share Unit Agreement shall lapse, and each Participant shall be entitled to receive shares of Common

 

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Stock equivalent to the target number of Performance Share Units specified in the Performance Share Unit Award Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding any of other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change-in-Control in which the consideration paid to the holders of Common Stock is solely cash, each Award shall, upon the occurrence of a Change-of-Control, be cancelled in exchange for a payment in an amount equal to (i) the excess of the consideration paid per share Common Stock in the Change-of-Control over the Exercise Price or other applicable purchase price per share of Common Stock subject to the Award multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock granted under the Award.

 

9.2           Definition of Change-of-Control.     For purposes of the Plan, a “Change-of-Control” shall mean the happening of any of the following events:

 

9.2.1     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) (3) or 14(d) (2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of NSC’s Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of NSC entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 9.2.1, the following acquisitions shall not be deemed to result in a Change-of-Control: (i) any acquisition directly from NSC, (ii) any acquisition by NSC, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by NSC or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 9.2.3 below; or

 

9.2.2        individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by NSC’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

 

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9.2.3        the approval by the stockholders of NSC’s of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of NSC or the acquisition of assets of another corporation (“Business Combination”) or, if consummation of such Business Combination is subject, at the time of such approval by stockholders, to the consent of any government or governmental agency, the obtaining of such consent (either explicitly or implicitly by consummation) unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60%, respectively, of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of such transaction owns NSC or all or substantially all of NSC’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of NSC or any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

9.2.4        approval by the stockholders of NSC of a complete liquidation or dissolution of NSC.

 

9.3           Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change-of-Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of NSC immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

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10.           FORFEITURE OF AWARDS

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, in the event of serious misconduct by a Participant (including, without limitation, any misconduct prejudicial to or in conflict with the Company) or any termination of employment for cause or in the event that a Participant terminates employment for Retirement and subsequently engages in full-time employment, or any activity of a Participant in competition with the business of the Company, (a) cancel any outstanding Award granted to such Participant, in whole or in part, whether or not vested or deferred, or (b) following the exercise or payment of an Award within a period specified by the Committee, require such Participant to repay to the Company any gain realized or payment received upon the exercise or payment of such Award (with such gain or payment valued as of the date of exercise or payment). Such cancellation or repayment obligation shall be effective as of the date specified by the Committee. Any repayment obligation may be satisfied in Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof (valued based upon the opening price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of payment or if there is no trading on the New York Stock Exchange on such date, the opening price on the immediately preceding trading day on the New York Stock Exchange), and the Committee may provide for an offset to any future payments owed by the Company to the Participant if necessary to satisfy the repayment obligation. The determination of whether a Participant has engaged in a serious breach of conduct or any activity in competition with the business of the Company shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and in its sole discretion. This Section 11 shall have no application following a Change-of-Control.

 

11.           TERM; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

11.1     Term of the Plan.     The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall remain in effect thereafter, unless terminated earlier by the Company. Awards outstanding on the Plan’s termination date shall not be affected or impaired by the termination of the Plan, but no Award may be granted or issued during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan.

 

11.2     Amendment.     The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination (a) shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is required by applicable law, regulatory requirement or stock exchange or accounting rules, or if the Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify for or comply with any tax, applicable law, stock exchange, accounting or regulatory requirement, (b) except as required by applicable law or stock exchange or accounting rules, shall be made without the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would impair the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award or (c) shall cause an Award qualified as

 

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performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code to cease to qualify as such. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee or Board may amend or alter the Plan in such manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United States.

 

12.           GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

12.1     Representation.     The Committee may require each person purchasing or receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to the distribution thereof. The certificates for such shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.

 

12.2     Conditions to NSC’s Obligation to Issue Stock.     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or agreements made pursuant thereto, NSC shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock under the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

 

12.2.1     Listing or approval for listing upon notice of issuance, of such shares on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., or such other securities exchange as may at the time be the principal market for the Common Stock;

 

12.2.2     Any registration or other qualification of such shares of NSC under any state or federal law or regulation, or the maintaining in effect of any such registration or other qualification which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion upon the advice of counsel, deem necessary or advisable; and

 

12.2.3     Obtaining any other consent, approval, or permit from any state or federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion after receiving the advice of counsel, determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

12.3         No Limit on Other Arrangements.     Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements for its Executive Officers or otherwise affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company.

 

12.4         No Repricings/Regrants/Exchanges/Modifications. The Committee may not grant new Options or Performance Share Units in exchange for the cancellation of any other Award made under this Plan or any other plan of the Company. Other than in connection with a change in the Company’s capitalization as provided in Section 4.3, the Exercise Price of an Option may not be reduced without approval of the Company’s stockholders. No material

 

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amendments may be made to the Plan without the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

 

12.5         No Contract of Employment.     The Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment, and adoption of the Plan shall not confer upon any Participant or Executive Officer any right to continued employment, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate the employment of any Participant or Executive Officer at any time.

 

12.6         Tax Withholding.     No later than the date on which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of the Participant for income tax purposes with respect to any Award under the Plan, the Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding obligations may be settled with Common Stock, including Common Stock that is part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement, cash, shares of Common Stock previously owned by the Participant for at least six months duly enclosed for transfer to the Company, or in any combination of the foregoing. If Common Stock that is part of the Award is used to settle tax withholding obligations, the value of such Common Stock may not exceed the maximum withholding rate applicable to the Award. Common Stock used to satisfy tax withholding obligations shall be valued at the opening price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the Common Stock is used to satisfy the tax withholding obligation or, if there is no trading on the New York Stock Exchange on such day, the opening price on the immediately preceding trading day on the New York Stock Exchange. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to the Participant. The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for the settlement of withholding obligations with Common Stock.

 

12.7         Governing Law.     The Plan, all Award Agreements and all Awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, USA, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

 

12.8         Nontransferability.     No Award, or interest or right therein or part thereof, shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect. Any transfer of Awards to independent third parties for cash consideration without stockholder approval is prohibited.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 12.8 shall prevent transfers as provided by Section 7.6.2 or by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

12.9         Rights as Stockholder.     No Participant (nor any beneficiary or transferee) shall have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), unless and until certificates (which may be in book entry form) representing such shares shall have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Participant (or beneficiary or transferee, as applicable.) Participants who have received target awards of Performance Share Units shall not be entitled to receive any dividends that may be paid on the Common Stock during the performance period.

 

12.10       Gender and Number.     Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

 

12.11       Severability.     In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

12.12       Section 409A.     This Plan is intended to comply and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an Award, issuance and/or payment is subject to 409A of the Code, it shall be awarded and/or issued or paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. In particular, any payment of shares of Common Stock due in connection with Performance Share Units shall be made no later than sixty (60) days of the first of the calendar year following the date that the Performance Share Unit Award has been deemed to be earned. Any provision of this Plan that would cause an Award, issuance and/or payment to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Code Section 409A (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by applicable law).

 

12.13       Acceleration of Awards.     Except as permitted in Sections 7.8, 8.6.2, and 9.1, acceleration of Awards and/or continued vesting of Awards after termination of employment shall not be permitted without the approval of stockholders.

 

15


EX-23.1 5 a07-26345_1ex23d1.htm EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors
National Semiconductor Corporation:

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8, pertaining to the National Semiconductor Corporation 2007 Employees Equity Plan and amendment of the 2005 Executive Officer Equity Plan, of our reports dated July 23, 2007 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of National Semiconductor Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of May 27, 2007 and May 28, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended May 27, 2007, and the related financial statement schedule, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of May 27, 2007, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of May 27, 2007, which reports appear in the 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K of National Semiconductor Corporation.

 

As discussed in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, applying the modified prospective method at the beginning of fiscal year 2007.

 

 

//s// KPMG LLP

 

 

Mountain View, California

October 9, 2007

 


EX-24.1 6 a07-26345_1ex24d1.htm EX-24.1

Exhibit 24.1

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned persons hereby constitutes and appoints Brian L. Halla, Lewis Chew, and Nancy Lucke Ludgus, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and in his name, place, and stead, and in any and all of his offices and capacities with National Semiconductor Corporation, to sign the Registration Statement with which this Power of Attorney is filed, and any and all amendments to said Registration Statement, and generally to do and perform all things and acts necessary or advisable in connection therewith, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that each of said attorneys-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto executed this Power of Attorney as of the date set forth opposite his signature.

 

SIGNATURE

 

DATE

 

 

 

/S/

STEVEN R. APPLETON

 

September 27, 2007

 

Steven R. Appleton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary P. Arnold

 

 

 

 

 

 

/S/

RICHARD J. DANZIG

 

September 27, 2007

 

Richard J. Danzig

 

 

 

 

 

 

/S/

JOHN T. DICKSON

 

September 27, 2007

 

John T. Dickson

 

 

 

 

 

 

/S/

ROBERT J. FRANKENBERG

 

September 27, 2007

 

Robert J. Frankenberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

/S/

E. FLOYD KVAMME

 

September 27, 2007

 

E. Floyd Kvamme

 

 

 

 

 

 

/S/

MODESTO A. MAIDIQUE

 

September 28, 2007

 

Modesto A. Maidique

 

 

 

 

 

 

/S/

EDWARD R. McCRACKEN

 

September 27, 2007

 

Edward R. McCracken

 

 

 


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